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.”

Daniel 8: 13 – 14

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A Quick Review:

To properly understand Daniel 9, the question in Daniel 8: 13 and the response in verse 14 must be kept in mind.  Because all of the prophecy in Daniel 8 is explained except for verse 14.

 The metals and the beasts previously described represented countries and powers that would arise and fall.  History has proven these visions (almost 500 years before the birth of Christ) to be true.

But there was a beast “different from the rest.”  It continued to fight against God in direct and cruel ways.  It also used more subtle and deceptive methods.  Daniel demonstrated much interest in this Little Horn power and its power.  Even one of the angels wanted to know more about how long it would be against God’s people to “trod(den) them under foot.” This means to persecute them.; to lower their message.

This beast would also take away “the daily sacrifice.”  As we will see, it is not just the temple sacrifice, but the unblocked direct availability of the Lord without the need for an earthly mediator.  The desolations (no one present) are created by taking away that access or the sanctuary (both the earthly and the heavenly.)

This beast was different because it was against God and His followers, where the other powers were mostly secular and their wars were about land and power.

 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, 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 place of the sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered

Daniel 8: 9 -12

It practiced and prospered because of its opposition to the truth of God as found in His word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

It is because of work of this little horn that an attending angel asked another angel about the length of time the little horn would have power to:

1.  be great to the host of heaven

2.  cast down some of the host and stars to the ground and stomp on them

3.  magnify himself (attempt to make himself more important than God)

4.  take away the daily sacrifice

5.  cast down the place of the sanctuary

6.  cast down the truth to the ground

7.  practice and prosper

The answer from the angel came:

“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.“

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We  saw in the last study, the 70 weeks of Bible prophecy was “cut-off” for the nation of Israel.  We clearly saw that the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem went forth in 457 BC. From that point until the time of Jesus was 69 weeks or 483 years.  This brought us to the fall of 27 AD when Jesus was baptized.  Then he began a ministry to the nation of Israel for 3 1/2 years. He confirmed the covenant with the nation of Israel for 1 week or 7 years.  During half of that time (3 1/2 years), the appeal went almost exclusively to the “house of Israel.”

“But he answered and said, I (Jesus) am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24

To his disciples Jesus said,

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 10: 5:6

The disciples obeyed  until the covenant was fulfilled 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. The one week (7 years) was complete through Jesus himself and the appeal of the disciples.

In the  midst of the week (3 1/2 years after Jesus began his ministry) the sacrifices and oblations ceased.  It was at this time that the vail or curtain between the holy place was torn in two signifying that not only was the system of sacrifices and earthly priests were finished, but also that we now had direct access to the Father through Jesus himself.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom

Matthew 27: 50 – 51

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2:18

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession…. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 14, 16

in 34 AD.  Paul confirmed the covenant had ended with the house of Israel and the way was open to the entire world and the gentiles to be partakers of the covenant.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

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So, 70 weeks (490 years) of the 2,300 days (2,300 years) was used up or “cut off” from the long timeline of 2,300 years. That left 1810 years.  Moving forward  1810 from 34 AD brings us to 1844.  (See chart below:

What was to happen at that time?  The attending angel clearly states that the sanctuary would be “cleansed.”

We can not assume what this means, we must let the Bible tells us what the cleansing of the sanctuary meant.  In 1844, there was no earthly sanctuary, but there was (and has been) a sanctuary in heaven. In fact, the  pattern for the earthly sanctuary God instructed Moses came from that place in heaven.

And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

Exodus 26:30

For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,

Hebrews 8:4

“We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.”

Hebrews 9:1

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Hebrews 9:11

Notice that the heavenly sanctuary has a high priest called Christ and it was not made with hands.  God created it himself.

This begs the questions:

“Why do we need a high priest in heaven? “ “What can the pattern of priestly services teach us about the lives and events of 21st century Christians?”  “What is going on in this heavenly sanctuary now?” “What happen in 1844 regarding the cleansing of this heavenly sanctuary?

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To properly understand the book of Hebrews, the student of the Bible must understand the sanctuary services instituted by the Lord and explained to Moses.  At the highest level, I think all would agree that this system given to those before the cross became a “school master” to teach the God’s people of promise the seriousness of sin (death of an innocent animal) and the solution for the sin: the perfect life and sacrifice of Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross, type met anti-type and the schoolmaster of the sacrifices ceased.  Its job of teaching of the coming of Christ through actual practice was over.  We no longer need to practice it, but we can learn much about the plan of salvation through it.

