19. The Longest Time Prophecy Cleansing the Sanctuary

In this study we are going to explore the longest time prophecy in the Bible—on that perfectly predicted the first coming of Jesus and the time of His death. In Daniel chapters 8 and 9, Revelation 14:6, 7 talk about God’s judgment hour coming to the world.  God revealed the date for His final judgment to begin, as well as powerful prophetic evidence that Christ is the Messiah. These prophecies are of vital importance to understanding further present truth—yet few truly understand it! Others completely misunderstand it. Please read Daniel 8 and 9 before starting this Study Guide, and ask God’s Spirit to guide you in understanding this phenomenal prophecy.

1.  In vision, Daniel saw a two-horned ram pushing west, north, and south and conquering every beast he met (Daniel 8:3, 4). What does the ram symbolize?

“Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.” (Daniel 8:3, 4)

“The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia.” (Daniel 8:20)

Answer:   The ram is a symbol of the former kingdom of Medo-Persia, which was also represented by the bear of Daniel 7:5.  The prophecies of the Bible books of Daniel and Revelation follow the principle of “repeat and expand,” which means they repeat prophecies covered in earlier chapters of the book and enlarge upon them. This approach brings clarity and certainty to Bible prophecies.

2. What striking animal did Daniel see next?

“And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.” (Daniel 8:5)
“And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia. And the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power” (Daniel 8:21, 22).

Answer:   Next in Daniel’s vision, a male goat with one huge horn appeared, traveling at great speed. He attacked and conquered the ram. Then the great horn was broken off and four horns arose in its place. The male goat symbolizes the third kingdom of Greece, and the huge horn symbolizes Alexander the Great. The four horns that replaced the great horn represents the four kingdoms into which Alexander’s empire was divided. In Daniel 7:6, these four kingdoms were represented by the four heads of the leopard beast, which also symbolize Greece. These symbols were so fitting that it is easy to identify them in history.

These Kingdoms were divided after “the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven”  (Dan 8:8)  The four winds would symbolize the King of the North, South, East, and West.   A further repeat and expansion of these prophecies in Daniel 8 and 9 is found in Daniel 11 and 12.

3.  According to Daniel 8:8, 9, a little horn power arose next. What does the little horn represent?

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” (Daniel 8:9)

Answer:   The little horn represents Rome. Some have suggested that it represents Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who ruled over Palestine in the second century before Christ and who disrupted the Jewish worship services. Others, including most leaders of the Reformation, have believed that the little horn represents Rome in both its pagan and papal forms. Let’s examine the evidence:

A. In harmony with the prophetic rule of “repeat and expand,” Rome must be the power represented here because chapters 2 and 7 of Daniel point to Rome as the kingdom that follows Greece. Daniel 7:24–27 also establishes the fact that Rome in its papal form will be succeeded by the kingdom of Christ. The little horn of Daniel 8 fits this pattern exactly: It follows Greece and is finally supernaturally destroyed -“broken without hand” (Dan8:25)- at Jesus’ second coming. Very similar to Daniel 2 where the kingdom is destroyed by a stone “cut without hands” (Daniel 2:34.)  Antiochus Epiphanes didn’t even live until the first coming nor did he ever “also stand up against the Prince of princes” (Dan 8:25)

B. Daniel chapter 8 says the Medo-Persians would become “great” (verse 4), the Grecians “very great” (verse 8), and the little horn power “exceedingly great” (verse 9). History is clear that no power following Greece and occupying Israel became “exceedingly great” other than Rome.

C. Rome extended its power to the south (Egypt), the east (Macedonia), and the “Glorious Land” (Palestine) precisely as the prophecy predicted (verse 9). No major power other than Rome fits this point.

D. Only Rome stood up against Jesus, “the Prince of the host” (verse 11) and “the Prince of princes” (verse 25). Pagan Rome crucified Him. It also destroyed the Jewish temple.

And papal Rome effectively caused the heavenly sanctuary to be “cast down” (verse 11) and “trampled underfoot” (verse 13) by seeking to replace the essential ministry of Jesus, our High Priest in heaven, with an earthly priesthood that claims to forgive sins. No one but God can forgive sins (Luke 5:21). And Jesus is our true priest and mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). By doing this it took from the sight of the people the sanctuary message for many years.

