A Proposed Timeline for Daniel's Prophecies

Let's look at the historical record of biblical prophecy. Many accept that the Bible accurately predicted what events would occur, which later came to pass. Likewise, there are accepted cases where the Bible predicted when certain events would occur, in a way that only became clear in retrospect, and they did occur at the appointed time. We also know that the Bible speaks of future events that have not yet occurred. This naturally prompts the question: Is it plausible that the Bible could also reveal the specific time when certain future events will be fulfilled? While interpretations of Daniel's prophecies vary widely, this paper will present a specific reading concerning the period referred to as the "time of the end," focusing intently on the internal chronological connections suggested between Daniel 4, 8, and 12, without attempting to address the full range of alternative views.

The Core Interpretation: A Summary of Key Dates

Before going into the detailed reasoning, here is the central conclusion of this interpretation:

1. The period known as the "last days" began in the fall of 1914.
2. A distinct period within the "last days," called "the time of the end" in Daniel, began 105 years later, in the fall of 2019. This beginning is marked by the prophetic event described as the removal of the "constant feature."
3. A significant event, the appearance of the "disgusting thing that causes desolation," occurred 2.5 years after the start of "the time of the end," in the spring of 2022.
4. A final key point in this prophetic timeline, associated with happiness and the restoration of the holy place, is expected to occur 6.25 years after the beginning of the "time of the end," pinpointing the winter immediately following the fall of 2025.

Unpacking the Reasoning: How Was This Timeline Derived?

Understanding this interpretation requires examining several interconnected prophetic concepts and calculations. The journey involves linking prophecies from Daniel and Revelation as well as applying the calendar system alluded to in Ezekiel.

1. The Starting Point: 1914 and the "Last Days"

The foundation for this timeline rests on an interpretation established in the late 1800s. A group of Bible students focused on the "seven times" mentioned in Daniel 4, interpreting this as a period of 2,520 years (based on principles derived elsewhere in scripture, specifically linking "a time, times, and half a time" to 1,260 days in Revelation 12:6, 14, and thus doubling it for "seven times"). They calculated this 2,520-year period began with Jerusalem's fall to Babylon and the dethroning of the Davidic king in 607 B.C.E., concluding in the fall of 1914. (While the basis for this specific calculation involving 607 B.C.E. is well-documented elsewhere, this paper takes it as a foundational premise and focuses on a proposed timeline derived from Daniel 8 and 12 that unfolds within this established framework.) The dramatic world events beginning that year were seen as confirmation, marking the start of the scripturally foretold "last days" (or "the final part of the days").

2. Defining "The Time of the End" in Daniel 12

While the "last days" (or "the final part of the days") began in 1914, the book of Daniel also uses another distinct phrase: "the time of the end." This interpretation proposes that "the time of the end" is not synonymous with the entire "last days" but is a distinct, defined period within it, marked by a later starting point. The basis for this distinction and sequence can be seen in the varied usage of these terms within Daniel itself. Daniel chapter 8 focuses explicitly on events related to "the time of the end" (Daniel 8:17, 19), but conspicuously omits the phrases "last days" or "final part of the days." Conversely, Daniel chapter 10 introduces the overarching prophecy of chapter 11 by stating that its focus is "the final part of the days" (Daniel 10:14), yet the phrase "the time of the end" does not appear in Daniel 10. It only emerges toward the very end of this prophecy, in Daniel 11:35 and Daniel 11:40-45, describing a future period within the ongoing narrative sequence. This differential usage suggests the terms refer to related but not identical periods. Furthermore, Daniel 11:35 speaks of a cleansing period that continues "until the time of the end," linking this back to "the time appointed" mentioned in Daniel 11:29 (understood to refer to the 1914 start of the last days). This implies "the time of the end" starts after the initial "time appointed" for the last days to begin, establishing a staggered start between the "final part of the days" and the later "time of the end."

Daniel 12 continues the discussion, describing events occurring "during that time" (referring back to "the time of the end" mentioned in the concluding verses of the previous chapter at Daniel 11:40). In this context, an angel is asked how long it will be "to the end" (Daniel 12:6). It's helpful to view all the statements made in verses 7 to the end of the chapter as being prompted in answer to this question. The answer is "an appointed time, appointed times, and half a time" (Daniel 12:7). Drawing on the Revelation 12 parallel, this equates to 1,260 prophetic days. Given the narrative flow of Daniel 10-12, where "the final part of the days" is the main topic starting from 1914, and "the time of the end" is a later development within that period, this interpretation suggests the 1,260 prophetic days measure the time from the start of the main period ("the final part of the days," anchored to Fall 1914 via the Daniel 4 calculation) up to the beginning of the sub-period defined as "the time of the end."

Daniel 12:11 mentions the removal of the "constant feature." This is presented as if it were an event previously introduced in answer to the question from Daniel 12:6. Given that the preceding verses (Daniel 12:6-7) introduce the 1,260-day duration leading "to the end" ("the time of the end"), this interpretation connects the removal of the constant feature to the start of "the time of the end," occurring precisely at the culmination of that 1,260-day period from the 1914 anchor. Thus, the removal of the constant feature marks the beginning of "the time of the end." While Daniel 12:11 states, "And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and the disgusting thing that causes desolation has been put in place, there will be 1,290 days," this is understood not as the 1,290 days starting at the removal, but rather the verse associating the placement of the "disgusting thing that causes desolation" with the 1,290-prophetic-day mark relative to the original starting point (Fall 1914). This places the "disgusting thing" 30 prophetic days after the removal of the "constant feature" (which occurred at the 1,260-day mark), following the sequence initiated by the start of "the time of the end."

