Daniel 7:13
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
In my vision in the night
The phrase "in my vision in the night" indicates a divine revelation given to Daniel during a time of rest, suggesting a supernatural encounter. The Hebrew word for "vision" (חָזוֹן, chazon) implies a prophetic sight, often used in the context of receiving divine messages. Night visions in the Bible often symbolize a time when God reveals His plans, as seen in the dreams of Joseph and others. This setting underscores the solemnity and significance of the revelation.

I continued to watch
Daniel's persistence in watching signifies his attentiveness and readiness to receive God's message. The Hebrew root for "watch" (צָפָה, tsaphah) conveys the idea of being on the lookout or keeping guard. This reflects a spiritual vigilance, emphasizing the importance of being spiritually alert to perceive God's workings.

and I saw One like a Son of Man
The term "Son of Man" (בַּר אֱנָשׁ, bar enash) is a significant messianic title. In the Hebrew context, "Son of Man" emphasizes humanity, yet in this vision, it is a divine figure. This title is later used by Jesus Christ to refer to Himself, highlighting His role as the Messiah who bridges the divine and human. The phrase "like a Son of Man" suggests both a resemblance to humanity and a unique, exalted status.

coming with the clouds of heaven
The imagery of "coming with the clouds of heaven" is rich with Old Testament symbolism, often associated with divine presence and glory. Clouds are frequently depicted as God's chariot (Psalm 104:3) and a sign of His majesty and power (Exodus 19:9). This phrase indicates the divine authority and heavenly origin of the "Son of Man," pointing to His role in God's redemptive plan.

He approached the Ancient of Days
The "Ancient of Days" (עַתִּיק יוֹמִין, attiq yomim) is a title for God, emphasizing His eternal nature and sovereign authority. The approach of the "Son of Man" to the "Ancient of Days" signifies a relationship of honor and authority. This scene portrays a divine court setting, where the "Son of Man" is given a position of prominence and power.

and was led into His presence
Being "led into His presence" suggests a formal introduction or presentation, indicating acceptance and approval by the "Ancient of Days." This act signifies the conferral of authority and the fulfillment of divine purpose. The Hebrew context implies a ceremonial aspect, underscoring the significance of the "Son of Man" being granted access to the divine throne room, symbolizing His role in executing God's will on earth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
The prophet who received the vision. He was a Jewish exile in Babylon, known for his faithfulness to God and his ability to interpret dreams and visions.

2. The Son of Man
A messianic figure in Daniel's vision, often interpreted as a reference to Jesus Christ. The term "Son of Man" emphasizes both His humanity and His divine authority.

3. The Ancient of Days
A title for God, depicting His eternal nature and sovereign authority. In the vision, He is portrayed as a majestic and authoritative figure.

4. The Clouds of Heaven
Symbolic of divine presence and glory. In biblical literature, clouds often signify God's majesty and the heavenly realm.

5. The Vision in the Night
A prophetic revelation given to Daniel, which includes symbolic imagery and foretells future events concerning God's kingdom.
Teaching Points
The Identity of the Son of Man
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the "Son of Man" prophecy, emphasizing His role as both divine and human.

The Authority of Christ
The vision underscores the authority and sovereignty of Christ, who is given dominion and glory by the Ancient of Days.

The Certainty of God's Kingdom
The vision assures believers of the ultimate establishment of God's eternal kingdom, providing hope and encouragement.

The Importance of Prophetic Fulfillment
Understanding the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament strengthens faith in the reliability of Scripture.

Living in Expectation
Believers are called to live with an expectation of Christ's return, aligning their lives with His kingdom values.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the title "Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13 enhance our understanding of Jesus' identity and mission?

2. In what ways does the imagery of "coming with the clouds of heaven" influence our perception of Christ's return?

3. How can the vision of the Son of Man approaching the Ancient of Days inspire confidence in God's sovereign plan for the future?

4. What are some practical ways we can live in anticipation of Christ's return, as depicted in Daniel 7:13 and related scriptures?