4.  Daniel 8 informs us that this little horn power would also destroy many of God’s people (verses 10, 24, 25) and cast truth to the ground (verse 12). When asked how long God’s people and heavenly sanctuary would be trodden under foot, what was heaven’s reply?

“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?  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14)

Answer:   The question really had to do with how long would it take for all these kingdoms, Medo-Persia, Greece, and finally Rome to do all of these things mentioned including casting truth to the ground, destroying God’s people and keeping the sanctuary from the view of the people?  And Heaven’s reply was that the sanctuary in heaven would be cleansed after 2,300 prophetic days, which is 2,300 literal years. (Remember, in Bible prophecy there is a day-for-a-year principle. See Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34.)

5.  When is the cleansing of the sanctuary to be done?  And what is Involved?

“And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness…And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.” (Leviticus 16:16, 19)

“And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.  It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.” (Leviticus 16:29-31)

“And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.” (Leviticus 16:5)

Note: In the previous study we learned that the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary took place on the Day of Atonement in ancient Israel. On that day God’s people were clearly identified as His and the record of their sins was removed. Those who clung to sin were cut off forever from Israel. Thus the camp was cleansed from sin.  In the sanctuary service on this day we see mention even of the same animals mentioned in Daniel 8.  The Goat and the Ram.  These are day of atonement sacrificial animals.

Cleansing the sanctuary is a symbol of a work to be done by Christ our mediator on our behalf.  This was done at the end of the year, so to was this prophecy to be done in “the time of the end” (Daniel 8:17)

6.  What urgent point did the angel Gabriel repeatedly stress?

” Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end… I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation… And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.” (Daniel 8:17, 19, 26)

Answer:   Gabriel asserted that the 2,300-year vision involved events in the end time, which began in 1798. (Daniel 7:25, 12:6, 7) The angel wanted us to understand that the 2,300-year prophecy is a message that it was to cleansed at the end of earth’s history. It has special meaning for us today.

Introduction to Daniel Chapter 9
After Daniel’s vision of chapter 8, the angel Gabriel came and began explaining the vision to him. When Gabriel reached the point of the 2,300 days, Daniel collapsed and was ill for some time. He regained his strength and resumed doing the king’s business but was much concerned regarding the unexplained portion of the vision—the 2,300 days. Daniel prayed earnestly for his people, the Jews who were in captivity in Medo-Persia. He confessed his sins and pleaded with God to forgive His people. Daniel 9 begins with the prophet’s earnest prayer of confession and appeal to God.

Please take time now to read Daniel 9 before proceeding with this Study Guide.

7.  What did Daniel say About the Vision of the 2300 days?

“And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” (Daniel 8:26, 27)Daniel 8:14 can be translated 2300 “evenings and mornings”.  So the vision here that Daniel didn’t understand was the 2300 day vision.8. While Daniel was praying in Daniel 9, who touched him and with what message (Daniel 9:21–23)?

“Yea, whiles 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.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” (Daniel 9:23)
“And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” (Daniel 8:16)

Answer:   The angel Gabriel touched him and stated he had come to explain the rest of the vision described in Daniel chapter 8 (compare Daniel 8:26 with Daniel 9:23).  Daniel 8:16 tells us it was Gabriel in the previous vision who was told “make this man to understand the vision”.  However Daniel became sick and in Daniel 8:27 said regarding the vision that he “none understood it”.  Now Gabriel is send back to Daniel to give him an “understanding” of when to start the vision.

9.  How many of the 2,300 years would be “determined” (or allotted to) Daniel’s people, the Jews, and their capital city of Jerusalem (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.” (Daniel 9:24)

Answer:   Seventy weeks were “determined” for the Jews.  The Hebrew word for “determined” means “cut off”.  In other words Seventy weeks are cut off of something.  These seventy prophetic weeks equal 490 literal years (70 x 7 = 490). God’s people would soon be returning from captivity in Medo-Persia, and God would allot 490 years from the 2,300 years to His chosen people as another opportunity to repent and serve Him.

