Final Countdown Volume 1

I have begun a series of articles on END TIME PROPHESY. This is Volume 1, which below includes The Preface, The Introduction and Chapters 1-10.  

Final Countdown: Preface  

Final Countdown one.
Let me introduce myself: My name is Phillip LaSpino, born, in 1937 in Rochester, New York. I served in the Marines. After my discharge, and for the next 28 years, I drove and trained racehorses.

As for Christianity, I had never picked up a Bible until I was in my forties, yet for whatever reason, I have always believed in God but never knew who He was. In the final years of my racing career, I began to have this empty feeling something was missing from my life. One day in 1983, I received a phone call, and because of this one call, I purchased my first Bible. From the get-go, several questions burned in my mind, “Who is Jesus Christ? I needed not only to read but to understand what I was reading.

After one full year of examining many commentaries and other articles, I had my answer. Jesus Christ was the Jewish Messiah, the Son of the living God, the Savior of the World, and the Creator of heaven and earth. From birth, Jesus, before his birth, His name, Yahweh; English, Jehovah.

My next question is, “Who or what is the Holy Spirit?” Another year of dedicated study brought me to the threshold of where I stand today in my relationship with the LORD. I now understand who Jesus Christ is and who the Holy Spirit is. With this information in hand, my walk through the many revealed truths and remaining mysteries of the Bible began; and what a walk it has been!

Final Countdown: Introduction:
The Bible consists of two parts, the Old and New Testament, uniting different compositions: historical, political, judicial, moral, prophetical, and its principles. I understand the Bible to be an inspired, infallible word, having written on its pages, words spoken and directed at the prophets by the Holy Spirit. The Written Word carries us back to the threshold of creation, where our Creator spoke into existence the material world; then breathed into every creature the breath of life.

 

Jesus Christ, the Word and the Wisdom of God.

The ancient Greeks were fond of speculating upon the origin of all things. Aristotle thought the world, in its organized form, was eternal; and that the Supreme Being put it in motion. Anaxagoras, Socrates, and Plato believed in a supreme mind who organized the world out of matter which had always existed. Epicurus, the father of atheistic teaching, traced the beautiful order of the earth and all its inhabitants and productions to an accidental coming together of atoms and add no scholars, philosophers, or scientists in ancient Rome or Greece ever acknowledged a Creator.

The heathen nations, ignorant of their origin, were fond of ascribing to themselves vast ages. Babylonians and Egyptians boasted of their astronomical observations and counted their dynasties through thousands of years like the Chinese and Hindus had.

Science theorizes “Ex buguki buguk fut” meaning “from nothing, nothing comes?” But God reveals to us in,

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God (I) created the heaven and the earth.” This one statement introduces us to an infinite intelligence; several of His many names and titles, Jehovah, the Almighty, the LORD, I Am, God, who created and brought to perfection in six literal days His great and majesty work and in so doing laid before us his goodness and blessings. Go out one evening when the sky is clear and look up into vast expanses of heaven, and you will be looking into the mind of God Almighty!

The eviction:
Pale moonbeams had begun to fall across the area where I stood. A strange paleness washed across the landscape, and the failing sun had started to expose the stars of heaven. I found myself standing where the fading rays of the sun were touching every tree and bush with its mysterious fingers. Here I stood at the edge of a forest surrounded by great trees, standing tall and having diameters of great size. It was a large area covered with vegetation of every sort, mixed in with thorns, fibers, and other thick green and brown grasses. Vines were making their way up and around the trees, with colored flowers surrounding their base. Clinging to their branches were fruits of every sort, having grown to grand proportions. Insects swarmed through the air, and the animals heard, near and far.

And through the darkening shadows, what I saw amazed me. As I looked up, I saw a great arch, its appearance was of crystal with precious stones embedded within. On the other side of the opening, I saw three figures, two men and a woman walking in my direction, walking toward the crystal arch. And behind them was a garden going back as far as the eye could see. The place they walked away from had the look of paradise. The first man dressed in white had the light of the sun seem to radiate from him. The other two were naked except for an animal loin cloth wrapped around their waist.

