Ancient of Days

[CommanderSouth]

I am having trouble understanding the Ancient of Days being Adam. The wording in Daniel makes it seems like we would bow before him and worship, and that his kingdom wouldn't pass away.

This sounds like God, and doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Anyone have any thoughts, or perhaps some good resources on the topic? I tried reading FAIR's article but it didn't make all the much sense to me, which is unusual.

Anyway, thanks for the help!

[pam]

Do you have a reference in Daniel?

[CommanderSouth]

Daniel 7

[CommanderSouth]

Verse 14 I think is the one giving me the most trouble... Though 9 is kind of prickly...

[brittrossiter]

The FAIR article on this precise question is very informative.

According to the article, this particular portion of Daniel exists today only in Aramaic, whilst the balance of the Old Testament exists in Hebrew. The translators' use of the phrase "Ancient of Days" for the particular Aramaic phrase in Daniel 7 at issue is anomolous and cannot be justified without resort to extrinsic sources (the article specifically mentions "Canaanite myth and Baal imagery")

[CommanderSouth]

Which is fine, but the name isn't so much the issue, it's what's attributed to him, specifically the kingdom and whatnot...

[rameumptom]

We get into the concept of Divine Investiture, where holy beings represent God. In 3 Enoch, the Prophet Enoch goes to heaven, puts on white garments, is given the new name Metatron the archangel, is set upon God's throne and worshiped. In 11Melch scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we are told "Melchizedek is Elohim" and "Melchizedek is Jehovah". Here we again see that holy men have become divine, and given the name of God.

Especially in the case of Enoch and Melchizedek, both of whom were so righteous their cities were translated, we find them as kings of their translated holy cities. They literally were the gods of their divine cities. According to George Laub's journal, Joseph Smith taught that in the days of the Tower of Babel, the city of Enoch was still visible and this is what Nimrod attempted to reach and overthrow. He would have overthrown Enoch, who was the king and god of the heavenly city of Zion.

In Daniel, we see Adam taking his place as the head of the human race, and as God's symbol. In fact, there are ancient traditions that state that one of God's names was Adam! So it makes sense for Adam to be the Ancient of Days. He was the Ancient of Days that gathered his righteous children together 3 years before his death to give his last blessings, and where Christ appeared to bless him. And it will be at Adam-Ondi-Ahman where Adam will again appear as the Ancient of Days to take an accounting of all the dispensations of the earth, and then give his accounting to Christ. (see D&C 107)

[spamlds]

Read Daniel 7:13-14 carefully, paying attention to subordinate clauses:

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

At a great gathering in Adam-ondi-Ahman, an accounting of the keys of the priesthood is given to Adam, the Ancient of Days. He is Michael the Prince (Daniel 12:1). God gave him dominion over the earth in the Garden of Eden. When the one "like the son of man" (Christ) comes to this gathering, the kingdom that has been built upon the earth is presented to him. Then Glory honor and dominion are given to him (Christ). That kingdom will never fall.