Jesus our Great Teacher taught us the Principle of Dual Fulfillment in Matthew 24, when He likened the destruction of Jerusalem to the end of the world.

When Angel Gabriel explained the meaning of the vision to the prophet, four times he said that the vision is for the time of the end. Although the Angel used different expressions each time, the basic meaning is the same:

• Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. (Daniel 8:17)
• And he said, 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)
• And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. (Daniel 8:23)
• And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Daniel 8:26)

As stated in this last verse, Daniel 8:26, the vision would be “shut up” until the time of the end. This means that although the Angel Gabriel gave Daniel an interpretation, it would be only partial, because the vision would not be fully understood until the time of the end. The interpretation given to Daniel by the Angel, found in Daniel 8:19-26, covered only the first fulfillment of the prophecy. God is now opening up the vision to help us understand how it will be fulfilled in its second fulfillment in our day.

The Time of the End

Our Adventist Pioneers thought that the world would end in 1844. Therefore, they considered that the previous most significant prophetic milestone, the wounding of the beast’s head in 1798 which marked the end of the 1260 Day prophecy in its first fulfillment, also marked the beginning of the “time of the end” mentioned by Gabriel in Daniel 8:17. This ensured consistency between the ending date of the 2300-Day Prophecy (October 22, 1844) and the Angel’s words. The reckoning of the dates for the first fulfillment of these prophecies (2300-Day and 1260-Day) is based on the “year for a day” principle. Both of these were already fulfilled once.

The end-time fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy is now underway, culminating in March of 2024. The 1260-Day Prophecy of Daniel 12:7 is soon to begin its second or end-time fulfillment.

To avoid confusion with the expression “the time of the end” which begins in 1798, we refer to our present time as “the end of time” beginning roughly at the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

(Watch our video “The Mystery of the Coronations” to understand how the pandemic signaled the beginning of the last segment of time on the heavenly calendar).

(For a brief discussion of the grounds for a second fulfillment of the three time prophecies of Daniel 12, please refer to Question No. 7 regarding futurism.)

This is a complex topic. We’ll be able to address only the key points.

Relates only to the Jews?

This prophecy relates both to the Jewish nation as well as to all mankind.

The 2300-Day Prophecy was given to Daniel in Daniel 8:14. It was associated with the 70-Week Prophecy in Daniel 9:25-27 in that both prophecies have the same start date. The start date for both the 2300-Day and the 70-Week prophetic countdowns is linked to the literal Jewish nation in the form of a decree to rebuild and restore the literal city of Jerusalem, found in Ezra 7. If you dissociate the 2300-Day Prophecy from the 70-Week Prophecy, you have no starting point from which to begin the countdown of 2300 years or days. Clearly then they are inextricably linked and are both related to the nation of Israel.

The 70-Week Prophecy is a Messianic prophecy for all mankind as it revealed the time when Messiah would begin His public ministry and fulfill the covenant promise. But it was also specific to the Jewish nation as it clearly established the time limit of their collective probation as God’s chosen people: from the time of the going forth of the decree they would have 490 years to come back to God and obey His covenant, or else they would lose their special calling. This prophecy is fulfilled in both points: Messiah confirmed the covenant and the Jews reached the end of their probationary period. The 70-Week Prophecy does not have a second fulfillment.

As we consider the second or end-time fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy in literal days (as the evenings and mornings of Creation, Daniel 8:14), it must also start with a decree to restore and/or rebuild literal Jerusalem. The start date for the second fulfillment begins with a partial fulfillment of the decree because there’s no command (and no need) to rebuild, but only to restore. After Donald Trump’s decree on December 6, 2017, to restore Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the United States did move their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The 2300-Day Prophecy in its first application (457 BC to 1844) relates both to all mankind as well as to God’s people, as it initiates the lengthy process of the Final Judgment which begins with the Judgment of the Righteous Dead, both Jews and Gentiles. In its second application at the end of time the countdown culminates in the beginning of the Judgment of the Living where all humanity must choose their side: God’s or Satan’s.

In summary then, both timelines (the 2300 Days in prophetic time “day for a year” and the 2300 Days in literal time) begin with a decree that is specific to literal Israel, while also marking key milestones in a process that involves all mankind.

Are the Jews still prophetically relevant?

Yes, the Jews are definitely very relevant to end-time prophecy. Jesus will not return until a significant number of Jews has accepted Him as their long-waited-for Messiah. We are to labor also for their conversion.

The Apostle Paul is very clear in Romans 11:11-32 that a remnant of the Jewish nation will accept Messiah after the fullness of the Gentiles is come in (Romans 11:25). God has not abandoned His chosen people, because “the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance”. In fact, Paul argues that spiritual blindness is come upon them so that the Gentiles might be saved. And that “if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15).

Therefore, we can be confident that before the Second Coming many Jews will be grafted back into their natural olive tree. And it is better for us to keep from presumption, because we are only wild branches that have been grafted into the natural olive tree.

I would also caution us Seventh-day Adventists about this: “the unscriptural claim that Christianity has replaced Judaism, and this belief of many Christians has contributed to the anti-Judaism that was eventuated in the Holocaust and continues to plague contemporary societies.” (David Larson, “Ten Weaknesses of Seventh-day Adventist Historicism”, May 3 2023, Spectrum Magazine).

Let us always remember that the Jews are our brothers. Jesus broke down the wall of separation between us and put peace between us. We are now one temple in the Lord. (Please read Ephesians 2:11-22)

Let us read the prophecy of the restoration of the Jews in Romans 11:

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

¹² Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

¹⁴ If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

¹⁵ For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

¹⁶ For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

¹⁸ Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

²³ And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

²⁴ For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.

²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

³⁰ For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:11-32)

How should these truths shape our evangelistic efforts?

Ellen G. White understood the importance of evangelizing the Jews so that they may accept Jesus as their Messiah. In the Testimonies she writes at length about the importance of the work among the Jews. The Work Among the Jews — Ellen G. White Writings (egwwritings.org)

Here are a couple of excerpts from her writings:

• “In the closing proclamation of the gospel, when special work is to be done for classes of people hitherto neglected, God expects His messengers to take particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the earth. As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an explanation of Jehovah’s eternal purpose, this will be to many of the Jews as the dawn of a new creation, the resurrection of the soul. As they see the Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures, and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains the Old, their slumbering faculties will be aroused and they will recognize Christ as the Saviour of the world… . To them will be fulfilled the word, ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’ (John 1:12)PH114 6.1
• “Among the Jews are some who, like Saul of Tarsus, are mighty in the Scriptures, and these will proclaim with wonderful power the immutability of the law of God. The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day. His arm is not shortened that it can not save. As His servants labor in faith for those who have been long neglected and despised, His salvation will be revealed.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 35.PH114 6.

