| |
THE
2300 DAYS OF DANIEL 8
Daniel 8:1-14 is historical, and the small horn of verse 9 is Antiochus
Epiphanes.
1. The section is natural progression from verse 3 and is part of the same
historical vision.
2. The small amount of information given does in fact find literal historical
fulfillment in the time period before the Roman
Empire became dominant.
3.
However, in verses 15-22, Gabriel’s explanation goes far beyond the historical
fulfillment in Antiochus, and pertains specifically “to the time of the end”
(verse 17), and “the appointed time of the end” (verse 19).
4. Thus, in verses 23-26, the focus is entirely pertinent to the end-times and
not Antiochus.
REVIEW
OF THE HISTORY
For
the DETAILS of the historical fulfillment of verses 1-10, there is no need for
me to "re-write" the established historical data. I provide the analysis by
John Walvoord from his commentary,
DANIEL: THE KEY TO
PROPHETIC REVELATION
Now
concerning the issue of the 2300 days at verses 10-14, we need to look at the
history of Antiochus.
For details, again see Walvoord: The 2300 Days.
But I
will hit on the main issues.
Daniel
8:11-12
“It (the horn- Antiochus) even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander
of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of
His sanctuary was thrown down.”
Even
before the persecution activity of Antiochus began, the religious faithfulness
of the Jews began to deteriorate. It is for this reason that Antiochus was
allowed by God to ransack
Jerusalem.
I Maccabees
”1:20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt,
he returned again in
the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and
Jerusalem with a great multitude,
1:21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the
golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels
thereof,
1:22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the
vials, and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the
golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.
1:23
He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took
the hidden treasures which he found.
1:24
And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land,
having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.”
This was allowed, we are told, “because of the transgression” which refers to
Israel’s spiritual decline at that time (Daniel 8:12). That spiritual decline
is described historically for us BEFORE the Antiochus invasion at 1 Mac.
1:11-15 -
”1:11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who
persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the
heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them
we have had much sorrow.
1:12
So this device pleased them well.
1:13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went
to the king, who gave them license to do after the ordinances of
the heathen:
1:14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according
to the customs of the heathen:
1:15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy
covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to
do mischief.”
And AFTER the Antiochus invasion, at verses 41-43 -
”1:41
Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all
should be one people,
1:42
And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed
according to the commandment of the king.
1:43
Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to
his religion, and
sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.”
In 171 BC, Onias, the legitimate priest was slain and a false line of priests
took over until 12/25 164 BC.
The 2300 days is a ROUND number to refer to this period of time from the
beginning of the year in which Onias was killed until the temple was cleansed
on 12/25 of 164 BC by Judas Maccabeus. When
Judas entered
Jerusalem,
and cleansed the temple, it was not to be given up again, for eventually, the
son of Antiochus made peace with Israel and allowed them to worship according
to their own customs. Thus, we have the RESTORATION of the holy place at that
time.
It is true that Antiochus did not actually desecrate the temple (sacrifices
ceased and a Greek altar was built) until
12/25 of 167 BC, but the pseudo line of priests and the majority of the people
violating Jewish religious standards, would constitute desecration as well.
When one counts back from 12/25 of 164 BC, he arrives at the beginning of the
year 171, the year in which Onias was killed. Taking this period of time as a
ROUND number measured from the BEGINNING of the Jewish year is the only
interpretation that fits all the facts.
The writing STYLE of this section also establishes it as HISTORICAL since it
is written in prose until verse 23. From verse 23 to 26, it is in poetry
format, which provides a significant syntactical break and focuses our
attention on something different. That “something different” is identified in
the first verse of the section AND the last verse of the section -
Verse 23, “and in the latter period of THEIR rule.”
This refers to the latter period of the rule of the TEN HORNS.
Verse 26, “it pertains to many days (in the future).”
In
verses 15-22, Gabriel explains to Daniel that “the vision has application to
the time of the end.”
Here is where the dual fulfillment of prophecy comes in.