10.  What event and date were to mark the starting point for the 2,300-year and 490-year prophecies (Daniel 9:25)?

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” (Daniel 9:25)

Answer:
Remember Daniel didn’t “understand” and the angel Gabriel was now come to give him “understanding” concerning the previous “vision”. (Dan 9:21-23) The starting event was a decree from Persian King Artaxerxes authorizing God’s people (who were captive in Medo-Persia) to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. The decree, found in Ezra chapter 7, was issued in 457 BC—the seventh year of the king (Ezra 7:7)—and was implemented in the autumn. Artaxerxes began his reign in 464 BC.  So the seventh year of his reign was 457 BC.

11.  The angel said that 69 prophetic weeks, or 483 literal years (69 x 7 = 483), added to 457 BC would reach to the Messiah (Daniel 9:25). Did it?

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks(7), and threescore and two(62) weeks:” (Daniel 9:25)

Answer:   Yes! Mathematical calculations show that moving ahead 483 years from the fall of 457 bc reaches the fall of AD 27. (Note: There is no year 0.) The word “Messiah” means “anointed” (John 1:41, margin). Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38) at His baptism (Luke 3:21, 22). His anointing took place in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1), which was AD 27. And to think that the prediction was made more than 500 years before! Then Jesus began to preach that “the time is fulfilled.” He thus confirmed the prophecy (Mark 1:14, 15; Galatians 4:4). So Jesus actually began His ministry by clearly referring to the 2,300-year prophecy, stressing its importance and accuracy. This is awesome and thrilling evidence that:

A.
 The Bible is inspired.
B. Jesus is the Messiah.
C. All other dates in the 2,300-year/490-year prophecy are valid. What a firm foundation on which to build!

12. We have now considered 483 years of the 490-year prophecy. There is one prophetic week—seven literal years—left (Daniel 9:26, 27). What happens next and when?

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: …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.” (Daniel 9:26, 27)

Answer:   Jesus was “cut off” or crucified “in the middle of the week,” which is three and a half years after His anointing—or the spring of AD 31. Please notice that the gospel is revealed in verse 26: “After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” No—praise God!—when Jesus was cut off, it was not for Himself. He “who committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) was crucified for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; Isaiah 53:5).  UNSELFISH. Jesus lovingly and willingly offered His life to save us from sin. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Jesus’ atoning sacrifice is the very heart of Daniel chapters 8 and 9.

12. Since Jesus died after three and a half years, how could He “confirm the covenant with many” (KJV) for all of the final seven years, as the prophecy in Daniel 9:27 mandates?

“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.” (Daniel 9:27)
“For this is my blood of the new testament(covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

Answer:   The covenant is His blessed agreement to save people from their sins (Hebrews 10:16, 17). After His ministry of three and a half years ended, Jesus confirmed the covenant through His blood with many, but further used His disciples (Hebrews 2:3). He sent them first to the Jewish nation (Matthew 10:5, 6) because His chosen people still had three and a half years remaining of their 490-year opportunity to repent as a nation.

13. When the 490-year period of final opportunity for the Jewish nation ended in the fall of AD 34, what did the disciples do?

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit…And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles… Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” (Acts 7:59-8:5)

Answer:   They began preaching the gospel to other people and nations of the world (Acts 13:46). Stephen, a righteous deacon, was publicly stoned in AD 34. From that date onward, the Jews, because they collectively rejected Jesus and God’s plan, and after suffering long, the nation had rejected righteousness and the plan to save them.  As with most.  God counts people of all nationalities who accept and serve Him as spiritual Jews and Israel (Rom 2:28.29, Rom 9:6-8) and it has always been that way.(Gal 4:29) “heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:27–29). Spiritual Jews are really the chosen people of God and always have been. This of course, include Jewish people who individually accept and serve Jesus. (Rom 11:33)

14. After AD 34, how many years of the 2,300-year prophecy remained? What is the ending date for the prophecy? What did the angel say would happen on that date (Daniel 8:14)?