To conclude, the Jews are extremely relevant in end-time Bible prophecy. The war between Israel and Hamas is sure to play a role in God’s vision for the final restoration of the Jewish people before the Second Coming. God is eternally the same. His love of the fathers of our faith remains unchanged to our day. He is faithful to fulfill that which He has promised.

This is the statement by Ellen White that is being referred to, extracted from her analysis of Revelation 10:

“This time, which the Angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which would precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.” Manuscript 59, 1900 (Manuscript Releases 19:319-321).

Before answering the question regarding “no more prophetic time after 1844” (or as some Adventists have reformulated it, “no more time prophecies after 1844”), let us consider this very important counsel given us by the prophet herself in Selected Messages Volume 3, Chapter 4: Selected Messages Book 3 — Ellen G. White Writings (egwwritings.org)

Chapter 4—The Primacy of the Word

Relation of E. G. White Writings to the Bible Recognized in First Book—I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the “last days”; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of his people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth. Thus God dealt with Peter when he was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles.—A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, 64 (1851). (Reprinted in Early Writings, 78.) 3SM 29.1

Not to Take the Place of the Word—The Lord desires you to study your Bibles. He has not given any additional light to take the place of his Word. This light is to bring confused minds to his Word, which, if eaten and digested, is as the lifeblood of the soul. Then good works will be seen as light shining in darkness.—Letter 130, 1901. 3SM 29.2

Get Proofs From the Bible—In public labor do not make prominent, and quote that which Sister White has written, as authority to sustain your positions. To do this will not increase faith in the testimonies. Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word of God. A “Thus saith the Lord” is the strongest testimony you can possibly present to the people. Let none be educated to look to Sister White, but to the mighty God, who gives instruction to Sister White.—Letter 11, 1894. 

 Using Ellen White’s counsel, let’s go to the Bible and look at the Greek word for “time” which the Angel of the Covenant uses in Revelation 10:6. This word is “chronos” (G5550). One of the common usages of Chronos is as ‘long time”. Below is a list of ten New Testament scriptures where the Greek word “chronos” is used to signify “long time”.

In other words, the Angel in Revelation 10:6 was NOT saying that there should be no more prophetic time (that is, time reckoned according to the day for a year principle). Neither was He saying that there should be no more time prophecies. The Angel of the Covenant was saying “that there should be LONG TIME no longer”. In fact, Ellen White’s statement contains a hint of that: “The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844”.

What does this mean for us? It means that after 1844, whenever we come upon a time prophecy that is still future, it could be reckoned in either literal time or prophetic time, but its duration must be short. This requires us to be very discerning of both context and consistency with parallel passages to know whether the reckoning should be in literal or prophetic time.

For example, the half hour of Revelation 8 is given in literal time. Whereas the three hours of Revelation 18 are given in prophetic time. The three prophetic hours of Revelation 18 add up to 45 literal days which is a relatively short period of time.

(For more information about the literal half hour of Revelation 8, refer to our presentation video titled “The Mystery of the Golden Censer”.)

Below are New Testament scriptures where the Greek word “chronos” (Strong’s G5550) is used to signify “long time”:

Matthew 25:19

After a long time ^G5550 the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Mark 2:19

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the    bridegroom is with them? as long as ^G5550 they have the bridegroom with them,     they cannot fast.

Mark 9:21

And he asked his father, How long is it ago ^G5550 since this came unto him? And  he said, Of a child.

Luke 1:57

Now Elisabeth’s full time ^G5550 came that she should be delivered; and she broughtforth a son.

Luke 8:27

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man,       which had devils long time, ^G5550 and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 20:9

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a            vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. ^G5550

John 5:6

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time ^G5550 in that  case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

John 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Acts 8:11

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Acts 14:3

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

We have several Bible witnesses and one Ellen White declaration.

The Bible says:

• “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
• The Parable of the Ten Virgins of Matthew 25 is another piece of evidence that probation closes first for God’s Remnant Church. The Ten Virgins are clearly Adventists who are waiting for Jesus’ return. Five of them were prepared and made it through the test victoriously, whereas the door closed on the other five who had no oil in their lamps.
• Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. (Ezekiel 9:6)

In addition to this clear statement in Ezekiel 9, there is a powerful end-time chronology found in Ezekiel Chapters 7 through 11, especially Chapters 8 through 10. The prophet describes conditions and events that took place in Israel and Jerusalem which are both real AND allegorical, as a type of end-time events.

(We present the Ezekiel typology of end-time events in our video presentation “The Mystery of God Finished”.)

Ellen White says:

“In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire and flood and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. Oh, that the people might know the time of their visitation! There are many who have not yet heard the testing truth for this time. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have had no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. (9T 97.1-2)

God’s Remnant Church is the depositary of many precious Bible truths, particularly the Sabbath truth on which all will be tested. We will be called upon first in the Judgment, starting with our Elders.

As God’s Remnant people are tested and found faithful, they receive God’s Seal and the Rain of His Spirit. Filled with Holy Spirit power they go forth to proclaim these saving truths to the world who did NOT know, while their probation is still open. This process is what is known as “the Loud Cry” of Revelation 18.

The salvation of the world REQUIRES that Adventists be tested first to be filled with power from above and finish the closing work of the Gospel. «And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.» (Matthew 24:14)

We have three biblical examples of God informing a people of when their probation would close. According to the Principle of Second and Third Witness, it is clearly the Lord’s modus operandi to reveal to a people when their probation will close. Let’s review those three Bible examples:

– God gave the antediluvians 120 years (Genesis 6)

– God gave the Ninevites 40 days (Jonah 3)

– God gave the Jewish people 70 weeks of years or 490 years (Daniel 9)

There is also another divine principle at play here, which states that God always lets His people know before He does something. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Let’s now consider three of Ellen White’s statements regarding the time of the Close of Probation at the end:

• God has not revealed to us the time when this message will close or when probation will have an end. Those things that are revealed we shall accept for ourselves and for our children, but let us not seek to know that which has been kept secret in the councils of the Almighty….(Last Day Events 227.1)
• Letters have come to me asking me if I have any special light as to the time when probation will close, and I answer that I have only this message to bear, that it is now time to work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work.—(Selected Messages 1:191, S1894)
• God has not revealed to us the time when this message [the third angel’s] will close, or when probation will have an end…. Letters have come to me asking me if I have any special light as to the time when probation will close; and I answer that I have only this message to bear, that it is now time to work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work. (The Review and Herald, October 9, 1894)

Indeed, the exact time of the Close of Probation for the world had not been revealed at the time of Ellen White’s writing in the year 1894. This is because there is an important prophetic principle which states that “A prophecy is fully understood only at the time of its fulfillment”. In other words, the generation that will see or live through the fulfillment of the prophecy will receive the full revelation and understanding of the prophecy.

