Understanding Prophetic Periods in Daniel 12

Daniel 12

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was on the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was on the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him that lives for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

13 But go you your way till the end be: for you shall rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days.

The prophetic periods of 1260, 1290, and 1335 days in Daniel 12 are symbolic timeframes representing years that outline the history of the Christian church from the rise of the papacy to the time of the end in 1843-1844GC 681.1+1. These periods follow the year-day principle of prophetic interpretation, where each literal day stands for one calendar year Numbers 14:34+1GC 681.1.

🗓️ The Year-Day Principle

In biblical prophecy, time periods associated with symbolic visions are calculated using the rule that a prophetic day equals one literal yearDAR1909 159.2+1. This is demonstrated in the historical fulfillment of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 and the various durations mentioned in RevelationSBBS 362.6+1.

🏰 The 1260 Years (538 AD – 1798 AD)

The period of a "time, times, and a half" or 1260 days represents the era of papal supremacy and the scattering of God's peopleHST November 15, 1840, page 122.1+1.

• Beginning: It commenced in 538 AD when the decree of Justinian went into effect, making the Bishop of Rome the head of all churches after the Ostrogoths were driven from RomeLJL 34.2+1.

• Nature: During this time, the papal power wore out the saints, changed times and laws, and held civil authority over the kingdoms of the earth Daniel 7:25MWV2 46.1.

• End: The period ended exactly 1260 years later in 1798 AD, when General Berthier and the French army captured Rome, took the Pope prisoner, and abolished the papal governmentAPEC 65.3+1.

📜 The 1290 Years (508 AD – 1798 AD)

The 1290-day period begins with the taking away of the "daily" (paganism) to set up the "abomination that maketh desolate" (the papacy) Daniel 12:11HST November 15, 1840, page 122.1+1.

• The Daily: The "daily" refers to the pagan sacrifices and worship in Rome which had to be removed to prepare the way for the papal systemAPEC 108.3+1.

• Beginning: This occurred in 508 AD when Clovis, king of the Franks, abolished pagan worship and began establishing the Roman Catholic religion as a political forceARSH August 7, 1860, page 90.9+1.

• End: Like the 1260-year period, the 1290 years also terminated in 1798 AD at the fall of the papal dominionARSH January 17, 1856, page 121.21+1. The 30-year difference between 508 AD and 538 AD accounts for the time between the downfall of paganism and the full establishment of papal civil powerHST November 15, 1840, page 122.1.

✨ The 1335 Years (508 AD – 1843 AD)

The 1335-day period is an extension that points to a specific blessing for those who reach its conclusion Daniel 12:12ARSH January 17, 1856, page 121.21.

• Beginning: This period starts at the same time as the 1290 years, in 508 ADDAR1909 341.3+1.

• End: Adding 1335 years to 508 AD brings us to 1843-1844 ADLJL 42.1+1.

• The Blessing: The blessing promised at the end of these days refers to the great advent awakening and the "midnight cry," where the book of Daniel was unsealed and knowledge of Christ's soon coming was increased through the first angel's message Daniel 12:4+1ARSH January 17, 1856, page 122.4+1.

🏁 Standing in the Lot

Daniel was told he would rest and then "stand in his lot" at the end of these days Daniel 12:13. This signifies that after the 1335 days ended in 1843-1844, the seal was removed from his prophecies, and his testimony began to be fully understood by the "wise" who were being purified and triedBDOC 62.3+2.