Daniel 8 – Part 2: 2300 evenings and mornings (the third Temple)

Daniel is given a vision of a Ram and a Goat. The vision starts in Daniel 8:2 and runs through verse 14. Then, beginning in verse 15, Gabriel gives the interpretation to the vision.

The main issue of Daniel 8 that I want to address is concerning verses 13 and 14, the 2300 evenings and mornings. Very few teachers talk of this. My research on the internet hasn’t given me a lot of other information or commentary. So, it seems to be something that people don’t understand.

However, I believe that we are being given another sign to watch for in preparation for the persecution by the Anti-Christ. Jesus has given us many signs to pay attention to and the watchmen are keeping their eyes wide open, especially now as we see the “leaves on the fig tree!”

So, what are we to gather from the 2300 evenings and morning’s prophecy? Let’s look at the verses:

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?”  He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.  Daniel 8:13, 14

Leading up to these verses, we have seen the little horn, the Anti-Christ, extend his territory, which is detailed in Daniel 11:21-39. He becomes great, even as great (in the eyes of himself and the world) as Jesus, the Prince of the host.

The Anti-Christ:

1. Stops the Temple sacrifices, stopping the worship of Yahweh – Daniel 8:11

2. Over throws the Temple – 8:11

3. Is given authority over another host of people – Daniel 8:12

4. Throws truth to the ground

5. Acts and prospers

Then the conversation from verses 13 and 14 takes place. But the question asks about a length of time that goes back further than the interruption of the sacrificing, so let’s look at that.

The timeline concerning the elements of the question are:

1. Regular burnt offering – when does it start?

2. Transgression that makes desolate – we KNOW this one.

3. Giving over of the sanctuary/host to be trampled – we know this one too.

If we can identify these events, we should be able to come up with a proper timeline to know when this countdown begins and for what signs we should be watching. So, let’s dig into God’s Word.

Bullet point 1 – We don’t know when the sacrificing begins (or do we? We’ll come back to this point), but there must be a temple built so that the sacrificing can begin. The Third Temple Institute has prepared for this temple and has recently declared that all the pieces are ready.

Bullet point 2 – We know that the Anti-Christ makes a 7 year treaty with Israel and surrounding Muslim countries.  In the middle of that 7 years, he enters the temple and stops the sacrificing, Daniel 9:27; 11:31. This moment is also declared by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 as the abomination of desolation and is the cue to all who are watching that the time of great tribulation has commenced. So, we know from these verses that when we see bullet point 2 take place, there are 3.5 years, or 42 months, or 1260 days left.

Bullet point 3 – The Anti-Christ is given authority over the Jews and Christians and the rest of the world for 42 months, a.k.a. time, times, and half a time or 1260 days. See Daniel 7:24; 12:7; Luke 21:24; Revelation 13:5. John is told in Revelation 11:2, 3 that the sanctuary is given to the nations, along with Jerusalem, to trample for 42 months.

Ready for a math “word problem”?

From this information, we can deduce with confidence, that from bullet points 2 and 3 there are 1260 days until the end. Subtract that from 2300 days and you are left with 1040 days.

Because the Bible teaches that Bullet point 2 happens in the middle, we can safely assume that there are also 1260 days from the beginning of the 7 year deal to the mid point, taking up the first half.

Since we have to include the second half of 1260 days in the 2300 number, we must go back 1040 days (2300-1260 = 1040) from the middle towards the beginning. This means that the missing 220 days (1260-1040 = 220) of the 70th week of Daniel have to be in the very first part of the 7 years.

Therefore, it is easy for us to assume that the first 220 days of the 70th week of Daniel will be the time that the Temple will be built, with sacrifices beginning upon its completion. This would also coincide nicely with certain feast days, but that is the subject of another time.

Therefore, we learn two signs from Daniel 8:13, 14:

1. Sign #1 – The Temple will be built in the first 220 days of the 70th week of Daniel before the sacrificing will begin.

2. Sign #2 – there will be 1040 days until the Anti-Christ conquers Jerusalem and set Himself up to be worshipped.

“Are you watching?”

