THE TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED DAYS

Besides the symbols of governments contained in Daniel 8, there is a definite period of time brought to view, which claims attention. The diagram of this period is seen in the upper right-hand corner of the Chart, the meaning of which will appear as we proceed to consider this period. As recorded in verse 13, Daniel heard one saint ask another the question, how long the vision should be concerning the daily [sacrifice] and the transgression of desolation to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot. The angel then addressed himself to Daniel and said, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Waiving for the present the question as to what may constitute the sanctuary, we wish to ascertain if possible the nature, the commencement and termination of this period of time. There are two kinds of time to be met with in the Bible: literal and symbolic. In symbolic time a day signifies a year. Numbers 14:34;Ezekiel 4:6. To which class do the 2300 days belong? Being brought in in connection with acknowledged symbols, it would be both easy and natural to infer that they partook of the nature of the rest of the vision and were symbolic, presenting us with a period of 2300 years. And that such is the case is further evident from the fact, as is shown in the investigation of Daniel 8, that the field of the prophet’s vision was the empires of Persia, Greece, and Rome. The 2300 days there given cannot therefore be literal days; for literal days (scarcely six years and a half) would by no means cover the duration of any one of these empires singly, much less embrace so nearly the whole of their existence put together, as they evidently do. They must consequently denote 2300 years. Can we now ascertain the commencement of this period? We answer, Yes; the key to the matter being found in the ninth chapter of Daniel, between which and the eighth there is an unmistakable connection, as we shall now endeavor to show.KPC 22.2

After their mention in verse 14, the 2300 days are not again spoken of in chap. 8. All the other parts of the vision are there fully explained; it must have been, therefore, this point concerning the time, that troubled the mind of the prophet, and in reference to this, solely, that he exclaims at the end of the chapter, “I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.”KPC 23.1

It was in the third year of Belshazzar, B.C.553, that Daniel had this vision of chap. 8. Fifty-three years previous to this time, Jerusalem had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and the seventy years’ captivity commenced; and thirty-five years before this, the Chaldeans had utterly demolished the city, broken down its walls, and burned the house of God with fire. 2 Chronicles 36:19. Daniel had learned from the prophecy of Jeremiah, drawing near their close, in the first year of Darius, B.C.538, as we read in the first verses of Daniel 9; and it is evident that he so far misunderstood the period of the 2300 days as to suppose that they ended with the seventy years of Israel’s servitude; therefore turning his face toward the prostrate city and the ruined temple of his fathers, he prays God to cause his face to shine upon his sanctuary which is desolate. Verse 17.KPC 23.2

“And while I was speaking and praying,” says he, chap 9:20-23,KPC 24.1

“even the man Gabriel whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, 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 supplication, the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city.” etc.KPC 24.2

That this is a continuation of the explanation of the vision of chap. 8, would seem sufficiently evident without the aid of any special argument to prove it so. But as there is a vital point that hinges upon this fact, we will offer a few reasons which place it beyond the limits of contradiction.KPC 24.3

1. Gabriel had received a charge, chap 8:16, to make Daniel understand the vision; but at the end of that chapter, Daniel says he was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Gabriel therefore did not complete his mission in chap. 8: the charge still rested upon him, “Make this man to understand the vision.”KPC 24.4

2. The being who came to Daniel at the time of his supplication, was the very same who had appeared to him in the vision at the beginning; namely, Gabriel. And that he had now come to undeceive him concerning his application of the time, is evident in that he says, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. Why did he not give him a full understanding of the vision at first? Because, we answer, he revealed to him all that he was then able to bear; for he fainted and was sick certain days.KPC 25.1

3. Direct reference is made to the vision at the beginning; and if that is not the vision of chap. 8, it is impossible to find it. And again, if Gabriel does not explain in chap. 9, what he omitted in chap. 8, it is impossible for any man to show wherein Gabriel fulfilled his commission to make this man understand the vision. But a position which will lead to such a result, is utterly unallowable.KPC 25.2

4. When Gabriel commenced his further explanation he did not explain the symbol of the ram; for that he had already explained; he did not explain the goat; for he had likewise explained that; neither did he commence about the little horn; for he had made that plain also in chap. 8. What then did he explain? The very point there omitted; namely, time: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, etc. These facts are sufficient to show the connection of Daniel 9, with the vision of chap. 8.KPC 25.3

