Connection between the 70 weeks and 2300 days.
From the Memoirs of Wm. Miller, by Sylvester Bliss, and published by J. V. Himes, Boston, 1853. pp. 193-196. "THIS was a vital point in the chronology of Mr. M. to bring the end in 1843. The Rev. William Hales, D. D., the most learned modern chronologer says:—'This simple and ingenious adjustment of the chronology of the seventy weeks, considered as forming a branch of the 2300 days, was originally due to the sagacity of Hans Wood, Esq., of Rossmead, in the county of Westmeath, Ireland, and published by him in an anonymous commentary on the Revelation of St. John, Lon. 1787.'—New Anal. Chro., Vol. 2, p. 564. He elsewhere calls it 'the most ingenious of its class.'" "The argument which Mr. Miller used in support of this point was based upon the literal meaning of the Hebrew word, which, in our version of Dan. ix, 24, is rendered 'determined'—cut off, or cut out—and the circumstances in which Gabriel appeared to Daniel, as stated in the ninth chapter, with the instruction given. "In the 8th chapter of Daniel, is recorded a vision which was to extend to the cleansing of the Sanctuary, and to continue 2300 days. Daniel had 'sought for the meaning' of that vision, and a voice said: 'Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.' Gabriel said to Daniel, 'I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation; for, at the time appointed, the end shall be;' and then proceeded to explain the symbols, but said nothing of their duration. At the close of the explanation, Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; and he says, he 'was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.'" "Three years subsequent to that vision, Daniel—understanding 'by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem'—set his face unto the Lord to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. He proceeded to confess his own sins and the sins of his people, and to supplicate the Lord's favor on the sanctuary that was desolate. While he was thus speaking, Daniel says: 'Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision, at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation; and he informed me, and talked with me, and said: O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am now come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined,' &c., 'from the going forth of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince;' after which Jerusalem was to be made desolate 'until the consummation.' Dan. ix, 20-27." Dr. Gill, a distinguished divine and scholar, rendered the word, "determined," cut off, and is sustained by good scholars. Hengstenberg, who enters into a critical examination of the original text, says: "But the very use of the word, which does not elsewhere occur while others, much more frequently used, were at hand, if Daniel had wished to express the idea of determination, and of which he has elsewhere, and even in this portion, availed himself, seems to argue that the word stands from regard to its original meaning and represents the seventy weeks, in contrast with a determination of time, (en platei,) as a period cut off from subsequent duration, and accurately limited." Christology of the old Test., Vol. 2, p. 301. Washington, 1839. "Gesenius in his Hebrew Lexicon, gives cut off as the definition of the word, and many others of the first standing as to learning and research, and several versions have thus rendered the word. "Such being the meaning of the word, and such the circumstances under which the prophecy of the seventy weeks was given. Mr. Miller claimed that the vision which Daniel was called on to consider, and respecting which Gabriel was to give him skill and understanding, was the vision of the 8th chapter; of which Daniel sought the meaning, which Gabriel was commanded to make him understand, but which, after Gabriel's explanation, none understood; and that the seventy weeks of years—i. e., four hundred and ninety that were cut off were cut off from the 2300 days of that vision; and, consequently, that those two periods must be dated from the same epoch, and the longer extend 1810 years after the termination of the shorter. "The same view was advocated by several English divines. Rev. M. Habershon says: 'In this conclusion I am happy in agreeing with Mr. Cunninghame, who says, 'I am not aware of any more probable era which can be selected for the commencement of the 2300 years, than that which has been chosen by some recent writers, who supposed this period to have begun at the same time with the seventy weeks of Daniel, or in the year B. C. 457, and consequently that it will terminate in the year 1843.'—Hist. Dis., p. 307."