Monday: The Year-Day Principle
One of the interpretative keys of historicism is the year-day principle. Many scholars over the centuries applied this principle to the time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. They derived the principle from several key texts and from the immediate context of the prophecies themselves.
Read Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6. How does God spell out the year-day principle in these specific texts?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
In these texts, we can see very clearly the idea of the year-day principle. But how do we justify using this principle with some of the time prophecies, such as in Daniel 7:25, and Daniel 8:14, as well as Revelation 11:2-3; Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14; and Revelation 13:5?
Three other elements support the year-day principle in these prophecies of Daniel and Revelation: the use of symbols, long time periods, and peculiar expressions.
First, the symbolic nature of the beasts and horns representing kingdoms suggests that the time expressions should also be understood as symbolic. The beasts and horns are not to be taken literally. They are symbols for something else. Hence, because the rest of the prophecy is symbolic, not literal, why should we take the time prophecies alone as literal? The answer, of course, is that we shouldn’t.
Second, many of the events and kingdoms depicted in the prophecies cover a time span of many centuries, which would be impossible if the time prophecies depicting them were taken literally. Once the year-day principle is applied, the time fits the events in a remarkably accurate way, something that would be impossible if the time prophecies were taken literally.
Finally, the peculiar expressions used to designate these time periods suggest a symbolic interpretation. In other words, the ways in which time is expressed in these prophecies (for example, “2,300 evenings and mornings” of Daniel 8:14, NIV) are not the normal ways to express time, showing us that the time periods depicted are to be taken symbolically, not literally.
| Look at the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. We read that “the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince” (Dan. 9:25, NKJV) will be a literal 69 weeks, or just one year and four months and one week. The prophecy makes no sense when understood that way, does it? What happens, however, when we apply the Bible’s own year-day principle, and the 70 weeks become 490 years? |
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Seventh-day Adventists are not the only church that uses the year-day interpretation of prophecy. The Jehovah's Witnesses and Christadelphians also use it, as do a number of tele-evangelists. It has also been used historically by a number of Bible commentators in the past.
Early church leaders also used the same principle. Tichonius was an African writer who influenced Augustine. He was a Donatist, but not a strict one. (The Donatists believed that the clergy has to be pure - probably an early form of perfectionism. They were regarded as heretics by the mainstream church, possibly because they were critical of some of the excesses of the clergy) Tichonius applied the principle to Rev 11:9 in 380AD. There were others such as Primasius (550AD) gave a similar interpretation.
Many of the early reformers; Wycliff, Knox, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Wesley to name a few used the year-day principle in their prophetic interpretation. More recently Finney, Spurgeon, and Matthew Henry also used it. Interestingly Isaac Newton commented on it as well (Yes, we know him as a significantly important scientist, but he was a theologian on note as well.)
So we are not alone in using the year-day principle for prophetic interpretation. It would make an interesting study to gather up all their historical writings to see how they applied the interpretation in their time, not just in establishing dates and events but in application to their understanding of Christ.
I did a quick search on Isaac Newton’s view of prophecy and here is what I found. It is interesting in that it is both similar and different to the Adventist interpretation of prophecy
Newton (1642-1726/7) wrote a treatise, "Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St John" that was published after he died. Newton states his belief that prophecy would not be understood “until the time of the end” and even then, the wicked would not understand it. He prophesied that at a future time the Gospel would be preached widely, and then there would be a great tribulation and ultimately the end of the world. He proposed a series of dates between 2016 and 2060, not to set a specific date but saying that was about when the end would come.
His views on the end of time were based on the idea that the Papal office (and not a specific Pope) was the biblical Antichrist. He used the 1260 day prophecy as the basis and applied the day-year principle. Newton started the period either at 800AD when Charlemagne became the first Holy Roman Emperor or at 756AD when Pepin, Charlemagne’s father made an agreement known as the Donation of Pepin that initially set the scene for the Holy Roman Empire.
His views were reflected by a number of theologians of his day.
How has understanding the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation improved my relationship with the LORD and my understanding of His character?
I can trust He knows the future and He is the winner in the the Great Controversy.
He has given us warnings to identify false theories, there are two that come to mind:
I call it the second chance theory - they take the 70th week of Daniel and put it into the future, saying the church is taken silently to heaven, they miss the time of tribulation, those left behind plus the Jews get a second chance to accept Jesus who will come in glory at the end of the seven years.
Another is the number of man as opposed to the number of the LORD. Man was created on the 6th day but the LORD established the 7th day as a time to spend with Him. It warns against so-called religions based on man's theories, some of which will turn to force and legislation in the end as opposed to the LORD way which is based on love and choice.
Praise the LORD for this community of faith, I am not left alone to study the books of prophecy, He has given some the spiritual gifts of teaching to help me understand His Word. However that does not mean I should blindly accept whatever I read, I need to study as much as I am able and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit.
What does the knowledge of prophecies have to do with our life today? What time are we living at? I think that this probably matters only to those who are interested in following God's will. To those for which salvation is not an important issue, why worry about timing? Why would I want to go to Heaven to live eternally with Someone who I don't really know? Why would I go to heaven if I do not let Christ to live in my heart, here and now? It is impossible to say I am a christian and continue to live in sin! Yes, christians do sin, because they are not perfect, but they fight and do not persist in it! There can be no happy christian who persists in sin.
