A Scriptural Exposition of
H-T-Mid, The Daily, Daniel 8:11-13
by F. C. Gilbert
To the aged seer in Babylon was given a vision from God. This
vision is recorded in the eighth chapter of the book of Daniel. The
following outstanding features were revealed to the Seer in that
vision:
First. A Ram. Verse 3.
Second. A He Goat, with a notable horn between his
eyes. Verse 5.
Third. Four Horns. Verse 8.
Fourth. A Little Horn. Verse 9.
Fifth. Two thousand and three hundred days. Verses
13,14.
After he had received this revelation, Daniel did not
understand the vision. So he sought for its meaning. The prophet
then heard a voice which said, "Gabriel, make this man to understand
the vision." Verses 15, 16. According to the Gospel of Luke, chapter
1:19, Gabriel is the angel who stands in the presence of God. The
authority to interpret this vision is committed to the mighty
messenger who basks in the presence of Omnipotence.
Gabriel proceeds to explain to Daniel that the Ram is Media
and Persia. Verse 20. The rough or the he goat is the king or
kingdom of Grecia, and the notable horn between his eyes is the
first king. Verse 21.
The four horns are the four kingdoms which stand up in the
place of the first king of Grecia which was broken. Verse
22.
The little horn is a king of fierce countenance which stands
up in the latter time of the four-part divided kingdom which has
mighty power. Destroys and prospers, destroying the mighty and the
holy people. Causes craft to prosper through its policy. Magnified
itself in its heart. Stands up against the Prince of Princes, but is
broken without hands. Verses 23-25.
Who is the Prince of Princes against whom this little horn
stands up? Says the Scripture:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth." Revelation 1:5. The Prince of Princes is Jesus
Christ.
What power stood up against Jesus Christ? Says the apostle
Peter: The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered
together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
"For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast
anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the
people of Israel, were gathered together.
"For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined
before to be done." Acts 4:26-28.
Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of
Israel, were the ones who stood up and were gathered together
against the Lord Jesus Christ.
Herod ruled Judea under Julius and Augustus Caesar, Emperors
of Rome, at the time of the birth of Christ.
Matthew 2:1-3.
He stood up against the holy child by issuing a decree to
destroy all the infants in his jurisdiction under two years of age
shortly after Jesus was born. Matthew 2:16.
Pontius Pilate was Roman Governor of Judea in the reign of
Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome. Luke 3:1. He stood up
against the Lord's Christ by pronouncing the sentence which put the
Saviour to death.
The Gentiles, the officers and the soldiers of the Roman army
stood up against the Messiah in taking part in the last trial of the
Saviour. They put into execution the death sentence ordered by
Pontius Pilot.
The people of Israel, through its ecclesiastical leadership,
the Sanhedrin, demanded that Christ should die because He said He
was the Son of God. The Jewish hierarchy professed that by His
making such a claim Jesus had blasphemed, and their law declared
that a man should die for blasphemy. They had not the authority at
that time to put the death penalty into execution, so they demanded
of Pilate that he should give the death sentence. And Pontius Pilate
delivered him therefore to be crucified. John 19:6, 7, 16.
The power which stood up against Christ and put Him to death is the
Roman Power.
Continued the angel Gabriel: The vision of the evening and
morning, namely, the two thousand and three hundred days is true;
but he told the prophet this part of the vision would be shut up for
many days. So the prophet was given no further interpretation of the
vision at that time. Daniel 8:26. According to Daniel 8:27,
Daniel fainted, and was unable to receive further explanation of the
vision by the angel Gabriel.
In light of the interpretation of the little horn expounded
by the angel Gabriel, let us examine the language of the vision of
verses 9-12 of Daniel 8.
"And out of one of them came forth a little horn (Rome) which
waxed great toward the South, and toward the East and toward the
pleasant land.
"And he (Rome) waxed great, even to the host of heaven, and
he (Rome) cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground,
and stamped upon them.
