A New Interpretation of the 2300 Days Prophecy

caesar148 · is under review Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

For many years I have accept the SDA's interpretation of the 2300 days prophecy - that is it started in 457 BC and ended in 1844. However after much study on my own I have come to the conclusion that the church's interpretation might be incorrect.

The new interpretation that I have arrived at is that the 2300 days started in 70 AD at the destruction of Jerusalem and will end in 2370 AD. This opens up a whole new can of worms because this means that Christ might not come until then. The question that naturally arises is how I come to this conclusion. I will try to be brief and concise.

Daniel 8's description of the little horn's works include the opposition of the daily and casting down of truth. All these activities were described at the "transgression of the desolation". Verse 13 asked how long this period of transgression of desolation will be and the answer in verse 14 was for 2300 days.

Refuting the claim that 457 BC is the start of the 2300 days prophecy: The 2300 days cannot start in 457 BC because the transgression of desolation does not start until the existence of the little horn. The degree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC occurred during the Medeo Persian Empire, way before the little horn existed. Remember, there was the Greek Empire before the little horn came to being.

Why 1844 cannot be the end of the 2300 days prophecy: Daniel 8:12 talks about the casting down of truth. If 1844 was the end of the 2300 days prophecy, we will see the end of the “casting down of truth”. We know very well that has not happened. The Roman Church continue to exist and teach false doctrine in this present age.

My justification for 70 AD as the start of the 2300 days prophecy: In Matthew 24:15, Christ spoke of the abomination of desolation with the writer of Matthew referencing Daniel. Mark 13:14 also records the same event. Christ was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Daniel 9:27, the 70 week prophecy, also reference this abomination of desolate which starts after the end of sacrifice and offering which is when Christ was crucified. Putting these together I conclude that the destruction of Jerusalem is the start of the 2300 days.

I do not know what will happen in 2370 AD. My guess is that the little horn's works will come to an end and Christ will come. Another possibility is that Christ coming may occur soon after 2370 AD. However I do believe that the cleansing of the sanctuary will be a big event and not a non-event as in 1844 so something big will happen.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

I can see your reasoning. Your conclusion is based on a poor translation of Daniel 8:13. Please consider the possibility that my translation of the Hebrew is better than yours.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the continual [sacrifice], the rebellion that causes desolation, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?"

"How long" isn't exactly right. The angel is asking, "Till when," but "how long" is reasonably close to that. The emphasis in Hebrew is on the end-point. A more literal translation would be, "Till when for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the continual, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?"

I believe that I understand the enigmatic reply:

And he said to me, "Till evening -- morning two thousand and three hundred, then shall holiness be vindicated."

See my thread in the Revelation forum, The Hebrew of Daniel 8:14.

Most importantly, an essential detail in the vision of Daniel 8 is that a rebellion comes before the desolation and is the cause of it. Verse 12 says, "And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper." (NASB). This cause and effect is also seen in Daniel 8:23. According to that verse, the transgressors reach their fullness just before the little horn strikes. "When rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise." (NIV).

Verse 13 informs us through Hebrew parallelism that the vision is about the continual and the rebellion, the surrendering of the sanctuary and the giving over of the host.

I believe strongly that the rebellion began at the beginning of the vision, not in 70AD.

See my commentary on the book of Daniel, The Ends of Time, Vol. 1.

Overall, you are right in thinking that Daniel 8:13-14 is eschatological. I'm delighted in your agreement with William Miller that these verses point to the end of the world.