'The second point to be settled, in explaining the text, [Dan. ix, 24,] is to show what vision it is which the seventy weeks are said to seal. And it should be understood that this involves one of the great questions which constitute the main pillars in our system of interpretation, so far as prophetic times are concerned. If the connection between the 70 weeks of Dan. ix, and the 2300 days of Dan. viii, does not exist, the whole system is shaken to its foundation; if it does exist, as we suppose, the system must stand.'—Harmony of Prophetic Chronology, page 33.
Then the act of those who deny the connection of the seventy weeks and the 2300 days, is of a fearful character. It is a denial of 'one of the main pillars in our system of interpretation so far as prophetic times are concerned. If the connection between the 70 weeks of Dan. ix, and the 2300 days of Dan. viii, does not exist, the whole system is shaken to its foundation.' And now reader will you listen to their reasons for denying the connection between those two periods, which as we have seen is fortified by a mass of direct testimony. They are as follows:
'We have no new light respecting the connection between the 70 weeks and 2300 days. The only argument against their connection is, the passing of the time. Why that has passed is a mystery to us, which we wait to have revealed.'—Advent Herald, Sept. 7, 1850.
'Before 1843 we became satisfied of the validity of the arguments sustaining their connection and simultaneous commencement. There has nothing transpired to weaken the force of those arguments, but the passing of the time we expected for their termination. We now have no other fact to advance against their connection; and therefore can only wait for the mystery of the passing of time to be explained. But of the commencement and termination of the 70 weeks, we are satisfied that they cannot be removed from the position which Protestants have always assigned them.' Advent Herald, Feb. 22, 1851.
In its appropriate place, we offered conclusive testimony to prove the connexion of the 70 weeks and 2300 days. And it is submitted to the reader's judgment whether the reasons offered to disprove that connection are entitled to any weight or not. It will be seen that they grow out of the assumed correctness of the view that the earth, or land of Canaan is the sanctuary, and that the cleansing of the sanctuary is the burning of the earth, or the purification of Palestine at the coming of Christ. Before the reader adopts the conclusion that the 70 weeks, which Gabriel says were 'cut off,' are no part of the great period contained in the vision which he was explaining to Daniel, we request him to follow us in the inquiry: What is the sanctuary, and how is it to be cleansed? This we shall presently follow out, and in doing it we may discover the cause of our disappointment.