Miller’s Works, vol. 1. Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology

II. I WILL NOW BRING FORWARD SOME PROPHECIES WHICH REMAIN TO BE FULFILLED, OR WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

1. Moses’ prophecy of the scattering of the people of God among all nations “seven times;” see Leviticus 26:14-46. It is evident that these “seven times” were a succession of years, for their land was to lie desolate as long as they were in their enemies’ land. And the people of God have been scattered, and are now a scattered and a peeled people. These “seven times” are not yet accomplished, for Daniel says, “When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished.” The resurrection and judgment will take place. Daniel 12:6, 7: “And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half: and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” MWV1 43.3

What did the angel mean by time, times, and a half? I answer, he meant three years and a half prophetic, or forty-two months, as in Revelation 11:2, and 13:5; or 1260 prophetic days, as in Revelation 11:3, and 12:6 and 14. He meant the one half of “seven times.” Daniel saw the same thing as Moses, only to Daniel the time was divided. He was informed that the little horn would “speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time, times, and the dividing of time.” This makes Moses’ seven times, for twice three and a half are seven, and twice 1260 are 2520 common years. But you may inquire, are not these two things the same in Daniel? I answer, no. For their work is different, and their time of existence is at different periods. The one scatters the holy people; the other wears out the saints. The one means the kingdoms which Daniel and John saw; the other means Papacy, which is called the little horn, which had not come up when the people of God were scattered by Babylon and the Romans. The first means literal Babylon or the kings of the earth, the other means mystical Babylon or Papacy. And both together would scatter the holy people and wear out the saints “seven times,” or 2520 years. MWV1 44.1

Moses tells us the cause of their being scattered. Leviticus 26:21: “And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me.” Jeremiah tells us when this time commenced. Jeremiah 15:4 to 7: “And I will cause them to be removed (scattered) into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. For thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward; therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee. I am weary with repenting. And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.” We have the same cause assigned by Jeremiah as was given by Moses, and the same judgments denounced against his people, and the time is here clearly specified when these judgments began, “in the days of Manasseh.” And we find in 2 Chronicles 33:9-11, that for this same crime they were scattered. “Wherefore the Lord spake to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the kings of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon.” Here then began the “power (their king) of the holy people to be scattered.” This year, also, the ten tribes were carried away by Esarhaddon, king of Babylon, and Isaiah’s sixty-five years were fulfilled when Ephraim was broken. This was in the year B.C. 677. The seven times are 2520; take 677 from which, and it leaves 1843 after Christ, when “all these things will be finished.” You may wish to know how the “time, times, and a half” are divided. MWV1 45.1

I answer, the Babylonians bear rule over Israel and Judah 140 years, Medes and Persians 205 years, the Grecians 174 years, and the Romans before the rise of Papacy 696 years; making in all of the four kingdoms 1215 years that the people of God were in bondage to the kings or rulers of these kingdoms. Then Papacy began her time, times and a half, which lasted until 1798, being a period of 1260 years; which added to the 1215 years of the kings, before mentioned, make 2475 years; wanting 45 years to complete the “seven times.” And then the kings of the earth must consume the papal power and reign 45 years to complete the “seven times;” which added to 1798, when the last of the ten kings broke loose from the power of Papacy, and again exercised their kingly power, (see the holy alliance, Revelation 17:16 to 18. Daniel 7:12,) ends 1843. Daniel 12:7 to 13. Thus this 45 years accomplishes the “time, times, and a half,” which the kingdoms of the earth were to exercise their authority in, “scattering the power of the holy people,” being 1260 years. And Papacy, or mystical Babylon, accomplished her “time, times, and the dividing of time,” being 1260 years, between A.D. 538 and 1798, in “wearing out the saints of the Most High and thinking to change times and laws.” And both together make 2520 years, beginning before Christ 677, which taken out of 2520, leaves 1843 after Christ, when captive Zion will go free from all bondage, even from death, and the last enemy conquered, the remnant out of all nations saved, the New Jerusalem completed, the saints glorified. MWV1 46.1

