I 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.
I beheld until-I continued looking until ... the thrones were cast down - rather х rªmiyw (H7412), 'thrones were placed' (Vulgate and Luther)] - namely, for the saints and elect angels, to whom "judgment is given" (Daniel 7:22), as assessors with the Judge. Compare Daniel 7:10, "thousand thousands ministered unto Him" (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 1 Timothy 5:21; Revelation 2:26; Revelation 4:4). In the English version the thrones cast down are those of the previously mentioned ten kings who give place to Messiah.
And the Ancient of days did sit - "the everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6). HE is the Judge here, as THE SON does not judge in His own cause, and it is His cause which is the one at issue with Antichrist.
Sit - the attitude of a judge about to pass sentence.
Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool - the judicial purity of the Judge, and of all things round Him, is hereby expressed (Revelation 1:14, "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow").
His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire - as Oriental thrones move on wheels. Like the rapid flame, God's judgments are most swift in falling where He wills them (Ezekiel 1:15-16). The turning of the wheels mark the complicated and all-wise revolutions of His providences. The judgment here is not the last judgment, for then there will be no beast, and heaven and earth shall have passed away; but it is that on Antichrist (the last development of the fourth kingdom), typical of the last judgment: Christ coming to substitute the millennial kingdom of glory for that of the cross (Revelation 17:12-14; Revelation 19:15-21; Revelation 11:15).