Historicism stands as the sole eschatological framework with a robustly established credibility. Notably, the Bible’s most extensive time prophecies, spanning 2300 years (Daniel 8:14), encompassing the 69-weeks, 1-week, 70-weeks, and 1810-years time periods, can only be plausibly comprehended within its purview. Similarly, the 1260 days described in Daniel 7:25 (the horrific persecution of Christians by Rome between 538 and 1798) necessitate the application of what is commonly referred to as the “Year-for-a-Day” code (YDC).
Unsurprisingly, professional academics and evangelists have been profoundly invested in this line of thought due to its historically-demonstrated accuracy. Consequently the proposition that the 1260-day period of Daniel 12:7 is not the same as that of Daniel 7:25, can be very hard for some to even so much as consider. It feels far too confronting, particularly when Ellen White seems to unequivocally endorse the contrary view with these words:
“ ‘Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.’ And, says the prophet, “I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.” And again: “He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.”
The forty and two months [Revelation 13:5]
are the same as the ‘time and times and the dividing of time’, three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7[:25]—the time during which the papal power was to oppress God's people. This period, as stated in preceding chapters, began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, ‘He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity’ ” (Great Controversy 439.2). That all seems clear enough.
But, Ellen White also wrote trenchant words that appear to flatly contradict the above: “In the Scriptures are presented truths that relate especially to our own time [39 years beyond 1844].
To the period just prior to the appearing of the Son of man, the prophecies of the scripture point, and here their warnings and threatenings pre-eminently apply. The prophetic periods of Daniel, extending to the very eve of the consummation, throw a flood of light upon events then to transpire” (The Review and Herald, E G White, September 25, 1883).
The first statement has the “days” of Revelation 13:5 as years, ending in 1798. The second statement, written 25 years later, makes it clear that the time periods of Daniel 12 extend to the end of this world’s history and thus cannot be “years”. Which is correct? Can the two statements be reconciled? Should we simply walk away from it as so many people have, because it all feels too hard?
Jesus admonished us to “Take heed” of what he said to Daniel (Matthew 24:15, 42-44). So we cannot with integrity ignore it. Neither can we cling tenaciously to a view that is manifestly inadequate, albeit insisted upon by “priests of the Sanhedrin”.
Clearly we have a conundrum.
The phrase "forty and two months" appears twice in the Bible:
1. Revelation 11:2 and
2. Revelation 13:5.
The first (1) is in the context of the prophet John being told by the angel to measure the temple. “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty and two months”. The second one (2) relates specifically to the period of papal persecution between 538 and 1798 (1260 years). The expression, “a time and times and the dividing of time” she links specifically to Daniel 7:25 (also 1260 “days” or 3 ½ years). But Ellen White does not conflate these two expressions in her ‘GC-439.2’ statement with the prophecy found in Daniel 12:7, as a cursory or preconceived reading may suggest.
Daniel 12:7 says, “And I heard the man clothed in linen [Jesus], which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that...
(1) ...it shall be for a time, times, and an half [3 ½ years/1260 days]; and
(2) when he [the king of the North (11:40)] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people,
(3) all these things shall be finished.”(1) It is important to recognise that these most solemn words were spoken by Jesus himself and in a very dramatic manner.
(2) The “king of the North” did not succeed in scattering the power of the holy people by 1798 (the terminus of the 1260 “days” of papal persecution). On the contrary, Protestant America was very much on the rise in power and influence at that time and the persecuting power itself was “shattered” by the “deadly wound”.
(3) Certainly “all these things” were far from “finished” in 1798.
White
confirms that the “1260 days” of Daniel 7:25 and the “1260 days” of Revelation 13:5 both refer to the same period of papal persecution between the years 508 and 1798, and that the “days” are symbols for literal years.
However, she does not say the “1260 days” of Daniel 12:7 refer to the same period of time. It has just been assumed to be so. Thus the ‘GC-439.2’ statement and the ‘R&H-statement’ are congruent within Ellen White’s ambit of discussion, and importantly, do not confute the understanding that the “1260” of Daniel 12:7 are not “years” but literal “days” extending beyond 1844 “to the very eve of the consummation”. Correctly understood, then, the ‘GC-439.2’ statement adds further credibility to the thesis of the book, “1335 Days”.
Ellen White herself urged that we must always make the Bible our
sole rule of faith. Here are just a few examples:
1. “But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms” (GC page 595).
2. “Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light” (SM3, page 29).
3. “Cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticism in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be lost” (R&H, January 20, 1903).
These examples, and there are many more, illustrate her consistent message that the Bible alone should be the foundation of faith and doctrine.
White, herself, was obliged to relinquish fundamental positions as clearer light became available. For example she once famously supported the 'shut door' theory, believing that after 1844, salvation was no longer available to those who had not accepted the Millerite message. However, in 1848, she had a vision indicating that the 'shut door' referred to the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary, not to probationary time on Earth, indicating that the door to salvation remained ‘open’. By 1854, the majority of Adventists had abandoned the 'shut door' theory, aligning with White's later views. Our understanding of truth must always be progressive.
The master key to the enigma of the 1335 Days lies in recognising that all the events described from Daniel 11:40 to 12:13, without exception,
happen at the end of time. It simply isn’t possible to understand these time periods as being fulfilled prior to 1844 without violating Daniel’s record and Jesus’ own words. Most objectors studiously avoid addressing this fact and find much smaller and highly-nuanced issues to distract attention away from the proverbial “elephant in the room”.* The second key is to assess the weight of objective evidence with simple candour. Wherever there appears to be some ambiguity in inspired writings we should stand back and disinterestedly examine the Big Picture to see how the detail fits into it, not the other way around.
And be truly charitable to those who disagree with you.
“Time will tell.”
* See:
Swearingen, Marc A. (2015) "The 1260, 1290, and 1335 Days: A Response to Futurist Interpretations of Daniel 12,"