The 2300 Days in the Final Fulfillment
In a way, we will be studying the 2300 day prophecy from now through the sixth study in this series. This is because the 1260, 1290, 490 and 1335 day timelines are all part of the final 2300 day timeline, as we will study thoroughly in the next few lessons. Also, as we have already mentioned, the 2300 day timeline may have had past APPLICATIONS (in that parts of this prophecy played out in past history), but the primary fulfillment of this prophecy is for the end-time, as it says plainly in Daniel 8:17. “So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.”
Remember, "this vision" which Gabriel told Daniel was for the "time of the end" included the conflict between the ram and the he-goat, the final rise of the little horn power, AND the 2300 day prophecy. This point is reiterated in the following quotations:
“We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God's people on every side. Intensity is taking hold of the human family. It is permeating everything upon the earth… Study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for history will be repeated... We, with all our religious advantages, ought to know far more today than we do know.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 116
“In the Scriptures are presented truths that relate especially to our own time. To the period just prior to the appearing of the Son of man, the prophecies of Scripture point, and here their warnings and threatenings pre-eminently apply. The prophetic periods of Daniel, extending TO THE VERY EVE OF THE GREAT CONSUMMATION, throw a flood of light upon events THEN to transpire. The book of Revelation is also replete with warning and instruction for the last generation... None need remain in ignorance, none need be unprepared for the coming of the day of God.” – Review and Herald, September 25, 1883 par. 6
Now, before we begin our study of the events to take place within the 2300 day timeline, we need to review the foretolds events which lead up to it. By clearly noting these prophesied landmarks, we will be better able to recognize the 2300 days when it starts and better able to understand what will happen within this sobering timeline.
- First, according to Daniel 8, the notable horn (US) of the he-goat will lead the goat (UN/NWO) into battle against the ram (Muslim power block in the Middle East)
- Next, the Goat is the victor and tramples the ram (Muslim nations)
- Following this, the Goat will grow very great (the UN will lead the world in the formation of a New World Order kicked off by a "Luciferian Initiation" as mentioned by David Spangler of the Planetary Initiative, among others)
- After the Goat grows great, the Notable horn (US) will be broken (although the cause of this breaking is not given)
- Four kingdoms will take its place (these are the four permanent members of the UN: Great Britain, France, Russia, and China)
- Out of one of them (the four horns) grows the Little Horn (papacy) - this is likely to be Great Britain, who has pledged to aid the Papacy.
Now, let us look at the the 2300 Day prophecy. Daniel 8:13-14 “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
What starts the 2300 day timeline? The little horn power will remove the daily (the word sacrifice was added later by Bible translators and was not part of the original text, as we will later show) and will set up the "transgression of desolation." This is the start of the 2300 day timeline. And what takes place at the close of the 2300 days? Daniel 8:14 tells us that the "sanctuary shall be cleansed." In this study, we will be specifically focusing the events which start and finish of the 2300 day timeline.
To understand the starting events, we need to study the foretold advance of the little horn's kingdom. As it says in Daniel 8:9 “(Then) came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.” This prophecy is about how the "Holy See" will advance the Mother Church of Rome. First, as it leaves Rome, it will go south into the upper regions of Africa to fully "Christianize" the largely Islamic northern part of Africa. Next, the papal power will go east "Christianizing" the Taoists and Buddists in China and Mongolia as well as the multi-religional India (among others). And once the whole world is united with Papal Rome in following after the Roman church, the Holy See will move to the "Glorious Land" of Jerusalem in Israel. This is the progression foretold by Daniel. And when it takes place, Bible students will take note that the final 2300 day timeline will soon begin.
But moving the Vatican to Jerusalem is still a perparatory move to the 2300 days. The 2300 day timeline actually starts when the daily is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up by the little horn power. As it says in Daniel 8:11-12 “And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.”
What is the "Daily Sacrifice" that Daniel said the little horn power would take away? As mentioned above,“sacrifice” was an added word supplied by translators. It is Strong’s #9999, which says “X” for meaning, because it was supplied by people who didn’t understand this vision and was NOT in the original Hebrew text. For this reason, we will not use it in this reference further.
But what about the word “Daily”? "Daily" is from the Hebrew word tamiyd (Strong's Concordance #8548) which means “something which stretches indefinitely in both directions, perpetual.”
Immediately, the question arises, "what stretches perpetually in both directions - i.e. like something without beginning or end?" To understand what Daniel was talking about, it helps to look at other Bible verses which contained the word tamiyd. Here are a few to shed light and meaning on this word:
Tamiyd in Other Bible Verses
Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Here the word translated as "always" is from the original Hebrew word tamiyd. Already we can see that tamiyd has something to do with God.
Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” In Psalm 34:1, the word tamiyd is translated as "continually." Once again, we see that tamiyd, which is translated as "daily" in the Daniel, is about God and how humans respond to Him in worship. So what does the little horn take away?
Tamiyd is often used to show OUR relationship to YHWH, not HIS Eternal Being. And this is important as the little horn certainly doesn't have the power to make the slightest effect to YHWH's Eternal Being! So then, what continual thing does the little horn remove that rightly belongs to YHWH? In Psalm 45:6 we get a fuller picture. It says, “Thy throne, O God is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre."
The word tamiyd or "Daily," in Daniel 8:12, refers to the Sovereignty of the Throne of God. God’s RULERSHIP is a “continuum” which stretches in both directions indefinitely. It is His PERPETUAL power, seat, and authority. Yet, as we have already pointed out, the little horn might WANT to take away YHWH's power, seat and authority, yet it cannot truly do so. Throughout the universe, YHWH is the only God, and His eternal right to reign supreme will not be diminished in actuality by anything the little horn does. Still, from the above verses, we noted that the word tamiyd is not only about God, it is also about HOW HUMANS PERCEIVE GOD. And this is something the little horn will have the power to effect.
As we read in Psalm 45:6, YHWH's throne stretches forever and ever in both directions (meaning that it is eternal). Also, we saw a reference to His scepter as a symbol of his power, seat and authority. To show that these three elements are emblemized in a king's scepter, consider the following photo of Charles V's scepter and what it meant.
While the little horn cannot really take away God's power, seat, and authority, as emblemized in YHWH's "scepter"; it CAN take away YHWH's power, seat and authority in HUMAN EYES. In other words, the little horn power CAN STEAL the worship that is due only to God by deceiving humans into worshipping something false instead. And, as we see in Revelation 13:2, the beast (which is how John saw the little horn power of Daniel) will take God's power, seat, and authority. This is what it means for the "daily" to be removed.
With this added insight, let's look at Daniel 8:11 again, “He (the Papal Power) even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host (Yeshua - Jesus); and by him (the Papal Power) the daily (mankind’s recognition of YHWH’s power, seat and authority) was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.”
So far, all the pieces are fitting in our study of the daily. But to be certain we have the right picture, we must consider the cast down sanctuary. For Daniel told us that the sanctuary being cast down was part of the daily being taken away. The word "Sanctuary" that is to be cast down is Strong's Concordance # 4720. It means "YHWH’s church or temple." Throughout history, people have often tried to make this about a particular building. But YHWH is an awesome and powerful God Who does not need human buildings, nor can He be contained by them.
The ancient Jewish leadership had this same problem. They felt that as long as God's physical temple stood, no matter what they did (sin), He would still be with them and bless them. Boiled down to its essence, that's like saying that no matter how evil or rebellious they became, they could FORCE God to be with them still, in that they possessed His temple - almost like that meant they possessed Him. But, this way of thinking was totally wrong. In Jeremiah 7:3-7 we read, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD… For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour… neither walk after other gods… Then will I cause you to dwell in this place.” In other words, the prophet warned the people that they couldn't keep on sinning saying "We have the Temple of the Lord." Rather, they had to do right and obey His commands. Only then would they receive His blessings.
Clearly God's sanctuary or temple isn't about a building. Nor is there any building on the earth today which is fully graced by His presence as we saw in the Shekinah glory being in the wilderness sanctuary. It isn't a building that Daniel saw being cast down by the little horn's blasphemous work. In 2 Corinthians 6:16 it says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
What is the temple or sanctuary that is cast down and how does this correlate to the removal of the daily (manking's recognition of YHWH's power, seat and authority)? Since YHWH chooses to make the human heart His earthly home, it is this sanctuary that is being cast down through the blasphemous work of the little horn. For while the little horn challenges and indeed removes most of mankind's recognition of God's rulership it will also take away the worship that is due only to Him. And in so doing, the sanctuary of the masses of human hearts will be turned into false worship, in utter rebellion to the true God. Thus, the sanctuary God has chosen (people) is cast down and made a throne of hell.
As it says in Daniel 8:11 “He (the Papacy) even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host (Yeshua); and by him (the Papacy) the daily (mankind’s recognition of YHWH’s Rulership) sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down (human worship stolen from YHWH).” Not only will the little horn make this terrible attack against God, it will succeed with the majority of people because of the military power that will back the papal claims. This is foretold in Daniel 11:31 “And arms (military might - literally armies) shall stand on his (the little horn's) part, and they (the armies) shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (the hearts of the people being diverted from the worship of God - and enforced by military might backing the new object of worship), and shall take away the daily (mankind's recognition of God's rulership), and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
What Begins the 2300 Day Timeline?
