A) INTRODUCTION.

B) ESTABLISHING THE BEGINNING DATE OF B.C. 457 TO BE CORRECT.

C) CHRIST’S MINISTRY BEGINS IN 27 A.D.

D) ESTABLISHING THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST IN 31 A.D.

E) NEXT COMES THE 1260 DAYS PROPHECY.

F) 538 A.D. CAN NOW BE ESTABLISHED.

G) 1798 A.D. CAN NOW BE ESTABLISHED.

H) HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

In an interesting fact, William Miller was not the first person to arrive at this Biblical analysis (that the 2300 days equals years).  That would belong to Johann Petri, Ph., a German from Frankfurt, who, in 1768, calculated the 2300 years as being from B.C. 453 to 1843 A.D., in which he believed is when the “Day of Judgment” would begin.  In fact, William Miller published his findings in 1836, and is the 77th person to figure this Biblical date out.

See:  https://documents.adventistarchives.org/books/pfof1954-v04.pdf, page 402.

 

By contrast, the Church father Origen, in his writings, “AN EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM. . .,” on page 175, labels the 2300 days of the Book of Daniel as “weeks of years.”  Also, Eusebiuys, in his third work, on page 342, under the heading number 155, and on to page 343, under numbers 156-158, he confirms the day for a year dating Biblical system.

 

Please refer to my Excel Spread-Sheet:  “2300 DAYS,” via E-Mail.  It makes this word document visually clear (suggesting that you view the sheet then refer here if you need an explanation for the dates on the sheet).

 

That all of these dates must be considered from a day equaling a year Biblical principle, a Day equaling a Year, see Numbers 14:34; First Samuel 20:6; First Kings 1:1; Psalm 90:10; Ezekiel 4:5-6; Revelation 11:9; where “years” is translated as “days,” and also see Genesis 6:3), consider that:

 

In the Books of Daniel and Revelation, all the Beasts and days mentioned are used in the sense of symbolism.  Since the majority of these passages are symbolic, it would also make sense that there are symbolic representations also.  Symbolic beasts; Symbolic Numbers; but NOT Symbolic Time Frames.  Those are prophetic and set.

 

 

B) ESTABLISHING THE BEGINNING DATE OF B.C. 457 TO BE CORRECT

 

 

In simplicity, the 2300-Day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, starts from the date B.C. 457 B.C., ending in 1844 A.D.  Let’s see how we get there.

 

In Daniel 9:25 we have this statement:  “going forth of the Commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah.”  There are “Three Decrees” dealing with the repatriation of the Jews as recorded in the Book of Ezra.

 

The FIRST was in the first year of Cyrus, about B.C. 537 (Ezra 1:1-4, see also Isaiah 44:28 and Second Chronicles 36:22-23).

 

The SECOND was in the reign of Darius I (Darius Hystaspes) in B.C. 520 (Ezra 6:1-12).  In both the FIRST and SECOND decrees, neither Cyrus nor Darius I made any genuine provision for the restoration of the civil state as a complete unit.  Therefore, neither a restoration of BOTH the religious and the civil government were established as promised in the prophecy of Daniel 9:25, “restore and to build.”

 

The THIRD decree was given in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus (B.C. 457; see PK 607 & 698), and was the first to give the Jewish state full autonomy, subject to Persian overlordship, Ezra 7:1-26, specifically verses 6-14addressing BOTH requirements of the prophecy.

 

In regards to “Messiah,” Daniel 9:25, the Hebrew word is “mashiyach,” from the verb “mashach,” meaning, “to anoint.”  Hence, “mashiyach” describes an “anointed one” such as the high priest (Leviticus 4:3 & 5 & 16), Israel’s kings (First Samuel 24:6 & 10; Second Samuel 19:21), Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1), etcetera.  The term “meshiyach” was applied to the expected Deliverer Who was to Come (see John 1:41; 4:25-26).  I mention this to quite any false doctrines of a 7-year tribulation, because they are based upon Daniel 9:25-27, failing to recognize that “Messiah” would need to be “cut off” again for their doctrines to ring true.  Therefore, any false prophecy interpretations that have a tribulation period after 34 A.D. need to have Messiah being “cut off” in the middle of their made-up doctrines.

