This article deals with a study on Daniel chapter 8 where the vision of the 2300 days is found. As it stands it also deals with Daniel chapter 9 because a relation was seen between the two chapters. It is a good read. I will walk with the reader such that in places where it might get convoluted I will briefly summarise the point or add more information to give more clarity to the points being made.
“Let us then examine again with care the vision of the man greatly beloved, recorded in Daniel 8. We call attention to the symbols presented in this chapter. The first thing presented to the eye of the prophet, was” {S23D 7.2}
“THE VIEW OF THE RAM.—“Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns; and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.” Verses 3, 4.” {S23D 7.3}
“THE VIEW OF THE GOAT.—“And as I was considering, behold an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Therefore, the he goat waxed very great; and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it, came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.” Verses 5-8.” {S23D 8.1}
“THE VIEW OF THE LITTLE HORN.—“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.” Verses 9-12.” {S23D 8.2}
“THE VIEW OF THE SANCTUARY AND 2300 DAYS.—“Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision, concerning the daily sacrifice, and transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto 2300 days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Verses 13, 14.” {S23D 9.1}
GABRIEL COMMANDED TO EXPLAIN THIS VISION
“And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then behold there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face; but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground; but he touched me and set me upright. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for at the time appointed the end shall be,” Verses 15-19.” {S23D 9.2}
“SYMBOL OF THE RAM EXPLAINED.—“The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.” Verse 20. Then the meaning of the first symbol cannot be misunderstood. By it, the Medo-Persian Empire was presented to the eye of the prophet; its two horns denoting the union of these two powers in one government. This vision, therefore, does not begin with the empire of Babylon, as do the visions of the second and seventh chapters, but it commences with the empire of the Medes and Persians at the right of its power, prevailing westward, northward, and southward, so that no power could stand before it. The explanation of the next symbol will show what power overthrew the Persian Empire and succeeded to its place.” {S23D 9.3}
“SYMBOLS OF THE GOAT EXPLAINED.—“And the rough goat is the king of Grecia; and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” Verses 21, 22. The explanation of this symbol is also definite and certain. The power that should overthrow the Medes and Persians, and in their stead, bear rule over the earth, is the empire of the Greeks. Greece succeeded Persia in the dominion of the world B.C. 331. The great horn is here explained to be the first king of Grecia; it was Alexander the Great. The four horns that arose when this horn was broken, denote the four kingdoms into which the empire of Alexander was divided after his death. The same was presented by the four heads and four wings of the leopard. Daniel 7:6. It is predicted without the use of symbols in Daniel 11:3, 4. These four kingdoms were Macedon, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt. They originated B.C. 312.” {S23D 10.1}
“SYMBOL OF THE LITTLE HORN EXPLAINED.—“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” Verses 23-25.” {S23D 11.1}
IDENTITY OF THE LITTLE HORN
Writer’s interjection – At this point, the writer goes on to address a favourite common application that is made as to the identity of the little horn before setting forth what he believes the little horn to be.
“To avoid the application of this prophecy to the Roman power, pagan and papal, the papists have shifted it from Rome to Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian king who could not resist the mandates of Rome. See notes of the Douay (Romish) Bible on Daniel 7; 8; 11. This application is made by the papists, to save their church from any share in the fulfillment of the prophecy; and in this they have been followed by the mass of opposers to the Advent faith. The following facts show that” {S23D 11.2}
THE LITTLE HORN WAS NOT ANTIOCHUS
“1. The four kingdoms into which the dominion of Alexander was divided, are symbolized by the four horns of the goat. Now this Antiochus was but one of the twenty-five kings that constituted the Syrian horn. How, then, could he, at the same time, be another remarkable horn?” {S23D 11.3}
“2. The ram, according to this vision, became great; the goat waxed very great; but the little horn became exceeding great.” {S23D 11.4}
“How absurd and ludicrous is the following application of this comparison:” {S23D 11.4}
*Great. Very Great. Exceeding Great.** {S23D 12.1}
“Persia. GRECIA. ANTIOCHUS.” {S23D 12.2}
“How easy and natural is the following:” {S23D 12.3}
*Great. Very Great. Exceeding Great.** S23D 12.4
“Persia. GRECIA. ROME.” {S23D 12.5}
