Does the Investigative Judgment answer the question in Daniel 8:13
This is a response to a Proclamation Magazine (an ex-SDA ministry magazine)
article entitled, ‘Does the Investigative Judgment answer the question in Daniel 8:13’. Click here for the source article.
Russel Kelly (the author) tries to
point out five errors in the IJ teaching. Our response follows after each ‘error’
in italics. We later give an outline
of Daniel 8:1-14 to show in detail that the errors raised are inaccurate and that SDAs sufficiently answer the questions raised in Daniel 8:13.
Five
errors in the Adventist IJ doctrine
There
are at least five grammatical and contextual errors in the Adventist doctrine
which render their explanation of Daniel 8:14 irrelevant and incorrect.
First: Instead of
answering how long until the vision of 8:8-12 would end, the Adventist answer
tells when Christ would begin to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary and ignores the
question about the vision.
Response:
SDA answer doesn't ignore the question due to these reasons. The 'vision' in Daniel 8:1-13 concerns multiple subject matter dealing with the attack by the little horn on the daily (reference to daily ministry of Christ in heaven), transgressions which causes horror (sins of the professed people of God), hosts and sanctuary trodden under foot (persecution of God's people). The question in Daniel 8:13 is how long the vision concerning these multiple subject matter continue in their state of affairs and the answer is until 1844.
So, Daniel 8:13 and 14 will read like this:
'How long will the events of this vision last—the daily (ministry of Christ), the rebellion that makes desolate (sins of the saints), and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled (persecution of the saints)?' (Daniel 8:13)
“For unto two thousand three hundred (until 1844); then the sanctuary shall be cleansed (daily ministry truth will be restored, sins of the saints will be cleansed, saints who are defamed by trampling will be vindicated).” (Daniel 8:14)
Therefore, SDAs don't ignore the question because we answer 'how long' is the vision (the mentioned state of affairs will continue, that is till 1844).
SDAs are also right when they refer to the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary because sins of the people is one subject matter of verse 13 and it needs to be cleansed from the 'books' (Rev 20:12, Daniel 7).
In fact, Hebrews 9:23 says ‘Heavenly places themselves should be cleansed’.
SDA answer doesn't ignore the question due to these reasons. The 'vision' in Daniel 8:1-13 concerns multiple subject matter dealing with the attack by the little horn on the daily (reference to daily ministry of Christ in heaven), transgressions which causes horror (sins of the professed people of God), hosts and sanctuary trodden under foot (persecution of God's people). The question in Daniel 8:13 is how long the vision concerning these multiple subject matter continue in their state of affairs and the answer is until 1844.
So, Daniel 8:13 and 14 will read like this:
'How long will the events of this vision last—the daily (ministry of Christ), the rebellion that makes desolate (sins of the saints), and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled (persecution of the saints)?' (Daniel 8:13)
In fact, Hebrews 9:23 says ‘Heavenly places themselves should be cleansed’.
Second:
Instead
of answering when the daily sacrifice from 8:11 would be restored, the
Adventist answer tells when the final phase of Christ’s ministry would begin in
heaven (although He has continued a ministry in heaven since His ascension).
Adventism does not address the question of the daily sacrifice.
Response:
The little horn obscured gospel 'truths' and the 'daily' ministry of Christ in heaven as revealed in the sanctuary articles of furniture: Alter of sacrifice representing justification by faith alone was replaced by salvation by works and penance. Alter of incense representing direct access to God was cast down by prayers to God and saints through human mediators (Mary, and saints). However, the 'daily' ministry truth was fully restored by
the end of the 2300 days by the restoration of the gospel 'truths' (justification by faith alone in Christ, baptism by immersion etc.) through the protestant reformation.
Third:
Instead
of answering when the little horn of 8:10-12 will stop persecuting the saints,
the Adventist answer tells us when Christ will begin blotting out the sins of
the saints. Moreover, they tell us those sins have caused the desolation of the
heavenly sanctuary since Adam’s first sin. Instead of being a judgment of the
little horn, the investigative judgment is a judgment of professed believers.
Response:
Persecution of God's people is just one of the subject matter of Daniel 8's vision. To be precise, the little horn stops persecuting the saints within the 2300 year time period,
not at the end of it. That time period is 538 to 1798, the mid-section of the
2300 year prophecy.