"Yea he (Rome) magnified himself even to the prince of the
host (Jesus Christ) and "by him" the daily was taken away, and the
place of his sanctuary was cast down.
"And an host was given against the daily by reason of
transgression, and he cast down the truth to the ground, and he
practiced and prospered."
You will notice the writer uses the word "he" in verse 10 in
place of the word "it". This he does because the Hebrew text in the
several scriptures referring to Rome conveys this idea in describing
the power of Rome. In verse 11 the Scripture says: "He magnified
himself even to the prince of the host." There is general agreement
in the acceptance of this application of Scripture from verse 8 till
we reach the middle of the 11th verse of this eighth chapter of
Daniel. From this point on, however, there exists a difference of
understanding of the latter part of verses 11, 12 of this same
chapter. To the writer the difficulty really centers in two
expressions in verse 11, namely—"By him the Daily was taken away,
and the place of his sanctuary was cast down."
In the marginal reading of verse 11, in place of the words of
the text by him, we find the words, FROM HIM. This marginal
rendering is a more accurate translation of the Hebrew text. The
Hebrew word "oo-me-men-oo" has two prefixes. The first is the Hebrew
letter "Vau", the conjunction, and, the second, is the letter "Men"
a preposition, from. Hence the word oo-me-mem-oo, translated in our
text, and by him is more appropriately translated, and FROM
HIM.
So verse 11, Daniel 8, would more accurately read:
"Yea, he (Rome) magnified himself even to the Prince of the
host (Jesus Christ) and from him the daily was taken away, and the
place of his sanctuary was cast down."
Our investigation of this scripture now leads us to inquire:
What is taught in verses 11, 12, and 13, by Ha-ta-mid, and daily:
the Hebrew word, Tamid, translated Daily, in these three verses is
contained in the Old Testament Scriptures upwards of a hundred
times, and is translated in various ways. However, with very few
exceptions the Hebrew word Tamid has one or more precedents, and its
meaning is clarified by its context. For instance:
In Exodus 27:20, the word, Tamid, is preceded by the word
Na-err, and the translation of the two words, Na-err Tamid is to
burn always. the word Tamid here is rendered, Always.
In Exodus 29:38, Tamid is associated with La-Youm, and LaYoum
Tamid are translated—day by day continually. Tamid in this verse is
translated, continually.
In Exodus 29:42, the word Guylas precedes Ta-mid, and the
translation of Guylas Tamid is continual burnt offering. Ta-mid here
is translated continual.
In Numbers 4:7, Ha Ta-mid is preceded by Ve-Le-chem, the
translation of Ve-Le-chem Ha-Ta-mid is the continual bread. Tamid
here again is translated, continual.
In Numbers 9:16, Tamid is preceded by two Hebrew words, Kane
Ye-ha-yay, and Kane Ye-ha-yay Tamid is translated, it was alway.
Tamid here is translated, alway.
In Psalm 25:15, Tamid is preceded with Aa-nay; and Aa-nay
Tamid is translated, Mine eyes are ever. Tamid in this verse is
translated, ever.
In Ezekiel 39:14, the word Aan-shay precedes Tamid and
Aan-shay Tamid is translated, Men of Continuance, margin.
So we have Tamid rendered alway, always, continual,
continually, ever, continuance, etc.
Aside from Tamid, continual, found in Numbers 4:7, this
Hebrew word is expressed without a prefix, and the context makes
clear the meaning of the word. But in every instance that Tamid is
used in Daniel 8:11, 12, 13, it is prefigured by the definite
article, the Hebrew letter Hay, fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
In fact, the word Tamid—Daily—used in Daniel 11:31, and in Daniel
12:11 also has the prefix, Hay. That is to say, there is no place in
the book of Daniel where Tamid—Daily is used that the word is
without the Hebrew Prefix. For this reason the definite article
"The" precedes Daily in every place where found in the book of
Daniel. Ha-Ta-mid stands alone in the texts of the book of Daniel.
