Lesson 15
Revelation Unseals Daniel’s Prophecy
Courtesy of Pastor Ken LeBrun
“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14.
Revelation Unseals Daniel’s Prophecy
Courtesy of Pastor Ken LeBrun
“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14.
1. To what time did the 2300-day prophecy point?
Daniel 8:17 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.
“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.” Daniel 8:19.
2. How long was the book of Daniel to be closed up?
Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
3. Revelation pictures a mighty angel with what in his hand?
Revelation 10:1, 2 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Revelation 10 makes unmistakable reference to the book of Daniel:
Daniel 12:5-7 “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
Revelation 10:5-7. “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
4. The mystery would soon be finished as God had declared to whom?
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
5. Where were the angel’s feet?
Revelation 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
“And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas.” Genesis 1:10.
6. In Bible prophecy, what do waters symbolize?
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
“Upon the sea and upon the earth.” Revelation 10:5. The book of Daniel was to be opened in an area occupied by many nations, and also in a sparsely-populated land.
In 1800 Daniel was a closed book. In 1812 the study of prophecy began in England. It soon took hold throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Soon more than a hundred writers from a wide variety of denominations were interpreting Bible prophecy. Loosed by the hand of a prophetic clock, scores of men, representing over a dozen nations on four different continents, independently and simultaneously began predicting the fulfillment of the 2300-day prophecy.
In the United States, the most noted expositor of Daniel 8:14 was a Baptist, William Miller. He and 43 ministers of 13 denominations unleashed perhaps the greatest prophetic awakening in American history. By a thorough study of the 2300-day prophecy, they discovered that the 2300 days would expire on October 22, 1844.
7. When the book of Daniel was still in their mouths, what would it be like?
Revelation 10:8-10 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16.
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103.
8. But after it was swallowed, what would happen?
Revelation 10:9, 10 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
It was commonly believed that the earth was the sanctuary to be cleansed, and that Jesus would come at the end of the 2300-day period. No message could have been sweeter. Many gladly gave up their jobs and spent their life’s savings to spread the wonderful news. But when the date passed by and Jesus did not return, they experienced the most bitter disappointment of their lives.
9. Those who had experienced the bitter disappointment were told they must do what again?
Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
10. What was to be measured?
Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
11. Where was the temple of God opened?
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
12. What does the apostle call the temple of God in heaven?
Hebrews 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
13. The earthly tabernacle, being true to its pattern, served as an example and shadow of what?
Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
14. How is the heavenly tabernacle rated, compared to the earthly?
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
15. Who is the High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary?
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3:1.
16. What two apartments of the earthly tabernacle did the veil divide?
Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
17. What is another name for the most holy place?
Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all
18. How often did the earthly high priest go into that apartment?
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
19. What was the purpose of the blood which he took in with him?
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
The earthly Day of Atonement which occurred “once every year” is described in Leviticus 16. It symbolized the work Jesus would begin in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
20. What were all the people to do on that day?
Leviticus 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
To the Jews the Day of Atonement was a solemn day of judgment. The Jewish encyclopedia describes it as follows: “God, seated on His throne to judge the world . . . openeth the Book of Records; it is read, every man’s signature being found therein. The great trumpet is sounded; a still, small voice is heard; the angels shudder, saying, this is the day of judgment . . . . On the Day of Atonement it is sealed who shall live and who are to die.”
21. What would this atonement do for the people?
Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
22. What would this make for the holy sanctuary and for the tabernacle?
Leviticus 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
23. Why did the sanctuary need an atonement?
Leviticus 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
24. It was necessary also that the patterns and heavenly things themselves should be what?
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
25. In one word, what was to be done to the sanctuary at the end of the “2300 days”?
Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed
For further study on this subject see TLD Information Booklet “D” entitled, The Gospel in the Old Testament.
In the Light of God’s Word...
I understand that the Old Testament sanctuary services illustrated Christ’s work in the plan of salvation.
