The Son of Man

Revelation’s first vision presents Jesus as the Son of Man, the high priest who watches over his people – Revelation 1:9-20.

Jesus is the faithful high priest who oversees the churches of Asia (Revelation 1:10-3:22), and he is the Son of Man who will return in great glory to gather and vindicate his saints. In chapters 2 and 3, he sends each of the seven congregations a letter of encouragement, correction, and promises for faithful Christians.

The term ‘Son of Man’ is found only in the four gospel accounts, with the exceptions of Acts 7:55-56 and the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:13, 14:14). In the gospels, this name is found almost exclusively on the lips of Jesus. The phrase is taken from the Book of Daniel:

• “I saw in the night-visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man, and he came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and tongues should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed. <…> I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the season came for the saints to possess the kingdom. <…> And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him” – (Daniel 7:13-14, 21-22, 27).

[Jesus - Photo by Myriam Zilles (Belgium) on Unsplash]

The Son of Man is the representative of the saints of God who suffers for them and with them. He will arrive one day to gather and vindicate his people, to judge their persecutors, and to give the kingdom to the people of God.

Jesus identifies himself with the Son of Man of Daniel in the four gospel accounts, especially when describing his sacrificial death and his return at the end of the age. For example:

• “For THE SON OF MAN came not to be served, but to serve, and TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY” – (Mark 10:45. Note the allusion to Isaiah 53:10-12).

• “And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the heavens. And then ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and THEY WILL GATHER his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” – (Matthew 24:30-31. Note the verbal allusions to Isaiah 11:12, 27:13, Daniel 7:13, Zechariah 12:10).

Language from the seventh chapter of Daniel is used at key points in the Book of Revelation, including but not limited to direct references to the Son of Man. For example, the salutation of Jesus to the churches of Asia includes the promise of Christ’s return, which is described using Daniel 7:13:

• “Behold, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see him, and they that pierced him. And ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL LAMENT. Even so, Amen” – (Revelation 1:7. Note the verbal allusions to Daniel 7:13, Zechariah 12:10).

In the first vision of Revelation, the Son of Man is seen clothed in the linen robes worn by the ancient high priest of Israel on the Day of Atonement:

• “And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; and among the lampstands ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN, CLOTHED WITH A GARMENT down to the foot, and GIRDED ABOUT THE BREAST with a golden belt. And HIS HEAD AND HIS HAIR WERE WHITE as white wool, white as snow; and HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE, and HIS FEET LIKE BURNISHED BRASS, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and HIS VOICE AS MANY WATERS. And he had in his right hand seven stars. And OUT OF HIS MOUTH PROCEEDED A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD. And his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength” - (Revelation 1:12-16. Note the several verbal allusions to Leviticus 8:7, 16:32, Isaiah 11:4, Ezekiel 43:2, Daniel 7:9, 7:13-14, 10:5-6. Compare Revelation 19:11-15).

And so, Jesus is the Son of Man who speaks for his people, and he is the high priest who mediates on their behalf – (Compare Hebrews 2:17, 4:15, 7:25 [“Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he lives forevermore to intercede for them”]).

Christ is also the sacrifice that liberates his saints from the tyranny of sin. This idea was presented already in Revelation 1:5. The Nazarene is the “faithful witness” who “freed us from our sins by his blood,” and thereby made his saints a “kingdom, priests for his God” – (Compare Exodus 19:5, Psalm 89:37, 2 Peter 2:5-10).

The effectiveness of his sacrifice is emphasized in Revelation 1:18. Not even the realm of the dead is beyond the Son of Man’s sovereignty:

• “Fear not! I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST. I am the Living one. And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have THE KEYS of death and of Hades” - (Note the allusions to Isaiah 22:22, 48:12. Compare Revelation 2:8, 22:13).

The Son of Man walks among seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven churches of Asia. This points to the care and oversight of Jesus for his congregations and their members – (Revelation 1:20, 2:1).

Jesus concludes his letters to the seven churches by promising that faithful believers will participate in his reign. While the language is not taken directly from Daniel 7:13-14, it reflects the same idea of the saints of God receiving the kingdom and dominion with the Son of Man:

• “He who conquers, I will give him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” – (Revelation 3:21-22).

• “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. <…> And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” – (Daniel 7:14, 27).

THE LAMB IS KING

Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb in Chapter 5. Because he gave his life to redeem his people, he is declared worthy to open the sealed scroll and reveal its contents (Revelation 5:6-10).

