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In the process
of researching this paper, I have prayerfully considered several alternative “interpretations”
of this prophecy. A couple of the other options are briefly discussed in
Appendix 1. For a number of
reasons, I don't want to “set this completely in concrete” just yet. There
are a few factors which don't fit quite as “comfortably” as I would like them
to. I will mention those at the appropriate places in this article. Maybe
more information will turn up one day. Nevertheless, at this point of time,
the view presented below seems to make far more sense than any of the others
considered. SUMMARY The vision in Daniel Chapter 8, is related to
the history of the Empires of Media, Persia, and
GREECE. It predicts the
impact of the Greek empire on the JEWISH NATION at
a time when God inflicted severe punishment for their persistent
transgression. In particular,
it refers to the defilement of the second temple by Antiochus Epiphanes in
BC167, and its subsequent cleansing under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus
in BC164. Before we start
on the main discussion, we need to draw a careful distinction between this
vision and the one in the previous chapter. One of the
principal players in the vision is a “little horn”. It is essential
that we avoid confusing the little horn from Chapter 8, with that of Chapter 7. They are not the same! The little horn
of chapter 7 was to arise
out of the fourth world empire (which most understand to be Rome). But
the angel told Daniel that the little horn from this prophecy in chapter 8 would arise out of the Greek
empire, which was only the third of the great world empires mentioned
by Daniel. THE VISION
DESCRIBED In this vision,
Daniel saw a ram and a he-goat. It was explained by the angel, that the ram
was a symbol which represented Media and Persia, (Daniel 8:20). The he-goat
represented Greece (Daniel 8:21)
which conquered Persia and became the dominant power in the region. The different
phases of the Greek Empire were portrayed by the horns of the he-goat.
Firstly there was a great horn, representing a time when the
whole Greek empire was ruled by one king. This first king was
Alexander the Great. Strictly
speaking Alexander was not the first Greek King. However he was
certainly the first to rule over the Greek World Empire, which came into
existence under his military leadership. Then the great
horn was broken and replaced by four new horns. These represented the four
sections into which the Greek Empire divided, after the death of Alexander
the Great. Eventually, at
a time when (Jewish) transgressions had reached their “full measure”, out of
one part of the divided Greek empire there arose a little horn.
This represented a Greek king of “fierce countenance”,
whose destructive activities would affect many, including the Jews. (Daniel 8:23-25) This king was Antiochus
Epiphanes. THE GREEK KING Daniel's prophecy
says the Greek king represented by the “little horn” of the he-goat would: * grow
great in power. * set
himself up to be as great as the prince of the host (God). * take
away the daily sacrifices made in the Temple. The Greek king
who fulfilled this part of the prophecy was Antiochus Epiphanes. (who reigned
BC 176 -164) THE CESSATION
OF THE DAILY SACRIFICES &THE DESOLATION OF THE SANCTUARY In BC169
Antiochus plundered the temple and massacred many in Jerusalem. (some sources
say BC170) In BC167
Antiochus again visited Jerusalem. In a campaign of destruction, the finest
buildings in the city were burned. The sanctuary was defiled by the innocent
blood which was shed on every side. The sanctuary itself was laid waste, and
the Jews were commanded to follow Greek laws instead of their own. Burnt
offerings and sacrifices in the Temple were forbidden. Keeping of the Sabbath
and circumcision were banned. They were ordered to set up groves and altars
and sacrifice unclean animals to idols. Thousands of Jews were taken away
captive. Many others fled from Jerusalem to escape from oppression. Then, on the
15th day of the month Kislev, that same year “the abomination of desolation”
(an idol of Zeus) was placed on the altar in the Temple. Idol altars were
built throughout the cities of Judah, and the books of the law were collected
and burnt. A death sentence was decreed for any found in possession of any
book of the Testament. Finally, on the 25th day of Kislev, the desecration of
the altar was completed by the offering of swine's flesh. By all this,
God had “given both the host and the sanctuary to be trampled underfoot”.
