G3: 1844 in Theology – What’s it Worth? Sept 1, 2006

SDA put great stock in their explanation of the heavenly sanctuary and its earthly counterpart. Indeed the Old Testament traditions and ceremonies fit perfectly with the SDA explanation. However, the date 1844 does not seem to be critical in this theology. Since it is only a marker for something supposedly happening in heaven, which cannot be verified by us, the rest of the SDA beliefs hold together without it. The 1844 date was derived based on the prophecy in Daniel 8 involving the 2300 evenings and mornings regarding the Daily Sacrifices and the Re-consecration of the Temple after its Desecration. SDA hold that the cleansing of the heavenly temple began on that earthly date, only because they start counting the 2300 years from 457BC, which is the start date for the 70 week prophecy (Dan 9:27). SDA must interpret Dan 9:22 as though the 70 weeks are cut off from the beginning of the 2300 day prophecy in Dan 8:13-14. However, an alternate interpretation is that the 70 weeks overlap the 2300 days around the death of the Messiah. Irregardless, we are fairly certain of two interpretations of these prophecies:

- The “70 weeks” pertains to the Messiah’s First appearance on Earth and ends where He dies midway through the last week.

- The “2300 days” pertains to the Messiah’s Second appearance on Earth and ends with the sanctuary being cleansed in the End Times.

My premise is that the 2300 “day” prophecy is twofold; applying both to events prior to Christ’s First Coming as the Messiah and to His Second Coming in power and glory, after the Investigative Judgment is completed.

The events foretold apply so precisely to Antiochus Epiphanes* that most Christians accept that much as a given. As we said in a previous lesson, this king arose from one of the four kingdoms that the Greek empire of Alexander the Great broke up into (Dan: 8&9). He goes on to affect the Jewish nation as referred by the terms, “the Host of Heaven” and “the Starry Host” exactly as foretold. Many interpreters feel that this and Daniel 11 so precisely describe events in this era of the Greek Empire that it must have been written after the facts. Christ, however, referred to Daniel as a prophet (Matt 24:15) and not as a historian, so we can believe that these prophecies were made before the events they foreshadow. Still the prophecy appears to be about more than Antiochus. It appears to be a statement that, before the Messiah comes certain events regarding the temple will occur first.

We should look for a similar set of events (Matt 24:15: "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand”-NIV) regarding the desecration of the temple in each case. The question becomes this, “What temple is referenced in each case?” Is it the Muslim “Dome of the Rock”? It is clear in retrospect that the temple building in Jerusalem was the subject in 168BC. In those days there was a need for real animal sacrifices daily, which were in fact stopped (168BC) and then resumed (165BC) as prophesied in Dan 8:11-14. Once the Messiah arrived and died Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, there is no longer a need for daily animal sacrifices or for a temple to offer them in. As Christians, we believe that the new “temple” is in each of us and we accept Christ as our sacrifice, once and for all time.

So, if prior to Christ’s Second Coming, there is indeed another need to re-consecrate His temple, what could that mean? The traditions clearly indicate that after the High Priest has offered the sins of His people in the Most Holy Place (Lev 16:11-17), He returns to the people in the courtyard. He has begun the cleansing of the Temple when He offers the Blood of the unblemished Lamb in the Most Holy and when he returns to the courtyard, he releases the Scapegoat into the wilderness (Lev 16:8-10; 20-22). Read God’s description of the Day of Atonement ceremony (Lev 16:3-34) and equate it with anticipated End Time events. These actions seem to foreshadow the second coming of Christ and the beginning of the 1000-year millennium, when Satan is left alone on this burned-out Earth. This is the 1000 years (how ever long that is in actuality) when the saints from the First Resurrection are living with Christ (Rev 20:4-6) and reviewing the books (1 Cor 6:2,3); and when the Second Resurrection occurs (Rev 20: 1-3, 7,8). Perhaps this Second Coming signals the re-consecration of His temple in that His people are translated into angelic beings and preparing to enter the Kingdom of Heaven with Him.

So, is there any special significance to the date 1844? Did something on Earth specifically happen in this year? One suggestion is that this is when the gospel started being preached to all the world, because there was a new spirit of evangelism spawned in the USA around that time, including the start of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) movement. This is not a very specific event, so it may not be what was prophesied. The SDA feel that their church is bringing the clear gospel message to all the world. It does in fact correct some of the remaining mis-interpretations or deceptions introduced by the Roman Church over the centuries. As their name indicates, two of the Primary SDA beliefs are the True Sabbath Day, which God mandated be “Remembered” (Exodus 20:8-11); and the Second Coming of Christ in power and Glory (Rev 22:12). In addition the SDA movement is clear on the state of the dead (PS 115:17; Ecc 9:5-6), which is an essential belief if those in the End Times are to recognize the deceptions of demons masquerading as angels of light or dead ancestors.

Nevertheless, the entire concept of 1844 does not appear to have any critical theological significance warranting a prophecy. Note that things are only prophesied so that when we see them happen we will know that the prophet must be from God.

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*Comments on the SDA criticisms of references to Antiochus Epiphanes in Dan 8

1) SDA contend that the Little Horns of Dan 7 and Dan 8 are the same Roman Empire.

I disagree.

- The little horn of Dan 7:7,8 rose up among the 10 horns that “Came forth (Dan 7:24) from this kingdom (Rome).”

- The little horn of Dan 8:8,9 came out of one of the four horns that the Greek empire of Alexander (Dan 8:21,22) broke up into. There was no Roman empire at this time and in fact the territory of Rome was not included in any of these four Greek kingdoms.

2) SDA contend that Antiochus did not become “Exceedingly great” as per Dan 8:8

- This is a matter of opinion. How great is “exceedingly great”? Antiochus was exceedingly great from the perspective of the Jews, who were crushed by him, causing their great revolt. He did in fact stop the daily sacrifices and that was exceedingly bad news for the Jews, too.

3) SDA contend the Little Horn of Dan 8 would be broken without hand, as in Dan 2:34,45

- This to me does not force the event to happen in the End Time when Christ returns. The historical facts are that Antiochus died from sickness or such. He was not murdered.

4) SDA contend that the Prophecy of Dan 8:19 concerns only the very distant Time of the End.

- Here is where I suggest a two-fold application. The prophecy refers to Antiochus in Daniel’s future; but as Christ said (Matt 24:15), in His future people in the End Time will see similar events.

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