The Little Horn (papal power) will stand in Jerusalem, backed by powerful military might, and will cause the masses of people to no longer worship God, usurping His power, seat and authority in their eyes. And, in tandem with this blasphemous work, this power will also set up what Daniel Called the Abomination of Desolation. These events start the 2300 days in the final fulfillment.
And when the Abomination of Desolation is set up, Yeshua warned us, the final time of trouble begins! "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24: 15, 16, 21)
So what is the Abomination of Desolation? Keys to identifying it are found in the Scripture. Something God calls an abomination involves idolatry. "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and beseiged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god" (Daniel 1:1,2).
We find that Jehoiakim's problem was idolatrous by referring to the biblical record of 2 Chronicles 36. "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead" (2 Chronicles 36:5-8)
So by connecting the Scriptural dots, we find that an abomination is giving worship that is due only to YHWH to another being, image, or to anything else.
Now, what is desolation or what makes desolate? In Jeremiah 17 the prophet is told to stand in the gate of the people and prophesy. Under a divine mandate, Jeremiah told the people that if they would honor God's Sabbath their city would remain forever, and that this faithful obedience would lead them into such a relationship with Himself that they would be used to convert the surrounding heathen nations (ch. 17:19-26). On the other hand, if they would not keep the Sabbath day holy God would allow their city to be desolated. "But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then I will kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched" (v. 27). Sadly, the Jews chose to continue breaking God's Sabbath (Sabbath keeping as specified in God's Law is at the heart of loyal worship) and thus inaugurated their own destruction and captivity. The abomination that led to their desolation was breaking the Sabbath.
Thus, we see the significance of 2 Chronicles 36:21: "To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath." This of course was specifically referencing the 7-year land Sabbaths. which were part of YHWH's Torah (law).
Sun-worship supplanting YHWH worship constitutes an abomination. This we find from Ezekiel, who lived during the same time as Daniel. The prophet Ezekiel tells us about the abominations God's people were practicing in the holy place. In Ezekiel 8, the prophet was brought by vision to the door of the inner gate. Women were weeping for Tammuz and the greatest abomination of all was twenty-five men standing in God's holy place "with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east" (Ezekiel 8:16). What did the angel of God tell Ezekiel was so abominable in this vision? That YHWH's temple was desecrated by the worship of something (the sun) other than Him.
Already a picture is developing of related events. We have previously mentioned that the little horn will usurp YHWH's proper place of worship, taking worship that is due only to Him. In addition it will take God's power, seat and authority in the eyes of the human masses. And in so doing, the same old snake, who deceived Eve in the Garden (who is Satan), will be worshipped as God. For the snake has always been associated with sun worship and it is he who receives all worship directed to any source other than YHWH God.
Now, let us refresh our memories about the key event which will kick off the New World Order - the Luciferian Initiation.
Clearly, there are powerful players in world government who intend to force the world to worship "Lucifer" - Satan. This is a work which the little horn (papal power) will ultimately complete when it forces the whole world to worship the snake of Eden in taking the Luciferian Initiation. This is the climax of setting up the Abomination of Desolation. And it will totally be about who we worship. It will also be about WHEN we worship. For YHWH has His days of worship (given in Leviticus 23). And Satan has his sun-worship days which were instigated back in ancient Babylon.
And as it tells us Revelation 13:11-17, the little horn / beast power will make it very hard to exist for anyone who do not go along with their blasphemous system of worship. “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb (the lamb is a symbol of Christ - this shows that this power will have Christ-like qualities... this is the anti-Christ power), and he spake as a dragon (the dragon is Satan - and this power is really more like a dragon in sheep's clothing. For all his "holy" outward appearance, he is really utterly of Satan). And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
In the context of this study, we can only touch on this subject. But, for more information, contact us directly as there is much more information regarding the snake, sun-worship and the abomination. For now, we will continue by going back to Matthew 24. Christ warned us that when the Abomination of Desolation is set up, in other words, when the papal power unites the whole world under the worship of Lucifer (whom they will probably call Jesus) it will be time for God's loyal children to flee to the mountains. “The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath (Sunday) will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.” Maranatha, p 180
The Abomination of Desolation, which starts the 2300 day timeline is the sign that the final time of trouble is starting. As it states plainly in Mark 13:14 “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains.”
