Question: Mr Luginbill, Could you please tell me why the difference in days mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12? Thank you.
Response: Thank you for your question about the 1290 versus the 1335 days in Daniel chapter twelve. It says in context here that from the abolition of the daily sacrifice and the erection of the "abomination of desolation" (i.e., the cult idol statue of antichrist which the false prophet will animate: Rev.13), "there will be 1290 days". Now we know from elsewhere in Daniel, as well as from information in Revelation, that the start point of this time period is the middle of the Tribulation (i.e., at the outset of the "Great Tribulation": Dan.9:27; Rev.13:11-15; cf. 2Thes.2:1-12) Further, it is clear that this period lasts for three and one half years only, generally described in terms of lunar years as either 42 months, or 1260 days, or "a time, times and half a time" (Dan.7:25; 12:7; Rev.11:2; 12:6; 12:14; 13:5). Since the time will be further shortened "for the sake of the elect" (Mk.13:20), neither the 1290 nor the 1335 can fit entirely in this window of the Tribulation's second half (for even on a 365 day year, we can only get 1278 max with a leap year). My understanding is that the 1290 refers to the beginning of Christ's temporal judgment of regathered Israel, allowing 30 some days for regathering to occur, with the 1335 representing the end of the period of judgment (a period of 45 days). In this we also have a parallel to the number of years Israel was in the wilderness following the Exodus plus the number of years necessary to enter and subdue the promised land (cf. Josh.14:10: the Exodus is a repeating parallel analogy in scripture to the tribulational events).
This is why the one who "attains" this second number/time is "blessed", since that person will actually enter into the millennial kingdom. For, initially, those who are gathered are brought "into the wilderness" for the Lord to separate - like sheep from goats (although the primary application of the Matthew 25 passage is at the end of the Millennium; cf. Ezek.34:1-24) - with only those who are truly repentant at seeing our risen, glorified Lord actually coming into the land of promise:
I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered - with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will take note of you as you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 20:34-38 NIV
This is all written up in much greater detail at the following link:
The Time of Purging (in Coming Tribulation part 6: Last Things and New Jerusalem).
And see also:
Hope this is helpful.
Yours in Christ,
Bob L.