We now understand the seriousness and solution to sin looking back at the cross.  We also learn about the great love and active work of our great God to reach out and save people from the death penalty of sin through the cross.  The follower of Jesus no longer needs the slaying of lambs and the priestly services of an earthly mediator.  We find it all in Jesus.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3: 24:25

However, just because we are not under the schoolmaster of those earthly sanctuary services, it does not mean that there is not an end-time implication in some of its services.

This we find in the annual Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed.  If we can understand what happened on that day, we can understand what it means to our 2,300-day prophecy.  Don’t you agree?

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The sanctuary services (both earthly and heavenly) were established to deal with the sin problem (not just the sin, but the sinner as well).  The sacrifices of the old testament did not provide the sin solution, but rather taught the sinner the cost of sin. and provided a way for forgiveness, not through the animal, but in the faith of the coming Messiah (Jesus).

They received forgiveness the same we do.  They looked forward in faith to the cross (payment for sin) and we look back to the cross in faith.  All, both old and new testament sinners are saved by grace through faith.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10:4

 ^{By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all}

Hebrews 10:10

So when a sinner brought an offering to the sanctuary, a priest mediated the process.  The sin moved from the sinner to the spotless sacrifice.  The sacrifice died in the place of the sinner, but the blood of animals could not takeaway the sins.  Only Jesus could do this.

The priest took the  blood into the 1st compartment of the sanctuary and sprinkled it before the curtain to the Most Holy place.  The sin (in type) remained in the sanctuary until the annual day of atonement

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.

And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 4:4-6

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What can we learn about the Day of Atonement from the Old Testament that is applicable to Christians today?

The day of atonement was very somber.  The people were to stop their work and put all their attention on the services for that day.

“In the typical day of atonement, every man was required to afflict his soul before God. He was not to afflict the souls of others, but the work was between God and his own soul.” Signs of the Times,  The Christian’s Hope 1884

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Leviticus 23:27 – 29

The  high priest  alone was to prepare himself to enter the Most Holy place where the shekinah glory of God dwelt ; to complete the work of moving the sin out of the sanctuary to a scapegoat.  In type, the penalty for sin was moved from the sinner to the sanctuary and then to the scapegoat.  Thereby, the sanctuary was cleansed, signifying the end of sin.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16: 19 – 22

and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36

Keep in mind, all of this was meant to demonstrate the final end of sin and what is taking place in heaven now.  The writer of Hebrews could see this clearly and makes the connection between the services before the cross and those after the cross.  Both have sanctuaries, high priests, and a work for the sinner.  But it is Christ that works for us now, not an earthly priest.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 8: 1 -2 

So what is Jesus doing for us now?  He is mediating for us.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 8:6

Many Christians do not feel a need of a mediator in heaven.  But, if that were the case, why would Jesus identify himself as a mediator?

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Timothy 2:5

This mediation, as with the first, deals with the seriousness of sin.  Just because we have received Christ does not mean we do not sin.  When we do sin, we have an advocate that mediates for us in heavenly places:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

It is God’s desire that we do not sin, but we know that we often do.  Jesus provides us a way to deal with the sin in our live AFTER we have received Him.  Many think that once they have gone down front and are baptized that there is nothing more. But Jesus  save us not only from the penalty of sin (i.e., eternal death), but the power of sin in our lives.  We don’t have to be slaves to sin and bad habits!  This is good news!.  Jesus can save us completely! He does this through his work as a high priest in interceding for us.

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

I once gave a Bible study on the 4 P’s of salvation to demonstrate how Jeus saves us to the “uttermost.”  He saves us from the:

Penalty of sin (When we receive Him, repent, and turn from our life of sin.)

Power of sin (This is the mediation he does for us in the heavenly sanctuary.  Once we have been reborn, the liar stops the practice of lying, the adulterer becomes faithful to their spouse.  In other words the born-again heart has a different view of sin….This is all the work of Jesus working in us.)

Presence of Sin (Often God will take us away from the temptations of sin, but one day when He comes, He will take us to the place where He is now (heaven).  This place has not sin.  We will no longer have it nearby to tempt us.)

Propensity of Sin (When Jesus wipes away all sin and we live in new glorified bodies, the propensity to sin will not be present.  Although we will continue to have free will, we will not desire rebellion and sin because we have seen what it can do and we are constrained by the love God demonstrated.  BTW, the Lord can do that even now!)

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As we will see next time, the cleansing of the sanctuary has to do with the final actions to rid the earth of sin.   It has to do with judgement and sealing his servants.  Because when He comes, Jesus brings His reward with Him.

Blessings until next time.