Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ About the Year A. D. 1843, and of His Personal Reign of 1000 Years

CHAPTER II

Showing when the vision will end, of 2300 days, as given in Daniel 3:13, 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 host and the sanctuary to be trodden under foot. And he said unto me, unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” We first learn in the above passage, that saints might, and one did inquire into the length of the vision, which gives us the same right to search what “manner of time” the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:11. In the next place we learn that the vision contained two important things, the daily sacrifice, and transgression of desolation. The first referring to the completion of the typical priesthood, or seventy weeks; the other to the sufferings of the people of God, under the abominations of the fourth kingdom, both pagan and papal when they should be trodden under foot, until Christ should be revealed in his glory. We learn also by the answer, that it would be 2300 days and then the sanctuary (or church of the living God) would be cleansed or as it might be rendered, justified. The next inquiry it would be proper for us to make, would be to know what we must understand by days. We are taught in Numbers 14:34. “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years.” Likewise in Ezekiel 4:6. “I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Also from the fact of the accomplishment of the 70 weeks, which is a part of the vision, and which 70 weeks began 457 years before the birth of Christ, from the giving of the commandment to Ezra the scribe by Artaxerxes king of Persia, to go up to build Jerusalem or the walls thereof, (for the temple was built long before in the reign of Cyrus) unto the sufferings and death of Christ was 490 years, which is the seventy weeks. I have the testimony, also of all the writer on the prophecies on this point. The next thing which I shall attempt to prove is, the time when these 2300 years began: for without this, we may search in vain for the end. At the time that Daniel had this vision, he says, Daniel 8:15. “And it came, as pass, when I even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.” 16th verse. “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” 17th verse. “So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” 18th verse. “Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.” 19th verse. “And he said, behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.” ESH 15.1

What may we learn from the foregoing texts? We learn first that Daniel was very anxious to understand the vision, and to know its meaning, and that it will not be wrong for us, my kind reader, to understand and know too. In the second place we learn, that Gabriel was commanded to make Daniel understand the vision. We also learn that the vision carries us down to the end, and that in the vision, the time when the end of indignation shall be, is appointed.-Thus, far the whole subject seems to be clear and conclusive, but one thing remains yet to clear away all doubts. Daniel did not yet know when the vision began, or was to begin, and although the Angel was sent to instruct him, yet that part was left untold until about 15 years afterwards. In the first year of Darius the Mede, when Daniel made supplication by confession and prayer to his God, the same angel Gabriel was sent to instruct Daniel further into the vision which he was so anxious to understand. Daniel 9:21. “Yea while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.” 22nd verse. “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” 23rd verse. “At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” By these verses we learn that Gabriel was commanded to instruct Daniel further in the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation; and here follows his instruction. Daniel 9:24. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.” In this verse Daniel is informed of the time that was determined in the council of God before the Lamb of God, the great antitype should take away sin by the sacrifice of himself, make reconciliation by his own blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins, to make sure the vision, and fulfil the prophecies concerning his first coming, and finally enter into the holy of holies once for all as a priest and advocate for his people. And if the angel had stopped here, and given Daniel no more instruction, still Daniel would have been at a loss whether to have begun the vision at the time he had it, either in the first or third year of Belshazzar, or fifteen years afterwards, in the first year of Darius, as Daniel had undoubtedly supposed, by his being so particular in giving us the exact dates of these events; but no, the wisdom of man is foolishness with God-almost 90 years from the first vision before the 70 weeks would begin lo be numbered. And here we are taught one important lesson. That it is perfectly vain for us to calculate unless we have, “thus saith the Lord.” But let us see what saith the angel. 25th verse. “Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, unto Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and three score and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” In this verse Daniel is commanded to know and understand, that from a certain event, which event was yet hid in futurity, he might begin to reckon his 70 weeks, or as he reckons here, his seven and sixty-two weeks, making in all 69 weeks. And this event was a commandment to restore and build the streets and walls of Jerusalem in troublous times; but yet who should give the command and how long before this first event would happen, was in the dark with Daniel, and undoubtedly caused much anxiety in his mind; but Daniel must wait with patience, and so must we my dear reader, to receive our instruction from God, by “here a little, and there a little.” 26th verse. “And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined.”-Here we have a prophecy of the death of Christ, for his people, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, by Titus prince of the Romans, the dispersion and desolation of the Jews, or people of God, until all war shall cease and the kingdom of Christ shall fill the whole earth. 27th verse. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” The first thing noticed in this verse, is, the preaching of the gospel one week. John preached three years and a half: and Christ three years and a half, making in all seven years or one week, and this week, with the seven and the sixty-two before mentioned, make up the whole 70 weeks mentioned in the 24th verse. The next thing is, that in the midst, or last half of the week, as it might be rendered, the sacrifice and oblation should cease, that is, Christ would fulfil the typical law, and nail to his cross the ceremonies of the Jewish ritual. The third thing noticed is the overspreading of abominations, and the desolation of the city and sanctuary, until the consummation, or end of the 2300 days when the sanctuary will be justified. ESH 16.1

