Understanding the Daily in Daniel 8:11

Daniel 8:11

11 Yes, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

The "daily" in Daniel 8:11 represents the pagan desolation or the system of paganism and its sacrificial rites, which were taken away to make room for the papal abominationLJL 36.1+2. While the word "sacrifice" is commonly added by translators, it does not exist in the original text, and its removal reveals that the prophecy concerns two successive desolating powers: pagan Rome and papal RomeSITI November 19, 1885, page 694.8+2.

The Nature of the Daily

The "daily" refers to the long-standing system of paganism that oppressed God's people before the rise of the papacyLJL 36.1+1.

• Pagan Desolation: In the context of Daniel’s vision, the daily is the "daily desolation," representing the pagan form of the Roman EmpireSITI November 19, 1885, page 694.8+2.

• A Continuous System: It denotes a desolating power that was "continual" in its opposition to the truth and the host of heavenSHR 25.1+2.

• Contrast with the Papacy: The daily is the first phase of Rome's desolating work, while the "transgression of desolation" is the second, papal phaseSHR 25.1+2.

The Taking Away of the Daily

The taking away of the daily was a specific historical revolution where the pagan rites of the Roman Empire were eradicated to establish the papacyAPEC 93.3+2.

• Historical Fulfillment: This event was accomplished around A.D. 508 when the barbarian nations that had conquered Rome were converted to the Christian faith and abolished pagan ritesAPEC 93.3+2.

• Making Way for the Abomination: The removal of paganism was necessary "to set up" or "place" the abomination that maketh desolate, which is the papacy Daniel 11:31+1DAR1909 341.3+1.

• The Change of Religion: By him—the papal form—the daily—the pagan form—was taken away, effectively remodeling pagan Rome into papal RomeDAR1909 176.6.

• The Power of Arms: It was the helping "arms" or military forces of the converted nations, rather than the priests, who took away the daily on behalf of the papacyBDOC 25.12+1.

The Sanctuary and the Host

The vision describes how this power magnified itself against the Prince of the host and cast down the sanctuary Daniel 8:11APEC 77.1+1.

• Magnified Against Christ: The Roman power magnified itself against Christ, the Prince of the host, particularly when it stood up against the Prince of princes and nailed Him to the cross Daniel 8:25SYNPT 20.1+1.

• Casting Down the Sanctuary: This refers to the destruction of the Jewish sanctuary in Jerusalem by the Roman armies under Titus in A.D. 70, as well as the degradation of the city of Rome itself when the seat of government was moved to ConstantinopleBP1 30.1+2.

• Oppression of the People: The "host" represents the people of God, whom the little horn cast down and stamped upon through persecution Daniel 8:10TTHDS 27.2+1.

Prophetic Time Periods

Specific time periods in Daniel are measured from the taking away of the dailyAPEC 108.3+1.

• The 1290 Days: This period begins with the taking away of the daily in A.D. 508 and reaches to the "time of the end" in 1798 Daniel 12:11APEC 108.3+1.

• The 1335 Days: Starting from the same point in A.D. 508, this period extends to A.D. 1843, at which time Daniel is promised to stand in his lotAPEC 108.3+2.

• The 2300 Days: The entire vision covers 2300 days, at the end of which the sanctuary shall be cleansed Daniel 8:14LJL 36.1+1.