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PROPHETIC OR LITERAL TIME
Is the time period recorded in Daniel 12 literal or prophet?
Historically, Adventists believed that these time periods are prophetic time, each day standing for a literal year. Both the 1290 and 1335 day/years began in A.D. 508 when Clovis, King of the Franks, converted to Catholicism and the Franks became the arm of strength or army often used by the Papacy to enforce its religious and policatical agendas. The 1290 year period ended in A.D. 1798 when the same power (the Franks) now under Napolean, broke the Papacy's political power. The 1335 days ending 1843/1844.
In more recent years, several independant people have been challenging that understanding, suggesting these time lines are not prophetic, that is, the day/year principle is not to be applied to them. Rather, they say, these time lines outline time from the beginning of the future Sunday laws to the time when God delivers His people from the death decree, just prior to the second coming.
A quote by Ellen White has been found where she mentions the 1335 days. This quote emphatically states there is error in either putting the 1335 days in the future or in the past. The only problem is that the syntax of the sentence is unclear as to which concept is the error.
I felt that I must say a few words. In the name of Jesus, I got up and in about five minutes the meeting changed. Everyone felt it at the same instant. Every countenance was lighted up. The presence of God filled the place. Brother Hewit dropped upon his knees and began to cry and pray... {6MR 251} He has been writing ever since that meeting and is now writing from the same table renouncing all his errors that he has advanced.
Notice it wasn't Ellen White alone trying to reason with this man. The "we" is in contrast to the later statement that "I" said a few words. The "I" refers to Ellen White, so who is this "we"? The one who is most likely speaking is James White, telling Hewitt of his errors. Now we must ask, Why would James White, with the approval of his wife, reprove Bro. Hewitt of believing something he himself believed and taught? That is, if Hewitt's error was believing the 1335 days were past? James White and most of the other pioneers would have had to join Hewitt in confession and repentance if that were the case. We know from his writings that James White believed and taught that the 1335 years were ended in 1843/1844.
Ellen White, herself, wrote several times that "there will never again be a message for the people of God that will be based on time".{1SM 188.1}
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REJECTING THE DAY/YEAR PRINCIPLE
Most of the independant preachers who have adopted this future, non-prophetic literal time interpretation will try to convince others that their position does not hurt the day/year principle. Yet, while they maintain that the 2300 days of Daniel8 are prophetic time leading to 1844, by turning around and saying the 1260, 1290 and 3350 days are not prophetic time, they destroy the rules that enable the day/yer principle.
Daniel 126 and Daniel 12:9 are quoted in which Daniel about "the end".
"How long shall it be until the end" 12:6
"the words are sealed unto the time of the end>" 12:9
See- they say, Daniel is asking about the END not things that happen in 1844.
But Daniel 8 uses the same terminology!
"The vision is for the time of the end." Dan.8:17
So, that same argument would destroy the 2300 day/years. When we destroy one and say it is not prophetic time pointing to the judgment, we destroy the other as well.