Ancient of Days and Son of Man
In Daniel 7:9-14 we learn about the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. This passage includes the destruction of the Antichrist and the Beast. The eternal Kingdom of Jesus.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references I mention.
If you do not have a Bible, I recommend Biblegateway.com or search for an online Bible.
Ancient of Days
9. Thrones were set up for the Ancient of Days.
“The scene corresponds to the one in Revelation 4 and 5, where we have no less than seventeen references to the throne in two short chapters.” (Phillips, John. Exploring the Book of Daniel: An Expository Commentary. [Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2004], 118) Throne in Heaven
The Ancient of Days sat on the throne.
“The Ancient of Days seems to correspond to God the Father, as distinct from God the Son who is introduced in Daniel 7:13 as the ‘son of man.’” (Walvoord, John F. Daniel. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012], 202)
His robe was white, and His hair was like pure wool.
This “refers to His attributes of holiness and righteousness.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 572)
Here He “speaks of his judgment [Revelation 4:5].” (McGee, 572)
He is speaking here “of the resistless energy and restless power of God (cf. Ezekiel 1:13-21).” (McGee, 572)
Serving Ancient of Days
10. Fire came out of Him.
Multitudes served Him
This is the “setting for the judgment of the Great Tribulation and the return of Christ to establish the millennial kingdom here upon earth [see Revelation 5:11-14].” (McGee, 572) The Lamb of God
“God’s judgment is not arbitrary. He keeps records, not because He needs them but so that those who are about to be condemned might face the record of their own actions and words.” (Phillips, 118)
Court was in session. Books were opened containing a record of each person’s life.
“In light of Revelation 20:12, that this is a record of people’s works [cf. Isaiah 65:6-7 for record of evil deeds, and Malachi 3:16 for remembrance of good deeds] on the basis of which they will be judged.” (Walvoord, 203)
11. I like what Gangel says below about the yapping of the little horn.
“In the flow of his narrative, Daniel sets up the conflict of the ages. Even as the ‘Ancient of Days took his seat’ (7:9 above), the boastful little horn continues to yap about his own authority.” (Gangel, Kenneth O. Holman Old Testament Commentary. [Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2001], 190)
“If we are not careful, we will be tripped up here in Daniel’s switch from horn to beast right in the middle of this verse. Clearly the little horn was a beast, and its destruction is described with some lurid details in Revelation 19:19-21.” (Gangel, 190) See Great Supper
12. “Since the little horn as well as the ten other horns were part of the fourth beast, its destruction rids the earth of all of them.” (Gangel, 190)
“Although the first three beasts were destroyed, the ideology and philosophy of the kingdoms they represent apparently live on and will be manifested in the Great Tribulation Period.” (McGee, 573)
Son of Man
13. The Son of Man is coming!
“This is Jesus, arrayed in the clouds of heaven. Clouds are the garments of deity. In Old Testament times, when God marched across the desert sands in the company of His people and sat enthroned among them in the Holy of Holies, He wrapped around Himself a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night [Exodus 13:21]. (Phillips, 121)
“Jesus referred to this passage when He was put on oath at His trail before the Sanhedrin [Mark 14:61-62, Matthew 26:64] (McGee, 573)
“Thus, Jesus claimed that He Himself was the person referred to in these verses of Daniel. “ (Phillips, 121)
Jesus is before the Ancient of Days.
“The Son of Man is presented as being near the Ancient of Days.” (Walvoord, 207)
14. This tells us about Jesus.
“This prepares the way for the coming of Christ and the smashing of the image by the ‘stone cutout without hands.’” [Daniel 2:34] (McGee, 573) see Interpretation of the Dream
“Before our very eyes Daniel describes human history up to the first coming of Christ and then jumps over centuries to the end of the age and the revival of the fourth empire…Staring at us from the center of the chapter is the description of the Ancient of Days and the everlasting kingdom of Jesus.” (Gangel, 193)
His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Gods and Christ’s kingdom will not be destroyed.
Scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, King James Version.
References
Gangel, Kenneth O. Holman Old Testament Commentary. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2001
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Phillips, John. Exploring the Book of Daniel: An Expository Commentary. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2004
Walvoord, John F. Daniel. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012