But how do the words of Gabriel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people,: etc., explain the period of the 2300 days? The answer is. The word rendered determined, signifies literally, cut off. Gesenius in his Hebrew Lexicon thus defines it: “Properly, to cut off; tropically, to divide, and so to determine, to decree.” The Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance says, “Determined, literally, divided.”KPC 26.1

From what period are the seventy weeks divided, or cut off? From the 2300 days; for there is no other period given from which they can be taken; and this is placed beyond a doubt by the connection of the two chapters, which has already been proved.KPC 26.2

Having now ascertained that the 70 weeks of Daniel 9 are the first 490 years of the 2300 days, and that consequently the two periods commence together, we further learn that this period of weeks dates from the going forth of a commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. Daniel 9:25. If then we can definitely locate this commandment, we have the starting-point for the great period of the 2300 years. The Bible furnishes us with four tests by which to determine when the true date is found: 1. From the time of the commandment, 49 years were to witness the completion of the street and wall of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:25. 2. Three-score and two weeks from this time, or, in all, 69 weeks, 483 years, were to extend to Messiah the Prince. Id. 3. Sixty-nine and a half weeks were to extend to the crucifixion - the cessation of sacrifice and oblation in the midst of the week. Verse 27. 4. The full period of 70 weeks was to witness the complete confirmation of the covenant with Daniel’s people. Id. In the 7th of Ezra we find the decree for which we seek. It went forth in B.C.457. Much concerning this decree, and the date of its promulgation, for brevity’s sake we are compelled to pass. Concerning it, we can only remark,KPC 26.3

1. It contained all the elements necessary to constitute such a decree, and when carried out, resulted in the thorough restoration of the Jewish state. It answered the prophecy fully in this respect.KPC 27.1

2. From the commencement of the work by Ezra, to the last act of reformation by Nehemiah, were just forth-nine years, which is the exact period allowed in the prophecy to this work.KPC 27.2

3. As this decree went forth B.C.457, the 69 weeks or 483 years which were to extend to the Messiah the Prince, reckoned from the commencement of the work in the autumn of that year, bring us to the autumn of A.D.27, when our Lord was baptized by John in Jordan, and went forth preaching “the time is fulfilled.” Mark 1; Luke 3:22, margin. Three and a half years from this, to the midst of the seventieth week, bring us to the spring of A.D.81, where, according to Dr.Hales, the Council of Caesarea A.D.196, the Alexandrian Chronicle, etc., the crucifixion took place. Three and a half years more, the last half of the week, terminate the 70 weeks or 490 years in the autumn of A.D.34, where Hales, Usher, and Pearson, place the martyrdom of Stephen, the first persecution, and the formal rejection of the gospel by the Jewish Sanhedrin.KPC 27.3

Here, then, we stand at the end of this great period which Gabriel in his explanation of the 2300 days, told Daniel was cut off upon Jerusalem and the Jews. There is this one grand fact yet to be noticed: If the first 490 years terminated in the autumn of A.D.34, the whole period ends in the autumn of A.D.1844. For 490 taken from 2300 leave 1810; and 1810 added to A.D.34, where the 490 terminate, make 1844.KPC 27.4

A reference to the diagram will now show all these facts beautifully illustrated: 1. The upper line of the diagram represents the whole period of 2300 days. The 70 weeks, or 490 years, are shown cut off, leaving a remainder of 1810 years. 2. The 70 weeks, shown cut off in the first line, are shown on an enlarged scale in the second line, illustrating the division of that period as mentioned in the prophecy, into seven weeks, three-score and two (sixty-two) weeks, and one week: the first division of seven weeks, or 49 years, covering the period of the re-building of Jerusalem, the 62 weeks reaching to the Messiah the Prince, and the one week showing the time during which he should confirm the covenant, the first half by his own personal ministry, and the last half of that period “by them that heard him.” Hebrews 2:3. 3. The one week shown cut off at the end of the second line of the diagram, is again represented on a larger scale in the third line, showing its commencement, division, and termination. It commenced with the ministry three and a half years, to the midst, or middle, of the week, where by the cross he caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease, as represented. The remaining three and a half years extend to A.D.34, where the 70 weeks, or first 490 years of the 2300, expire, as already shown. For a full application of this argument, and the event to mark the termination of these days, see pamphlet on the sanctuary and 2300 days.KPC 28.1