Please bear in mind. Almost everywhere in the Hebrew Scriptures
where the word Tamid is used it has a precedent but no prefix: in
the book of Daniel in every place the word Tamid is found it has no
precedent but it does have a prefix. This indicates that Ha-ta-mid,
the Daily is the outstanding and not the modifying word.
Almost every translation of the book of Daniel has one or
more supplied words associated with Ha-ta-mid, the Daily, but
according to the text there is no such need. Whatever argument may
be furnished to supply an apparent ellipsis in the text, there is no
warrant in Scripture for such a necessity. Any word or expression
added to the text lacks divine authorization.
While the angel Gabriel did not supply the prophet Daniel
with any particular interpretation of this particular term, Daily,
Ha-ta-mid, we are happy that the vision angel has not left the
remnant church to devise an interpretation of its own, nor is it at
all necessary to add to nor detract from what is in the original
Scripture. Many years ago when this world-wide movement of the Third
Angel's Message was launched and God had restored to the church the
Gift of Prophecy, the chosen messenger of the Lord received the
following instruction from the angel:
"Then I saw in relation to the 'Daily' of Daniel 8:12, that
the word 'sacrifice' was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not
belong to the text." Early Writings, page 74.
So we have divine authority that the word sacrifice does not
belong to the text. The text needs no addition of word or of words.
Since the gift of prophecy has declared that the word "Sacrifice" is
a supplied word and does not belong to the text but did not suggest
any other word or words to be inserted in the text, it is evident
that the text as originally given to the prophet Daniel is all
sufficient, and whatever word or words might be supplied are
inserted by human wisdom. No additions belong to the
text.
Continuing our Scriptural study of Daniel 8:11 we find that
Rome magnified himself against Christ, and from him the "Daily,"
Ha-ta-mid, was taken away. From whom was the Ha-ta-mid, Daily, taken
away? Inasmuch as Gabriel said that the little horn is Rome, and the
angel's interpretation of the little horn deals with conditions
brought about by the Roman Power, we might be justified in
concluding that this "Daily" was taken away from Rome. For, said the
angel—Rome's power is to be mighty; Rome is to destroy wonderfully;
Rome is to practice and to prosper; Rome is to stand up against the
Prince of princes. We must not however reach a decision based on a
possible inference. Let us further compare Scripture with Scripture,
and pray for clear illumination.
Diverting temporarily from the 11th verse, we proceed to
verse 12 of this same chapter of Daniel. The angel said:
"And an host was given against the Daily by reason of
transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it
practiced and prospered."
You will observe that the word "him" is omitted, for it does
not belong to the text. The Scripture reads: "And a host was given
against the Daily by reason of transgression." But the word
translated "by reason of transgression" in this 12th verse is
Ba-Faw-sha, to finish the transgression. The word Faw-sha in the
12th verse has the prefix, Ba. This Hebrew letter, Ba, is the second
letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and is the introductory letter to the
first word of the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis. It is
the preposition, in. The first word of Genesis is B-re-shith, In the
beginning, the word B-Faw-sha should more properly be translated "in
transgression." The twelfth verse should then read:
"And a host was given against the Daily in
transgression." Gesenius in his Hebrew lexicon makes the
following observation on the word, Faw-shaw, transgression.
"Defection, rebellion."
"A trespass, fault . . .. Especially transgression, sin
against God. It would seem to be stronger than Chatos" (Sin
offering). Hebrew Lexicon, Edition CEE2.
Based on Deuteronomy 13:2, among the Jewish people
illegitimacy is recognized as a very great evil. Its progeny is
called Fa-sha Yisriol, a vile transgressor in Israel.
The angel says that this Daily is an evil power, a sinful
force. It is in transgression.
Let us revert to the 11th verse of this eighth chapter of
Daniel. "Yea, he (Rome) magnified himself even to the Prince of the
host (Jesus Christ), and from him the Daily was taken away, and the
place of his sanctuary was cast down."