Because Jesus conquered his enemies and redeemed men and women from every nation through his death, God has given him the kingdom and sovereignty over all things. But it is Jesus as the Lamb who receives the kingdom:

• “Worthy is the Lamb that has been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every created thing that is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, I heard saying, Unto him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, AND THE DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER”- (Revelation 5:12-13. Compare Daniel 7:27).

In Chapter 11, the two witnesses give their testimony before the world. They are identified as “two lampstands,” and lampstands represent churches. The Beast then ascends from the abyss to wage war against the two witnesses:

• “And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the abyss WILL MAKE WAR WITH THEM, OVERCOME THEM, and kill them” - (Revelation 11:7. Note the allusion to Daniel 7:21).

• “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, until the ancient of days came and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the season came for the saints to possess the kingdom” - (Daniel 7:21-22).

After the death and resurrection of the two witnesses, the seventh angel blew his trumpet, announcing the sovereignty of God and of Christ. Once again, the words of Revelation echo passages from Chapter 7 of Daniel:

• “And the seventh angel sounded! And there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD IS BECOME THE KINGDOM of our Lord and of his Christ! And HE WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER” – (Revelation 11:15).

• “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him” – (Daniel 7:27. Compare Daniel 2:44).

In Chapter 12, the Dragon departs to make war against the saints of Christ. This passage also employs language from Daniel 7:21 about the little horn that persecuted the saints represented by the “one like a son of man.” The same passage is used likewise in Chapter 13 of Revelation:

• “And the dragon became enraged with the woman and departed TO MAKE WAR WITH the rest of her seed, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” – (Revelation 12:17).

• “And it was given the beast TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND TO OVERCOME THEM” - (Revelation 13:7).

The enemies of the Lamb wage war against him by attacking and persecuting his people. The saints who remain faithful witnesses will inherit the kingdom and everlasting life. Just as the Son of Man suffered before receiving sovereignty, so his followers endure persecution because of their testimony:

• “Fear not the things that you are going to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” – (Revelation 2:10. Compare Acts 14:22 [“Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God”], 1 Thessalonians 3:3).

The Son of Man appears again in Chapter 14 of Revelation as the messiah who arrives on the clouds to gather his saints. The image of reaping the grain harvest parallels the parable of Christ about the Son of Man gathering his harvest at the end of the age:

• “And I saw, and behold, A WHITE CLOUD. And ON THE CLOUD, one sitting LIKE UNTO A SON OF MAN, having on his head a golden victor’s wrath, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the sanctuary, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, SEND FORTH YOUR SICKLE and reap, for the hour to reap is come, FOR THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE. And he that sat ON THE CLOUD cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped” – (Revelation 14:14-16. Compare Daniel 7:13, Joel 3:13).

• “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those that do iniquity. And he will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears, let him hear” – (Revelation 13:41-43. Compare Daniel 12:3 [“And the wise will shine as the brightness of the firmament”]).

Daniel 7:21 is used once more in the Book of Revelation, but ironically (“The little horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them”). The Beast and its allies will unite in a final effort to overthrow Jesus, but it is Christ as the Lamb who instead conquers his enemies, demonstrating that he is the ruler of the kings of the earth. Moreover, as is the case in Daniel 7:13-27, the people of God participate in the Lamb’s victory:

• “These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. THEY  WILL WAR AGAINST THE LAMB, AND THE LAMB WILL PREVAIL AGAINST THEM, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also will overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful” – (Revelation 17:13-14).

The Son of Man is one of several images used to portray Jesus of Nazareth. Christ is the Son of Man who arrives on the clouds of heaven to vindicate and gather his elect ones. He is the Ruler to whom the kings of the earth must submit. He is the sacrificial Lamb who redeems his people from enslavement to sin by his death. And it is the Lamb who is the King of kings.

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[Citations of Old Testament passages in this article are based on the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint (see the links here and here). Text printed in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS represents quotations and verbal allusions from the Old Testament. The Septuagint is represented by the Roman numeral for ‘seventy’ or LXX based on the Latin name of the translation, ‘Interpretatio septuaginta virorum’]

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SEE ALSO:

• Lord of All! - (The Book of Revelation applies messianic promises of the Old Testament to the present reign and exalted status of Jesus Christ)

• Our Shepherd and King - (The reign of Christ began after his death and resurrection, and since then, he has been guiding the nations to the New Jerusalem)

• The Great Day - (The arrival of Jesus will mark the end of the present world order, accomplish the resurrection of the dead, and inaugurate the New Creation)

• Le Fils de l'Homme - (La première vision de l'Apocalypse présente Jésus comme le Fils de l'Homme, le souverain sacrificateur qui veille sur son people - Apocalypse 1: 9-20)