11And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.
Reading the ESV, to me it appears the most logical reading is that they both have the same starting points.
Is there any reason, based only on the text, to believe the starting points are different?
Wait a Little Longer The textual use of the word wait (12:12) points to a same starting point. That is, come this far, and then wait a little longer for the completion. And the mention of a "point from" to "a point ending" adds weight to this idea.(12:11) Several starting points were not mentioned, just one.
Confirmation But the best way to see if this is what the scriptures are intending to convey is to see if there is any confirmation in real time history. And in this case, there is! The horrible events of Daniel, chapter 12, were played out on the Judaean stage in the first century, at the exact time span given by the angel.
The eye-witness historian, Flavius Josephus, showed the starting date of the conquest of the land of Israel as beginning with the ignominious conflict embarrassing retreat) of General Cestius's legion (See The Jewish Wars by Josephus). The retreat of Cestius got Nero so mad that he sent General Vespasian to Syro-Palestine to once and for all quell the rebellion of the Jews. This all out attack began in the Spring of 67 A.D., and lasting through to the annihilation of the capital of Jerusalem, in the Fall of 70 A.D.... which was three and a half years or 1,290 days.
Last Stronghold However, one stronghold in the lower city occupied by the stubborn Zealot (a palace/fortress of King Herod), refused to surrender. It had supplies that enabled it to last for many more months. It held out for exactly 45 days more, and for no apparent reason, it surrendered, bringing the war's ending to the 1,335 days prophesied in Daniel!
This final ending of the war was a respite, a blessing, for the people, as the prophetic angel noted. (Josephus recorded that there was the matter of the Zealots way down at Masada by the Dead Sea that had to be dealt with later, though. But this didn't involve the majority of the people in Israel.)
Flee Judea Verse 7 mentioned that the "power of the holy people would be broken." This was certainly the case with the Destruction of the whole Israeli nation. Notice that in the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, Jesus said to flee Judaea not just Jerusalem. The conquest by the Romans began in 67 A.D. by General Vespasian, and devastated villages all around Samaria, Judaea, Galilee, and Perea, day after day, month after month, year after year! It wasn't until 70A.D. that Jerusalem was surrounded and attacked unmercifully!
The savage destruction brought Jerusalem to its knees at the mentioned 1290 days. But the final stronghold (Herod's own palace) surrendered at exactly the 1335th day.
One Starting Point The wording of the angel in Daniel, taken at face value, supports only one starting point, and the providential fulfilment of the time frame has been historically recorded for posterity. There is no doubting the starting point as being the same, and no doubting the final conclusion at the end of 1335 days. This is the definitive meaning of "wait until (a bit longer)" for the One period of time to end.
The 1290 days and 1335 days are possible durations of the same interval, namely the second half of the 70th week of years, spanning from the time when the regular sacrifice is abolished to the time when a complete destruction is poured out on the desolator (Dan 9:27).
The reason why the second half of that week of years can comprise a priori any of those numbers of days is that the Book of Daniel assumes a particular calendar consisting of regular, leap, and extra-leap years, and you cannot know a priori whether a particular week of years comprises 1 leap, 2 leap, 1 extra-leap or (1 leap + 1 extra-leap) years.
Details in this answer: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/a/78457/15789
The question is difficult to answer because there isn't any precise starting and finishing points given, thus it's more like putting pieces of a puzzle together and hoping to find a picture that fits all the pieces. So my answer is more about how I put the pieces together.
First the text pertaining to the question:
Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Note: The word "sacrifice" is added, it's not in the original text.
Now let's turn to Daniel 8.
Daniel 8:13
8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision, the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Part of the above question is answered in Daniel 12:11 In the answer we notice again that the word "sacrifice" was added, it's not in the original. But the answer to the question as to "how long the daily" and the transgression would last, is given in Daniel 12:11 as 1290 days.