We see this prophetic principle at work at the First Coming of Christ, with the Magi receiving the full understanding of when and where Messiah would be born and being guided there.

Another instance is the Millerite revival of 1843-44, where the full understanding was only given AFTER the event had taken place.

This is the same reason why Gabriel didn’t give Daniel the full meaning of the vision of the Ram and the He-goat and gave him only a partial interpretation: it simply wasn’t for his time.

We are the last generation. “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:34) The time has come for God to give us the full revelation of when probation will close for us.

God doesn’t change, and He is no respecter of persons. If He revealed it to previous generations, what makes you think He would not reveal it to us? Of course He would reveal it to us, and He just has. Probation for the world will close in October 2027.

Indeed, many Bible students believe that Satan makes his appearance on the world stage at the 5^th. Trumpet (Revelation 9:1-11). But Satan does not first appear at the Fifth Trumpet. Satan is already established on earth as the prince of this world and indeed has been on the world scene well before the Fifth Trumpet. Let us make the demonstration from the word of God because the misunderstanding comes from a translation problem.

Many English translations including the King James Version render Revelation 9:1 as follows: “And the Fifth Angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.” (Revelation 9:1 KJV) Here the verb is in the present tense.

Some of the modern translations agree with the NIV: “The Fifth Angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.” (Revelation 9:1 NIV) In this version the verb is in the past perfect, denoting an action that occurred in the recent past.

However, Young’s Literal Translation is the ONLY English translation that renders the verse as it reads in the original Greek: “And the Fifth Messenger did sound, and I saw a star out of the heaven HAVING FALLEN to the earth, and there was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss,” (Revelation 9:1 YLT). This past form of the verb denotes a past action that is completed well in advance before the other events being described.

This is a straight transliteration of the original Greek text: “And the Fifth Angel sounded his trumpet and I saw a star out of heaven having fallen to the earth and was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss.”

The main difference between these different versions, and that which is at the root of the misunderstanding, is the verb tense. The correct verb tense, as per the original language, is “having fallen”. It denotes an action that took place in the past and is fully completed well before the events described in the verse (the star being given the key of the bottomless pit or the pit of the abyss). The phrase “a star that had fallen” used in the NIV also denotes a past action but is associated with a much more recent past action, as if the star had just fallen.

Satan fell to the earth when he was cast out of heaven with his fallen angels after their rebellion (Revelation 12:9). This war and casting out happened before the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden.

Jesus made reference to the same event when He said “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Guess what verb tense is used in the original Greek language? “I beheld Satan as lightning out of the heaven having fallen”.

The “having fallen” of Revelation 9:1 and of Luke 10:18 are describing the same event that took place millennia ago, NOT AN EVENT THAT IS STILL FUTURE.

Therefore, Satan has been on the world stage and will have appeared publicly well BEFORE the time of the Fifth Trumpet.

What happens at the Fifth Trumpet is that Satan is given authority to torment human beings that are not sealed for a season of five months. Up to that point the preceding Trumpets have harmed nature, but not men.

When does Satan show himself publicly on the world stage? This is one of the best kept secrets of the Bible. This is the secret alluded to in Ezekiel 28:3, when the Lord says to Satan: “Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:”

This secret is concealed in the Book of Daniel in coded language. Because the time for Satan’s appearing is near, the Lord has now revealed when and how Satan will show himself on the world stage. Satan will show up masquerading as Jesus Christ on the very same day that the Climate Sunday Law is passed in the United States. The Bible provides a clear description of how Satan will appear so that we may not be deceived. (We describe Satan’s appearance and provide further Bible evidence for our assertions in two of our video presentations: “Climate Sunday Law and Close of Probation” as well as “Mystery of the King’s Scepter – Part 3”.)

This is an incredibly strategic topic for Adventism. We are firmly grounded in the historicist interpretation of Bible prophecy. Thanks to historicism we can trace the prophetic chain of events to our days and know the identity of anti-christ, which futurists cannot know. Indeed, the whole purpose of futurism is to conceal the identity of anti-christ.

However, and surely without meaning to, Adventist theologians and Bible scholars are using historicism as another form of preterism where all time prophecies stop in 1844. The result is a lifeless “letter without the spirit” that saps all vitality from unfulfilled prophecies and discourages our people from a deep study of the prophetic books. The belief that most prophecy has already been fulfilled not in Antiquity (as preterists claim) but in 1844 (as most Adventist historicists claim) ultimately makes us also preterists who simply place the prophetic landmarks a bit closer to our day.

AT DNJ TV WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STILL MAKING HISTORY AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY UNTIL JESUS GATHERS US UP INTO THE CLOUDS OF ANGELS FOR OUR JOURNEY TO HEAVEN. We believe that right now we are living through the fulfillment of an important time prophecy and that still others are on the verge of being fulfilled. These time prophecies are found both in Daniel and the Revelation. We firmly believe that God wants us to not only know what is coming but also when it is coming, and that He is even now giving us the full understanding of the prophetic books because the time of their fulfillment is upon us.

It is Jesus Himself who taught us the prophetic principle of “dual fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecy” when He answered the disciples’ question regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. As we pray and ask for God’s Spirit to guide us into all truth and show us things to come, He will surely do so. He will give us discernment to recognize the signs whereby we can recognize that a prophecy has dual fulfillment.

There are two major signs God has given that tell us that the 2300-Day Prophecy has a second fulfillment in our generation:

• The actual name of the prophecy is “Prophecy of the 2300 Evenings and Mornings”, which is Genesis language for literal days. “Evenings and Mornings” is the language used by the Angel Gabriel in the original Hebrew text. From the language we should expect that this prophecy will have a fulfillment in literal days.
• The Angel Gabriel says four times in slightly different words each time that “the vision is for the time of the end” (Daniel 8 verses 17,19,23,26). Indeed, the Angel only gives Daniel a partial interpretation of the prophecy and not the full reading. Why? Because it was sealed until “the time of the end”. Because in our historicist interpretation “the time of the end” began in 1798, 225 years ago, and because the Hebrew word used in Daniel 8 and 12 is qets (H7093) which means the furthermost limit of time, we refer to our day as “the end of time”.

