| THE ANCIENT OF DAYS |
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| In this very famous scene, that Paul described in 1 Cor 15:23-28, Christ hands over the rule and authority to God, who is “the Ancient of Days.” This is the scene of the Lord’s Day, described in Rev 1:7. The Son of Man comes on the clouds of heaven. In Rev 1:14, we will see that the Spirit of Christ played the role of “the image of the invisible God,” and “the Ancient of Days.” The Spirit of Christ is manifest as both the “image of the invisible God,” and “the Son of man” here in Daniel. This is a very special vision, because it is the only Old Testament passage that shows us the Father, Son, and holy spirit after the Day of Pentecost. |
| 9 I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, [and] the wheels of it burning fire. |
| Dan 7:9 I watched til thrones were put in place – these will be explained in Dan 7:26, and Rev 20:4. These are the thrones of the Martyrs who judge Babylon. They speak for the truth by their blood. At this point, the thrones are only being “put in place.” The martyrs have yet to sit on them, which occurs in verse 10, “the court was seated.” These thrones are being set up as the martyrs are killed, and so this prophecy begins with the Roman persecution of the saints. the Ancient of Days – this is Christ as the image of the invisible God, as revealed in Rev 1:14. His garment as white as snow – see Rev 1:14, “as white as snow.” hair…like pure wool – see Rev 1:14, “his head and hair a pure wool;” this imagery repeated in Revelation tells us that the Spirit of Christ was the “image of the invisible God” in Daniel. His throne a fiery flame – see Ezek 1:27, the appearance of Christ, as God on His throne. Its wheels a burning fire – here, Daniel sees the wheels of the living creatures around the throne, that we first saw in Ezek 1:16-21. The writer of Hebrews describes God as “a consuming fire,” (Heb 12:29). |
| 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. |
| Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him – this of course, is the spirit of God, the holy spirit, “that proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26). Clearly, the spirit of God is portrayed here as coming from the Father, and not as a separate “person.” The spirit of God is likened to fire throughout the Bible, eg. Matt 3:11, Acts 2:3, Heb 12:29, Rev 8:8; Rev 16:8. In this passage of Dan 7:10-13, we see the Father, Son, and holy spirit, after the Day of Pentecost. Ten thousand times ten thousand – these are described in Rev 5:11, as the number of angels before Him. the court was seated – this is the court of the martyrs that is described in Rev 20:4. The martyrs sit on thrones to judge mystery Babylon. and the books were opened – this is not the judgment of Christ described in Rev 20:15. The scene of Dan 7:10 is most directly related to Rev 5, where we see thousands who stand before the throne, when the scrolls, or books, are opened. These scrolls, or books, beginning in Rev 6, describe the wrath of God Almighty, against mystery Babylon. |
| 11 I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. |
| Dan 7:11 I watched because of the sound of the pompous words – the false doctrines and blasphemies spoken through the Bishop of Rome, which we will discuss in Rev 13. I watched til the beast was slain and its body burned – described in Rev 19:20. Dan 7:12 as for the rest of the beasts…there lives were prolonged for a season and a time – the official Jewish Bible, JPS Tanakh 1917, also translates this as “a season and a time,” to describe the lifespan of the Babylon, Greek, and Roman Empires, from the first year of King Belshazzer (555 BC). We know that a “time” is one year, from “time, times and half a time” – (1 + 2 +1/2). We can add, “a time” (1 year), and “a season” (3 months), to get 15 months. Using the day-year rule of Daniel and Revelation, we get 15 X 365.25/12 = 457 years. This brings us to 98 BC. The Greek empire fell gradually between 168 BC and 31 BC, as the Romans defeated Greek states. |
| 13 I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. |
| Dan 7:13 I watched in the night visions – later in the night again, signifying a later period in time. one like the Son of Man – who is Christ, see Rev 1:13. coming on the clouds of heaven – see Rev 1:7, Zech 12:10; Matt 24:30. He came to the Ancient of Days – here we have the scene of Rev 1. The LORD’s Day, when Christ comes toward God. |
| 14 There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. |
| Dan 7:14 then to Him was given dominion – this is the LORD’s Day, when God will become the LORD over all the earth, Zech 14:9; Rev 1:10. The “Him” in this verse refers to God, and not Christ, as shown in verse 27. This account is also described in 1 Cor 15:24. an everlasting dominion – being the Kingdom of God. |