What exactly do the "constant feature" and the "disgusting thing that causes desolation" represent in this timeline? Drawing a parallel to the interpretation of the 1914 date, which involved significant, globally impactful events whose precise prophetic fulfillment became clearer over time, the events marking the start of "the time of the end" and subsequent points are understood to be momentous, possibly heavenly-initiated developments. While their full, exact nature may require retrospective clarity, the interpretation suggests looking for significant, observable changes in the world that appear to trace back to the commencement of "the time of the end" in Fall 2019 and the placement of the disgusting thing in Spring 2022, much like the world saw dramatic shifts starting in 1914.

3. Key Events Within "The Time of the End"

Daniel 12 marks further points after the start of "the time of the end":

• At 1,290 prophetic days (from the start of the "last days"), the "disgusting thing that causes desolation" is put in place (Daniel 12:11). This is 30 prophetic days after the 1,260 mark.^[1]
• At 1,335 prophetic days (from the start of the "last days"), those "keeping in expectation" are called "happy" (Daniel 12:12). This is 75 prophetic days after the 1,260 mark (or 45 prophetic days after the 1,290 mark).

Therefore, according to this reading of Daniel 12, the significant events of "the time of the end" span a period of 75 prophetic days (from day 1,260 to day 1,335, relative to the 1914 anchor).^[2]

4. The Crucial Link: Equating Prophetic Days with Literal Time (Daniel 8 & 12)

How long is a "prophetic day" in this specific context? While scripture elsewhere establishes the principle that prophetic time units can be symbolic (e.g., Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6 often cited for a day-for-a-year principle), the specific ratio applicable must be determined from the context. Here, the key lies in comparing Daniel 12 with Daniel 8, which also speaks of "the time of the end" and the removal/restoration related to the "constant feature."^[3]

• Daniel 8:14 gives a duration for this period (from removal to restoration) as 2,300 "evenings and mornings." This phrase is often interpreted as referring to literal 24-hour days.
• As established above, Daniel 12 appears to cover this same period (removal of constant feature at day 1,260 to restoration/happiness at day 1,335) in 75 prophetic "days."
• If both passages describe the same timeframe using different units, we can equate them:

  $$75 \text{ prophetic days} = 2,300 \text{ literal days (evenings and mornings)}$$

• Solving for one prophetic day:

  $$1 \text{ prophetic day} = \frac{2,300}{75} \text{ literal days} = 30 \frac{2}{3} \text{ literal days}$$

This calculation provides the conversion factor derived specifically from comparing Daniel 8 and 12: one prophetic day in this context equals $30 \frac{2}{3}$ literal days.

5. Corroborating Evidence: Ezekiel's Calendar

Intriguingly, this ratio of $30 \frac{2}{3}$ literal days per prophetic day finds a potential match in a calendar system arguably derived from Ezekiel's writings.

• This proposed calendar features a year of 368 days, divided into four equal seasons of 92 days each.
• Each season has three months (two of 31 days, one of 30 days).
• The average month length in this system is:

  $$\frac{368 \text{ days}}{12 \text{ months}} = 30 \frac{2}{3} \text{ days per month}$$

• The perfect match between the calculated length of a prophetic day ($30 \frac{2}{3}$ literal days) and the average month length in this calendar ($30 \frac{2}{3}$ days) leads this interpretation to equate 1 prophetic day = 1 literal month (using this specific 368-day year structure). This proposes a 'day-for-a-month' (or a 'day-for-a-twelfth-of-a-year') application for this particular prophecy, differing from the 'day-for-a-year' principle applied elsewhere, but consistent with the principle of symbolic time.

6. Calculating the Final Dates

Now, applying this derived conversion (1 prophetic day = 1 month, based on the $30 \frac{2}{3}$ ratio) to the timeline from Daniel 12, anchored to the Fall 1914 start date:

• Start of "The Time of the End" (Removal of Constant Feature): 1,260 prophetic days = 1,260 months = 105 years.
  • Fall 1914 + 105 years = Fall 2019.
• Placement of "Disgusting Thing": 1,290 prophetic days = 1,290 months = 107.5 years.
  • Fall 1914 + 107.5 years = Spring 2022. (This is 30 months or 2.5 years after Fall 2019).
• Happiness/Restoration: 1,335 prophetic days = 1,335 months = 111.25 years.
  • Fall 1914 + 111.25 years = Winter 2025 (specifically, the winter immediately following Fall 2025). (This is 75 months or 6.25 years after Fall 2019).

Conclusion

This interpretation weaves together multiple prophecies and requires several interpretive steps – adopting the 1914 anchor based on Daniel 4 and 607 BCE, defining "the time of the end" distinctly within the "last days," linking Daniel 8 and 12 to derive a specific prophetic day's length ($30 \frac{2}{3}$ literal days), and correlating that with a specific proposed calendar system where this duration equals an average month.

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1. See "Jesus' Words on the Disgusting Thing" in the section addenda. ↩︎

2. It is also noteworthy that the specific numbers—1,260, 1,290, and 1,335—increase sequentially and share common factors (e.g., 15). While drawing definitive conclusions from such numerical patterns requires caution, this mathematical relationship could be viewed as subtly consistent with the interpretation that these figures represent interconnected points within a single, structured timeline. ↩︎

3. See "Comparing Daniel 8 to Daniel 12" in the section diagrams. ↩︎