Understanding the "Daily" in the book of Daniel.

How long shall be the vision concerning the daily and the transgression of desolation?

Introduction

In the study of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14, we encounter the phrase, “the daily sacrifice”. Hence, before we continue with the 2300 days, we ought to understand this pertinent phrase. What does this phrase mean?

10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised and prospered. 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8

We note that the word sacrifice is italicized as it was supplied by the translators to the original text. Using heaven’s appointed method of comparing spiritual with spiritual, scripture with scripture we now consider the key phrase “taken away”.

Identifying the Daily

11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. Daniel 8

“He” in verse 11 refers to the little horn. An host or army is given to the little horn by reason of transgression. This is speaking to the transgression of a woman riding a beast - the kings giving their military power to a religious entity. Thus, it is papal Rome which magnified itself to the Prince of the host. By “him” or by papal Rome, the daily was taken away. This indicates that the daily is the power that precedes the little horn since it must be taken away for papal Rome to gain supremacy. This naturally leads to the question, what power or kingdom precedes the little horn? We find the answer back in Daniel 7.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7

Daniel 7 brings to view the fourth beast, dreadful, terrible and exceedingly strong with ten horns. On this fourth beast and among its ten horns came the little horn which plucked three of the first horns. Therefore, the fourth beast with its ten horns precedes the little horn.

Paul’s Testimony

In Daniel 11:31 similar to Daniel 8:11, we are again informed of this transition from the “daily” to the “abomination that taketh desolate”.

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Daniel 11

The apostle Paul in the new testament also gives witness to this transition from the daily to the abomination that maketh desolate. He uses the words the “man of sin”, “son perdition” and “the Wicked” which are all synonymous with or the same reference to the “little horn” of in Daniel.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2

We recall that the little horn magnified himself even to the Prince of the host and had a mouth speaking great things (blasphemies of claiming to be God). These are the same attributes described in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and boldened above. The first Advent and the times of the apostle Paul’s line up with the period of the Roman Empire. He tells us that the man of sin or the abomination that maketh desolate cannot come until “he who now letteth” be taken out of the way. He who now letteth was the power that “restrained or held back” the papal abomination of desolation. Thus, Paul confirms that the Roman Empire which he lived under was to be taken away in order for the man of sin or the Wicked to be revealed.

21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Acts 25

Conclusion

The power taken away in Daniel is that which precedes the abomination of desolation or papal Rome. By the testimony of Daniel and Paul, that power is the pagan Roman Empire. As such, the daily described in Daniel and confirmed in Thessalonians is the pagan Roman Empire.