Judgment: Ancient of Days
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Looking back
Looking back
Looking back historically is a good reminder where we have been so we can have better understanding of where we are going. Daniel is in the midst of a vision and it grieved his spirit (Dan7:15). Today we look at a description of a part of the vision including the Ancient of days, judgment, the 4th beast and the Son of man.
Four Kingdoms described in several visions by others that Daniel interpreted.
Head of Gold; Lion = Babylonian kingdom
Chest of silver; Bear, Ram = Medo-Persian Empire
Legs of bronze; Leopard/Shaggy goat = Grecian Empire
Feet of Iron, clay; dreadful, terrifying beast = Roman Empire
Important fact there are not 10 more kingdoms as some believe, but 10 kings (rulers) - (Dan2:42)
42 “As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle.
So just as a reminder, looking back so we can understand more going forward the 10 toes (Dan2:40-43); the 10 horns (Dan7:7-8, 24) are being presented as the 10 Caesars under the Roman empire (the forth kingdom).
Augustus
Tiberius
Caligula
Claudius
Nero
Galba
Otho
Vitellius
Vespasian
and Titus
So, having said that may we look back at Dan7:8, so we can start to look forward at our passage today.
8 “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
So, out of the 10, came a little horn that uprooted 3 of the horns. So what about this little horn? what about this 4th beast that is dreadful?
I can say, personally I believe the little horn is Domitian who uprooted three of the Caesars (Galba, Otho and Vitellius) and there was one (Vespasian) and one to come (Titus). Now that is not what we are looking at this morning, but will in future, looking back so we can look forward as I previously said.
Now looking forward into our passage today we we are going to look at just two things for this morning
Ancient of Days seen in the vision (Dan7:9-12)
I think since I have told him I believe the prophesy is history to us today that I will draw some comparisons into the book of Revelation and Daniel together to see some similarities.
A Son, or Son of man presented (Dan7:13-14)
When we look at these verses pay attention to the verbiage for by it, well, you will see, it could be seen a couple of different ways
Ancient of Days
Ancient of Days
Daniel is captivated by the vision, grieved in the spirit (Dan7:15) and he keeps looking to try to understand. Though the interpretation is not made known until (Dan7:15-28)
I think I better give you Dan7:15; depending on the version you are reading it may use the word grieved, or distressed, alarming or troubling. Anyway about it, it had his attention
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.
Now our passage, at least the first part for today
9 “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.
10 “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.
11 “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.
12 “As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
Of course want to glean some facts in the passage and then can discuss some.
(v.9) - you see thrones set up/placed (see also Rev20:4)
(v.9) - you see the Ancient of Days seated (see also Rev20:4; Rev20:11-12)
(v.9) - you can see the Ancient of Days described
(vv.9-10) - Ancient of days throne described
(v.10) - see books opened (see also Rev20:12)
Let’s stop there at those two just for a few minutes. Oh wait there is still more we can get from those verses
a fiery stream, or river of fire flowed (v.10)
A thousand upon thousand; myriads upon myriads attended to Him and stood before Him (v.10)
The court sat and the books opened (v.10)
Thrones were set up (v.9) parallels as I see it with (Rev20:4)
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
What we do not see is what only the KJV says is “thrones cast down.” it is the only version that says it that way and with that it makes a strong assertion that the thrones are on earth. We see thrones were set up, Daniel looking forward to the thrones, John in Revelation is looking back at the thrones. Daniel is speaking of the judgment against the 4th beast being Rome and you can see also that final judgment against Rome which represents the world too
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Though we do not have full explanation to fully understand the prophetic vision we can see the that the judgment comes on the things written in the book according to the deeds done when the books are opened.
This judgment when the books are opened, be it a one day judgment at the end of time, or as someone stands before the throne when they die, for those who are in Christ Jesus there is no Guilt judgment for Jesus took on the guilt, the penalty for us.
May I take a minute and let’s look at the description of the Ancient of days again, just for a minute.
9 “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.
In looking at this may we remember that this is symbolic for God does not have a body, does not wear clothes or grow white hair, but it was made this way so that John could comprehend it. Symbolically speaking here is what we can learn.
Ancient of days: Name of God for all eternity used
Seated: He has all authority to judge and pass judgment
Garment white as snow: His character, nature is spotless
Hair as like pure wool: Purity of God
So, we see the character, the nature, thee eternal nature, holiness and sovereignty of God
If you wanted to learn, read more about the vision of God’s (Ancient of Days) throne, you can read a parallel in Eze1:15-21, 26-27.
A couple more interesting facts is Rome is the 4th beast and Rome is a picture of the world and the beast that is the world. in Daniel you see the prophesy of the kingdoms of the world, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian and Rome, in Revelation, chapter 13 we see the kingdoms shown again in history
2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
In Daniel prophesy, in Revelation history. In Daniel it is lion (Babylon) bear (Medo-Persian); Leopard (Grecian) and in Revelation it is looking at the leopard, bear and lion. Just an interesting thought for you to consider.
(Transition): This world today looks too much like Rome and not enough like heaven. To the Christian we have the hope, the Rock in which we stand, we have our Messiah, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Deliverer and here in Daniel 7 we have a messiah that is presented to represent the saints too
A Son of man presented
A Son of man presented
Words mean something and phraseology means something, and again we will see symbolism, so may we look together at this next portion of scripture
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
So, of course we want to pull from the scripture, what does the scripture say?
We know that this is continued in the vision; so this is not literal, this is symbolic
One like the Son of man; it does not say it is The Son of Man
He came to the Ancient of Days; it does not say the Ancient of days came to him
To Him was given, dominion, glory, kingdom that all peoples should serve Him
This kingdom is an eternal kingdom that will not end
A messiah, kingdom portrayed.
One like the Son of man
like the Son of man, we were created in God’s image, and being transformed, conformed back into that image.
The focus, the stress here needs to be on “a son of man” as opposed to “a beast” that in which is being judged by the Ancient of days in the passage today.
One coming in the clouds of heaven
Here we know that historically that Jesus, our Messiah was received up in the clouds and will return with the saints in the clouds and receive those still alive in the clouds. Heavenly bound vs. earthly bound.
One comes from God
One divine, and comes from God, has the Spirit of God in him, vs the spirit of man, of the flesh, beast, that is being judged.
One comes to fulfill the will of God
We know Jesus came to fulfill the will of the Father and the church was born and today we, as the saints are to live to fulfill the good acceptable and perfect will of God today.
(transition) - 1000 year reign? Look at the wording of the verse again.
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.
Look closely and you will not see the Son of Man coming to set up a kingdom on earth to present himself to man here.
What we do see in the One like Son of Man presenting himself to the Ancient of Days; not the other way around.
(transition) And yes we are like a son of man, created in Gods image to introduce them to The Son of Man who fulfilled the prophesy of the covenant made with David (2Sam7:12-13)
12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
You, you are the house, the church, the temple today, in the kingdom that was prophesied and promised (2Sam7:12-13). We are the church that will meet the Lord in the air (1The4:13-18), and return with Him in the clouds one day to usher home the saints still alive so we can be presented to the Ancient of Days.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
This section today looks at the judgment of the beast, a parallel, fulfillment found in Rev20. So a couple quick take aways today.
To Daniel this is prophesy of judgment to come; In revelation it is John looking back at judgment rendered and a reminder that we are held accountable for our actions.
Be sure you are in Christ, one like unto a Son of Man, for if you are His then the judgment was placed on Him, but if not then the judgment is yours and you bear the cost of it.
Be sure where you stand, in Christ for there is no middle ground.
We should be able to speak up, speak out, speak boldly, speak confidently with words of comfort and assurance!