TEXT FOR PRAYER

This afternoon I shall read from Christs Object Lessons page 65, beginning with the last paragraph. -2TG33 2.1

The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature so in grace there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible but continuous so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development our life may be perfect yet if Gods purpose for us is fulfilled there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply our experience will enlarge and our knowledge increase. We shall become strong to bear responsibility and our maturity will be in proportion to our privileges. -2TG33 2.2

What is our need of prayer this afternoon? — Let us pray to grow in grace for there can be no life without growth to advance with the truth to take advantage of all our opportunities to cooperate with Divine agencies to be willing to bear responsibilities to realize that when we do all these then our responsibilities will increase and our maturity will be commensurate to our privileges. -2TG33 2.3

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Our text is found in Daniel chapter eight verse 14. I shall begin with verse 13. -2TG33 3.1

Dan. 8:13, 14 — Then I heard one saint speaking and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me Unto two thousand and three hundred days then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. -2TG33 3.2

To this question How long shall be the vision concerning the daily and the transgression of desolation to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? came the answer Unto two thousand and three hundred days then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. That is within the 2300 days the daily shall be taken away the transgression of desolation set up the sanctuary and the host shall be trodden underfoot. After this the sanctuary is to be cleansed. Every morning (margin) denotes 24 hour days — full measure of time. The word sacrifice does not belong in the text. -2TG33 3.3

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Dan. 8:16, 17 — And I heard a mans voice between the banks of Ulai which called and said Gabriel make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came I was afraid and fell upon my face: but he said unto me Understand O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. -2TG33 4.1

Gabriels explanation that at the time of the end shall be the vision shows that the paramount importance of the vision is the cleansing of the sanctuary and that it takes place not in Daniels time and not before the time of the end but after the 2300 days in the time of the end. -2TG33 4.2

Now since the 2300 days began somewhere in the fifth century before Christ (as seen in the following verses) and since the vision was to be for many days for the time of the end then obviously the 2300 days must be computed a day for a year as in Ezekiel 4:6. The 2300 days therefore are actually 2300 years in the end of which the sanctuary is cleansed. What signs are to mark the time of the end?– -2TG33 4.3

Dan. 12:4 — But thou 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. -2TG33 4.4

The angel explained that at the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased. And the fact that men are now running to and fro and that knowledge has been increased in itself proves that we are now living in the time of the end that the vision is now to be understood and that the sanctuary is now to be cleansed. -2TG33 4.5

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Dan. 8:18-21 — Now as he was speaking with me I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me and set me upright. And he said Behold I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. -2TG33 5.1

Here you see where the prophetic history of this vision begins. It begins with the Medo-Persian empire and carries us in time through the victories of Alexander the Great. -2TG33 5.2

Dan. 8:23 — And in the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up. -2TG33 5.3

In the latter end of the Medes and the Greeks when the transgressors the Jews are come to the full another king or kingdom was to stand up. It was of course none other than Rome the kingdom which overran the four Grecian divisions. -2TG33 5.4

Dan. 8:26, 27 — And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted and was sick certain days afterward I rose up and did the kings business and I was astonished at the vision but none understood it. -2TG33 5.5

Daniel here confesses that the meager explanation which Gabriel gave concerning the vision was not sufficient. None could understand it. -2TG33 5.6

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Consequently as time went on and as he still could not understand the vision although the set time for liberation had come he graphically said: -2TG33 6.1

Dan. 9:1-3, 22, 23 — In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus of the seed of the Medes which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans. In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes:… And he informed me and talked with me and said O Daniel I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter and consider the vision. -2TG33 6.2

Because Gabriel was to begin where he left off (Dan. 8) he counselled Daniel first to consider the vision. Then said Gabriel: -2TG33 6.3

Dan. 9:24 — Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy. -2TG33 6.4

Since Gabriel is here explaining the vision of chapter 8 — the things that were to take place during the 2300 days — the seventy weeks are therefore a part of the 2300 days. -2TG33 6.5

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Let us now study the subject with the aid of this chart. -2TG33 8.1

The seventy weeks are actually 490 years. Mark that during these 490 years Daniels people the Jews were to make an end of sin and make reconciliation for their iniquity or else be hopelessly given up. Next Daniel was told where the 70 weeks begin: -2TG33 8.2

Dan. 9:25 — Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again and the wall even in troublous times. -2TG33 8.3