 

BACK TO:  To establish the date of B.C. 457, the Astronomical Tablet of Nebuchadnezzar’s 37th regnal year is used.  Among the thousands of public and private documents, written on clay tablets that have been unearthed by archeologists in Mesopotamia, two astronomical texts are of outstanding importance to chronology, for they fix the B.C. dating of the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar II and Cambyses, respectively.  The one most valuable for the later period of the Hebrew kings is concerned with the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar.  It contains a series of observational data on the positions of various heavenly bodies throughout a complete year, running from Nisan 1, year 37, to Nisan 1, year 38 of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

 

Modern astronomers who have checked this information by astronomical computation say that the combination of data for the sun, moon, and planets, which all move in differing cycles, cannot be duplicated in any other year within centuries, if ever.  Thus Nebuchadnezzar’s 37th regnal year is fixed beyond doubt at B.C. 568/567; and all other years in his reign are established also:  the first year was B.C. 604/603 and the 7th year, in which he captured Jehoiachin, was B.C. 598/597.

 

Since there are several Biblical synchronism’s with Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the end of the kingdom of Judah is anchored to this B.C. dating (do you see the hand of God in this?).  The synchronisms between the Hebrew kings and Assyrian rulers must be located by means of Assyrian chronological lists which are linked with Nebuchadnezzar’sreign through the “Ding List,” known as “Ptolemy’s Canon,” remembering that “Ptolemy’s Canon” is fixed by eclipses.  It is however, better known by its Arabic title, the “Almagest,” because it was preserved for posterity by the Arab civilization and was the authoritative treatise on astronomy for 1,400 years, until superseded by the theory set forth by Copernicus, containing data for numerous eclipses and other celestial phenomena.

 

Looking at Ezra 7:7 and Zechariah 2:1 we read:  “in the seventh year of Artaxerxes.”  Babylonian astronomical texts and papyrus documents found on the island of Elephantine, Egypt, confirm that Artaxerxes first full regnal year on the throne was B.C. 464; his seventh year then being B.C. 457.  Many historians date the seventh year to B.C. 458 because they calculate, using the Persian calendar, which goes from spring to spring.  By contrast, Biblical and historical evidence indicate that the Hebrews used a fall-to-fall calendar (Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1), and they are the authors (authority) here.

 

 

C) CHRIST’S MINISTRY BEGINS IN 27 A.D.

 

 

Now we come to the statement:  “seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks.”  Daniel predicted that the long-looked-for Prince Messiah would appear at a specified time.  To this time Jesus referred when He declared, “The time is fulfilled,” Mark 1:15.  Jesus was anointed at the time of His baptism in the autumn of A.D. 27 (see Matthew 3:15; Luke 3:21-22; 4:18; Acts 10:37-38).  Beginning with the autumn of B.C. 457 when the decree went into effect, 69 (7 + 62; Note, for a Day = a Year principle in Biblical prophecy, see Numbers 14:34; First Samuel 20:6; First Kings 1:1; Psalm 90:10; Ezekiel 4:5-6; Revelation 11:9; where “years” is translated as “days,” and also see Genesis 6:3), prophetic weeks, or 483 years, reach to the baptism of Jesus in A.D. 27.

 

If the 483 years had been reckoned from the beginning of B.C. 457, they would have extended to the close of 26 A.D.  However, due to the fact that historians (unlike astronomers) never count a year zero, this brings us to 27 A.D.  Some have been puzzled as to how Christ could begin His work in 27 A.D. when the record says that He was about 30 years of age when He started His public ministry (Luke 3:23).  This is due to the fact that when the Christian era was first computed, an error of about four years occurred.  That Christ was not born in B.C. 2, is evident from the fact that when He was born Herod the Great was still alive (see Matthew 2:13-20).  Most historians have Herod dying in 4 B.C.  However, according to the calculations of the Book of Daniel, he would have died in the same year our Lord was born (B.C. 2), after attempting to kill Him.  The 27 A.D. date of the beinning of our Lord’s ministry is further established by the fact that Tiberius Caesar (see Luke 3:1) began to reign in 12 A.D., plus Luke’s 15 years, equals 27 A.D.

