Daniel 7:9-10

The ancient of days did sit.

The Ancient of Days Coming to Judgment

Daniel claimed two offices for the Messiah.

1. He should be a King.

2. A Judge.

These claims rested on the unity of nature--the “ancient of days “ being “brought near “ and taking “hold of, the Son of man; thus making both One and this One offering a propitiation--being “out off,” but not from Himself. The first claim has been met; Christ is the King! He shall be the Judge Kingship becomes the guarantee of Judgeship. We proceed to proclaim a coming judgment.

I. IT IS THE UNIVERSAL EXPRESSION OF OUR RACE.

1. By personal conscience.

2. By relative necessity.

3. By ideal anticipation.

II. IT IS THE UNIFORM TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE. The Bible teaches throughout that “the judgment “ will take place. In this testimony we find three grand facts.

1. All the dead are reserved to judgment.

2. All the living are going to judgment

3. All conditions of life will be known at the judgment.

(1) Surroundings.

(2) Character.

(3) Destiny.

III. IT IS THE INVOLVED CULMINATION OF REDEMPTION.

1. It will exhibit the personal glory of our Redeemer’s character.

2. It will vindicate the supreme importance of our Redeemer’s mission.

3. It will display the impartiality of our Redeemer’s administration.

4. It will declare the immunities of our Redeemer’s followers. (Joseph Odell.)

The World’s Assize

In metaphors borrowed from the solemnities of earthly tribunals, and particularly from those of the great Jewish Sanhedrim, the prophet describes the process of judgment. As, in that assembly, the father of the consistory sat with the assessors ranged on each side in the form of a semi-circle, with the people standing before him, so here the prophet speaks of God as seated on His throne of judgment, attended by thousand thousands who minister unto Him, whilst ten thousand times ten thousand stand in His presence. We are disposed to regard the language of the text as descriptive of the Great Assize.

I. THE GLORIOUS APPEARANCE OF OUR SAVIOUR.

1. That Christ will re-visit this earth is a fact stated in many passages of Scripture. What shall be the nature of the grandeur and glory of His final appearing, or how it will be displayed, none can tell.

II. ITS ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES. More particularly as to ourselves and mankind at large. Mark how diverse the characters of those around the throne! What an affecting contrast is presented to our minds! (Edward Pizey, B. A.)

Manifestation or God by Fire

Grotius remarks that the ancient thrones and curule chairs had wheels. Those in the text being like burning fire.” Dr. Cox observes: “Prognosticate”; “at once the majesty of the Judge, piercing, penetrating, awful, and the rapid progress of those providential visitations which would bespeak the indignation of a sin-avenging Deity.” “The fire-scattering wheels,” says Keil, “show the omnipotence of the Divine throne of judgment--the going of the judgment of God the whole earth.” He further observes: “Fire, and the shining of fire, are the constant phenomena of the manifestation of God in the world. The fire which engirds His throne with flame pours itself forth as a stream from God into the world, consuming all that is sinful and hostile to Him, and rendering His people and kingdom glorious.”

Thousand thousands ministered unto Him.

Benefits of Meditation on the Holy Angels

The thought that the Christian life consists in the performance of everyday duties on the principles of the Gospel, and with the temper and disposition of the blessed inhabitants of Heaven, may help to restrain us from two serious errors into which, from our extreme frailty, we must confess ourselves but too liable to fall. One error is the disposition to imagine that religion is a matter of so transcendantly high and spiritual a nature as to be quite above and unmixed with earthly things. The other error is the disposition to lower the standard and measure of Christian morality. It is of the highest importance that we pray and endeavour to have our elections deadened to this present world, and our minds drawn up to high and Heavenly things. Habitual reflection on the habits of glorified spirits in the beatific presence of their and our God would greatly tend to wean our affections from mean, unworthy objects, to fill us with humility and awe, and, at the same time, to give us a notion of our true dignity as God’s adopted children in Christ Jesus. The mere thought that there are in existence innumerable glorious immortal spirits--that their God is our God--that let our condition in this world be ever so poor and degraded, yet these blessed angels disdain not to acknowledge themselves our “fellow-servants”; that they care for us, and minister for us as Christians, and heirs of salvation, may well arouse us from the low-born cares and follies of this present world, lead us to consider what we are, and what we are coming to. To be in the presence and favour of the Almighty God, this and this only can constitute the happiness of all reasonable creatures, of angels in Heaven, or of men on earth. To live in the presence of God is the happiness of glorified spirits in Heaven. To live as in His presence is the great rule of holiness to men on earth. It is of great consequence for serious minds to raise their thoughts to high and Heavenly realities; especially to the thought of the innumerable society of good angels, who sing their Alleluias before the throne. (Serrmons by Authors “Tracts for the Times.”)

