done, we may never know in the present world; nay, we may have many a distressing hour, while inquiring how it can possibly be done, unless our very nature itself is wholly changed. But the light of eternity will scatter these doubts, and the clear and uninterrupted vision of divine glory will fill the soul with all the fulness of God; so that the blessed above will find their perfect happiness in thinking and feeling as He does, into whose image they have been transformed.

ARTICLE II.

ON THE DESIGNATIONS OF TIME IN DANIEL AND JOHN :THE 1260 DAYS OF DANIEL AND JOHN, AND THE 1000 YEARS OF JOHN.

By Rev. William Allen, D. D., Norhampton, Mass.

PROFESSOR STUART, in a learned article, published in the Biblical Repository and Quarterly Observer, for Jan., 1835, has endeavoured to prove, that the term days, in the prophecy of Daniel and of John concerning the 1260 days, has not the import of years, as is commonly supposed, but means literal days or an indefinite period; and that the 1000 years of John are also indefinite. In view of the fallibilities of man it must be admitted to be possible, that he has fallen into a mistake in these particulars, however correct in general he may be in the interpretation of Scripture. Persuaded that he has thus erred, and that his erroneous opinion on the designations of time in the prophecies is calculated to throw a cloud over the bright anticipations of the Church in respect to the near approach of the millennium, I propose to state the grounds, on which my mind has arrived at a different conclusion; and may find it necessary to examine the arguments, by which he has endeavoured to support his position.

a

In the Apocalypse, (12: 6,) we read, that the woman, clothed with the sun, etc., fled into the wilderness for " thousand two hundred and threescore days;" and in verse 14th, the same period is expressed by "a time, and times, and

half a time," meaning three years and a half of days, or three times and a half 360, equal to 1260. So in Rev. 11: 2, it is predicted, that the Gentiles should tread the Holy City under foot "42 months;" and in Rev. 13: 5, that the beast should continue " 42 months," equal to 1260 days.

In Daniel (7: 25,) it is predicted of the impious king, that he should continue "a time, and times, and the dividing of time;" and it is also predicted, that to the end of the wonders (12: 7,) is "a time, times, and an half;”—equal to 1260 days.

Now, as John and Daniel were inspired of God to predict the future, it seems altogether probable, that in both their writings this period is to be construed in the same way, and must mean in both either literal days, or literal years, or some indefinite period. Mr. Stuart thinks, that in Daniel literal days are intended, and in John an indefinite time. It is my object to prove, that in both, but certainly in John, neither literal days nor an indefinite time, but the exact period of 1260 years is intended.

1. To begin with DANIEL. In ch. 7: 25, it is predicted, that the saints are to be delivered into the hands of a persecuting power "until a time, and times, and the dividing of a time," which, I maintain, must mean a longer period, than 1260 literal days, and a different power from that of Antiochus, for this reason, that the universal establishment of the kingdom of the Most High is immediately to succeed that period. For the next verses are these, v. 26, 27, "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Antiochus, between 160 and 170 years before Christ, persecuted the Jews and polluted the temple for three years; but after his death no events occurred like those described in the passage just quoted. So far was religion from spreading through the world, that even the Jewish character was found, at the coming of Christ, very corrupt and debased, and true religion was almost extinct. How then can we imagine, that Antiochus is the persecuting power, here predicted, and that the period is 1260 literal days?

2. For a similar reason it may be maintained, that the prediction of "a time, times, and a half," as the end of the wonders (Dan. 12: 7), cannot mean 1260 literal days, or the short persecution of Antiochus; for it is added, "and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." But surely, it cannot be pretended, that about 165 years before Christ, "the power of the holy people" ceased to be scattered. Even now the Jews are scattered over the earth, and the anti-Christian power of Rome is little less, than it has been for centuries.

3. In these two passages of Daniel the word days is not used, and the time designated may in strict philological propriety be understood 1260 years. All, that is expressed, is 1260 divisions of time, and those divisions must be regarded as years rather than days, provided there are any considerations, which render it more probable, that the prophet intended years and not days.

In a perfectly similar case, in the same writer, (Dan. 9: 24,"seventy weeks are determined on thy people,") even Mr. Stuart admits, that the meaning is 70 weeks of years, or 490 years, for he says, that the Hebrew word "designates only heptade or heptades [divisions of seven]; and whether these are sevens of years, or sevens of days, must be deter mined by the context and the nature of the case."

If Daniel, in speaking of the future in his 9th chapter, by the word weeks, or heptades, or divisions of seven, means a week of years, or seven years, is it not to be presumed, that in his 7th and 12th chapters, where he speaks of a division amounting to 1260, he must mean also so many years? If 70 weeks, amounting to 490 days, means 490 years; why, in the same writer, should not 3 1-2 times, amounting to 1260 days, mean also 1260 years? Is it probable, that Daniel in his 7th chapter would adopt one mode of reckoning; a different one in his 9th chapter; and revert in his 12th chapter to his first mode? When he is predicting the future, under the guidance of infinite wisdom and for the instruction of man, may we not rest satisfied, that he uses one and the same method of reckoning?

