August 10: THE TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED DAYS (part 1)

And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days, then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14

As prophecy, this period of time, two thousand three hundred days, is actually years. This is the longest time prophecy in the Bible, and it points to a defining moment in the history of the world. But when does it begin? The first clue, found in Daniel 9:25, points to other clues (see Ezra 7 and Nehemiah 2). The short answer for the beginning of the twenty-three hundred days is 457BC. As we move forward through Daniel’s book, this will come into focus. There is an internal time-line within Daniel’s book, and various events can be rightly placed upon it, but only as we allow the Bible to interpret itself.*

The question voiced by the angel in verse 13 had weighed heavily on Daniel’s mind. The vision of terrible suffering for God’s people was greatly troubling to Daniel. How long was it to last? The answer from the other angel in today’s verse was spoken directly to Daniel, who has recorded it for us. The phrase, then the sanctuary shall be cleansed, directs our minds to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur in Hebrew).

The middle of the three fall feasts, the Day of Atonement was the most solemn day of the year, preceded by the feast of Trumpets: ten days to direct the people’s concentrated attention to the coming judgment of God. In the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement, the people of God were instructed to have a time of deep reflection, inviting the LORD’s examination, confession accompanied by repentance, and efforts for humble restoration of damaged relationships in all sincerity and truth. The spirit of this intense period was well expressed by King David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23).

All year long, confessed sins were “recorded” in the sanctuary in blood. But on the Day of Atonement, this record was ceremonially removed—or cleansed—from the sanctuary, and the people were pronounced to be at-one-ment with God! Oh, how He loves us and desires us to be in agreement with His perfect ways! He says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

The cleansing of the sanctuary is a reminder of the reality of the heavenly dwelling of God and what our resurrected Savior is doing there (see Hebrews 8:2). Many of God’s people have been unaware of this reality due to the cast[ing] down of truth by the little horn (Daniel 8:11-12). Now is a good time to thank God for His amazing plan. Those who confess and forsake their sin will be free from the Accuser’s accusations. God will see their names in the Book of Life and say something like: “Hmmm. Is that so? My records do not reflect that!”

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

*Chapter 2 outlines the rise and fall of empires that have a direct impact upon God’s people, beginning with Babylon sacking Jerusalem in 605BC. Babylon was overpowered by Medo-Persia in 539BC. Persia was taken by Greece in 331BC, and Greece by Rome in 168BC. After Rome collapsed into divided Rome in 476AD, its capital city became the seat of power and authority for the Roman church, which will continue until Jesus returns. Subsequent chapters supply more details and add perspective.