In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God. Daniel 1:1, 2
"Here is Daniel's introductory picture of history relating to the suspension of the sanctuary services due to the invasion of Babylon.
Thus in the opening verses of Daniel we have the historical
embryo of the prophecy concerning the work of the little horn described in Daniel 8:9-14. Many Bible students have remarked on the frequency with which the introductions to various Bible books provide the clue for the interpretation of the subsequent matter.
Consider now the various chapters of Daniel in the light of this theme, paying special attention to the verses relative to the vindication of God's people, judgments upon the wicked, and the setting up of God's kingdom.
Chapter 2 climaxes in verse 44: "And in the days of these kings
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
In Daniel 3 the same theme is discernible although it is not quite so
obvious. Here is a vignette of Israel's experience—oppression of the saints by a heathen power, apparent supremacy of false worship, impending destruction of the true worshipers of Jehovah, but finally their vindication and deliverance accompanied by judgment of the wicked (verses 25-30).
In chapter 4 "a watcher and an holy one . . . from heaven" (verse 13) is described as decreeing judgment upon "those that walk in pride" (verse 37). The purpose of these events is described in verse 17—"to the intent that the living may know that the most High
ruleth."
Chapter 5 is similar, with its description of Heaven's decree of judgment upon the heathen who polluted the sacred vessels of the Temple. Note the emphasis given to the sanctuary in verse 3. "Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God." Then verse 5 declares, "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace." Some commentators—for example, Barnes—believe the candlestick here mentioned to be the one taken from the sanctuary and that the reference to the writing being inscribed nearby was to denote that the coming judgment was because of the sacrilege connected with the profaning of the sacred Temple vessels.
In chapter 6 we have a repetition of the theme of chapter 3. Here
again we have war upon the saints, false worship exalted, and then God's intervention to save His own, accompanied by the destruction of the wicked. The God of Daniel is acknowledged by the heathen king as "the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall, be even unto the end" (verse 26).
In Daniel 7 we have projected into the future a large-scale enactment of the persecutions Daniel witnessed during Babylon's opposition to Israel and Israel's God. The climax is reached in verses 25-28, where the 1260 years of papal supremacy is brought to view: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Once more the stress is upon the vindication of the saints, the destruction of the wicked, and the setting up of God's kingdom.
Leaving chapter 8 until last, let us consider chapter 9.
Apparently the prophet felt that the previous vision intimated a prolonging of Jerusalem's desolation, and the prospect of delay in restoring the sanctuary and its services moves him to earnest
intercessory prayer.
In the prophecy of the seventy weeks we read of that which must have pierced the heart of the aged seer. "The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined" (verse 26).
The same prophecy that foretells the restoration of the city and the sanctuary also foretells their destruction because of the unfaithfulness of the people of the covenant.
There is yet another reference to the sanctuary in this chapter—"to anoint the most Holy." Every Adventist minister is aware that this expression is almost always applied to things rather than to persons and that it has particular application to inauguration of services in the heavenly sanctuary.
Chapters 10 to 12 are the record of Daniel's final vision and should always be studied as a unit. According to chapter 10:14 the focal point of the vision is "the latter days." As the actions of the
opposer of God's church is described, the sanctuary is brought to view once more. "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).
What then shall we say regarding the prophecy of chapter 8? As chapter 7 amplified chapter 2, we find chapter 8 amplifies chapter 7.
Daniel 7:25 describes the oppression of the saints and warfare upon the sacred things of God, including His times and laws. Again is pictured the wearing out of the saints (the host), and again is described how the truth of the most High would be handled insolently. Under the symbolism of the desolating of the sanctuary is pictured how false worship would apparently displace the true "for many days" even unto "the time of the end." "The place of his [the prince of the worshiping host] sanctuary was cast down."
Daniel 8:11-14 ...... Rather, it is portraying, in the symbolism characteristic of the whole book, the issues of the great controversy between good and evil; the issue of false worship as opposed to true worship, the issue of the apparent success of wicked powers, et cetera.
The prophecy can be rightly interpreted only when placed alongside the other visions of Daniel....As the prophetic chains of chapters 2, 7, and 10 to 12 describe the prelude to the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth, so it is with the vision of chapter 8.
Daniel 8:14 declares: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed"
This is a promise that the hour will dawn in "the time of the end" when the worshiping saints who have been made as the refuse of the earth will be vindicated before men and angels. The truth that has been cast down to the ground will be uplifted.
The 2300 days began with literal Israel coming out of literal Babylon to rebuild and restore literal Jerusalem, and they will end with spiritual Israel coming out of spiritual Babylon to be "the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." Two of the historical books of the Old Testament—Ezra and Nehemiah—describe the exodus from Babylon and the restoration of Jerusalem and the sanctuary. Isaiah 58:12, 13 and Revelation 18: 1-4, and other passages, apply this movement as prefiguring the final work of God in the earth.
sanctuary.
