The 1,335 Days of Daniel's Prophecy
By Clovis E. Miller
(Revised Sept. 2011)
In both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation, we are given to understand that in the future there shall come a seven year period of tribulation (Dan. 9:27). This period is to be diveded into two equal parts: the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:5-8); and the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21). The last 3 1/2 years (the Great Tribulation), is what is being referred to in Daniel Chapter 12. It's the time of "Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). Since God changed Jacob's name to "Israel" (Gen. 32:28); we can also understand it as the time of "Israel's trouble". The 1,260 days of great tribulation, are accompanied by two short periods of time. The first period refer to events which usher it in, and the second to things which will bring it to its conclusion.
Daniel 12:7 states,
"...it shall be for a time, times and half, and when he shall have accompolished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished ."
Rev. 12: 6,14 amplifies on this:
"And the woman fled into the wildreness , where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and threescore days...
...into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
These verses are in agreement, and together they establish the time period of 1,260 days of great tribulation.
In Dan. 12:11-12, we find the two shorter time periods, mentioned above, which are related, although they are found on opposite ends of the tribulation period. The first is a 30 day period which occurs just prior to the beginning of the 1,260 days of great tribulation, whereby we arrive at the 1,290 day figure. This time period deals with the pollution of the temple which is to be rebuilt in Jerusalem during the tribulaion period. The second period is a 75 day extension of time following the great tribulation, during which the pollution is cleansed and the temple is re-dedicated. This gives us the 1,335 day period. The verses concerning this read as follows:
"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."
"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away,..."
This phrase tells us that we are to begin counting the days from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away, or halted. Traditionally, it has been understood that this day, and the day wherein the abomination of desolation is set up, are one and the same. However, if we consider that these two events occur, not simultaneously, but within a very close interval, then the 30 day period becomes more apparent. Thirty days before the midpoint of the tribulation may be the very time that the Gentiles will be given control of the city (Rev. 11:2). The Scripture may be conveying the idea here, that the daily sacrifice will be taken away; and then 30 days later, at the exact mid-point of the seven year tribulation period, the abomination of desolation (the image of the beast - Rev. 13:14-17) shall be set up.
We know, from Rev. 13 and II Thess. 2: 3-4, that the abomination of desolation will be set up in the temple when the Antichrist enters therein and proclaims himself to be God. That event will usher in the 1,260 days (42 months) of great tribulation.
Therefore, what we may be seeing here is, the final thirty days of the time span called, "the beginning of sorrows", as a transitional period, whereby the daily sacrifice of the Jews is halted; and the image of the beast is created (Rev. 13:14). The culmination of this thirty day period will result in the dedication of the image in the temple at Jerusalem (the abomination of desolation, is set up); and the proclaimation by the Antichrist that he is God. Hence, 1,230 days into the first half of the seven years of tribulation, the daily sacrifice will be taken away. The setting up of the image of the beast 30 days later, will end the period (1,260 days) referred to as, "the beginning of sorrows", and commence the 1,260 days of "great tribulation". So, from the taking away of the daily sacrifice, until the end of the "great tribulation", equals 1,290 days.
"..the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days..."
The 1,335 day mentioned here, should not be seen as a 45 day extension of the 1,290 day period; but rather as a 75 day period following the 1,260 days of great tribulation. This is because the temple is actually polluted on day one of the great tribulation, not thirty days prior to it when the daily sacrifice was taken away. So our counting of the 1,335 days should begin with day one of the "great tribulation".
To understand how all of this fits together, we need to look at the Feast Days of the Lord in Leviticus 23, which are prophetic in structure. In that chapter, we read of seven holy days which the Lord commanded Israel is to observe each year. These are called "holy convocations" (public rehersals), and are a foreshadow of the work of the coming Messiah (Jesus). Here will be briefly covered the feast days and their fulfillments.
Passover
The first of these feast days is Passover, which commerates the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.
Jesus, as the pre-incarnate Word of God, had a mission set before him to complete. And here is what the Feast Days of the Lord tell us about that mission:
Jesus was to be born into this world and die as the Passover Lamb of God. We are told this in the New Testament:
In John 1: 29 John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul also stated that , "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us". (I Cor.5:7)
By his death on the Cross, Jesus literally fulfilled this part of Passover (14 Nissan - called the Preparation Day in the New Testament) in the very smallest detail .
