The 220 days…..

                                                                                              By Pastor F. M. Riley

     “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

Introduction

    This text is one of the most controversial passages in the prophetic Scriptures.  Whole books have been written purporting to explain this passage, especially the 2300 days given in verse 14. 
    I have personally read at least a dozen different “expositions” of this passage by a dozen different people writing on Bible prophecy, each of whom were sure that their placement of the 2300 days in the prophecies of the end-time was correct.  Since each of them reached a different conclusion, it is obvious that some [or all] of them had to be wrong. 
    Sadly, some of these people are so dogmatically certain that their exposition is the right one, and everyone else is wrong.  When are God’s people going to “grow up” in the Lord, and treat each other with the same degree of respect that they desire for themselves?  None of us know everything about God’s Word.  Period!  There are plenty of passages in God’s Word that are plainly stated and easily understood.   On those passages God’s people need to be dogmatic and firm [in a kind, loving manner], and not compromise on the truth.  But on somewhat difficult passages, God’s people could use a little humility when dealing with those passages.   Your idea, opinion, or theory, might be wrong!  Wouldn’t that be embarrassing? 
    In this study my only desire is to encourage God’s people by setting before them a possible answer to the question asked in verse 13.  Time will prove whether my thoughts on the matter are correct or incorrect.  But we don’t have long to find out!  Read on…..

The Question

    Before proceeding I want to set before my readers an amplified paraphrase of the question asked in Daniel 8:13 as I understand it.  The paraphrase…..
 
    “How much time is involved in the vision, from the beginning of the daily sacrifices, and including the transgression that maketh desolate, [which follows the cessation of the daily sacrifices] causing both the sanctuary [Temple] and the [Jewish] people to be trodden underfoot? [Compare Revelation 11:1-2]” 

    This is the question asked as I presently see it.  I am still open to more enlightenment.  

 

The Answer Given

    The answer given to the question about the length of time involved was “…..two thousand and three hundred days.”  2300 days!  In other words, it appears to me that from the time the daily sacrifices are reinstituted early in the Tribulation, until the end of the Tribulation will be a total of 2300 days.  Is this correct?  I wish I knew for certain.     
    Just bear with me.  I do have a purpose in mind in writing out this study.

A Time to Prepare

    Serious students of Bible prophecy know that the Tribulation is 2,520 days in length.  Proof of this can be derived from a careful study of both Daniel and Revelation.  If we then deduct the 2300 days of Daniel 8:13-14 from the total length of the Tribulation, then there is a 220 day period at the beginning of the Tribulation.  2520 – 2300 = 220. This is the period of time needed to erect the Jewish Temple and get ready for the “religious Jews” to reinstitute the daily sacrifices on the Temple altar. 
   
My Position

     At this point I anticipate receiving several emails telling me that (1) there will be no future Jewish Temple built, (2) that the Lord would never accept it as “His Temple,” and that (3) the modern Jews would never offer animal sacrifices again.      
    By God’s grace I can give book, chapter, and verse proving to any true believer that (1) there will be a Temple in existence during the Tribulation, (2) that the Lord will accept it as “His Temple” for a short time, and (3) that the Jews will begin offering animal sacrifices on the Temple altar again. 
    These three things are so plainly stated and taught in the prophetic Scriptures that there is simply no room for denial of them by true Bible believers.  So I am not being a hypocritical dogmatic “know-it-all” in stating that these are established Scriptural truths from which I will not be moved.  If any reader wants such Scriptural proof, just request it and I will be glad to send it to you.      
    So please don’t waste your time or mine trying to “straighten me out” on these matters.   I do appreciate and welcome Godly counsel from my brethren that is the result of serious Bible study and a genuine concern, but I don’t appreciate people trying to stuff their opinions and theories down my throat.  I’m not a sausage and I refuse to be “stuffed.”

The 220 days

    Dear readers, if my understanding of Daniel 8:13-14 is correct, then this passage given by our gracious Lord may contain a wonderful key to the timing of the Lord’s return in the air to rapture His people [true believers] to glory. How?  Let me share it with you.                 
    Take your calendar down off the wall and start counting.  Begin with September 13, 2007 [Rosh HaShanah] and count 220 days.  Where does your count end? 
    I can tell you!  It ends on April 19, 2008.  This date on the Jewish calendar is Abib [Nisan] 14, the Biblical date God gave to Israel to observe The Passover and offer the sacrificial Lamb.  Glory! 
    Does this mean that the Tribulation will begin on Rosh HaShanah this year, and that Israel will begin their sacrifices on the Temple altar on Passover next year?  I do not know! 
    What I do know is that God’s people are living in the time frame of the Lord’s coming, and His coming for His people is very near.  I do think it is fascinating that there is a 220 day period set forth in Daniel 8:13-14, and it is exactly 220 days from the beginning of Rosh HaShanah this year to Passover next year.  In writing this study I just wanted to share this possibility with God’s people.  Are you ready?  May God bless our readers.

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     NOTICE:     Permission is granted to any true believer, or to any Bible believing Christian ministry, to forward this study to others, or to reproduce it to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.
    This ministry is financed solely by the freewill offerings of those who feel led of the Lord to help us send forth God’s wonderful Word. 
    All comments, questions, or correspondence should be addressed to:

Last Call Gospel Ministry
Pastor F. M. Riley
3900 Clark Lane   Lot 178
Columbia, MO 65202

    Our email address is:     fmrglbd5@yahoo.com      or       fmrglbd5@aol.com

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