Ascension Day预览

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

Many bible stories are not to be understood, without a little sense of symbolism and a lot of space for mystery. Some people call the Bible a fairy book, because some stories are indeed very much like old myths. The stories and ancient texts are not just a chronological and businesslike report of historic facts. The reality is much more complex, much richer, and has much more layers. The stories try to interpret a reality, which is far too big for our language and understanding.

For example, like prophecy in the book of Daniel. You know, the Daniel who once was thrown in a lion’s den, and in which the lions left him alone. The book of Daniel also contains special prophecies and visions.  For example, the language used here, is also to be recognised in the book of Revelation. A unique vision was shared, in which the prophet saw, One like the Son of man appearing, who was brought before the ‘Ancient of Days’.

‘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 Days and they brought Him near before Him.

Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed.’ (Daniel 7:13-14)

Who is this Son of Man? Who is the Ancient of Days? It could just be a vision of the ascension of Christ. Jesus has frequently called himself Son of Man. That does not appear out of the blue and He does not do this at random. The stories in the New Testament, cannot be dissociated from everything that was told and said in the previous centuries. Not dissociated from the visions that prophets had, full of symbolism which is not understood yet. In the old prophecy, the Son of Man gets authority, honour, and is given the kingship. Universal. And God has exalted Him and given Him a name above every name!

Ascension? Well, this is precisely it!