“‘No matter: all men seem to understand it days; for it is so translated in every language with which we are acquainted at the present day. Therefore, this can never be made plainer, if this compound Hebrew word should be criticised upon until the judgment shall set. I am sick of this continual harping upon words. Our learned critics are worse on the waters of truth than a school of sharks on the fishing-banks of the north, and they have made more infidels in our world than all the heathen mythology in existence. What word in revelation has not been turned, twisted, racked, wrested, distorted, demolished, and annihilated by these voracious harpies in human shape, until the public have become so bewildered they know not what to believe? “They have fouled the waters with their feet.” I have always noticed where they tread the religious spirit is at a low ebb. It becomes cold, formal, and doubtful, at least. It is the mind of the Spirit we want, and God’s word then becomes spirit and life unto us.
“‘The words “evenings-mornings” convey to our mind the idea of days; thus this vision is 2300 days long,’ says the reader.
“‘Yes. But how can all this be?” says the inquiring mind. ‘Can three kingdoms rise up and become great; from a small people become a strong nation; conquer all the nations of the earth, and then in its turn, be subdued and conquered by a kingdom still more fortunate; and so on through three successive kingdoms, and do this in little over six years? Impossible.’
“‘But God has said it, and I must believe. Now the only difficulty is in time.’
“‘How can this be?’
“‘Very well,’ says the dear child of God; ‘I remember me: God says I must “dig for the truth as for hid treasure.” I will go to work, and, while I am digging, I will live by begging. Father in Heaven, I believe it is thy word; but I do not understand it; show me thy truth.’
“I had rather have one humble prayer of this kind, with an English Bible in my hand, than all the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bro. S. ever knew.
“The child then takes the word day, and compares spiritual things with spiritual, to find what his Heavenly Father means by days in a figurative sense. The first text he lights upon is in Num. 14:34, ‘each day for a year.’
“‘May this not be it?’ says the child.