I'm re-starting my study into the IJ and the day for a year principle. One of the things that struck me already is how many questions people ask have already been answered in The Daniel & Revelation Committee series from 25 years ago! Specifically, I was reading Dr. Shea's studies on the year-day principle in his "Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation" pages 56-93. He has lots of evidence for it. I had skipped over his chapter on why Antiochus Epiphanes was not the little horn of Daniel 8 because I had already done a study on the date of the book of Daniel and showed that he wasn't the subject of the prophecy (see http://www.666man.net/Dating_the_Book_of_Daniel_by_David_Conklin.html)
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Day-year principle
- Thread starter djconklin
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I have been going through the Bible to see what it says about the word "day." And I have found it to be quite interesting:
Day in the Bible
Purge your mind of everything you know or think you know. We are going back to the beginning. You are going to hear words used for almost literally the first time. From what you are given in the text you have to figure out what the word "day" means. We are not going to look at all 2,619 uses in 2,265 verses.
Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Right off in the Bible we have two definitions for the one word "day." In the Hebrew both uses use the same word "yom." Just like we use the word "day" to refer to both and hardly anyone gets confused.
We all know of someone who tries to show off their intellectual prowess by paying attention to the finer points. While all the while they are missing the big picture. In this case, some people are being deliberately obtuse when they claim they don’t know that the word "day" can be used in some cases as a "year."
Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Here’s a third way the word "day" can be used. In this case, it stands for a period of time.
(end of part 1)
Day in the Bible
Purge your mind of everything you know or think you know. We are going back to the beginning. You are going to hear words used for almost literally the first time. From what you are given in the text you have to figure out what the word "day" means. We are not going to look at all 2,619 uses in 2,265 verses.
Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Right off in the Bible we have two definitions for the one word "day." In the Hebrew both uses use the same word "yom." Just like we use the word "day" to refer to both and hardly anyone gets confused.
We all know of someone who tries to show off their intellectual prowess by paying attention to the finer points. While all the while they are missing the big picture. In this case, some people are being deliberately obtuse when they claim they don’t know that the word "day" can be used in some cases as a "year."
Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Here’s a third way the word "day" can be used. In this case, it stands for a period of time.
(end of part 1)
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Part 2:
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Here we need to put ourselves in the "shoes" (they probably weren’t wearing any – not even sandals – at the time) of Adam. By "day" does God mean the light portion of the 24 hour day, or does he mean the 24 hour day, or is it some indeterminate period of time? How are we to tell? There aren’t any clues in the text. How are we to know? What did Adam think He meant? Did God leave Adam guessing?
Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
What did Satan mean by the word "day"? By "day" did Satan mean the light portion of the 24 hour day, or does he mean the 24 hour day, or is it some indeterminate period of time? How are we to tell? There aren’t any clues in the text. How are we to know? What did Eve think he meant? Did Satan leave her guessing?
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
A little side-bar to our study: when is "the cool of the day"? In the morning. Maybe, the temptation of Adam and Eve took place in the very early hours of the morning.
A second side-bar: one of the neat things about doing these kinds of in-depth studies is that you learn things along the way that you weren’t looking for in the first place!
Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Which "day" is Cain talking about? How do you prove it from the text? There’s no clues.
Genesis 5:4-5 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Notice how we went from "days" to "eight hundred years" and from "days" to "nine hundred and thirty years." The latter terms are specific periods of time and yet they are referred to as "days." The "were" is the only reference, or clue, you have.
Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The phrase "in those days" is indeterminate. But, from the text itself (given it says "they bare children") it seems obvious that it isn’t talking about the light portion of the 24 hour day, nor is it talking about a 24 hour day. Given that the previous verses covered the generations that lived up till the time of the Flood it seems obvious that here the word "days" refers to several thousand years.
From here on out we will, for the most part, ignore all uses of the word "day" as either the light portion of the 24 hour day, or the 24 hour day, or for an indeterminate period of time. These are customary uses of the term–this also tells us how far back these concepts go.
Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Here we have the same two different uses of the word "days" as we saw in Gen. 1:5.