Whereas the time in Daniel 8:13 given as 2300 evening and mornings, answers the question, "How long the vision", which is also asked in Daniel 8:13. Since the removal of the daily and setting up of the transgression is first mentioned in the Daniel eight vision, the answer of 1290 and 1335 days as to "how long" given in Daniel 12:11 would then occur within the whole 2300 evening and morning vision.
How long the vision? 2300 evening and mornings (8:13)
How long the removal of the daily and setting up the transgression? 1290 days (12:11)
Now the whole vision is long. It includes a ram, which is identified as Media Persia in verse 8:20 and the goat, identified as Grecia in verse 8:21, and then moves on to four horns, followed by another horn that grows exceedingly great.
How long is that vision? Some say 1150 mornings and 1150 evenings. That's too short to cover the whole vision, also 2300 days seems far too short. Only when we apply the day for a year principle will it fit. 2300 years will cover the whole vision.
Daniel, who is worried about things back home in Jerusalem does not understand the vision, it seemed far too long and it troubles him so much he is sick for days. See verse 8:27.
So in the next chapter an angel is sent to Daniel to explain the role Jerusalem would play in that long time line.
Yes, the city would be rebuilt and 70 weeks of sevens (490 years) of the 2300 years would be given to them. The Messiah would appear after the 69th week, He would be "cut off" (crucified) in the midst of the final week, and would cause the sacrifices and oblations to cease. That's why the word "sacrifice" wasn't included in Daniel 8:13, or 12:11.
The book of Hebrews tells us Christ is the all sufficient sacrifice, and after Christ's death and resurrection, He then enters the heavenly sanctuary and is our High Priest. No more need for animal sacrifices.
But that doesn't answer the question as to the beginning of the 1290 and 1335 time lines.
When does the assault on the daily (Christ's work as our high Priest in the heavenly sanctuary) and the setting up of the transgression begin? Do they begin together?
I think they do, and that they apply to the horn that becomes exceedingly great. One simply adds a bit of waiting time.
Daniel 8:11 And it waxed great, [even] to the host of heaven...he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down
This horn is reaching up into heavenly realms. Notice, the place of the sanctuary was cast down, not the actual sanctuary. The attempt to bring Christ's ministry back to earth, into their own hands.
In both Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 8:12 we read that this power receives an army by which he removes the TRUE daily and sets it aside, rejects it, and sets up the abomination.
There's another clue as to when these 1290 and 1335 years began:
Daniel 8:12 An army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily. (NKJV)
Daniel 11:31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall take away the daily and place the abomination.
Many historicist place the beginning of the 1290 and 1335 years with the conversion of Cloves, king of the Franks around 508 A.D. His conversion to Roman Papal Christianity marked an important change point in history.
Just a few quotes to verify the importance of this event:
The conversion of Clovis to the religion of the majority of his subjects soon brought about the union of the Gallo-Romans with their barbarian conquerors...in the Frankish kingdom... the fundamental identity of religious beliefs and equality of political rights made national and patriotic sentiments universal and produced the most perfect harmony between the two races. The Frankish Kingdom was thenceforth the representative and defender of Catholic interests throughout the West, (Catholic Encyclopedia online at Catholic.org)
"With the conversion of Clovis, there was at least one barbarian leader with whom the Bishop of Rome could negotiate as with a faithful son of the Church. It is from the orthodox Gregory of Tours that most of our knowledge of Clovis and his successors is derived. In Gregory's famous History of the Franks, the cruel and unscrupulous king appears as God's chosen instrument for the extension of the Catholic faith. Certainly Clovis quickly learned to combine his own interests with those of the Church, and the alliance between the pope and the Frankish kings was destined to have a great influence upon the history of western Europe." (James Harvey Robinson, History of Western Europe, pp. 35, 36.)
With Clovis began the Merovingian dynasty which through the years was the military strong arm for Catholicism. The following was from Bonifacius and shows what help the Franks were to the Catholic Church:
"Without the patronage of the Frankish ruler, I can neither govern the people nor defend the presbyters, deacons, monks or handmaidens of God; nor even could I forbid the pagan rites and sacrilegious idolatries in Germany without his mandate and the fear of his name." (Epist. 12 ad Danielem episc.)
