Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father?

Leeza
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Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father? Aug 12, 2015 1:40:19 GMT Gr8tful likes this

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Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 1:40:19 GMT

Is the "Ancient of Days" a description of God the Father in bodily form in Daniel 7:9?

It is written in Daniel 7:9:

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: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Jesus is described in Revelation 1:14-15 as very similar to Daniel 7:9

"And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters"

When Stephen was stoned, he describes Jesus standing at the right hand of God in Acts 7:55:

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

However, when you read Daniel 7:13, it is written:

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.

So because of this, I am thinking that the "Ancient of Days" sitting on the throne in Daniel 7:9 is different than Jesus as described in Revelation 1:14-15.

Thoughts?

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:29

Benjamin
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Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father? Aug 12, 2015 2:18:51 GMT shiloh, Leeza, and 1 more like this

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Post by Benjamin on Aug 12, 2015 2:18:51 GMT

You've hit the nail on the head.
When you study these apocalyptic passages (Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation), you can see a couple of things going on:

First of all, the Father is described.
While "no man may see God and live", the fact that these visions took place "in the Spirit" seems to have permitted men to see something that they would otherwise have been unable to.

Second, the Father and Son have near-identical descriptions. This makes sense in that Christ is the "image of the invisible God".

Third, the Father and Son seem to be deliberately inseparable in terms of interpretation. There are some passages that are definitely the Son, others that are definitely the Father, and still others where it is quite clearly either or both.

I don't think any of this is accidental, and it all points toward the Triune nature of God. More than that, I think it points toward a dimensionality that we can neither understand nor describe at this point - this is why John says that "when we see Him, we shall be made like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." The implication is that we can't see Him as He is right now, because we're not "like Him".

Hopefully that answers your question a little - the short answer being "yes, Father and Son are distinct from one another in Daniel 7:9, but not always".

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

Leeza
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Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father? Aug 12, 2015 9:30:48 GMT shiloh and Gr8tful like this

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Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 9:30:48 GMT

Thanks, Benjamin.

This statement made a lot of sense to me:

Second, the Father and Son have near-identical descriptions. This makes sense in that Christ is the "image of the invisible God".

I was always wondering why their descriptions were nearly identical, so I can see it now.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:29

shiloh
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Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father? Aug 12, 2015 13:37:21 GMT Leeza and Gr8tful like this

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Post by shiloh on Aug 12, 2015 13:37:21 GMT

This is sort of like what Benjamin posted:

"The title “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 1 that 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)."

www.gotquestions.org/ancient-of-days.html

Leeza Ascended to the King! Oddly obsessed with Don Rickles Posts: 999,001 Favourite Verse: Philippians 1:6 Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://www.users.on.net/~Awen/water.jpg","color":""} Mini-Profile Text Color: 551f4f Mini-Profile Name Color: 551f4f	Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father? Aug 12, 2015 15:54:09 GMT shiloh and Gr8tful like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 15:54:09 GMT Good article, Shiloh, thanks. I really like gotquestions.org. I think it's a good website to answer a lot of questions, much like Jack Kelly.
	Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:29

Is the "Ancient of Days" a Description of God the Father?

Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 1:40:19 GMT

Post by Benjamin on Aug 12, 2015 2:18:51 GMT

Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 9:30:48 GMT

Post by shiloh on Aug 12, 2015 13:37:21 GMT

Post by Leeza on Aug 12, 2015 15:54:09 GMT