Ancient of Days

Ancient of Days

Ancient of Days” first appears in Daniel 7:9, where Daniel is describing his vision of heaven. There an ancient, or venerable, Person sits on a flaming throne with wheels of fire, His hair and clothing white as snow. The flaming throne is symbolic of judgment, while the white hair and title “Ancient” indicate that God existed before time began. In Isaiah 43:13, we find that God refers to Himself existing from ancient of days (literally, “before days were”). That means God existed before days were even created. We read in Genesis 1that God created time, days and nights, so God existed from before the beginning of time. God is often represented as ancient, as He that is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2) and as “the first and the last” in Isaiah 44:6.

There can also be no doubt that the reference in Daniel 7 is to God as Judge. A similar description occurs in Revelation 1:14-15, wherein Christ is described as having snow-white hair and blazing eyes. In Revelation, God the Son is depicted with the same power of judgment over His church as the Ancient of Days is described as having in judging Israel. In fact, His sharp gaze judges all seven of the churches in Revelation 1–3 with complete clarity of the reality of all there is to know.

The title "Ancient of Days" is found only three times in Scripture, all three in prophetic passages in Daniel 7:9, 13, and 22. Verse 22 refers specifically to Jesus whose judgment will be part of the end-times events. In Daniel 7:13, the term “ancient of days” refers to God the Father, and we see Him on His throne as Jesus, the “Son of Man” approaches the throne on clouds. God is a triune God, meaning three Persons in One, and at different times “Ancient of Days” refers to Jesus Christ and at other times, to God the Father. But in the prophetic sense, it clearly refers to Jesus, the Ancient of Days returning to pronounce judgment on the world (Daniel 7:22).

What does God's title Ancient of Days mean?

"Ancient of Days" is from the Old Testament prophetic book of Daniel. Daniel 7:9refers to this Ancient of Days, stating, "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." This Ancient of Days sat on a throne as king. He wore bright white clothing and had hair like wool. Both likely symbolize the purity of the Lord. The fire likely symbolized purity and judgment. The wheels may also refer to His power and ability to move in any direction He pleases.

Daniel mentions this title two other times in chapter 7. In verse 13 we read, "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." Here the Ancient of Days is God the Father and the son of man is a Messianic reference to Jesus.

In Daniel 7:21-22 we also find, "As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom." Here a sweeping vision is given regarding the return of Christ to give judgment as part of Daniel's end times vision.

Based on these three passages, the Ancient of Days is a clear reference to Deity, but in what ways? The idea appears to refer to God being from the beginning or from of old. This sounds very similar to what we find in Psalm 90:2 that God is "from everlasting to everlasting" or Isaiah 44:6 that refers to God as "the first and … the last." The overall idea is one referring to the eternality of God, an attribute unique only to the Lord as the Supreme Being or Ancient of Days.

Some scholars also suggest that the concept of Ancient of Days refers to God existing before or prior to the existence of days. If so, this would agree with what is found in the first verse of the Bible that declares, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This opening is followed by God's creative work in six days and rest on the seventh. The first day of creation included the creation of light and the separation of light from darkness into day and night (Genesis 1:5). The Ancient of Days existed prior to these days of creation, existing literally as the Ancient of Days.

There is some debate among scholars regarding whether the title Ancient of Days refers to God the Father or God the Son in these passages. Daniel 7:13 is clearly referring to God the Father since the "son of man" comes before Him. Because some see Daniel 7:22as referring to Jesus returning in judgment, the Ancient of Days is here often viewed as a reference to Jesus. In either case, Ancient of Days refers to Deity, emphasizing the idea that the Lord is eternal. Further, Daniel's prophecies predict a future day when the Lord will return to provide a perfect final judgment.

Who is the Ancient of Days?

ancient of days," only occurs three times in the entire Bible. All these occurrences show up in the book of Daniel, the seventh chapter, in verses 9, 13 and 22. The reference in verse 13 is most interesting.

13. I saw visions in the night and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days . . . (Daniel 7:13, HBFV throughout)

Verse 13 refers to two distinct Beings, one is called 'the Son of man', and the other is the one referred to as the "ancient of days." King David, more than three hundred years before Daniel wrote these words, spoke of these two individuals. He wrote, "The LORD said unto my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies as Your footstool'" (Psalm 110:1).

This verse in Psalm 110 references three people, although in English it is a bit confusing since the same word is used to reference two distinct individuals. There is David, who is the narrator. There is "the Lord" (Strong's Concordance #H3068) which in the Hebrew is the word Jehovah. Additionally, there is "my Lord" (Strong's #H113), which in the Hebrew is Adoni. The word Adoni means sovereign or master.

Who is David's Lord ("my Lord") in Psalm 110? We find our answer in the New Testament. The focus of the first chapter in Hebrews is Christ and establishing the fact that he is the Savior of Man. The chapter uses the same verse found in Psalm 110 when it states, "God, Who spoke to the fathers at different times in the past and in many ways by the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son (Jesus) . . . 13. But unto which of the angels did He ever say, 'Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet'?" (Hebrews 1:13).

Clearly, the "my Lord" of Psalm 110 was the Being who became Jesus Christ. Who, then, was the other Being who was Lord OVER David's Lord? It is the ancient of days, whom we refer to as God the Father. Christ himself testified to the fact that the Father was greater than or over him (John 10:29, 14:28).

Psalm 110 and Daniel 7 refer to the same two Beings in the Godhead. "My Lord" of Psalm 110 is the same as the "Son of man" in Daniel 7. Jesus is referred to as the "Son of Man" in more than eighty distinct verses in the four gospel accounts. The Lord (Jehovah), who is the first Being listed in the Psalm, is the same as the "Ancient of Days" Daniel recorded.

There is something else to note in the scriptures we covered. They show (among many other Bible verses) that the Godhead is currently composed of TWO (the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man), not three, Beings. Noticeably absence is any mention of a third entity called the "Holy Spirit." This is because, in spite of the rhetoric from Protestants and Catholics, God is NOT triune in nature. The Holy Spirit is not a person but the POWER by which the Father and the Son accomplish their will.

God Bless you