Parallels in Revelation 12

Daniel 8 and the identity of the daily

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. – Habakkuk 2:2

The first thing we must grasp is that the bible interprets itself. The early reformers understood the identity of the little horn not because they had an expansive library of hebrew and greek literature and lexicons but because they asked for the Spirit of God and saw the only thing needed to know the Word was the Word. I think we can use the same techniques today. Saying these things, I must present the idea that in most points, modern bible translations inadequately represent Daniel 8:11-14.

The King James Bible, as is the hebrew & greek versions, is written in language using parallelism. The main thought (a) is presented, followed by a similar restating (b). This bible key is destroyed in almost all modern translations due to the necessity to make alterations to obtain a copyright. In other words, the KJV (and earlier bibles) are Public domain and in order for another Bible to be copyrighted it must use different language. It's interesting to note that the Desmond Ford apostasy was based on his apparently logical understanding of an incorrectly rendered version of Hebrews 9:12 in the NIV. The NIV reads “Most Holy Place”, while the KJV reads “Holy Place”.

I believe KJV's poetry captures the original intent of God, but with one exception. Through the word choice and parallelism in the KJV, I think we can arrive to a satisfactory answer to seemingly troubled passages. To start with, Daniel 8 is divided into 2 sections, the vision and the interpretation. The vision encompasses three aspects: 1. the ram (Medo-Persia), 2. the he goat (Greece) and 3. the little horn (Pagan & Papal rome).

According to the rules of parallelism, we should see characteristics shared between each section and repeated in themselves, and we certainly see this in 8:11 & 12.

11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

The one exception in the KJV is:

"Then I saw in relation to the 'daily' (Daniel 8:12) that the word 'sacrifice' was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the 'daily,' but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed" (Early Writings, 74-75).

Mrs. White gives us a hint that the italicized word sacrifice in Daniel 8:12 is indeed added without cause, we must dismiss it. It then becomes clear that the daily is Paganism and not the ministry of Christ. Daily is equated with continual or continuance. Uriah Smith adds:

"Literally the text (v. 14) may be rendered, How long shall be the vision concerning the continuance and the transgression of desolation?" –the word "desolation" being related to both "continuance" and "transgression", as though it were expressed in full thus: "The continuance of desolation and the transgression of desolation." - Daniel and the Revelation p. 165

Thus “daily” here means continual rebellion. It should be known that the daily is definitely not the old testament sacrificial system. If it were, "against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression" would mean that the sacrificial system came to an end because of transgression or ignoring the commandments of God. Who really put an end to the daily sacrifices? Christ. He who knew no sin. We would be calling Christ a transgressor.

Also it seems to me that a belief in the “daily sacrifice” as Christ's heavenly ministry, is quite similar to the Evangelical reasoning that the man of Daniel 9:27 is the Antichrist. How you may ask? If Daniel 9:27 does not describe the Antichrist but rather Christ (as it plainly does), then we must find passages elsewhere that do describe Antichrist, namely 8:11 & 12. The same is true of Christ and Adventist theology. If Daniel 8: 11 & 12 do not describe Christ specifically, then He must be sought in other places. Chapter 9, describing Christ's earthly ministry is parallel to the rest of Daniel & Revelation in describing Satan's earthly reign (see explanation of 8:9-12). If the “daily sacrifice” is Christ's heavenly ministry, then we would see it largely expounded upon in the remaining parallel chapters of Daniel as all other points from previous chapters are, but it is not. We see however that Christ's heavenly ministry is not disrupted, as evidence of the mention of sanctuary ornaments and other language throughout the book of Revelation. Only an earthly understanding is prohibited until it is fully and completely grasped after 1844, just as the bible predicts.

Vision: 1, 2	Explanation
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.	Date: 538 BC - Daniel has another vision which follows the vision of chapter 7 that occurred in 606 BC. The purpose of these visions is to show who will oppress God's people.
2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.	In vision, Daniel is at Shushan, which was once ruled by Babylon, is at this time part of the Medo-Persian empire.

15, 16 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

After Daniel has the vision, the angel Gabriel by command of God, gives the interpretation. We will view the vision and the interpretation side by side for better understanding.

17-19 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Gabriel explains that this vision is about all that will happen before and until “the time of the end”. Daniel attempts to worship Gabriel but is corrected and stands up. Gabriel further clarifies that the vision is about the “great indignation against Israel” (see 2 Kings 3:27) Again, after the events in this vision take place, “the time of the end”, time of judgement will take place.