The next prophetic number to which we shall attend, will be Daniel 8:14. “Unto 2300 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, or justified.” After Daniel had seen three visions, two of them including the whole “seven times,” he sees under his last vision but the three last kingdoms, Persia, Grecia and Rome. He then hears a saint speaking, and another saint inquiring for how long time this last vision should be. Daniel was then informed, that it should be unto 2300 days. He afterwards heard a voice commanding Gabriel to make him (Daniel) understand the vision. He came and told him, that the vision would carry him to the end of all indignation, and at the time appointed (2300 days) the end would be. Gabriel then named two of the three kingdoms, i.e. Persia and Grecia, and described the Roman by its acts. Then he left Daniel to consider of the vision. Fifteen years afterwards, while Daniel was praying, Gabriel came to him again, and told Daniel he had come to make him understand the vision. Then he gives him the 70 weeks, and tells him plainly that the 70 weeks would seal (or make sure) the vision and prophecy. Here he gave him a clue to know when his vision of the ram and he-goat began. He tells Daniel plainly, and shows how those who should live after the 70 weeks were fulfilled, might know his prophecy to be true, and what they might understand by days in this vision. If, then, the 70 weeks were a part of the vision of the ram and he-goat, and given, as it is evident, for the express purpose of showing the beginning of the vision, it remains a simple problem. If 490 days were fulfilled in the year A.D. 33, by being so many years, when will 1810 days afterwards be fulfilled in the same manner? Answer, 1843. MWV1 46.2

Then in the twelfth chapter of Daniel, at the 7th verse, we have the three and a half times, which have been already explained in part, meaning 1260 days. See Revelation 12:6 and 14: The woman in the wilderness, 1260 days, which is the same thing as three and a half times. Daniel, in the seventh chapter, 25th verse, mentions the little horn wearing out the saints three and a half times; but in the twelfth chapter, 7th verse, it is “scattering the power of the holy people” three and a half times. This was to be accomplished by the kings of the earth. Jeremiah 50:17: “Israel is a scattered sheep, the lions have driven him away; first the king of Assyria hath devoured him, and last this Nebuchadnezzar, king of MWV1 47.1

Babylon, hath broken his bones.” Also, Zechariah 1:18-21. MWV1 48.1

Then in the twelfth chapter of Daniel 11th verse: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice, (meaning abomination,) shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days.” There is some difficulty in knowing what is here intended by “daily sacrifice” in this text. It cannot mean the Jewish sacrifices, for two good reasons:- MWV1 48.2

1. It has some immediate connection with “the abomination that maketh desolate,” i.e. Papacy, or papal power of Rome, that is “taken away, to set up,” etc. Now all must admit that Jewish sacrifices were taken away about five hundred years before Papacy was set up, or exalted. MWV1 48.3

2. If Jewish sacrifices are here meant, then in A.D. 1360 this papal power would have ended her setting up, or exaltation. But Papacy was then at the height of its power. I have come to this conclusion: that this power, called “daily sacrifice,” is Rome pagan abomination; the same as Christ has reference to in Matthew 24:15. Luke 21:21. Certainly Christ could not have reference to papal abomination that maketh desolate until Christ’s second coming; for that was not set up until nearly five hundred years afterwards. Of course, it must have been the pagan abomination which would be taken away. This agrees with Paul, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition: who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Here Paul shows plainly, that there was one abomination then at work, which would hinder the rise of the last abomination, until the first was “taken out of the way.” Then the second would be revealed, whom the Lord would destroy with the brightness of his coming. The question then would be, when was Paganism taken out of the way? I answer, it must have been after the ten horns arose out of what is called the Western empire of Rome, which were to arise up and rule one hour, ¹ (a little time,) with the beast, pagan: for this little horn was to arise or be “set up” among the ten horns. It could not be until after the year 476 after Christ, when the Western empire fell, and was divided into ten kingdoms. It could not come until “they,” the ten kings, had “polluted the sanctuary of strength,” (meaning Rome.) Daniel 11:31: “And they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall ‘take away’ the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” Who shall do this? I answer, the ten horns, or kings. Revelation 17:12, 13: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, (when John saw his vision,) but receive power as kings one hour, (a short time,) with the beast.” The beast here must mean Rome pagan, for we have been told that beast means a kingdom. Daniel 7:23: “Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth.” And as papal Rome had not yet been “set up,” we must of necessity call this beast Rome pagan. Then he tells us, Revelation 17:13, “These (ten kings) have one mind,” that is, one faith, all being converted to the orthodox religion of the Catholic Roman Church, “and shall give their power and strength to the beast,” meaning Rome papal; for now this beast is “set up,” and the ten kings have given their power and strength to the pope of Rome, and the woman or Papacy sits upon the scarlet-colored beast having seven heads and ten horns. MWV1 48.4

Then the abomination that maketh desolate began his rule in the fourth kingdom, when “the dragon (emperor of the Eastern empire) gave him his power, his seat, (Rome,) and great authority,” (Revelation 13:2,) and when the ten kings give their power and strength to him, and he (the pope) uses his authority over the kings of the earth. See Revelation 17:18. “And the woman thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” These several marks, and combinations of events, and circumstances, in my opinion, can nowhere be fulfilled in any manner agreeing with the prophecy, except in the conversion of the pagan kings to Christianity, which happened as soon as A.D. 508; then they “must continue a short space,” Revelation 17:10; which is shown in Daniel to be thirty years, the difference between Daniel 7:25 and 12:11, the last number, 1290 years, beginning at the “taking away” Paganism, A.D. 508; the first number, 1260 years, beginning at the setting up of Papacy, A.D. 538, when the dragon gave his power, his seat and great authority, and when the ten kings gave their power and strength to Rome papal, and he exerciseth the power of the pagan beast before him. Papacy now killed heretics, as Paganism had Christians before. Then these numbers would end in the year A.D. 1798, allowing a day for a year. MWV1 50.1

