Daniel 8.14-The Angel Informs Daniel the Vision Will Be Fulfilled in 2,300 Mornings and Evenings
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday August 14, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 8:14-The Angel Informs Daniel the Vision Will Be Fulfilled in 2,300 Literal Days
Lesson # 242
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 8:1.
Daniel 8:1 During the third year of Belshazzar’s reign, the king, a vision appeared to me, I, Daniel after the one appearing to me previously. 2 Indeed, I was staring because of this vision. Specifically, I myself was in a trance like state staring as I myself was in Susa, the citadel, which was in the province of Elam. Furthermore, I was staring because of this vision as I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 Then, I lifted up my eyes and then I was staring as behold a ram was standing in front of the canal with it possessing two horns. Furthermore, the two horns were long. However, one was longer than the other with the longer one growing up last. 4 I saw this ram continually butting westward as well as northward and in addition southward as all the beasts could by no means stand in front of it. Furthermore, none could deliver out from its power so that it acted according to its desire. Indeed, it became great. 5 Then, I myself was in a trance like state as behold a male-goat who is ruler over the goats, was traveling from the west over the earth’s surface. In fact, it was not touching the earth’s surface. Also, this male-goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. 6 Next, it traveled up to the ram possessing two horns which I saw standing in front of the canal. In fact, it charged against it in a powerful rage. 7 Consequently, I saw it wage an attack opposing this ram while causing itself to become enraged against it. Indeed, it repeatedly struck this ram so as to shatter its two horns. Also, there was no ability in the ram to stand in front of it. Then, it drove it to the ground as well as trampled on it repeatedly. Indeed, to the detriment of the ram, there was none who could deliver from its power. 8 So the male-goat who is the ruler over the goats was very great. However, as soon as it became powerful, the unusual horn was broken. Then, in its place, four conspicuous ones arose towards the heaven’s four winds. 9 Next, from one of them, a small horn in comparison emerged which grew excessively large toward the south as well as the east and in addition the beautiful land. 10 Specifically, it grew larger than the heaven’s host. Indeed, it caused some of this host, yes some of these stars to fall to the earth. Also, it trampled on them. 11 It even presented itself as great as the host’s Commander while taking away the daily sacrifice from Him so that His holy place was abandoned. 12 Consequently the host along with the daily sacrifice were delivered over to it through transgression. Also, it caused the truth to be thrown to the ground. Indeed, it executed, yes it succeeded. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking and a holy one said to this particular one who was speaking, “How long is the vision, the daily sacrifice, specifically the transgression making desolate resulting in delivering over both the sanctuary as well as the host to be trampled?” (Author’s translation)
Daniel 8:14 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.” (NASB95)
This verse presents the result of the question recorded in verse 13, which records one elect angel asking another elect angel how long it will take for the vision to be fulfilled.
Daniel 8:14 Consequently he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings, and mornings. Then, the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” (My translation)
In Daniel 8:13, Daniel relates to the reader a conversation which took place between two elect angels of God.
One asked a question of the other.
The question dealt with the duration of time it would take for the vision to be fulfilled.
Now, here in verse 14, the angel who was asked the question turns to Daniel addressing him rather than the angel who posed the question.
This seems unusual but the vision is directly related to Daniel’s people, the Jews.
Daniel and not the elect angel asking the question had a personal interest in this vision since the vision dealt with the persecution of his people, the Jews.
The elect angel who asked the question was simply fulfilling a role given to him by God.
It was a very important question because the answer to this question would tell Daniel how long his people, the Jews would suffer under this wicked Greek king who is represented by the small horn on the male goat.
The angel informs Daniel that it will be fulfilled in 2,300 days.
There are various interpretations of the 2,300 mornings and evenings but two in particular warrant major consideration since they are by far the best.
Many commentators interpret the 2,300 mornings and evenings as 2,300 days which would be six years, four months, and twenty days.
In this interpretation, the evening and morning in Daniel 8:14 refers to a day from the Jewish perspective which is from sunset to sunset.
With this interpretation some argue that this period began with Antiochus Epiphanes’ invasion of Jerusalem in 171 B.C. and ending with his death in 164 B.C.
Others who adhere to this interpretation, believe this period began with the death of Onias in 171 B.C. and the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabeus on December 25, 164 B.C.
