Of all the information given to him during the various visions which he received, nothing seems to have concerned Daniel as much as the information concerning the “cleansing,” or restoring of the Sanctuary (Dan. 8:14). The temple of Solomon, the center of the worship of Jehovah in the earth, had been destroyed by Neuchadnezzar’s armies. The true faith had been dishonoured and its adherents worshipped as captives in a foreign land. In spite of Daniel’s concern, he was told that the vision referred to “the latter days” or “at the time of the end.” It is clear then that this vision also applies to our day and must be the subject of the study of every serious Christian.
Part 1: The Context of Daniel 8:14
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. (Dan 8:19)
Over and over in the book of Daniel we see the idea coming out that the propecies which Daniel saw did not apply to his day, but to the end time. Of course, there were some aspects of the propecy which did apply to Daniel’s time, such as the sections which dealt with the Babylonian empire. We can also see that the succession of kingdoms had to do with an ongoing fulfillment over the ages. The main point of the propecies, however, is always the ending events. As the angel Gabriel said to Daniel, “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” (Dan 10:14)
What part of the prophecy of Daniel chapter 8 applies to the end of time? Dan. 8:26
Many Bible commentators today find fault with the idea that the “cleansing of the Sanctuary” mentioned in the Dan. 8:14 has to do with end time events. Most of them claim that it had to do with events which took place in Judah during the time of the Maccebees, a few years after the time of Daniel. This idea, however, totally disagrees with the insistence by the angelic messenger that the prophecy applies to the time of the end. The angel refers specifically to “the vision of the evening and the morning,” and tells Daniel that it shall be “after many days.”
How can we be certain that the prophecy does not apply to the outrageous actions of the Greek king, Antiochus Epiphanes who offered swine’s blood on the altar of the Jewish sanctuary in the year 167 B.C.? Dan. 8:17
“. . . . When Antiochus returned from Egypt in 167 B.C. he took Jerusalem by storm and forced it to adopt Greek culture. The city forfeited its privileges and was permanently garrisoned by Syrian soldiers.. . . . the worship of Yahweh and all of the Jewish rites were forbidden on pain of death. In the Temple an altar to Zeus Olympios was erected, and sacrifices were to be made at the feet of an idol in the image of the King. Against that desecration Judas Maccabeus, leader of the anti-Greek Jews, led the aroused Hasideans in a guerrilla war and several times defeated the generals Antiochus had commissioned to deal with the uprising.” _ The Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Key Thought
In Daniel 8:14 God was trying to tell us of something which would happen in our time. It is important that we
Part 2: The Attack on The Sanctuary
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. (Dan 11:31)
Just as in Old Testament times God’s people had a real kingdom, a real king and a real centre of worship, the sanctuary, so today, there is a real king, (Jesus Christ), a real kingdom, (the new earth), a real capital city, (the New Jerusalem), and a real centre of worship, the heavenly sanctuary. it is here that Christ ministers on behalf of His people, and it is here that we are to follow Him by faith. It is critically important that we should understand the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.
What does the Bible describe as the temple of God in New Testament times? 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:19-21; Rev 11:19; Heb 8:1,2 (see also Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24)
While our bodies are plainly declared to be the temple of God, as is the Christian church, we also see a very clear teaching that there is a temple in heaven, the antitype of the Jewish sanctuary, where God’s high Priest ministers in this true “tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.” We find also that the Bible is equally clear in declaring that the “Most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands.”
“. . . . the Lord gave me a view of the heavenly sanctuary. The temple of God was open in heaven, and I was shown the ark of God covered with the mercy seat. Two angels stood one at either end of the ark, with their wings spread over the mercy seat, and their faces turned toward it. This my accompanying angel informed me represented all the heavenly host looking with reverential awe toward the law of God, which had been written by the finger of God.” _ Christian Experience and Teaching of E.G. White, p. 85
What particular aspect of God’s work was most assaulted by the horn? Dan. 8:11, 13
The devil has bent his efforts towards diverting people’s attention to spurious concepts of the sanctuary because in this way he effectively nullifies the work of Christ. Some of these false ideas concerning the sanctuary include,
a. The sanctuary is the building where we worship
b. God’s temple (sanctuary) is St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome
c. God’s temple is a place of worship which the Jews will rebuild soon.
d. God’s temple applies exclusively to the Christian’s body, or to the church.
Key Thought
The devil directs his greatest attacks against the sanctuary because true worship is his greatest enemy.