Therefore, to apply this prophecy to the end of time is what the text itself requires of us.

Regarding the three prophetic timelines of Daniel 12, there are three indicators that tell us that they have an end-time fulfillment:

• The 1290- and 1260-Day Prophecies are given in “yom”, the Hebrew word for “days”.
• The medieval fulfillment is only a partial one, because the 1335-Day Prophecy was not fulfilled at that time. That timeline ends in 1843 and there is no event of any historic or prophetic significance that happened in that year. This means that the timelines will have their primary fulfillment at the end of time, in our generation.
• The first verse of every chapter in the Book of Daniel begins with the mention of the ruling king at the time when the events described in the chapter take place. (This is a remarkable and deliberate pattern that enlightens us about the theme of the Book of Daniel which is about the rise and fall of world kingdoms). The first verse of Daniel 12 begins with Michael standing up, situating the events described in the chapter at the end of time, in close proximity to Michael’s standing up. We know that this action signals the Close of Probation for the world because it’s followed by the falling of the plagues in the Great Time of Trouble. This is also why Ellen White said that the prophecies of the Book of Daniel take us to “the very eve of the great consummation”.

As described in response to the question regarding “no more prophetic time”, the student of prophecy must be careful to discern whether certain future time prophecies are to be reckoned in literal time, or applying the “day for a year principle”.

Therefore, we are historicists who believe that the prophetic chain of events DID NOT FINISH IN 1844 and there are still very important time prophecies in course of fulfillment or soon to be fulfilled. The fulfillment of time prophecies will continue until Jesus comes and through to the end of the Millenium.

There is a rather long list of principles or rules of Bible interpretation that we must apply in order to ensure that our understanding of any given text or prophecy is correct.

The “Principle of First Mention” is one of them. It is very useful in the interpretation of prophetic texts, especially those that are more “coded” and hard to understand, such as are found in the Book of Daniel. We at DNJ TV apply these principles in our interpretation of the Holy Scriptures (this list is not exhaustive):

• Principle of Divine Inspiration: All scripture is inspired by God.
• Principle of Divine Interpretation: The Bible is its own interpreter.
• Principle of No Contradiction: God doesn’t contradict Himself, no text must be used to cancel another text. Our interpretation must be able to harmonize passages on the same topic.
• Principle of Literality: We must read the text literally unless the text indicates otherwise by the use of symbols, metaphors, and allegories. Jesus’ parables are a good example. Another good example is the end-time chronology found in Ezekiel Chapters 7 through 11.
• Principle of Second and Third Witness: If our reading is correct, we will find a minimum of two and better yet three parallel passages that confirm it. (2 Corinthians 13:1 is only one of the scriptures affirming this important Bible principle).
• Principle of Repeat and Enlarge: Applying the above principle of providing several witnesses, in each repetition God provides additional information and richer or different detail.
• Principle of Context: Any text must be taken in its context in order to understand its intended meaning.
• Principle of Jesus-centricity: All the scriptures testify of Jesus (John 5:39).
• Principle of Salvation: The central theme of the Bible is the Plan of Salvation and every passage of scripture is somehow related to that Plan (Ellen G. White, True Education 75:1-4).
• Principle of Progressive Light: God is revealing light progressively to increase knowledge of the scriptures until the last generation (Daniel 12:4).
• Principle of Comparing Spiritual with Spiritual: This is how the Holy Spirit teaches us, through the comparison of parallel passages which He calls to our attention (1 Corinthians 2 full chapter).
• Principle of Dual Fulfillment: certain end-time prophecies have dual fulfillment (Matthew 24).
• Principle of First Mention: Examining the first time that a specific word is used in scripture sheds much light on prophetic passages, especially those that were “sealed» or «encoded» until the end, such as the Book of Daniel.

The accepted rule for symbol interpretation is that the Bible itself gives us the meaning of the symbol: either through a straightforward declaration, or through the context in which the symbol is given.

Here are some examples of a Bible declaration defining the symbol:

“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” (Daniel 7:17)

“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” (Daniel 7:24)

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (Revelation 17:9)

In other cases, we need to choose the right meaning of the symbol based on context and in certain cases, from the full meaning of the word in the original language (Hebrew or Greek). This is the case for the Ram and the He-goat of Daniel 8, where we’ve used context and the original language to layer on additional meanings to the symbol beyond the straight declaration of the Angel.

Daniel is in Babylon during the reign of Belteshazzar when he receives the vision. Babylon has not yet fallen into the hands of Medo-Persia. In the vision Daniel sees himself having the vision, being in Shushan in the king’s palace. Shushan was the capital of the province of Elam in Medo-Persia.

Literal Medo-Persia, where Daniel sees himself having the vision, is the first context that helps define the symbolism of the Ram and the He-goat. Presumably this is the context used by the Angel Gabriel to say that the Ram is Medo-Persia and the He-goat is Greece.

However, there are two additional contexts that we can legitimately apply to interpret the symbols:

1. The Sanctuary provides another layer of interpretation for the vision, for three reasons:
2. Both beasts are Sanctuary animals used in the Sanctuary rituals.
3. The 2300 Days culminate in the cleansing of the Sanctuary, a clear reference to the Day of Atonement.
4. The language of the “evenings and mornings” evokes not only Creation week but also the Sanctuary sacrifices.

Through the lens of the Sanctuary, we can identify the He-goat as being Azazel (the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement) and the Ram as being Jesus (the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world).

However, even without the Sanctuary context, we can still identify the He-goat as being demonic or at least wicked, for two reasons:

• The parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25, where the sheep represent God’s people and the goats represent the rebellious and disobedient.
• The Hebrew word for “male goat” is “saiyr” (Strong’s 8163) which means a satyr or devil, specifically the demonic form that is half-man and half-goat.

Finally, there is a third context which allows us to interpret the meaning of the great horn that is between the eyes of the He-goat and ultimately, the full meaning of the drama being played out in the vision of these two beasts engaged in conflict:

1. This context is the Garden of Eden at Creation and the Fall. We get this time/place context from three elements:
   1. The language of “evenings and mornings” which signify the literal days of Creation.
   2. The location of the vision on the banks of the Ulai River or Tigris River, one of the four rivers coming out of the Garden of Eden.
   3. Shushan was located in the exact territory where the ancient Garden of Eden was.

