“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
Revelation 14:6-7
Let's look through the lens of the Great Controversy and understand the Plan of Salvation for humans.
For context, the first clue is found in Jesus current role:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14-16
We must first understand the Sanctuary System to see the timeline.
Jesus' Preparation
Jesus' Sacrifice
Our High Priest
Jesus is in Heaven making a way where we can be saved! This is the Gospel Message!
If this is new to you, please first review the study on the Sanctuary System which is our roadmap for the Plan of Salvation.
But remember that time is not unlimited! Everything has a season!
“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
Daniel 8:14
We are told there would be a time period before Jesus moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in Heaven to complete His work.
What are we told about time prophecy in the Bible?
We find throughout the Bible a principle of 1 day = 1 year when dealing with prophecy.
To show this, we can start in Ezekiel. Here he is speaking of prophecy and it is clearly outlined that a day is for a year… “I have appointed thee each day for a year.” and mentions prophecy in the next verse:
“Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.”
Ezekiel 4:4-7
We see the same thing in Numbers which tells us that a day is a year in prophecy... “each day or a year”...
“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.”
Numbers 14:34
There are various examples of this, we can also read in Genesis 29:27 where Laban calls a week 7 years...
A day in prophecy stands for a year. ” Ellen White, Desire of Ages (DA 233.1)
When we have symbols in prophecy the time periods are symbolic.
2300 Days = 2300 Years
If we know how long the period of time is, the next question is when does this 2300 years start?
If you have not already, I recommend reading more about Daniel's prophecies of the 70 Weeks as this shares the same start period for the 2300 day prophecy.
“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 street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”
Daniel 9:25
We need to find when this decree was given to rebuild the temple and we will have our start date!
If we study through Ezra and Nehemiah, we will actually find four decrees, however only one of them includes the temple, streets and walls.
536 BC: (Ezra 1:1-4)
Decree by Cyrus to rebuild temple519 BC: (Ezra 6:1–12)
Decree by Darius I to finish temple457 BC: (Ezra 7:7-13)
Decree by Artaxerxes I of Persia to rebuild temple, streets & walls444 BC: (Nehemiah 2)
Decree by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to finish wall at JerusalemSo we have our date!! The Fall of 457 BC! Let's do the math:
“ September 23, the Lord showed me that He had stretched out His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people, [See page 86.] and that efforts must be redoubled in this gathering time. In the scattering, Israel was smitten and torn, but now in the gathering time God will heal and bind up His people. In the scattering, efforts made to spread the truth had but little effect, accomplished but little or nothing; but in the gathering, when God has set His hand to gather His people, efforts to spread the truth will have their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in the work. I saw that it was wrong for any to refer to the scattering for examples to govern us now in the gathering; for if God should do no more for us now than He did then, Israel would never be gathered. I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed. [This applies to the chart used during the 1843 movement, and has special reference to the calculation of the prophetic periods as it appeared on that chart. The next sentence explains that there was an inaccuracy which in the providence of God was suffered to exist. But this does not preclude the publication of a chart subsequently which would correct the mistake, after the 1843 movement was past, and the calculation as then made had served its purpose.] ” Early Writings (EW 74.1)
Reluctant Preacher
William Miller is a gentleman farmer tormented by the question of why he survived the battle of Plattsburg.
Searching for answers, he ignores the misgivings and jeers of friends to search the Scriptures where he finds a friend in Jesus.
It is 1816 and his discoveries have the potential to impact the world but the shy farmer refuses to share it.
William Miller starts reluctantly preaching about Daniel and Revelation when he is asked to share his unique understanding of prophecy.
Jesus is Coming
William is helped by pastor and publicist Joshua Himes to shake the United States by proclaiming the Second Coming of Jesus Christ was imminent.
Bitter Disappointment
Jesus doesn’t come on the predicted date of Oct 22 1844. Awakening the next day they discover their world is in chaos. A small group gathers to find a new understanding of what happened.
Faith Tested
Experiencing bitter poverty and trying to rebuild their lives, the small group starts growing into a larger movement once again. However, confusion is wide spread as teenager Ellen White starts receiving visions.
Everytime Christ moves, a new church is formed!
Foundations Laid
Experiencing bitter poverty and trying to rebuild their lives, the small group starts growing into a larger movement once again. However, confusion is wide spread as teenager Ellen White starts receiving visions.
Tell the World
Ellen struggles with another loss and James’ poor health. This inspires new visions about health and education which propels them in a new direction. Faced with profound limitations the leaders of this new movement have to decide how large their vision is.
If we add 2300 years to 457 BC we arrive at the fall of 1844!
This is the mystery which has been revealed!
“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”
Romans 16:25
We find that Jesus is doing a work which has the power to keep us from evil! (more on this soon!)
“To [Paul] had been given the ministry of making known “the mystery” which had been “kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25),—“the mystery of His will” (Ephesians 1:9), “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof,” declares Paul, “I was made a minister.... Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:5-11.”” Acts of Apostles (AA 159.2)
“He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation.”
Acts of the Apostles (AA 17.2)
We read in Ephesians that God had chosen mankind before even creating the world that we should demonstrate His character being holy and without blame before Jesus...
“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to his good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:”
Ephesians 1:4-9
Do you get it?!? God is preparing a people to stand true to Him and show that like Jesus and through the Spirit of Jesus we can overcome this world!
Sadly, the Gospel message will not be accepted by all and some will face the judgment. As soon as there are a people prepared to stand, the judgment of the living will begin and the final events of earth's history will conclude.
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
1 Peter 4:17
We will soon see a falling away and many who profess to be Adventists will be given the mark of the beast and join the ranks of apostate religions.