True, 1844 also marks a judgment on the ‘little horn’ (in actuality, on Satan, the power behind the horn) to put an end to his rule as he stands against ‘the Prince’ Jesus (His character) and attacks the gospel truths. Satan is overcome by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which will bring about the 'end' (Mark 13:10).
Since the 'transgressions which causes horror' refers to the sins of the professed people of God, the cleansing of the sanctuary includes the saints. That's why ‘the judgment will given in favour of the saints’ (Daniel 7:22), meaning that the saints are also considered in the judgment. Notice that the judgment is given in favor of the saints, and that is because there is no condemnation for them that belong to Jesus (Rom. 8:1).
True, 1844 also marks a judgment on the ‘little horn’ (in actuality, on Satan, the power behind the horn) to put an end to his rule as he stands against ‘the Prince’ Jesus (His character) and attacks the gospel truths. Satan is overcome by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which will bring about the 'end' (Mark 13:10).
Since the 'transgressions which causes horror' refers to the sins of the professed people of God, the cleansing of the sanctuary includes the saints. That's why ‘the judgment will given in favour of the saints’ (Daniel 7:22), meaning that the saints are also considered in the judgment. Notice that the judgment is given in favor of the saints, and that is because there is no condemnation for them that belong to Jesus (Rom. 8:1).
Fourth:
Instead
of answering when the sanctuary will finally be cleansed from defilement by the
little horn in 8:10-12, the Adventist answer tells us when Christ will move
from one room into another in the heavenly sanctuary and finally begin
cleansing the Most Holy Place. Again, instead of cleansing the sanctuary from
its desolation by the little horn, Adventism requires cleansing heaven from the
sins of God’s own people.
Response:
1844 is the start of the judgment on the Satan (power behind little horn) to say to him, Jesus defeated you on the cross, and now Jesus is going to wipe out you and sin forever. So yes, the sanctuary will be cleansed from the defilement of the little horn.
There is more. Since Daniel 7-12 is giving details and builds up on the 'kingdoms' of the world in Daniel 2, we conclude the fact that Christ moved from one place to another from Daniel 7. Just like the earthly High Priest moved into the Most Holy in a cloud in Lev. 16:13, the Son of Man Jesus our High Priest MOVED with a cloud into the presence of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7:13. Here’s the place where Christ moved from one place to another. The context, which is judgment and books opened after the reign of the little horn power (538-1798) makes it clear that this was not at the ascension.
There is more. Since Daniel 7-12 is giving details and builds up on the 'kingdoms' of the world in Daniel 2, we conclude the fact that Christ moved from one place to another from Daniel 7. Just like the earthly High Priest moved into the Most Holy in a cloud in Lev. 16:13, the Son of Man Jesus our High Priest MOVED with a cloud into the presence of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7:13. Here’s the place where Christ moved from one place to another. The context, which is judgment and books opened after the reign of the little horn power (538-1798) makes it clear that this was not at the ascension.
Fifth: Instead of
answering when the host (God’s people) will stop being persecuted by the little
horn, the Adventist answer blames the desolation of the heavenly sanctuary on
the confessed sins of the host.
Answered
in 1-4. Persecution of God's people is just one of the subject matter of Daniel 8's vision. The little horn stops persecuting the saints within the 2300 year time period.
Just as the defiling of the sanctuary in the time of Moses was because of the confessed sins of God's people. A dual cleansing is happening here. 1. from the confessed sins of God's people - these sins are kept as a record to hold Satan responsible for instigating evil 2. From the defiling work of the little horn.
Just as the defiling of the sanctuary in the time of Moses was because of the confessed sins of God's people. A dual cleansing is happening here. 1. from the confessed sins of God's people - these sins are kept as a record to hold Satan responsible for instigating evil 2. From the defiling work of the little horn.
Therefore,
the Adventist explanation of 8:14 to the question asked in 8:13 has absolutely
nothing to do with the context in 8:8-12.
Response:
Not true! SDA answers all questions pertaining to the subject matter in the vision. Here’s a look at the teaching and context of Daniel 8.