“3. The Medo-Persian Empire is simply called great. Verse 4. The Bible informs us that it extended “from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred seven and twenty provinces.” Esther 1:1. This was succeeded by the Grecian power, which is called VERY GREAT. Verse 8. Then comes the power in question which is called EXCEEDING GREAT. Verse 9. Was Antiochus exceeding great when compared with Alexander, the conqueror of the world?” {S23D 12.6}
“Let an item from the Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge answer:” {S23D 12.6}
““Finding his resources exhausted, he resolved to go into Persia, to levy tributes and collect large sums which he had agreed to pay to the Romans”.” {S23D 12.7}
“Surely we need not question which was exceeding great, the Roman power which exacted the tribute, or Antiochus who was compelled to pay it.” {S23D 12.8}
“4. The power in question was “little” at first, but it waxed, or grew, “exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land”. What can this describe but the conquering marches of a mighty power? Rome was almost directly north-west from Jerusalem, and its conquests in Asia and Africa were, of course, toward the east and south; but where were Antiochus’ conquests? He came into possession of a kingdom already established, and Sir Isaac Newton says, “He did not enlarge it.”” {S23D 12.9}
“5. Out of many reasons that might be added to the above, we named but one. This power was to stand up against the Prince of princes. Daniel 8, Verse 25. The Prince of princes is Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:5; 17:14; 19:16. But Antiochus died 164 years before our Lord was born. It is settled, therefore, that another power is the subject of this prophecy. The following facts demonstrate that” {S23D 12.10}
ROME IS THE POWER IN QUESTION
“1. This power was to come forth from one of the four kingdoms of Alexander’s empire. Let us remember that nations are not brought into prophecy, till somehow connected with the people of God. Rome had been in existence many years before it was noticed in prophecy; and Rome had made Macedon, one of the four horns of the Grecian goat, a part of itself B.C. 168, about ten years before its first connection with the people of God. See 1 Mac. 8. So that Rome could as truly be said to be “out of one of them,” as the ten horns of the fourth beast in the seventh chapter, could be said to come out of that beast, when they were ten kingdoms set up by the conquerors of Rome.” {S23D 13.1}
“2. It was to wax exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. (Palestine. Psalm 106:24; Zechariah 7:14.) This was true of Rome in particular. Witness its conquests in Africa and Asia, and its overthrow of the place and nation of the Jews. John 11:48.” {S23D 13.2}
“3. It was to cast down of the host and of the stars. This is predicted respecting the dragon. Revelation 12:3, 4. All admit that the dragon was Rome. Who can fail to see their identity?” {S23D 13.3}
“4. Rome was emphatically a king of fierce countenance, and one that did understand dark sentences. Moses used similar language when, as all agree, he predicted the Roman power. Deuteronomy 28:49, 50.” {S23D 13.4}
“5. Rome did destroy wonderfully. Witness its overthrow of all opposing powers.” {S23D 14.1}
“6. Rome has destroyed more of “the mighty and the holy people,” than all other persecuting powers combined. From fifty to one hundred millions of the church have been slain by it.” {S23D 14.2}
“7. Rome did stand up against the Prince of princes. The Roman power nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. Acts 4:26, 27; Matthew 27:2; Revelation 12:4.” {S23D 14.3}
“8. This power is to “be broken without hand.” How clear the reference to the stone “cut out without hand” that smote the image. Daniel 2:34. Its destruction then does not take place until the final overthrow of earthly power. These facts are conclusive proof that Rome is the subject of this prophecy. For an extended notice, see Advent Library, No. 33.” {S23D 14.4}
“The field of vision, then, is the empires of Persia, Greece, and Rome.” {S23D 14.5}
“That part of the vision that now engages our attention is the time-the reckoning of the 2300 days.” {S23D 14.6}
THE 2300 DAYS NOT EXPLAINED IN Daniel 8
“Gabriel did explain to Daniel what was meant by the symbols of the beasts and of the horns, but did not in this vision explain to him the 2300 days and the sanctuary. Hence, Daniel tells us at the end of the chapter that he “was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” But there are several facts that will give us some light on this matter.” {S23D 14.7}
“1. It is a fact that 2300 literal days (not quite seven years) would not cover the duration of a single power in this prophecy, much less extend over them all. Therefore, the days must be symbols, even as the beasts and horns are shown to be symbols.” {S23D 15.1}
“2. It is a fact that a symbolic or prophetic day is one year. Ezekiel 4:5, 6; Numbers 14:34. Hence, the period is 2300 years.” {S23D 15.2}
“3. The period must begin with “the vision;” consequently it commences in the height of the Medo-Persian power.” {S23D 15.3}
“But the angel has not yet explained the “manner of time,” or given its date to the prophet. If Gabriel never did explain this subject to Daniel, he is a fallen angel; for he was commanded in plain terms thus to do. Daniel 8:16. But he is not a fallen angel as appears from the fact that some hundred years after this, he was sent to Zacharias and to Mary. Luke 1. Gabriel did explain to Daniel at that time more than he could bear (verse 27), and at a later period, as we shall now show, he did make Daniel understand the vision.” {S23D 15.4}