Verses 8:1-14 are ONLY historical, but serve as an example of what will happen
“at the final period of the indignation.”
Gabriel is not telling Daniel that those verses are of an end-times context,
but that they have APPLICATION to an end-times context. That is, Antiochus
functions as a TYPE of the final antichrist, and that is what verses 23-26
describe for us.
We should not take the information of verses 9-14 and apply it to the
antichrist, nor should we take the information of verses 23-26 and apply it to
Antiochus. There is similarity, but we should know by now that similarities do
not prove identity.
The ONLY point of contact is the 2300 days, and that is what has caused some
strange and unusual interpretations.
GABRIEL’S EXPLANATION TO DANIEL
Daniel
8:15-22
Verse 17,
"the vision pertains to the time of the end."
The time of the end refers to any point of time within the parameters
starting with the 70th week of Daniel and ending with the start of the
Millennial kingdom.
Verse 19
'Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the
indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end."
1. The FINAL period of indignation probably refers to God’s day of the Lord
wrath on the kingdoms of the world. It could refer to the final expression
of divine discipline on the nation of Israel, but the context seems to look
beyond that to the indignation on all the nations.
2. Daniel’s frame of reference for the time of indignation is based on the
Hebrew word, zaam. It is one of the many words for "anger."
3. The
word is used for both personal and national divine discipline.
A.
Psalm
38:3, used for divine discipline on David. “because of your indignation.” (orge
in the LXX).
B.
Isaiah
10:5,
Assyria
is the rod of My wrath (aph/orge) and the staff of my indignation. Discipline
against Israel.
C.
Isaiah 10:25,
indignation and wrath – same as above.
4. It
is also used for God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord judgments.
A.
Isaiah
13:5, The armies during the DOL judgments as instruments of God’s indignation
(zaam). At verse 9, fury (ebhrAh/thumos) and burning anger (aph/orge). Verse
13, at the fury (ebhrAh/thumos)of Yahweh of hosts; in the day of His burning
anger (aph/orge).
B.
Isaiah
30:27, DOL. “The name of Yahweh comes from a remote place, burning in His
anger (aph/orge); His lips are filled with indignation (zaam).”
C.
Zephaniah 3:8, DOL, to pour out on them my indignation, all My
burning anger (the chAron of my aph, the burning wrath of
my anger).
D.
Ezekiel 21:31, National discipline in 586 BCE, pour out My
indignation; fire of My wrath (ebhrAh).
E. Ezekiel 22:24,
586 BCE, day of indignation.
F. Ezekiel 22:31, 586 BCE, poured out my indignation,
the fire of my wrath (ephrAh).
5.
Isaiah 26:20, "until indignation (zaam/orge) runs its course."
This seems to refer to that same "final period of indignation,"
That will BEGIN when Yahweh will "come out from His place"
and will begin the judgments of the day of the Lord.
Verse
21, “For behold, Yahweh is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed,
And will no longer cover her slain.”
“My
people” are to hide and therefore BE PROTECTED until the danger is gone. Only Israel
is shown to us as HIDING and being protected for 1260 days in the wilderness –
during the time that –
1. The tribulation is going on: From the midpoint of the week until it is cut
short approximately between 6 to 18 months before the end of the week.
2. And during the Day-of-the-LORD judgments: From the arrival of the Lord
until the battle of Armageddon – 30 days after the end of the week. (Daniel 12:11
and Revelation 11, 15-16).
The
people of Israel
who are hiding in the wilderness area of Edom are not delivered until the Lord
descends to the earth during the Armageddon campaign. This is shown to us at
Revelation 12:6, 13-16 compared with Matthew 24:16-18 and Daniel 11:41. When
Jesus descends to the earth, He goes first to Edom (Isaiah 63:1; Hab. 3:3;
Isaiah 34:5-6). This seems to be because the inhabitants of this “Edomite”
area will be oppressing the Jews who are hiding in the mountains. (Obadiah
1:10-14; Ezekiel 35:1-9).
