Lesson 6 for May 6, 2023

We must proclaim that the time of the Judgment has come.

Every human being will be judged NOW (Revelation 14:6-7).
Why has the Judgment begun? Isn’t it a future event? How
can we know when it began?
We can answer these questions by studying Daniel 8 and 9.
They describe the time of the Judgment.

The judgment and the cleansing of the Sanctuary

Prophecies to know the time of the Judgment:
2,300 days
70 weeks
The last week
The time of the Judgment
“Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who
was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the
transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be
trampled underfoot?’ And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then
the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’” (Daniel 8:13-14)
Leviticus 16 explains how the cleansing of the
sanctuary in the Day of Atonement was performed
(Lv. 16:16). It was symbolic of our High Priest (Jesus)
cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary (Heb. 9:23-24).
The Day of Atonement was a moment of judgment
for the people of Israel. They should repent and
ask for the forgiveness of their sins to be reassured
that they were actually forgiven (Lv. 16:29-30).

The prophecy about the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14

refers to the End Time (Dn. 8:19). Daniel was told when the Heavenly
Sanctuary would be cleansed with a Judgment based on the sacrifice
of Jesus (not because there’s sin in Heaven, but to end evil).
 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,
but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” (Daniel 8:26 NIV)

A weird vision: a ram with two horns (Dn. 8:3-4), a

Ram: Media and Persia
male goat with a horn that breaks into four
(v. 20)
(Dn. 8:5-8), a little horn that takes away the daily
sacrifices and casts down the sanctuary (Dn. 8:9-12),
two saints that speak about days and cleansing Male goat: Greece
(Dn. 8:13-14). Daniel couldn’t understand it (v. 21-22)
(Dn. 8:27).
However, Gabriel explained it to Daniel (Dn. 8:15-26). Little horn: After
Greece (i.e. Rome)
Gabriel didn’t explain the section of the 2,300 days. (v. 23-25)
That’s the part that Daniel didn’t understand. In
Hebrew, the word hâzôn is used to refer to the 2,300 days: It is true
whole vision (v. 1), while mar’ah is used to refer to (v. 26)
the 2,300 days (v. 26-27).
 2,300 years
This period begins during the Media-Persia empire (Dn. 8:20) This period ends in the End Time (Dn. 8:19)

Note on the “little horn”

Some interpret the little horn as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king that desecrated
the temple of Jerusalem and belonged to one of the 4 kingdoms that came from Greece.
However, the actions of the little horn do not take place until “the latter time” (v. 19).
However, Antiochus died in 164 BC, much earlier than the End Time.
The little horn comes “out of one of them” (v. 9). The Hebrew word used for “them” in this
context is masculine, so it can only refer to heaven (which is also masculine) and not with
horns (which are feminine). Therefore, the little horn comes out of one of “the four winds
of heaven” (v. 8). It came from the west of Palestine and Greece: Rome.
 “Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:” (Daniel 9:23 NIV)

Gabriel came before Daniel again to explain him the “vision.” He used the Hebrew word
mar’ah, which is used in Daniel 8 to refer to the 2,300 days. This way Daniel could
understand what he didn’t before.
70 weeks (490 years
according to the
day/year principle)
are “decreed” or “cut”
[chathak] for the
people of Israel During the first 49 years They should After the death
(Dn. 9:24). (7 weeks), they had to prepare to receive of the Messiah,
rebuild Jerusalem. This the Messiah during Jerusalem and
happened during the the following 434 the temple
times of Ezra and years: 62 weeks, would be
Nehemiah since 457 BC. until 27 AD. destroyed
(Dn. 9:25) (Dn. 9:26)
 2,300 years
This period begins during the Media-Persia empire (Dn. 8:20) This period ends in the End Time (Dn. 8:19)

70 weeks (490 years)

49 years 434 years

457 BC 408 BC 27 AD
Artaxerxes gave The Jews had
Jerusalem full to begin
political and preparing for
judicial autonomy. the coming of
He appointed Ezra the Messiah
as legislator the Prince
(Ez. 7:12-26), and (Jesus) who
Nehemiah began to would be
rebuild Jerusalem anointed by
(Neh. 2:5) His baptism
“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the
week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” (Daniel 9:27)

Jesus and the apostles gave Israel the last

chance to accept God’s covenant for 7 years
(from 27 AD to 34 AD).
Israel definitely rejected the Messiah by killing
Stephen (34 AD). They rejected the covenant as
a nation.
In the middle of that period, Jesus was crucified
(3 and a half years after He was baptized).
He confirmed the covenant by His death
(Mt. 26:28), and the sacrifices of the temple
became meaningless (Mr. 15:38).
 2,300 years
This period begins during the Media-Persia empire (Dn. 8:20) This period ends in the End Time (Dn. 8:19)

70 weeks (490 years)

49 years 434 years 3 ½ years 3 ½ years

457 BC 408 BC 27 AD 31 AD 34 AD
Artaxerxes gave The Jews had Jesus When the
Jerusalem full to begin confirmed Sanhedrin
political and preparing for the covenant ordered the
judicial autonomy. the coming of with His stoning of
He appointed Ezra the Messiah blood, thus Stephen,
as legislator the Prince annulling the Israel
(Ez. 7:12-26), and (Jesus) who old sacrificial rejected the
Nehemiah began to would be system covenant as a
rebuild Jerusalem anointed in nation
(Neh. 2:5) His baptism
“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;” (Revelation 14:7)

Gabriel ended his explanation in Daniel 9 (Dn. 9:21). However,

Daniel 9 only covers the first 490 years of the 2,300-year period.
What happened during the other 1,810 years?
The “little horn” (Pagan and Papal Rome) tries to destroy God’s
people and replaces the sacrifice of Jesus with false worship. It
attacks the foundations of the Heavenly Sanctuary where Jesus is
interceding for us (Heb. 7:25; 9:24). It teaches a false concept of
God and His justice.
The cleansing of the Sanctuary
began in 1844. God is vindicated,
and His people are judged and
redeemed. What should we do?
Repent and preach the Gospel
(Lv. 16:29; Rev. 14:7).
 2,300 years
This period begins during the Media-Persia empire (Dn. 8:20) This period ends in the End Time (Dn. 8:19)

70 weeks (490 years)

1,810 years
49 years 434 years 3 ½ years 3 ½ years
457 BC 408 BC 27 AD 31 AD 34 AD 1844 AD
Artaxerxes gave The Jews had Jesus When the We could call this last
Jerusalem full to begin confirmed Sanhedrin period “the time of
political and preparing for the covenant ordered the the Gentiles.” After
judicial autonomy. the coming of with His stoning of the 2,300 years, the
He appointed Ezra the Messiah blood, thus Stephen, Investigative
as legislator the Prince annulling the Israel Judgment begins.
(Ez. 7:12-26), and (Jesus) who old sacrifice rejected the Everyone in the
Nehemiah began to would be system covenant as a universe can see
rebuild Jerusalem anointed in nation God’s justice as He
(Neh. 2:5) His baptism redeems us
“Solemn are the scenes connected with the
closing work of the atonement. Momentous
are the interests involved therein. The
judgment is now passing in the sanctuary
above […]
All who would have their names retained in the
book of life, should now, in the few remaining
days of their probation, afflict their souls
before God by sorrow for sin, and true
repentance. There must be deep, faithful
searching of heart.”
E. G. W. (Sons and Daughters of God, December 14)