The three distinct time periods mentioned in Daniel chapter 12 (1260, 1290, and 1335 days) have long been a source of confusion. It is widely assumed that the 1260 days (3½ years) referred to in Daniel 12:7 correspond to those in Daniel 7:25 and the Year-for-a-Day (YDC) “code” has been applied to all the time periods of chapter 12 for consistency’s sake. But while this is quite understandable – and staunchly defended – it is not correct.
All the events described in Daniel 12 occur “at the end of time” (12:9). None of them can be shown to have occurred by 1798, or 1844: Michael has not “stood up”, the unprecedented “time of trouble” hasn’t happened, the dead have not been raised (12:2), “the power of the holy people” has not been scattered/shattered and they have not been “delivered” from their time of Jacob’s trouble. Any interpretation of these time periods that posits events preceding 1844 fails irreparably. This criterion is inherently unavoidable from a hermeneutical perspective. “Years” are impossible to reconcile in this context.
Arbitrarily counting backwards from 1844 in order to establish a starting point for the 1335 days (509 AD, which was subsequently “adjusted” to 508 AD by Charles Fitch and Apollos Hale) is circular reasoning and is simply fallacious (Logic 101). Citing the conversion of the Barbarian Frank, King Clovis I to “Roman Catholicism” in 508 AD as justification for concluding the time span ended in 1844, is less than honest. Clovis converted to the form of Nicene “Christianity” that Constantine employed to conceal his paganism on December 25, 496 AD.
The “1335 days” in chapter 12:12 constitute the longest time period among the three. If we interpret the “days” as symbolic of years (YDC) and endeavour to start them at 1798 (the commencement of what is generally considered to be the “Time of the End”), we would arrive at the year 3133 AD for their fulfilment, thus making a farce of the whole idea of the “Time of the End” and a travesty of Seventh-day Adventism’s raison d’être.
Because Ellen White has made some statements that appear to be categorical in saying there are no time prophecies after 1844, some have concluded that Daniel’s time prophecies in chapter 12 must therefore apply to events before 1844.* But Ellen White also makes other, equally explicit statements that seem to contradict her earlier “conclusions”. Referencing statements of Jesus recorded in the New Testament, White observes, “One saying of the Saviour must not be made to destroy another” (GC 370.2). The same principle applies to her.
In attempting to defend long-held assumptions some well-credentialled academics have disingenuously projected the term “Futurism” onto the emergent understanding that is now gaining traction. This technique is pejoratively dishonest. It knowingly conflates the fallacious, Jesuit system of prophetic interpretation, with the future fulfilment of Daniel’s prophecies in chapter 12. Other, emotive techniques used typically in “propaganda”, displaying bloated bibliographies, are also employed to supply the want of factual cogency.
The conundrum is not resolved by merely choosing one personal preference over another or relying entirely on highly-nuanced argument. The overall weight of evidence should dispassionately guide our conclusions in any matter where there is a lack of perfect transparency. When we stand back and take an objective look at the big picture, the path forward emerges with sufficient clarity for the candid eye to recognise — under the Spirit’s guidance.
The only logical, biblical, hermeneutically-consistent and historically-plausible conclusion is that the time periods in Daniel 12 are literal, 24-hour days that occur after 1844— which begs the critical question, “What is the starting point of the 1335 day period?” And, if it really is imminent, should we be sitting up and paying the matter serious attention?
Another, vital, and directly-connected consideration is: how to correctly understand the real world, practical meaning of the urgent call, “Come out of her my people!” (Revelation 18:1-5). Inextricably bound up in that question is Jesus’ heartfelt plea, “Be ready!”
The book, “1335 Days”, examines these questions with thoroughly-informed, fresh eyes—using non-academic, accessible language.
It should be
carefully noted that nothing in the book is about any form of “time/date setting”.
* See:
“History in Advance”, Allen Sonter PhD, 2025, Appendix Also:
“A Roadmap for the End Times”, Allen Sonter PhD, 2020 (PDF)
Objections
A History of the “Accepted Position”