We now find ourselves confronted with the vital question.
From whom was the daily taken away: From the little horn Rome? Or
from the Prince of the Host, Jesus Christ? to us it seems right here
is the pivot on which revolves this entire question of the Daily.
Here we must discover the solution of the difficulty.
Ha-ta-mid, the Daily, we have learned is in transgression.
Was Ha-ta-mid, the "Daily" in transgression taken away from the
Prince of the host, the Lord Jesus? What evil power, we may well
ask, can be associated with the Prince of the Host which needed to
be taken away? Is there or can there be any evil identified with
Jesus Christ the Prince of Princes? The angel said that the little
horn, Rome, stood up against the Prince of Princes. True it is that
Christ who knew no sin was voluntarily made sin for us in order that
we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. But there was no
sin or transgression in or with the Lord Jesus which needed to be
taken away.
Since there was no transgression taken away from the Prince
of Princes, we are forced to an only conclusion in regard to this
phase of the text, namely, Ha-ta-mid, the Daily in transgression,
was taken away from the little horn, Rome.
What is this evil power, the Daily in transgression ,which
was taken away from Rome?
The student of prophecy recognizes that in the Scripture Rome
is presented under two aspects, Rome Pagan, and Rome Papal. The
writer does not deem it necessary at this time to enter into a
discussion of this phase of Scripture teaching. When we discuss
either form of the Roman question we are forced to consider the
religious as well as the political aspect. As a denomination we
should be well grounded in this familiar line of information. Rome
cannot be separated from Religion. Religion cannot be separated from
Rome.
Paganism represented a system where the State controlled the
religion. The Papacy represents a system where the religion controls
the State. The visible head of the first was the Emperor of Rome;
the visible head of the latter is the Pope. The worship of paganism
centered in its temples. These were its center of worship in its
cloisters, with its images, and its retreats. The worship of
Paganism was the worship of heathenism; the worship of the Papacy is
the worship of a Christianized Paganism.
The center of both Paganism and papacy was the city of Rome.
Paganism had in that city its chief temple or sanctuary; to this day
the Papacy has its seat in the Vatican City of Rome where is the
cloister of Saint Peter's. The little horn, Rome, took away
Paganism, and the place of its sanctuary was cast down, to make way
for the setting up of the Papacy. Daniel 7:7, 8, 19-26; Revelation
12:3-5; 13:2, 3.
An additional suggestion touching this very point is given by
the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. In Daniel 11:31, we
read:
"And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the
sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the Daily, and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate." May the writer be
permitted to make the following observation of the latter part of
this 31st verse based on the Hebrew Scripture, which reads as
follows:
"And they shall remove the Daily, and give or make place for
the abomination which maketh desolate."
Still further does the angel follow up the purposes and
accomplishments of Rome to remove Paganism and to set up the Papacy;
for we find it written:
"And from the time that the 'Daily' shall be taken away and
the abomination that maketh desolate set up," etc. Daniel
12:11.
The Hebrew Scripture of the forepart of this verse is but a
repetition of the statement made of Verse 31, chapter 11.
"And from the time of the removal or taking away of the Daily
and to give or make place for the abomination that maketh desolate
shall be," etc. The angel plainly declares that the Daily, Paganism,
makes way for the Abomination of Desolation, the Papacy.
Doubtless for the benefit of the prophet Daniel and for God's
people in the last days, the question found in Daniel 8:13, "How
long the vision, — The Daily and the transgression of desolation to
give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot," was
raised.
In this 13th verse of Daniel 8, the Daily and the
transgression of desolation, two evil powers, are expressed by the
angel. We have learned from Daniel 8:12, the Daily is in
transgression. In the 13th verse of Daniel 8 Gabriel adds another
evil force, the transgression of desolation. In the light of what
has been stated, together with the many Scriptures found in other
portions of Daniel and the Revelation, it must be evident that the
heavenly messenger was describing to the aged prophet the two forms
of the Roman power made possible through the little horn, Rome. The
Daily in transgression that maketh desolate, the Papacy. The former,
the Daily, Paganism, was taken away to make room for or to give
place to the transgression that maketh desolate, the
Papacy.