Thank you, Maurice for your comments. John Newton, the brother (or nephew) of Isaac Newton, used also the year-day principle, but he had a unique interpretation of Daniel 8:14. He used the battle of Granicus as a starting point.
The context is the battle between Alexander the Great and the military forces of Medo-Persia. History tells us that this took place in 334 BC.
All we need to do is to add 2300 years, allow for the lack of a zero year between BC and AD, and we get the following date 1967—the date of the great victory of Israel over their enemies in the Six Days War.
Daniel knew nothing of the Sanctuary in heaven. His concern was the earthly sanctuary in Jerusalem and the future of his own Jewish race. The setting is not heaven but rather the earth where the pollution was taking place. If the pollution was taking place on earth, the cleaning must take place there as well.
What polluted the sanctuary was the presence of Israel’s enemies in the Holy Land—not the sins of the Saints in heaven. Biblical history shows the evidence that the presence of Israel’s enemies is what had polluted that Holly Temple every time. What needed cleaning was in the Holy Land—not in heaven!
Who knows, perhaps we should explore John Newton,s interpretation of Daniel 8:14. After all, it was predicted in Rev. 11 the bitter experience of God's people. It says bitter, not bitter-sweet.
Since I am not a Bible scholar, I can only participate in today's lesson as a learner. The spiritual aspect about all my biblical learning is what's most important to me.
It is a blessing to have good, reliable guidance to help me understand the matters related to Prophecy. The books of Daniel and Revelation will continue to intrigue me, because of the many mysteries it holds; especially the ones that give me a glimps into Heaven's well organized 'administration'.
We still do not know when, but we are assured that the End will come and usher in the new Beginning. An earth and heaven totally different from the one we have now.
In our preparations for our Savior's return, we prayerfully include the spiritual matters of the heart. Babylon ensnares everyone in many, clandestine ways.
Guarding against feelings of 'superiority/exclusiveness' coming from the sense of 'security' by belonging to the 'right movement', is important.
This sense of being 'safe because we are right' due to the 'correctness' of the interpretation of the historical timeline can lead to isolation from the rest of the Truth-seekers. Speaking as a member of the Adventist family, it is always important how we carry ourselves when we present God's Truth.
The Gospel as established by the three Angels still needs to be preached and Prophecy seminaries should be held all the time every where!
I just finished Uriah Smith's book 'Daniel and the Revelation' and found it very inspiring and easy to read. It is a carefully researched, in-depth rendering of biblical, historical and current events as found in Mid-Eastern and Western cultures - it really is a remarkable account.
Reading it has been in all respects a spiritual blessing going a long way to help to ground my Faith. The explanation and establishing of the time-line is only one aspect of this book.
Uriah Smith lived from 1832 to 1903. His lifespan covered the important periods of the spiritual awakening and the overt rise of the usurper's influence.
I have not been 'raised' or 'born into' the Adventist family of believers. My faith-based understanding of all things spiritual, including the 'end-of-times', does not come from any doctrine established by any denomination, it evolved.
It is the present understanding of my life-long Faith-walk, exposing myself to various truths. Through the guidance and protection of God's Holy Spirit was I led to this revealed interpretation of Truth.
My first hearing about the End-time came through the teachings of the family of Baptist believers. I joined the Adventist family after attending a prophecy seminar.
Uriah Smith's powerfully insightful and easy to understand writing style makes his book a perfect gift to all that we can think could be blessed by it. The blessings will be manifold.
Members of the Christian faith hold to their interpretation of the book of Revelation for various reasons, not the least being that their denomination is 'invested'.
Denominations are institutions. Their leaders and teachers hold influencial positions within their respective denomination's organisational structure and would lead/teach themselves 'out of a job' should they 'switch sides'. I speak from personal experience.
We know from Scripture that all believers are called to come, in one form or another, out of their spiritual Babylon. No one is spared the introspective search to expose 'attachments'.
All Believers want to assure themselves that their Faith is placed on a firm, unassailable, spiritual foundation.
In fact, especially as members of the Adventist family, since we are so sure about the 'rightness' of the interpretation of the timeline leading to the end of time, we might be tempted to neglect the research into our own 'rightness' - our personal relationship with Jesus.
Temptation comes after establishing oneself to be 'right'. We want to always remain vigilant and not neglect our spiritual 'rightness' with Christ, our Savior.
God has reveals to us when he is going to come so as to be prepared for his coming.Daniel and Revelation are prophetic books which depicts real situation of the coming for Jesus so we christian we must read these books as guide to the coming of our Lord
The day/year principle is correct because it's true. The idea as given in Numbers and Ezekiel does not PROVE this principle in prophecy, but they lead us to understand how God reckons at times, and invites us to investigate prophetic time in this manner, and if we do the math, it works! The proof for this method of reckoning is embedded into the prophecy itself, and is not correct because of the two passages where God uses this reckoning of time with His people. They are clues for the student of prophecy, not the proof. The proof is: it works.
Don't the historical facts bear this out?