The Prophecies of Daniel
Part 17: 1,335 Days and 2,300 Days
After seventeen weeks of study we have finally come to the end of our study on the prophecies found in the Old Testament book of Daniel. I don’t know about you, but I’m almost sorry to see it end. If you have suggestions for further studies you would like us to cover please let me know.
But this morning we are going to wrap up our studying by finishing what we started two weeks ago in Daniel 12. The prophecies found in the book of Daniel started out with the large picture. First, we saw the whole expanse of time called the Times of the Gentiles and what empires would be in power during this time. Then with each successive prophecy God revealed more and more details about these empires, and their leaders.
Then the last prophecies covered the last world leader, known as the Antichrist, in great detail. Telling us where he would come from, how he would come to power, what he would do to Israel, etc.
And with this final chapter in Daniel we have seen that God ends His visions to Daniel with two specific lengths of time. Let’s read Daniel 12:11-12, “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. [12] Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”
These two lengths of time are found nowhere else in Scripture. This fact makes them very difficult to understand, because while this passage tells us when to begin counting this length of time and how long they will last, it doesn’t tell us what happens at the end of these lengths of time. Why give us such specific dates? What is the importance of them? What is God trying to tell us?
Moedim – Appointed Times
Two weeks ago I showed you how I believe the clue to understanding these times and what events they mark can be found in the Jewish feast days or days of feasting and commemoration. I think this because the Bible tells us that certain end time events will occur at appointed times.
For example, in Daniel 8:19 an angel appears to Daniel and says, “…I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.”
Daniel 11:27, 29, and 35 all mention something happening at the appointed time. And that phrase “appointed time” in the original Hebrew is the word moed from which comes moedim, a term referring to the Jewish holy days that occur each year at an appointed time.
9th of Av – The Beginning Date
So, in order to figure out at what appointed time these lengths of time will come to an end on, we first had to know at what appointed time they began. Daniel 11:12 told us to begin counting when the sacrifices are taken away and the Temple is made desolate. This will happen half way through the Tribulation period according to Daniel 9:27. So, we had to discover what Jewish holy day marks the middle of the seven-year Tribulation period. And I told you that I believe it will be the 9th of Av. This is a day of fasting and mourning for the Jewish people because of all the tragedy that has befallen them on this day throughout history.
But the fact that convinced me that the 9th of Av will mark the desecration of the third Temple by the Antichrist is the fact that both the first and the second Jewish temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av. It only seems reasonable then that the third Temple will likewise be desecrated on the same day.
1,290 Days – The Month of Adar and the Feast of Purim
With the 9th of Av being our starting point we then counted 1,290 days later or 3 years and 7 months into the future and came to the month of Adar and the feast of Purim. The entire month of Adar to Orthodox and Conservative Jews is a month of celebration and rejoicing.
The feast of Purim is observed in the month of Adar. This feast commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from complete annihilation at the hands of one evil man. The fascinating thing about the feast of Purim and the story behind it is that it foreshadows the Tribulation period in great detail. You can read about the feast of Purim in the Old Testament book of Esther.
Now, knowing what the feast of Purim celebrates and knowing that the 1,290 days brings us to the time of year when this feast is celebrated we can begin to see why God gave us this specific length of time to make note of.
I believe that 1,290 days after the third temple is desecrated the Jewish people will celebrate complete victory and freedom from annihilation at the hands of another evil man – the antichrist. At this time the Antichrist’s rule will have come to an end. Jesus Christ will have returned physically to earth. The Battle of Armageddon will have taken place. The judgment of the nations will be over. The Antichrist and the false prophet will have been cast into the Lake of Fire. Satan will have been bound in the bottomless pit, and the Promised Land will be restored to it’s rightful owners.
I also believe that when the 1,290 days are complete Romans 11:25-27 and the fullness of the Gentiles will be fulfilled.
Romans 11:25-27, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. [26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. [27] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’”
The last Gentile will have been saved, Israel’s eyes and hearts will be opened, godlessness will be turned away and Israel’s sins will be forgiven 1,290 days after the Antichrist desecrates their third temple.
That is what we looked at two weeks ago. Today we are going to continue this study by looking at the second length of time as mention in Daniel 12:12, “Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”
1,335 Days – Nissan 24
So, let’s see if we can figure out what happens after this length of time. It must be something important if God goes to the trouble of revealing it to us. And it evidently is something good and perhaps even life changing since the person who waits for it and reaches it is given a blessing.
Well, we know that we start counting the 1,335 days at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the temple is desecrated. Daniel 12:11 tells us that. And from our studies so far, we’ve determined that on the Jewish calendar that event will most likely occur on the 9th of Av. So we need to count forward 1,335 days from the 9th of Av.
Converting 1,335 days into years we see that it equals 3 years, 8 months, and 15 days. Look at the handout that shows the months of the Jewish year and find the month of Av. This is our starting point. If we count forward three years we’re still in the month of Av. Now count forward eight months. This brings us to the first month or the month of Nissan. (Sometimes called Aviv or Abib). Now this is a fascinating month on the Jewish calendar because in the month of Nissan, three of the seven major feasts take place.