The Garden of Eden is the first dominion and Adam is the first king. The great horn which the Angel says represents the king of Greece is also referring to Adam. Satan stole from him the dominion that God had given him and thereby usurped his place. Satan is getting ready to try and do the same thing again in our generation: steal the scepter of power and establish himself as king of this world.

When we are united with our Great Teacher we will sit at His feet, and He will show us all the levels of meaning that are concealed in the scriptures. They can only be exposed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, fasting and careful study.

The Hebrew word for “Daily” or “continual” is “tamid”. The use of this word in the Book of Daniel is quite distinct from its use in the rest of the Bible. In Daniel the word is a noun, a completely standalone word, whereas in the rest of the Bible it is an adjective or adverb describing another word. This indicates that the meaning in the Book of Daniel will also be different.

To begin, we encounter several translation problems when analyzing the verses in the Book of Daniel that refer to the Daily:

First translation error:

The translators added the word “sacrifice” after the word “tamid” or Daily/continual. This word is not found in the original texts and should not feature there.

Here is a statement by Ellen White on this matter (editorial notes in italics): “Then I saw (in vision) in relation to the Daily (Daniel 8:12) that the word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry (BEFORE 1844). When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the Daily; but in the confusion that followed SINCE 1844 (after the Great Disappointment), other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed”. (Early Writings 74,74).

One problem we face today is that the incorrect views that emerged post-1844* have concealed the correct view that prevailed before 1844. Today most of our theologians and Bible scholars believe that the post-1844 view was always the one held by our Pioneers. But this is not the case.

*The most common views among the Pioneers after 1844 were that the Daily represented paganism, or the Sabbath, or the priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary. None of these is correct.

Ellen White understood that the debate over the meaning of the Daily was not for their time. For this reason, she wouldn’t disclose it although pressed on this topic on several occasions. She also would not allow the Pioneers to use her writings to justify any of their positions. Why?

Because the full revelation of the Daily within the Pioneer movement would have hindered the single-minded focus necessary to give the First and Second Angels’ Messages. These were the big truths for their time. But in our generation God has removed His hand from covering the Daily so that we can fully understand it as they understood it BEFORE 1844. This document is an attempt to summarize the correct view of the Daily that we need to have today.

But before we do that, let’s continue understanding the translation problems that have added to the confusion around the Daily.

Second translation error:

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. (Daniel 8:11)

First, we need to remove the word “sacrifice” from any verse in the Book of Daniel related to the Daily.

Then, what the translators translated as “taken away” in this verse is the Hebrew word “rum” (H7311). This word does NOT mean to take away or remove. It actually means to lift up or exalt. Anti-christ did not by any stretch of the imagination lift up or exalt the priestly ministry of Christ, if that’s what you’re believing the Daily is! Quite the contrary: anti-christ was usurping the place of Christ as High Priest here on earth. But Daniel 8:11 – and the Daily itself – are not focused on the priestly ministry of Christ but rather on His Kingship.

Daniel 8:11 is about anti-christ lifting himself up and exalting himself as a ruler with political power. He lifted up and exalted the daily, that is, the scepter of power, and his authority and legitimacy to rule based on his “Moral Authority”, both in the Middle Ages (first fulfillment) and in our generation (second fulfillment). “Moral Authority” has ever been the strategy played by the Bishop of Rome to justify his right to exercise political power. We see this strategy at play today in Pope Francis’ dealings with the nations.

Third translation error:

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 8:12)

In this verse the word translated as “against” would be better translated as upon, above, beyond, on account of, because of. In other words, the army was given to anti-christ NOT to oppose the Daily, but on account of him having received the Daily, because he was in possession of the Daily. The army was given to anti-christ as something given “on top of” the scepter of power, “because of” the scepter of power, “in addition to” the scepter of power, and certainly not to oppose it. The army only added to his power.

Therefore, we need a definition of the Daily that harmonizes with all the verses where it is used within the Book of Daniel: Daniel 8:11 and 12, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11.

Let’s consider again briefly Daniel 8:11 which we read earlier: “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. (Daniel 8:11)

The transliteration from the original Hebrew reads: “And even as high as the Prince of the host he exalted (himself), and by him was taken away the Daily (sacrifice) and was cast down the place of His Sanctuary.” (Daniel 8:11).

Anti-christ exalted and still today exalts himself as high as the Prince of the heavenly army, Michael the Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly host, our Lord Jesus.

“The PLACE of His Sanctuary” which was cast down is actually the FOUNDATION (makon H4349) and “His Sanctuary” (miqdash H4720) is actually GOD’S DWELLING PLACE, PALACE OR THRONE ROOM (Exodus 15:17 – Principle of First Mention). We could also say it is God’s throne or seat of government. This mention of the Sanctuary as «miqdash»* is referring to God’s throne, THE PHYSICAL PLACE where He sits as King, and the FOUNDATION (makon) of His kingdom or government that anti-christ cast down is His Law. (*When referring to the spiritual reality of God’s Sanctuary the Hebrew word used is NOT miqdash, but qodesh).

If we place Daniel 8:11 in the context of the first fulfillment of Daniel 8, the verse is referring to the transfer of political power from Imperial Rome to Papal Rome. The “Sanctuary” being referred to here is the PALACE or SEAT OF GOVERNMENT of the Roman Emperor, which was cast down in 476 on behalf of the Papacy. (476 AD is the date given by historians as the official fall of Imperial Rome which opened the way for the succession of the Popes.)

In a similar way, in its end time fulfillment we must think of the “miqdash” (H4720 – translated as Sanctuary) as referring to God’s PALACE, THRONE or SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. As stated earlier, the focus is not on the spiritual aspects of the Sanctuary – the Hebrew word for that would be qodesh (H6944). Instead, the miqdash is referring to the PLACE WHERE GOD SITS AS KING TO REIGN AND GOVERN over His subjects and territories. This perhaps subtle yet incredibly important distinction helps us understand the correct definition of the Daily.

The “makon” (which means PLACE or FOUNDATION) refers to God’s legitimacy as sovereign ruler, the foundation or basis of His seat as Universal King and Law-giver. The He-goat, Satan the usurper, comes with a horn between his eyes (Daniel 8:5). In the Torah the frontlets between the eyes represent God’s word and especially His Law (Exodus 13:9).

Indeed, Azazel/Satan brings a counterfeit law to cast down and replace God’s Law, upon which God’s just government is founded. From the beginning of the rebellion in heaven, Satan has contested the need for, and the merits of, God’s Law. He now openly seeks to replace it with his own.