All of the little horn's foretold acts will tie in together creating one total picture of rebellion against the true GOD and instigating a false system of worship globally. Even the detail from Daniel 11 which warned that "arms" (military might) would stand on the part of the little horn enforcing its edicts against God's Law. Considering that the little horn will be based in Jerusalem and the military might against those who refuse to worship the Eden snake will radiate out from there, let us look at Luke 21:20-21. “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.”
Daniel 8:12 also tells us that a host (a huge and powerful group - in this case an army) will be given to the little horn. “And an host was given him (the little horn) against the daily (to help it enforce the removal of God's power, seat and authority in human eyes) by reason of transgression (terrible sin), and it (the little horn) cast down the truth to the ground; and it (the little horn) practiced (made its own laws and did what it pleased), and prospered.”
Considering what a horrible picture it is to consider the papal power in full-fledged blasphemy against God and extirmination of His loyal people, it is no wonder that the primary concern of God's end-time people is voiced in the next verse. Daniel 8:13 says, “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?”
Translation into modern English... How long will Your Rulership be challenged on Earth? How long will the sin of desolation in the whole world worshipping Satan and calling this righteous last? How long will Your temple in human hearts be cast down? How long will Your obedient people be trodden under foot (disrespected, hated, persecuted)?
The answer to this vital question is given in Daniel 8:14 “Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” In other words, God's rulership will continue to be unrecognized by the masses, Satan will be worshipped in God's place, and those who persist in worshipping the true God after the Abomination is set up (the Luciferian Initiation) will be persecuted and even killed for 2300 days.
Amazingly, while the leaders of the world will cause the masses to thumb their noses at the true God and worship a fallen angel, this course of action will seem righteous and smart and appropriate to most. This is because powerful, intelligent and credible people will be promoting it. Consider the following quotation: “As the Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from the earth, Satan's power will be more and more manifest. The knowledge that he had through being in connection with God, as a covering cherub, he will now use to subordinate his subjects who fell from their high estate. He will use every power of his exalted intellect to misrepresent God and to instigate rebellion against Jesus Christ, the Commander of heaven. In the synagogue of Satan he brings under his scepter, and into his counsels, those agents whom he can use to promote his worship. It is not a strange matter to find a species of refinement, and a manifestation of intellectual greatness, in the lives and characters of those who are inspired by fallen angels. Satan can impart scientific knowledge, and give men chapters upon philosophy. He is conversant with history, and versed in worldly wisdom.” {Signs of the Times, May 28, 1894 par. 8}
Many pastors and priests will also lead people into false worship. In the Bible these ones are called "false shepherds." Fearful judgments are pronounced against these trusted ones who have used their positions of trust to promote Satan and the path of death. Jeremiah 25:34-36 says, "Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal (Leader) of the flock (the church) to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture (judged them)."
In the same vein, it says in Jeremiah 50:6 "My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace (this is God's special Sabbath the day of Rest)."
One writer was given a vision of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 50:6. She wrote, "The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. "We are lost!" they cry, "and you are the cause of our ruin;" and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction..." Great Controversy, p. 655
Clearly if we would know the truth and be able to tell Who God is and how He wants to be worshipped, there is only one safe source. It isn't humans - not even powerful leading pastors. The only safe source of truth is the Word of God. No wonder we are commanded to "Study" it for ourselves! (See 2 Timothy 2:15.)
Once the 2300 days begins, there will only be two sides: those who loyally worship the one true God (YHWH) and those who compromise out of fear or are decieved into worshipping the devil. And as we have seen, this very serious time will last 2300 days. But, just how long is the 2300 days of the Bible in terms we can understand. After all hasn't the Bible sometimes said "days" but meant "years" - as we see happening in prophetic time?
The Hebrew word for “days” is yamin. But, this isn’t the original word used here. “Days” was originally two words (as the Complete Word Study Old Testament, by Zodhiates shows). The original Hebrew words which are translated as 2300 "days" in Daniel 8 are:
boqer (Strong's Concordance # 1242) – which means "morning"
ereb (Strong's Concordance # 6153) – which means "evening"
Translators assumed that if you had 2300 evenings and mornings, you also had 2300 days. Thus, the KJV Version of the Bible shows ereb boqer translated as days. But, it was translated more accurately in Daniel 8:26. “And the vision of the evening and the morning (ereb boqer) which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.”
But if you have 2300 evenings and mornings, doesn’t that come out to be 2300 half days in terms of a 24 hour period? In other words, could 2300 ereb boqers actually be 2300/2 or 1150 days (24 hour periods)?