Genesis 7:17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
Here the word "days" means 24 hour days.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Here we need to put ourselves in the "shoes" (they probably weren’t wearing any – not even sandals – at the time) of Adam. By "day" does God mean the light portion of the 24 hour day, or does he mean the 24 hour day, or is it some indeterminate period of time? How are we to tell? There aren’t any clues in the text. How are we to know? What did Adam think He meant? Did God leave Adam guessing?
Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
What did Satan mean by the word "day"? By "day" did Satan mean the light portion of the 24 hour day, or does he mean the 24 hour day, or is it some indeterminate period of time? How are we to tell? There aren’t any clues in the text. How are we to know? What did Eve think he meant? Did Satan leave her guessing?
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
A little side-bar to our study: when is "the cool of the day"? In the morning. Maybe, the temptation of Adam and Eve took place in the very early hours of the morning.
A second side-bar: one of the neat things about doing these kinds of in-depth studies is that you learn things along the way that you weren’t looking for in the first place!
Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Which "day" is Cain talking about? How do you prove it from the text? There’s no clues.
Genesis 5:4-5 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Notice how we went from "days" to "eight hundred years" and from "days" to "nine hundred and thirty years." The latter terms are specific periods of time and yet they are referred to as "days." The "were" is the only reference, or clue, you have.
Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The phrase "in those days" is indeterminate. But, from the text itself (given it says "they bare children") it seems obvious that it isn’t talking about the light portion of the 24 hour day, nor is it talking about a 24 hour day. Given that the previous verses covered the generations that lived up till the time of the Flood it seems obvious that here the word "days" refers to several thousand years.
From here on out we will, for the most part, ignore all uses of the word "day" as either the light portion of the 24 hour day, or the 24 hour day, or for an indeterminate period of time. These are customary uses of the term–this also tells us how far back these concepts go.
Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Here we have the same two different uses of the word "days" as we saw in Gen. 1:5.
Genesis 7:17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
Here the word "days" means 24 hour days.
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Part 3:
Genesis 8:3-5 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
Verse 3 is from where the idea of 30 days in a month in the biblical era is supported.
Note that they were being very particular about which day of which month that these events happened. This is not how a myth works. This isn’t something that they just whipped up one day as a form of entertainment. We see this again at the end of the Flood:
Gen. 8:13-4 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
Side-bar: note here that the first verse said that the "ground was dry" on the first day of the first month. But, the earth wasn’t, apparently, dry enough to walk on, for another 56 days–this again implies that each month was for 30 days. But, there’s no contradiction between the two. The first is simply telling you that the Flood has subsided enough for one to be able to see the ground.
Genesis 29:27-28 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Notice here that seven days (a week) equals seven years.
Genesis 40:12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
I believe this is the first time prophecy in the Bible. The second follows shortly thereafter:
Genesis 40:18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
Note that two different symbols are being used for the same thing: three days. Note also that the symbols were entirely appropriate for the one who had the dream. The one who handled Pharaoh’s cup had a dream about a vine and grapes and him making the drink for Pharaoh. While the baker had a dream of baked goods in baskets.
Gen. 41:26-27 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
Note that in this time prophecy we have two different symbols being used for years. And note that this prophecy, like the two before it, are not about far off distant events. It is describing something that is going to happen in very short order.
Genesis 8:3-5 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
Verse 3 is from where the idea of 30 days in a month in the biblical era is supported.
Note that they were being very particular about which day of which month that these events happened. This is not how a myth works. This isn’t something that they just whipped up one day as a form of entertainment. We see this again at the end of the Flood:
Gen. 8:13-4 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
Side-bar: note here that the first verse said that the "ground was dry" on the first day of the first month. But, the earth wasn’t, apparently, dry enough to walk on, for another 56 days–this again implies that each month was for 30 days. But, there’s no contradiction between the two. The first is simply telling you that the Flood has subsided enough for one to be able to see the ground.
Genesis 29:27-28 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Notice here that seven days (a week) equals seven years.
Genesis 40:12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
I believe this is the first time prophecy in the Bible. The second follows shortly thereafter:
Genesis 40:18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
Note that two different symbols are being used for the same thing: three days. Note also that the symbols were entirely appropriate for the one who had the dream. The one who handled Pharaoh’s cup had a dream about a vine and grapes and him making the drink for Pharaoh. While the baker had a dream of baked goods in baskets.
