puricare chronicles: THE ANCIENT OF DAYS - Why Is God Called the Ancient of Days? - Ancient of Days focuses on God’s eternality. The Ancient of Days has been present since before time, is present now, and will be present for time everlasting. The Ancient of Days is giving the Son of Man the reins to a kingdom that will never end. The Ancient of Days is an eternal being, and He could keep dominion over His sovereign kingdom forever if He so chooses. However, He chooses to give up everlasting dominion and glory to the Son of Man. The Ancient of Days chooses to share in His glory with His Son, a grand display of the Father’s great love for His Son. There are a surprising number of names that are used to describe God the Father throughout Scripture. Some well-known examples include Elohim, Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts, and El Shaddai. One name that is only used a few times in Scripture is Ancient of Days. This name is only used three times in the Bible, all in the seventh chapter of Daniel. Let us dive in and explore why this seemingly strange name is used to describe our God. There is no doubt that the name Ancient of Days is referring to God in heaven, and certainly to God the Father in verses 9 and 13. There is some debate as to whether the reference in verses 21-22 are referring to the Father or the Son. Some think that the mention of the Ancient of Days coming is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ, although this is disputed.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS - Why Is God Called the Ancient of Days? - Ancient of Days focuses on God’s eternality. The Ancient of Days has been present since before time, is present now, and will be present for time everlasting. The Ancient of Days is giving the Son of Man the reins to a kingdom that will never end. The Ancient of Days is an eternal being, and He could keep dominion over His sovereign kingdom forever if He so chooses. However, He chooses to give up everlasting dominion and glory to the Son of Man. The Ancient of Days chooses to share in His glory with His Son, a grand display of the Father’s great love for His Son. There are a surprising number of names that are used to describe God the Father throughout Scripture. Some well-known examples include Elohim, Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts, and El Shaddai. One name that is only used a few times in Scripture is Ancient of Days. This name is only used three times in the Bible, all in the seventh chapter of Daniel. Let us dive in and explore why this seemingly strange name is used to describe our God. There is no doubt that the name Ancient of Days is referring to God in heaven, and certainly to God the Father in verses 9 and 13. There is some debate as to whether the reference in verses 21-22 are referring to the Father or the Son. Some think that the mention of the Ancient of Days coming is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ, although this is disputed.

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The Ancient of Days

Why Is God Called the Ancient of Days?

Ancient of Days focuses on God’s eternality. The Ancient of Days has been present since before time, is present now, and will be present for time everlasting. The Ancient of Days is giving the Son of Man the reins to a kingdom that will never end. The Ancient of Days is an eternal being, and He could keep dominion over His sovereign kingdom forever if He so chooses. However, He chooses to give up everlasting dominion and glory to the Son of Man. The Ancient of Days chooses to share in His glory with His Son, a grand display of the Father’s great love for His Son.

Lucas Hagen

There are a surprising number of names that are used to describe God the Father throughout Scripture.

Some well-known examples include Elohim, Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts, and El Shaddai.

One name that is only used a few times in Scripture is Ancient of Days.

This name is only used three times in the Bible, all in the seventh chapter of Daniel. Let us dive in and explore why this seemingly strange name is used to describe our God.

Where Does “Ancient of Days” Appear in the Bible?

God is referred to as the Ancient of Days three times in Daniel 7, and the name is never used again in Scripture.

The following are the three verses in which the title appears:

Daniel 7:9 – “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.”

Daniel 7:13 – “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.”

Daniel 7:21-22 – “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.”

What Does Ancient of Days Mean?

There is no doubt that the name Ancient of Days is referring to God in heaven, and certainly to God the Father in verses 9 and 13.

There is some debate as to whether the reference in verses 21-22 are referring to the Father or the Son.

Some think that the mention of the Ancient of Days coming is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ, although this is disputed.

Although there is debate as to whom the name is referring, there is little debate over what the name means.

The consensus is that this name for God is used to emphasize God’s eternality.

Most names for God presented in Scripture emphasize one particular characteristic of God’s nature.

Examples include El Shaddai (God’s power) or Jehovah Rapha (God’s healing).

Ancient of Days focuses on God’s eternality.

The Ancient of Days has been present since before time, is present now, and will be present for time everlasting.

Why Is God Called This?

It is reasonable to assume that if this is the only place in Scripture where God is called Ancient of Days, and if it is referring to one particular aspect of His nature, then there must be an intentional reason for why the writer of Daniel used this name at this time.

Why focus on God’s eternality in Daniel 7?

The climax of Daniel 7 is the transfer of power between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. Read Daniel 7:13-14:

“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. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

The focus on God the Father adds weight to this dramatic scene, as He who has ruled since before time is now giving dominion and authority to His Son, the Son of Man.

This is not a typical transfer of power and authority.

The Ancient of Days is giving the Son of Man the reins to a kingdom that will never end.

This is not because the Ancient of Days is retiring or is dying.

The Ancient of Days is an eternal being, and He could keep dominion over His sovereign kingdom forever if He so chooses.

However, He chooses to give up everlasting dominion and glory to the Son of Man.

The Ancient of Days chooses to share in His glory with His Son, a grand display of the Father’s great love for His Son.

Why Is It Important That God Is Eternal?

In terms of characteristics of God’s nature, eternality is in a special category.

It is among four other characteristics known as incommunicable characteristics.

These are the attributes of God’s nature that are not shared with His created beings.

The five incommunicable attributes of God are omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, and eternality.

Nothing that God has created can share in any of these characteristics, whereas God’s communicable attributes include love, mercy, and grace.

These characteristics are shared with God’s creation, although they are corrupted due to original sin.

It is important that God is eternal because no other being is eternal.

God has always been who He is, and He will never change for all time.

Why Is It Important or Powerful That God Has Different Names?

God’s various names in Scripture highlight different aspects of God’s nature.

Many of these names used for God facilitate more personal connections between God and His people, as the names they use for Him serve as reminders of what God has done in the past.

Here are a few examples of how the different names of God remind us of who He is.

· Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). This name means “the Lord who provides,” and reminds God’s people of when He provided the ram for Abraham before he was to sacrifice Isaac.

· Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:26). This name means “the Lord who Heals,” and reminds God’s people of how he protected the Israelites from the plagues He sent upon the people of Egypt.

· Elohim (Genesis 1:1). This name focuses on God as creator, and reminds His people of how He spoke the world into creation.

What Does This Mean for Us and Our Faith Today?

Remembering God as the Ancient of Days can give Christians hope today, that God has always been, and will always be.

God is completely outside of time. There is nothing that can happen that will take God by surprise.

As things continue to look uncertain, we can be reminded that our God never changes, and we can have hope that God is in control despite the chaos we may be experiencing in current times.

Ancient of Days is a name for God that is only used three times in Scripture, all of them in Daniel 7.

This is a name for God that focuses on God’s eternality, a characteristic that only applies to God.

This is a powerful reminder that our Lord is steadfast, and will always be with us.

Praise God, the Ancient of Days!

Lucas Hagen is a freelance writer, recently graduated from Taylor University with majors in Biblical Literature and Youth Ministries. When he is not writing for Crosswalk, you can find him reading great books, playing guitar, competing in professional disc golf tournaments, and spending quality time with his lovely wife, Natalie, and their fluffy cat, Woodward. You can read more of his writing at habitsofholiness.com.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-is-god-called-the-ancient-of-days.html?utm_source=jeeng

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