5. How does the connection between Daniel 7:13 and New Testament references to the Son of Man deepen our understanding of biblical prophecy and its fulfillment?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 24:30
Jesus refers to Himself as the "Son of Man" coming on the clouds of heaven, directly connecting His identity to Daniel's vision.

Revelation 1:7
This verse speaks of Jesus coming with the clouds, reinforcing the imagery of divine authority and fulfillment of prophecy.

Psalm 110:1
This psalm speaks of the Messiah being invited to sit at the right hand of God, paralleling the Son of Man being led into the presence of the Ancient of Days.
Daniel's First VisionE. B. Pusey, D.D.Daniel 7:4-28
The First Two Visions of the Book of DanielT. R. Birks, M.A.Daniel 7:4-28
The Four BeastsOutlines by London MinisterDaniel 7:4-28
The Symbolical BeastsW. White.Daniel 7:4-28
The Vision of the Four BeastsWilliam M. Taylor, D.D.Daniel 7:4-28
Vision, of Four Wild BeastsT.Kirk.Daniel 7:4-28
The Real King-MakerJ.D. Davies Daniel 7:9-14
Christ's Kingdom -- the Kingdom of the SaintsW. P. Walsh, D.D.Daniel 7:13-14
Messiah's KingdomJ. Cawood.Daniel 7:13-14
The Enthronement of ChristH.T. Robjohns Daniel 7:13, 14
The Everlasting KingdomJ. Cummings.Daniel 7:13-14
The Kingdom of the Son of ManJ. E. Roberts, M. A.Daniel 7:13-14
The Majesty of the MessiahArchdeacon Sinclair, D.D.Daniel 7:13-14
The Son of Man Brought to the Ancient of DaysJ. Bailey, A.M.Daniel 7:13-14
The Supreme Dominion of the Son of ManJ. Smyth, D.D.Daniel 7:13-14
People
Belshazzar, Daniel
Places
Babylon
Topics
Ancient, Approached, Behold, Clouds, Heaven, Heavens, Kept, Led, Night-visions, Presence, Presented, Seeing, Sky, Visions
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Daniel 7:13

     1205   God, titles of
     4805   clouds
     5533   sleep, physical
     5727   old age, attitudes
     9130   future, the

Daniel 7:1-18

     1469   visions

Daniel 7:7-25

     4654   horn

Daniel 7:8-14

     8319   perception, spiritual

Daniel 7:13-14

     2051   Christ, majesty of
     2078   Christ, sonship of
     2221   Christ, Son of Man
     2233   Son of Man
     2312   Christ, as king
     2366   Christ, prophecies concerning
     2423   gospel, essence
     2565   Christ, second coming
     4945   history
     5367   kingdoms
     9105   last things
     9145   Messianic age
     9220   day of the LORD

Library
Christ's Own Testimony Concerning Himself.
THERE is but one rational explanation, of this sublime mystery; and this is found in Christ's own testimony concerning his superhuman and divine origin and character.[49]49 This testimony challenges at once our highest regard and belief from the absolute veracity which no one ever denied him, or could deny, without destroying at once the very foundation of his universally conceded moral purity and greatness. Christ strongly asserts his humanity, and calls himself; about eighty times in the Gospels,
Philip Schaff—The Person of Christ

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
THE life and character of Jesus Christ is truly the Holy of Holies in the history of the world. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since he, in the fullness of time, appeared on this earth to redeem a fallen race from sin and death, and to open a never-ceasing fountain of righteousness and life. The ages before him anxiously awaited his coming as "the Desire of all nations;" the ages after him proclaim his glory, and ever extend his dominion. The noblest and best of men under every clime hold
Philip Schaff—The Romance of M. Renan, and the Christ of the Gospels

