Time, Times & a Half, 1290 Days & 1335 Days Prophecies of Daniel Fulfilled

 

This article, based on the historicist approach to the interpretation of Bible Prophecy, focuses on the identification and fulfilment of three key time measures mentioned in Daniel chapter 12; namely a Time, Times and a Half; 1290 and 1335 prophetic days. The Bible marks these time measures out as important waymarks in the history of the domination of Judah and Jerusalem in particular, by a succession of Gentile nations and empires, and play a significant role in the restoration of the holy city of Jerusalem to the people of Judah. Although these time measures may have more than one fulfilment, it can be shown through historical records that they are specifically associated with the Islamic domination of Jerusalem; a factor that continues to influence the development of events in the struggle for supremacy in the troubled Middle East, and which affects us globally to this day.

 

Daniel 12

The last chapter of Daniel (chapter 12) records three specific times associated with the lead up to the fulfilment of God’s purposes concerning the people of Judah (generally known to the world as ‘the Jews‘) and more specifically the holy city of Jerusalem. These times have become the subject of many different interpretations over the centuries since their first recording.

The Bible expresses the three time measures as follows:

• A Time, Times and Half a Time (Dan 12:7),
• 1290 Days (Dan 12:11), and
• 1335 Days (Dan 12:12).

In Bible terms the prophetic measure known as a ‘Time’ is considered by most prophetic students to be 360 days, (this is obtained from a geometric cycle or round of motion occupying 360 degrees, and the average of solar and lunar years in days being 360; solar and lunar time being the universal measures of time).

Most prophetic students and expositors also agree that the ‘days’ referred to in many prophetic statements refer to ‘prophetic’ days rather than literal 12-hour or 24-hour days, and that the symbolic ‘Day for a Year’ principle applies to prophetic statements that feature chronological details (based on Numbers 14:34 & Ezekiel 4:6).

Therefore, using these definitions it can readily be deduced that a prophetic ‘Time’ equates to 360 actual years. Using this approach, the ‘Time[1], Times[2] and half[3] a Time’ expressed in prophetic terms amount to 1260[4] years on an actual time scale.

Based on similar reasoning, the 1290 days and 1335 days referred to in Daniel 12 equate to 1290 years and 1335 years respectively. 

As will be demonstrated, the three foregoing time periods prescribed are closely associated with one another in the fulfilment of God’s purpose in the overall subject of the prophecy.

This purpose is clearly stated in the last part of Daniel 12:7; that “…all these things shall be finished (completed)”, i.e. when God has accomplished His goal; namely the scattering of the power of the holy people as we read in Daniel 12:7… 

… and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

 The term ‘holy people’ undoubtedly refers to the same people who are the subject of the discourse on the future of the ‘holy city’ of Jerusalem mentioned earlier in Daniel [1]; namely, the people of Judah, and particularly those people associated with the city of Jerusalem.

The statement that “all these things shall be finished” clearly refers to the subject of the prophecy.

This prophecy is also concerned with the “time of the end’- a time during which we can readily verify the accuracy of the fulfilment of God’s prophetic Word to date, proving that the God of the Bible is the one true Almighty, foreknowing God; who declares the end from the beginning (Isa 46:9-10).  The fundamental purpose of Bible Prophecy is to illuminate these darkened times we live in (2 Peter 1:19-20) and thus provide convincing evidence of the reality of God, and that He alone ultimately overrules the nations to ensure that His will and purpose is carried out. It is only in these latter times that we are able to verify these events through hindsight.

The purpose of the prophecy…

Dan 12:11

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the (or an[i]) abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

On applying the Day-for-a-year principle in this instance, the Bible identifies a prophetic period of 1290 actual years.

Having established the prophetic time period as representing years, there are two principal ways we can then look at the time period stated in Dan 12:11. It could signify…

(1) A period of 1290 prophetic days (actual years) prescribed by God, commencing from the taking away of the daily sacrifice AND the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate (i.e. a common, synchronous event encompassing both conditions), or…

(2) A period of 1290 prophetic days (actual years) prescribed by God that commences from the taking away of the daily sacrifice and is fulfilled (completed) by the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate.

Many prophetic statements that specify a prescribed time period refer to the delineation of a time marking the commencement of the period and a subsequent time marking the fulfilment. A prime example is the well-known ‘70 weeks’ prophecy of Daniel…

Dan 9:25

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks …

The foregoing prescribes a period delineated by starting (from) a particular event (time) and ending (unto) at a particular event (time); in this case 69 ‘prophetic’ weeks (or 483 actual years). History verifies the validity of this approach in this instance, commencing the period from the time of the commandment to restore…

On the basis of the foregoing, this article adopts the second approach for the interpretation of the prophecy of Dan 12:11.

