Many Christians listen to Christian radio stations while they work, do some light house work, or drive. Some listen to Christian music exclusively. Do you enjoy Christian music? I cannot say I do. Occasionally, my wife would hear a Christian song that she said was out of this world, and ask me to listen to it, and she would be right, the song was amazing. But usually, I don’t listen much to Christian music (some of you are questioning right now if I am a Christian at all). Because I don’t listen to Christian music, naturally, I don’t know many Christian songs. But there was one Christian song I liked almost from the first time I heard it. The title was, “The Ancient of Days”. I thought it had a good beat.
If I am honest, I didn’t know what I was singing. I sure didn’t know what the words, “Ancient of Days” meant. Then one day, a friend explained to me it referred to God. I admit I didn’t do my own research to see if he was right. I just believed him.
Do the words, “Ancient of Days” appear in the Bible? If so, where does it appear? I am glad you asked. It is in the Bible. It appears altogether three times in the Bible. All three appearances are found in the prophetic Book of Daniel. More specifically, all three appear in the same chapter of Daniel.
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.
In the first appearance of “Ancient of Days” in the Bible, Daniel had a vision, and in this vision, he saw heaven. A person sat on the heavenly throne. The throne was flaming with fire, as were the wheels under the throne. The Ancient of Days in the vision had to be referring to God who sat on the flaming throne in heaven.
But why did Daniel go out of his way to say that the one who took the throne wore clothes as white as snow, and had hair also as white as wool? What does this mean? And why was the Hebrew word, “ancient” used to describe God? Some say this is talking about God being old. God is ancient. I too have snow-white hair, and I am old. But no, I don’t think this was what Daniel was saying. It’s hard for anyone to know for sure, but if I had to guess, could the word, “ancient” be referring to the eternality of God? God being ancient means that God existed before time began. Isaiah 43:13 begins, “Even from eternity I am He.” But in the Hebrew, it literally says, “Before days were, I am He”, meaning that God existed before days were even created. This is confirmed by what we already know from Genesis 1 when God said he created the day and he created the night. If God was the one who created the day and the night, he must have existed before time was invented. The Bible uses the title, “Ancient of Days” to say that God is without beginning and without end. There is no one like our God.
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. 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.
This is a spectacular scene in the second appearance of “Ancient of Days”. Daniel 7:13 says the Son of Man, out of the clouds of heaven, approached God the Father on the throne. In the vision, we see God the Father giving authority to Jesus. A kingdom was given to him, but how fascinating this kingdom would never end. Every other kingdom on earth comes and goes. Not this one. There will always be this kingdom. There is no kingdom like this kingdom.
Daniel 7.21
I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
Notice in this third and last appearance of “Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7:22, Jesus is now referred to as the Ancient of Days. Revelation 1:14–15 says the Son of Man’s head and hair were white as wool and snow. Sound familiar? Daniel says this Jesus one day, as the Ancient of Days, would return to earth again. Do you believe this? He would return, and he would return as the Judge. Every living and dead person, from the past, present, and future would stand before the throne of the Ancient of Days.
In a few days, we say goodbye to 2025. For many years now, our world has met much chaos and trouble, and 2025 is no different. But in the midst of chaos and trouble, there is real encouragement. I say real encouragement because the Ancient of Days has spoken. He is the Ancient of Days. He is the Everlasting Father. He was here before the beginning. He came to earth to receive dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom. And he will remain even after the End. So, do not let your hearts be troubled. The Ancient of Days knows what he is doing. Read his promises in the Bible, and trust him.
Blessing and Honor
Glory and Power
Be unto the Ancient of Days
From every nation
All of creation
Bow before the Ancient of Days
Every tongue in heaven and earth
Shall declare Your glory
Every knee shall bow at Your throne in worship
You will be exalted, oh God
And Your kingdom shall not pass away
Oh Ancient of Days