Daniel Unlocked #49. The Prophetic Timetable.
The question asked in Daniel 8:13 by two conversing angels must be answered, one of them asked the other, “How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?”(NLT) The answer given is 2300 prophetic years.
So, who were these two beings conversing in Daniel 8:13? The term in v13 “a Holy one” is from the Hebrew word Palmoni which means “wonderful numberer.” The KJV has this word as a marginal reference. There are three persons in this scene. The first one gives a reply to the second one so that Daniel would understand. It was the first one (Palmoni) who gives the reply of 2300 days (prophetic years) until the sanctuary would be cleansed. V13 is the only time in the Bible where the Hebrew word Palmoni is used. So how can we be sure what it means? The word is a contraction of two other words, ‘pala’ which means wonderful or marvelous and ‘mene’, which means to count or number, thus the rendering of the expression ‘Wonderful numberer.’
This wonderful numberer reveals to Daniel that there will be chaos and destruction, but the time will end after a certain numbered period. A Messianic passage says, ‘For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6NLT.) The word ‘wonderful’ is the word Paula or Palau. Isaiah confirms for us that the Messiah’s name is Paula. So here in Daniel 8:13 we have Jesus named as Palomni, “The Wonderful Numberer. He is speaking to Gabriel who is named latter as “that certain Angel.”
What is the timing of the 2,300 evenings and mornings?
First, it’s essential to observe that after Daniel witnesses the ram and the goat, along with the actions and damage caused by the little horn, the vision transitions into the question in v13. This question primarily focuses on the events at the conclusion of the prophetic period and the duration of the entire vision. Importantly, this period cannot solely pertain to the actions of the little horn but encompasses the entire vision from the ram to the actions of the little horn. Consequently, it implies a lengthy span of actual historical time.
Addressing the question, “How long shall be the vision” (involving the ram [Media-Persia], goat [Greece], and the little horn with its actions [Rome, pagan and papal]), the celestial being responds: “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed” (Dan. 8:14). As emphasized earlier, this extended period spans the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and the eras of pagan and papal Rome—stretching across thousands of years. This prophetic period should be calculated using the year-day principle, meaning the 2,300 evenings and mornings correspond to a time frame of 2,300 years. Without this principle, the 2,300 days would equate to slightly over six years, an unreasonably brief period for all the vision’s events.
Notably, Daniel 8 lacks the information needed to determine the commencement of this time, which would, in turn, establish its conclusion. However, Daniel 9 provides this critical piece of information. Stay with me on this – Daniel 9 is THE MOST incredible prophecy in all of scripture!
The 2,300 years in this prophecy constitute the longest time prophecy in the Bible—2,300 years, a significant duration compared to our present lifespan. Reflecting on this stark contrast prompts us to learn patience with God and in our anticipation of the timing of final events.
Thank you for explaining the time period to me this is the 3 rd time i,ve done a Daniel study and i learn more and understand more every time i study it God bless you 🙏🙏
Love the statement from yesterday:
Daniel 7 presents God’s intervention and relationship with human affairs from a judicial standpoint, while Daniel 8 examines the same event from a sanctuary perspective.
And today’s details about Christ as the Wonderful Numberer. Thanks Ross