XI. R. M. Places 2300 Years Between B.C. 558 and 1742

In 1787 an anonymous writer whose initials were R.M. published, in two editions during the same year, Observations of Certain Prophecies in the Book of Daniel and the Revelation of St. John Which Relate to the Second Appearing of Our Lord, Shewing That It Is Highly Probable That the Tremendous Day in which It Shall Be Revealed Will Shortly Come.PFF2 691.2

1. 2300 YEARS FROM VISION TO 1742

Contending that, previous to the end, there shall be more than an ordinary preaching of the gospel, this writer refers to it as the coming jubilee. Here is his conclusion:PFF2 691.3

“This jubilee or cleansing of the sanctuary must begin within 2300 years from the time of Daniel’s vision of the Ram and He-Goat, mentioned in chap 8.; for in verse 14 of that chapter, it is said that the vision shall be until 2300 days. These days are to be understood as years: in the prophecies of Ezekiel, we read that God appointed that each day should denote a year; and by so interpreting Daniel’s 70 weeks, relating to the first coming of Christ, the time exactly corresponds with the event; so we have a sure confirmation that Daniel’s days are to be understood as years.PFF2 691.4

“Now the vision was in the third year of Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, 558 years before the Christian era, and therefore the 2300 years ended A.D. 1742, at which time the sanctuary and the host were no longer to be trodden under foot, but to be cleansed. ^{85R. M., Observations of Certain Prophecies, pp. 6-8.}PFF2 691.5

2. PAPAL ABOMINATION TAKES AWAY TRUE WORSHIP

Commenting on the daily, R.M. says:PFF2 691.6

“The taking away of the daily sacrifice, and the setting up of abomination, is the taking away of the true Christian worship, as instituted by Christ and his Apostles, and the setting up of the doctrines and commandments of men, superstition, and idolatry, &c. in lieu thereof, which is mentioned by St. John under the appellation of the woman’s flying into the wilderness. The daily sacrifice is a Mosaic term for the true worship of God, suited to the time in which Daniel lived; but even the Apostles sometimes spoke in like manner, giving Christians the name of Jews. ^{86Ibid., pp. 8, 9.}PFF2 691.7

The 1260 year-days, however, he places from 405 to 1666, with the 1290 ending in 1696, and the 1335 in 1741. ^{87ibid., pp. 12-H.}PFF2 692.1