hotcoffee
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Daniel 7:9 “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.
10 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.
“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.
10 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.
One commentary explains things as follows.
I watched till thrones were put in place:The King James Version poorly translates this as thrones were cast down. The New King James Version corrected this and indicates that the thrones were established.
When the Apostle John saw heaven, he also saw thrones, but he also saw those who sat on those thrones - the 24 elders described in Revelation 4:4. Daniel made no mention of these elders, perhaps because the 24 elders represent the church, and the church was an unrevealed mystery to Old Testament saints (Ephesians 3:1-7).
And the Ancient of Days was seated: The Ancient of Days is obviously God, but there is debate as to if He is specifically God the Father or God the Son. Most believe it is God the Father, and the white garments and white hair stress the eternal character of God the Father.
Daniel 7:13 seems to make a distinction between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man, and this supports the idea that the Ancient of Days is God the Father, not God the Son.
"We ought not to imagine God in his essence to be like any appearance to his own Prophet and other holy fathers, but he put on various appearances, according to man's comprehension, to whom he wished to give some signs of his presence." (Calvin)
"We ought not to imagine God in his essence to be like any appearance to his own Prophet and other holy fathers, but he put on various appearances, according to man's comprehension, to whom he wished to give some signs of his presence." (Calvin)
His throne was a fiery flame: This was a brilliant manifestation of God's splendor and the fierce heat of His judgment. There seems to be something lava-like in the stream of fire pouring from the throne; it was like a river of vast destructive power.
Isaiah 66:15-15 describes the judgment of God in terms of fire: For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
Its wheels a burning fire: Many commentators say that in the ancient eastern world royal thrones were often on wheels. Yet it is just as likely that they represent the endless activity of God.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him: This describes the innumerable company of angels surrounding the throne of God.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: This describes humanity standing before God in judgment.
Court was seated, and the books were opened: The Bible describes several books before God, and any of these or combination of these could be meant.
- The book of the living (Psalm 69:28).
- The book of remembrance (Malachi 3:16).
- The Book of Life (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27 and 22:19).
Another makes this statement.
7:9-10 In Daniel 2 we saw a stone crush the statue to powder, then fill the whole earth, vividly portraying the time when these nations will be judged and destroyed. At that time God will set up His kingdom and reign forever.
This chapter adds the fact that God will “sit” for a solemn day of judgment before He sets up His “everlasting dominion.” See vss. 9-12, 22 and 26. His verdict will be both just and merciful, because He commits the judgment to His Son, who gave His life for us. John 5:22, 27.
This chapter adds the fact that God will “sit” for a solemn day of judgment before He sets up His “everlasting dominion.” See vss. 9-12, 22 and 26. His verdict will be both just and merciful, because He commits the judgment to His Son, who gave His life for us. John 5:22, 27.
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So it doesn't matter what conqueror thinks they are in control, in the end it's God who's going to open the books and judge... I'm glad Daniel put this in prose. It makes the best message of the book so far shine brighter.
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