We have followed the instruction of the Angel Gabriel to Daniel, thus far, and find he brings us down to the end of sublunary things invariably. He has told us how long the vision shall be, 2300 years; he has shown us that 70 weeks or 490 of those years would be accomplished at the crucifixion of Christ; he has told us when the 490 years would begin at the going forth of the commandment to build the streets and walls of Jerusalem in troublous times; he has given us an exact account of the destruction of Jerusalem, the death of Christ, etc. All may be plain to us, who live after almost all is fulfiled, for we can know when the decree went forth, we know that 490 years afterwards Christ was cut off and not for himself; we know Jerusalem has been destroyed, the Jews scattered, the church trodden underfoot, by the abomination of desolation. We can take 490 years from 2300 years, and find the number of years after Christ’s death, before the vision will end, viz. 1810 years-we can add the age of Christ, 33 years, to 1810 and by this calculation find that A. D. 1843 the vision will be accomplished. But Daniel could not do all this for he had no instruction to tell him how much time would elapse before the commandment to build the walls would be given or who would issue that decree; therefore Daniel was not satisfied, and four years afterwards the same Angel Gabriel came to instruct Daniel in this one thing, who should issue this decree. Daniel 10:1. “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel whose name was called Belteshazzar, and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long, and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.” We see in this verse that Daniel lived, and received this visit and instruction under Cyrus the first king in the Persian line of kings, and we further learn, that the thing revealed to Daniel was true, and that it had reference to an appointed time, and that time was long, and that it was concerning this very vision of 2300 years, that being the longest time appointed. In the next place we are informed that Daniel had prayed and mourned three full weeks, and after this he beheld the glory of Christ in the form of a man, and after strengthening him, the angel Gabriel informs him, that he is come in answer to his prayers, and says 13th verse, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” What the angel meant by “one and twenty days,” being withstood by the prince of Persia, is to me as yet in the dark; but we may notice, that it is the same length of time Daniel mourned and prayed, and the angel seems to present this as an excuse why he did not come when Daniel began praying. We may also notice that it was 21 years from the time he had his first vision in the 7th chapter, until he received this last instruction in the three last chapters; and it teaches us that we ought not to give over praying, and searching for truth, although we might be twenty one days, or even as many years, before we obtain. Daniel 10:14. “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” In this verse we learn that the Angel came to make Daniel understand the vision, which would concern the people of God in the last or latter day, for it would be many days yet to come. From the 15th to the 19th verse of the same chapter Daniel gives an account of the effect this visit had upon him, the manner of his being strengthened, in order that he might receive the instruction his heavenly visitor came to communicate, and then the angel begins his instructive lesson. 20th verse. “Then said he, knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.” In the first place the angel asks question of Daniel whether he understood what he had come to instruct him into, and then before he received any reply, goes on to answer the question, by referring Daniel to the “ram pushing,” which was explained to Daniel before to mean the kingdom of Persia; “now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia,” which was to show Daniel that God was now about to accomplish his designs with the kingdom of Persia, by giving that kingdom strength to push west, north and south, agreeable to Daniel 8:4; and after that should be accomplished, which had been foretold, concerning Persia. “Lo. the prince of Grecia should come.” The next kingdom that Daniel saw in his vision, was called the “he goat.” 21st verse. “But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince. We hear learn that the things which the angel was about to reveal to Daniel had been before noticed in the scriptures of truth, which plainly indicates, that it was to be an explanation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and Daniels former vision twenty one years before, which Daniel had undoubtedly wrote at the time, and transcribed into the law of God, or book of the Law. See Daniel 9:10. And he further shows us in the same text, that although it had been noted in the Scripture, yet none understood except Christ, here called “Michael your prince, and the angel Gabriel. He next says in the first verse of the 11 chapter “Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and strengthen him.” In this passage the Angel has coupled this visit with the one where he revealed the seventy weeks. See Daniel 9:1 & 2. which also connects it with the vision in the 8 chap. See 9:23. and then goes on with his instruction to Daniel through the 11th and 12th chapters. ESH 17.1