The Franks were the first among the Teutonic tribes to embrace Catholicism, and pressured the other Germanic nations under her brand of Christianity.
Once converted to Roman Christianity, the Germans became the staunch supporters of the papal hierarchy and enabled the Pope to enforce his prerogatives in the West. Backed by these sturdy Teutons, the Pope became the most powerful individual in Christendom." (Alexander Flick in "The Rise of the Medieval Church" p. 180)
That is the historicist method of interpretation. A method that covers time from the prophets day to the end. Futurist and Preterists interpret it differently.
It does not have a clear answer in the scripture. I just provide my own interpretation.
Daniel 9:27
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Daniel 12:2 & 12:7-12 (NIV)
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
My observations are;
My current understanding
1290 days refers to the days the holy people must endured until the wicked been removed. 1335 days refers to the days the holy people must wait until receiving their blessing. In between, there is additional 45 days of waiting. What is the waiting about? Would it be "a new heaven and a new earth" as well as "the new Holy City"?
The angel told Daniel;
4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4 NIV)
I am exactly the one "go here and there to increase knowledge". It has an intention more on curiosity rather than faith. Although Jesus did understand our weakness of curiosity, as He had given a metaphor in His parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-33), which reminded us to have awareness of sign(s). However, though curiosity may not necessary be a curse, we should be alerted to avoid our curiosity prevail our faith to Jesus.
Addendum
I did have thought whether the 1290 days refer to the days of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, or the End Times. Meanwhile I prefer the period of the End Times, based on the observation that
The 490-day, 1260-day, 1290-day, 1335-day, and 2300-day prophecies each represent those time periods in years, following the day-for-year prophetic principle specified in both Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6.
Prophetic Day-for-Year
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. (Numbers 14:34, KJV)
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. (Ezekiel 4:6, KJV)
The 2300-Day and 490-Day Prophecies
The 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14 began in 457 BC with the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, recorded in Ezra 7. The first 490 years of that prophecy were specified separately as marking the time until the Messiah would come and be crucified. This 490-day portion of the prophecy is outlined in Daniel 9.
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (Daniel 8:14, KJV)
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24, KJV)
So the 490-day and 2300-day prophecies start simultaneously--the 490 (seventy weeks) is just the first part of the 2300.
The 1260-Day Prophecy
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7, KJV)
One "time" is a year, as can easily be deduced by comparing the parallel passage in Revelation which prophesies this same time period, beginning in chapter 11 and proceeding through chapter 13. Consider especially Revelation 12:6 which specifies "a thousand two hundred and threescore days" followed by verse 14 which mentions the "time, and times, and half a time" and Revelation 13:5 which speaks of this as "forty and two months." Each month, Biblically, has 30 days, so 42 months amounts to 1260 days, i.e. three and a half years.
The 1335-Day and 1290-Day Prophecies
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Daniel 12:11-12, KJV)
(NOTE: The translation of the verb "set up" in verse 11 is imprecise. The Hebrew Qal infinitive here can mean something that is continuing or ongoing, something still in progress.)
Both the 1335-day prophecy and the 1290-day prophecy began in AD 508 when Clovis defeated the Visigoths and launched his campaign to establish the papacy. For a period of thirty years, the setting up of the "abomination that maketh desolate" (Daniel 12:11) continued, until AD 538 when the papacy officially assumed its civil power, at which time the 1260-year period commenced.
Prophetic Endpoints
In AD 1798, the 1260-year and 1290-year prophecies ended with the capture and subsequent death in captivity of the pope in Rome who was taken by General Berthier of Napoleon's army. This ended the 1260-year political reign of the papacy which had officially assumed civil power in AD 538 (popes existed well before this, but had only had religious authority).
