The subject of "the daily sacrifice" in Daniel 8 has been the source of considerable debate among biblical scholars and theologians within the Adventist Church. In our previous study, we determined that the Paganism and Heavenly Ministration views were logical but did not fit the full context of how Daniel presents the Daily in prophecy. Thus, we concluded that there must be a third view of the prophetic symbol that fits the full description that Daniel provides.   In this study you will learn the true meaning of the Daily is so simple that most people are just overlooking it.

The Text in Question

The primary passages discussing the "daily sacrifice" appear in Daniel 8:11-12:

"Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered."

Now, if you recall, in our previous study, we learned that the word "sacrifice" does not appear in the original manuscript. Thus, we understand that the Daily is what was taken away, not a sacrifice. "Daily," in the original language is "Tamid." According to Strong's Definition, Tamid means, Continual, Always, Perpetual, and Evermore. However, for the sake of this study, I will reveal to you that the best translation of Tamid is actually the Continuation. (This will make sense in a moment).

If you think about it, it's almost an oxymoron to suggest something that's perpetual to be taken away. However, once you understand the meaning of the Daily, it will become clearer to you how it was indeed taken away.

Daniel forsaw Israel's fAilure

I am of the opinion that the Book of Daniel is unique from all other Old Testament prophetic books. The reason I make that claim is because it seems that Daniel was the only prophet in the Old Testament who truly understood that Israel would fail. I make that declaration because Daniel was told that Israel had a specific timeframe to get their act together.

"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 9:24

Here, we must understand that Daniel not only saw what was required of his people, but in the same prophecy he would learn that they would not meet that requirement:

"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." Daniel 9:26

Here, God revealed to Daniel, that although Israel was given 70 weeks to correct their errors, they would fail and as a consequence of this failure Jerusalem would be destroyed. Ellen White provides some context to this reality:

"Thus Israel has been tested, tried, and cared for by the Lord. But they failed to fulfill His purposes for them. God longed to continue to bless His people, but selfishness took possession of the temple courts. With prophetic eye Daniel looked down the ages and saw how the Jews would refuse to humble themselves." Ms 138, 1899

the new testament church

Although Daniel understood that Israel would fail, he also could see that God would still have a people in the last days. Daniel did not know what these people would be called, but today, we know them as the New Testament Church established by Jesus.

Some believe that the Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people. While this is understandable, this is not Biblically accurate. Notice what the New Testament writers revealed about those who made up the Church:

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:29

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Ephesians 2:14

As you can see in the above verses, the Church has not replaced Israel, the Church is Israel! Thus, the Church is one body, made of Jews and Gentiles. However, Daniel wouldn't have understood the concept of church. Thus, the angel used another term to describe this second phase of Israel. What was this new phase called? The Continuation!

the Continuation and the covenant

In the Book of Hebrews, God refers to the exodus from Egypt, but notice what He says about the Children of Israel:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. Hebrews 8:9

Notice, the children of Israel were a people that continued not in God's covenant. The covenant that's being referred to here is the First Covenant, also known as the Old Covenant. Most of us should understand that since the time of Christ, the Church has been under the New Covenant. Thus, I believe the Scriptures reveal the Church as a people who CONTINUE in God's covenant and the focus of the Little Horn is to attack those who keep that covenant. Once we understand this context, we can clearly see that the Little Horn is attacking those who keep the covenant.

In Daniel 11, notice how the Papacy is introduced:

...therefore he 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. Daniel 11:30

Here, you should see that the Papacy had indignation against the New Testament Covenant. Now notice what happens in the very next text:

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Daniel 11:31

We see this same anger against God's Covenant-keeping people in Daniel 8, but you may not have realized it because it uses symbols to make that point. Notice what the Little Horn was seen attacking:

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Daniel 8:10

In a previous study called, How did the Little Horn Stomp upon the Host and Stars, we understood that the Host represented the Covenant, and the stars represented those who taught the Covenant. Again, we see the covenant being presented, and then what do we see occurring right after this is presented?