- The pushing Ram, the Persians – v. 1-4
- The attacking Goat, the Grecians - v. 5-7
- The rising
Little horn, the pagan and papal Rome - v.8
- Pagan Rome popped out of one of
the four winds (geographically) - v.8
- Pagan Rome puts its head out of
one of the Grecian horns (philosophically) - v.8
- Pagan Rome flexed its muscles over
the south (Egypt), east (Greece-Asia Minor-Syria), and the glorious land (Israel) -
v.9
- Pagan Rome harassed the host of
heaven and the stars of God (apostles and God’s people) - v. 10
Until v.10, it is pagan Rome. Thereafter, its papal Rome. Pagan Rome grows and attacks horizontally (stakeholders on earth). Papal Rome commences attacks vertically (Jesus and the sanctuary)
- Papal Rome considered itself superior
than the Prince, Jesus – v. 11
- Papal Rome takes away the daily
- the daily ministry of Jesus in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary was attacked by replacing Jesus’ ministry and
sanctuary gospel truths with an earthly priesthood and counterfeit gospel (salvation by works, prayers to Mary) - v. 11
- Because of the rebellion and sins of the people (sins that causes horror),
Papal Rome was able to deploy an army and the means to persecute God’s people and
suppress gospel truths - v. 12
- Papal Rome succeeded, prospered
in doing so - v. 12
Daniel 8:13 - The Big Question
'How long will the events of this vision last—the daily (ministry of Christ), the rebellion that makes desolate (sins of the saints), and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled (persecution of the saints)?' (Daniel 8:13)
“For unto two thousand three hundred (until 1844); then the sanctuary shall be cleansed (daily ministry truth is restored, sins of the saints will be cleansed, saints who are defamed by trampling will be vindicated).” (Daniel 8:14)
'How long will the events of this vision last—the daily (ministry of Christ), the rebellion that makes desolate (sins of the saints), and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled (persecution of the saints)?' (Daniel 8:13)
The Evens of the Vision also include
- It’s about the activities of the Ram (Persians), Goat (Grecians) and Little horn (Pagan and papal Rome)
- It about the attack on the good news about the daily ministry of Christ in the heavenly temple and His work
- It about the sins that causes horror or sins of the saints
- It about harassing God’s people through persecution
Daniel 8:14 - How long the vision or the
following states of affairs continue to last:
‘And he said to me, “For unto two thousand three
hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14)
The above state of affairs will prosper until 2300
years or 1844, then the sanctuary will be cleansed. The Cleansing or
restoration of the sanctuary refers to the:
- Restoration
of the daily ‘truths’ as
this was ‘cast down’ and obscured
- Cleansing of the sins of the saints that causes horror
- Vindication of the saints and sanctuary from suppression
- Judgment on the ‘little horn’ (or Satan the power behind it) to put an end to his rule as it suppresses ‘the Prince’ Jesus (His character) and the good news.
Note: The little horn cannot be destroyed completely until the heavenly temple is cleared of the sin record which is held in ‘books’ (Daniel 7:10). Hence the OT and NT says, the ‘Heavenly places themselves should be cleansed’, (Hebrews 9:23; see Daniel 7:13; 8:14).
- Vindication of the saints and sanctuary from suppression
- Judgment on the ‘little horn’ (or Satan the power behind it) to put an end to his rule as it suppresses ‘the Prince’ Jesus (His character) and the good news.
Note: The little horn cannot be destroyed completely until the heavenly temple is cleared of the sin record which is held in ‘books’ (Daniel 7:10). Hence the OT and NT says, the ‘Heavenly places themselves should be cleansed’, (Hebrews 9:23; see Daniel 7:13; 8:14).
A sin record is held in the 'Books'
not to charge against the believer as these confessed sins were already placed
on Jesus who atoned for them sufficiently by his perfect finished sacrificial atonement.
They are kept as a record against Satan, the agent responsible for sin, as demonstrated by the scapegoat in the earthly sanctuary.
Since Satan is the accuser, the righteous (accused) are considered in this judgment, but since Jesus is our advocate, ‘The judgment will given in favour of the saints’ (Daniel 7:22). The judgment verdict is this: 'There is NOW no condemnation for them that belong to Jesus...’ (Romans 8:1).
Since Satan is the accuser, the righteous (accused) are considered in this judgment, but since Jesus is our advocate, ‘The judgment will given in favour of the saints’ (Daniel 7:22). The judgment verdict is this: 'There is NOW no condemnation for them that belong to Jesus...’ (Romans 8:1).