The clue to understanding what happens at the end of the 1,335 days depends on which of these feast days the length of time is completed. In our counting, we still have 15 more days to add in. If we started on the 9th of Av, 3 years and 8 months brings us to the 9th of Nissan. If we then add 15 more days, we find ourselves at the 24th of Nissan.
After reading the Biblical commands as to when these feasts are to take place (Leviticus 23), I believe that the 24th of Nissan may be the day the Feast of the First Fruits will occur. I say may occur because this feast does not fall on the same calendar date year after year. It occurs the day after the first Sabbath after Passover.
So, while I may be wrong, I believe that 1,335 days from the 9th of Av or mid-Tribulation, will bring us to the Feast of First Fruits. Therefore, we need to know more about this feast in order to figure out why those who wait for and reach that day are blessed.
The Feast of First Fruits
Every year on the Feast of First Fruits the Jews were to bring the first portion of their harvest as an offering to God. These first fruits were a pledge of the greater harvest to follow, and the offering of them was a way of expressing trust in God’s provision. Just as He provided the first fruits, so He would also provide the rest of the crops the people needed.
But there is deeper spiritual meaning behind this feast. Just as Passover commemorated how God saved the first born male Jews from death in Egypt, the Feast of First Fruits marks the day that God led the entire Jewish nation through the waters of the Red Sea.
“When the Israelites went down into the depths of the Red Sea and came up alive on the other side, they were demonstrating how God would bring salvation to the world,” because years later Jesus Christ would die for the sins of the world. He would go down into the depths of the earth and would come up alive defeating sin, hell, and death.
In fact, Jesus literally fulfilled this feast because He rose from the dead on the exact day the Jewish people were celebrating the Feast of First Fruits!
So, spiritually speaking, the Feast of First Fruits represents resurrection. It represents bring forth life from what was dead.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But Christ has indeed raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. [22] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own turn, Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”
So, if the Feast of First Fruits represents resurrection and the 1,335 days comes to an end on the Feast of First Fruits could this mean that there will be another resurrection at this time? If so that would explain why those who wait for and reach that time are considered blessed.
But is there any Scriptural support for there being a resurrection after the Tribulation, but before the Millennium?
Revelation 20:4-6, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years [RESURRECTION]. [5] (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Here is the resurrection we were looking for. The Tribulation martyrs will be resurrected at this time. So we have proof of a resurrection occurring during this time frame. And if we have counted our days correctly, this post-Tribulation, pre-Millennium resurrection will occur of the Feast of First Fruits, 1,335 days after the desecration of the Temple by the Antichrist on the 9th of Av.
2,330 Days – Kislev 29
Now, since we’ve been counting certain lengths of time found in the book of Daniel and no where else, there is another length of time I want to look at that we have studied before. Back in Daniel 8:13-14 we came across another length of time.
“Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, ‘How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled – the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?’ [14] He said to me, ‘It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.’”
This length of time, 2,300 evenings and mornings is 2,300 days. From these verses we also know that this length of time again beginnings with the desecration of the temple midway through the Tribulation period. And unlike the other two lengths of time we are clearly told what will happen at the end of the 2,300 days – the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.
But what I find interesting is that now that we know when the desecration will take place on the Jewish calendar – the 9th of Av – we can also figure out on the calendar when the Temple will be reconsecrated. And believe it our not it will be during another appointed time or feast day.
Let’s look at this. 2,300 days translated to 6 years, 4 months, and 20 days. Again, look at the Jewish calendar months and begin with the 9th of Av. Six years gets us to the month of Av again. Add 4 months and we reach the 9th of Kislev. And then add 20 days and we find ourselves at the 29th of Kislev. This date is right smack dab in the middle of the Feast of Lights known as Chanukah!
So why is that significant? What’s so important about the Temple being reconsecrated during Chanukah?
Because Chanukah is the feast in which the Jews celebrate the reconsecration of the Second Temple after it had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes – who is a foreshadow of the Antichrist.
Amazing isn’t it? All the many beautiful clues and pictures God gives us in His Word. They are hidden in plain sight just waiting for His children to discern them. He has told us not only what the future holds, but when the events foretold will take place.
Beginning and Ending of Tribulation Period
Now, before we completely end our study I thought it would be fun to calculate one last length of time. Since we know when the middle of the Tribulation will occur on the Jewish Calendar, I thought it might be interesting to see when the seven-year Tribulation will begin and end on the Jewish Calendar. We would figure this out in the same way we’ve done all the other lengths of time.
We know that from the midpoint of the Tribulation there is 1,260 days to either the beginning or the end of the Tribulation. 1,260 days is 3 years and 6 months. If we start on the 9th of Av and count 3 years and 6 months forward or backward we come to the month of Shevat. The only Jewish holiday I could find occurring in the month of Shevat is called Tu B’Shvat which basically translates to the 15th of Shevat.