But the 1335-day prophecy continued to AD 1843. It was in this year that, due to the teachings of William Miller in America, whose message had spread to Europe and beyond, being published in the newspapers of the time, a movement of people expected their Lord to return. These people, though destined to suffer a great disappointment, were truly blessed in that year with making heart preparations for Jesus' coming. They truly believed the prophecy was to end with Jesus' return--but, though correctly calculating the time, they had mistaken the event. The "sanctuary shall be cleansed" did not refer to the earth, as they supposed, but to the sanctuary in heaven which had been stained with the record of sin throughout earth's history. It was into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary that Jesus was to go, officially beginning his ministry of cleansing. Because of their faith, they had put away every sin, confessed their faults to one another and forgiven each other, and had prepared in every way possible to meet their Master. Their characters and lives testified that they had been in communion with Jesus; in this they were truly blessed, even as the prophecy indicated.
The 2300-day prophecy, however, extended to 1844, one year beyond 1843. Why the year of difference? Because the early calculations of those expecting Jesus' return in 1843 were found to be mistaken on account of having neglected that there was no zero year between BC and AD dates. For one year, from 1843 to 1844, they enjoyed peace with God and were joyful in the expectation of Jesus' return, recalculated to be October 22, 1844--the day on which the Jewish day of atonement was to fall in that year. The prophecy in Revelation 10 about eating the "little book" and its taste being very sweet in the mouth, but becoming bitter in the belly, applied to this group of people--but they were not to see this until afterward. The prophesied disappointment must come.
After 1844, no further times were marked out in prophecy. Indeed, Revelation 9:5-6 indicates that prophetic times would be ended. From 1844 to the coming of Christ there is to be no further prophecy giving us a definite time for end-time events. For example, no one will know when probation has closed, when the seven last plagues will come, or the date of Jesus' return. The 2300-day prophecy, which spanned the 490-, 1335-, 1290-, and 1260-day/year prophecies, was the longest and last of these.
So, in chronological order, we can list these prophecies as follows:
| Year | Commencement | Fulfillment | Associated Event(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 457 BC | 2300-day prophecy 490-day prophecy |
Commandment to restore/rebuild Jerusalem | |
| AD 34 | 490-day prophecy | Stoning of Stephen, marking the end of Jewish probation--gospel goes out to Gentiles | |
| AD 508 | 1335-day prophecy 1290-day prophecy |
Clovis, King of Franks, destroys Visigoth opposition, embarks on establishment of papacy | |
| AD 538 | 1260-day prophecy | Papacy officially established | |
| AD 1798 | 1260-day prophecy 1290-day prophecy |
Papacy receives "deadly wound" (see Revelation 13:3); Pope taken captive and removed from Rome by Berthier, one of Napoleon's generals--pope soon afterward dies in captivity | |
| AD 1843 | 1335-day prophecy | The time of the blessed (Daniel 12:12) who expect Christ's imminent coming | |
| AD 1844 | 2300-day prophecy | Jesus enters Most Holy Place in heavenly sanctuary to begin his work of atonement as our High Priest; beginning of earth's final "Day of Atonement" |
These can also be represented in timeline chart format as shown below.
Yes, the 1290- and 1335-day prophecies start at the same time.
shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate i.e. it's the same event so the 1,290 starts in the middle of the seven years.
Commented
Jan 9, 2023 at 15:31
I don't think the 1,290 days and 1,335 days start at the same time. I believe that the 'taking away of the daily (sacrifice)' is the rapture. WE (Christians) are the daily sacrifice that Jesus takes away to heaven. (Romans 12:1, Luke 9:23) That starts the 1,290 days. After 1,290 days is the abomination of desolation by the Anti-Christ. Add 1,335 days to the abomination of desolation brings you to a day where one is blessed who waits and comes to that Day. Now consider this - we are basically 2,000 years less 7 years from Jesus' death and resurrection. The 70th week needs to be fulfilled as do the Fall Feasts. For 2024, the Feast of Trumpets is Oct. 2-3. (A Jewish sabbath, no less). IF Jesus fulfills this Feast in this year, adding 1,290 days brings you to Good Friday in the middle of Passover 2028. A likely time for the Abomination of Desolation, no? IF you add 1,335 days to Good Friday 2028, you arrive at Hanukkah 2031 (dedication of the temple). Maybe 'Blessed are you if you see this day' means you survived the tribulation, the judgement of the sheep and goats, and made it to the Millennial Temple dedication. Remember, the last item on the list of reasons for the 70 weeks is 'to anoint a most holy (place)' (Daniel 9:24). Thus, the dedication of the temple on Hanukkah completes the 70 weeks of years.