2 verse, “And now will I show the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.” In this verse the Angel shows Daniel that he is now about to explain the whole mystery of the vision, by giving him a clear account of some of the most important events that should happen, at the time the vision should begin. “There shall be yet three kings in Persia,” signifying that four kings should pass from the stage of action, in the Persian line of kings, one then being on the throne, viz. Cyrus, before the king should arise, representing the ram pushing. The 1st of these kings as I have before said, was Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius, Xerxes, or as the scripture calls the same Ahasuerus. The fourth king from time being Artaxerxes, the same king that issued the decree to Ezra, which began the 70 weeks, and is the ram pushing, as the Angel more than intimates, by saying, “And the fourth [Artaxerxes] shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.” This is a prophecy of the wars between the Persians and Grecians, and is the same, as the ram pushing in the vision of the 6th chapter. And now Daniel understood, that after three mere kings should reign to Persia, (to wit, Cambyses, Darius and Xerxes) then should stand up one. (Artaxerxes) who should issue the commandment to Ezra to build Jerusalem and there begin the 70 weeks, and by his strength through his riches, push southward westward and northward and likewise begin his vision in the 8th chapter, which was to continue the 2300 years. This appears to me, to be the only fair construction that can be put upon this interesting passage of the Angels instruction in the commencement of Gabriel’s last visit to Daniel, and he then goes on to prophecy of the succeeding events which would follow even down to the end of time, the resurrection etc. ESH 19.1

Daniel 11:3 “And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.” This is the “he goat,” the Grecian kingdom under Alexander who conquered the world, and did according to his will and “waxed very great.” ESH 20.1

Daniel 11:4. “And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those.” This verse has been literally fulfilled every word, in the history of Alexander the Grecian monarch. At his death, the kingdom was divided into four kingdoms. Egypt in the south, Macedonia in the west, Syria in the north, and Persia in the east, not given to his children, but to four of his generals. ESH 20.2

5. “And the king of the south (Egypt) shall be strong, and one of his princes (Ptolemy) and he shall be strong above him, (of the north) and have dominion; his (Ptolemy’s) dominion shall be a great dominion.” ESH 20.3

6. “And in the end of the years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south, shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall act retain the power of the arm; neither shall he (the king of the south) stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.” 7. “But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:” 8th “And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes and with their precious vessels of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years then the king of the north.” 9. “So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.” 10. “But his sons (of the north) shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and be stirred up even to his fortress.” 11. “And the king of the south (Egypt) shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: (Syria) and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given in to his hand.”12. “And when he he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands; but he shall not be strengthened by it.” 13. “For the king of the north shall return, and shall set a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.” From the fifth to the thirteenth verses inclusive, we have a prophecy of the wars between the Syrians of the north, and the Egyptians of the south, the Antiochuses, and Ptolemies, which if the reader will be curious enough to compare, he will find the prophecy and history to exactly agree; he will find the history in the 1st of Maccabees 1st chap. Josephus Antiquities, and Rollin’s Ancient History. Almost the same words are used by the historians of that age, as are used by Gabriel to Daniel in this prophecy. Let the reader compare Daniel 11:11-13 with 1st Maccabees 1:16-20, and the forgoing verses and the prophecy of the third or Grecian kingdom. The remainder in Daniel is an account of the transactions which have been; and will be fulfilled under the fourth, or Roman kingdom, until the stone cut out of the mountain without hands shall fill the whole Earth. ESH 20.4

Daniel 11:14 “And in those times there shall many stand up against, the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.” By the robbers of thy people we can only understand the Romans, Modern Europe 1st. 1 and now has come the time, when they must break in pieces the other kingdoms, and devour with their great iron teeth, and stamp the residue (or the people of God) with their feet, and which this kingdom was exalted; then one event more was accomplished which would establish, or make sure the vision. ESH 21.1

15. “So the king of the north shall come, and east up a mount, and take the most fenced cities; and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither this chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.” This verse is a prophecy of what the Romans would do when they were exalted, they would attack distant nations, lay sieges, cast up mounts, and take the strong places. Neither Egypt, nor Jerusalem, nor any nation would be able to stand before the all conquering Romans. ESH 21.2

