Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Berean Christadelphian Ecclesial News (August 1938): Jesus as the “Ancient of Days” in light of “God-manifestation” (Phanerosis)

In the August 1938 issue of the Berean Christadelphian’s newsletter, we read the following article by an “M.J.” identifying the “Ancient of Days” with “Jesus” by means of the “God-manifestation” or Phanerosis doctrine:

 

THOUGHTS ON THE TYPES AND TITLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

 

x. —ANCIENT OF DAYS.

 

Two fundamental doctrines stand out prominently in the vivid contrast afforded between the Truth and the errors of an apostate Christendom — God manifestation and the natural condition of man. Whilst there have been at various times some who have rejected the myth of the immortality of the soul, only those whose minds have been illuminated by "the whole counsel of God" can have the slightest conception of those things revealed concerning "the Name."

 

Wonderfully interwoven as a golden thread in the beautiful fabric of the "eternal purpose which He hath purposed in Christ Jesus" is the Memorial Name of God, first revealed to Israel (Ex. iii. 14, 15) as His chosen, and later to all becoming related to the covenants of promise in the appointed way (Matt. xxviii. 19).

 

Through the prophet Daniel is outlined (for the understanding of such) two great systems in the earth—one present, the other to come. The Kingdom of God is to supplant the kingdoms of men, the broad survey of which is given in the visions of Nebuchadnezzar (ch. ii.) and of Daniel himself (ch. vii.).

 

After four world-wide empires had passed away—characterised by four metals in the one case, and by four great beasts in the other—Daniel "beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire" (vii. 9). Conquest by fire is the work appointed to Christ when he "shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, taking vengeance on them that know not God" (2 Thess. i. 7, 8).

 

As Daniel's visions of the night unfolded, and he witnessed the slaying of the beast, in its Papal and Protestant phases, and its body (politic) "given to the burning flame," another personage appeared, coming with the clouds of heaven (see 1 Thess. iv. 17), and was brought into the august presence of the Ancient of Days.

 

Literally, it is not one person, but a composite body, and is styled, as Dr. Thomas shows, "a (not the) Son of Man." Although having in the vision the form of a man, it is that cloud of witnesses, or multitudinous seed of Christ, redeemed from the world and constituted a part of that mighty congregation of the saints who will presently execute judgments in the earth. Of them, the Ancient of Days, in the time of his fleshly manifestation, declared that he had "manifested the Father's name unto them" (John xvii. 6), as a result of which "they have known surely that I (Jesus) came out from thee.”

 

Later, in "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants," the Apostle John saw "one like unto the Son of Man," whose characteristics were similar to those seen by Daniel.

 

The identification is simple, for he speaks, declaring himself to be "he that liveth, and was dead, and is alive for evermore, Amen.” He is the head of the body, the perfect man (Eph. iv. 13).

 

To quote the author of Eureka: "The Ancient of Days is 'the Lord the Spirit,’ the 'Quickening Spirit,’ the Logos in David's flesh, who is the Head of this Son of Man" (i. p. 166). In controversy with the religious leaders, this One claimed, much to their consternation, "Before Abraham was, I am.” Their minds could extend no further than their fleshly descent as a nation, but "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John i.).

 

Four thousand years elapsed, and in a dream, Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary, was comforted by the assurance that she was to bring forth a son, whose name (as the Spirit in Isaiah had foretold) should be called Immanuel—God with us.

 

Nineteen centuries have rolled on, and we are waiting to see him "so come" in like manner as the disciples saw him go from the Mount of Olives, and to participate, if found worthy, in "the dominion and the glory which shall not pass away.”

 

The events of the future are vividly portrayed in the Exposition of Daniel as follows: —

 

"The coming of the Ancient of Days is a great event in this prophecy. He is said to sit, and one like the Son of Man to be brought to him. When the prophecy was delivered he had not manifested himself in the flesh—the Son of Man had not been born; hence that peculiar representative mode of expression: but he has since been born, or manifested, and gone into a far country, where the manifested Son has appeared in the presence of the Ancient of Days, or the Father, for the purpose of receiving from him ‘dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, and nations, and languages, should serve him; and all rulers obey him.’ . . . When the times arrives, as the Ancient of Days embodied in holy spiritual nature, he will come and ‘sit in Jerusalem, the Holy City, to judge all the nations round about. . . .’ When the manifested Ancient of Days comes, the judgment is set and the books are opened; and whosoever is found written in the Lamb's Book of Life awakes to everlasting life."

 

The initial work confronting the saints of the Most High is demonstrated in Daniel vii., which has been of sustaining power to many a fainting pilgrim, bowed down by the difficulties and injustices inseparable from the kingdoms of men.

 

Opportunity to wear out the saints will no longer exist, for their time will have come to assist with Spirit invested authority in bringing the world to a recognition that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men. Once more will the Divine prerogative be exerted, for though man is subject to decay and death, and in his brief span of mortal existence is in constant rebellion against the law of God, the Lord's arm is not shortened.

 

Amongst the many sublime pictures through Isaiah with which we comfort ourselves in these days of waiting, those words contained in ch. li. surely stimulate in this respect:

 

"Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and ever-lasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away." (M.J. "Consider Him," in The Berean Christadelphian: A Magazine Devoted to the Exposition and Defence of the Faith Once For All Delivered to the Saints as Opposed to the Dogmas and Reservations of the Papal and Protestant Churches [August 1938]: 304-5)

 

For more, see the following posts on the Christadelphian founder, John Thomas, and his understanding of Jesus being the "Ancient of Days":


John Thomas (1805-1871): Jesus being the "Ancient of Days" by Means of "God-Manifestation" (Divine Investiture of Authority)

John Thomas (1869): The “Ancient of Days” is a Corporate Entity (the Church) and the “Son of Man” (Jesus) as a “God-Manifestation”


On the Christadelphian movement itself, see:


Listing of Articles on Christadelphian Issues