Unleavened Bread
The Second part of Passover is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is a seven day festival which begins shortly after sundown, following the slaying of the Passover Lamb. It begins and ends with "sabbaths" or days of rest. (15 and 21 Nissan)
How did Jesus fulfill this part of Passover?
FIRSTLY,
Jesus declared that he was "the bread of life" which came down from heaven.
John 6:32-35 states,
32) "Then Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33) For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34) And they said to him, "Lord give us this bread always."
35) And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."
Jesus declared that he was the "Bread of Life". The bread of Passover is unleavened; leaven being a type of sin.
SECONDLY,
Jesus was born at Bethlehem.
The word, Bethlehem, in Hebrew means "House of Bread". In Hebrew it's pronounced "Bayth-Lekh' em". So Jesus "the bread of life" which came down from Heaven, came to us through the House of Bread. The Hebrew word, Lekh'em, can also refer to the grain from which bread is made.
Jesus said "....unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24). This was a prophetic reference not only to his death, burial and resurrection, but also to the Church which would grow out of it (the church, being the "much grain" to which he referred).
THIRDLY,
In Mark 14:22, Jesus broke the bread on the Passover, gave it to his disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." The Scriptures are clear that the Feast of Unleavened Bread pointed to Jesus. The "matzah" or bread which is used used during the Passover season was made without leaven. As stated above, leaven is considered to be a type of sin. The bread was totally free of leaven, just as Jesus was totally free of sin
The bread was, and still is, cooked on a grill causing it to have a stripped appearance (Isa. 53:5 declares, "...with his stripes we are healed.), I Peter 2:24 (says, "By whose stripes ye were healed").
The Bread is also perforated with small holes to help the baking process. Psalms 22:16 records, "They pierced my hands and my feet". Also, in Zechariah 12:10 we find, "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced." This theme is repeated in John 19:34. Then also in the Book of Revelation 1:7 where we read: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even they who pierced him."
Firstfruits
The 3rd feast which Jesus fulfilled is called "Firstfruits". This was a very early harvesting of the grain (Barley) by which a sample was brought before the Lord by the High Priest in order that the Lord might bless the fields of Israel that they would have an abundant crop for that year. This "wave offering" called an "omer", was to be presented before the Lord on the "morrow after the Sabbath", which was the first Sunday which occurred after the sacrificing of the Passover lamb. It's mentioned in Lev. 23:11. Jesus ascended to heaven on that day {John 20:17} to present Himself unto God the Father, as the "...firstfruits of them that slept..." {I Cor. 15:20, 23} thus fulfilling this feast day.
He quickly returned from heaven and dwelt with his followers for 40 days, before ascending up to heaven a second time, to be seated at the right hand of the Father, where He is constantly making intercession for the saints.
I Cor. 15:20 states, " But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Feast of Weeks
The 4th Feast day of the Lord is called the Feast of Weeks or "Ingathering". It is so called because the people were to count from the "morrow after the Sabbath" (Firstfruits), seven Sabbaths (49 days). Then on the morning after the seventh Sabbath they were to make another wave offering to the Lord. One from an ingathering of grain (wheat this time) which was more plentiful and mature.
Jesus told his disciples to abide at Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came and endued them with power. They were to then go unto the ends of the earth proclaiming the Gospel about Jesus.
The Feast of Weeks occurred 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. The Church calls this day "Pentecost" but it was an actual fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks or Ingathering. Jewish tradition (post temple days) holds that this was the actual day that Moses brought the Law down from Mount Sinai, and found the people worshipping the golden calf. In Exodus 32:25 Moses said," Whoever is on the Lord's side -- come to me! And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him."
Here we have the original Ingathering.
Also --- on that day about three thousand people were slain. (EX. 32:28)
In contrast to this, on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down, those filled with the Spirit went out and preached to the people. Here the Feast of Weeks or Ingathering was fulfilled as about three thousand people were saved on that day. (Acts 2:41).
The contrast here is obvious:
By the breaking of the law came death, but by faith came salvation and life.
