Why is there a discrepancy between the 1,260 days of Rev. 11:2-3) and the 1290 days of Daniel 12:11?
Revelation 11 New International Version (NIV) The Two Witnesses 11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
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Asked December 07 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
The 1260-day time period mentioned twice in Daniel and five times in Revelation (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5) listed three times as a “time, times, and half a time” (time = 1 year, times = 2 years, ½ time = ½ year for a total of 3 ½ year); twice as 42 months; and twice as 1260 days. Based on the 30-day Jewish lunar calendar, these time periods are all the same amount of time: 1260 days. In Bible one prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezek 4:6, 7; Num 14:34) - thus, 'little horn' was to have power over the saints for 1260 prophetic days; that is 1260 literal years. The rule of the papacy began in A.D 538, when the last opposing Arian tribes were defeated. Its rule continued until 1798 when Napoleon’s general, Berthier, took the Pope Pius VI captive and temporary ended the political power of the papacy. This time period is an exact fulfillment of the 1260-year prophecy. However, the papacy's deadly wound was going to heal. In 1929, Mussolini and cardinal Gasparri signed the Lateran Treaty by which the papal political power and Vatican City State was reinstated. Currently 88 countries maintain embassies to the Holy See. The 1290 days of Daniel 12:11 start date is “the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up." In this text the “abomination” that is set up is the Roman Papal system - the start date is AD 508. The 1290 days are an extension of the 1260 days mentioned in Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 12:7. The difference in Daniel 12:11 is 30 days, suggesting that an additional month has been added to extend the period. The reference to the 1260 days in Daniel 7:25 emphasized the time during which God’s people would suffer persecution. Daniel 12:7 emphasizes the moment when the activities of God’s enemies would come to an end. The 1290 days in Daniel 12:11 emphasize the moment when prophetic time begins. In order to synchronize the beginning of the prophecy with a specific event, the period is extended by adding an extra month - instead of 42 months (1260 days) we now have 43 (1290 days). This gives a more precise date concerning the event that initiates the period, as well as to its full length. The prophetic period of 1290 days is then extended by 45 extra days, making it total 1335 prophetic years (Daniel 12:12).
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
The discrepancy would be a 30-day difference, and it may represent a gap between the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the 1000 years reign of Christ. Since the Great Tribulation is clearly 1260 days long (Rev. 12:6), some scholars speculate that some of the “missing” days between 1260 and 1290 will be consumed with waiting for the Lord to appear. More "missing" days may be found in Daniel 12:12. Daniel 12:11-12 says, “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.” I, Jack, along with Jack Kelley, believe the remaining 45 days will be necessary to cleanse the Temple for use in the Millennium and set up the administrative workings of the Kingdom. Those who make it through these two periods to see the arrival of the Kingdom Age will be truly blessed as Daniel 12:12 promised. Again, "Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days." (Ultimately, though, the exact referents are unknown. In part, this is why they have been applied to a future eschatological timetable.) I personally believe it is this particular gap.
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