Daniel utilizes a new introductory formula in this verse to focus the attention of the reader to the climax of the visions of the beasts. From this group of ten horns, comes up “another horn, a little one” which displaced three other horns. This little horn had “eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Nothing specifically is said about the nature of what is being said, however, within the Bible’s wisdom literature, through the eyes or speech of a person, their character is revealed (Prov. 6:16-19). The human characteristics of the single horn imply representation of an individual in history, rather than an entire empire. John J. Collins, who attributes the fourth beast to the Greek empire argues that this individual represents Antiochus Epiphanes and the persecution of the Jews in 167 BC. He can think of no Greek king who inspired more hatred than
…show more content…
This is why Caiaphas tears his robes and accuses Jesus of blasphemy. If Jesus were simply claiming for himself to be human or to be a human, Caiaphas’s response is unusual, to say the least, and possibly even inexplicable. But Jesus was making a direct claim by his use of the Son of Man term and allusion to Dan. 7:13, fully consistent with how ‘son of man’ was interpreted in 1 En. 37-71 – as the one who is not only able to approach God, but is also the one who sits alongside God, who shares God’s authority to judge and rule the world –that is the one who is in every sense identifiable with God.
Jesus’ perfect and sinless life, his victory over death together with his resurrection from the dead, qualified him to approach the Ancient of Days, seated on his perfect throne of judgment and thus, be given dominion and authority to judge and rule. He is the fulfillment of what Daniel saw and the one in whom all human trust should be
This is why Caiaphas tears his robes and accuses Jesus of blasphemy. If Jesus were simply claiming for himself to be human or to be a human, Caiaphas’s response is unusual, to say the least, and possibly even inexplicable. But Jesus was making a direct claim by his use of the Son of Man term and allusion to Dan. 7:13, fully consistent with how ‘son of man’ was interpreted in 1 En. 37-71 – as the one who is not only able to approach God, but is also the one who sits alongside God, who shares God’s authority to judge and rule the world –that is the one who is in every sense identifiable with God.
Jesus’ perfect and sinless life, his victory over death together with his resurrection from the dead, qualified him to approach the Ancient of Days, seated on his perfect throne of judgment and thus, be given dominion and authority to judge and rule. He is the fulfillment of what Daniel saw and the one in whom all human trust should be