Introduction

The following series of files deal with the anti-Catholic assertion that the 1260 years of Daniel 7 refers to the historical period from 538 AD, when Justinian’s Code (allegedly) came into effect, to 1798, when Napleon’s general Berthier removed Pope Pius VI’s power.

Background Information to the question

First, how do we get 1260 years from Daniel 7?

Daniel 7:25 "a time, times and half a time" (See also Daniel 12:7 "a time, times and half a time"; Revelation 11:2 "42 months"; Revelation 11:3 "1260 days"; Revelation 12:6 "1260 days"; Revelation 12:14 "a time, times and half a time"; and Revelation 13:5 "forty-two months")

A time is one year (360 days)
Times are two years(720 days)
Half a time is half a year (180 days)
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Gives a total: 1260 days

A month in prophetical interpretation is equal to 30 days (Commonly, though not universaly agreed), therefore forty-two months would work out as 42 x 30 = 1260 days.

Are the 1260 days years or days?
Joachim of Flora, in the 12th century, was the first to suggest the 1260 days refers actually to 1260 years. We shall see in the section "Conflicting Interpretations" that there is amazing disagreement over every aspect of the 1260 prophecy, including the year/day question.

The Anti-Catholic Claims

The standard anti-Catholic claim regarding Daniel chapter 7 is that a 1260 year period was prophecied to occur, during whch the “beast” would reign on earth. The figure of 1260 is arrived at, as we have seen above, by multiplying 360 days by three and a half. Many of these anti-Catholic sects have decided that this 1260 year reign extends from the years 538 to 1798. How do they come to this idea? Well, it appears they decide that in 538, the papacy fist came into power, with the “Justinian Code”, a law which made the Pope boss in Europe, allegedly. The 1260 years ended, allegedly, in 1798, when Napoleon defrocked Pope Pius VI in Rome and declared the Roman Republic.

So, what are we to believe in this regard? Is there any basis to to the anti-Catholic claims?

The files which follow will address various aspects of the anti-Catholic assertions, namely:

• Did Justinian’s Code really come into effect in 538? Or was it earlier? If earlier, how can the anti-Catholic claim stand up?
• What changes were brought about by Justinian’s Code? Was this Code really so different from what came before?
• Did the Catholic Church try to “smokescreen” the 1260 year/day historicist interpretative method by “inventing” futurism and preterism in the 16th century? Or did these methods exist from the early days of the Church?
• Has the 1260 year/day historicist approach to Biblical prophetic interpretation led to any kind of united view? Or is it so full of contradictions and dissenting opinions as to be deemed completely worthless?
• Do even anti-Catholics generally hold to the 1260 year/day historicist approach nowadays? Or is it being rejected, as so many slanders against the Catholic Church have been over the centuries?
• Conclusions

About Prophetic Interpretation

Conflicting Interpretations

Justinian's Code of 538

The Jesuits and Futurism

Conclusion and Summary

Return to Adventism Index

Copyright © Sean Hyland 2003