GABRIEL EXPLAINS IN Daniel 9 WHAT HE OMITTED IN CHAP. VIII
“As we have seen, the charge had been given to Gabriel to make Daniel understand the vision. Verse 16. But in the last verse of the chapter we learn that “none understood” the vision. This must refer particularly to the 2300 days, and to the sanctuary, as the other parts of the vision had been clearly explained.” {S23D 15.5}
“Daniel 9 commences with the earnest, importunate prayer of the prophet …” then the angel Gabriel is seen to be sent to him “… to complete the explanation of the vision. “While I was speaking in prayer,” says Daniel, “even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning [here he cites us back to chapter 8:15, 16], being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” Verses 21-23. {S23D 16.1}
“Note these facts:” {S23D 16.2}
1. In verse 21, Daniel cites us to the vision of chapter 8.” {S23D 16.2}
2. In verse 22, Gabriel states that he had come to give Daniel skill and understanding. This being the object of Gabriel’s mission, Daniel, who at the close of chapter 8 did not understand the vision, may, ere Gabriel leaves him, fully understand its import.” {S23D 16.2}
“3. As Daniel testifies at the close of chapter 8 that none understood the vision, it is certain that the charge given to Gabriel, “Make this man to understand the vision”, still rested upon him. Hence it is that he tells Daniel, “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding,” and in verse 23, commands him to “understand the matter, and to consider the vision”.
This is undeniable proof that Gabriel’s mission in chapter 9 was for the purpose of explaining what he omitted in chapter 8. If any ask further evidence, the fact that Gabriel proceeds to explain the very point in question, most fully meets the request. That he does this, we will now show.” {S23D 17.1}
GABRIEL’S EXPLANATION OF THE TIME
““Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:24-27.” {S23D 17.2}
DETERMINED, IN Verse 24, MEANS CUT OFF
“” ‘Seventy weeks are determined’, literally ‘cut off’. The Hebraists all admit that the word determined, in our English version, does signify ‘cut off’. Not one has disputed it.”-JOSIAH LITCH, Midnight Cry, Vol. iv, No. 25.” {S23D 18.1}
““Thus Chaldaic and Rabbinical authority, and that of the earliest versions, the Septuagint and Vulgate, give the single signification of ‘cutting off’ to this verb. Should it be inquired why a tropical sense has been attributed to it, such as ‘determining’ or ‘decreeing,’ it may be answered that the reference of the verse (in which it occurs) to Daniel 8:14, was unobserved. It was therefore supposed that there was no propriety in saying ‘seventy weeks are cut off’, when there was no other period of which they could have formed a portion. But as the period of 2300 days is first given, and verses 21 and 23, compared with Daniel 8:16, show that the ninth chapter furnishes an explanation of the vision in which Gabriel appeared to Daniel, and of the ‘matter’-(the commencement of the 2300 days)-the literal (or rather, to speak properly, the only) signification demanded by the subject matter, is that of ‘cut off’”.-PROF. WHITING, Midnight Cry, Vol. iv, No. 17.” {S23D 18.2}
““Seventy weeks have been cut off upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin offerings, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.” Daniel 9:24. Whiting’s Translation.” {S23D 18.3}
“The facts which are set before us in the above, from Litch and Whiting, should not be forgotten.” {S23D 18.4}
“1. The word rendered “determined” (verse 24), literally signifies “cut off”. 2. “The vision” which Gabriel came to explain, contained the period of 2300 days; and in the explanation he tells us that “seventy weeks have been cut off” upon Jerusalem and the Jews. This is a demonstration that the seventy weeks are a part of the 2300 days. Hence the commencement of the seventy weeks is the date of the 2300 days. And the fact that the seventy weeks were fulfilled in 490 years, as all admit, is a demonstration that the 2300 days from which this period of 490 days was cut off, is 2300 years.” {S23D 19.1}
THE ANGEL’S DATE OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS
“We have seen that the seventy weeks are cut off from the 2300 days. Hence, when the date of the seventy weeks is established, the key to unlock and understand the reckoning of the days is in our hand. The date for the commencement of the weeks is thus given by Gabriel: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Daniel 9:25.” {S23D 19.2}
ASCERTAINING THE START DATE
Writer’s Interjection – The writer here goes into a lengthy historical sketch to giving evidences for the dates he puts forth. This he does because there are debates concerning it and is therefore rather lengthy section. He will show how the dates were determined and the reasonings behind them. For those who would like to read more see the work, “The Sanctuary and 2300 days by JN Andrews”. But we will spare the reader that content here and go right to the conclusions.