In Isaiah, the word, indignation (zaam) is used of national discipline and for
the Day of the Lord judgments. It is not used in Isaiah to designate the
tribulation. However, the tribulation of Daniel 12:1 is an extension of
NATIONAL discipline on Israel. But that discipline extends beyond the time of
tribulation until the end of the 70th week. In fact, Israel, as a
people and nation – still under discipline, and still in rejection of Jesus – are warned by God that the
arrival of the Messiah at the Day of the Lord will be for them a day of
darkness and not light (cursing rather than blessing). Amos 5:18-20.
See
Topic: ISRAEL’S NATIONAL DISCIPLINE
It
seems best then, to view this “indignation” at Isaiah 26:20 as the
wrath of God during the day of the Lord judgments. The hiding is necessary
because of the persecution from the beast. But the hiding needs to continue
until AFTER the DOL judgments are completed through the battle of Armageddon.
Daniel 11:36,
is a bit more complicated. However, if we can reasonably conclude that
indignation at Dan. 8:19 refers to the DOL wrath, then it seems best to view
"indignation" here as the wrath of God. Here
we learn that "the (willful) king" at the time of the end, will "advance" only
until indignation is completed.
The verb that is translated, "prosper," is tsAlach. It means to advance,
prosper, continue.
During the time when God's wrath is being poured out on the earth, the beast
will still be functional although greatly hindered from fulfilling his
economic promises. He will become involved with many conflicts from the
rebelling nations but will succeed in repelling them until his defeat in the
battle of Armageddon.
It is at that time that this king will no longer prosper
or succeed. His reign will
still continue for the duration of his allotted 42 months (Rev. 13:5), but his
influence and actions will be greatly impeded by the Day of the Lord
judgments. In fact, the effects of his reign (the abomination) will not be
removed until 1290 days after its start (Dan. 12:12).
Thus, it can
be said that he will survive until the DOL wrath and indignation comes to an
end at Armageddon.
Dan. 11:45; 8:25; 2Thes. 2:4; Rev.19:20.
Daniel 8:17-19, “the vision pertains to the time of the end.”
In verses 23-25
Gabriel then describes the oppressive reign of the man who has been designated
as “the willful king.” This corresponds with the man of lawlessness of
2Thessalonians 2 and the beast of Revelation 13, and as mentioned above, the
king of Daniel 11:36.
The focus is not on the Day of the Lord judgments, even though the last
sentence at verse 25 says, “but he will be broken without human agency.”
Before Gabriel explains the "time of the end" details, he explains the
near-future rise of the nations. Verses 20-22
Verse 20, the ram is Media-Persia, viewed as ONE united kingdom and not two
separate ones.
Verse 21, the goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the horn is Alexander the
Great, the first king.
Verse 22, the 4 horns that rise from the broken horn refers to Alexander's
four generals who divided the kingdom between themselves.
Verses 23-26 is now written poetry, which uniquely sets it apart from the
rest of the chapter. This section deals with events during "the time of the
end."
Verses 23-25 describes the rise, activity and death of the man of
lawlessness; the beast of Revelation 13.
Verse 26
However, there still must be 2300 days from the midpoint of the week, when the
willful king begins his oppression, until the holy place is properly restored.
The removal of the abomination at Daniel 12:11, does not qualify as the
“proper” restoration of the Holy
Place. That will not occur until there is a NEW temple in the earthy kingdom
of Christ.
In an
end-times context, the only thing that makes any sense is that the 2300 days
refers to the time FROM the setting up of the abomination UNTIL the
establishment (completed building) of the millennial temple.
We know that it takes 1290 days to get rid of the desecration according to
Dan. 12:11, but that does not mean the new temple is up yet.
Then we have 45 days before the millennial kingdom actually begins.
During
that time, the earth will be cleansed of all unbelievers so that only
believers will remain to go into the earthly
kingdom
of Messiah.
This
takes place through -
(1) the separation of the fat and lean sheep of
Israel. Ezekiel 34:16f.
(2) the separation of the sheep and goats of the Gentiles. Matthew 25.
