It is obvious to the honest mind that many of the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation are speaking of the same personalities and events, of Antichrist, the great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ, etc. This is proved by a comparison of the following Scriptures. Dan 7v24-28, 8v9,27, 10v14, 11v21 to 12v13, Rev 12v3,7-12, 13v1-10, 17v3,11-13 and 19v19-21. Compare Rev 12v7 with Dan 12v1. The strong link between some of Daniel's prophecies and the Revelation is also confirmed by the fact that the period of 3½ years is mentioned several times in both books and in obviously related prophecies. Dan 7v25, 9v27, 12v7 with Rev 11v2,3, 12v6,14, 13v5. The literal translation of “week” in Dan 9v27 is “seven,” and from the context, this is seen to be seven years, which is divided into two periods of 3½ years. The period of time spoken of as “a time, times, and half a time,” is 3½ years; it is made up of a singular time, a dual time, and half a time. That it is a period of 3½ years is further confirmed by a comparison of Dan 12v6,7,11,12 and Rev 12v6,14.
These time periods prove that Rev 4v1 to 19v21, is dealing with the last 3½ years of this age.
We can see from the number of times that the period of 3½ years is mentioned, that Rev 4v1 to 19v21, is concerned with this period of 3½ years. It is mentioned in Rev 11v2 and 13v5 as 42 months; in Rev 11v3 and 12v6 as 1260 days; and in Rev 12v4 as “a time, times, and half a time.” Dan 12v6,7, 7v25, 9v27. There are no long periods of time mentioned in Rev 4v1 to 19v21. The longest period of time is covered by the seven seals, which reveal the career of Antichrist during the last seven years of this age. Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation speak of events in Heaven just prior to these last seven years. The only other periods of time mentioned besides the 3½ years, are short periods of time. Rev 6v11, 8v1, 9v5,10,15, 11v14, 18v9,17.
The year for a day theory is complete nonsense.
It is total folly to make a day mean a year, as some have done, for where God means a year, as in Rev 20v2-7, He says so. God gave this period of 3½ years in three ways, days, months and years, to convince us that He means just what He has said. Those who make 2Peter 3v8, Num 14v34 and Ezek 4v6, the excuse for a year for day theory, are twisting the Scriptures; and disqualify themselves from being taken as serious prophetic students; and prove that they cannot “correctly analyse the Word of truth.” 2Tim 2v15. Their absurd theories make prophetic dating quite meaningless. In Num 14v34 and Ezek 4v6, the days are literal days, and the years are literal years, they are certainly not a principle of prophetic interpretation. In Num 14v34, God states a fact of judgement, not a principle of prophetic interpretation; the 40 days of unbelieving spying out of Canaan, received a judicial sentence of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and God's breach of promise. Numb 13v17 to 14v45. In Ezek 4v6, Ezekiel's symbolic act brought to public notice the 430 years of past sin for which judgement was to come, and in 2Peter 3v8, Peter compares the many years of God's longsuffering with His tremendous judgements on the day of the Lord. If we apply the year for day theory to Rev 12v6,14, we have a period of 1260 years from Satan being cast out of the heavenly places and the heavens cleansed, to the return of Christ, which is clearly complete nonsense. People use this method of interpretation, so that they can twist the facts, for a symbolically interpreted prophecy, can be made to mean almost any thing they desire. Who decides which dates are symbolic and which are literal? We should accept the time periods God has given to us and not tamper with them. How do these people explain the “half hour” of Rev 8v1, and the “five months” and “thirteen months” of Rev 9v5,10,15? If we fail to interpret Scripture dates literally, we end in utter darkness. Jesus interpreted these 3½ years of Daniel's prophecies literally as the other years in this prophecy, let us follow His example. Dan 9v20-27, Matt 24v15-21.
These time periods prove that Rev 4v1 to 19v21, is dealing with the last 3½ years of this age.
We can see from the number of times that the period of 3½ years is mentioned, that Rev 4v1 to 19v21, is concerned with this period of 3½ years. It is mentioned in Rev 11v2 and 13v5 as 42 months; in Rev 11v3 and 12v6 as 1260 days; and in Rev 12v4 as “a time, times, and half a time.” Dan 12v6,7, 7v25, 9v27. There are no long periods of time mentioned in Rev 4v1 to 19v21. The longest period of time is covered by the seven seals, which reveal the career of Antichrist during the last seven years of this age. Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation speak of events in Heaven just prior to these last seven years. The only other periods of time mentioned besides the 3½ years, are short periods of time. Rev 6v11, 8v1, 9v5,10,15, 11v14, 18v9,17.
The year for a day theory is complete nonsense.
It is total folly to make a day mean a year, as some have done, for where God means a year, as in Rev 20v2-7, He says so. God gave this period of 3½ years in three ways, days, months and years, to convince us that He means just what He has said. Those who make 2Peter 3v8, Num 14v34 and Ezek 4v6, the excuse for a year for day theory, are twisting the Scriptures; and disqualify themselves from being taken as serious prophetic students; and prove that they cannot “correctly analyse the Word of truth.” 2Tim 2v15. Their absurd theories make prophetic dating quite meaningless. In Num 14v34 and Ezek 4v6, the days are literal days, and the years are literal years, they are certainly not a principle of prophetic interpretation. In Num 14v34, God states a fact of judgement, not a principle of prophetic interpretation; the 40 days of unbelieving spying out of Canaan, received a judicial sentence of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and God's breach of promise. Numb 13v17 to 14v45. In Ezek 4v6, Ezekiel's symbolic act brought to public notice the 430 years of past sin for which judgement was to come, and in 2Peter 3v8, Peter compares the many years of God's longsuffering with His tremendous judgements on the day of the Lord. If we apply the year for day theory to Rev 12v6,14, we have a period of 1260 years from Satan being cast out of the heavenly places and the heavens cleansed, to the return of Christ, which is clearly complete nonsense. People use this method of interpretation, so that they can twist the facts, for a symbolically interpreted prophecy, can be made to mean almost any thing they desire. Who decides which dates are symbolic and which are literal? We should accept the time periods God has given to us and not tamper with them. How do these people explain the “half hour” of Rev 8v1, and the “five months” and “thirteen months” of Rev 9v5,10,15? If we fail to interpret Scripture dates literally, we end in utter darkness. Jesus interpreted these 3½ years of Daniel's prophecies literally as the other years in this prophecy, let us follow His example. Dan 9v20-27, Matt 24v15-21.