I find it interesting and yet not surprising that when it comes to Daniel’s timeline prophecies (1260, 1290, 1335, and 2300-day prophecies), that there are many different interpretations among Christians. Even among Seventh-day Adventist Christians there is the prominent belief that William Miller’s interpretations of Daniel’s timeline prophecies all came to fulfillment on or before 1844 with the exception of Jesus’ second coming. And yet when examining the historical record beyond 1798 (the end date of William Miller’s 1260-day timeline interpretation) there are some significant events in the Roman papacy’s history which puts in question William Miller’s 1260-day interpretation. Instead of closing the door to further investigation, we would do well to test what we believe in the light of the historical record of today; knowing that by close examination, one’s position will only be strengthened or adjusted to the right side of history. To learn more about this, read my book, Three Angels in the Midst of Heaven.
When it comes to the study of the Bible’s apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, there are three main schools or methods of interpretation: (1) Preterism, (2) Futurism, and (3) Historicism. The method of preterism teaches that Bible prophecy (most particularly found within the book of Revelation) has already had much of its fulfillment in the early days of the Christian Church. Futurism on the other hand teaches that Bible prophecy points forward to the last days—most particularly the last seven years of earth’s history. It is interesting to note that both of these interpretative methods are the product of two Roman Catholic Jesuit priests[i] who looked to divide and conquer early Protestant thinking that the Roman papacy was the anti-Christ or “little horn” power mentioned in the book of Daniel. Christians today who believe in a secret rapture followed by seven years of tribulation for earth’s inhabitants left behind most closely follow the Jesuit method of futurism.
The third method, historicism looks at Bible prophecy along a historical timeline starting with Daniel’s prophecies which are often repeated and expanded upon by John the Revelator’s prophecies found in the book of Revelation. The early Protestant reformers all followed this method of interpretation. Furthermore, historicism is the only interpretative method today which gives us any level of assurance to the Bible’s predictions yet to come, in pointing us back to the already fulfilled prophetic waymarks of the past.
In addition to a method of interpretation, there needs to be a set of principles applied when interpreting the Bible’s apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. As a student of Bible prophecy, I have found eight principles which have served me well. The primary principle being the Bible as its own expositor of truth. Sometimes referred to as Isaiah’s principle, it is “precept upon precept” and “line upon line” (Isaiah 28:9-10), in which a Bible verse is often interpreted by another Bible verse (see Revelation 17:1-2, 15). As for my full set of principles of prophetic study, I invite you to read my online booklet, Daniel and Revelation: How to Study Bible Prophecy which may be found on my author website resources page.
Lastly, and surely one of the biggest stumbling blocks for most Christians (me included) is in allowing our inherent biases (our formed Christian beliefs and Church taught traditions) to be the filter by which test and decide what to believe. I wrote a whole blog about this titled, Stumbling Blocks. When it comes to the Bible as its own expositor of truth, we need to be willing to lay aside our biases and to un-filter test what we believe. In challenging our beliefs, we allow ourselves to be open to change and to embrace it where truth can be found. In allowing the Spirit of truth (John 14:26, 16:13) to speak to our conscience, then and only then may we come to see and know what is truth. As for our inherent and religious biases, which we all have, they often prevent us from advancing in the truth. Yet when we consciously lay them aside, the truth can more easily be found and shall set us free from error. The good news for all of us is that truth never changes, and when we allow it, it will surely change us!
WHY IT MATTERS
It matters that we know what is truth in order to teach others what is truth; It matters, so we can defend the truth from error; It matters, so we can discern and expose the devil’s deceptions, and seducing lies (truth mixed with error); It matters, that we as watchmen for the Lord’s soon coming can unmistakably show the world from history not only the fulfillment of Daniel’s timeline prophecies, but to connect them to the Three Angels’ Message of Revelation 14; God’s Last day Message to the world today!
[i] In counteraction to the early Protestant Reformers belief that Bible prophecy pointed to the Roman papacy as the anti-Christ power, the method of preterism was brought forward by the Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest Alcazar in AD 1614; whereas futurism was brought forward by Jesuit Priest Ribera in AD 1591.