It was not by chance that almost in the same breath in which Christ spoke of the gospel of the kingdom going to all the world, He commanded His church to understand Daniel the prophet."
Bible Department, Australasian Missionary College
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God. Daniel 1:1, 2
"Here is Daniel's introductory picture of history relating to the suspension of the sanctuary services due to the invasion of Babylon.
Thus in the opening verses of Daniel we have the historical
Consider now the various chapters of Daniel in the light of this theme, paying special attention to the verses relative to the vindication of God's people, judgments upon the wicked, and the setting up of God's kingdom.
Chapter 2 climaxes in verse 44: "And in the days of these kings
In Daniel 3 the same theme is discernible although it is not quite so
In chapter 4 "a watcher and an holy one . . . from heaven" (verse 13) is described as decreeing judgment upon "those that walk in pride" (verse 37). The purpose of these events is described in verse 17—"to the intent that the living may know that the most High
Chapter 5 is similar, with its description of Heaven's decree of judgment upon the heathen who polluted the sacred vessels of the Temple. Note the emphasis given to the sanctuary in verse 3. "Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God." Then verse 5 declares, "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace." Some commentators—for example, Barnes—believe the candlestick here mentioned to be the one taken from the sanctuary and that the reference to the writing being inscribed nearby was to denote that the coming judgment was because of the sacrilege connected with the profaning of the sacred Temple vessels.
In chapter 6 we have a repetition of the theme of chapter 3. Here
In Daniel 7 we have projected into the future a large-scale enactment of the persecutions Daniel witnessed during Babylon's opposition to Israel and Israel's God. The climax is reached in verses 25-28, where the 1260 years of papal supremacy is brought to view: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Once more the stress is upon the vindication of the saints, the destruction of the wicked, and the setting up of God's kingdom.
Leaving chapter 8 until last, let us consider chapter 9.
Apparently the prophet felt that the previous vision intimated a prolonging of Jerusalem's desolation, and the prospect of delay in restoring the sanctuary and its services moves him to earnest
In the prophecy of the seventy weeks we read of that which must have pierced the heart of the aged seer. "The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined" (verse 26).
There is yet another reference to the sanctuary in this chapter—"to anoint the most Holy." Every Adventist minister is aware that this expression is almost always applied to things rather than to persons and that it has particular application to inauguration of services in the heavenly sanctuary.
Chapters 10 to 12 are the record of Daniel's final vision and should always be studied as a unit. According to chapter 10:14 the focal point of the vision is "the latter days." As the actions of the
What then shall we say regarding the prophecy of chapter 8? As chapter 7 amplified chapter 2, we find chapter 8 amplifies chapter 7.
Daniel 7:25 describes the oppression of the saints and warfare upon the sacred things of God, including His times and laws. Again is pictured the wearing out of the saints (the host), and again is described how the truth of the most High would be handled insolently. Under the symbolism of the desolating of the sanctuary is pictured how false worship would apparently displace the true "for many days" even unto "the time of the end." "The place of his [the prince of the worshiping host] sanctuary was cast down."
Daniel 8:11-14 ...... Rather, it is portraying, in the symbolism characteristic of the whole book, the issues of the great controversy between good and evil; the issue of false worship as opposed to true worship, the issue of the apparent success of wicked powers, et cetera.
The prophecy can be rightly interpreted only when placed alongside the other visions of Daniel....As the prophetic chains of chapters 2, 7, and 10 to 12 describe the prelude to the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth, so it is with the vision of chapter 8.
Daniel 8:14 declares: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed"
This is a promise that the hour will dawn in "the time of the end" when the worshiping saints who have been made as the refuse of the earth will be vindicated before men and angels. The truth that has been cast down to the ground will be uplifted.
The 2300 days began with literal Israel coming out of literal Babylon to rebuild and restore literal Jerusalem, and they will end with spiritual Israel coming out of spiritual Babylon to be "the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." Two of the historical books of the Old Testament—Ezra and Nehemiah—describe the exodus from Babylon and the restoration of Jerusalem and the sanctuary. Isaiah 58:12, 13 and Revelation 18: 1-4, and other passages, apply this movement as prefiguring the final work of God in the earth.
SUMMARY
The references in Daniel to the sanctuary (chapters 1:2; 5:2-5; 8:11-14; 9:17, 24, 26; 11: 31, 45) are thus seen to form a complete pattern portraying the age-long controversy between good and evil in the microcosm of Israel's 
It was not by chance that almost in the same breath in which Christ spoke of the gospel of the kingdom going to all the world, He commanded His church to understand Daniel the prophet."
Bible Department, Australasian Missionary College
