Adventist Pioneers: Understanding the Daily Before 1844

Before 1844, the pioneers of the advent movement were nearly all united in the belief that the "daily" in the book of Daniel represented paganism or the pagan Roman ritesTHD 2.3+2.

The Nature of the "Daily"

• The Supplied Word: The word "sacrifice" in the phrase "daily sacrifice" was not in the original Hebrew text but was supplied by human wisdom, and the pioneers recognized it did not belong to the scripturesTHD 2.3+2.

• A Desolating Power: They understood the "daily" as one of two great desolating powers—specifically the daily desolation of paganism—which stood in opposition to the transgression of desolation, which was the papacy Daniel 8:13ARSH January 28, 1858, page 92.2+1.

• The "Latter" or Hinderer: It was identified as the power that hindered or "withheld" the manifestation of the man of sin until it was taken out of the way 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8APEC 81.2+1.

Historical Application

• The Transition of Rome: The little horn of Daniel 8 was seen as representing Rome in both its pagan and papal phases, where the "daily" (paganism) was taken away by the papal form to set up its own system of desolation Daniel 8:11DAR1909 176.6+1.

• Chronological Markers: The taking away of the "daily" was identified with the cessation of pagan sacrifices in Rome around A.D. 508, which prepared the way for the papal supremacy that began thirty years later in A.D. 538DAR 313.1+3.

• The 1290 and 1335 Days: These prophetic periods were calculated starting from this removal of paganism in A.D. 508 Daniel 12:11-12ESH 31.1+2.

Unity and Conflict

• Pre-1844 Harmony: There was remarkable union on this correct view of the "daily" before the passing of the time in 1844THD 2.3+1.

• Consequences of Deviation: Abandoning this view after 1844 led to various attempts to readjust the 2300-day period, resulting in darkness and confusion within the advent ranksTHD 2.3+2.

• Separation from the Churches: The clarity of these truths, combined with the opposition and "evil speaking" from established churches, eventually led the advent believers to separate and come into the liberty of the gospel Acts 19:8-9COOD 83.3+1.

The Lord used this understanding to give the judgment-hour cry and to develop a people prepared for His appearingCOOD 83.3+1.