Gen. 41:26-27 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
Note that in this time prophecy we have two different symbols being used for years. And note that this prophecy, like the two before it, are not about far off distant events. It is describing something that is going to happen in very short order.
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Part 4:
Lev. 25:3-4 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
This presents an interesting case. Here we see the day for a year principle at work without the word "day" ever being used. The seventh year sabbatical is obviously being drawn from the Sabbath commandment.
Leviticus 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
Now, we have "seven sabbaths of years" (49 years)
Num. 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Note that here we have the "day for a year" principle explicitly stated. Some might say that this isn’t a prophecy. In terms of the 40 years being far off into the future they "technically" are correct. However, there is no rule that that is the way prophecy works. In this case, they have done the 40 days and now they will be doing the 40 years. They committed the crime and now they are going to be doing the time. All we need to take away from this text is that the "day for a year" principle is a biblical principle.
Lev. 25:3-4 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
This presents an interesting case. Here we see the day for a year principle at work without the word "day" ever being used. The seventh year sabbatical is obviously being drawn from the Sabbath commandment.
Leviticus 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
Now, we have "seven sabbaths of years" (49 years)
Num. 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Note that here we have the "day for a year" principle explicitly stated. Some might say that this isn’t a prophecy. In terms of the 40 years being far off into the future they "technically" are correct. However, there is no rule that that is the way prophecy works. In this case, they have done the 40 days and now they will be doing the 40 years. They committed the crime and now they are going to be doing the time. All we need to take away from this text is that the "day for a year" principle is a biblical principle.
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Even Christ used the day for a year principle. We find in Luke 13:32-33 where Jesus is addressing Herod .
verse 32 " And he said to them, Go and tell that fox ( sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly ) Behold I drive out demons today and tomorrow and on the third day I finish ( complete ) My course."
verse 33 " Nevertheless , I must continue on My way today and tomorrow and the day after that for it will never do for a prophet to be destroyed away from Jerusalem."
amplified version, bolding mine.
God Bless
Jim Larmore
p.s. on an edit, for clarification here notice that Christ speaks of today, tomorrow and on the third day I finish my course. We all know Christ's ministry lasted for 3 1/2 years ,so if Christ spoke these words in the first year of His ministry, and I am sure this is the case, then what He is referring to here as today and tomorrow and "the next day after that is the time element i.e. day for a year principle of His ministry.
verse 32 " And he said to them, Go and tell that fox ( sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly ) Behold I drive out demons today and tomorrow and on the third day I finish ( complete ) My course."
verse 33 " Nevertheless , I must continue on My way today and tomorrow and the day after that for it will never do for a prophet to be destroyed away from Jerusalem."
amplified version, bolding mine.
God Bless
Jim Larmore
p.s. on an edit, for clarification here notice that Christ speaks of today, tomorrow and on the third day I finish my course. We all know Christ's ministry lasted for 3 1/2 years ,so if Christ spoke these words in the first year of His ministry, and I am sure this is the case, then what He is referring to here as today and tomorrow and "the next day after that is the time element i.e. day for a year principle of His ministry.
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Ezekiel 4:5-6, 9 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. ... Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
Note that it is "years ... according to the number of days" and "each day for a year."
Note that it is "years ... according to the number of days" and "each day for a year."
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Daniel 8:14, 26 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. ... And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
The word "day" here is an interpretation of the words "evenings mornings." Note that in verse 26 the "evenings mornings" are explained in verse 26 as being "many days."
Daniel 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Again, referring back to the vision of chapter 8 it says that it is for "many days."
How come the critics never tell us about the last two verses?
The word "day" here is an interpretation of the words "evenings mornings." Note that in verse 26 the "evenings mornings" are explained in verse 26 as being "many days."
Daniel 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Again, referring back to the vision of chapter 8 it says that it is for "many days."
How come the critics never tell us about the last two verses?
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Dan. 9:24-7 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Has anyone ever seen anyone take the 70 weeks as a literal number?
Has anyone ever seen anyone take the 70 weeks as a literal number?
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