Anoint the
Most Holy
The 2300 days and the 70 weeks are prophetic, not literal — and the sanctuary anointed within the seventy weeks is the heavenly one.
Before We Begin
This study confirms from scripture and history that the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24 and the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 are prophetic time, and then asks which sanctuary was to be anointed before the seventy weeks ended. Each question carries its own scripture reference — open your Bible, read the passage, and write what you find.
The study has three parts: the seventy weeks are prophetic (points 11–24), the 2300 days are prophetic (points 25–28), and the anointing of the most holy (points 29–38).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15The Key Dates at a Glance
Six dates carry this study. Each one is established from scripture and history in the lessons below.
What did the Lord instruct Moses to do?
Exodus 25:8What separates us from God?
Isaiah 59:1,2One of the primary purposes for the sanctuary services is to teach us how to get victory over sin and to dwell with Jesus eternally.
What other instruction did the Lord give to Moses regarding the building of the sanctuary?
Exodus 25:8,9,40The heavenly sanctuary is the pattern and the great original.
Read Hebrews 8:1-5; Hebrews 4:14-16The Bible teaches that the sanctuary on earth had three compartments: the Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.
Jesus died on the cross on this earth. The Court represented the earth. Jesus rose from the tomb and ascended to heaven.
Into which apartment of the heavenly tabernacle did Jesus enter to begin His work as high priest?
Hebrews 9:11,12After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, into which apartment of the tabernacle did John see Jesus as He stood before the Father in heaven?
Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:1,5-7,9The Holy Place. Read the passages above to confirm. Compare Hebrews 9:2 and Exodus 26:33-35 — the seven lamps and the candlestick are the same.
Bear in mind that God’s throne has wheels. It was seen in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, according to the previous scriptures. Daniel saw the throne of God the Father, the Ancient of days, move from the holy place to the most holy place.
Read Daniel 7:9,10,13,14In this Bible study, we will confirm that the 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24 represent prophetic time and not literal time. Therefore 70 weeks represent 490 years and not 490 days.
Let us read and analyze carefully the words of Daniel 9:24.
“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.”
Daniel 9:24According to Daniel 9:24, Daniel’s people (the Jews) had 70 weeks to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
The phrase, “to anoint the most holy” means to sanctify, consecrate, dedicate the tabernacle and the sanctuary. See The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew Dictionary number 6944.1
Which sanctuary, the earthly or the heavenly, had to be consecrated and dedicated within the time period of 70 weeks? We will discover that it is the heavenly tabernacle.
Jerusalem’s earthly sanctuary, also known as Solomon’s temple, was desecrated and destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Daniel was presently in captivity.
Read Daniel 1:1,2 and 2 Chronicles 36:13-20The time period of Daniel 9 is 538 B.C. This is the year when Belshazzar, king of Babylon, fell to Darius in Daniel 5:30,31. Let us read Daniel 9:1,2.
“On the taking of Babylon, B.C. 538, Cyaxeres (who is called Darius in Dan. 5:31), as civil ruler, took the throne.”
Uriah Smith, The Biblical Institute2
Daniel 5:30,31; Daniel 9:1,2It was in this time period, 538 B.C., when the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel in Daniel 9:21-24 regarding the 70 weeks.
The 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24 could not be literal days representing 490 days. 490 days represent 1 year, 4 months and 10 days.
The Jews did not leave captivity and return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple until 534 B.C.
“Although Isaiah had prophesied the captivity, he had not said how long it should be. Jeremiah told that it should be seventy years. In the year 606 B.C., the first captivity was made, when among those taken was Daniel. Then, exactly when the seventy years ended — B.C. 536 — Cyrus issues his proclamation for the return of the captives to their own land, to build the temple of the Lord.”
A. T. Jones, The Signs of the Times3
The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus in 536 B.C., after they succeeded the Babylonian Empire. The first king of the Persian Empire was Cyrus, who issued the famous decree for the Jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their Temple.
Bible History; Bible Hub4
“On the taking of Babylon, B.C. 538, Cyaxeres (who is called Darius in Dan. 5:31), as civil ruler, took the throne. On his death, two years later, B.C. 536, he made Cyrus his successor, and the same year, Cambyses, the father of Cyrus dying, Cyrus was brought also to the Persian throne. The two were then united in one; and thus was founded the Medo-Persian empire, the ruling house being in the Persian line.”
Uriah Smith, The Biblical Institute2
When did the Jews actually lay the foundation of the second temple, as they prepared to rebuild?
Ezra 3:6,8The second year from 536 B.C. is 534 B.C.
Remember that the year when the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel regarding the 70 weeks was in the time period of 538 B.C.
538 B.C. to 534 B.C. is four years, not 490 literal days or 1 year, 4 months and 10 days. Therefore, the 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24 is not literal but prophetic, representing 490 years.
During this segment of the Bible study we will now confirm that the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 are not literal days but prophetic days, representing 2300 years.
Since Daniel did not understand the 2300 years, what was said in his hearing?
Daniel 8:14-17What did the angel Gabriel say to Daniel, when it was time to explain the 2300 years?
Daniel 9:21-24“‘Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy City.’ The word here translated ‘determined’ literally signifies ‘cut off.’ Seventy weeks, representing 490 years, are declared by the angel to be cut off, as specially pertaining to the Jews. But from what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was the only period of time mentioned in chapter 8, it must be the period from which the seventy weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a part of the 2300 days, and the two periods must begin together.”
Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy5
Since the 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24 are prophetic, representing 490 years, then the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 represent 2300 years.
Let us return to Daniel 9:24.
“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.”
Daniel 9:24The phrase, “to anoint the most holy” means to sanctify, consecrate, dedicate the tabernacle and the sanctuary. See The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew Dictionary number 6944.1
In our previous Bible study, we discovered that the 70 weeks or 490 years ended in 34 A.D. Therefore the tabernacle that was foretold to be anointed, consecrated, dedicated was the heavenly tabernacle. The earthly was done away with at the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary’s cross.
See Matthew 27:50,51We must understand the type in order to comprehend the antitype. The anointing of the tabernacle for service was connected to the anointing of Aaron, as high priest.
See Leviticus 8:10-12Jesus was anointed as high priest after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven.
See Hebrews 5:3-5After Jesus was anointed as high priest, He anointed, dedicated and opened the tabernacle for service.
Read Hebrews 9:18-25The anointing of the tabernacle in the days of Moses, under the first covenant or first testament, was connected to the anointing of the book and the people.
See Hebrews 9:18-20Once Jesus was anointed as high priest, and once He anointed the heavenly tabernacle and dedicated it for service with His presence and blood, what fell upon the faithful followers of Jesus on earth?
Psalm 133:1-3; Acts 2:1-4“Christ’s ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.”
Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles6
How was the blood applied upon the people?
Hebrews 9:19What does Jesus want to do for His people since He “anointed the most holy”?
Hebrews 10:21-24Your Answers
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Sources
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew Dictionary, number 6944.
- Uriah Smith, The Biblical Institute (1878), p. 50. Reference as given in the study notes: {1878 UrS, TBI 50.1}
- A. T. Jones, The Signs of the Times, February 11, 1886, p. 91. Reference as given in the study notes: {February 11, 1886 ATJ, SITI 91.1}
- Bible History, “Map of the Persian Empire.” bible-history.com/maps/04-persian-empire.html; and “The Decree of Cyrus.” biblehub.com/sermons/auth/macdonald/the_decree_of_cyrus.htm
- Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 326. Reference as given in the study notes: {GC 326.2}
- Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 38. Reference as given in the study notes: {AA 38.3}