Also, IF it takes 30 days from the rapture for the Great Deception and the introduction of the Anti-Christ and the signing of the 'covenant with many', then that starts the 1,260-day clock. After 1,260 days you arrive at the abomination of desolation on Good Friday (middle of the week). Add another 1,260 days and you arrive at Yom Kippur 2031. Thus Jesus fulfills another Fall Feast. Five days later he sets up the millennial kingdom on Feast of Tabernacles 2031, fulfilling the final Jewish feast.
In responding to this question, I take it as axiomatic that the angelically delivered prophecy originated with heaven-sent approval and not by men seeking to predict their future by extrapolations from contemporary events and personal hopes. To me that implies the prophecy needs a reasonably clear and precise fulfillment, for I do not believe our Father is careless in his wording, even though His revelations are sometimes deliberately ambiguous, or deftly encrypted, or obscured by symbolism so that each of us may find reinforcement for our own predilections until such time as God’s true and deeper intent is fully revealed. That caveat definitely applies to this question. For me, your question requires the relevant verses to be placed into a much larger context, expanded to all of Daniel’s prophecies, for those two numbers constitute the test as to the coherence and validity of my own belief in this matter. Although it will appear otherwise, I will try to be brief, thus also incomplete. First of all, the overall framework.
I note that the seventy week prophecy addresses an era fulfilled by Jesus. Some call this era the Meridian of Time, perhaps because its fullness period, Jesus’ ministry, came at about the mid-point between God’s promise to Abraham and the our own day, on the threshold of the millennium. Daniel 12 addresses the Time of the End, even naming the era in verses 4 and 9. Jesus proclaimed the existence of an intermediate era called the Times of the Gentiles, which was to end before Jerusalem ceased to be trampled by the gentiles, presumably prior to the Jews establishing their control over the city in 1967. These three eras constitute for me the deeper meaning to be attached to the phrase “time, times, and half a time.” And the last of the three relate to your question.
For each of these three eras, there is given in Daniel a duration to be completed. For the Meridian of Time era, that duration was provided by the Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel 9, a duration was 490 years, with 483 of them measuring to the coming of an anointed one. Start those years with the restoration of Judaism under Ezra (458 BC) and 483 years later, in 26/27 AD we have the start of ministry of John the Baptist and about half a year later, that of Jesus. That last week of the 70 weeks of the prophecy was marked by the fulfilling of the covenant with the Jewish people, when the gospel was taught almost exclusively to them. The end of that special period marked the conversion of Cornelius and/or Saul of Tarsus.
The Times of the Gentiles era is not named by Daniel, but he delivered several prophecies spectacularly fulfilled within those times. In Dan 7:8, he is shown a little horn that rises up in the midst of ten. This little horn is not a wicked man for he has the “eyes of man.” In biblical imagery, having eyes is symbolic of spiritual awareness, although “eyes of man” would be more of an earth bound awareness rather than heaven centered. Furthermore he uproots three of the ten horns, implying the ten are contemporary to him. I am only aware of one person in history that meets these characteristics while playing a crucial roll in the Times of the Gentiles - Constantine the Great. He came to power during the Tetrarchy period of the Roman Empire. He also defeated in battle three of the ten rulers, while they were exercising the title of either Caesar or Augustus.
Notice that the vision of Daniel 7 continued until the time when thrones were cast down, the Ancient of Days sat in judgment, and the beast was slain. Since the world wars, kingships among Christian nations are hard to find, and what continue to exist are more ceremonial that authoritative. The Ancient of Days and the slaying of the beast are topics developed in more detail in Revelations and are still in our future.