If (1) is correct then we would need to identify a time marked by the taking away of the daily sacrifice AND the setting up of the abomination as a single event from which to commence the prophetic period. Then we would need to count 1290 prophetic days (years), but 1290 prophetic days to what event or events? Presumably the fulfilment is the accomplishment of the “scattering of the holy people” (Dan 12:7), and/or the end of “these wonders” (Dan 12:6) and/or the “time of the end” (Dan 12:9), seeing these 3 terms describe the purpose (or fulfilment) of the prophecy.

If (1) is the correct interpretation, then 70 A.D. would probably be the most logical candidate year to mark the commencement of the 1290 day/year period with both the sacrifices ceasing and the (or an) abomination that makes desolate set up. Adding 1290 years from this date places us either in the year 1341 A.D. (based on prophetic 360-day years) or 1360 A.D. (based on solar years). However, neither of these dates corresponds to significant fulfilments that fully align with the original stated purpose of the prophecy. Therefore such an approach would not appear to be the right one.

So, it would seem that (2) is a more likely scenario. If that is indeed the case, then we should look for a period of 1290 prophetic days that commence from the cessation of the daily sacrifice, and is fulfilled by the setting up of the (or an) abomination that makes desolate. This approach follows similar reasoning to that applied to the 70 weeks prophecy in Daniel, which commenced with the decree to restore and re-build and was subsequently fulfilled (completed) in the specific accomplishments of Christ’s Messianic ministry.

Consequently, there is strong evidence to suggest that the 1290 days refer primarily to a period dominated by the desolations of Islam over the land of Judah.

Firstly, it should be noted that, like other instances in the fulfilment of prophetic statements, there may be more than one fulfilment. What is outlined below is one such fulfilment.

The 1290 (prophetic) days refers to 1290 actual years, based on the ‘Day-for-a-Year’ principle.

The fulfilment is connected by other associated time measures, namely ‘Time, Times and half-a-Time’ (1260 day/years) and 1335 day/years. The book of Revelation also mentions a period of 42 months, which is the equivalent to 1260 days (42 x 30 = 1260 days).

These prophetic times may be explained as follows:

The cessation of the daily sacrifice FIRST took place during the Babylonian incursions of Judah. History records that the first temple at Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. during the 23^rd year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. However, the sacrifices continued until the 3^rd year of Nebuchadnezzar, i.e. 583 B.C. So it is reasonable for us to take 583 B.C. as the commencement date, which signified the cessation of the daily sacrifice.

We use the ‘Day-for-a-Year’ principle to compute the dates, commencing from 583 B.C.

1290 days = 1290 years. On a prophetic chronological basis, i.e. 360 days per year, but a solar year = 365.25 days per year, so we need to apply a conversion factor of (360 ÷ 365 = 0.9856)

So 1290 prophetic years = 1290 x 0.9856 = 1271.5 solar years (to nearest single decimal place).

583 B.C.  + 1271.5 solar years = 688.5 A.D. (i.e. mid-way through 688 A.D.)

Taking 688 A.D. as a new starting point, adding 1260 solar years brings us to the year 1948. Clearly this was an extremely significant year as far as the people of Judah are concerned and the whole world. It marked the establishment of the national State of Israel.

Furthermore, from a starting date of 688.5 A.D.  adding 42 solar months (i.e. 42 * 30.44 = 1278.5 day/years) brings us to the year 1967. Again, this is a most significant year for the people of Judah for it marked the 6-day war, in which the United Arab Republic was utterly defeated and Israel re-took the old city of Jerusalem. Also at this time the borders of Israel were extended to encompass the land originally allocated to Israel by the Lord. A further significance lies in the fact that it marked a Jubilee of 50 years from the initial liberation of Jerusalem out of Turkish-Islamic hands in December 1917.

Taking 583 B.C. (the cessation of the daily sacrifices) as a starting date. If we add 1335 prophetic days/years it brings us to the year 732 A.D. History reveals that this was the very year that the Islamic conquest of Europe via Spain was halted, and from which the Moorish invaders were driven back. This took place at the battle of Tours, near Poitiers in France. The Frankish King Charles Martel (known as ‘the Hammer’) defeated the Islamic army and thus halted Islamic expansion in Europe. From that time the power of the invading Moors receded.

Daily sacrifice taken away in 583 BC.

1290 days = 1290 years. 1290 Prophetic years (based on 360-day year) = 1271.5 Solar years

583 + 1271.5 solar years (equivalent to 1290 prophetic years) = 688.5 A.D.

688.5 + 1260 = 1948 (establishment of State of Israel)

42 months = 42 * 30.44 days = 1278.5 years

688.5 + 1278.5 = 1967 

688 AD is the year of the commencement of building the Dome of The Rock shrine (commonly, but incorrectly known as the Mosque of Omar) on the temple mount platform at Jerusalem. 