SUMMARY OF THE EXCERPT
“The foregoing testimony from the Herald establishes the following points:
“1. The decree referred to in Daniel 9, from which the 70 weeks are dated, is the decree of the seventh of Artaxerxes, and not that of his twentieth year. Ezra 7. {S23D 24.2} See the original work for more details.
“That Ezra understood that power was conferred upon himself, and upon the people of Israel, to rebuild the street of Jerusalem and the wall, is certain from his own testimony recorded in chapter 9:9.” {S23D 26.1}
“2. The second point in the evidence which the Herald has adduced, is this: the seventh year of Artaxerxes, from which the decree is dated, is fixed beyond dispute in B.C. 457.” {S23D 26.1}
“3. The commencement of Christ’s ministry in A.D. 27, is clearly established, being just 69 weeks, or 483 prophetic days from the decree in B.C. 457.” {S23D 26.1}
“4. The crucifixion in the midst of the week is proved to have occurred in the spring of A.D. 31, just three and a half years from the commencement of Christ’s ministry.” {S23D 26.1}
“5. And it further demonstrates that the remaining three and a half years of the seventieth week ended in the autumn of A.D. 34.”
“Here the seventy weeks, which had been cut off upon the Jews, in which they were “to finish the transgression,” close with the Jewish Sanhedrin’s act of formally rejecting Christ by persecuting his disciples, and God gives the great apostle to the Gentiles his commission to them. Acts 9.” {S23D 26.1}
“These important dates are clearly and unequivocally established by historical, chronological, and astronomical testimony. Sixty-nine of the 70 weeks from the decree in B.C. 457 ended in A.D. 27, when our Lord was baptized, and began to preach, saying, “The time is fulfilled.” Mark 1. Three and a half years from this brings us to the midst of the week in A.D. 31, the period of 70 weeks terminates in the autumn of A.D. 34. Or, to be more definite, the first three and a half years of the seventieth week ended in the first Jewish month (April) in the spring of A.D. 31. The remaining three and a half years would therefore end in the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34.” {S23D 27.1}
“Here then we stand at the end of the great period which Gabriel, in explaining the 2300 days to Daniel, tells him was cut off upon Jerusalem and the Jews. Its commencement, intermediate dates, and final termination, are unequivocally established.” {S23D 27.2}
“It remains then to notice this one grand fact: the first 490 years of the 2300 ended in the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34. This period of 490 years being cut off from the 2300, a period 1810 years remains. This period of 1810 years being added to the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34, brings us to the seventh month, autumn of 1844. And here, after every effort which has been made to remove the dates, all are compelled to let them stand.” {S23D 27.2}
THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF 1844
“It was with this great fact before us, that the 2300 days of Daniel, which reached to the cleansing of the sanctuary, would terminate at that time, and also with the light of the types, that the high priest in “the example and shadow of of heavenly things,” on the tenth day of the seventh month, entered within the second vail to cleanse the sanctuary, that we confidently expected the advent of our Redeemer in the seventh month, 1844. The prophecy said, “Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The type said that at that season in the year the high priest should pass from the holy place of the earthly tabernacle to the most holy, to cleanse the sanctuary. Leviticus 16.” {S23D 29.2}
“With these facts before us we reasoned as follows:
- 1. The sanctuary is the earth, or the land of Palestine.
- 2. The cleansing of the sanctuary is the burning of the earth, or the purification of Palestine, at the coming of Christ.
- 3. And hence, we concluded that our great High Priest would leave the tabernacle of God in Heaven and descend in flaming fire, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the autumn of 1844.” {S23D 29.3}
“It is needless to say that we were painfully disappointed. And, though the man does not live who can overthrow the chronological argument, which terminates the 2300 days at that time, or meet the mighty array of evidence by which it is fortified and sustained, yet multitudes, without stopping to inquire whether our conceptions of the sanctuary and of its cleansing were correct or not, have openly denied the agency of Jehovah in the Advent movement, and have pronounced it the work of man.” {S23D 29.4}