“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14)

Answer:   There were 1,810 years remaining (2,300 minus 490 = 1,810). The ending date for the prophecy is 1844 (ad 34 + 1810 = 1844). The angel said the heavenly sanctuary would be cleansed—i.e., the heavenly judgment would begin. (The earthly sanctuary was destroyed in ad 70.) And as we read in Daniel 8:17 the heavenly Day of Atonement was slated for the end time. Now we know that the beginning date is 1844. God set this date. It is as certain as the ad 27 date for Jesus’ anointing as the Messiah, and his crucifixion in AD 31.  God’s end-time people must be announcing it (Revelation 14:6, 7). We will get into these details as we continue. In the days of Noah, God said the Flood judgment would occur in 120 years (Genesis 6:3)—and it happened. In Daniel’s day, God stated that His end-time judgment would begin in 2,300 years (Daniel 8:14)—and it happened! God’s end-time judgment has been in session since 1844.

Meaning of the Atonement
The English word “atonement” originally meant “at-one-ment”—that is, a state of being “at one” or in agreement. It denotes harmony of relationship. Perfect harmony originally existed throughout the universe. Then Lucifer, a powerful angel challenged God and His principles of government. A third of the angels joined Lucifer’s rebellion (Revelation 12:3, 4, 7–9).

This rebellion against God and His loving principles is called iniquity—or sin—in the Bible (Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 3:4). It brings heartache, confusion, chaos, tragedy, disappointment, sorrow, betrayal, and evil of every kind. Worst of all, its penalty is death (Romans 6:23)—from which there is no resurrection—in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Sin spreads faster and is more lethal than the most deadly type of cancer. It put the entire universe in jeopardy.

So God cast Lucifer and his angels out of heaven (Revelation 12:7–9), and Lucifer received a new name—“Satan,” which means “adversary.” His fallen angels are now called demons. Satan seduced Adam and Eve and sin came upon all humans. What a horrible tragedy! The devastating conflict between good and evil had spread to the earth, and evil appeared to be winning. The situation seemed hopeless.

But no! Jesus, God’s Son deity Himself agreed to sacrifice His own life to pay the penalty for every sinner (1 Corinthians 5:7). By accepting His sacrifice, sinners would thus be freed from the guilt and chains of sin (Romans 3:25). This glorious plan also included Jesus entering a person’s heart when invited (Revelation 3:20) and changing him to a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). It was provided to resist Satan and to restore every converted person to the image of God, in which all people were created (Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 8:29).

This blessed atonement offer includes a plan to isolate sin and destroy it—including Satan, his fallen angels, and all who join him in rebellion (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 21:8). Further, the full truth regarding Jesus and His loving government and Satan and his diabolical dictatorship will be taken to every person on earth so everyone can make an intelligent, informed decision to align either with Christ or Satan (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6, 7).

The case of every person will be examined in the heavenly courtroom (Romans 14:10–12) and God will honor the choice of each individual to serve either Christ or Satan (Revelation 22:11, 12). Finally, after eradicating sin, God’s plan is to create new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17), where sin will never rise again (Nahum 1:9), and give this new earth to His people as their home throughout eternity (Revelation 21:1–5). The Father and Son will then dwell with their people in perfect joy and harmony forever.  (Rev 22:3)

All of this is included in the “at-one-ment.” God has informed us of it in His Word and demonstrated it in the Old Testament sanctuary services—especially the Day of Atonement. Jesus is the key to this at-one-ment. His loving sacrifice for us makes it all possible. Getting rid of sin in our lives and in the universe is possible only through Him (Acts 4:12). No wonder heaven’s three-point final message to the world calls upon us all to worship Him (Revelation 14:6–12).

15.  Why do some Bible interpreters detach the last week (or seven years) of the 490 years allotted to the Jewish nation and apply it to the antichrist’s work at the end of earth’s history?