So in Daniel 8 (which is parallel and complementary to the vision of chapter 7), when one asks “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation…” and is told 2300 evening and morning, I look for some meaning that fits into the long view of chapter 7 and has to do with temples and perhaps covenants. I have no issue with those who believe the entire meaning of the 2300 is captured in morning and evening sacrifices. I just believe there is much more to it. The phrase evening-morning is itself evocative. Jesus’ death on the cross came in the evening of the first of Daniel’s three eras, followed by a long night bereft of temple activity. In 1844, temple activity and the making of personal covenants therein was inaugurated. True, these were not the same kinds of temple activities as of old. Frankly, I think deeply sincere covenants made in a sacred environment are far more appropriate than the ritual slaughtering of animals. Judging by Isaiah 1:11-17; Hosea 6:6; Jer. 7:21-24; and 31:33-34, I conclude I am not alone in such an assessment. Sanctified souls are far more precious than sanitized structures.
So how does the 2300 fit into this framework? We are not given a starting point, so the most reasonable choice is to start from the same moment as the Seventy Week Prophecy. If you do so, you terminate in the year 1844. That was the year temple endowments were initiated by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo Illinois. Today there are over 250 temples scattered across the world engaged in the same activity. I am quite aware that bringing Joseph Smith into the picture will be offensive to many devout Christians, although I do not understand why that is so. Someone had to be selected to initiate this activity, and I suspect that no matter who, animosity towards his church would still have been generated. It is interesting that, with the exception of parts of the Seventy Week Prophecy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, founded by Joseph Smith, currently includes in its teachings none of the interpretations of Daniel that are being presented here.
And one more thing. the 2300 years was also to mark the end of the “transgression of desolation.” I take this desolation as a reference to the desolation mentioned at the close of the Seventy Week Prophecy. That desolation began with the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 AD, and was intensified with the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132-136 AD, as a result of which Jews were virtually eliminated from their homeland. [See Cassio Dio, History of Rome, 69.14.1-2] They were scattered and nourished in the wilderness of nations, as promised in Rev 12:6. In 1841 the holy land was dedicated for the return of the Jews by Orson Hyde. Three years later, in 1844, the Edict of Toleration was published. In the words of George Townsend, Canon of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Archdeacon of Clonfert,
“...the strict exclusion of the Jews from their own land enforced by the Muslims for some twelve centuries was at last relaxed by the Edict of Toleration and ‘the times of the gentiles’ were ‘fulfilled.’”
Although I might quibble with the Canon as to the exact ending of the times of the gentiles, I do agree that that year marked a closing point in the fullness period for that second era.
For the last of Daniel’s three preparatory eras, the Time of the End, we have the numbers 1290 and 1335 to build upon, and the statement that the 1290 is to start from the setting up of an abomination of desolation. I am unable to find a convincing meaning if we insist the two durations start at the same moment. But if you allow them to be consecutive, then at least a test for this “hypothesis” I am putting forth is made available. Well it would be if one amendment to the text is allowed.
There is an interesting reading in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 10.271. When Josephus wrote his Antiquities, he had access to the scriptural scrolls kept in the temple, part of the booty from Jerusalem. From his The Life of Flavius Josephus, 75/417-418, he states,
“When the city Jerusalem was taken by force, Titus Caesar persuaded me frequently to take whatsoever I would of the ruins of my country, and say that he gave me leave to do so. But when my country was destroyed, I thought nothing else to be of any value which I could take and keep as a comfort under my calamities; so I made this request to Titus, that my family might have their liberty; I had also the holy books by Titus’s concession.” Thus any amendments to the scriptural text that he suggests should at least be considered. In Antiquities 10.271, Josephus applied the 1290 days of Daniel 12 to the interruption of temple services by Antiochus Epiphanes. But in his text, instead of 1290, he has 1296. I have reason to think this is significant, but first we need to select a starting year, of which there are maybe half a dozen candidates.