The Heavenly Service

The curtain of Heaven was lifted up, and Daniel, wrapt in the spirit and vision of prophecy, was favoured with a view of the celestial regions. The scene is laid in the wide etherial of the third heaven. The Ancient of Days appeared upon a burning throne, which, being provided with wheels, was the chariot in which He made the immense circuit of His dominion. A numerous and splendid host of angels and redeemed spirits minister unto Him, and stand before Him. To minister and to stand in Scripture language, mean service. These countless millions, therefore, stand before God to wait His commands, and then they minister unto Him, that is, they flee to do His sovereign pleasure. The truth to be gathered from this part of Daniel’s vision is, that Heaven is a state of exalted service.

I. THE PECULIAR NATURE OF THE HEAVENLY SERVICE.

1. It will be suited to a state of final reward. There will be nothing that will imply a state of probation or trial. When we reach Heaven, all service which had the nature of a means to attaining the end of moral perfection will pass away.

2. It will include all essential duties that are due from the creature to the Creator. Many of the duties of revealed religion will cease in Heaven, because they are designed to effect a temporary purpose only. Through eternity, angels and redeemed will be dependent upon God, and receive all good from Him. Love, and the manifestation of love, will be one portion of this exalted service. A holy fear of, and respect to, the majesty of God is due from the creature to the Creator, and the manifestation of this will be one part of the service of Heaven. A voluntary dependence on God; an absolute and unlimited subjection to His supreme authority; a continued aim at His glory--enter into the duty of the creature towards the Creator.

3. The Heavenly service will be the united service of angels and men. The assembly of Heaven is one, the worship or service is one, the temple is one, the song is one.

4. The Heavenly service will consist in immediate attendance upon God. Here ours is the service of trading for our great Master while He is in a far country. But in Heaven we shall serve in His presence; we shall be His personal attendants.

5. It will be a service of subordinate dominion. The Scriptures assure us that the saints are to be rulers and governors in the world to come. What an honour and satisfaction it will be to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords, as kings and rulers under Him, and this honour shall all the saints have.

6. The Heavenly service will be a sabbath service. The earthly sabbath is a type of Heaven, and it shadows forth the state and employments of the saints there. It is a rest from worldly toil and labour, but not a cessation of all activity and service.

7. The service of Heaven is temple service. The ancient temple was a type of Heaven.

8. The service of Heaven will be a service of praise. To think of God, to admire Him, to behold His glory and rejoice in it, to love and praise Him, will be the sweet employment of Heaven. The Heavenly service is the engagement of spirits freed from sin; pervaded with light, fired with love, enraptured with delight, and bound by sweet and immortal bonds to God and to each other for ever.

II. THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS SERVICE WILL BE RENDERED,

1. Without the least reluctance. The service of God will be voluntarily rendered, deeply loved, and highly enjoyed.

2. Without weakness.

3. Without weariness.

4. Without distraction.

5. Without intermission.

6. Without defect.

7. Without end.

If this service will be our happiness and honour in Heaven, let us take care that we deem it our happiness and honour on earth. None who refuse to serve God on earth shall serve Him in Heaven. (N. Gregory.)