This passage from daniel tells about, and actually describes, the ancient of days. The phrase you are referring to, the ancient of days, only occurs three times in the entire bible. The ancient of days is described as having white wool hair the same description is given in revelation revelation 1. Patristic, liturgical, and historical evidence patristic evidence. The ancient of days is a design by william blake, originally published as the frontispiece to the 1794 work europe a prophecy. This prophecy aligns with jesus speaking in matthew 24, and the book of the revelation of jesus christ by the apostle john. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. What he saw no doubt filled him and should fill us too with awe. And, of course, i ended up marrying a man named daniel. For daniel, to embody this truth that god has not left us behind in the midst of turmoil, pain, loss, and grief, but stands with us in the midst of these trials.
This term, ancient of days comes from prophet daniel 7. Verse can only refer to the father because, of course, the son of man who camebefore him is christ. His outstretched hand holds a compass over the darker void below. Ancient of days description will appear another time in the bible so the vision of daniel and the ancient of days in chapter seven verse nine is also the vision that john has when he sees the glorified christ in revelation chapter one notice what daniel chapter seven verse nine says. The phrase ancient of days occurs three times in the bible, and all three references are found in chapter 7 of daniel verses 9, 22. This chapter documents a dream and visions that daniel. Who is the ancient of days referred to in daniel 7.
Consider the following and you will notice that this title positively refers to both the father and christ. A careful study of the text helps reveal the identity of this supernatural being. The prophetic seal on the book of daniel is unsealing right before our very eyes. And even if the book was written later, most believe that the stories about daniel existed already, either passed via word of mouth or recorded in a. According to the international standard bible encyclopedia, the expression is used in reference to god in daniel 7. Related imagery appears in blakes newton, completed the next. The book of daniel is one of my favourites, and it seems to pop up in significant places.
It draws its name from one of gods titles in the book of daniel and shows urizen crouching in a circular design with a cloudlike background. Its actually meant to depict the human minds tendency to try to cut everything down to its own size and make it measurable in a bad way, which is why the ancient is holding a compass. The title ancient of days, which only daniel uses, indicates one advanced or aged in days. Ancient of days sermon by shelly griffin, daniel 7. The book of daniel is a 2ndcentury bc biblical apocalypse combining a prophecy of history with an eschatology a portrayal of end times cosmic in scope and political in focus. The ancient of days is a figure in one of daniel s visions that unquestionably represents god. Is the ancient of days in daniel 7 a vision of the father. The title ancient of days is found only three times in scripture, all three in prophetic passages in daniel 7. Daniels visions interpreted 21 as i watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the ancient of days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the most high, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom. Check out this weeks message takeaway as pastor doug wraps up our series through the book of daniel. This book of daniel highlights and aligns the prophecy of daniel to the historical facts and dates up to and beyond our present day, this proving the fulfilment of these prophecies. Writing a book and attributing authorship to another person was a known literary practice in the ancient world termed pseudonymity. God is referenced as the ancient of days three times in the book of daniel, chapter seven. All these occurrences show up in the book of daniel, the seventh chapter, in verses 9, and 22.
The book of daniel introduction to the book of daniel in the bible. Consider the following and you will notice that this title positively refers to both the father and. In the book of daniel, the ancient of days is mentioned. The solution to the identity of the ancient of days is in my opinion, one that is without controversy. Verse 22 refers specifically to jesus whose judgment will be part of the endtimes events. The title ancient of days is from the old testament prophetic book of daniel. In the book of daniel chapter 7, there are three figures. Daniel 7, a hotbed for eschatological theorizing, continues to baffle commentators, past and present. The ancient of days is a figure in one of daniels visions that unquestionably represents god. The ancient reference in verse is most interesting. He approached the ancient of days and was led into his presence. He received a doctorate in theology from the christian college of texas, texarkana tx, in 1989. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. It is rare in our culture today but was common in accent times.
The ancient of days is a figure in one of daniels visions that. Daniel was often called by god to be a man of the future, an end time prophet. In more mundane language, it is an account of the activities and visions of daniel, a noble jew exiled at babylon, its message being that just as the god of israel saved daniel and his friends from their enemies, so. Since he is the king of eternity, his existence stretches endlessly into the past and forever into the future. Ancient of days is a name for god found numerous times in the book of daniel. The ancient hebrew prophet daniel lived in the fifth century. Written more than 2500 years ago, the book prophesies many things we have not yet seen. Icons of the ancient of days saint jonah orthodox church. Summary of the book of daniel the story of the bible.
Notice how daniel described what he was privileged to see in vision. The book of daniel is unsealing middle east and prophecy. The ancient of days is mentioned only three times in the bible, all three times in the book of daniel. Ancient of days is a name for god in the book of daniel. The ancient of days reigns daniel 7 john macarthur. The ancient of days is a name used for god exclusively in the book of daniel. Daniel has visions of the future, and todays scripture is from one of those visions. I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and was brought near. The ancient of days a journey through daniel over the. Vision of the ancient of days i watched till thrones were put in place, and the ancient of days was seated. Daniels image of the one like the son of man being given an everlasting dominion can be implied in blakes image of ancient of days setting out the dimensions of the world of creation. Ancient of days, or head of days, is a name for god in thebook of daniel. The days of the church age are rapidly drawing to a close and the shadows of the endtimes are approaching. The identity of the ancient of days is an interesting question.
Ancient book of daniel kindle edition by johnson, ken. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. This book is a combination of history and prophecy with the first six chapters being generally history and the latter six being prophecy, written in a style similar to that of the book of revelation. The ancient of days reigns daniel 7 john macarthur the book of daniel series. His vesture was like white snowand the hair of his head like pure wool. The king james version of the bible rendered both attik yomin in daniel 7. The ancient of days sat down watchtower online library. The ancient of days william blakes painting of the ancient of days from daniels first vision isnt meant to depict god, surprisingly.
The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the. First baptist church of fort sumner the ancient of days. These kingdoms are finally overthrown when the ancient of days sits in judgment over them on his glorious throne and gives dominion and an eternal kingdom to one like a son of man whom all peoples are to. The old persian empire encompassed the areas of presentday iraq, iran, syria, kuwait, afghanistan and pakistan and also presentday turkey, palestine. The most common designation this obviously divine character is god himself. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head. The final line of the chapter from daniel may have filled blakes mind as he created and re. Read more hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save daniel. God doesnt get any lines in the book of daniel, but hes the hidden master, pulling all the strings, controlling every event in. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. Though hes the secret wizard of oz behind the scenes, clicking the.
The book of daniel like revelation are prophetic books and parallels can be drawn between the prophecies. The ancient of days god doesnt get any lines in the book of daniel, but hes the hidden master, pulling all the strings, controlling every event in the story as it moves along. Daniel 7 describes a succession of kingdoms appearing as various beasts. The book of daniel contains two types of literature.
His throne was ablaze with flames,its wheels were a. This incarnate one, the ancient of days that daniel declares, is not only the one coming at the fullness of time, but also the one who has filled time and space with his glory. The phrase ancient of days is unique to the book of daniel. In my last semester of uni, the christian group i was part of preached through daniel.
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