Daniel 7:14
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Daniel 7:13-14 and Ephesians 1:15-23
Hidden amongst all the prophecy in Daniel 7 is are some declarations about the Son of Man:
- He has authority
- He has glory
- He has sovereign power
- All nations and peoples of every language worship him
- He has an everlasting dominion
- He has an indestructible kingdom
All these things were given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days. The name “Ancient of Days” is only found three times in Scripture and all three occur in Daniel chapter 7. This name obviously indicates to us that God is ancient – He existed before time began. God declares his age to Isaiah:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:12-13).
The Hebrew word for “ancient days” is yôm which in this context means “before days were.” We also read in other places similar descriptions for God:
“Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).
“This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God” (Isa 44:6).
The Ancient of Days, the Creator of heaven and earth, gave the Son of Man all of His authority to act on His behalf. The angel Gabriel told Mary who this son she was being given would be:
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).
Again, Scripture establishes that Jesus is God’s Son – the Son of Man. He would be great and be given the throne to an everlasting kingdom. Paul would also write extensively about this power and position that Jesus held:
“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ” (Eph 1:19-21).
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).
But if we back up just a bit in his letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us the reason that God exalted the Son:
“Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:6-9).
Because Jesus humbled himself, God exalted him to the highest place. And then if we back up just a little bit farther, Paul tells us:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5).
So it all comes full circle back to us. As followers of Christ, we also will be exalted if we humble ourselves and have the same mindset of Jesus. We may not be exalted to the highest place, but we certainly will be exalted if we will simply humble ourselves and live for him. Jesus said so:
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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