When the Daily was taken away, the place of his sanctuary was
cast down. The city of Rome, the capital of Pagan Rome, lost its
Pagan influence with the passing of the Pagan system of
religion.
The following statement was made by Elder C. T.
Everson.
"LaBanca, professor of history at the University of Rome;
says that to the succession of the Caesars came the succession of
the Pontiffs in Rome. I suppose you know that when Constantine moved
out of Rome he gave his seat to the pontiff.
"If you were to go to Rome tonight, you would find, right in
the Vatican itself, a large painting, possibly about seventy-five
feet across, depicting Sylvester I, one-time Pope of Rome, receiving
a little figure— a statue of a warrior. Constantine is passing this
little figure of a warrior into the hands of the Pope just as he is
getting ready to leave Rome. And underneath the picture is written,
'The Donation of Rome from Constantine to the Pope'." C. T. Everson,
Bible Lectures, pp. 91, 92.
As we find confession of Rome to fulfillment of other
prophecies forecast in the Scripture, so we here clearly note Rome's
confession depicted in painting that Pagan Rome gave her seat, her
power, her authority, and the place of her sanctuary, to the
Papacy.
The Scripture exposition considered in the foregoing is in
perfect keeping with the view of the "Daily" held by the fathers of
this great movement. For says Elder Uriah Smith, in his most
excellent work, "Daniel and Revelation":
"This little horn must be understood to symbolize Rome in it
entire history, including its two phases, pagan and papal. These two
phases are elsewhere spoken of as the 'Daily' (sacrifice is a
supplied word) and the 'transgression of desolation,' the papal . .
. Pagan Rome was remodeled into Papal Rome. And the place of his
sanctuary, or worship, the city of Rome was cast down. The seat of
government was removed . . . to Constantinople. this same
transaction is brought to view in Rev. 13:2, where it is said that
the dragon, pagan Rome, gave to the beast, papal Rome, 'His seat,
the city of Rome'."
"A host was given . . . against the daily. The barbarians
that subverted the Roman empire in the changes, attritions, and
transformation of those times, became converts to the Catholic
faith, and the instruments of the dethronement of their former
religion. Though conquering Rome politically, they were themselves
vanquished religiously by the theology of Rome and became the
perpetuators of the same empire in another phase." It may be of
value to this study to consider further verse 13 and also verse 14
of the eighth chapter of Daniel in view of the question raised by
the angel in regard to Ha-ta-mid, the Daily.
Two heavenly personages are mentioned in verse 13. One of
these is the speaker, Palmoni, the other is the angel Gabriel.
Palmoni means wonderful numberer, see margin of verse 13, and
doubtless is the Christ. Gabriel asks Palmoni a question:
"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?"
We find nothing in the Hebrew scriptures to warrant the
words, "shall be, concerning, and sacrifice," found in our English
translation. These are supplied. The original text should
read:
"How long the vision— the daily and the transgression of
desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden
under foot?"
The question the angel asks the speaker, Palmoni, is in
regard to Ha-Tamid, the daily, V-Ha-pey-sha-shou-maim, and the
transgression of desolation, to give the Sanctuary and the host to
be trodden under foot? It would appear that Palmoni in his answer to
the question directs the attention of the prophet to what will take
place when the Daily and the abomination of desolation have done
their destructive work
Daniel states that when Palmoni answered the question he
turned to him and said:
"Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed."
Christ's statement indicates that the question raised by
Gabriel would be clarified at the end of the time period mentioned
by Palmoni. Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, is the solution to
the problem.