I understand that, just as the Old Testament Passover service illustrated Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so the old “Day of Atonement” illustrated the great atonement our High Priest is now making for us in the heavenly sanctuary.
Next Lesson: The Cleansing of the Sanctuary
Daniel 8:17 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.
“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.” Daniel 8:19.
2. How long was the book of Daniel to be closed up?
Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
3. Revelation pictures a mighty angel with what in his hand?
Revelation 10:1, 2 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Revelation 10 makes unmistakable reference to the book of Daniel:
Daniel 12:5-7 “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
Revelation 10:5-7. “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
4. The mystery would soon be finished as God had declared to whom?
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
5. Where were the angel’s feet?
Revelation 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
“And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas.” Genesis 1:10.
6. In Bible prophecy, what do waters symbolize?
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
“Upon the sea and upon the earth.” Revelation 10:5. The book of Daniel was to be opened in an area occupied by many nations, and also in a sparsely-populated land.
In 1800 Daniel was a closed book. In 1812 the study of prophecy began in England. It soon took hold throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Soon more than a hundred writers from a wide variety of denominations were interpreting Bible prophecy. Loosed by the hand of a prophetic clock, scores of men, representing over a dozen nations on four different continents, independently and simultaneously began predicting the fulfillment of the 2300-day prophecy.
In the United States, the most noted expositor of Daniel 8:14 was a Baptist, William Miller. He and 43 ministers of 13 denominations unleashed perhaps the greatest prophetic awakening in American history. By a thorough study of the 2300-day prophecy, they discovered that the 2300 days would expire on October 22, 1844.
7. When the book of Daniel was still in their mouths, what would it be like?
Revelation 10:8-10 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16.
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103.
8. But after it was swallowed, what would happen?
Revelation 10:9, 10 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
It was commonly believed that the earth was the sanctuary to be cleansed, and that Jesus would come at the end of the 2300-day period. No message could have been sweeter. Many gladly gave up their jobs and spent their life’s savings to spread the wonderful news. But when the date passed by and Jesus did not return, they experienced the most bitter disappointment of their lives.
9. Those who had experienced the bitter disappointment were told they must do what again?
Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
10. What was to be measured?
Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
11. Where was the temple of God opened?
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
12. What does the apostle call the temple of God in heaven?
Hebrews 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
13. The earthly tabernacle, being true to its pattern, served as an example and shadow of what?
Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
14. How is the heavenly tabernacle rated, compared to the earthly?
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
15. Who is the High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary?
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3:1.
16. What two apartments of the earthly tabernacle did the veil divide?
Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
17. What is another name for the most holy place?
Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all
18. How often did the earthly high priest go into that apartment?
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
19. What was the purpose of the blood which he took in with him?
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
The earthly Day of Atonement which occurred “once every year” is described in Leviticus 16. It symbolized the work Jesus would begin in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
20. What were all the people to do on that day?
Leviticus 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
To the Jews the Day of Atonement was a solemn day of judgment. The Jewish encyclopedia describes it as follows: “God, seated on His throne to judge the world . . . openeth the Book of Records; it is read, every man’s signature being found therein. The great trumpet is sounded; a still, small voice is heard; the angels shudder, saying, this is the day of judgment . . . . On the Day of Atonement it is sealed who shall live and who are to die.”
21. What would this atonement do for the people?
Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
22. What would this make for the holy sanctuary and for the tabernacle?
Leviticus 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
23. Why did the sanctuary need an atonement?
Leviticus 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
24. It was necessary also that the patterns and heavenly things themselves should be what?
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
25. In one word, what was to be done to the sanctuary at the end of the “2300 days”?
Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed
For further study on this subject see TLD Information Booklet “D” entitled, The Gospel in the Old Testament.
In the Light of God’s Word...
I understand that the Old Testament sanctuary services illustrated Christ’s work in the plan of salvation.
I understand that, just as the Old Testament Passover service illustrated Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so the old “Day of Atonement” illustrated the great atonement our High Priest is now making for us in the heavenly sanctuary.
Next Lesson: The Cleansing of the Sanctuary