Site cleared in 685-6 AD

Construction completed in 691-2 AD (verified by the date inscription on the structure)

That would make the middle of the construction period = 688.5 AD 

In 1967 Moshe Diane

When God revealed this prophecy to Daniel, the temple had already been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the daily sacrifice had already been ‘taken away’ (i.e. ceased). This was the FIRST instance of cessation of the daily sacrifice (service) of the temple. It would have been plain to Daniel at the time that this was the case, having actually lived through the period of this event. The time that Daniel was given this particular prophecy was the 3rd year of the reign of Cyrus the Great (533 B.C.) some 50 years after the cessation of the sacrifice (service). Perhaps, this pronouncement was significant in that 50 years had elapsed (representing a jubilee).

Therefore, taking 583 B.C. as a starting year from which to measure the prophetic period of 1290 years brings us to the year 688 A.D. based on the years referred to being 360 day/years.  To be more exact, it brings us to 688.5 A.D.

688 A.D. is believed to have been the year of the commencement of building of the Dome of The Rock (shrine) on the temple mount at Jerusalem. It remains an abomination and place of contention to the people of Judah (the Jews) until this very day. Its presence signifies the desolation of the Jews with reference to the presence (or rather the lack of the presence) of God in their midst. The temple, which signified God’s presence in the midst of the nation, cannot be re-instituted as long as this abomination continues to exist on the temple mount area. Palestinian Arabs make a point of playing soccer and having picnics at this location today, emphasising their presence and exacerbating the abomination against the Jews.

If we add a further 1260 solar years (the time, times and half a time) to the year 688 it brings us to 1948 – the establishment of the Jewish nation state of Israel. This was as a result of repatriation that commenced from the liberation of Jerusalem under British and Commonwealth forces on 9th December 1917 and the subsequent Balfour Declaration of 1917.

Furthermore, if we apply the 42 months period (from Revelation) and we specifically use Solar Months (i.e. each month = 30.44 days), this equates to 42 x 30.44 = 1278.5 day/years. Adding this to 688.5 brings us to 1967 – the six-day war and restoration of the old city of Jerusalem to the Jews. Significantly, the Israeli army hoisted the Star of David flag over the Dome of the Rock on the day of victory. 1967 also marked a Jubilee of years (i.e. 50 years) from the initial liberation of Jerusalem in 1917.

The 1335 days mentioned in Daniel 12:12 clearly signify a blessing. What a blessing it was for the people of Judah; the very people whom the prophecy of Daniel 12 focuses on.

Again, if we use 583 B.C. as a starting point, and we add 1335 prophetic days, this equates to a prophetic time of 1315 solar years. Adding 1315 solar years to 538 B.C. brings us to 732 A.D. History reveals that in October 732 A.D. the battle of Tours took place and as a result of this battle the expansion of Islam into Europe was checked. The power of Islam in Europe began to recede from that point. As a further fulfilment, the Ottoman Empire was completely finished in 1917 with the liberation of Jerusalem from the Islamic Turks.

That these prophetic times are associated with Daniel’s concern for Judah, there can be no doubt.

Conclusion

So, we have in these three time measures a triple identification of the fulfilment of God’s promise to restore again the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the people of Judah. Moreover, we also have three key dates that verify the fulfilment …

1917 – Initial liberation of the city; marking the end of the times of the Gentiles

1948 – The establishment of the Jewish State of Israel

1967 – The re-taking of the Old City and extension of the borders of Israel

Recorded history verifies the absolute accuracy of these prophecies and confirms that the Bible indeed is the true Word of Almighty God. 

The presence of the Dome of the Rock remains as a reminder – the pivotal event of its construction represents a significant sign of the end times. It remains as a potent reminder today as the world repeatedly focuses on the troubled Middle East; especially the city of Jerusalem and the state of Israel.   

The blindness of the people of Judah to their Messiah. God has allowed the structure of the Dome of the Rock to remain as a reminder of the general national rejection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, by the people of Judah – the Jews.  Whilst this abomination remains it will prove both a stumbling block and a potent symbol of God’s disapproval. The abolition of the temple and its sacrifices. Just as Jesus declared, their house is left unto them desolate. As a people they can no longer receive the ultimate blessing of the Almighty until they say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”; referring to Jesus Christ.

[i] The Hebrew does not contain the definite article, and therefore could equally mean “an abomination that maketh desolate…”

[1] See Daniel chapter 9, which describes the 70 weeks prophecy, esp. verses 18-20, 24.

[1] A Time is 360 years

[2] Times literally means twice a time, which is 720 years

[3] Half a time is one half of 360 years, which is 180 years

[4] 360 + (2 x 360) + 180 years = 1260 years