Still others say it began with the murder of Onias and ending with the death of Antiochus.
Some argue that the morning and evenings refer to the morning and evening offering in the temple, this would indicate 2,300 offerings which would cover 1,150 days or three years plus seventy days.
Remember, a year according to the Jewish calendar was 360 days and not 365 days.
Now, history tells us that the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes took place on December 16, 167 B.C. and the refurbishing and restoration of the temple by Judas Maccabeus was completed sometime into 163 B.C. when the Jewish sacrifices were again being offered in the morning and evening.
Now, the first Hanukkah was in December 25, 164 B.C. which marked the Jewish celebration of the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.
However the full restoration of all the sacrifices came a few months later in 163 B.C.
So what is the correct interpretation?
The problem of the 2,300 days can be resolved by looking not only at the vision in Daniel 8:1-12 but also Gabriel’s interpretation in Daniel 8:20-26.
In Daniel 8:9, Daniel tells the reader that from one of the four conspicuous horns of the male goat, which emerged after the death of the first conspicuous horn, a small horn in comparison emerged which grew excessively large toward the south as well as the east and in addition the beautiful land.
In Daniel 8:10, we are told by Daniel that the small horn on the male goat grew larger than the heaven’s host.
Indeed, it caused some of this host, yes some of these stars to fall to the earth.
Also, it trampled on them.
Then in Daniel 8:11, we are told that this small horn presented itself as great as the host’s Commander while taking away the daily sacrifice from Him so that His holy place was abandoned.
He says in verse 12 that consequently the host along with the daily sacrifice was delivered over to it through transgression.
Also, it caused the truth to be thrown to the ground.
Indeed, it executed, yes it succeeded.
In Daniel 8:21, Gabriel informs Daniel that the male goat represents the kingdom of Greece and the conspicuous horn between its eyes refers to its first king, which history records as being Alexander the Great.
In Daniel 8:22, the angel tells Daniel that the four horns represent four kingdoms which will arise from Greece, which history records as being the four-fold division of the Greek Empire by Alexander’s four generals after his death.
Then, in Daniel 8:23, Gabriel interprets Daniel 8:9 informing Daniel that the small horn emerging out from one of the four horns represents an insolent king, skilled in intrigue.
Next, in Daniel 8:24, the angel says that this king’s power will become very strong but not by his own power.
He will destroy mighty men, the holy people referring to the Jews.
He will cause deceit to prosper and will consider himself superior.
When the Jews feel secure, he will destroy many of them and oppose God.
However, this king will be destroyed but not by human power.
Notice, that when Daniel communicates the vision to the reader in Daniel 8:2-12, the vision deals with both the desecration of the sanctuary and the persecution of the host.
Also, in Daniel 8:20-26, Gabriel speaks of the rise to power of the king represented by the small horn as well as his persecution of the Jewish people and in addition his death.
Thus, the 2,300 must be related not only to the taking away of the daily sacrifice but also to the persecution of the host, which we know is the Jewish people and in particular faithful Jews.
This period would also entail the king represented by the small horn.
This would indicate that the 2,300 days must be literal referring to six years, four months, and twenty days according to the Jewish reckoning of time for a year which is 360 days.
Thus, 2,300 days are not referring to the morning and evening sacrifices equivalent to 1,150 days, which would begin with Antiochus’ murder of the high priest Onias in 171 B.C. and ending with the restoration of the temple by Judas Maccabeus on December 25, 164 B.C. (cf. 1 Macc. 4:52).
This interpretation would only cover the desecration of the temple and its restoration but the vision and its interpretation covers not only the persecution of the host and desecration of the sanctuary but also the death of the king represented by the small horn.
Therefore, the 2,300 days refers to 2,300 literal days which began with Antiochus’ invasion of Jerusalem in 171 B.C. and ending with his death in 164 B.C.
So we can see that in Daniel 8:9-14 and 8:23-26, the Holy Spirit has given us a prophetic outline of the career of Antiochus Epiphanes IV.
This is to prepare the Jews for the arrival of this wicked king on the pages of history and to encourage the Jews that this persecution under this king was known by God from eternity past and is according to His plan to bring glory to Himself.