For the last Sunday of the Church year in Series B, there are a choice of six assigned readings. The Old Testament reading is either Isaiah 51:4-6 or Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14. The Epistle reading is either Jude 20-25 or Revelation 1:4b-8. The Gospel reading is either Mark 13:24-37 or John 18:33-37. Chosen as the sermon text is Daniel 7:13, “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Day, and they brought Him near before Him.”
If you want to see these two Persons again, turn to the 4th and 5th chapter of Revelation. The Ancient of Days is seated on the throne and the Son of Man appears in chapter 5 as a slain Lamb returning from His mission accomplished on earth! For the Ancient of Days is none other than God the Father and the Son of Man is Jesus, the Christ. Chapter 5 of Revelation is another way of picturing the ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Daniel 7 is the commissioning ceremony of the Christ sent to earth by God the Father to save mankind. Revelation 5 is His return to heaven with the mission accomplished. Already in Daniel 7:14 we recognize that His kingdom is not only the people of Israel but the new Israel made up of “all peoples, nations, and languages.” Daniel 7:11 also provides the real purpose of the Messiah’s mission and that is to destroy the works of the devil as “the beast was slain.” And that event which slays the beast was the crucifixion of our LORD Who took upon Himself the punishment of the curse of the Law which was what really separated us from God.
Even more stupendous is to read the 1st chapter of Revelation in which Jesus Christ is described as the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7. This really underscores the words of Jesus that He and the Father are One and that when you see Him, you see the Father. It is also clear that the Son of Man is not sent to teach us how to save ourselves but is sent to save us without any cooperation or contribution on our part. Indeed, Daniel 7 reveals that the words of John 20 are indeed true that all this is written that you may know that Jesus is the Christ and that believing in His name, you might have life!
Name:Tom Baker