S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Daniel 8 speaks of 2,300 days in a prophecy concerning a persecution of the Jewish people during the intertestamental period. Similarly, in Revelation 11 and 12, John mentions 1,260 days in two pro...

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October 06 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Craig Mcelheny Supporter Christian Author

This is the most misunderstood prophecy in the book of Daniel. Pastor Chuck Smith, as most expositors do, begins the 2,300 days from the time the Temple was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 168 BC. and then “assumes” the Temple was cleansed 2,300 days later. J. Vernon McGee provides a date certain for the cleansing of the temple. He puts it at 165 BC when Judas Maccabaeus drove out the Syrian army and states, “…the temple was cleansed and rededicated after its pollution.” J. Vernon begins the “pollution” in the year 170 BC. The problem with that is, the 2,300 days is related to the removal of the regular sacrifice (Dan. 8:13-14), and that did not occur under Antiochus IV Epiphanes until the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, 168 BC. To make this fit the 2,300 day prophecy, you have to contort the 2,300 day-evenings into 1,150 days or roughly 3.15 years – half the time of 2,300 days (6.3 years). J. Vernon did not resort to half the number of days (1,150), but he did not adhere to the exact time the regular sacrifice was removed and the statue of Zeus being set up (168 BC). (168 BC. – 165 BC. = 3 years, not 6.3 years).

Likewise, John MacArthur adheres to the 2,300 day interpretation, but ignores the requirement to begin with the removal of the regular sacrifice. John MacArthur and Michael’s interpretation are identical. They both begin the 2,300 day interval from the time Antiochus IV Epiphanes began his persecution of the Jews in the month of September, 171 BC and end it with the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the month of December, 165 BC.

There are two or three verses that clearly define the application of the 2,300 days, and it begins at the mid-point of the Tribulation. This extends beyond the Tribulation by some (6.3 – 3.5) = 2.8 years. That is ok, because it defines the length of time in a period known as the Day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1-2), or what is otherwise referred to as “the great day of God, the Almighty” (Rev. 16:14). See: 

https://ebible.com/questions/1630-what-is-the-day-of-the-lord#answer-18026

You can find Figs. 10 (Major Events of the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord) and 12 (The Sign of the Son of Man – the Rapture) from my book “The Rapture and the Last Seven Years” on my website:

https://www.facebook.com/Craig-McElheny-430759656985167/

Look at Dan. 9:21-22. The angel, Gabriel, whom Daniel had seen in “the vision at first”, comes to him to explain “the vision” (Dan. 9:23). This occurred in the 1st year of Darius, the king of the Medes, probably some eight years after Daniel sees the vision of the 2,300 days in the 3rd year of the reign of Belshazzar, King of Babylon. Daniel’s reference to Gabriel, ties “the vision at first” to the vision of the 2,300 days in Chapter 8, by the fact that Gabriel did not come to Daniel to explain the very first vision in Daniel, Chapter 2. Gabriel only previously came to explain the vision regarding the 2,300 days in Chapter 8. In fact, Daniel thanks God (Dan. 2:23) for the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel, Chapter 2.

Therefore, Gabriel’s explanation in Daniel 9:24-27 is further clarification of the vision in Chapter 8 of the 2,300 days. There was no third vision given to Daniel, after the vision in Chapter 8. Clearly, this ties the 2,300 days to the Tribulation, as Gabriel defines Daniel’s 70th Week to be that of the Tribulation, and the removal of the sacrifice is linked to the Antichrist in Dan. 9:27, with reference to “on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate” and “the transgression that makes desolate” in Daniel 8:13-14.The 2,300 days begins with the removal of the sacrifice at the mid-point of the Tribulation when the Antichrist takes his seat in the rebuilt Temple (2 Thess. 2:3-4) and claims to be God (Dan. 8:11, 25).

God bless,

Isaiah 1:18

March 09 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kenneth Heck Supporter

Dan 8:13-14 "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days: then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

My opinion is that the 2,300 days date from the invasion of the temple by Antiochus IV in 168 BC to the granting of religious freedom by Antiochus V in 162 BC. This freedom included the right of traditional temple activities. Seleucid approval had to be obtained for the temple to function in any capacity.

Even though the temple was informally reconsecrated by the priests in 165 BC it had no official meaning until the true secular authorities had recognized it. The Jews were always legally under the Gentile empires in both religious and secular matters during the times of the Gentiles, and are still under them even today. 

Israel today exists as a seemingly independent state only because of its recognition by other countries, primarily the USA. The seemingly independent Hasmonean Dynasty existed because of its treaty with Rome. When the time of the Gentiles is over, Israel will exist in its own right and be absolutely free to decide all religious and secular matters.

March 10 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report