Bible Study Guides – “Then Shall the Sanctuary be Cleansed”

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December 2, 2000 – December 8, 2000

MEMORY VERSE: “And He said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14.

STUDY HELP: Great Controversy, 423–431.

Introduction

“…the beginning of the seventy weeks is fixed beyond question at 457 B.C., and their expiration in A.D. 34. From this data there is no difficulty in finding the termination of the 2300 days. The seventy weeks—490 days—having been cut off from the 2300, there were 1810 days remaining. After the end of 490 days, the 1810 days were still to be fulfilled. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 terminate in 1844. At the expiration of this great prophetic period, upon the testimony of the angel of God, ‘the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’” The Great Controversy, 328.

“How Long?”

  1. What question marks the culmination of the prophecy of Daniel 8? Daniel 8:13.

NOTE: The early part of the prophecy covers familiar ground. As in the prophecies of Daniel 2 and of Daniel 7, world powers are pictured in conflict. In this late stage of its history, further information about Babylon is not necessary. Medo-Persia and Greece are described and the emergence of the fourth power, Rome, described in its imperial and papal phases. Then comes the question: How long will the sanctuary and the host be trodden underfoot?

  1. Who was the one who answered this question? Daniel 8:13, margin.

  2. What answer was given? Daniel 8:14.

  3. What Bible examples may be given to demonstrate the principle of a day in prophecy representing a year? Ezekiel 4:4–6; Numbers 14:33, 34.

NOTE: “A day in prophecy stands for a year. See Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6. The seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety days, represent four hundred and ninety years.” Prophets and Kings, 698.

“At the Time of the End”

  1. How was Daniel shown that the fulfillment of this vision would take place in the distant future? Daniel 8:17.

  2. What event was to take place at the end of the 2300 days? Daniel 8:14.

NOTE: Some have suggested that nitsdak, rendered cleansed, should be translated ‘be justified,’ ‘vindicated,’ or ‘restored to its rightful state.’ But a building cannot be justified or vindicated or declared righteous. Only a person can.

“Purged With Blood”

  1. What misunderstanding did Daniel have about the sanctuary to be cleansed? Daniel 9:17.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 417.

  1. How is this cleansing to be done? Hebrews 9:22.

NOTE: “What is the cleansing of the sanctuary? That there was such a service in connection with the earthly sanctuary, is stated in the Old Testament Scriptures. But can there be anything in heaven to be cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught…. The cleansing, both in the typical and in the real service, must be accomplished with blood: in the former, with the blood of animals; in the latter, with the blood of Christ. The cleansing was not a removal of physical impurities, for it was to be accomplished with blood, and therefore must be a cleansing from sin. But how could there be sin connected with the sanctuary, either in heaven or upon the earth? As the sins of the people were anciently transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary by the blood of the sin offering, so our sins are, in fact, transferred to the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Christ. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. This necessitates an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. Then [in the great day of final award] by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven. He [Christ] asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.” The Faith I Live By, 206.

“Consider the Vision”

  1. Why was Gabriel unable to complete his task of explaining the vision to Daniel? Daniel 8:16, 27.

  2. When Gabriel returned, how did he explain the purpose of his visit? Daniel 9:22-23.

NOTE: “The angel had been sent to Daniel for the express purpose of explaining to him the point which he had failed to understand in the vision of the eighth chapter, the statement relative to time—‘unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ After bidding Daniel ‘understand the matter, and consider the vision,’ the very first words of the angel are: ‘Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy City.’” The Great Controversy, 326.

“Seventy Weeks are Determined”

  1. What event was to begin the time period covered by this vision? Daniel 9:24, 25, first part.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 326.

  1. In what year does the Bible place this commandment? Ezra 7:8. (The commandment is given in verses 11–26. See also Ezra 6:14.)

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 326, 327.

  1. What events would take place during the first 70 weeks of the prophecy? Daniel 9:25–27.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 327.