The word cleansed noted in Daniel 8:14 is a translation of
the Hebrew word, Nits-dak. This Hebrew word, Nits-dak, has its
origin in the root Tsa-dik, which means right, righteous, just,
justified, etc, this root word, Tsa-dik, and its various forms, is
found in the Old Testament Scriptures about half a thousand times.
The writer is reasonably certain that the translation of the word
nits-dak, cleansed, found in Daniel 8:14, is the only place in the
Old Testament where this form of the word is so rendered. It usually
is translated, right, righteous, just, justified, etc. He recognizes
that the translation of the word, cleansed, is justifiable and
allowable, but he also understands that this word Nits-dak as
rendered in the text comprehends vastly more than merely the thought
of cleansing the sanctuary.
To understand Nits-dak, cleansed, in it broader application
let us study the source of information of the sanctuary. the light
on the sanctuary truth originally was given to Moses while in the
mount with God. On two occasions the prophet was with the Lord forty
days. During these weeks and months there was unfolded to him by
vision and revelation the object and purpose of the sanctuary. Moses
repeatedly states that what he gave Israel in regard to the
sanctuary and its services was what was given him by inspiration
while closeted with the Lord, was given by the hand of God upon him.
"All this," said David, "the Lord made me understand in writing by
his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." 1 Chronicles
28:19. The source of light of the sanctuary service is inspiration
and revelation; not study nor human investigation.
To the prophet Ezekiel was given detailed light for the
erection of a temple for Israel which never was constructed. But the
plans, specifications, services and ministries were revealed to the
prophet. See Ezekiel 40:1-4.
When the Jewish people perverted the service of the sanctuary
and lost the significance of its ministry, to the apostle Paul was
revealed by inspiration the purposeful object and import of the
earthly sanctuary, the figure, and it prototype, the heavenly
sanctuary. Hence the church received the light of the sanctuary as
delivered by revelation to the chief of the apostles. 1 Corinthians
15:3, 4, 8.
Following the departure of the truth by ancient Israel there
developed two professedly Christian apostasies— that of the Papacy
and of Protestantism. These two systems of avowed Christianity set
aside the real purpose of the ministry of Christ in heaven, and
again the truth was cast down to the ground.
But the hour arrived when the advocacy of Christ in the
heavenly sanctuary must be understood in it clear light and in its
proper setting. Jesus had fulfilled His priestly service in the
first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary and this now must give way
to the closing efforts for the salvation of the human race in the
antitypical day of atonement. This final chapter of the Saviour's
ministry commenced at the end of the 2,300 days. The advent movement
of 1844 reached its climax when the believers in the return of their
Lord expected to see Him whom they loved on October 22 of that
memorable year. These earnest God-fearing sincere waiting saints
made no provision for any time in this world following the day they
expected to be translated from earth to heaven. They looked for no
future on this mundane sphere subsequent to this foreseen
day.
After their keen and bitter disappointment in not seeing
their Lord, all of which had been forecast in the Scripture (see
Rev. 10), confusion entered the ranks of the Adventist band. While a
ray of heavenly light here and there pierced the gloom and darkness
which shrouded these waiting ones, not till the gift of prophecy was
restored to God's people by a call from the Lord, of Sister Ellen
White (Harmon) to exercise the special heavenly endowment in visions
and dreams, did the loyal and faithful remnant have clear leading of
divine guidance.
Elder James White declares that from the latter part of the
year 1844 when Sister Harmon was given her first vision to the year
1868, a period of 23 years, she had received between one and two
hundred visions. Not very long after her visitations by the angel
she received heavenly illumination of the work of our great High
Priest in heaven. See Early Writings, page 32, (1847). the
streams of holy light were pouring forth from the heavenly sanctuary
to the people of God.
Of later visions which came to the servant of God in regard
to the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, Sister White
thus speaks of what was revealed to her on Sabbath, March 24,
1849.
