The Future 1260 Days of Persecution
The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. “Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy," God declares, “and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” When we as a people understand what this book means to us there will be seen among us a great revival. Testimonies to Ministers, Page 113.
Throughout scripture God consistently forewarns His people of testing and persecution and often discloses its length: For example, the period of sojourn in Egypt, (Gen 15:16; Exo 12:40) the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, (Jer 25:11; Dan 9:2) the 10 years of persecution by the emperor Diocletian. (Rev 2:10) Did He also do this for the end-time church? I believe He did in the 1260 literal days of Daniel and Revelation. Why would God warn us? So that we can prepare physically, spiritually and emotionally for what lies ahead.
Recently, Dr. Conrad Vine, while not mentioning the 1260 days, has done several sermons and seminars on YouTube on how to prepare personally for persecution. Persecution is accelerating against Christians globally and he sees it coming soon to America. Rather than embedding links in this article I suggest readers do a YouTube search for his latest on the topic. I haven’t spoken to him about the 1260 days, but regardless, he clearly thinks persecution may not be far off and because he is an authority on how to weather persecution I recommend his material.
Below are the seven scripture references to the 1260 days. I’ve quoted them and then made short comments in italics. Notice that the 1260 days are not only days of persecution, but also that they cover the scattering of the power of the holy people and of the two witnesses. Like Christ, their witness lasts for 3.5 literal years, the same as the period of persecution. The reason for that, in my opinion, the two are concurrent.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (Dan 7:25-26)
The judgment here can be applied to the events of 1798 but it refers especially to the investigative judgment (IJ) which began in 1844. The dominion of the little horn will be consumed and destroyed “unto the end,” at the final stage of the IJ, the judgment of the living, when the times of the gentiles spoken of by Christ, the 3.5 years, are fulfilled. This is future.
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Dan 12:7)
The scattering of the power of the holy people is the same as the silencing of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. Both represent the church under the power of the latter rain. Both prophesy with power for 42 months during a time of persecution until they have finished their testimony and the Lord permits their enemies to silence them. The latter rain is terminated by the beast from the bottomless pit who silences them. (Rev 11:7) Ellen White also places Daniel 12 and Revelation 11 in the future. See the quotes below.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Dan 12:11-12)
The abomination of desolation applies especially to the final assault by the beast on the church which is future. If this prophecy of the 1290 days is future, the 1260 days are as well because they share the same starting point.
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Rev 11:2-3)
The two witnesses of Revelation 11 represent the final chapter of Adventism. John, a symbol of the disappointed Advent believers, is told to “prophecy again.” He obeys and is given a measuring rod to measure the temple or church. This measuring process which began in 1844 is further illustrated by the two witnesses who bear their faithful testimony for 42 months. Since God has re-commissioned us to “prophesy again”, and He illustrates our work by John who measures the temple and by the two witnesses who bear their faithful testimony for 42 months, this period of our glorious re-commission, is future.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time(Rev 12:6, 7, 12)
This passage describing Michael’s battle with the dragon parallels Daniel 7 and 12 where Michael stands up and Satan is defeated. Time was not short in 1798 and neither was Satan defeated then. This text is fulfilled in the future when Satan knows his time is short, a mere 3.5 years, and he comes down in great wrath but is defeated by Christ and the saints who overcome him “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Rev 12:14)
This text confirms the period of persecution described in verses 6 to 13 of the same chapter.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (Rev 13:3-5)
Notice that the 42 months in the above text come after the wound is healed, a future event.
Two more reasons the 1260 days are future and literal:
Ellen White says the trumpets are future. Since the two witnesses, a symbol of the final chapter of Adventism, are placed between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and since they prophesy for 1260 days, that period is also future.
The 1260 day period is exactly half of a seven year period which in biblical time reckoning is called a Sabbatical. Lev 25:1-7. Because Daniel 9 deals with Sabbaticals and the end-time abomination of desolation which takes us to the “consummation”, the reign of the end-time anti-Christ therefore synchronizes with a final Sabbatical and is exactly half of one. This shows the direct connection between Daniel 9’s reference to the abomination of desolation and the 1260 days of persecution.
Below are quotes from Ellen White on the future application of Daniel 12, the 1260 days, the seals, trumpets, thunders and Revelation 11.
First, this one is on the future application of Daniel 11 that many of you probably have seen before.
Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that "shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant." [Verses 31-36, quoted.] {13MR 394.1}
Here are some of White’s statements applying Daniel 12 to the end, including the time periods:
To Daniel many wonderful things were presented in vision. “I heard, but I understood not,” he said; “then said I, O my lord, what shall be the end of these things?” The angel answered, “Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ... Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ... Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand. ... Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” [Daniel 12:8, 9, 4, 10, 13.]
The time has come for Daniel to stand in his lot. The time has come for the light given him to go to the world as never before. If those for whom the Lord has done so much will walk in the light, their knowledge of Christ and the prophecies relating to Him will be greatly increased as they near the close of this earth’s history. {Ms176-1899.}
Daniel writes, “I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto the heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half, and when he shall have accomplished, to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not; then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” [Daniel 12:7-10.]
The world is a theatre. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of . . . The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama—Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect.{Lt141-1902.19, 20}
In his vision of the last days Daniel inquired, “O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. ... Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” [Daniel 12:8-10, 12, 13.] Daniel has been standing in his lot since the seal was removed and the light of truth has been shining upon his visions. He stands in his lot, bearing the testimony which was to be understood at the end of the days.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” [Verses 1-4.] {Ms50-1893.}
The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos. These two books should be carefully perused. Twice Daniel inquired, How long shall it be to the end of time? “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. ... But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” [Daniel 12:8-10, 13.]
It was the Lion of the tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and gave to John the revelation of what should be in these last days. Daniel stood in his lot to bear his testimony, which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel’s message should be proclaimed to our world. These matters are of infinite importance in these last days, but while “many shall be purified, and made white, and tried,” “the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand.” [Verse 10.] How true this is. Sin is the transgression of the law of God, and those in the denominational churches who will not accept the light in regard to the law of God, will not understand the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel’s messages. The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history. {18MR 15.2, 3}
Here are a couple on the future sounding of the seals and trumpets:
The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us, and the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle. Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. {14MR 287.1}
My imagination anticipated what it must be in that period when the Lord's mighty voice shall give commission to His angels, "Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" (Rev. 16:1). Thy right hand, O God, shall dash in pieces Thine enemies. Revelation 6 and 7 are full of meaning. Terrible are the judgments of God revealed. The seven angels stood before God to receive their commission. To them were given seven trumpets. The Lord was going forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth was to disclose her blood and no more cover her slain. Give the description in chapter 6. {15MR 219.2 – 220.1}
Here is one on the future application of the thunders:
After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered." These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little book unsealed. Then Daniel's prophecies have their proper place in the first, second, and third angels' messages to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time. {7BC 971.4}
Here is one on the future application of the two witnesses of Revelation 11.
Let all who would understand the meaning of these things read the eleventh chapter of Revelation. Read every verse, and learn the things that are yet to take place in the cities. Read also the scenes portrayed in the eighteenth chapter of the same book {21MR 91.4}