Who is this man who stands before Daniel in his awesome greatness? Who is this man who tells Daniel that he needs to listen very carefully to him now, and that he is going to say very important things? The voice of this man still makes Daniel tremble. This man speaks about Daniel as one who is greatly loved by the Lord. Who is he?
Some interpreters believe that this person is a very important angel that the Lord has sent to Daniel. Yet I cannot go along with this thought. The reason for this is primarily the great glory with which this man is described. If you compare that with what we read in Ezekiel 9:1–11 and Revelation 1:1–20, I cannot help but think that this is the Son of God—the Christ who has not yet become man: the unique Angel of the Lord.
We read in Ezekiel 9:1–11 that angels are sent by God to the people to punish them. A man dressed in linen leads these angels. This man in linen is the Son of God who executes judgment on that part of the people who will not follow him, those who will not confess their sins and break with it.
Also in Revelation 1 it is very clear that it is about Christ. John describes him in this way in Revelation 1:12–15: 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, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
It is the Son of God who appears to Daniel. It is God himself. You can understand that Daniel was so immensely startled and that he became unconscious. It is the Son of God who comes to Daniel, taken up with so much grief and sadness, to tell him about the true battle that is being fought. It seems as if the church will not last. Just then the Son of God appears to report the true state of affairs. He makes sure that the aged Daniel can die in peace.
11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.