Part 3: Identifying the Sanctuary
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Heb 9:11)
“. . . . The tabernacle and temple of God on earth were patterned after the original in heaven. Around the sanctuary and its solemn services mystically gathered the grand truths which were to be developed through succeeding generations.” _ The Faith I Live By, p. 194
“All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to them. The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time, and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects, and be able to give an answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 488, 489
Of what was the Hebrew Sanctuary a pattern? 1 Cor. 3:16
“Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the tabernacle was a symbol–that glorious building, its walls of glistening gold reflecting in rainbow hues the curtains inwrought with cherubim, the fragrance of ever-burning incense pervading all, the priests robed in spotless white, and in the deep mystery of the inner place, above the mercy seat, between the figures of the bowed, worshiping angels, the glory of the Holiest. In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit:” {Ed 36.2}
What truth taught by Stephen and Paul compels us to no longer regard any earthly building of worship as the “temple of God?” Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24
The heavens are not large enough to contain God; how much less could those temples made with hands contain him. Paul, under the inspiration of his subject, soared above the comprehension of the idolatrous assembly, and sought to draw their minds beyond the limits of their false religion to correct views of the true Deity, whom they had styled the “Unknown God.” This Being, whom he now declared unto them, was independent of man, needing nothing from human hands to add to his power and glory.” — Sketches from the Life of Paul, p. 94
Key Thought
Although God dwells not in temples made with hands, yet He honors with His presence the assemblies of His people. {FLB 62.4}
Part 4: The Sanctuary Restored
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Mal 3:3)
“Here is the process, the refining, purifying process, to be carried on by the Lord of hosts. The work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through this process that the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed. Our trials are all necessary to bring us close to our heavenly Father, in obedience to His will, that we may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. God has given each of us capabilities, talents to improve. We need a new and living experience in the divine life, in order to do the will of God. No amount of past experience will suffice for the present, or will strengthen us to overcome the difficulties in our path. We must have new grace and fresh strength daily in order to be victorious.” _ 4BC 1182
What damage by the little horn necessitated a work of restoring the sanctuary in the end_time? Dan. 8: 11, 14
“. . . . it is this continual service of Christ, the true High Priest,’who continueth ever,’ and who is consecrated forevermore' andan unchangeable priesthood’ _ it is this continual service or our great High Priest, which is the man of sin, the Papacy, has taken away. It is the sanctuary and the true tabernacle in which this true High Priest exercises his continual ministry that has been cast down by the transgression of desolation.' It is this ministry and this sanctuary that theman of sin’ has taken away from the church and shut away from the world, and has cast down to the ground and stamped upon; and in place of which it has set up itself `the abomination that maketh desolate.” _ The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, by A.T. Jones, p. 99-100
What is involved in this work of restoration? Lev. 16:30; Dan. 7: 9,10
Jesus regarded with the deepest compassion the disappointed ones who had waited for His coming; and He sent His angels to direct their minds that they might follow Him where He was. He showed them that this earth is not the sanctuary, but that He must enter the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to make an atonement for His people and to receive the kingdom from His Father, and that He would then return to the earth and take them to dwell with Him forever. The disappointment of the first disciples well represents the disappointment of those who expected their Lord in 1844. {EW 244.
Key Thought
Note: The parallel nature of Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 show that the cleansing of the Sanctuary (Dan. 8:14) and the judgment (Dan. 7: 9,10) are identical events.
Part 5: Two thousand three hundred days
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. (Dan 10:1)
The time periods of Daniel and the Revelation are of great interest, firstly because they are so specific and detailed, and secondly because it is evident that God placed them in these books for a specific reason and intended that the understanding of these periods should bring a definite response from His people. These periods, as noted before are stated in various ways. The one which comes up most often is the 3 ½ year period which is sometimes referred to as 42 months and sometimes as 1260 days, as well as a time, times and the dividing of times. Of all the time periods in the Bible, however, the longest is the one found in Daniel 8:14. It is also the one which receives the most detailed explanation.
According to the angel, how long would it be until the sanctuary was cleansed? Dan. 8:14
This period of 2300 days really signify 2300 years. Here we have a time period, but it is not very helpful to us unless we either know when it begins or when it ends. Without this information all we have is just a number hanging in limbo as it were. It is critical that we understand this because this will help us to better understand why the angel Gabriel returned to Daniel in Chapter 9, and will give us a foundation from which to begin examining the information found in that chapter.
What reason do we have for believing that the 2300 days really refer to 2300 years? Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34; Dan. 8:17
The phrase has been translated as “two thousand three hundred days” in the king James version. However, the literal rendering of the verse should be, “unto two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings.” The angel makes reference to this in verse 26 of Daniel 8 when he says, “And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true. . . .” Because of this the majority of commentators have concluded that it refers to literal days, rather than to prophetic days (a day equals a year) as in many other references in the book of Daniel. They state that the phrase “evening and morning” when used with reference to days, has never been used anywhere else in Scripture to signify prophetic days. However, the angel specified clearly that these days referred to “the time of the end” and would be “after many days.” (verses 17, 26). This, along with the evidence of chapter 9 which we will examine in our next lesson indicate very strongly that in this unusual case, the term “evening and morning” was used with reference to prophetic days.
Key Thought
The attention given to the 2300 days by the angel Gabriel makes us know that it is important that we understand its meaning.
Part 6: The vision is true
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Hab 2:3)
“Those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that, instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming. . . .
“Now in the holy of holies they again beheld Him, their compassionate high priest, soon to appear as their king and deliverer.
“Following Him by faith, they were led to see also the closing work of the church. They had a clearer understanding of the first and second angels’ messages, and were prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of the third angel of Revelation 14.” {FLB 284.8}
What event on earth signified the occurrence of some significant event in heaven? Acts 2:1-4
“Christ’s ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.” _ Acts of the Apostles, p. 38-9
What prophecy in Revelation pointed to the events to take place at the end of the 2300 days? Rev. 10: 10,11
The eating of the little book represented the intense interest with which the early Advent believers studied the book of Daniel in the years just before and during the year 1844. The experience was as sweet as honey as they believed that the prophecies taught that Jesus would return in the year 1844. The bitterness in the belly represented the grief of the believers when their expectations were not fulfilled. The rest of the prophecy makes it clear that in spite of the disappointment this was God’s movement. The disappointed ones are given a commission to “prophesy again before “many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
Key Thought
Only those who appreciate what the cleansing of the sanctuary means in a practical way will be able to receive God’s intended blessing
