John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses – Episode 25, Jesus Is One Like a Son of Man

Could John have intended that the Word was ‘a’ god? Wouldn’t it make sense that John’s worldview was shaped by the Old Testament Scriptures? It is not inconsistent for him to view Jesus as Yahweh, because as we have seen, there are two Yahweh’s in the Old Testament, one of whom is often designated as the Angel or Messenger of Yahweh. And as we will see, there are multiple Messianic prophecies that also suggest there is more than one person who makes up the Godhead.

One Like a Son of Man

Daniel has a vision, in chapter 7 of the book of Daniel, concerning the kingdoms of the world and God’s rule over them.

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened….
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And 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 one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9–10,13-14, ESV)

Daniel’s vision has two main actors, the Ancient of Days, or Yahweh, and this one like a son of man, that is, to all appearances, a man. But this man is given all authority over every kingdom and people on earth, a kingdom that will last forever and will never be destroyed. This is surely God’s kingdom. And all persons shall “serve” him. The word for “serve” here is used also in Daniel 3:12,

There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. (ESV)

The idea of serving gods is parallel to worship. The one like a son of man to whom the Ancient of Days gives all the kingdom is served, that is, worshiped. When this chapter 7 vision is interpreted for Daniel, at the end he is told this,

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ (ESV)

Here it is the Most High to whom the kingdom belongs and whom all the peoples of the earth serve and obey. The Most High and the one like a son of man both share the same obedience and worship, and are both said to possess this everlasting kingdom.