Answer:   Let us review the facts:
A. There is no warrant or evidence for inserting a gap between any of the years of the 490-year prophecy. It is continuous, as were the 70 years of exile for God’s people mentioned in Daniel 9:2.
B. Never in Scripture is a number of time units (days, weeks, months, years) anything other than continuous. Thus, the burden of proof is on those who claim that any part of any time prophecy should be detached and counted later.
C. AD 27 (the year of Jesus’ baptism) was the starting date for the last seven years of the prophecy, which Jesus emphasized by preaching immediately, “The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15).
D. At the moment of His death in the spring of AD 31, Jesus cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Savior here was clearly referring to the predictions of His death made in Daniel chapter 9:

1. “Messiah” would be “cut off” (verse 26).
2. He would “bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (verse 27), dying as the true Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 5:7; 15:3).
3. He would “make reconciliation for iniquity” (verse 24).
4. He would die in “the middle of the week” (verse 27).

There is simply no biblical reason to detach the last seven years (prophetic week) of the 490 years. Indeed, detaching the last seven years from the 490-year prophecy so distorts the true meaning of many prophecies in the books of Daniel and Revelation that people cannot correctly understand them. Even worse, the seven-year gap theory is leading people astray!

16.  Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was made for you. Will you invite Him into your life to cleanse you from sin and make you a new person?

Answer:

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1.  A little horn power appears in both Daniel chapter 7 and Daniel chapter 8. Are they the same power?The little horn power of Daniel 7 symbolizes the papacy. The little horn power of Daniel 8 symbolizes both pagan and papal Rome.2. The “two thousand three hundred days” of Daniel 8:14 translated literally from the Hebrew reads “two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings.” Does this mean 1,150 days, as some contend?

No. The Bible shows in Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 that an evening and a morning equal a day. Moreover, there was no event in history at the end of 1,150 days that would fulfill this prophecy.

2.  What part does choice play in a Christian’s life?

Our choice plays a major part. God’s way has always been freedom to choose (Joshua 24:15). Though He wants to save every person (1 Timothy 2:3, 4), He permits free choice (Deuteronomy 30:19). God permitted Satan to choose to rebel. He also permitted Adam and Eve to choose disobedience. Righteousness is never a locked-in, programmed provision that takes a person to heaven no matter how he lives—and even if he doesn’t want to go. Choice means you are always free to change your mind. Jesus asks you to choose Him (Matthew 11:28–30) and to reaffirm your choice daily (Joshua 24:15). When you do, He will change you and make you like Him and, eventually, take you into His new kingdom. But please remember, you are always free to turn and go another direction at any time. God will not force you. Therefore, your daily choice to serve Him is imperative.

3.  Many believe that the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes is the little horn power of Daniel 8. How can we be certain this is not true?There are many reasons. Here are a few:

A.Antiochus Epiphanes did not become “exceedingly great,” as the prophecy mandates (Daniel 8:9).
B.He did not rule at the “latter time” or near the end of the Seleucid kingdom, as the prophecy requires (Daniel 8:23), but, rather, near the middle.
C. Those who teach that Epiphanes is the little horn count the 2,300 days as literal days instead of prophetic days—each equal to a year. This literal time of a little over six years has no meaningful application to Daniel chapter 8. All attempts to make this literal time period fit Epiphanes have failed.
D. The little horn still exists at the “time of the end” (Daniel 8:12, 17, 19), while Epiphanes died in 164 bc.
E. The little horn was to become “exceedingly great” in the south, the east, and Palestine (Daniel 8:9). Although Epiphanes did rule Palestine for a while, he had almost no success in Egypt (south) and Macedonia (east).
F. The little horn throws down the place of God’s sanctuary (Daniel 8:11). Epiphanes did not destroy the temple in Jerusalem. He did profane it, but it was destroyed by the Romans in ad 70. Neither did he destroy Jerusalem, as mandated by the prophecy (Daniel 9:26).
G. Christ applied the desolating abominations of Daniel 9:26 and 27 not to the past outrages of Epiphanes in 167 bc but to the immediate future when the Roman army would destroy Jerusalem and the temple in His own generation in ad 70 (Luke 21:20–24). Daniel 9:26, 27 would be fulfilled when the Christians would see (in the future) the abomination of desolation “standing in the holy place” in Jerusalem. This is too clear to misunderstand.
H. Jesus clearly related the destruction of Jerusalem to Israel’s final refusal to accept Him as their King and Savior (Matthew 21:33–45; 23:37, 38; Luke 19:41–44). This relationship between rejecting the Messiah and the destruction of the city and temple is the crucial message of Daniel 9:26, 27. It is a message announcing the consequences of Israel’s continued rejection of the Messiah—even after being given an additional 490 years to choose Him. Applying the prophecy to Antiochus Epiphanes, who died in 164 BC, long before Jesus’ birth, destroys the meaning of Daniel chapters 8 and 9—containing the most important time prophecy of the Bible.
I.  He would stand against “the prince of princes”.  Antiochus failed to fulfill this since again he died before Jesus was born.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