 

Getting back to Daniel 9:25, we have the statement:  “going forth of the commandment.”  (Review the Three Decreesin the first paragraph if needed).  That this Chapter is a continuation of the explanation of the vision in Chapter 8, is evident by the statement, “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding,” because according to Chapter 8, verse 27, “but none understood it.”  Also, Daniel 9:23 states: “consider the vision.”  What other vision but the one Gabriel was commissioned to make Daniel to “understand” (Daniel 8:16 & 19; 9:23), since no other vision had been given since the vision of Chapter Eight’s.  Also, according to Daniel 8:27, “Daniel fainted” before Gabriel was able to finish the explanation of the vision given to Daniel.

 

 

D) ESTABLISHING THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST IN 31 A.D.

 

 

In DANIEL 9:24 we have this statement:  “seventy weeks are determined [B.C. 457 -- 34 A.D., cut off, or marked off] upon thy people and upon the holy city, to finish the transgression.”  In other words, to fill up the cup of your iniquity, meaning the end of Israel’s probation period, which took place in 34 A.D.  The event that established this ending date is the year Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:59; see also 1SG:107).  It is also interesting to note that Jesus confirmed this when He just didn’t out of the blue pick the forgiveness of sins as “seventy times seven,” Matthew 18:22 [= 490 years].  Also, “to make an end of sins,” Daniel 9:24, Christ makes the last offering for sins on the cross.  Continuing, “and to make reconciliation for iniquity [we are reconciled to God by the death of Christ, Romans 5:10], and to bring in everlasting righteousness [through the grace of Christ], and to seal up [make sure, fulfill] the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy [in the Heavenly Sanctuary, cleanse the Sanctuary = Daniel 8:14].”

 

For the word translated “determined,” the Hebrew verb “chatak,” is used and only occurs here.  However, in secular documents of the time, “determined” or “decreed” are viable translations.  By contrast, “chatak” usually expressed the more concrete idea of separation by “cutting” or “cutting off.”  In the majority of its usages it literally meant “cut off.”

 

Looking at Daniel 9:26-27 we have this statement: “Messiah be cut off. . . in the midst [31 A.D.] of the week [27 A.D. -- 34 A.D.],” which equals Christ crucified (see also Daniel 11:22).  In Daniel 9:27, we must consider that the “He” spoken of, is still the “Messiah,” and is still the main subject and the main theme throughout our Bibles, and this should not be disputed.

 

“He [Christ] shall confirm the Covenant with many,” Daniel 9:27.  A more literal translation would be, “He will make a strong Covenant.”  And the fulfillment of this statement is in the New Covenant firmly established through and by the blood of Christ (see Matthew 26:28 and Luke 22:20; for “confirm” see Romans 15:8).

 

But our key word is “midst.”  The Hebrew is “chasi,” meaning either “middle” (Exodus 27:5; 38:4; etcetera) or “half” (Exodus 24:6; 25:10 & 17; etcetera.).  This “midst of the week,” Daniel 9:27, and “shall Messiah be cut off,” Daniel 9:26, line up perfectly for Christ’s crucifixion in the Passover season of 31 A.D., which was 3 1/2 years after the baptism of Christ in the autumn of 27 A.D.  The 31 A.D. crucifixion of Christ might also be confirmed astronomically by the Passover of that year falling on a “High Sabbath” (Saturday), as would be required to fulfill the prophecy.  However, astronomy has not confirmed this to my knowledge; despite what zealots (like myself would love to confirm) might want to tell you.

 

 

E) NEXT COMES THE 1260 DAYS PROPHECY

 

 

This prophecy in found in Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6 & 14; 13:5.  The clearest explanation of “a time, and times, and half a time,” and “fourty and two months,” is given in Revelation, Chapters 11 and 12, where the same time period is referred to as “a thousand two hundred and threescore days,” equaling 1260 (years).  Note, a “score” in the Bible equals 20 years.  The Aramaic word “ ‘iddan,” which is translated “time” and “times,” undoubtedly means “a year” or “years” if plural, when comparing it to Daniel 4:16 & 23 & 25 & 32 (see also Daniel 12:7), in which Nebuchadnezzar was humbled for (the “LXX” rendering of) “seven years.”  The Aramaic word “ ‘Iddan,” is translated as a plural, i.e., “times,” when it follows itself, as in Daniel 7:25, or as in Daniel, Chapter Four, Verses, 16 & 23 & 25 & 32, when more than one “time,” i.e., “seven,” is indicated.