16. “But he that cometh against him, shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land which by his hand shall be consumed.” This has its fulfilment in Pompey the Roman general, who with a Roman army conquered Egypt, Syria and Palestine, and brought under the Roman yoke the eastern world. 17. “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him, thus shall he do; and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her; but she shall not stand on his side, nor be for him.” While Pompey had been conquering in the east and south, Julius Caesar had been conquering; the west, the Gauls and Britons, and they had by their successes both of the become very popular generals among the Roman, and both aspiring to higher honors, soon become rivals, which led Julius Caesar to lead his army of western veterans into Egypt, to counteract Pompey. Here we see the whole strength of the Roman kingdom combined against Egypt, and upright ones, I suppose means republicans. Pompey dreading the power of Caesar, made peace with the Egyptians, and in order to unite the two contending parties in Egypt, Cleopatra was given to Ptolemy to wife, being his sister, “corrupting her” but after Julius Caesar had subdued Pompey, then Cleopatra deserted the cause of Ptolemy her husband And brother and went over to Julius Caesar and became his mistress fulfilling, “but she shall not stand on his side nor be for him.” ESH 21.3

18. “After this shall be (Pompey) turn his face unto the isles (Grecian) and shall take many, but a prince (Caesar) for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him (Pompey) to cease: without his (Caesar’s) own reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him.” That is upon Pompey, who was in the way of Caesar’s ambition for imperial honors. ESH 22.1

19. “Then he (Caesar) shall turn his face towards the fort of his own land (Rome) but he shall stumble and fall and shall not be found.” In this verse we have the fall of Caesar prophesied of more than 500 years before; who after his success over Pompey in Egypt, returned into Rome, and fell by the hands of Brutus, Cassius & others, who slew Caesar to prevent him from being crowned Emperor of Rome. ESH 22.2

20. “There shall stand up in his estate, a raiser of taxes in the glory of his kingdom: but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.” Octavius, afterwards called Augustus Caesar who was nephew to Julius Caesar, did “stand up in his estate,” that is, successor to Julius Caesar a “a raiser of taxes,” this was the Caesar that was was Emperor over the Romans when Christ was born, and that taxed Jerusalem, See Luke 2:1 & 2. He died in his bed, neither in anger nor in battle.” ESH 22.3

21. “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, (Tiberius Caesar) to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” ESH 22.4

22. “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea also the prince of the covenant.” The above is a true description of the character of Tiberius Caesar, he is noted in history as being a vile person, of obtaining the kingdom by flattery and deceit, also of dividing the land of Judea into factious, and petty provinces, and under whose reign Christ was crucified, here called the prince of the covenant,” which ends the 70 weeks of years, and establishes the vision of Daniel to be true; because so much of said vision as relates to the 70 weeks had been fulfilled. ESH 22.5

23. “And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” The reader will now, observe, that the Angel Gabriel after carrying the prophet Daniel down to the crucifixion of Christ, and the end of the 70 weeks, goes back and begins the history of the Roman Government, when, and at the time the same became the fourth kingdom in the world. This will be evident, first, because it speaks of a ‘league made with him,’ when he was a small, (or republican) people. Secondly, this league must mean the first league made between the Romans and Jews. For I never could be able to find any kingdom prophesied of in the scriptures, until the kingdom became connected in some manner, with the people of God. Thirdly, as the Angel has been describing individuals, rather than kingdoms, as the wars of Pompey—the fall of Caesar—the raising of taxes, and peaceful death of Octavius, the vile character, and deceit of Tiberius, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ under him, so now he has gone back to the league made 150 years before Christ, to bring up the national character. This league the reader will find an account of in 1st Maccabees 8 & 9 chapters, also in Josephus Antiquities. This league took effect when Bacchides the Grecian general left Jerusalem, by the command of the Romans and returned no more, to trouble the Jews, as Menelaus tells us. 1st Maccabees 9:72-73. Thus the Grecians, or Daniel’s third kingdom ceased its power over the Jews, and the fourth or Rom, kingdom began, while they were republicans, or a “small people.” The Romans did agree, that the Jews might enjoy their own laws, government and religion, “he shall work deceitfully.” Yet within one hundred years they were deprived of their laws, the appointment of their kings and their government reduced to a Roman province. How signally hath God visited the disobedience of the Jews; for making this league, which God had commanded them never to make with any nation round about them; by suffering this fourth kingdom, which was described as having great iron teeth, to break them in pieces, and finally scatter them among all nations, as a lasting monument of God,s displeasure against disobedience. By this league made 158 years before Christ, the Roman kingdom became connected with the people of God, and having “worked deceitfully,” soon obtained the power to “trample on,” “break in pieces” and “devour” the Jews. Therefore I believe we shall be warranted in fixing the rise of this fourth kingdom on this period, (which is the apocalyptic Beast with seven heads and ten horns,) of time, “to wit,” 158 years before the birth of Christ, the history of which, together with the rise and fall of Antichrist will be the subject of our next chapter. ESH 22.6