Once again, if we are to know what the Bible really teaches, we have to look at the other Scriptures on the subject. The original Hebrew words Ereb–Boqer also appear in Genesis and here they are plainly defined. Genesis 1:5 says, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening (ereb) and the morning (boqer) were the first day.” This is reiterated throughout the creation story, but let's look only at Genesis 1:8 “And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening (ereb) and the morning (boqer) were the second day.”
These verses in the Creation story give us an equation. Ereb boqer = Yamin (DAY - literally 24 hours). So why did God inspire Daniel to use the terms for evening and morning in the Daniel prophecy? Why not just come right out and say DAY? Because a yamin day can also be a prophetic year. As it says in Ezekiel 4:6 "...I have appointed thee each day for a year. Thus, Bible students might wrongly assume that this prophecy was primary about 2300 years rather than 2300 literal 24 hour days if the word DAYS had been used here. But by telling us that this timeline was 2300 evenings and mornings, which the Genesis story equates to 24 hour periods, we can be certain that this final 2300 day timeline will be fulfilled in literal time - making it come out to 6 years and 4.56 months on a modern calendar.
How Does the 2300 Day Timeline End?
Over the course of the next three Bible studies (in this series) we will carefully study the events which take place during the 2300 day timeline. But, for this study, we are only focusing on how it starts and what takes place to mark its ending.
According to Daniel 8:14, the 2300 days ends with the sanctuary being cleansed. “…Unto two thousand three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Some have assumed that this pointed to some temple edifice being spiritually or physically washed. But the original Hebrew word translated as "cleansed" in Daniel 8:14 is really poorly translated for modern English, as we will soon see. This is not intended to be a criticism against the Bible translators of the KJV. Not in the least! Really what's happened here is that our English language has evolved since the 1600's (when the KJV was translated) So, when we wish to fully understand the words in the KJV, we must consider what they meant in the 1600's. For example, consider the reference to gay clothing in James 2:3, "And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing..." Here neither James (the author) nor the KJV translators were trying to convey that the clothing had a certain sexual orientation. The verse is merely stating that the clothing was richly colored.
Now let's return from our explanatory tangent to consider the concept of the sanctuary being cleansed in Daniel 8:14. The original Hebrew word which is translated as "cleansed" was tsadheq. Tsadheq in the Strong's Concordance means “to be cleared, to be in the right, to obtain just cause, to be exonerated, restored and vindicated from wrongs.” The Lexicon further explains, “…Essentially tsadheq is a legal term. God is righteous (Ps. 51:4) and so are His Laws (Ps. 19:9). When injustice prevails, God is the One Who sets things right (Ex. 23:6-7, Ps. 82:3)”
So, tsadheq means to be exonerated or vindicated - not washed! To further demonstrate this, let's look up tsadheq in other Scriptures. Deuteronomy 25:1 says, "If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous (tsadheq), and condemn the wicked."
Job 13:18 adds, "Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified (tsadheq)."
We have already seen that the Sanctuary of YHWH is primarily His people (1 Corinthians 6:19). So, it is not too difficult to assemble the puzzle pieces and find what Daniel 8:14 means when it says that the sanctuary will be cleansed (exhonerated, vindicated, cleared of wrongdoing) at the end of the 2300 days. This is a reference to God's downtrodden, hated, persecuted loyal people being exhonerated and vindicated. During the 2300 days, the beast will proclaim himself Christ. And while the whole world is really worshipping the beast (and Satan ultimately receives this worship) they will believe they are worshipping the true God of heaven. Considering they believe this, it is no wonder that God's real followers will be hated. After all, they will stand out as unbending minority, who refuse to take the Luciferian Initiation, refuse to worship on the Beasts sun days and refuse to give up their obedience to YHWH.
The Bible talks about a group of God's people who will be persecuted by the "synagogue of Satan" who claim to belong to God, but really don't. In the end, the synagogue of Satan" will worship at these saints' feet. Revelation 3:7-9 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
This is a beautiful and sad picture of the exoneration of YHWH's people. And who are these loyal ones? They are those who overcome (through the power of YHWH) against every demonic stronghold and sin in their lives. Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him My new name."
This is the 144,000, as it says in Revelation 14:3-5 “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
The Atonement Connection
When the third angel's message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work… Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts his hands, and with a loud voice says, “It is done;” and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” [Revelation 22:11.] Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. It is at this moment, when all deception will drop from the eyes (as we will study much further in later studies) and those who have been persecuting God's people will acknowledge that these hated ones are the true people of God. This is the moment of vindication - exhoneration - which is foretold to take place at the end of the 2300 day timeline.
"When Jesus leaves the Sanctuary, then he that is holy and righteous, will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy, will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the Sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father's throne. Therefore, what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath, must be done before Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary." Review and Herald, September 1, 1849