Daniel Unlocked #51

As we saw from yesterday’s Diagram, there are parallels between the apocalyptic chapters (2,7,8-9 and yet to be discussed 10-12). Not only are the nations depicted in parallel to each other, the judgment scene in Daniel 7—which arises after the 1,260 years (A.D. 538–1798) of papal Rome—directly parallels the cleansing of the sanctuary, which in Daniel 8 arises after Rome, as well. In short, this heavenly judgment in Daniel 7—the judgment that leads to the end of the world—is the same thing as the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8. We are given here two different depictions of the same thing, and both occur after the 1,260-year period of persecution perpetrated by the little-horn power.

By putting all the apocalyptic chapters side by side, we have seen that the cleansing of the sanctuary (i.e. the antitypical Day of Atonement which is the judgment) must occur sometime after the 1,260-year prophecy of the little horn (1798) and yet before the establishing of God’s final kingdom at the second coming. Once we establish the beginning date for the 2300 year prophecy from Daniel 9 we will become aware that we are now living in the Judgment phase of this world’s history. Even more importantly we will see that we are not at the beginning of that period but well down the track somewhere.

How significant that the last warning message that goes “to every nation tribe tongue and people” carries in the wake of “the everlasting gospel”(NASB) a message of judgment and a call to keep the Sabbath. This is the message from Revelation 14:6-7(NASB); “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and sea and springs of waters.” If you are asking where is the Sabbath in that, the last line about worship quotes the Sabbath commandment from Exodus 20:8-11 word for word!

The rest of Revelation 14:6 -12 warns about the beast (little horn system) and its false form of worship and then contrasts all that with those who do not follow the system and receive its mark in v12; “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” Revelation 17-19 will expand on this chapter.