From the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince to Christ there were to be 7 weeks (49 years) and 62 weeks (434 years) — 69 weeks in all or 483 years. History shows that the decree to rebuild the ancient city went forth in 457 B.C. Hence 483 years from 457 B.C. bring us to 27 A.D. to the year Christ the Messiah was baptized. (This incident too proves that the 2300 days are computed a day for a year and that the seventy weeks are the first block of time from within the 2300 days. Look at the chart.) We should now remember that after cutting off the 69 weeks from the 70 weeks there is yet one week left. What takes place during this week is told in the verses that follow: -2TG33 8.4

Dan. 9:26, 27 — 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. And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations He shall make it desolate even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. -2TG33 8.5

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Just what was to take place during the first seven weeks or 49 years I am not prepared to say but in the end of the next 62 weeks or 434 years the Messiah was to be cut off crucified. During the remaining week the 70th He was to confirm the covenant with many and in the midst of it He was to be cut off crucified that is there were to be 3 1/2 years from His baptism to the crucifixion and 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion in which He was to confirm the covenant. This completes the 70 weeks and brings us to the time to apostles were commanded to go out and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles: One named Cornelius (a Gentile) and Peter (a Jew and an Apostle) were both given a vision: Cornelius was instructed to see Peter and Peter was commanded to meet Cornelius. See Acts chapter 10. The Jews as a nation failed to make an end of sin and were therefore rejected given up. -2TG33 9.1

Christs own sacrifice at the end of the first 3 1/2 years replaced the sacrificial ceremonial system and thus He caused the sacrifice to cease in the midst of the week. All this time and event you see took place exactly as Gabriel predicted. -2TG33 9.2

Nevertheless even with this added explanation Daniel still was not able to comprehend all that was in the vision. But as time went on and as his burden for the deliverance of his people increased knowing that the time had come he prayed for light. His prayer is recorded in the first part of chapter 10, after which the angel appeared and again explained: -2TG33 9.3

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Dan. 10:21 — But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince. -2TG33 10.1

Daniel was then promised all the light that could be given not only on the vision of Daniel 8, but on all that is noted in the scripture of truth in connection with the vision. That which the angel showed him is recorded in Daniel 11 and 12: -2TG33 10.2

Chapter 11, you will see begins with the vision of Daniel 8, with the kings of Medo-Persia and Grecia as symbolized by the ram and he goat in chapter 8. Then was Daniel told that the explanation at last was sufficient but that it was impossible for him to understand it all for the vision was sealed to the time of the end (chapter 12, verses 8, 9). -2TG33 10.3

By this long prophetic history and geography as seen in chapters 11 and 12, the angel brings us up to the time of the end to the time the cleansing is to take place. And here is the nature of the cleansing according to the angels word: -2TG33 10.4

Dan. 12:1 — And at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince which standeth for the children of thy 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 thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book. -2TG33 10.5

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By delivering the righteous He thoroughly separates the righteous from among the wicked — He puts the good fish in the vessels and casts out the bad (Matt. 13:48). He shall cleanse His people from sin and sinners. -2TG33 11.1

Dan. 12:2, 3 — 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. 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. -2TG33 11.2

The wicked that arise with the righteous in this mixed resurrection are also to be separated from the righteous. The wicked are to be put to shame and everlasting contempt but the righteous are to be given eternal life. -2TG33 11.3

Dan. 12:10 — 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. -2TG33 11.4

The living righteous shall be purified but the wicked shall become even more wicked. -2TG33 11.5

Dan. 12:11, 12 — And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. -2TG33 11.6

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Here another block of time from within the 2300 days is introduced beginning from the time the daily is abolished and the abomination set up. (The daily represents something which should not have been abolished and the abominations represent something that should not have been set up. The word sacrifices is supplied and does not belong in the text. For light on these read Tract No. 3, The Harvest.) -2TG33 12.1

It should be noticed however that the promised blessing (the cleansing) does not begin until after the 1335 days or years expire. -2TG33 12.2

Now since the 2300-year period begins in 457 B.C. with the commandment to restore and to rebuild the city Jerusalem the 2300 days consequently end in 1844, the time the 1335 days end then the days of the blessings begin. It should now be remembered that this cleansing of the sanctuary includes the cleansing of both those who are to be resurrected and those who are to be living during the cleansing time. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel of the cleansing among the living the Lord says: -2TG33 12.3