In the Book of Daniel chapter 7, Daniel was given a vision of the four prominent empires that would rule the earth, and in particular, over his people Israel. While in chapter 2 these same empires are seen as various metals, here in Daniel’s vision they are viewed as beasts. This would represent their character from God’s point of view. These empires largely went on in self-will, without acknowledging the true God in heaven.

However, we also find introduced in the vision One who is the Son of Man. In Daniel 2, we find Christ pictured as the Stone that will crush all the empires of men, and grow to become a great mountain that fills the earth.

Here in Daniel 7 we see the Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days on the clouds of heaven. We see absolute dominion is given to the Son of Man. All peoples, nations, and languages are to serve Him.

In the beginning, the Lord God committed to Adam dominion over the earth. Yet we know that Adam lost this dominion when he and Eve fell into sin (Gen. 3). Other men such as Noah, Solomon, and Nebuchadnezzar were put into places of authority and rule, and yet each one failed. Even so today, every ruler has been marked by failure and sin in some way.

At last, in this Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Father has found the Man after His own heart, to whom He can commit all rule and authority. May we submit to His authority already today!