SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESENT TRUTH.
By Uriah Smith
THE views we entertain respecting the prophetic periods of Daniel's prophecy, are now stated, and some of the reasons why we think they have all ended, have been given. But how can it be that they have ended, may be asked, since at the end of one of these periods, the 1335 days, Daniel is to stand in his lot; and his standing in his lot, must be his resurrection from the dead. This question is founded on a misapprehension in two respects; First, that the days at the end of which Daniel stands in his lot, are the 1335 days; which we think is a mistake; secondly, that the standing of Daniel in his lot, is his resurrection; which also cannot be shown. The only thing promised at the end of the 1335 days, is a blessing unto those who wait and come to it; that is, those who are living at that time. What is this blessing? Looking at the year 1843, when these years expired, what do we behold? We see a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy in the great proclamation of the second coming of Christ. Forty-five years before this, the time of the end commenced, the book was unsealed, and light began to increase. About the year 1843, there was a grand culmination of all the light that had been shed on prophetic subjects up to that time. The proclamation went forth in power. The new and stirring doctrine of the setting up of the kingdom of God, shook the world. New life was imparted to the true disciples of Christ. The unbelieving were condemned, the churches were tested, and a spirit of revival was awakened which has no parallel in modern times. Was this the blessing? Listen to the Saviour's words: "Blessed are your eyes," said he to his disciples, "for they see; and your ears, for they hear," them. Matt. 13:16. And again he told his followers that prophets and kings had desired to see the things which they saw, and had not seen them. But, "blessed," said he to them, "are the eyes which see the things that ye see." Luke 10:23, 24. If a new and glorious truth was a blessing in the days of Christ to those who received it, why not equally so in A. D. 1843? It may be objected that those who engaged in this movement were disappointed in their expectations; so were the disciples of Christ at his first advent, in a tenfold degree. They shouted before him as he rode into Jerusalem, expecting that he would then take the kingdom; but the only throne to which he then went was the cross, and instead of being hailed as king in a royal palace, he was laid a lifeless form in Joseph's new sepulcher. Nevertheless they were blessed in receiving the truths they had heard. It may be objected further that this was not a sufficient blessing to be marked by a prophetic period. Why not, since the period in which it was to occur, namely, the time of the end, is introduced by a prophetic period, since our Lord in verse 14 of his great prophecy of Matt. 24, makes a special announcement of this movement, and since it is still further set forth in Rev. 14:6, 7, under the symbol of an angel flying through mid-heaven with a special announcement of the everlasting gospel to the inhabitants of earth? Surely the Bible gives great prominence to this movement. We do not half realize its blessedness and importance. Two more questions remain to be briefly noticed: 1. What days are referred to in verse 13? 2. What is meant by Daniel's standing in his lot? Those who claim that the days are the 1335, are led to that application by looking back no further than to the preceding verse, where the 1335 days are mentioned; whereas in making an application of these days so indefinitely introduced, we think the whole scope of the prophecy should be taken in from chapter 8. Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12, are clearly a continuation and explanation of the vision of chapter 8; so that we may say that in the vision of chapter 8, as carried out and explained, there are four prophetic periods; namely, the 2300, 1260, 1290, and 1335 days. The first is the principal and longest period; the others are but intermediate parts and subdivisions of this. Now when the angel tells Daniel, at the conclusion of his instructions, that he shall stand in his lot at the end of the days, without specifying which period was meant, would not Daniel's mind naturally turn to the principal and longest period, the 2300 days, rather than to any of its subdivisions? If this is so, the 2300 are the days intended. The reading of the Septuagint seems to look very plainly in this direction: "But go thy way and rest; for there are yet days and seasons to the full accomplishment [of these things]; and thou shalt stand in thy lot at the end of the days." This certainly carries the mind back to the long period contained in the first vision in relation to which these subsequent instructions were given. The 2300 days, as has been already shown, terminated in 1844, and brought us to the cleansing of the sanctuary. How did Daniel at that time stand in his lot? Answer. In the person of his Advocate, our great High Priest, as he presents the cases of the righteous for acceptance to his Father. The word here translated lot, does not mean a piece of real estate, a lot of land, but the decisions of chance, or the determinations of Providence. At the end of the days, the lot, so to speak, was to be cast. In other words, a determination was to be made in reference to those who should be accounted worthy of a possession in the heavenly inheritance. And when Daniel's case comes up for examination, he is found righteous, stands in his lot, is assigned a place in the heavenly Canaan. Does not the language of the psalmist have reference to this time, when he says, Ps. 1:5, "The ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment"? When Israel was about to enter into the promised land, the lot was cast, and the possession of each tribe was thus assigned it. Each tribe thus stood in its lot, long before it entered upon the actual possession of the land. The time of the cleansing of the sanctuary corresponds to this period in Israel's history. We now stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, and decisions are being made, assigning to some a place in the eternal kingdom, and barring others forever therefrom. In the decision of his case, Daniel's portion in427the celestial inheritance will be made sure to him. And with him all the faithful will also stand. And when this devoted servant of God, who filled up a long life with the noblest deeds of service to his Maker, though cumbered with the weightiest cares of this life, shall enter upon his reward for well-doing, we too may enter with him into rest, behold his rapture, and share his joy. U. S.