(Daniel 8:13) THE CLEANSING
OF THE TEMPLE This cessation
of the daily sacrifice was predicted to happen because of rebellion by the
Jews. The sanctuary and the Jewish people were to be trodden underfoot for
2300 “evening/mornings”. (Daniel 8:14) At the end of
that time, the sanctuary would be cleansed (reconsecrated NIV). Judas Maccabeus
was the Jewish leader under whom the forces of Antiochus were defeated, and
the temple was cleansed. In BC165, Judas
Maccabeus gathered an army and began a campaign against the Greek forces. In
the following year (BC164) he inflicted a great defeat on the Greeks and
decided that it was time to cleanse the Temple. The altar was
rebuilt, and the first sacrifices were offered on the 25th day of Kislev
BC164. Josephus makes special note that it was three years to the day when
the temple was re-dedicated. (Antiquities 12:7,6) To this day, the Jews
celebrate the occasion at the Festival of Lights. (Hanukkah) DEFINITION -
“The Time of the End” In Daniel 8:17, the KJV says that “at the time of
the end shall be the vision”. (Bold words not in original). In
Daniel 8:19, the angel
qualifies that by saying that “at the appointed time the end shall be”.
It is perhaps unfortunate that some modern versions cloud the issue by
changing the words around to say that “the vision is for the time of the end”. In several
other places, the phrase “time of the end” often seems to point to the time
just before the second coming of Jesus. However it
would be a mistake to automatically assume that it has that same meaning in
this prophecy. We need to look at the phrase in
its proper context to decide which “end” of “what time”,
the prophecy is referring to! Clearly, in
this prophecy, the “appointed time” refers to the end of a period of time,
after which a Greek invader will be appear. It is the end of a period of time
during which (Jewish) “transgressors are come to the full”.
(Daniel 8:23) It refers to
the end of a time of God's forbearance and long suffering for
that generation. ”Many days”
after Daniel's time, (Daniel 8:26)
Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled the prophecy in remarkable detail. Indeed the
accuracy of Daniel's prediction has often been used by some unfriendly
critics, to claim that it must have been written after the event! DEFINITION -
“Transgression of Desolation” “Desolation of
the sanctuary” is what happens when the scale of national transgressions
reaches the “full measure”. God declares his total rejection of their
meaningless sacrifices, by giving the Temple into the hands of an invader,
for either total, or partial destruction. As a result, the Temple sacrifices
are no longer possible, and must be abandoned. Jews
can no longer even enter the site to worship there. It has happened
three times in the history of the nation. The first was when Nebuchadnezzar
burned and demolished Solomon's Temple in BC586. The third was when the
Romans destroyed Herod's Temple in AD70. On both of these occasions the
Temple was totally destroyed. This prophecy
is about the second occasion. in BC167. Although not utterly
demolished this time, it was left derelict. The gates were
burned; the priest's chambers were pulled down; and the Temple was stripped
of all its gold and vessels of worship. 1 Maccabees
tells us that when the Jews regained access to the site, they found the
sanctuary “desolate”, and the site overgrown by a forest of shrubs. The altar
was so completely profaned that it had to be rebuilt. DEFINITION -
The 2300 “Evening /Mornings” The meaning of
this unusual phrase deserves some attention. The 2300 in the King James
Version of Daniel's prophecy is not “days” but “evenings and mornings” (see
NIV, NEB, NASB) And it should be noted that in the NASB the word “and” is
italicised. It is not part of the original text. We have just
noted that Josephus says that in a three year time span, these events
fulfilled the prophecy by Daniel. But how can 3 years be 2300 days? (Three of
our solar years amount only to 1095 days). The first part
of the answer lies in understanding the phrase “evening/morning”. The daily
sacrifices offered in the Temple, included one in the evening, and one in the
morning. Since the vision is about the taking away of the (twice) daily
sacrifice, it is not unreasonable to suggest that 2300 “evening/mornings”
means 2300 sacrifices. i.e. 1150 days! If that is so, three
years is now much closer to the mark. Can we find the
“missing days” in that three year period? The answer to that is not totally
“comfortable” because it involves a certain amount of speculation. However it
is certainly possible to “find” them! The answer lies
in the difference between Jewish years and Solar years. The “standard” Jewish
year was 354 days. However that was subject to regular adjustment, by the
addition of extra days and months, to keep the seasons in balance and the
feasts in their proper place in the solar year. It was the
