A Revelation Invitation

(Roman man, first century, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, RI)

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man. (Revelation 1:12-13a ESV)

Throughout his ministry, Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man in much the same way that God repeatedly called the prophet Ezekiel son of man. Jesus employed this title over eighty times in the gospels to highlight his role as a prophet of God while simultaneously emphasizing his humanity. So, is the above reference to one like a son of man merely an identifier? And why is the expression “one like a” tacked on? Jesus never referred to himself with exactly those words. So, why did John use the expression?

The expression comes from a vision of the prophet Daniel:

“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14, ESV, emphasis added)

When Daniel received this vision, the Jews were in Babylonian exile. They were a conquered people who had lost their nation and their land. They needed a savior who would return them to their land and restore their nation. In his vision Daniel saw such a man to whom God gave dominion over all peoples and nations including Babylon, their oppressor. Who was this one like a son of man?

Under Roman rule, the persecuted church needed such a man just as Israel had under Babylonian domination. Later in Revelation 1 the Spirit reveals that man to be Jesus. If Jesus is the one that Daniel had seen and that John now presented, how could Rome continue to act with impunity persecuting the church seemingly with impunity in the same way that they had crucified Jesus? Whose rule was actually supreme? Daniel revealed that despite appearances this one like a son of man had been given an eternal kingdom that will have dominion over all nations and peoples. To the Christians in the Roman province of Asia, everywhere they looked they saw Rome’s dominance—Roman governmental administrators and laws, Roman soldiers, Roman temples and gods, Roman culture, Roman order. How easily the church could have seen themselves as a conquered people at the mercy of staggeringly evil power. John’s vision in Revelation came at a time when appearances indicated that Rome could easily overwhelm and destroy the church. However, the remainder of John’s Revelation vision demonstrates exactly how Jesus will overcome this evil and rescue his people.

John’s vision will enabled the church to see the unseen so that their faith would not falter. We also need to see the unseen. Even if we are not experiencing persecution like the early church faced, we are immersed in a sinful world and a decadent culture, driven by corrupt politics and seductive powers that want to dominate us. This is what our eyes see. However, one day God will destroy the current, evil system as he has all the powers that have preceded it. By setting our mind’s eye on this vision to see the unseen one like a son of man, we will be assured that Jesus’ kingdom will endure, that his dominion is eternal. And we will be victors in it.

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge your dominion over all the earth, over all nations, over all peoples and languages. There is no one who rivals you in power and glory. I acknowledge that your dominion is supreme and your kingdom is eternal. I do not see you now, but I believe that one day you will reveal yourself for all to see as Lord and King. Amen.