The
believers of Israel
(the lean sheep) will go into the earthly kingdom. Ezekiel 34:24, “And I,
Yahweh, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I,
Yahweh, have spoken.”
But
the unbelievers (the fat sheep) “I will destroy. I will feed them with
judgment.” Ezekiel 34:16.
The
unbelievers will be removed from the earth, and “go away into eternal
punishment; the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his
angels.” Matthew 25:41, 46a.
The
only ones left will be the believers of Israel
and the Gentiles.
These will go into the kingdom and will enjoy the “covenant of peace” of
Ezekiel 34:25.
At the
beginning of the earthly kingdom, the new temple will be built.
Question: who BUILDS the millennial temple? I suggest that it is not Jesus who
just zaps it together, but that actually it is the people of Israel
who do it. That will take them a little bit of time even with all the advances
in technology by then.
There is not much information about the actual BUILDING of this temple, but I
found a hint to it at Ezekekiel 43:18. And He said to me, “Son
of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘These are the statutes for the altar
on the day it is built, to offer burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood
on it.’”
In the previous verses (Ezekiel 43:10-17) all the INSTRUCTIONS given about HOW
it is supposed to be constructed, and all the details seem to indicate that
HUMANS are responsible for the physical construction. In other words, it is
placed on the shoulders of the people to MAKE SURE that they build it RIGHT. -
We do
have a prophecy in Zechariah 6:12-13.
"Then say
to him, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch,
for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the
LORD.
13
"Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the
honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne,
and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."'
The
Messiah Himself (The Branch, Isaiah 11:1: 53:2; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:4)
is the “official” builder of the millennial temple because it is through His
presence and reign that it can be built. But based on the language in Ezekiel
43:10-18, the physical labor will be performed by the people of Israel.
Similarly, it was said of Solomon by God, “He shall build a house
for My name.” But of course, Solomon did not to the actual physical work.
I Kings 6:2, “As for the house which King Solomon built for Yahweh,” and verse
14, “So Solomon built the house and it was finished.”
In fact, throughout the entire narrative describing the building, the formula
is, “and HE built, made, set, prepared, fashioned, overlaid,” etc.
1
Kings 7:51, “Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the house of
Yahweh was finished.”
BUT,
1 Kings 9:15,
20-22, “Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied
to build the house of Yahweh.”
Verse
20,
As for all
the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel,
Verse 21, their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the sons
of Israel were unable to destroy utterly, from them Solomon levied forced
laborers , even to this day.
Verse 22, But Solomon did not make slaves of the sons of Israel; for they were
men of war, his servants, his princes, his captains, his chariot commanders,
and his horsemen.
In
this same context of Zechariah, we are told that “those who are far off will
come and build (in) the temple of Yahweh.”
“Then
you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you.
And it will take place if you completely obey Yahweh your God.”
"Those who are far off"
could refer to either the Gentiles or to the Jews who have been scattered all
throughout the earth, and who are re-gathered into the land after Armageddon,
as already mentioned.
THE
RESOURCES
The building of the millennial temple will CERTAINLY occur AFTER the kingdom
starts. And even though there will be an immediate change in the ecology and
the environment, the PHYSICAL structures of the land will not be
supernaturally rebuilt. It will take time and resources to restore the ruin
and destruction of the centuries. Isaiah 61:4,
“Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations,
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.”
It
seems likely that the NEW temple is to be included in these structures.
BEFORE THE KINGDOM
Through the victory in the Battle of Jerusalem after Jesus arrives there from
Edom, the Jews will acquire a great deal of material wealth from the armies
that had surrounded it. Zech. 14:14
"And Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding
nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance."
Micah 4:13
“Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
For your horn I will make iron
And your hoofs I will make bronze,
That you may pulverize many peoples,
That you may devote to Yahweh their unjust gain
And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”
Thus, at that time the Israelites will have a large abundance of “plunder”
from the invaders. Isaiah 33:23; Zech. 14:1.
Also
during the 45 days prior to the OFFICIAL establishment of the kingdom (Dan.