The Apocalypse.
1. The word Apocalypse (Greek Apokalupsis) signifies Revelation, the title given to the book in our English version as well from its opening word as from its contents. Of all the writings of the New Testament that are classed by Eusebius among the disputed books (Antilegomena, chap. 5. 6), the apostolic authorship of this is sustained by the greatest amount of external evidence; so much so that Eusebius acknowledges it as doubtful whether it should be classed among the acknowledged or
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Captivity of Judah.
Eze., Dan., Lam. The Ten Tribes Lost. After the fall of Samaria we hear but little of the ten tribes. They were carried off into the regions of Ninevah by the Assyrians. All effort to locate them has failed and no doubt will fail. Sargon, in an inscription found at Ninevah, said that he carried away into captivity 27,290. These were perhaps leaders of Israel whom he thought might lead a revolt. He sent others back to take their place and the Israelites seemed to have mingled with the races about
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
Cant. v. 2-vi.10. The fourth section commences with an address of the bride to the daughters of Jerusalem, in which she narrates her recent sad experience, and entreats their help in her trouble. The presence and comfort of her Bridegroom are again lost to her; not this time by relapse into worldliness, but by slothful self-indulgence. We are not told of the steps that led to her failure; of how self again found place in her heart. Perhaps spiritual pride in the achievements which grace enabled her
J. Hudson Taylor—Union and Communion

The Ecclesiastical Trial
Over the Kedron, up the slope to the city, through the gates, along the silent streets, the procession passed, with Jesus in the midst; midnight stragglers, perhaps, hurrying forward from point to point to ask what was ado, and peering towards the Prisoner's face, before they diverged again towards their own homes.[1] He was conducted to the residence of the high priest, where His trial ensued. Jesus had to undergo two trials--the one ecclesiastical, the other civil; the one before Caiaphas the
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ

Jesus at Capernaum.
Beset by an idea, gradually becoming more and more imperious and exclusive, Jesus proceeds henceforth with a kind of fatal impassibility in the path marked out by his astonishing genius and the extraordinary circumstances in which he lived. Hitherto he had only communicated his thoughts to a few persons secretly attracted to him; henceforward his teaching was sought after by the public. He was about thirty years of age.[1] The little group of hearers who had accompanied him to John the Baptist had,
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." St. Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles. The care of the churches gathered among them devolved particularly on him. At the writing of this epistle he had no personal acquaintance with the church to which it is addressed.* Epaphras, a bishop of the Colossians, then his fellow prisoner at Rome, had made him acquainted with their state, and the danger
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

Jesus Stills the Storm.
(Sea of Galilee; Same Day as Last Section) ^A Matt. VIII. 18-27; ^B Mark IV. 35-41; ^C Luke VIII. 22-25. ^b 35 And that day, { ^c one of those days,} ^b when the even was come [about sunset], ^a when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. { ^b he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.} [Wearied with a day of strenuous toil, Jesus sought rest from the multitude by passing to the thinly settled on the east side of Galilee.] ^a 19 And there
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A vision of the King.
ONE of the most blessed occupations for the believer is the prayerful searching of God's holy Word to discover there new glories and fresh beauties of Him, who is altogether lovely. Shall we ever find out all which the written Word reveals of Himself and His worthiness? This wonderful theme can never be exhausted. The heart which is devoted to Him and longs through the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be closer to the Lord, to hear and know more of Himself, will always find something
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Situation after the Council of Nicæa.
The council (a) had testified, by its horrified and spontaneous rejection of it, that Arianism was a novelty subversive of the Christian faith as they had received it from their fathers. They had (b) banished it from the Church by an inexorable test, which even the leading supporters of Arius had been induced to subscribe. In the years immediately following, we find (c) a large majority of the Eastern bishops, especially of Syria and Asia Minor, the very regions whence the numerical strength of the
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Birth and Early Life of John the Baptist.
(Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 57-80. ^c 57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her [mercy in granting a child; great mercy in granting so illustrious a child] ; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day [See Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3; Phil. iii. 5. Male children were named at their circumcision, probably
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Second visit to Nazareth - the Mission of the Twelve.
It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the center of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod's residence at Tiberias [3013] would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage in our Lord's history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

His Future Work
The Lord Jesus Christ, who finished the work on earth the Father gave Him to do, who is now bodily present in the highest heaven, occupying the Father's throne and exercising His priesthood in behalf of His people, is also King. To Him belongeth a Kingdom and a kingly Glory. He has therefore a kingly work to do. While His past work was foretold by the Spirit of God and His priestly work foreshadowed in the Old Testament, His work as King and His glorious Kingdom to come are likewise the subjects
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ

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