God’s kingdom is a theocracy, where kingship and priesthood are intertwined and perhaps are not so easy to dissociate. Nevertheless, for purposes of the Great Controversy here on earth it’s important that we discern the subtle distinctions between the two.

In summary therefore, the Daily is NOT referring to Christ’s ministry as High Priest in the Sanctuary. Instead, it is referring to the SCEPTER OF KINGLY POWER, the ROD OF AUTHORITY to govern and reign, which ALWAYS originates at God’s throne and was first given to Adam. The scepter in a king’s hand is the symbol that represents his authority, ability and legitimacy to rule.

The Daily therefore is the power and authority to rule and govern, represented by the scepter or rod. This power always emanates from the throne of God, the ONLY source of legitimate power and authority in the universe. Psalm 62:11 says: “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.”

The Daily or authority to govern first given to Adam was usurped by Satan, who initiated a chain of illegitimate kingdoms or empires who successively rise and fall, handing each other the baton of power. The core issue in the Book of Daniel is NOT the priesthood of Christ but His KINGSHIP, and even the very KINGSHIP OF GOD. Satan denies the legitimacy and authority of Christ as King and wants to displace God the Father from the throne of the universe.

To summarize: From the beginning of the great controversy in heaven, Satan has disputed the authority of Christ and refused to submit to it. He has also disputed God’s Law, the foundation of His government and throne. In our generation Satan will once again cast down God’s Law in one last worldwide apostasy, enforcing Sunday worship for all mankind.

When we get to the end of the succession of earthly kingdoms, of the rise and fall of empires that ends with the beast kingdom, the Rock cut without hands (Jesus) becomes a great mountain (God’s kingdom) that fills the whole earth. The authority of Christ as king is finally established on earth at the Second Coming. But before Jesus comes back to the earth, God’s universal kingdom will have been proclaimed before the entire universe at the Seventh Trumpet:

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

“Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” (Revelation 11:17)

At the Seventh Trumpet, shortly after Michael stands up in Daniel 12:1, Jesus will be holding in His hand the scepter of earthly power. He brings this “rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9, Revelation 2:27) with Him at the Second Coming, with which He will rule the nations.

At the last Jesus will restore the scepter of earthly power to God’s throne, where it originated, when He returns to heaven with the subjects of His kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

In a subtle yet clear repetitive pattern, God designed that the first verse of every chapter in the Book of Daniel should start with the mention of a king, generally the ruling king at the time of the events described in the chapter. In this way, embedded in the very structure of the Book of Daniel, God is affirming the kingship of Christ our King in the first verse of Daniel 12 when Michael stands up.

Furthermore, the mention of the king in the first verse of certain chapters also serves to provide a chronological marker that places the events described in that chapter in the flow of time.  We find these time references in the first verse of chapters 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, the chapters which are most pointedly referring to the main theme of book.

Using the same chronological marker of Michael standing up, the Lord is pointing us to the fact that the events described in Daniel 12 take place at the end of time, “at the very eve of the Great Consummation” (Ellen G. White – Review and Herald Sept. 25, 1883 par. 6).

(For further study of the Daily, you may refer to the book “The Daily in the Book of Daniel and the New World Order”, by Marian G. Berry, available from Endtime Publishing. However, God has shed more light on the Daily and Daniel 12 since the passing away of our dear Sister Marian. It is our mission to bring you this increased light in our Bible study series called “Bible Revelations for the Last Generation”.)

Let’s consider the time contexts of this complex passage, because there are several time and place dimensions interacting:

• Daniel is in Babylon during the third year of king Belshazzar when he was given the vision, BEFORE the fall of Babylon
• Daniel sees himself IN THE FUTURE under Medo-Persian rule, having the vision in Shushan the capital of Elam in the palace of the kings of Medo-Persia
• The Angel says that the two beasts represent Medo-Persia and Greece (NEAR FUTURE to Daniel who would see the fulfillment of Medo-Persian reign)
• The language of the text “evenings and mornings” takes us back to CREATION WEEK: “And he saith unto me, Till evening — morning two thousand and three hundred, then is the holy place declared right.” (Daniel 8:14 Young’s Literal Translation)
• The province of Elam was located in GARDEN OF EDEN territory
• The River Ulai (its Hebrew name) is known by several other names today, but in antiquity was known as the Gihon River (one of the four rivers that came out of the Garden of Eden*)
• The same language of evenings and mornings, plus the expression “the cleansing of the Sanctuary” also gives us a Sanctuary context and more specifically to the DAY OF ATONEMENT
• The Angel says 4 times that the vision is for the TIME OF THE END:
  1. Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. (Daniel 8:17)
  2. And he said, 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)
  3. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. (Daniel 8:23) (We know that Rome will have three phases: Imperial Rome and two Papal Reigns)
  4. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Daniel 8:26)

Conclusion:

All of these Bible and historical FACTS listed above justify a literal, end-time fulfillment of the prophecy where the interpretation goes beyond what Gabriel said. The Angel gave Daniel a TRUE interpretation, but PARTIAL, revealing only what was relevant for Daniel’s generation. By expanding the interpretation of the symbols (the two beasts, the single horn, the four horns) beyond the meaning the Angel gave them, based on the two contexts mentioned above (Sanctuary, Garden of Eden), tells a much bigger story that will be played out in our generation. 

Note:

*The four rivers coming out of the Garden of Eden were Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates (Genesis 2:10-14). The Ulai River is known by all these names:

• Choaspes
• Eulaeus River
• Ulai
• Eulæus
• Eulaeus River(Greek)
• Eulaeus/Eulæus(Greek)
• Eulaios
• Karkheh
• Karkhen
• Kara Su
• Gihon—one of the four rivers of Eden
• Ulai (Hebrew: אולי)

The 2300-Day Prophecy and the 70-Week Prophecy are inextricably linked for these two reasons:

• The 70-Week Prophecy provides the starting point for the 2300-Day Prophecy, without which the days cannot be counted.
• Both prophecies are linked to the LITERAL nation of Israel, while having an applicability to all mankind:
  • the 2300-Day Prophecy initiates the process of the Final Judgment which encompasses all mankind.
  • the 70-Week Prophecy led to the sacrifice of Messiah to redeem the entire human race, not only the Jews.

In its first fulfillment, the 2300-Day Prophecy was fulfilled in prophetic days, where a day equals a year, thus being one of the longest time prophecies in the Bible. In our generation it is being fulfilled in literal days.

The 70-Week Prophecy was completely fulfilled by Messiah and does NOT have a dual fulfillment. Jesus’ sacrifice redeemed all humanity past, present and future. His baptism and anointing by God’s Spirit marked the beginning of the last seven years of grace for the Jewish nation which ended in the year 34 AD. The 490 years of grace for the Jewish nation were also fulfilled only once.

