While exiled in Babylon, a slave to a foreign power, Daniel prayerfully watched as “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” (Daniel 7:9–10).
Wide-eyed, Daniel saw “one like a Son of Man … coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13–14).
Who were these extraordinary beings? As Daniel gazed into Heaven’s royal chambers, who did he see? Isn’t it obvious?
Can we go to other inspired writing to cross-reference the “Ancient of Days”? No. Only to Daniel’s seventh chapter. Here, three times, Daniel writes this holiest of names: “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22).
The “Ancient of Days” is the Ever-Existing Jehovah-God, Creator and Sustainer of life, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the Almighty, Sovereign, All-Knowing and Ever-Present God. He is the One seen by Isaiah, “seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth” (Isaiah 6:1–3).
His thundering voice was heard at the Jordan River. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:22). Again, on the Mount of Transfiguration, creation heard the voice of the Father, “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5).
Daniel saw God. Daniel also saw the pre-incarnate Jesus, the Son of Man. The old prophet saw “one like a Son of Man.” He wasn’t merely a man, because no man could ever be given “an everlasting dominion.” Daniel saw the second person of the Godhead, the Son of God, the “Son of Man.”
There is but one God. The Triune God has always existed as one … and as three. The three exist in union with one another, yet their existence is distinct. Today we accept this by faith. One day, we’ll understand, for “we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2, ESV).