12:12), ALL the Jews will come to Palestine and bring much wealth with them.
Isaiah 60:4-9
“the wealth of all nations will come to you,” (verse 5).
"Their silver and their gold with them," (verse 9).
IN THE KINGDOM
Thus, at the start of the kingdom their will be an abundance of wealth
in the
land, and it will continue to come in as the building process continues.
Isaiah
60:10-11
“And foreigners will build up your walls.”
“So that they may bring to you the wealth of the nations.”
CLEANSING THE LAND
Ezekiel 39:9-11
It will take 7 years to dispose of the weapons involved in the attacks against Israel
by the nations during the Armageddon campaign.
It will take 7 months just to properly dispose of the dead bodies “in order to
cleanse the land,” (Verses 12-16).
There
is a very long period of time before EVERYTHING is “nice and clean.” It is
not unlikely that it will take a significant amount of time to complete the
new temple.
THIRTY-TWO MONTHS
So
2300 days minus 1335 (Dan. 12:12)
= 965 days into the kingdom when the temple is finally finished. That suggests
that the building of the temple takes about 32 months.
What is the issue in the 2300 days? Dan. 8:14
tells us that, then the HOLY
PLACE
will be properly restored or vindicated (the Hebrew literally says, “be made
righteous”). The verb, tsAdaq, has a variety of meanings, but it occurs in the
niphal stem ONLY HERE. The idea is to be PUT RIGHT, as in, put in the right
condition (BDB, page 842). That of course would not happen until the NEW
temple is built, which is called THE HOLY PLACE in Ezekiel.
Ezek. 45:3, “And from this area you shall measure a length of 25,000 {cubits,}
and a width of 10,000 {cubits;} and in it shall be the sanctuary, the most
holy place.
Ezek. 45:4, “It shall be the holy portion of the land; it shall be for the
priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to minister to the
LORD, and it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the
sanctuary.
Ezek. 48:12, “And it shall be an allotment to them from the allotment of the
land, a most holy place, by the border of the Levites.
At the time of the Antiochus persecutions, the temple was called the holy
place as well. Sometimes the term refers to the specific holy place inside the
sanctuary, but sometimes is refers to the whole structure.
Dan. 8:13, Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that
particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision {about} the regular
sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both
the HOLY PLACE and the host to be trampled?”
Dan. 8:14 And
he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings {and} mornings; then the HOLY PLACE will be
properly restored.”
And in 164 BC, Judas the Hammer properly restored the practice of
animal sacrifices in THE HOLY PLACE.
I Maccabees
4:47
Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a
new altar according to the former;
4:48
And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the
temple, and hallowed the courts.
4:49
They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they
brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt
offerings, and of
incense, and the table.
4:50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were
upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the
temple.
4:51
Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out
the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to
make.
4:52
Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is
called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year,
they rose up betimes in the morning,
4:53
And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of
burnt offerings, which they had made.
But according to Gabe at Daniel 8:26, the vision of the 2300 days is TRUTH
that pertains to many days (in the future). That means that we need to find an
end-times fulfillment for this.
THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL
(For details see commentary)
Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy
city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement
for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and
prophecy, and to anoint the most holy {place} .
The purpose for giving Israel 490 more years after the Chaldean captivity is
in order to accomplish several things. The LAST of those things is to anoint
THE MOST HOLY. That is to DEDICATE the NEW temple that will be built in the
millennial kingdom.
The
prophecy of the 70 weeks (7 years per week = 490 years) does not require that
the anointing of the Most Holy occur within that time frame or even
IMMEDIATELY after it. IN FACT, it is most certain that there is no new temple
until AT LEAST the start of the kingdom. Thus, when the 70th week
is completed, bringing to an end the 490 years of Daniel 9, there is STILL NO
anointing of the most Holy.
It
seems quite reasonable that the Most Holy place will be completed 2300 days
after the abomination of desolation is set up, and 965 days after the start of
the kingdom, which is about 32 months.
|
|