In our generation there has been a “commandment” (an executive decree) to restore Jerusalem in the eyes of the nations. This decree was proclaimed on Dec. 6, 2017, by the then «king» of the pre-eminent nation of the world, President Donald Trump of the United States of America. The decree was received by the «king» of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as “a historic proclamation”, reminiscent of King Cyrus’ decree to restore Jerusalem.

This decree by President Donald Trump initiated the countdown of the end-time fulfillment of the 2300 Day Prophecy. As indicated above, the 70-Week Prophecy does not have a dual fulfillment.

The passage that contains the 70-Week Prophecy is found in Daniel 9:24-27. This prophecy gives us the event that triggers the beginning of both the 2300-Day and the 70-Week Prophecies, which is the going forth of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. In our generation the decree issued by Pres. Trump was «partial» in that it specified only the restoration of Jerusalem and not its rebuilding which was no longer necessary.

²⁴ Seventy weeks are determined* upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

(*H2852 means to divide, to cut off, to decree, to determine – this means that the 70 Weeks of Years were «cut off» from the longer timeline of the 2300 Days/Years).

²⁵ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

(This refers to the decree given by King Artaxerxes, described in Ezra 7).

²⁶ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

(Daniel 9:24-27)

We’ll address these two points in sequence: First we’ll tackle whether Ellen White wrote of two death decrees at the end of time. Secondly we’ll address how the death decree marks the end of two of the three prophetic timelines in Daniel 12.

Does Ellen White really talk about TWO Death Decrees against God’s people at the end of time?

To set the record straight: Ellen White does NOT speak of two death decrees against God’s people. There are four primary texts where she writes about the death decree that will seek to eliminate all loyal Sabbath-keepers:

• Great Controversy: Chapter 39 The Time of Trouble and Chapter 40 God’s People Delivered
• Early Writings: Chapter The Time of Trouble
• Maranatha: July 9, September 17, 18 and 19
• Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5: Chapter 51 The Coming Crisis       

The confusion arises because THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN THE SIGNING OF THE DECREE AND ITS EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION APPEARS TO BE LONG. In fact, Ellen White compares the death decree against God’s Remnant at the end of time with the death decree issued against the Jews in Medo-Persia in the days of Queen Esther.  What can we learn from this comparison?

Let’s first refer to the Bible, to the Book of Esther. As we all know, the passing of this decree was urged upon King Ahasuerus by the wicked Haman, who resented Mordecai the Jew for not doing obeisance to him as ordered by the king.

In Esther Chapter 3, we read that the death decree against the Jews was signed in the first month (Nissan), but was not to be effectively enforced until the twelfth month (Adar), nearly a year later. Note also that there is ONLY ONE DEATH DECREE proclaimed against the Jews.

¹² “Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

¹³ And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

¹⁴ The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

¹⁵ The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.”

(Esther 3:12-15)

The Bible witness in the Book of Esther leaves no doubt that THERE IS ONLY ONE DEATH DECREE, which provided for a time lapse of nearly a year from proclamation to implementation or enforcement.

Daniel 11:44, which refers to the end-time Death Decree against God’s people (although the term «Death Decree» is never mentioned, ALSO INDICATES A SINGLE DEATH DECREE AGAINST GOD’S END-TIME REMNANT: «But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.»

Finally, Revelation 13:15 is in agreement with Ester 3 and Daniel 11 and gives no ground to suppose that there is more than one Death Decree: «And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.»

To conclude with the Bible witness: NONE OF THE THREE BIBLE PASSAGES WHICH REFER TO THE END-TIME PERSECUTION OF GOD’S PEOPLE, AND THE DEATH DECREE PROCLAIMED BY ANTI-CHRIST AGAINST THEM, PROVIDE ANY GROUNDS ON WHICH TO DEDUCE THAT THERE ARE TWO DEATH DECREES.

Let’s now examine the most extensive Ellen White passage on the end-time death decree, found in the book «The Great Controversy»: in Chapter 39, ‘The Time of Trouble’, and continuing into Chapter 40 ‘The Deliverance of God’s People’:

“As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the state ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The same argument many centuries ago was brought against Christ by the «rulers of the people.» «It is expedient for us,» said the wily Caiaphas, «that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.» John 11:50. This argument will appear conclusive; and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts.” (GC 615.2)

…

“Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ’s patience. With sympathizing tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers. They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril. But they must wait yet a little longer. The people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism. The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions. As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the Lord to work, they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been too little exercised during their religious experience. Yet for the elect’s sake the time of trouble will be shortened. «Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him? . . . I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.» Luke 18:7, 8. The end will come more quickly than men expect. The wheat will be gathered and bound in sheaves for the garner of God; the tares will be bound as fagots for the fires of destruction. (GC 630.2)

The heavenly sentinels, faithful to their trust, continue their watch. THOUGH A GENERAL DECREE HAS FIXED THE TIME WHEN COMMANDMENT KEEPERS MAY BE PUT TO DEATH, THEIR ENEMIES WILL IN SOME CASES ANTICIPATE THE DECREE, AND BEFORE THE TIME SPECIFIED, WILL ENDEAVOR TO TAKE THEIR LIVES. But none can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul. Some are assailed in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them break and fall powerless as a straw. Others are defended by angels in the form of men of war.” (GC631.1)

…

“When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction. AS THE TIME APPOINTED IN THE DECREE DRAWS NEAR, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. (GC635.1)

The people of God—some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forests and the mountains—still plead for divine protection, while in every quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing for the work of death. It is now, in the hour of utmost extremity, that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His chosen.” (GC635.2)

It is clear from these Ellen White quotes that THERE IS ONLY ONE DEATH DECREE. In His mercy God causes the time lapse to be rather long between the signing of the decree and its full implementation in order to preserve His faithful Remnant. Will the end-time decree be exactly as the Medo-Persian decree against the Jews, with nearly a one-year interval between proclamation and enforcement? We don’t know yet. However, the time interval will certainly seem very long to the enemies of God’s people, who will try to ANTICIPATE the date of effectiveness and kill the Remnant BEFORE the time set in the decree.

Let’s now address the matter of whether the Death Decree ends the 1290 and 1260-Day Timelines of Daniel 12.

