“…Thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.”

I don’t know about you, but I dream a lot.  I have so many things going on in my head that I think the dreams must be some kind of an outlet mechanism.  About 99% of my dreams are very convoluted and nonsensical.  I can’t even remember most of them, so I put no stock in them.  Good thing!  The ones I do remember are hardly worth the telling.  Of course, we do see God using dreams and visions in Scripture to accomplish his will, starting with Abimelech and Joseph in Genesis.

We find the same thing with Daniel.  Carried into captivity while still a teen, he decided he wouldn’t tow the Babylonian party line with respect to their gods and food (chapter 1) and probably most everything else Chaldean.  His ultimate boss, King Nebuchadnezzar, was also prone to dreams, many of them terrifying.  And it wasn’t those late night pepperoni pizzas doing the trick either!  No, Nebby was the first of four major world kingdoms, what we might call “superpowers” today.  Daniel called him “the king of kings” (2:37), a description reserved also for Jesus (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16).  God gave Daniel not only the ability to interpret dreams (chapter 2), but also some dreams of his own.

By the time we arrive at chapter 7, Daniel has long been promoted because of his dream-interpreting prowess.  Belshazzar had replaced Nebuchadnezzar as king (7:1), and it was in the first year of his reign that God gave Daniel a troubling (v. 15) dream.  It began with four winds stirring up the seas, from which four beasts rose up.  The last beast was “terrifying and frightening” (v. 7).  At the end of this dream we find a description of God found only in this chapter: Ancient of Days.  “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.  His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.  His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.  A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.  Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.  The court was seated, and the books were opened” (vs. 9-10).  This is the first of three times it is used.  Let’s consider this scene closely.  See if you can picture it in your mind.

First, we have multiple thrones.  The only one described is that of the Ancient of Days, “flaming with fire…wheels all ablaze…a river of fire flowing out from him.”  Being consistent with other uses of fire in the Bible, the point is clear: the Almighty is perfectly holy, just, pure and good, and the flames show who is like that in his own nature (himself), and who is not (everyone else).  Those “ten thousand times ten thousand” represent the latter.  They’re present only because the Ancient of Days has judgment in mind.

Second, we read his description: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.”  I have often wondered if this scene inspired British judges to wear those goofy wigs.  Either way, the white reinforces God’s purity and holiness.  And that’s not exactly the kind of judge you want when he’s holding court, especially when “the books [are] opened” (v. 10).  You want someone with mercy, compassion, understanding, one that would be inclined to give you a second try.  Unfortunately, “man is destined to die once, and after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  Fresh out of second chances.

But wait!  Look at what happens: “There before me was one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was lead into his presence [i.e., in the circle of the flames].  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (vs. 13-14).  OK, some power sharing is going on, and this “son of man” (get it?) must be like the Ancient of Days for him to receive the reigns of the universe.

Now check out the final reference of Ancient of Days: “As I watched, this horn [of the last beast] was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom” (vs. 21-22).  Wow!  Grace, mercy and forgiveness do show up and are inherent in his character.  This is the Son of Man at his best!  No matter what our plight, no matter how bad things get, we come out on the winning side!  We possess the kingdom.  The Ancient of Days decrees it!  Are you fighting for the kingdom today?