​ ~RevKev

Daniel 8 – Part 1: The Ram and the Goat (Iran and Turkey)

Daniel is given a vision of a Ram and a Goat. The vision starts in Daniel 8:2 and runs through verse 14. Then, beginning in verse 15, Gabriel gives the interpretation to the vision.

I LOVE it when God does that! He doesn’t want to have us guessing at this stuff as many teachers would like you to believe. His desire is to INFORM us, so that we can watch for the signs, be alert, awake and sharing what we know with others to encourage them as we enter the 70th week of Daniel.

From this vision, which we are told repeatedly is for “the time of the end” (8:17) the “appointed time of the end” (8:19) and “many days from now” (8:26), we understand that the ram with two horns represents Media and Persia (Iran), Daniel 8:20. The goat represents Greece, Daniel 8:21. The ram takes over the Middle East, then the goat comes from the west and destroys the ram.

Many try to make this vision fulfilled in history by Alexander, the Great (Greece) defeating Darius III (Persia) in 330 B.C. They further extend this idea into making Antiochus Epiphanes the “little horn” of Daniel 8, who does, in fact, fulfill many of the actions of the little horn.

However, Gabriel states three separate times that the vision is for the “last days”. We have hadMANY days, months, and years since that event in history. 2,179 years to be exact. So, this vision cannot be referring to Antiochus. However, the similarities are striking and we should pay attention to them.

Taking a look at the geopolitical landscape of today, we cannot help but be amazed as we see the pieces falling into place once again. The ram (Iran) makes its way across the Middle East, heading west, north and south, Daniel 8:4.

If you are paying attention, Iran actually has soldiers stationed in many Middle Eastern countries for the purpose of fighting against ISIS. The soldiers of Iran are in places that would have been thought impossible even 5 years ago. They extend all the way to Libya and completely surround Israel. All they have to do is decide to act unilaterally and they would have troops already in place to control the Middle East.

Iran has been at verbal war with Turkey for years. The NY Times wrote an article about this back in 2012. Iran is populated with a majority of Shia Muslims, who are very radical and fundamental to Islam, while Turkey has pursued a more modern and secular direction. Iran disapproves of this and would like to conquer Turkey, removing its influence over Muslims.

Should Iran decide to come against Turkey, they are properly placed. If they did, this would fulfill the “ram” portion of the vision. Turkey would then defend itself, most likely destroying Iran’s forces quickly. This would fulfill the “goat” portion of the vision.

If we continue down this path, the vision reveals what would happen next. The leader of Turkey would be replaced with four kings. This would be handled by dividing the Middle East into four regions, each having its own leader, Daniel 8:22.

A map from the Sykes-Picot agreement from 1916 actually shows the Arab Middle East divided into four areas, not including Israel. Interesting! Could this be the way it would be divided?

Then at the latter end of their kingdom, another leader will arise. This king is the Anti-Christ. He takes over one of the king’s territory and the other 3 yield to his authority, Daniel 7:8, 20; 8:23. That brings us into Daniel 11:21-39, when the Anti-Christ goes about conquering and to conquer. (Also, Revelation 6:1-6)

This king (the anti-Christ) is broken, but not by human hand (Daniel 8:25), alluding to the stone of Daniel 2:45, which was cut out but not by human hand. This stone is Jesus, who will come and destroy the Anti-Christ’s kingdom as we see in Revelation 19:11.

Thus ends the vision and interpretation.

We should be watching to see what Iran does and how Turkey responds. Erdogan from Turkey is NOT the Anti-Christ, but could very well be the one who conquers Iran’s army, then is replaced by someone who divides the Middle East into 4 parts. This person will not hold power long according to Daniel 11:20, 21 and Revelation 17:10. After that, the leader of Turkey would be replaced by another leader and THAT person is the Anti-Christ, according to the vision.

Do you follow? Not Erdogan and not his immediate replacement, but the next one – THAT’S the GUY!

Are you watching?

~RevKev