THE DAILY SACRIFICE
ARTHUR L. MANOUS.
OW long shall be the vision
concerning the daily sacri-
fice, and the transgression of
desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be
trodden under foot?” Dan.
8:13. In this and four
other verses in the book of
Daniel the term “daily sacrifice” oc-
curs, and every time the word “sacri-
fice ” is italicized, which of course shows
that this word is supplied. See Dan.
8:11-13; 11:31; 12:11.
At the first reading of the text we may
naturally think, as some others have
thought, that the term had reference to
the daily sacrifices of the Jews. But
upon further thought and investigation,
it is found to have no reference whatever
to the daily sacrifices of the Jews; and
further, that the word “sacrifice” is the
wrong word to be supplied in connection
with the word “daily.” See “ Daniel
and the Revelation,” p. 157.
Since the word sacrifice is the wrong
word to be supplied in connection with
the word ‘ daily,” we must, of course,
conclude that it was “ supplied by man’s
wisdom, and does not belong to the text ”
(“ Early Writings,” p. 74, Ioth ed.);
and hence another writer says, “ The term
sacrifice, introduced into the text by
translators, is a supplied word, not in the
original.”— Bible Text-Book, p. 113,
note.
A few remarks regarding the word
“daily” in connection with the word
sacrifice would be in place just here. Of
this word it is said, “ The term ‘daily’
is from the Hebrew word tah-meed,’
and is generally translated ‘continual’
and ‘continually.’ ” — Bible Text-Book,
p. II3, note.
And in harmony with the foregoing
quotations another author says: “The
word here rendered daily occurs in the
Old Testament, according to the Hebrew
concordance, one hundred and two times,
and is, in the great majority of instances,
rendered continual or continually. The
idea of sacrifice does not attach to the
word at all. Nor is there any word in
the text which signifies sacrifice, that is
wholly a supplied word.”— Daniel and
the Revelation, p. 157.
Since sacrifice is the wrong word to be
supplied, doubtless the reader is wonder-
THE WATCHMAN
ing what would be the correct word. In
agreement with the best Bible students,
we think that the correct word to be sup-
plied is desolation. And with this cor-
rection let us read our text in the Revised
Version: “ How long shall be the vision
concerning the continual [desolation],
and the transgression that maketh deso-
late, to give both the sanctuary and the
host to be trodden under foot?” Dan.
8:13.
From this reading of the text we read-
ily see that the idea of sacrifice is not
found in the text at all; but that there is
brought to view two wicked and desolat-
ing powers. And it is a well-known
Biblical and historical fact that the
“daily,” or continual desolating power,
refers to paganism, and the * transgres-
sion,” or the ‘ abomination that maketh
desolate,” to the papacy, which was after
a time seated upon the throne of pagan-
ism. Rev. 13:2.
Paganism was a hindrance for a while
to the rise and development of the papacy.
Hence it is that the apostle Paul says,
“And now ye know what withholdeth
that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already
work ; only he who now letteth will let
[hinder], until he be taken out of the
way.” 2 Thess. 2:6, 7.
Of the time when paganism was
“taken out of the way” in order that
the papacy might be set up, the prophet
Daniel writes: “And from the time that
the daily [or, continual desolation, that
is paganism] shall be taken away, to set
up (or, in order to set up) the abomina-
tion that maketh desolate [the papacy],
there shall be a thousand two hundred
and ninety days.” See Dan. 12:11,
margin.
From these Biblical and historical facts
we see at once that the expression “ daily
sacrifice” in our text does not refer to
the daily sacrifice of the Jews at all, but
to the desolating powers of paganism
and Catholicism. See “ Daniel and the
Revelation,” pp. 255, 313.
EE
THE ABSURDITY OF UNBELIEF
THE other evening I was riding home
after a heavy day’s work. I felt weary
and sore depressed; when swiftly, sud-
denly, as a lightning flash, came, “ My
grace is sufficient for thee.” I reached
home and looked it up in the original, and
it came to me in this way, “ My grace is
773
sufficient for thee,” and I said, “I should
think it is, Lord,” and burst out laugh-
ing.
I never fully understood what the holy
laughter of Abraham was until then. It
seemed to make unbelief so absurd.
It was as if some little fish, being very
thirsty, was troubled about drinking the
river dry, and Father Thames said,
“Drink away, little fish, my stream is
sufficient for thee.” Or it seemed like
a little mouse in the granaries of Egypt
after seven years of plenty, fearing it
might die of famine. Joseph might say,
“ Cheer up little mouse, my granaries are
sufficient for thee.” Again I imagined
a man away up on yonder mountain say-
ing to himself, “I fear I shall exhaust
all the oxygen in the atmosphere.” But
the earth might say, “ Breathe away, O
man! and fill thy lungs ever; my atmos-
phere is sufficient for thee.”
O brethren, be great believers! Little
faith will bring your souls to heaven,
but great faith will bring heaven to your
souls.— Spurgeon.
EE
“THINK IT NOT STRANGE”
J. S. WASHBURN,
“ BELOVED, think it not strange con-
cerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened
unto you.” 1 Peter 4:12. How neces-
sary is this exhortation of the Holy
Spirit through the apostle Peter! Is
it not true that every one of us, when
brought into trial and difficulty, have
thought it very strange that God should
permit such trouble to come upon us?
Are we not always tempted to think it a
strange thing? Do we not often say,
“Why God has permitted this trouble
to come upon me, I cannot tell.” Or we
sometimes say of another, a friend per-
haps, “I can’t understand why God per-
mits such a trial to come upon this dear
friend of mine.”
We are warned against this very thing.
“Think it not strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you;
but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers
of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glorified also
with exceeding joy.” “Whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth ev-
ery son whom he receiveth.”
He permits the devil to tempt us, to
try us, to test us, as he permitted Satan
to tempt, to harass, to bring all the ter-