responsibility of the priesthood to manage this. We lack information about
exactly how that was done at this particular time. Indeed we cannot even be
sure that it was actually done at all during the time of the desolation of
the Temple. History suggests that there have been other times when the
calendar was neglected. The priesthood was in confusion and under great
pressure to abandon all ritual. While there
were no sacrifices, especially Passover and First Fruits, there was no
pressing need to adjust the calendar. However we do know that it was the
responsibility of the priesthood to make the adjustments. And it seems more
than possible that a neglected duty might have suddenly become a necessity,
with more than the usual adjustments required. The modern
Jewish lunar year can be 354, 355, 383 or 384 days, depending on where it
falls in the 19 year cycle which the Jews use to keep in step with the solar
cycle. Although it is not usual to have three “13 month years” in a row, it
is certainly conceivable that due to several years of neglect, a need might
have arisen to add 3 years’ worth of extra months to catch up. All that we
need now is 2 years of 383 days and one of 384 days. The total? Exactly
1150 days! Alternatively,
it might be that the 1150 days should be calculated from the time when the
order was given forbidding the sacrifices. The erection of
the idol of Zeus on the altar, was on the 15th day of Kislev. That accounts
for 10 of the missing days! If we then had 2 years of 383 days, and one of
354 days (which is a “normal” Jewish calendar occurrence) all we need to find
to complete the total, is another 20 days. It seems quite possible that the
actual order for the sacrifices to cease might have been implemented just 20
days before the “Abomination of Desolation” was actually installed. There is no
point in pursuing this any further. Unless new information is available, it
cannot be resolved any closer. But at the risk of adding to the ’discomfort”,
it is worth noting that some older manuscripts quote the time period as
either 2400, or 2200 days. The compilers of the King James version have
simply made a “best guess” at the most likely of the three numbers, based on
their assessment of the weight of evidence available. Josephus is
quite adamant that Daniel's prophecy is fulfilled by these events. It seems
unlikely that he would have ignored any discrepancy between the three years
and the number of days required to complete 2200, or 2300, or 2400
sacrifices. THE DEATH OF
ANTIOCHUS The prophecy
says that the Greek king would come to his end, “broken
without human hand.” (Daniel
8:25). The book of 1st Maccabees records that shortly after
losing a battle for the city of Elymais, he also received the news that the
Jews had retaken Jerusalem, removed the idol of Zeus from the altar, and
rededicated the temple. At this he fell sick with grief and never recovered.
At the last, Antiochus is said to have recognised that his sickness and
approaching death, was on account of “the evils he did at Jerusalem”. CONCLUSION While there are
still some questions about the meaning of the 2300 evening/mornings, the rest
of the information does fit remarkably well. I have written
this paper, mainly because there are still some of us who feel that this
understanding of Daniel's Prophecy is far more likely to be correct than
either of the two alternatives discussed in the appendix below. In an age
when old landmarks are fast disappearing under the onslaught of Futurism, we
all need to be reminded that there are other options available. For those who
have their own “pet theory” about this subject, please note that I do not
feel obliged to promote, defend, or discuss this particular understanding of
the prophecy, to establish its “supremacy” over others. From here on,
unless compelling new information becomes available, I intend to fall back on
the “PAN-PROPHETIC” method of interpretation. I
am going to wait to see how it “pans out”! Suggested
further reading: 1. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 12:5 &12:7 2. 1st Maccabees Chapters 1 & 4. Appendix
1 - THE “OTHERS” ALTERNATIVE NO.
1 - THE FUTURIST VERSION - 2300 LITERAL DAYS STILL FUTURE With all due
respect to my “Futurist” friends, this one is the product of failure to
recognise the Papacy as the true identity of the Antichrist. For the
“futurists”, almost every time some “bad guy” appears in an Old Testament
prophecy, the Antichrist seems to become the automatic answer. That
fundamental mistake leads to other faulty conclusions which lead me to
conclude that the Futurist version of the 2300 days, is the one least likely
to be correct. In all of the
futurist versions, the “Little Horn” is identified as the Antichrist. While
there is a great diversity of speculation about his identity, in the versions
I have read, his nationality can be almost anything except Greek!
