2300 Day Prophecy

The longest time prophecy in the Bible is found in Daniel 8:14. "And he said to me, 'For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed'" (NKJV). This amazing period of history can be understood, as other prophecies in Daniel, by using the historicist "day for a year" principle of prophetic interpretation (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:4—6). This means the 2,300 days symbolically represent 2,300 years. The time frame can be calculated by studying Daniel 9 to begin in 457 B.C. and extend to A.D. 1844. The cleansing of the sanctuary is a reference to Christ's "Day of Atonement" work in the heavenly sanctuary of judgment and putting away sin.

Cleansing the Sanctuary There was an intense interest in prophecy during the second great Advent awakening in America during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Many believed that the reference to Daniel 8:14 and the cleansing of the sanctuary referred to the earth being cleansed (purified by fire) at Christ's second coming. But after setting a date and being disappointed, many dropped their interest in prophecy. But a small group persevered and came to understand that this reference spoke of an event taking place in heaven. Since the earthly sanctuary (and its services) was a copy of the heavenly sanctuary (see Hebrews 9), understanding the Day of Atonement opened a window of understanding to Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary.

The sanctuary illustrates three parts of Jesus' work for our salvation: His substitutionary sacrifice, His priestly mediation, and the final judgment. When Jesus died on the cross and later entered heaven, He began His role as mankind's mediator (see 1 Timothy 2:5). This was represented by the daily sacrifices in the earthly sanctuary. But, once a year the earthly sanctuary was "cleansed" of sins through the Day of Atonement. Just as sins were placed on the priest and onto the sanctuary on earth, so Christ took our sins upon Himself. This day illustrated the judgment process that dealt with the eradication of sin. It foreshadowed Christ's work of banishing sin for all eternity. This aspect of the judgment work begins with investigation before being carried out.

Daniel 8:14 refers to Christ's role of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary through examining the records in preparation for the final removal of sin from the heavenly books. Daniel 7:9, 10 tells of this time of judgment. In particular the "little horn" power that has been waging war against God's people is condemned. This religio—political power has opposed "the daily sacrifices [Christ's priestly work]; and he cast truth down to the ground" (8:12).

Daniel 9 Explains Daniel 8 Daniel 8:27 tells us that after seeing this vision that Daniel was "astonished by the vision, but no one understood it." In answer to Daniel's prayer to understand the vision of chapter 8, the angel Gabriel comes to explain what he saw. The only element not covered in Daniel 8 is the time frame. The 70—weeks prophecy of Daniel 9 unlocks the mystery of the 2,300 day prophecy. This prophecy begins with, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city..." (v. 24). The word "determined" can also be understood as "cut off." These 70 weeks are a part of the 2,300 days.

The beginning of the 70 weeks (and the 2,300 day prophecy) is clearly stated: "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty—two weeks ..." (v. 25). This took place in 457 B.C. and the seventh year of Artaxerxes. The 70 weeks (or 490 years) therefore ended in A.D. 34. That leaves 1,810 year and when added to A.D. 34 brings us to the year 1844. The culmination of the 2,300 prophecy in A.D. 1844 was when Christ came to the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) and began the final phase of His high—priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. His ministry was the "antitype" of the Day of Atonement, that is the fuller picture of what the earthly sanctuary symbolized. This work, described in Daniel 7, depicts a phase of judgment that required investigation that takes place before the second coming of Christ when He returns "to give to everyone according to his work (Revelation 22:12).