The events which took place in the year 1798, are strong evidence that my calculations of these numbers are correct. Papacy then lost the power to punish heretics with death, and to reign over the kings of the earth. All must agree that Papacy has no temporal power over any kingdom, except the little kingdom of Italy, one of the horns of which the ten are composed. It is very evident, too, that the church is not now in the wilderness, and the time, times and a half of the church in the wilderness were fulfilled when free toleration was given to all religions in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, etc.; where Bonaparte obtained power and granted free toleration. Also, the two witnesses are not clothed in sackcloth, and the 1260 years are fulfilled. No one can doubt for a moment that the Bible was forbidden to the common people, and forbidden to be translated in any common language, after the orthodox put down the Arian heresy in Italy and the West, by Belisarius, the general of Justinian’s troops, sent into Africa and Italy for the express purpose of suppressing the Arian power, and giving the Church of Rome the pre-eminence over all schismatics. Then was the Bible taken from the common people, and remained in a sackcloth state from A.D. 538 until A.D. 1798, during 1260 years. Here we find the prophetic time of days fulfilled in years, by two ways more. And now it remains to show the end, by Daniel 12:11, 12. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days.” Paganism taken away A.D. 508; add 1290, makes 1798. “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days: but go thou thy way until the end be, for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” MWV1 50.2

When will the end of these days be? you may inquire. I answer, 1335 years from taking away the first abomination of the Roman kingdom, A.D. 508, to which add 1335 and it makes A.D. 1843, when Daniel will stand in his lot, and all who have waited for the Lord will be blessed. MWV1 51.1

III. I will now show some proof that days in prophetic chronology are used for years. All must agree, that God has in many places, and at divers times, revealed future things in figures, emblems, types and allegories; and, as I believe, for wise and benevolent purposes. The most prominent is, that in order to get anything clear, the Bible student must study the whole. And as it respects the matter under consideration, days being put for years: If God had revealed himself plainly by using plain language instead of figures; if he had said, “Unto 2300 years from the time that Ezra would be sent up from Babylon to restore the law and captives, etc., to the time when the end of the world should come,” many men of the world would reject the whole Bible because of these words. MWV1 51.2

Again, others, during past ages, if they could have known that the judgment day was yet many years to come, they would have abused the mercies of God, because vengeance was not executed speedily. Yet God had determined times, and set bounds, and must reveal it to his prophets, or he would deny himself, (Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing,” etc.) that that day may not overtake the true believer as a thief, 1 Thessalonians 5:4. It is in the manner of Christ’s parables, Matthew 13:14, 16: “By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.” “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” MWV1 52.1

That God has used days as a figure of years, none will or can deny. With Moses, 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; and ye shall know my breach of promise.” With Ezekiel 4:4-6: “Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Also the seventy weeks in Daniel 9:24-27. These are samples. But you will inquire, How shall we know when days are used for years? I answer, you will know by the subject matter to be performed in the given time: for instance, the seven of the seventy weeks, “The streets and walls of the city should be built again, in troublous times;” every man must know this could not be performed in forty-nine days; or even in seventy weeks, 490 common days. So we are to look for another meaning to days; and we find it, as above, to mean years. MWV1 52.2

Again, the 2300 days. This is an answer given to the question, “For how long a time the vision,” of the ram, the he-goat and the little horn, “shall be?” Answer, unto 2300 days. Who cannot see at a glance, that these three kingdoms could not conquer each other, rule over the whole world, each one separately for a time, and do this in six years and four months? Thus the infidel rejects his Bible, and the worldly scribe and priest try to explain away, by their own wisdom, what God has made plain by his word. “By hearing ye shall hear, and not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.” MWV1 53.1

But apply our rule, “years for days,” and all is simple, plain, and intelligible. MWV1 53.2

I might here show how God has revealed time by types in his word, by Jewish sabbaths, by the jubilee, and by the day of rest; but I am warned that I have already trespassed on your patience. May we all apply our hearts unto that wisdom which compares scripture with scripture, and understand “times and seasons,” which God has put within our power by his revelation unto us. MWV1 53.3

For the time is at hand, “when the wise shall understand-but the wicked shall not understand.” Amen. ¹ MWV1 53.4