4. There is a historical difficulty in the application of the prophecy of 3 1-2 years, or 1260 days, to Antiochus. For by comparing Maccabees 1: 54, 59, and 4: 52, it appears that

SECOND SERIES, VOL. IV. NO. I.

4

the idol altar remained upon the altar of God precisely three years, and not 3 1-2 years. It appears also from Josephus, Antiq. 12, c. 5, § 4, and c. 7, § 6, that Antiochus held possession of the temple exactly three years, for he "got possession of the city" on the 25th day of the month Chasleu, and on the same day of the same month was the sacrifice reestablished. Here is no use of "round numbers," as Mr. Stuart supposed, confining his attention to the passage of Josephus last referred to and overlooking the first. It may be, indeed, that Josephus was mistaken, for it is evident from the Maccabees, that the city was captured some time before the idol altar was set up; but whether this time was exactly six months is not mentioned, and may be difficult to be proved. It must be admitted, that Josephus, in his " Wars," states the time during which Antiochus held Jerusalem, at "three years and six months;" but whether he meant to be precise to a day is uncertain. The prophecy is precise,1260 days. Nor should it be forgotten, that in his "Antiquities," in which he gives precisely three years, he professes to be exact; for he says in regard to Antiochus, "I will now give a particular account of what concerns this king, how he subdued Judea and the temple; for in my former work I mentioned those things very briefly, and have therefore now thought it necessary to go over that history again, and that with great accuracy." Ant. 12, c. 5, § 2.

5. There is also a historical difficulty in applying to Antiochus the 1290 and 1335 days, mentioned in Daniel 12: 11, 12. It will be remarked, that the period of 1290 exceeds that of 1260 by 30 days. Do these two periods end at the same time? Mr. Stuart supposes, that they do ;-that 3 1-2 years or 1260 days are taken as the half of the sacred number seven, and are not designed to be definite, but are used in a popular, general way; but that 1290 days are specific, precise, exact, extending from the capture of Jerusalem by Antiochus to the purification of the temple. Yet there are no notes of time in any ancient historian, by which this number of days can be made out precisely.

Mr. Stuart also supposes, that the 1335 days do not end with the 1290, but relate to the time of the death of Antiochus, 45 days after the purification of the temple. For this exactness also there is no authority derived from the ancient historians. It is a mere supposition. The time of Antio

chus' death is not designated. All, that we know, is, that he had heard, on the borders of Persia, of the defeat of his army in Syria, and was taken sick, and was sick for a considerable time. If this prophecy did relate to Antiochus, and of course has been fulfilled, should we not expect to find a precision and exactness, which would remove all doubt, as in the case of the 70 weeks or 490 years? Moreover, if the 1260 and 1290 days have a common ending, why should not the 1335 days end also at the same time? Why should not all the three periods either be successive, or have a common termination? But in either method, or in that of Mr. Stuart, there is an uncertainty in the application of these periods to Antiochus, not to be expected in an accomplished prophecy.

6. Even Mr. Stuart admits, that sometimes the Hebrew word for days, 2, isused to denote years, as in Judg. 17: 10, 1 Sam. 2: 19, Ex. 3: 10, Is. 32: 10, comp. 29: 1,2 Chron. 21:19. If, then, this word be sometimes thus used in Scripture in places not prophetic, why should it not be thus employed in prophetic passages? It is not enough to say, that prophecy ought to be plain. It may be, that God has designed it to be obscure in a degree until its fulfilment. And it may be added, that this use of the term days does not render prophecy more obscure, than some other parts of Scripture. Besides, the declaration of Jehovah to Ezekiel (Ez. 4: 4-6), "I have appointed thee each day for a year," might lead the careful student of prophecy to consider, that in other instances it might please God, in the communication of his will, to make use of days as symbolical of years.

7. If it should be admitted, that the 8th and 11th chapters of Daniel relate to Antiochus, and also Dan. 12: 11, 12; yet this admission will not necessarily affect the question as to the meaning of the 3 1-2 years, for the reasons assigned in § 3. Let it be, that whenever in Daniel the word days is used, it means literal days, this will decide nothing as to the import of other phrases, or designations of time, which have been considered.

The only specific note of time in Dan. 8th is 2300 days, in our translation; in Hebrew it is 2300 evenings and mornings. Mr. Stuart supposes, that this period extends from the murder at Tyre of three Jewish Deputies by Antiochus, in the year A. Č. 170, to the purification of the temple, A. C. 164.