According to Jeremiah, prior to the fall of Jerusalem, under king Jehoiakim (regnal years: 608-598 BCE, following his accession year), the Jews had “set their abominations in the house which is called by [God’s] name, to pollute it.” (Jer.7:30-31). And because of this, the Lord promises that the land of Judah “shall be desolate.” (Jer. 7:34) This verse establishes that an abomination had been setup in the temple, the consequences of which was to be desolation; unfortunately it does not establish whether or not the daily sacrifice was taken away. A date is not provided, but I am going to put forth the year 605/4 BCE for the following reasons. According to the 36th chapter of Jeremiah, it was in 605 BCE (the fourth year of Jehoiakim) when Jeremiah began to write the scroll containing all of the prophecies given to him by the Lord up to that time. Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary, then publicly read the scroll in the temple in the ninth month of Jehoiakim’s fifth year, roughly corresponding to Dec. 604 BCE. When the scroll was read again before the king, the section affirming the foregoing desolation of the land, that “the king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy the land …,” angered the king, causing him to have the scroll burnt. But the Lord had Jeremiah rewrite the scroll, adding to it additional judgments against Jehoiakim and the people of Judah. According to Jer. 25:1, 12, the prophecy of the seventy years of Babylonian captivity had been given prior to the writing of the first scroll, and thus would have been included within it. It is unlikely the prophecy was given earlier than 605 since Jeremiah had to go into hiding for self-protection after the reading before the king. But that prophecy seems to have been the Lord’s elaboration upon his promise in Jer. 7:34 that the land would become desolate. Interestingly, the occasion for the public reading of the scroll was “a fast before the Lord to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem” (Jer. 36:9), thus suggesting that not all of the reforms of Josiah had yet been eroded away. Unfortunately, the purpose of the fast is not stated.
With all of the foregoing as background, let me return to the original question. And in answering it, the elasticity of your own faith may well be challenged. If you are looking for an exclusively Christian or Jewish response, I must disappoint you. God’s covenant people include all of the descendants of Abraham, thus also Ishmael, who was given divine rescue in his time of need. Jesus’ parable about the kingdom of heaven being hidden in three measures of grain applies here. Those three measures are, at least in part, the “last days” expectations of the three divisions of the Abrahamic faith - Jewish, Christian, and Muslim - the Messiah, Jesus, the Mahdi.
Now, if you add 1296 years to 605/604 BC, you arrive at 690/691 AD. And that turns out to be a significant year relative to temples, for it was the year of dedication of the Dome of the Rock, the third most sacred Muslim structure, built on the site of the Jerusalem temple. And if you add 1335 years to 691, you obtain 2026., or if you prefer, the year thereafter, 2027. What is to happen in that year, we are not told other than that those who have waited until that time will be blessed. Do I expect the second coming in that time? No, I do not. Nor do I expect cataclysmic destruction. Daniel’s three eras are preparatory to the spiritual revitalization of the Abrahamic faiths. So I expect something to do with covenants and/or temples. What I hope is for a time of new revelation, of new instruction from individual(s) sent by our Father for our benefit. I would expect those teachings to be corrective in nature for all three of the Abrahamic Faiths, hence most likely resented by the majority in each of the three faiths. And I have just realistic enough to suspect that whatever fulfillment happens in that year will not make world-wide headlines. I am reminded of Jesus’ question, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” [Luke 18:8]
Time will tell how well my speculations approximate our Father’s intent. Consistency, accuracy, and clarity is what I had hoped for, both internally and externally. But whether they are confirmed or repudiated, Paul’s counsel remains relevant, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.” [1 Thessalonians 5:19-21]
Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.- at the end of 1,335 something good happens. The previous sentence is about the setting up of the abomination; context gives plenty of clues what it COULD be. Is there a Jewish feast that has to do with abomination and cleansing?John 10:22–23- Hannukah. It wasn't in Old Testament because it happened after Old was written but the fact it was mentioned in New Testament surely must make it (potentially) relevant.