The following is part of a debate, among other things, about the identity of the “Ancient of Days” in Dan 7 between Henry Jones (1804-1880), a Congregationalist minister and abolitionist, and George Storrs (1796-1879), a fellow abolitionist and was also a Congregationalist minister until 1840 due to his explicit belief in conditional immortality and was a key figure in the American Restorationist Movement.
Henry Jones: The ‘Ancient of Days’ is Christ
3. Dan. 7: 9, 10. “ I beheld till
the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of days [Christ] did sit [“ in
judgment”] &c. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as
burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him [at his
coming,] thousand thousands ministered unto him, ten thousand times ten
thousands stood before him, the judgment was set and the books were opened.”
Surely the “fiery,” general and
final “judgment” could not be more vividly described than in this passage, and
yet it is at Christ’s coming to “sit” on “ his throne,” and not at any later
time, seeming to foretel the end of the world at Christ’s second advent, and
not a thousand years afterward
4. Dan. 7: 21, 22. “1 beheld, and
the same horn [antichristian power] made war with the saints generally] and
prevailed against them [keeping] them under] until the Ancient of days came,
and judgment [final] was given to the saints, and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom.” According to this, the saints are to have their
promised “ judgment” and “ kingdom,” at Christ’s second coming, and only at
that “time.” And surely, they can enjoy no millennium at any time while a
wicked power is warring and prevailing against them,” as we here see, it will,
till the final “judgment.” (Henry Jones, "CHRIST'S SECOND ADVENT, GENERAL
JUDGMENT, AND END OF THE WORLD, Scripturally described as but one period of
time," May 1850, in Bible Examiner 5, no. 9 [September 1850]: 131)
George Storrs: The ‘Ancient of Days’ is Not Christ
. 3. “Daniel 7: 9, 10.” If the “
Ancient of Days” here is “ Christ,” as Bro. J. assumes, who is the “ one like
the Son of man” that “ came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the
Ancient of days, and they brought him near before Him?” “Surely,” here
is a clear distinction between “ Christ” and “the Ancient of days.” As to this
scene being the “final judgment,” that may be doubted. It is the judgment on
the “fourth beast.” But that beast, like all others, represents a dynasty, or body
of Rulers, and not the people who have been “ stamped with the feet” of
those wicked and oppressive dynasties. Besides all this, it is at that time the
Ancient of days gives to the “ one like the Son of man, dominion, and glory,
and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve
him:” v. 14. Surely here are strong evidences that there are “left of the
nations” after the judgment of the fourth beast by the Ancient of days. ’
4. “Dan. 7: 21, 22.” We agree
with all Bro. J. says on this text, with the exception of the word “ final.”
Leave out that word, or add, after judgment, “ on the fourth beast,” and we are
agreed. George Storrs, "Reply by the Editor," in Ibid., 133)