Son of Man

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Daniel 7 pulls back the curtain on history and shows us what’s actually happening behind the scenes. Four terrifying beasts rise from the sea representing successive future empires, each more consuming than the last. It’s unsettling, even nightmarish. But then the camera shifts: the Ancient of Days takes His throne, His clothing white as snow, His throne blazing with fire. The beast is slain. And then, this is the passage that Jesus quotes, which ultimately gets Him sentenced to death: “you will see One like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62) knowing that Daniel was speaking of Him, ultimately brought before the Ancient of Days and given dominion and glory and a Kingdom that will never end (Dan. 7:13-14).

Jesus called Himself the Son of Man over 80 times in the Gospels. He was telling His listeners: I am the one Daniel saw. The empires rise and fall, the beasts rage, but the Kingdom that can never be destroyed belongs to Me, and I am giving it to My people (Daniel 7:27). This is the grand arc of Scripture. The entire human story is bending toward the reign of Jesus.

When the headlines feel like beasts rising from the sea, Daniel 7 is the chapter you need. Not because it promises an easy road, but because it shows who holds the throne.

Devotional Prompts:

Does Daniel 7’s vision of Jesus’ sovereignth over earthly kingdoms change the way you engage with news, politics, or cultural anxiety?
Why do you think Jesus chose “Son of Man” as His primary self-designation?

Prayer: Ancient of Days, when the world feels like a chaos of competing beasts, anchor our eyes to Your throne. Thank You that history is not spinning out of control, but is moving toward the coronation of Your Son. Let that truth steady us today. Amen.