The only Bible that Jesus had when He was with us 2000 years ago was what we know as the Old Testament.
Of all the books in the Old Testament that Jesus especially urged us to "understand" is the Book of Daniel. He said, of that Book of Daniel: "Whoso readeth, let him understand" (Matt. 24:15).
(a) In the early years of the nineteenth century, sincere Christians in England and America began in a collective sense to realize that Daniel's "time of the end" of 12:4 is NOW.
(b) They were especially attracted to Daniel 8:14 which says, "Unto two thousand three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
(c) Understanding the prophecies of Daniel 2 (the great image with feet of clay) and Daniel 7 (the "four beasts" that came up out of the sea and the "little horn" that became so prominent and so terrible (vss. 23-25), they were deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit that we are now living in the "time of the end" and that God's call to "come out of Babylon" applies to us (see Rev. 18:1-4).
(d) The 2300 "days" in Bible prophecy they understood to mean 2300 "years" literally.
(e) Thus they came to see that Daniel 8:14 brings us to the year 1844 as the culmination of that long period.
(f) "Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" engrossed their attention; we are living in the very end of time!
(g) "The sanctuary" is the one in heaven where Christ ministers as the world's High Priest.
(h) Thus 1844 marks the time when He shall commence His final ministry for mankind in preparation for His second coming; He must make a people to be "ready" for His coming!
(i) This calls for seriousness in living--not gloom, no, but solemn joy in appreciating His final ministry in preparing a people worldwide who will be translated at Christ's second coming, as He promised.
More tomorrow the Lord willing!
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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