New Year of Trees – 15th of Shevat
Tu B’Shvat is the new year of trees. It is when they begin counting the year for the growth and production of fruit trees. They do this because they are only supposed to harvest the fruit from fruit trees for six consecutive years and on the seventh year they are not allowed to grow anything. They also are supposed to pay tithes on the harvests they reap and they are not allowed to pay one year’s tithes with the produce from a different year. This is why they keep track of the years. And the 15th of Shevat is when the new year for trees begins.
So what does that have to do with the beginning and ending of the 7-year Tribulation? Well, in Judaism, it is taught that the seasons of the year correspond to the “seasons” or times of the day. Fall corresponds to evening-time, the dead of winter to midnight, spring to dawn, and summer to mid-day. This being so, it follows that the 15th of Sevat is about 3 or 4 AM since it’s smack-dab in the middle of the winter season.
What’s most significant about 3 or 4 AM is that it’s just not clear whether it’s extremely early in the morning, or extremely late at night. And the 15th of Shevat is the point at which the tree stops being nourished by the waters of the precious years, and begins to be nourished by the new year’s waters. It is a turning point that marks the end of one year and the beginning of the next. The 15th of Shevat is also associated with a time of spiritual growth and learning.
Okay, so let’s put some points together. The Tribulation period will be a turning point in history. It is the final days of the Times of the Gentiles. It is when the reign of the Gentiles will come to an end and the Jews will once again be the leading nation on earth. The Tribulation period will also be a time of spiritual growth for many of the Jewish people, and some Gentiles as well. The Temple will be rebuilt. The two witnesses will be proclaiming the kingdom. The 144,000 Jews will be evangelizing wherever they can.
Also, 3 or 4 AM marks the 4th Watch of the night. This is the time in which Jesus appeared to the disciples walking on the water (Mark 6). They had been struggling against a big wind in the middle of the sea for most of the night when Jesus appears out of nowhere, during the fourth watch to calm the wind. I believe this is a picture of Jesus’ appearance at the end of the Tribulation period. He will come from heaven, suddenly, without warning, and defeat the Antichrist and Satan and calm the spiritual storm the world has gone through for the last seven years.
So, just briefly let me review. After 1,260 days or three and a half years from when the Temple is desecrated on the 9th of Av, the Antichrist’s reign on earth will come to an end and Christ will return to earth. This will be around the time of the 15th of Shevat or the new year of trees.
1,290 days from the 9th of Av all of Israel will be saved physically and spiritually. They will be grafted back in, their eyes will be opened. The fullness of the Gentiles will be complete. And this will happen in the month of Adar during the Feast of Purim, which celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an evil man.
1,335 days from the 9th of Av a resurrection of the righteous saints from the Tribulation Period will take place. This resurrection will happen on in the month of Nissan on the Feast of First Fruits.
2,300 days from the 9th of Av the temple in Jerusalem will be reconsecrated from the Millennial Age to follow. And this event will occur in the month of Kislev during the Feast of Lights or Chanukah which is a celebration on the reconsecration of the second temple after its desecration by an evil Antichrist-like man.
That brings us to the end of Daniel and the end of our study of the prophecies found in this fascinating book. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. There are copies of all of the lessons in this series on the desk in the south room should you like to study them again yourselves. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have concerning this study.
Also if you have a topic that you would like to see us study from the pulpit like we have Daniel, please let me know. I always appreciate knowing what’s on your minds and where you are in your walks with the Lord.
Sermon Sources:
Hagee, John. His Glory Revealed. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Copyright 1999.
The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, King James Version. Edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers. Chattanooga, TN. Copyright 1991.
The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, New International Version. Edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers. Chattanooga, TN. Copyright 1996.
The Holy Bible. English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL. Crossway Bibles. Copyright 2002.
Larkin, Rev. Clarence. The Book of Daniel. Clarence Larkin Estate, Glenside, PA. Copyright 1929.
Months of the Jewish Year. www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm March 16, 2008.
Stone, Dr. Perry. The Antichrist Fact File. Two-hour VHS teaching. Copyright 2003. www.perrystone.org.
Stone, Dr. Perry. Breaking the Code of the Feasts. Cleveland, TN. Voice of Evangelism. Copyright 2007.
Stone, Dr. Perry. Daniel:Unlocking the Secrets of the Scroll. Two-hour VHS teaching. Copyright 2007. www.perrystone.org.
Stone, Dr. Perry. Plucking the Eagle’s Wings. Cleveland, TN. Voice of Evangelism. Copyright 2001.
Stone, Dr. Perry. Unleashing the Beast. Book. Cleveland, TN. Pathway Press and the Voice of Evangelism. Copyright 2003.
Strong, James. Abingdon’s Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with the Exclusive Key-Word Comparison. Nashville, TN. Copyright 1980.
www.torah.org/learning/yomtov.html
