Prophetic Time by I. D. Van Horn

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · May 27, 1875

Prophetic Time.

By I. D. Van Horn

The periods of time connected with the lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel, are quite generally explained by biblical scholars to be prophetic periods. This would make the day prophetic time signify a year literal time. According to this view the "time and times and the dividing of time" of Dan. 7: 25, would be 3 1/2 years prophetic time, or 3 1/2 times 360 which equals 1260 days, and each day a year, 1260 years; and the 2300 days of chap. 8: 14 would be 2300 years literal time.

Some writers, however, differ with this view and hold that all these periods are literal time, and had their fulfillment at the time and in the person of Antiochus Epiphanes. In making the application of these times to Antiochus it is necessary to apply the symbol of the "little horn" of chapter 7 to him, also the "little horn" of chapter 8.

We purpose to show in this article that the "little horn" of chapter 8 cannot apply to Antiochus which will be a sufficient reason why the one of chapter 7 does not meet its fulfillment in him. No one will call in question the fact that the "goat" is a symbol of the Grecian Empire, or that the great horn between his eyes—the first king—was Alexander. The four horns which succeeded the breaking of the great horn, represent the four divisions of the Grecian Empire. To this all agree. But in its divided state it is the Grecian Empire still, though some recent writers hold that as soon as it was divided it became the fourth empire. Were this true, then the third grand empire in the series had only one king, Alexander, and the short term of only six years and ten months time. Facts in both the Bible and history are against this, for the angel in explaining to Daniel, says: "The great horn between his eyes is the first king," plainly implying that others were to follow. These did follow in the divided state of the empire as represented by the four horns of the goat, and the four heads of the leopard of chapter 7.

But the contest comes hottest over the application of the "little horn" that came out of one of the divisions of this empire. But two opinions prevail, viz.: that this horn came out of the Syrian division of this empire and represents the single king Antiochus Epiphanes, and that it came out of the Macedon division, and was fulfilled by the Roman Empire. That the first opinion cannot be the correct one, may be seen by the following facts: 1. The little horn "magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down." Chap. 8: 11. 2. In verse 13 a question is asked, "How long shall the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" 3. The same vision and power are referred to in chapter 9. In verse 26 we have testimony similar to the above. "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

All must admit that the "little horn" is the desolating power referred to above, that should lay waste the city of the Jews, and their sanctuary. Was this fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes? Some say, yes. But we have a very important reason for believing to the contrary. Our Lord in his prophetic discourse to his disciples bears positive testimony against it. When answering their question "When shall these things be?"—the desolation of Jerusalem and the throwing down of the temple, he says: "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)." This decisive testimony carries the little horn power clear over the head of Antiochus and applies it to the desolating power of Rome. There can be no mistake here. All speculations or interpretations that make Antiochus play a large part in fulfilling the symbols of the fourth great monarchy of the prophecy of Daniel, are by this plain statement of our divine Lord, forever set aside.

All commentators are generally agreed in applying the fourth symbol to Rome. To show this we will refer the reader to the Bible Dictionary published by the American Tract Society, which "goes out to the world with the unanimous consent of the following seven evangelical denominations, viz.: Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Reformed Dutch.

Under the article "Rome," we have the following: "In the books of the Old Testament no direct allusion is apparently made to Rome, except in the prophetic vision of Dan. 2: 33, 40; 7: 7, 19. * The first alliance between the Jews and the Romans was made by Judas Maccabeus, B. c. 162. This was renewed by his brother Jonathan, B. c. 144. After this time, the Romans had much to do with Judea, not only under the Herods, but also when reduced to the form of a Roman province; until at last they utterly exterminated the Jews from the country. They took the city of Jerusalem not less than three times: first under Pompey, B. c. 63; again under Sosius, B. c. 33; and lastly under Titus, A. D. 70, when both the city and temple were destroyed."

As we have now shown the fourth symbol to be Rome, the "little horn" of chap. 7: 8 must be a power that does not come up till after Rome was divided into ten kingdoms, hence it cannot apply to Antiochus. The most natural, hence the true application is to the ecclesiastical power of Rome—the Papacy.

From the above considerations the periods of time connected with the visions of the seventh and eighth chapters of Daniel must be prophetic periods. The "time, and times, and the dividing of time," of chap. 7, must be the 1260 years of the supremacy of the Papal power of Rome, and the 2300 days of chapter 8 must be 2300 years reaching "from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem," B. c. 457, to A. D. 1844, the time when our great High Priest commences to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary.

In taking this view of these periods we are not alone. The evangelical denominations referred to above, in the Bible Dictionary give their sanction to this method of interpreting these periods. "The prophetic day usually is to be understood as one year, and the prophetic year or time as 360 days. Eze. 4: 6. Compare the three and a half years of Dan. 7: 25, with the forty-two months and twelve hundred and sixty days of Rev. 11: 2, 3." Bible Dict., Art. Day. Under the article "Time" the same authority says: "Besides the ordinary use of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Dan. 4: 16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural years, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Dan. 7: 25; 12: 7, the phrase 'a time, times, and the dividing of a time' is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1260 natural years. This is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, 'forty-two months,' Rev. 11: 2, 3; 12: 6, 14; 13: 5."

The apostle Peter in speaking of the second coming of our Lord, as illustrated in the transfiguration on the mount, adds this statement in connection with it: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." 2 Pet. 1: 16-19. It is by a careful study and right interpretation of the prophecies of Daniel and John, that God has caused the "light" to shine all along the path marked out for his people, that they might never be left in doubt concerning their duty. Strike out the prophetic word, or have it all fulfilled, as some interpret, before the first advent of Christ, and the light goes out, and we are left in darkness and doubt respecting the important event of the second coming of Christ and the consummation of the Christian's hope.

But God has not left us in darkness. The light of the "sure word of prophecy" is still shining, and shows that this world of sin and woe is soon to close, when the people of God will enter into their home of eternal light and glory. May the day soon come and may we be prepared to meet it in peace. I. D. Van Horn.