This is a key element in which much debate has been taken and many take to be part of a Tribulation prophecy. That would be taking Daniel chapter eight entirely out of context and thus twisting the Word of God to fit the desires and needs of God.
What needs to be understood that at the point in chapter eight this reference is made is during the time of the little horn that rose from one of the four horns that took the place of the goat’s horn. As was shown in the previous part of this study. That goat’s horn was Alexander the Great, as he is called. Upon his death four of his generals took equal parts of power and territory for the most part. From one of these generals rose the little horn. Who as was pointed out was Antiochus Epiphanes. Who in turn defiled the temple and placed the statue of Zeus within it as well as the sacrifice of pigs upon the altar of God. In Daniel a specific amount of time was listed which would identify how long the desolation was to occur.
Daniel 8:14 – The other replied, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.”
“2,300 evenings and mornings.” The wording here is extremely important, and it is here that many twist the words of an angelic reply to meet their own needs, wishes and desires.
When you understand the ways of the temple then you understand how this wording was made in such a way. This is why it is so important to study history, and the very cultures involved within the Bible. The most important and the most key culture is Judaism. So understanding the ways of this people and their lifestyles, especially in their worship of God is of utmost import.
The words “evenings and mornings” correspond to the evening and morning sacrifices performed within the temple. Since the day begins when the sun sets as the Jewish people originally followed. Thus why evening is placed first. What this means in both the sacrificial sessions in one day. So in actuality it is 1150 days. Gleason L. Archer Jr. states this from “The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol. 7” (1985):
“Consequently we are to understand v. 14 as predicting the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus on 25 Chislev (or 14 December) 164 B.C.; 1,150 days before that would point to a terminus a quo of three years, one month, and 25 days earlier or in Tishri 167 B.C. While the actual erection of the idolatrous altar in the temple took place in Chislev 167, or one month and 15 days later, there is no reason to suppose the Antiochus Epiphanes’ administration may not have abolished the offering of the tamid itself at that earlier date.”
To quote from John F. Walvoord when looking at both theories of it being 2300 days or 1150 days he says this:
“In looking at all the evidence it appears both interpretations have the potential to fit the historical record. At this point we simply don’t have sufficient historical data to know which is correct. But in either case this prophecy may safely be said to have been fulfilled and does not have any other eschatological significance in the sense of anticipating a future fulfillment. It is adequately explained in the history of the Medo-Persian and Greek Empires, and specially, in the activities of Antiochus Epiphanes.”
Simply this use of the 2300 or 1150 days is exclusive to the 160s B.C., and the use of this in any contemporary, modern or future context is a violation of the word of God and any that teach such a message should be turned away from and the true and actuate study of the Word of God should be sought after.