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. Daniel 8:11

We see an attack on those who continue in that covenant!

early adventists and the continuation

Although many of the early Adventists interpreted the Daily as Paganism or the Heavenly Ministration, the concept of the Church being the continuation of Israel was clearly known.

That the church in the present dispensation is really a continuation of the ancient Hebrew church, is shown by the illustration of the good olive tree. That ancient church was God’s olive tree, and that olive tree has never been destroyed. John Nevins Andrews History of the Sabbath and the first day of the week p. 165

John Andrews understood that the Church was a continuation, but never made the connection that this is what the Book of Daniel labeled it. Notice how Ellen White also made a similar statement:

What God intended to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church. He has entrusted “His vineyard to other vinedressers,” who faithfully “render to Him the fruits in their seasons.” These witnesses for God are the spiritual Israel, and God will fulfill to them all the covenant promises He made to His ancient people.

"What God intended to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church. He has entrusted “His vineyard to other vinedressers,” who faithfully “render to Him the fruits in their seasons.” These witnesses for God are the spiritual Israel, and God will fulfill to them all the covenant promises He made to His ancient people." Royalty and Ruin p. 250

It should be clear to you that the New Testament Church is obviously a continuation of Israel. The pioneers understood this, they just didn't make the connection that you are I are making today. However, now that you understand this view, it is time for you to understand how the Continuation was taken away.

The Taking Away of the Daily

Regarding the religion of Jesus during the Dark Ages, notice what Ellen White says:

"The persecutions of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism and popery are combined." Last Day Events p. 147

You may not see it yet, but What Ellen White describes in the above excerpt really summarizes the career of the Little Horn. Once you understand this, you should notice that Daniel 7, and 8 are also focused on this same annihilation that Ellen White referred to. In other words, one of Daniel's main focuses in these prophecies is the Little Horn's drive to destroy God's people—literally and doctrinally.

• Daniel 8:24 speaks of a power that would "destroy wonderfully" and "destroy the mighty and the holy people."
• Daniel 7:25 refers to a power that would "wear out the saints of the Most High" and "think to change times and laws."

All this time, Daniel described what the taking away of the daily was, we just didn't make the connection that is being made now. However, it should become crystal clear to you that the taking away of the daily was the taking away the continuation of Israel. In addition to physical persecution, the Little Horn spread the belief that it changed the Sabbath, brought in idols, prayers to Saints, and money for purgatory. All of these things among others contributed to what we now call the taking away of the New Testament Church.

the Daily in Revelation

Most people are not seeing the harmony between Daniel and Revelation. However, as you read the prophecies of John's apocalyptic book, I want you to notice how this same concept is revealed here. If you read Revelation 12, you will notice John sees a woman clothed with the sun and moon. As Seventh-day Adventists, you should know that this woman represents the Church. However, when you turn a few pages to Revelation 17, you will discover there's another woman. This woman is decked with gold and jewels and has Mystery Babylon written on her forehead. Clearly, this is not the same woman as we saw in Revelation 12. The question we should be asking is what happened to the pure woman? The answer is—she was taken away!

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have received enough information for you to study this on your own. However, I honestly believe this perspective aligns with the Bible more than any other view that I've heard. As a matter of fact, when we substitute "the church" for "the daily sacrifice" in Daniel 8:11-12, the passage actually makes much more sense:

He magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the [church] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him against the [church] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

Now do you see why this interpretation makes much more sense? Once I understood this view, it was then that I realized why Catholics believe they are the original church. It's because prophecy reveals to us that the New Testament Church would be taken away, and this taking away was so thourough that most believers don't even make the distinction between the Church Jesus set up and the Church we know today as the Roman Catholic Church. However, once you understand this view, it all makes sense.

While I am excited by prophecy, I am reminded that prophecy's ultimate purpose is not academic, but spiritual—to demonstrate the non-believers the truth of God's Word, and hopefully lead them to follow its teachings, and ultimately bring them into a personal relationship with God. I pray that's your motivation as well.