To 508-1798 or Not To 508-1798
There is much debate on the 1290 & 1335 dates that we get from Daniel 12.
There are good reasons for and against each side.
So I want to be fair and show both sides as best I can.
But I'm not well versed in either side.
So that is part of the reason for this.
To see which side lines up better.
This divide in SDA will get you labeled as a Historicist or Futurist.
If you have some more material you would like added to either side, let me know.
First lets establish where we are in the timeline of Daniel 11-12.
This is where the starting point is at.
Daniel 11:31 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
The "Taking Away of the Daily" and the "Abomination that maketh Desolate" is seen again at the end of Daniel 12.
So some say this is the same event, while others say no.
Lets look at those verses now.
Daniel 12:11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.".
Daniel 12:12 "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."
So here is where there is a great divide.
Historicist - Past Only.
Futurist - Future Application.
Those who like the past only will always accuse the future side as date setting. (No matter how many times they say, they are not date setting).
Some do go with both applications, which might apply in Daniel 12.
The problem with both is, once you do that here many go back and start putting future dates on all the other prophetic times.
I definitely don't agree with that.
I'll give more reason for a dual application later down below.
The Historical View | The Futurist View | ||||||
First how do we get the 508 date? How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation. As we learned on that lesson the 2300 day prophecy ends in 1844.
We also learned about the 1260 year timeline in Dan 7:25, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, & Rev 13:5. Just noticed we are one year off from the 1844 date. Remember at first 1843 was the date for Jesus return. It was not till later that they realized there was no 0 year. Thus changing the 1843 to 1844 date later. So now it looks like the 1335 timeline is off by one year. 1843 did make it on the 1850 Chart. (see chart picture with angel on it below.) |
So what does the 1290 and 1335 mean to a futurist? (Dan 12:11 and Dan 12:12.) First lets get the context of Daniel 12. |
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This chart was used during the Millerite movement. |
There is no agreement on any future chart. So I just looked for whatever I could find. Mat 24:15 is why I lean more to the future application. The disciples asked "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?". (Mat 24:3) So in both Daniel and Matthew is Jesus going to answer the question with 508-1798 AD? |
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The pictures below are from 2 charts, one from 1843 and the other from 1850. I'm showing both because Ellen White had comments about them. I'll show that further down. What I'm getting at though is that all these dates are on both charts. The date 1335 was removed off the new chart, but 1843 is still on the chart (see angel picture). From Daniel 12 we get:
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The biggest thing I think that supports the Historic view is the 1850 chart. The biggest thing I think that supports the Futurist view is Matthew 24:15, the words of Jesus. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew24:15-22) Lets also see Luke's take on what Jesus said. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke21:20-24)
The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. (Ellen White - 5T 464)
The persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period of the 1260 years. God in mercy to His people cut short the time of their fiery trial. In foretelling the "great tribulation" to befall the church, the Saviour said: "Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matthew 24:22. Through the influence of the Reformation the persecution was brought to an end prior to 1798. {GC 266.4}
I'm not saying these are all the same event. I mean that when Jesus spoke of this time he was talking about multiple events at one time.
The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos. These two books should be carefully perused. Twice Daniel inquired, How long shall it be to the end of time? "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" (TM 114) |
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After looking at some of the dates above: One Saint - "How long 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?" Another Saint - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed:" So by this passage you could say that desolations are all over by 1844. |
Disciples - What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Jesus - When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel. Daniel - O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? Jesus - From the time that the abomination that maketh desolate set up. Could there be another set of desolations after 1844? |
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One of the main points of 1290, 1335 being in the past is: No More Time Setting. The time prophecies are all past. |
One of the main point for these being future is: Don't ignore the warnings. Prophetic time has passed (meaning a day for a year prophecy). But there is still literal time prophecies yet to come. |
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Prophetic Time Is Over This time, which the Angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world's history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which would precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844. (Ellen White - Christ Triumphant, p. 344) |
The Prophetic Time Is Over |
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Ellen White Statement's on time. |
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Ellen White's Statements on Daniel 12 Doubt you will find many statements of Daniel 12 in the past. So I will give a couple comments on the Daily. |
Ellen White's Statements on Daniel/Daniel 12 In the Scriptures are presented truths that relate especially to our own time. To the period just prior to the appearing of the Son of man, the prophecies of Scripture point, and here their warnings and threatenings pre-eminently apply. The prophetic periods of Daniel, extending to the very eve of the great consummation, throw a flood of light upon events then to transpire. The book of Revelation is also replete with warning and instruction for the last generation. The beloved John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, portrays the fearful and thrilling scenes connected with the close of earth's history, and presents the duties and dangers of God's people. None need remain in ignorance, none need be unprepared for the coming of the day of God. (RH September 25, 1883, par. 6) |
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From what I heard there are discrepancies between the Charts and Uriah Smith's book. |
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How should we apply this quote?
One week ago, last Sabbath, we had a very interesting meeting. Brother Hewit from Dead River was there. Those who believe this is past would say... Ellen White is stating that the 1335 days were ended, not that this was one of Hewit's errors. Ellen White believed it was past. |
How should we apply this quote?
One week ago, last Sabbath, we had a very interesting meeting. Brother Hewit from Dead River was there.
Those who believe this is future would say... We can clearly see here that one of Brother Hewit errors whas that he put the 1335 days in the past. Ellen White believed it was future. |
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Other Reasons |
Other Reasons | ||||||
From this side, I wholly agree that we should not give any date for Christ's Return. Although I do believe that God will make known when he will come again like Ellen White said. Ellen White - Early Writings.
And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus' coming.
and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, |
From this side, I still can't just put these time periods in the past. I believe "THE Prophetic Time" ended but Daniel 12 has some kind of a literal future fulfillment. Ellen White - TM 112.3 The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass. |
I'm sure I will continue to study this, but for now I'm going to end here. I'm pretty sure I'll be back here to add more later. Again this was more to explain past or future or both than to explain what the events are. I will get to those points later. (No Time Prophecy for that) but look for it in the timeline not on this page. |