PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SANCTUARY CLEANSING.
By J. O. Corliss
IN a prophetic vision given to Daniel during the third year of Belshazzar’s reign, he received an announcement which it somewhat puzzled him to understand. The house of Israel was still in Babylonian captivity, and the angel pointed out to the prophet some leading events to transpire which would greatly affect the future of his people. After having the rise and fall of different kingdoms portrayed, a vision of two angels, conversing with each other, appeared. Listening to their conversation, he heard one ask in anxious tone, “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?” This was to the prophet the most absorbing theme to which his attention could be called. During the long weary years of Babylonian captivity, his heart had sorrowed for the condition of the sanctuary at Jerusalem, which had been left to be trodden down and defiled by the Gentiles. He longed for its release and purification, and while waiting for some consoling reply, the angel addressed, turned to him with the words, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14. The time named was so different from that connected with any known ceremonies, that the prophet began to cast about to ascertain its meaning. Just then he heard a man’s voice above the river saying to his attendant angel, “Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” But as the angel came near to Daniel, he became frightened, and fell face downward to the ground. Under the circumstances, little could be said to the prophet. But the angel said this, which was emphatic and direct, “Understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” Verse 17. This settled at least one point of the prophet’s inquiry, while it probably confused his mind on another point. He readily saw that the period in which the cleansing of the sanctuary would be accomplished, was one far removed, even to the latest generation. Another thing was made clear, that the sanctuary to be cleansed, was another than the one in the temple at Jerusalem; for the prophet had already learned thru Jeremiah’s predictions made nearly a hundred years before, that seventy years of alienation from Jerusalem would end the captivity of Israel. Dan. 9:2. He could not well make this coincide with the 2,300 days, which it had been emphatically said would end in “the time of the end.” So far as removing disgrace from the earthly sanctuary which was then desolate was concerned, that must be accomplished upon the return from Babylon. But what about this sanctuary to be cleansed in the distant future? The prophet was assured that he would be fully informed as to the detail of what should take place before the end would come. Dan. 8:19. But after having explained to him the earlier symbols of the ram and rough goat, and learning of the mighty influence the nations these symbolized would have over the destinies of his own people, the prophet fell deathly sick. Three full weeks he was prostrated4; but at the end of that time he began to attend to the king’s business as before, tho he was greatly depressed at the vision, the effect of which he carefully concealed from his associates. Indeed, the impression made upon his mind by the revelation was so strong, that he determined, if possible, to learn something more of the matter. He therefore began to fast and pray, that God might be gracious in this respect. First he confessed his sins, and those of all his people. Dan. 9:3–15. He then appealed for the light of God’s countenance to be permitted to shine on the desolate sanctuary at Jerusalem. Verses 16, 17. Before he closed his intercession, Gabriel again appeared on the scene, saying that he had come to impart the knowledge sought. After Daniel had been told that the visit was by order of God, because he was greatly beloved, the angel said, “Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” Verse 23. This, then, was no less than a heavenly order to take under consideration the very subject that had been dropped because of its former hurtful effect upon the health of the prophet. The only point of the vision then left to be considered was that of the time extending to the cleansing of the sanctuary talked of by the holy ones in Dan. 8:14. It was therefore very fitting that the instruction to be further given should be that spanning the time reaching to the cleansing before referred to.