If we look at the chronology described in Daniel 11:43-45, followed by Michael standing up in Daniel 12:1 (signaling the Close of Probation and the beginning of the time of trouble), it appears clearly that the Death Decree PRECEDES Michael’s standing up:

⁴³ But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

⁴⁴ But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

⁴⁵ And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas AND the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

¹ And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

(Daniel 11:43-45, Daniel 12:1)

Daniel 11 verse 43 is the “no buy-no sell” prohibition for those who refuse the mark of the beast. Verse 44 is the Death Decree, with which by fear anti-christ consolidates his total dominion over both the world (the seas) AND the church (the glorious holy mountain). (Please note the translation error in the King James Version which translates IN for what should be AND, as found in the original Hebrew text and correctly translated in most English translations.)

Anti-christ is deluded that by this Death Decree he has established himself as undisputed head of church and state. But precisely AT THAT TIME shall Michael stand up and proclaim judgment against him, sentencing him to death: “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” (Revelation 13:10). The sentence will be executed at the Second Coming.

When Michael stands up Probation closes for the world, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FILLED THE CUP OF THEIR INIQUITY. ¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. ¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:11-12)

The outpouring of the First of the Seven Last Plagues begins the Time of Jacob’s Trouble for God’s people. This is the visible sign that we have reached the end point of both the 1290 and 1260 Timelines of Daniel 12.

Ellen White in the Great Controversy gives a similar account:

«At that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.» Daniel 12:1. (GC613.1)

When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received «the latter rain,» «the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,» and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received «the seal of the living God.» Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, «It is done;» and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: «He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.» Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; «the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,» is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (GC613.2)

When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God’s long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. (GC614.1)

…

The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble. «Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. . . . All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.» Jeremiah 30:5-7. (GC616.1)

Jacob’s night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32:24-30), represents the experience of God’s people in the time of trouble. (GC616.2)

Question No. 14: I’m confused about the role that Donald Trump is playing or will play in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Can you please clarify what that is?

In our video “Climate Sunday Law and Close of Probation”, we explained that Donald Trump is a modern-day type of King Cyrus of Medo-Persia. King Cyrus conquered Babylon and overthrew its world dominion in the days of King Belshazzar the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Who was King Cyrus?

King Cyrus was sometimes referred to as “the king of the Medes” for two reasons: because the Medes and Persians collaborated in the invasion of Babylon, and because King Cyrus was born of a Persian father and a Median mother, both of royal descent.

King Cyrus’ conquest of Babylon was prophesied by God’s prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah (see Isaiah 13:17, Isaiah 45:1-5, and Jeremiah 51:11,28).  In Isaiah 45:1-5 we get a much more detailed description of King Cyrus, where we see that Donald Trump fits the description perfectly in every aspect. Even in his political platform which he describes as anti-globalist and pro-nationalist, Donald Trump is at war against the forces of modern-day spiritual Babylon that seeks world dominion.

What role does ex-President Donald Trump play in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

The role that Donald Trump has played thus far in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy is the signing of the end-time decree to restore Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. In Daniel 9:25 we read: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem…” This decree mentioned in Daniel 9 and described more fully in Ezra chapter 7, marks the beginning of the first fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy, also known as the Prophecy of the 2300 Evenings and Mornings.

As explained in many previous presentations*, Jesus taught us in Matthew 24 that some important prophecies have a dual fulfillment, one in antiquity or the Middle Ages and the other at the end of time. Such is the case of the 2300-Day Prophecy of Daniel 8. Donald Trump fulfilled this prophecy through the signing of the decree to restore Jerusalem among the nations as the official capital of Israel, a status which the ancient city had lost to Tel Aviv.

With this decree, issued on December 6, 2017, begins the countdown of the second or end-time fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy ending on March 24, 2024. The first fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy, which was reckoned in prophetic time (a year for a day), ended on October 22, 1844 and marked the beginning of the Judgment of the Dead. In perfect symmetry, the second fulfillment, which is reckoned in literal days, ends on March 24, 2024 and marks the beginning of the Judgment of the Living.

Will Donald Trump sign the US National Sunday Law?

Whoever is President of the United States on March 24, 2024 will sign the National Sunday Law. It will be disguised as a climate-related law. Nevertheless, this law signals the beginning of the mark of the beast crisis and will result in the ruin and destruction for the United States as well as the total loss of its national sovereignty in favor of the papacy.

*You may also refer to Question No. 1 in our Bible Q&A section.

In Adventism, “The Great Week of Time”, also known as “the Cosmic Week”, refers to the literal week of Creation (6+1) being played out on a scale of 1000. In other words, 6000 years of human history will be followed by 1000 years of rest* for the earth while the saints are in heaven with the Lord performing a work of judgment. This latter period of 1000 years is known as “the Millenium”.

The Biblical foundation for this doctrine is found in 2 Peter 3:8: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” The context of this verse is the end of time and the judgment, which is the focus of the entire chapter 2 Peter 3.

According to the reckoning of Bible chronology, there transpired approximately 2000 years between Adam and Eve’s fall to Abraham the father of our faith. From Abraham to the time of Jesus there are roughly another 2000 years, bringing us to the 4000-year mark. Then, from Jesus to our day, the final segment of 2000 years is coming to a close.

The key question is: do we count the last segment of 2000 years from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, in the fall of the year 27, or from the cross, in the spring of the year 31? If we count from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the 6000 end in the fall of 2027. If we count from the cross, the 6000 years end in the spring of 2031.

Our opinion is based on our understanding of the end-time fulfillment of the 2300-Day Prophecy (described in our video presentation «Climate Sunday Law and the Close of Probation«), as well as of the sacred calendar of the Lord’s feast days. According to the former, combined with the three time prophecies of Daniel 12, we are able to calculate that probation for the world will close in October of 2027.

Let’s now consider the Lord’s calendar of holy days.

The sacred feasts of the Lord were a yearly calendar based on a total of seven holy days: four Spring feasts and three Autumn feasts as follows:

Outside of the yearly cycle of the Jewish religious calendar as celebrated in the the Sanctuary services (anti-type or shadow), the Lord Himself continues to observe His holy calendar (type or reality). It was not nailed to the cross as many believe. This is how God has been keeping His calendar which unites heaven with earth:

Based on the testimony of the Lord’s feasts, the 6000 years end in 2027. Why? Because if they ended in 2031 it would be in the spring, which would leave the Feast of Tabernacles unfulfilled. God is both author and finisher. He leaves no work undone. Tabernacles must be fulfilled in the type, just as every other feast has been. “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:34) We can therefore expect that the Lord will also fulfill Tabernacles which is a fall feast. This indicates that the 6000 years end in the fall of 2027. NO MAN KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.