Feast of Trumpets
The 5th feast on God's timetable is called the Feast of Trumpets. This celebration begins on the 1st day of the 7th month (which is called Tishri). It is the first feast of the fall season and usually occurs in September, or October, of each year on our calender. In ancient Israel this was the month in which the final harvest of the year was to be completed. It's the time of the fruit harvest (especially grapes). On most of our calendars it will appear under the name: Rosh Hashana, which means "Head of the Year". It's the first day of the "Civil calendar" and is believed, by many, to commerate the first day of creation (Gen. 1:5).
Jesus fulfilled the appointments of the first three feast of Israel perfectly (to the exact day!) These feast days or "convocations" which were observed yearly for more than 1,300 years prior to His death, and were to be rehearsals for the actual events. Fifty days later, on the Feast of In-gathering (which we call Pentecost): on that exact day, the Church was born. From the fulfillment of the first four feast days, We can be sure that on whatever day Jesus returns, it will be a fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets.
In I Thessalonians, chapter 4, we read:
16) "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, And thus we shall always be with the Lord"
I Corinthians 15 says:
51) "Behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-
52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is the 6th Feast day of of the Lord. This is the most solemn holy day of the year for the Jewish people. In that day there shall be no work done; it is also a day of fasting for the Scripture declares:
Lev. 23: 27" ... you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
28) And you shall do no work in that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
29) for any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people."
How do we know that the Second coming of Jesus will occur on this day?
Firstly, after the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, it's the next Feast day on the prophetic calendar to be fulfilled. All of the feast days point to events related to Messiah's mission of earth. He was to be the Passover lamb; He was to be that true bread which came down from heaven; He was to be the firstfruits from the dead; He was to ascend to heaven and send another comforter (the Holy Spirit); He is to return for the church with the blast of a trumpet; He is to come to redeem Israel; and He is to reign on earth and dwell (tabernacle) with men for 1,000 years.
Secondly, in the Jewish understanding, on the Day of Atonement, the judgment or fate of each individual will be made known and sealed. Jesus is also coming to judge all nations (Matt. 25)
In Zechariah 12:10 it states:
"And I will pour on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look upon Me whom they pierced, Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."
12) And the land shall mourn, every family by itself..."
then in Chapter 13:6 we read:
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, These with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."
Revelation 1:7 makes reference to that day as well:
7) Behold He is coming with clouds, and every eye willl see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him..."
When Jesus comes at the end of the Tribulation period the Jews, not the Antichrist, will be in control of Jerusalem. This is confirmed in Zechariah 14.
1) "For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem...
3) Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations. As he fights in the day of battle.
4) And in that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives."The battle spoken of here is the Battle of Armageddon.
You will also recall that Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 10-12) So shall he return to the same place to begin the fulfillment of Israel's most solemn and holy day which is called "the Day of Atonement". In that day will be conclude the 1,260 days of great tribulation, which followed the pollution of the temple in Jerusalem.
It is at this point that we see the start of the 75 day period of Daniel 12 by which we can understand the 1,335 day mystery, which concludes with the cleansing of the temple in which Messiah will dwell.
If we count 75 days from the Day of Atonement, that brings us to the Jewish holy days of Hanukkah (Chanuka). The word Hanukkah means, "dedication" and is mentioned in Scripture as the "feast of the dedication" (John 10:22).
Those days commerate the time in 165 BC, when the Hasmonean Family, led by Mattathias and Judah Maccabee, freed Israel from the pagan Syrians, who under Antiochus Epiphanes IV, had set up an abomination (a statute) in the temple, and sacrificed a pig upon the altar there. The temple was cleansed, restored and re-dedicated by the Maccabees.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV is seen as a type of the Antichrist, who will also pollute the temple by setting up the image of the beast within it. Hence, the 75 days, between the revelation of Jesus Christ, on the Day of Atonement, and the re-dedication of the temple on Hanukkah, may explain how the 1,335 days are arrived at (1,260 + 75 = 1,335).
Also, we may consider that the Day of Atonement occurs in the fall of each year, on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishri. If the revelation of Jesus Christ occurs on that day, to end the 42 months of great tribulation; and we count backwards from that point, 42 months, that brings us to the 10 day of the month of Nissan, in the spring.
