In my previous study we came to understand that in his dream Daniel saw the rise of four great kingdoms represented by four great beasts (Daniel 7:2-3). However, he was most interested the fourth beast or kingdom, which couldn’t be described by pointing to a known animal, as he had done concerning the other kingdoms. The fourth beast was unique in itself, having iron teeth and ten horns. Moreover, as Daniel dwelt upon its ten horns, a smaller horn arose, which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great words. Certainly, nothing like this fourth beast appears in our world, as we know it. It represents something mysterious and other worldly. While Daniel spends more time on this beast than he does with the others, his description seems veiled and ominous.
At this point in our study, however, the scene in Daniel’s dream changed from the beasts to an entirely different vision, which occurred, or it might be better to say, it would occur in heaven at some point in time far into the future, vis-à-vis far into Daniel’s perspective of the future. Daniel was taken to a time, when at least the first three of the four kingdoms had come and gone. In his dream, Daniel beheld a scene that is difficult to describe. He saw what the text reveals as the Ancient of Days! The title, itself, signifies a venerable and elderly person. The term appears only here, in Daniel, chapter seven (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22), and it is probably represented best by the term, The Eternal One! It is he, whom Jesus would later refer to as the Father (from our perspective) or MY FATHER (from Jesus’ perspective).
Daniel didn’t actually see the Ancient of Days, vis-à-vis the Father, because Jesus said, later, that no man has seen the Father’s shape or heard his voice (John 5:37). What Daniel saw was a dream, and in that dream the Father was represented, as a figure who was both venerable and old. He had hair like wool and was dressed in a garment that was as white as snow. Moreover, he sat on a throne best described as a fiery flame, and it had wheels of fire (Daniel 7:9).
The timeframe of this scene in Daniel’s dream points to the time of judgment (Daniel 7: 9-10), and the thrones, which the KJV text says are cast down, I believe should read that they were set, as is translated in many other versions of the Bible.[1] In other words, the scene is later described in the Apocalypse, chapters four and five. The thrones that were set are those of the 24 elders. Jesus said, that the Apostles would sit upon 12 thrones judging the House of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30), so twelve of the twenty-four seem to be the Apostles. I believe the scene Daniel describes is that, which Jesus referred to in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30. The thrones are set (Daniel 7:9), and they are set “round about the throne” of God (Revelation 4:4).
Notice that Daniel’s attention in his dream is once again changed, and he beholds the little horn that spoke (Daniel 7:11). Judgment has been pronounced and the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed in the burning flame, vis-à-vis the burning flame that shoots out from the throne of God (cp. Daniel 7:10).
Daniel concludes this portion of his dream, saying “the rest of the beasts… had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged…” In other words, they weren’t slain, like the fourth beast was in the fiery flame (Daniel 7:12; cp. verse-11). Why this is so isn’t said, but there will be some explanation of things here, when we come to the interpretation of the judgment that has taken place here.
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[1] See Septuagint, AFV; ASV; BBE; CEV; DRB; ESV; LEB; MKJV; NET; RV; WEB; and others.
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