As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭18‬
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

How do you picture God?
How do you envision Jesus?

Daniel here, in a vision, saw both God and Jesus, and as you can see by the descriptions, human words could not do justice to the majesty, power, and influence or weight of character.

God is described as: clothed in snow-colored clothing with hair white as wool. This is a reference, I believe, to his absolute purity of character and sinless existence. Flaming fire was all around him and a River of Fire flowing out before him.

Jesus, the son of man in Daniel, is described as having authority, glory, and sovereign power. His dominion is over all rulers in the world and extends back to the beginning of time and forward to the end of time.

In the parallel verses, Jesus (the son of man) is described in a very similar way to God in Daniel: hair white as wool, as white as snow, with eyes of blazing fire. His feet were as bronze glowing in a furnace and his voice was the sound of rushing waters. Why is he described very much like God? Because he is one with God. Jesus testified to this: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.” (‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭30‬, emphasis mine)

So why do I bring these passages to light today? For a few reasons: 1) To remind myself and all of you of the great power, dominion, and glory of our God and his Son, Jesus Christ. 2) To remember that he holds us, as his followers, in the infinitely safe place of his hands. 3) To demonstrate the type of power we, who are sold out followers of Jesus, have inside us.

This power is the same. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭21‬)

We are like him, made in his image. “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬)

And so we should expect to look like him spiritually as we conform to his image here on earth. Are you excited about looking like Jesus? I am!

Lord, thank you that I am made in your image and I have the same power that raised you from the dead. Keep me humble and help me to relentlessly pursue you — your ways, your heart, and your likeness.