Vision: 3-7	Interpretation: 20, 21	Further Explanation
3, 4 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.	20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.	The ram with two horns, represent dual kingdoms, one greater than the other in the end. The Medes and the Persians conquered Babylon (westward) in 539 BC and at first had equal co-rulership as allies, but the Persians became greater. It also conquered Lydia (Greece-northward) and Egypt (southward). Eastward is not mentioned because geographically it is the Mediterranean sea.
5, 6 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.	21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.	The nation of Greece was known as “the goat people”. Alexander's son was named Alexander Aegus which means “son of the goat.” Notable = worthy of mention.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.		Verse 7 is an enlargement of verses 5 & 6. In 331BC Greece swiftly conquered Persia. The notable horn = Alexander the Great who went on to conquer the world. “Cast him down to the ground” = Persia was defeated politically, and “stamped upon him” signifies that they were destroyed and plundered. Choler = great anger or fury (v. 6)

Vision: 8-14	Interpretation: 22-25	Further Explanation
8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.	22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.	Alexander managed to conquer the entire known world. Being an alcoholic, one night he drank so much that he was poisoned, probably contracting malaria, and died or was “broken”. Before he died he ask that the kingdom would go to the strongest, and thus they were chosen “not in his power”. His four strongest generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy, who divided the land.
9, 10 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.	Verses 9 thru 12 describe Rome in 2 phases: Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. Verses 23 thru 25 enlarge on Papal Rome's reign (see Daniel 7:7-8)
	Pagan Rome came to power in 168 BC when it conquered Macedonia. Rome was “exceeding great” because of it's vast territory, much greater than the previous kingdoms. It's clear that it comes from Macedonia (one of “the four winds”) because “northward” is not mentioned as in verse four. It conquered the south (Egypt) the east (Babylon) and the pleasant land (Israel 63 BC). Verse 10 is eluding to the time of Jesus, with the second expanding upon the first half. “cast down some of the host” is Christ and his death while “the stars” are Satan and his angels because the Crucifixion quarantined them for a second time, “and stamped upon them”- dooming them to destruction. (see Job 38:7; 1:7 Rev. 12:4, 7-9, Matt. 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4,9)
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.	23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.	“ dark sentences” = satanic, occult practices. In 133 BC Attalus III, the last Babylon priest, transfered the title of “Pontifex Maximus” to the Roman emperors who in turn, delivered it to the Bishop of Rome, see Rev. 2:13.	11,12 & 23-25 are parallel, both describing Papal Rome's political reign (508-1798 Dan. 12:11) and religious reign (508-1844 Dan. 12:12) “daily sacrifices” = Pagan Rome: “transgression” in verse 12 links with transgressors in 23 and “their”verifies that it is within the Roman empire “his sanctuary”,“ the truth”, = Papal Rome's rise, by one act, gained religious authority over both Pagan Rome's sanctuary, the Vatican (meaning divining serpent) and Christianity. Notice they are not “stamped” - (v. 7) as they are not done away with but assimilated. Early Christians knew that Pagan Rome needed to be subdued for Papal Rome to rise, see Thess. 2:7:
	24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.	“but not by his own power”= Satan gives Papal Rome it's power over the “mighty”, the divisions of Rome and God's “holy people” see Rev. 13:2
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised,  and prospered.
	25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.	The “an host” here are the 7 kingdoms of Dan. 7:8 over which Papal Rome gains religious control of because he “magnifies himself” as prince of “the host”, but remember, Christ, the Prince of princes shall destroy him. Dan. 2:44

Vision: 13-14	Explanation
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake,	Daniel's attention is drawn to the altar in the Heavenly Sanctuary. These verses correlate with the fifth seal in Rev. 6:9-11, also see Gen 4:10.
How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?	The saints ask how long it will be from the end of Pagan Rome's reign (the daily sacrifice) until the end of Papal Rome's collective reign (the transgression) over “the sanctuary” (religious) and “the host” (political). Both “the daily” and “the transgression” are desolations.
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.	After 2,300 years, Rome will lose it's religio/political power and Jesus will move from his ministry in the Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary, to the Most Holy Place. In 1798, Napoleon's general Berthier captured Rome and dethroned the Pope, dealing a deadly wound. see Rev. 13:1-3. In 1843, the second great awakening culminated in the proclamation of the return of Christ because the sanctuary was mistaken for the earth. Those who held on to their faith, despite the Great Disappointment, became pillars in the remnant church (see Rev. 3:12). The biblical doctrines lost during the dark ages were restored, including the Law & the Sabbath, paralleling with Christ in the Most Holy Place at the Mercy seat, known as the Ark of the Covenant in the earthly sanctuary.

Vision: 26-27	Explanation
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.	The vision will and has come to pass. Daniel is told the vision will not be understood until the appropriate time, it's fulfillment being “the little book” of Rev. 10
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.	Daniel became sick, probably because he could not understand the vision but eventually recovered and went back to his royal duties.

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