This is significant, because it was on that day the the people of Israel chose the sacrifice to be consecrated for the Passover meal (Ex. 12:3). On the 14th day of the month, the selected lamb was to be slain. It was allowed that the lamb could be taken from among either sheep or goats (Ex. 12:5). With regard to the image of the beast to be set up in to temple, initiating the 42 months of great tribulation, we may be seeing a sort of inverted symbolism come into play here.
It may be that the image of the beast, set up in the temple in Jerusalem, by the Antichrist will be the statute of a lamb (taken from among the goats). As shown earlier in this article, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is symbolized as the Passover lamb of God. It is also reckoned from other Scriptural references that he was selected from among sheep not goats (Isa. 53:6-7).
In the judgment of nations (Matt. 25: 31-34), sheep are seen as representing the righteous. Goats, on the other hand, are seen as representing the wicked. Therefore, consider the possibility that on the 10th day of Nissan, the Passover Lamb of God (Jesus) was consecrated; and on the 14th day He lost His life (outside the city).
So, it may be, that on the 10th day of Nissan, the image of a goat may be set up and consecrated in the temple at Jerusalem; and on the 14th day of Nissan, the lifeless image (Rev. 13:15) will be given life (inside the city). The mirrored opposite! Exactly 42 months later, on the Day of Atonement (10 Tishri), the true Lamb of God will be revealed from heaven and be received at Jerusalem.
A common symbol of satanic worship is the inverted pentagram (5 pointed star) which is depicted as representing the head of a goat.
The goat's head shown above, within the downward-pointing pentagram, is from La Clef de la Magie Noire by the Rosicrucian Stanislas de Guaita (1897). The word Samael, above the head, is the Hebrew word used as the proper name for the chief of the fallen angels (Satan). This is verified in the Jewish Talmud: 'the wicked angel Samael, chief of all the satans.'
As far as the name "Lilith" goes, this has been stated: "In Jewish folklore, from the 8th–10th Century Alphabet of Ben Sira onwards Lilith becomes Adam's first wife, who was created at the same time and from the same earth as Adam. This contrasts with Eve, who was created from one of Adam's ribs. The legend was greatly developed during the Middle Ages, in the tradition of Aggadic midrashim, the Zohar and Jewish mysticism.[3] In the 13th Century writings of Rabbi Isaac ben Jacob ha-Cohen, for example, Lilith left Adam after she refused to become subservient to him and then would not return to the Garden of Eden after she mated with archangel Samael.[4]" (From Wikipedia).
The reference in Exodus 12 to taking the paschal offering from either sheep or goats, may also be pointing to types of the messiah and the anti- messiah. Jesus is seen in the Book of Revelation as the Lamb of God (a sheep), in heaven. The Antichrist, during the great tribulation, may be seen as the lamb of Satan (a goat). The former representing the true Prince of Peace; the latter the false prince of peace:
"...and he shall magnify himself, and by peace shall destroy many: and he shall also stand against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand." (Dan. 8:25)
Of course, a number of other things will occur during the time immediately following the revelation of Jesus. These will include: the gathering of the elect from the four corners of the earth {Matt. 24:31 ; Rev.19:7}; the resurrection of the tribulation saints {Rev. 20:4}; the judgement of the nations {Matt. 25:30-31}; the marriage supper of the Lamb {Rev. 19:7-9}, wherein the wealth of the wicked will be handed over to the righteous {Prov. 13:22 ; Zech. 14:14 ; Rev. 19:17-18}; the cleansing of the land from the death brought about by Armageddon {Matt. 13:41-42}, and the conferring of authority upon the saints to rule over the earth {Rev.5:9}.
Jesus and the saints will then begin the 1,000 year reign, which will see the natural creation once again realize its potential, just as it did in the days of Adam and Eve. It's the incessant problem with sin that will cause the earth to be ruled with a "rod of iron", during that time; and will ultimately be the reason why this present earth shall pass away at the end of the Millenial reign of Christ and the saints.
Read also: the 2,300 Days of Daniel's Prophecy (Chapter 8)