There lies our first problem. The “Little Horn” of this prophecy is very
definitely Greek! And if the Futurist Antichrist wasn't clouding the issue,
it would be easier to see Antiochus Epiphanes as the particular Greek who
fulfilled this prophecy over 2000 years ago! Some claim that
the Jews will build a third temple in Jerusalem, before the
Second Coming of Jesus. They say that this third temple will be destroyed by
the “Antichrist”, 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns, and that 2300 literal
days will pass, before a fourth temple is built by Jesus
shortly after the start of the Millennium. However, it is
not at all clear that the Bible predicts the building of that third Temple by
the Jews, before the return of Jesus. Even more unlikely is the prospect of
the restoration of a Mosaic ritual. The indications
are all against that! It is at least one, and possibly, two temples too
many!
THE REAL THIRD
TEMPLE According to
the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, there is no place in this present age for
the building of a temple constructed with the same materials used for the
first two. “God does not dwell in temples made with hands”.
(Acts 17:24-25) According to
the same Gospel of the Kingdom the real Third Temple has long
since commenced construction! The chief
corner stone has been set in place. The foundation has been laid. The Royal
Priesthood for the temple service is being chosen, and called, and trained
for an everlasting ministry, which proclaims the praises of God from a new
temple comprised of human hearts. (1 Peter 2:9-10) ALTERNATIVE NO.
2 - THE DAY FOR A YEAR METHOD There have been
many of these. Starting at some point in time BC, they simply add 2300 years
to arrive at a date in the 1800s or 1900s. However the end point of most of
them has long since passed, and they stand as a reminder of the futility of
trying to predict things that Jesus Himself did not know, and which God has
continued to conceal from the rest of us! One of the most
famous was that of William Miller, a “forefather” of the Adventist movement.
In the 1800s, Miller predicted the return of Jesus to occur in 1844. To
arrive at this date, he commenced with the decree of Artaxerxes in BC457, and added 2300 years. The Seventh day
Adventists still call that event “The Great Disappointment”! Many, including
Miller, faced the matter honestly and admitted their mistake. However others
persisted and eventually a “prophetess” amongst them found a way to save
face by inventing a “heavenly sanctuary” which required “cleansing”.
They now claim that Jesus moved there in 1844, and ever since that time, has
been involved in the work of cleansing it. (In passing, we ask the reverent
question ..... does that perhaps sound just a little like “He is in the
inner rooms”? Matthew
24:26) In another
version of this, John Thomas, “founding father” of the Christadelphians,
changed 2300 to 2400 (which is the Septuagint rendering) and manipulated the
conventional history a little to say it started in BC 540. From there he
calculated it to finish in 1860. (He wrote that in 1848) Time has proved that
one wrong also. In yet another
version, some authors claim that the time started in BC333,
and finished in AD1967. This was the year of the 6 Day War, when the
Jews re-captured the Arab section of Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount. I first
encountered this one just after the 6 Day War. In our excitement over the
result of that event, a lot of us simply seized upon it at the time, without
due consideration of several important factors. In fact it did impress me
enough when I heard it, to make a note of it in the Bible I was using at the
time. I “rediscovered” that note while researching this paper. But alas .....
as I prayed, and found other pertinent information, it didn't “ring true” any
more. And I now confess to you all, the folly of being too quick to scribble
indelible notes in Bible margins! (That is not the only note in that old
Bible which I wish I had been more careful about!) But at least
this one does have something about the Ram and the He-goat in it. BC333 was
selected as the starting point, because that was the year of the famous
Battle of Issus, between Alexander the Great and Darius III. This was claimed
to be the time when Alexander won control over the Persian Empire. However
that is not really correct. Issus was only the second in a
series of three major battles between Alexander and Darius. And in any
case, 2300 years from BC333 finishes in 1968 ..... not 1967! For this reason
some shift ground to start with the battle of Grannicus,
in the previous year, (BC334) to make it work out. However, this date is
even earlier than the correct time of Alexander's final decisive
victory over the Persian Empire. The real victory did not come until the
Battle of Gaugamela, in BC331. There is one
other major element missing from this scenario. We also ask the
obvious question, “What has Alexander got to do with any defilement of the
temple and the suppression of the daily sacrifices?” History does not record
a defilement and desolation of the Jewish temple anywhere near the suggested
starting time. Neither was
there a cleansing of the sanctuary at the finish. In 1967, there wasn't even
a Temple in existence, which could have been cleansed! There still is no
temple; neither is it likely that there can be, before Jesus returns. In my current
(prayerful) opinion, all the “day for a year” versions I have seen appear to
be going from NOWHERE TO NOWHERE! |