My
Vision on Daniel and Revelation
Mysteries
Part 2
In the historic interpretation pertaining to the two witnesses,
Ellen White defines the time period of 3 ˝ days in Revelation 11:9, 11, as 42
months or 1,260 days, as well. Since there are fulfillments of the latter verses
in Revelation 11 that directly relate to the last day, we can only interpret
that the 42 month interpretation still applies in the end-time fulfillment of
the remainder of the verses after verses 9 and 11 of Revelation 11.
Thus, we can only conclude that Ellen White meant no more day
for a year literal time relative to the ending of the 2300 days, for that was
the entire context of her statement for no more day
for a year time after 1844. The pioneers kept moving up the date for Jesus to
come, and her entire effort was to stop that continuum of date setting.
"Said the angel of the Lord: “The holy city [the true church] 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....And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that
ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall
overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great
city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was
crucified.... And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and
make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets
tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and a half the
Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and
great fear fell upon them which saw them.” [Revelation 11:2-11.] {GC88 266.1}
“The periods here mentioned—“forty and two months,” and “a
thousand two hundred and threescore days”—are the same, alike representing the
time in which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome. The 1260
years of papal supremacy began with the establishment of the papacy in A. D.
538, and would therefore terminate in 1798. At that time a French army entered
Rome, and made the pope a prisoner, and he died in exile. Though a new pope was
soon afterward elected, the papal hierarchy has never since been able to wield the
power which it before possessed.” {GC88 266.2}
Revelation 11:3, 2, and 9, depict the same forty two month time.
In verses 2 and 3, literal time applies to the end-time application. These will
have another literal fulfillment at the end time, so that the events of “THE
LAST DAY” will be fulfilled in connection with the 42 month (1260) day time
period. Revelation, verses 12-19 were not fulfilled in the historic version in
connection with the times mentioned earlier in the chapter. So the primary
application will be literal at the end-time.
1And
there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the
angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and
them that worship therein.
2But 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.
3And I
will give power unto my two witnesses, and
they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in
sackcloth.
4These
are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing
before the God of the earth.
5And if
any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their
enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6These
have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the
days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and
to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7And when
they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the
bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill
them.
8And
their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually
is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9And they
of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and
shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10And
they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and
shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that
dwelt on the earth.
11And
after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and
they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12And
they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they
ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13And the
same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven
thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The
second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh
quickly.
15And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever
and ever.
16And the
four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their
faces, and worshipped God,
17Saying,
We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast,
and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast
reigned.
18And the
nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they
should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which
destroy the earth.
19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
—rwb