 

Scholars generally agree to this reasoning and therefore consider the second “times” as a dual, thus denoting “two times,” as it is rendered in the “RSV.”  The Aramaic word “pelag,” translated as “dividing,” also means “half,” as it is also rendered in the “RSV,” as well as in Revelation 12:14.  Thus, “a time” equals one, “two times” equals two, and “half a time” equals 1/2, or 1 + 2 + 1/2 = 3 1/2.  Three and one-half years is equivalent to 42 months, and there are 1,260 days in 42 months.  A Biblical month is 30 days which is why the Jewish calendar, based upon a lunar year, occasionally had 13 months in it to make up for lost days (Westerners handle this yearly discrepancy as a Leap-Year).  Plus, a Biblical “year,” and as such, a Biblical prophetic “year” is 360 days.

 

 

F) 538 A.D. CAN NOW BE ESTABLISHED

 

 

For the establishment of 538 A.D. as the beginning of the 1260-year period, we find in the world history of Daniel 7:7-8, “ten horns,” (what was left of Pagan Rome), or kingdoms from which a “little horn,” or “Papal Rome,” “plucked up,” or destroys and drives out from Rome, “three of the first horns,” of the ten, in order to come to power.

 

These would be the “Heruli,” or our “first horn,” which were conquered by our “second horn,” the “Ostrogoths,” by their leader Theodoric in 493 A.D., securing our first horns surrender (that Odovacar was the leader of the Ostrogoths; see Thomas Hodgkin’s book, “Italy and Her Invaders,” Volume 3, pages 180-213).  Our “third horn” was the “Vandals,” led by Gaiseric and Justinian, heading the supremacy of the (“little horn”) Roman Catholic church in the West, who dispatched Belisarius, the ablest of his generals, who completely vanquished the “Vandals” in 534 A.D.  This left the “Ostrogoths” (second horn) as the sole surviving Arian power of significance.  Thus Belisarius (see Hodgkin’s book, “Italy and Her Invaders,” Volume 3, Ch. 15) began in 534 A.D. his campaign against the “Ostrogoths” in Italy.

 

Justinian ended the “Ostrogoths” rule in 538 A.D. when he landed another army in Italy (see book, “Italy and Her Invaders,” Volume 4, pages 73-113 & 210-252, or “Cambridge Medieval History, Volume 2, page 15) and thus, the “Ostrogoths” abandoned their siege.  The significance of this event in regards to 538 A.D. and the “little horn,” or Papacy being established then, is born out in two official letters of Justinian which had all the force of royal edicts, wherein he legally confirmed the bishop of Rome as the “head of all the holy churches” and “head of all the holy priests of God,” “Code of Justinian,” book 1, title I.  Even though these letters were written in 533 A.D., they could not take effect until the “Ostrogoths” were defeated.

 

 

G) 1798 A.D. CAN NOW BE ESTABLISHED

 

 

For the ending of the 1260-year prophecy in 1798 A.D. we could expect the same event -- the defeat of the Roman rule.  In 1797 A.D., the French revolutionary government wrote Napoleon that the “Roman religion. . . [would always be] an irreconcilable enemy of the Republic. . . [and so it asked him to] destroy, if possible, the center of unity of the Roman Church.”  “Christianity and the French Revolution,” by A. Auland, translated by Lady Frazer, “London,”1927, page 151.

 

Napoleon then sent General Alexander Berthier to Rome, where, on February 15, 1798, he took the pope (Pius 6) captive to Valence, France, where he soon died in the tower he was confined to.  Thus, it was decreed that he “should no longer exercise any function,” “Christianity and the French Revolution,” by A. Auland, translated by Lady Frazer, “London,” 1927, page 151.  This then nullified any political rule of the Papacy.  Popes had been taken captive before this incident, but never in an attempt to destroy the Roman Catholic church itself.  Joseph Rickaby, a Jesuit priest, relating on this event of the passing away of this prelate as a French prisoner states, “all Europe thought. . . that with the Pope the Papacy was dead.”  “The Modern Papacy,” in “Lectures on the History of Religions,” “London:  Catholic Truth Society,” 1910, volume 3, lecture 24, page 1.

