The Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days of Daniel 8:14

03 EXPOSITION OF Daniel 8

THE preceding chapter closed with the inquiry upon our hands, Did the 2300 days end in 1844? The answer to this question involves an answer to two other questions already noticed; namely, 1. Are the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 a part of the 2300 days of Daniel 8? and, 2. Are they rightly dated from B.C. 457? To determine these points, it will be necessary to look briefly at the prophecy of Daniel 8, in which the mention of the 2300 days is found. Beginning with the second verse of that chapter, several objects presented themselves in succession before the eye of the prophet. STTHD 26.1

Scene first. The first object he beheld was a ram standing before the river, having two horns, one higher than the other. He saw this ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, with such vigor that no beast could stand before him, and he did according to his will, and became “great.” STTHD 26.2

Scene second. A rough he-goat, with a notable horn between his eyes, came from the west with such rapidity that he seemed not to touch the ground. And he dashed into the ram, overthrew him, broke his horns, and trampled him into the ground. The he-goat waxed “very great.” STTHD 26.3

But while he was defiantly prancing about in the plenitude of his power, suddenly the great horn between his eyes was broken, and in its place as suddenly sprang forth four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven. STTHD 27.1

Scene third. Out of one of these four horns of the goat the prophet then saw a little horn protruding. And lo, it grew with marvelous rapidity. It took a turn toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. It sprang upward to the host of heaven, and, encircling some of the stars, brought them to the ground and stamped upon them. It even reared itself against the Prince of the host, took away the daily, cast down the place of his sanctuary, gathered to itself an overwhelming host by reason of transgression, cast down the truth to the ground, and practiced and prospered. The little horn waxed “exceeding great.” STTHD 27.2

Scene fourth. Other objects now come into the field of vision. Heaven does not look with indifference upon all the transactions indicated by the symbols and their work thus far introduced, especially as such work affects the people of God. Angels regard it, and consult about it. Two of them held converse respecting it in the hearing of the prophet. “How long,” said one to the other, “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?” Then turning to Daniel, as in addressing him he would address the people of God, who are more especially interested in the response, the angel made answer: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” STTHD 27.3

This is the entire matter of the vision, and fills the chapter to the 15th verse. It was now necessary that it should be explained; and Daniel immediately heard STTHD 28.1