Kland,

I think you are on the right track. Because the 1260, 42-months, and time times and dividing of time are all mathematically the same duration, it appears obvious that they refer to the same period. So if the numbers were not mathematical equivalents they would not be linked as readily.

When numbers are used in the book of Daniel, there is allot of subjectivity. Sometimes the very same numbers are translated from the original language into different numbers in English.

From Strong's allow me to give you two instances:
Unto two thousand <0505> (Daniel 8:14)
the thousand <0505> (Daniel 12:12)

0505 &#1507;&#1500;&#1488; ‘eleph eh’- lef is translated as thousand 500 times and a variant 1 time (2000)

The same number was translated as 1000 and 2000 depending on the context. That being said, the translators got it right that time. Point being the context can affect how the number is intended to be understood.

The translators understood the history relating to Daniel 8:14 as 2300 literal days from the ascension of Artaxerxes to the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem by Ezra because Artaxerxes was the third and final Persian king to issue a decree to restore the Temple. And obviously Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in 457 BC near the end of a 2300-day period.



2300[days]/360 [prophetic days in a year] {2300/360}=
6-years (2160-days)[6 years were fulfilled and the 7th began)
4-months (120-days)
1-day (first day of the 5th month)
(2281-days)

Ezra arrived at Jerusalem 19-days before Yom Kippur 457 BC
From Yom Kippur 457 BC 2300-years extend to Yom Kippur 1844

Thus when the Bible translators encountered 0505 which is translated as 1000 [500 times] in the Bible
they knew that it had to be translated as 2000 in Daniel 8:14

Thus you also have an instance where Daniel 8:14 is literal time in the first (local) application and a day for a year in a secondary application.

But this won't help you current discussion much or any such talk with most SDA's since they are not familiar with the 4 applications of Daniel 8:14. These two [a literal and a figurative meaning] will cause many to try to explain away the evidence because it does not fit the historisist model. I should hope that seekers for truth would prefer truth than a pet model that does not fit all the criteria in the prophecy as knowledge is increased. But it can be stressful to exit one's comfort zone.

All things considered, I have been an SDA for almost 50-years. And when God called me to study Daniel almost 20-years ago, I put an earnest effort into answering that call.



The only Private interpretation of Scriptures that matters is God's

You said it's necessary to have "'faith' in what God says will be done in the endtime." Do I need to have "faith" that there will be a period of 3.5 years of persecution in the endtime? How will that kind of "faith" help me?

The inference is wrong, so the conclusion is wrong. The word in Dan. 12:12 is alph - a thousand, while the word in Dan. 8:14 is alphim - two thousand, as the supphix "im" indicates "two."

Did God say there would be a period of 3.5-years of persecution in the endtime?

If He said such a thing, is it to give you faith to anticipate that it will come?

Or is such a revelation to warn you to fortify oneself by immersing into a study of the Scriptures before it would come?

If such things should come to pass, it would be too late to put God's promises into the heart after Bibles are rounded up. Too late to remember how God has answered prayers that were never prayed in the past when He withdraws.

One of the purposes of prophecy is to warn God's people before the evil comes so that they can prepare.

When the disciples were told to watch and pray three times before Judas betrayed Jesus, when the HOUR came, time was up! preparations that were not made when the opportunity was given were left undone. Will it be any different when Christ comes?

Surely if it is important to understand the three angels' messages as they relate to the HOUR of the Judgment of the dead, how much more is it that we realize that the living are now being judged? It is one thing to say that dead people are being judged - what can they do about it now that they are dead? It is quite another thing to realize that ones life is constantly under examination. Knowing that we have the opportunity to "get right with God" moment by moment and that we should do it without delay because at a moment that we least expect Jesus will end His work in the Heavenly sanctuary and those that are filthy will no longer have a chance to change.

Beginning when?

Jesus said there would be a persecution. Revelation shows the same. If you fortify yourself by praying and studying the Bible, it doesn't matter how long the persecution will last. Affirming that there will be a period of 3.5 years of persecution is just setting another date for Christ's coming - something we are warned not to do - for what should one expect at the end of such a period of persecution?

I checked him on that and you must have a different Strong's than we have.

It sounded like you just said that all numbers in Daniel are related to the same period.



Why should it demand our special attention and be linked to Revelation just because we are nearing the close of Earth's history as opposed to demanding our special attention any other time?

One post you indicated there was a future application to Daniel 12, but everything else you said suggests you only believe it is history.

Would you be able to distinguish between historicism and tradition for us?

kland,

Strong's just give the words in the singular form. You must read the text itself. You can read it here, together with an interlinear translation:

http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Hebrew_Index.htm

What date was set?