 

Also, here is an excerpt from the Roman Catholics themselves:  “Pius VI, although 81 years old and ill, was seized and taken as a prisoner to France, where he died (Aug. 29, 1799).  On this day the total destruction of the Holy See seemed too many to be accomplished.”  “New Catholic Encyclopedia,” volume VI, page 191.  Also, and more to the point we find, “After stripping Pius VI of his temporal power, the French deprived him of his liberty.  His death while a prisoner marked a low point in papal fortunes not plumbed for centuries and gave rise to a prophecy that the apostolic succession had come to a close with the demise of ‘Pius the Last.’ ”  “New Catholic Encyclopedia,” volume X, page 965.  Most certainly, the power of this priestly office was dealt a deadly blow as expressed in Revelation 13:3, “wounded to death.”

 

 

H) HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN

 

 

B.C. 677 -- 1844 A.D. = 2520 Days = Daniel 8:14; PK:698; DA:233.  (For a day equaling a year in prophecy see Numbers 14:34; First Samuel 20:6; First Kings 1:1; Psalm 90:10; Ezekiel 4:5-6; Revelation 11:9; where “years” is translated as “days,” and also see Genesis 6:3).

 

B.C. 408 = The Temple was completed = Ezra 6:14-15.

 

B.C. 457 = The Decree to Rebuild Jerusalem:  Ezra 7:6-14; PK:699; DA:233; GC:410.

 

B.C. 457 -- B.C. 408 = 7 Weeks = 49 Years = Daniel 9:25.

 

B.C. 457 -- 27 A.D. = 69 Weeks = 483 Years = Daniel 9:25; DA:233; GC:410; PK:698.

 

B.C. 457 -- 34 A.D. = 70 Weeks = 490 Years = Daniel 9:24-27; PK:698; DA:233; GC:326, 410.  34 A.D. = Stephen Stoned.  End of Probation for the Jews:  Acts 7:59; 13:46; 1SG:107; PK:699; DA:233; GC:328.

 

B.C. 457 -- 1844 A.D. = 2300 Days -- Daniel 8:14; PK:698; DA:233.  ((Day = Year -- See Numbers 14:34; First Samuel 20:6; First Kings 1:1; Psalm 90:10; Ezekiel 4:5-6; Revelation 11:9; where “years” is translated as “days,” and also see Genesis 6:3).

 

27 A.D. = Ministry of Christ Begins At His Baptism:  Daniel 9:25; Matthew 3:15; Luke 3:21; PK:699; DA:233.  (Note:  In Luke 3:1 Tiberius Caesar Began to Reign In 12 A.D., Plus 15 Years = 27 A.D.).

 

27 A.D. -- 31 A.D. = 3 1/2 Years -- “midst of the week” = Daniel 9:26-27.  31 A.D. = Crucifixion of Christ.

 

27 A.D. -- 34 A.D. = 1 Week = 7 Years = Daniel 9:25-27; PK:698-699; GC:327, 410; DA:233.

 

508 A.D. -- 1798 A.D. = 1290 Years = Daniel 12:11.

 

508 A.D. = Paganism Overthrown.  (Note:  This may be a dual prophecy and could also probably start at 70 A.D., ending in 1360 A.D.  Nothing notable in history, unless it is in Waldensean history, can be identified with this date.  More study, and or, revelation needs to be done.  However, 508 A.D. is well established).

 

508 A.D. -- 1843 A.D. = 1335 Years = Daniel 12:12.  1843 A.D. = The Advent Disappointment.

 

SAME ˙Note:  This prophecy could probably start at 70 A.D., ending in 1405 A.D.  However, nothing notable in history, unless it is in Waldensean history, can be identified with this date.  More study, and or, revelation needs to be done.

 

538 A.D. -- 1798 A.D. = 1260 Years = 42 Months = Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 12:14; 4SP:190; 4SP:273; GC:266; GC:439; PK:699.  538 A.D. = Papacy in Full Power:  Daniel 7:8 & 20-21; 4SP:57.

 

1798 A.D. = End of Papal Power:  Daniel 8:25; GC:356; 5MR:318; 8MR:354.

 

1844 A.D. = The Investigative Judgment Begins:  Daniel 7:26; 4SP:266.

 

No More Time Prophecies (after 1844 A.D.) = 10MR:269; 1RH:12, 16; PT:87; 2RH:554; 1SG:148; 1EY:208.