Two Powers in Daniel 7

Daniel sees thrones placed - plural - and the Ancient of Days takes his seat. Then someone else arrives: one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He is presented before the Ancient of Days and given dominion, glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples should serve him.
The conclusion is direct: "Daniel 7 therefore describes two powers in heaven - two Yahweh figures, since, in all other places in the Old Testament, Yahweh is the cloud rider."
Two details make it. The cloud-riding description belongs to Yahweh everywhere else in the Hebrew Bible. And everlasting kingship belonged only to the son of David.
So the figure is human in appearance and divine in description, and receives a kingdom that never ends. It is often called part of the messianic mosaic: the coming king will be both son of man and rider of the clouds.
Scripture links:
- Daniel 7:9-14 - "thrones were placed... one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days."
- Psalm 68:4 - "him who rides through the deserts."
- Psalm 104:3 - "he makes the clouds his chariot."
- Matthew 26:64 - "coming on the clouds of heaven."
Two figures. One throne room. Both divine.