"Then I was shown that the commandments of God, and the
testimony of Jesus Christ relating to the shut door, could not be
separated, and that the time for the commandments of God to shine
out with all their importance, and for God's people to be tried on
the Sabbath truth, was when the door was opened in the most holy
place in the heavenly sanctuary, where the ark is, in which are
contained the ten commandments. This door was not opened until the
mediation of Jesus was finished in the holy place, and opened the
door into the most holy, and passed within the second vail, where
he now stands by the ark, and where the faith of Israel now
reaches."
"I saw that Jesus had shut the door of the holy place, and
no man can open it: and that He had opened the door into the Most
Holy, and no man can shut it. (Rev. 3:7, 8). Early
Writings, p. 42.
In a supplementary note found on page 86 of Early
Writings, we find the following statement made by Sister White
in regard to the foregoing paragraph:
"The view of the 'Open and Shut Door', on pages 42-45, was
given in 1849. The application of Revelation 3:7, 8, to the
heavenly sanctuary and Christ's ministry was entirely new to me. I
had never heard the idea advanced by any one. Now as the subject
of the sanctuary is being clearly understood, the application is
seen in its force and beauty."
Christ once more gave to the church a revealed knowledge of
the sanctuary. This divine illumination came at the close of the
2,300 days. How that the sanctuary is understood in all its bearings
it is made clear to the remnant church of Christ. In now
comprehending the purpose of Christ's ministry for a doomed world,
we have a vivid knowledge of the efforts of "Ha-ta-mid," the Daily,
and Ha-pey-sha-shou-maim, the transgression of desolation. We are
instructed and informed of the efforts of these two evil forces. We
now understand what their purposes were, and the future which awaits
them. The Sanctuary has been righted. Hence the word, Nits-dak,
translated cleansed, may now be understood in its larger sense.
Palmoni told Daniel at the end of the 2,300 days Vnits-dak ko-desh,
the sanctuary would be straightened out. We now understand how much
is comprehended in the heavenly ministry of our Lord; what is
involved in the antitypical work of the great High Priest in the
cleansing of the sanctuary; what has transpired in heaven for
mankind since Jesus passed from the holy place in the heavenly
sanctuary into the most holy place. Palmoni's statement is
fulfilled. Revelation again is restored. The sanctuary has been
righted. The purpose of Ha-ta-mid, the Daily, and the transgression
of desolation is well understood. the evil and nefarious work which
these power have accomplished has been made clear at the end of the
2,300 days. What need is there to supply any word or words to the
text?
In view of the foregoing statements, what significance must
be attached to the following counsel from the Spirit of
Prophecy:
"Many of our people do not realize how firmly the
foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph
Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, and others . . . were among
those who after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the
truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and
prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night,
and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light, and
studying the word . . ..When they came to the point in their study
where they said, 'We can do nothing more,' the Spirit of the Lord
would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear
explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given
me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach
effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the
Scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A
line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall
enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others
the instruction the Lord had given me.
"Light seemed to shine all through the house, and an
angel's hand was laid on my head. From that time to this I have
been able to understand the word of God." Series B, No. 2,
Testimonies for the Church.
It has been mentioned by the Spirit of Prophecy that the word
"sacrifice" does not belong to the text of Daniel 8:12. The word
inserted was supplied by man's wisdom. Is man sufficiently wise or
able to insert any word or words into the text where the angel
Gabriel did not offer any?
The fathers of this great movement based their view of the
Daily upon the Scriptures. We find today that the position they
advanced is Biblical, in perfect accord with Revelation. Any
position advanced or accepted contrary to this Scriptural one is
based upon supplied words added to the text by men who originally
developed the synagogue rabbinical system, which system led to the
rejection of the Prince of princes. Can any erroneous position honor
our Lord? Shall we do evil that good may come?
As a people who
have absolute faith in the Bible, the word of God, in the Spirit of
Prophecy as God's mouthpiece to His church in these last days, shall
we accept, advance, or advocate as scriptural any view or position
which is based upon man's wisdom and is not found in the Sacred
text?
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