  1. The ram of Daniel 8 symbolizes (1)
    _____   Babylon.
    _____   Medo-Persia.
    _____   United States
    _____   Rome.
  2. What does the male goat of Daniel 8 represent? (1)
    _____   Egypt.
    _____   Russia
    _____   Greece.
    _____   Assyria.
  3. The little horn power of Daniel 8 represents (1)
    _____   Antiochus Epiphanes.
    _____   Rome, in its pagan and papal phases.
    _____   Atheism.
    _____   Iraq.
  4. The day of atonement in ancient Israel was a day of judgment. (1)
    _____   Yes.
    _____   No.
  5. How much of the 2,300 years was cut off for the Jews? (1)
    _____   490 years.
    _____   700 years.
    _____   1810 years.
    _____   100 years.
  6. In Bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year. (1)
    _____   Yes.
    _____   No.
  7. The 2,300-year prophecy predicted (500 years before it happened) that the Messiah would appear in A.D. 27. He appeared right on time. This proves that (3)
    _____   The Bible is inspired.
    _____   The angel Gabriel made a lucky guess.
    _____   All other dates in the prophecy are accurate.
    _____   Jesus is the Messiah.
  8. When the 490 years allotted to the Jewish nation ended in A.D. 34, what did the disciples do? (1)
    _____   They began preaching to people of other nations.
    _____   They took a long vacation.
    _____   They said that no Jew would ever be saved after A.D. 34.
  9. According to the 2,300-year prophecy of Daniel chapters 8 and 9, what happened in 1844? (1)
    _____   The judgment began in heaven.
    _____   The day of probation for the Jews as a nation had ended
    _____   Jesus ascended to heaven.
    _____   God closed probation for all people.
  10. The heavenly Day of Atonement, or at-one-ment, will bring all the universe into complete harmony with God. Which of the following statements tell the truth about some facet of the atonement? (10)
    _____   Jesus sacrificed His life to pay our death penalty.
    _____   Jesus freed us from the guilt of sin.
    _____   Jesus changes us and makes us completely new persons.
    _____   Jesus restores us to God’s image.
    _____   In the heavenly courtroom, God honors the choice of every person to serve either Christ or Satan.
    _____   Full information goes to every person on earth regarding Satan’s plan to destroy and God’s glorious plan to save people.
    _____   Sin, Satan, and sinners will be isolated and destroyed.
    _____   God creates new heavens and a new earth for His people and will dwell with them.
    _____   Sin will never rise again.
    _____   The atonement was made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.
    _____   Satan and his angels will be converted and saved.
  11. There is no biblical reason to detach the last week—seven years—of the 490 years allotted to the Jewish nation and apply it to the work of antichrist near the end of the world’s history. (1)
    _____   True.
    _____   False.
  12. In A.D. 34, (3)
    _____   Probation ended for the Jews as nationally.
    _____   The disciples began preaching to other people and nations.
    _____   Stephen, a righteous deacon, was stoned.
    _____   The judgment began in heaven.
  13. The 2,300-day time period began in (1)
    _____   A.D. 34
    _____   1944
    _____   1491 B.C.
    _____   457 B.C.
  14. The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation apply primarily to us and our time. (1)
    _____   Yes.
    _____   No.
  15. I have accepted Christ’s atoning sacrifice for my life and have invited Him to cleanse me from sin.
    _____   Yes.
    _____   No.