~~~ Prophetic Time Paradox ~~~
1) The 1260 Days Prophecies:
  1. Literal Time:
    • 1260 days = 42 months = (time, times and half a time) = three & one half years.
      • One day = one day.
      • One month = 30 days.
      • One time = 30 days * 12 = 360 days.
  2. Prophetic Time:
    • 1260 days = (42 months * 30) = (time, times and half a time * 360) = 1260 years.
      • One day = one year.
      • One month = 30 years.
      • One time = 30 years * 12 = 360 years.
  3. The 1260 Years Time Period Prophecies:
    • The little horn that arises upon the head of the fourth beast (Roman Empire) which oppresses the holy people: Daniel 7:25 (time, times and half a time).
    • The little horn that arises after the division of Alexander's empire, concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people: Daniel 8:11-12, Daniel 12:6-7 (time, times and half a time).
    • Time the gentiles trample on the holy city: Revelation 11:2 (42 months).
    • Time the two witnesses prophecy clothed in sackcloth: Revelation 11:3 (1,260 days).
    • Time the woman given refuge in the wilderness: Revelation 12:6 & 14 (1,260 days & time, times and half a time).
    • Time the beast that comes out of the sea exercises its authority: Revelation 13:5 (42 months).
  4. Question is: Why is this time period of 1260 years expressed using different terms?
  5. Do the time periods cited for these prophecies occur concurrently, or is it possible the usage of different terms suggest different chronologies?
2) Prophecies Involving Different Time Periods:
  1. The seven times prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's dream:
    • In his dream he sees a tree of such enormous height it could be seen from any point on earth. The tree is cut down but the stump is left in the ground.
    • Daniel tells him, "Your Majesty, you are that tree!" The tree was cut down because you will take credit for all your success.
    • You will be given the mind of an animal, driven from human company, and forced to live among the wild creatures.
    • "Seven times (years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth." Daniel 4:25
  2. The Seventy Sevens Prophecy:
  3. The 2300 days prophecy:
    • Then Daniel hears one "holy one" speaking, and another "holy one" answered:
      • "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled – the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?" Daniel 8:13
      • "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated." Daniel 8:14
    • This prophecy spans the period of time beginning with the events given to Daniel in the vision of the ram and the goat and extending to the end of time.
    • The Medo-Persian Empire (the ram) began around 550 BC under Cyrus the Great, and ended in 331 BC with the conquest by Alexander the Great (the goat).
    • "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."
      • "Son of man,... understand that the vision concerns the time of the end." Daniel 8:16-17
      • "The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king." Daniel 8:20-21
      • "The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation." Daniel 8:22
      • "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise." Daniel 8:23
      • "He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does... He will will consider himself superior... he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes." Daniel 8:24-25
    • This fierce-looking king is represented in the vision by the little horn that arises from one of the four.
    • It is this power that takes away "the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down." Daniel 8:11
    • What is the daily sacrifice?
      • The word "sacrifice" is not found in the original text. It was added by the translators to clarify the meaning.
      • The word "daily" in the original Hebrew is HaTamid which is more accurately translated "continual". HaTamid, therefore, refers to the morning and evening burnt offerings.
      • "Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening... It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tent of meeting before the Lord." Exodus 29:38-42 RSV
    • Uriah Smith and his interpretation of the 2,300 days.
      • In his book, "Daniel and the Revelation", he sets the start date at 457 BC, which is also the beginning of the Seventy 'Sevens' prophecy.
      • This is the date the Persian king Artaxerxes I issued his decree allowing the return of Hebrew exiles to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
      • Adding 2,300 days to 457 BC means the restoration of the sanctuary would occur in the year 1844 AD. Daniel and the Revelation, page 163 Smith's 2300 Days
      • Furthermore, according to him, it is not the earthly sanctuary that is being restored but the one in heaven which the earthly was modeled after. Daniel and the Revelation, page 142+
    • I have two problems with this interpretation:
      • He states the sanctuary in heaven is the one to be cleansed, despite the fact it is the earthly (Mosaic) sanctuary that is overthrown.
      • The other problem has to do with the matter of time. It is unlikely that heaven, and therefore the sanctuary in heaven, exist somewhere in our space-time universe.
      • No one knows how time operates in heaven or even if time exists as we know it with a past, present, and future.
    • So I must conclude that Uriah Smith's interpretation of the 2,300 days may not be accurate.
  4. The 1290 and 1335 days prophecy.
    • These two periods appear to be connected with, or cut off from, the beginning of the 2,300 days prophecy. Daniel 12:11-12
    • Daniel struggled to understand the vision and what the heavenly beings tried to reveal. "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end." Daniel 12:9
    • As I stated earlier in point 1-6 above, the time periods may have a different meaning that cannot be understood or applied either literally or prophetically.
    • It is perhaps more important to understand the context of the prophecies rather than putting to much emphasis on dating them.