The one in white stood by the two, lifting his hand and pointing to a place far beyond the arch made of crystal. The two began walking through the arch as the man in white stood watching. He appeared to be sad, as a man having lost his family. The two walked a short way from the entrance, turned, and looked back. What they saw put the fear of God into their very soul.

The man in white was gone, and behind them stood a giant creature, having two great wings and a flaming sword in his hand that turned every way. It turned in a way that no living creature could ever pass again through that mysterious arch into the garden of paradise.

At that moment, I looked up, and it was as if the stars had marked for all time this moment. The finger of God had marked down forever the fall of man, the time, 6 P.M. October 23, 4004 B.C.
It’s been over 6000 years since that tragic event occurred, six thousand years of tragedies. Man has witnessed the rise and fall of empires and kings, wars, and disasters. We have seen the births and deaths of billions of men and women who passed before us. In His book of life, our every word and thought have been recorded.

 

Final Countdown: Chapter 1. Jesus and Disciples at the Mount of Olives.

In Matthew 24 and Mark 13:32, days before Jesus went to the cross, the disciples asked two questions, the second concerned His return at the end of the age. This question will be the focus of this article. 

Days before the cross, the disciples and Jesus had departed from the temple mount and walked to the Mt. of Olives. As they looked down on the area where the Temple and buildings in the complex stood, 

Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked, “Tell us —- what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?” 

We are aware that there has already been a specific day and hour fixed by the Father for Jesus’ return; it is called “the day of the Lord,” but at this point, in 31 A.D., days before the cross, this question remained hidden in the Father alone.  

The question they asked had nothing to do with the church or the catching away (rapture) of the body of Christ, see 1 Thessalonians 4:16. But it does concern Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jews. 

When the Lord does return, he will return to the Mt. of Olives (Jeremiah 14:4), and in the same manner, He left (see Acts 1:9), to carry out vengeance upon his enemies. When the judgments are over, He will establish His kingdom in Jerusalem for the next 1000 Years.  

Now concerning His answer, “No man knows.” This short phrase remains a barrier to many. A wall built around the following statement, 

Mark 13:32, “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” 

These words “know, or knows” are used in the present tense, meaning the Lord did not have the information at that time, it was too early in history to be revealed to the Jews. 

Also, the verse does not say the Father will never reveal this information through His Holy Spirit, this is important to keep in mind. Let’s begin with the following; why did Jesus come for the first time to Israel and the Jews? 

Jesus was born in October between the 15th and 30th of the year, 4 B.C. as prophesied. Baptized by John and the Holy Spirit 30 years later, between the 15th and 30th of October 27 A.D., see Luke 3:23. 

Three- and one-half years after his baptism, Jesus went to the cross; the time was April 5th at 3 p.m., the year 31 A.D. 

Certain verses will help us find the reason for Jesus making that statement. Again, the question, “What shall be the end of the world (age)?” Let us begin with, “Why did Jesus come in the first place?” 

His sole purpose for coming was,

Matthew 15:24, Jesus said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep (the people) of the house of Israel.” 

John 5:26, Jesus is speaking, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.

Matthew 4:16, “The people (the Jews) which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” 

The Lord Jesus came to bring his good news to the Jews, their Messiah had come, and the kingdom they had been praying for was at hand. But, by their evil works, he was rejected by the religious leaders and by the people. We read about it in the following verses. 

John 19:14, “The chief priests (of the Jews) answered (Pilate, saying,) we have no king but Caesar.” 

Luke 23:21, the Jews cried out to Pilate, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Matthew 27:25, “Then answered all the people, and said, His (Jesus) blood be on us, and on our children.” 

Matthew 26:56, “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” 

Before the Lord took his last breath, He gazed down on the crowd before him and repeated what David wrote,

Psalms 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 

Both words forsaken and forsook mean to abandon. Jesus had been given 39 lashes twice, beaten with rods, slapped, had his beard pulled from his face, suffered from a loss of blood because of the lashes suffered; then nailed in both hands and feet with spikes, had his shoulders and arms pulled from their joints as he hung from the cross, and before he dies, he looks down on a crowd of people who had witnessed his many miracles and asked them, 

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When he uttered these words, the religious leaders realized he had fulfilled Psalms 22. His following words,

Luke 23:46, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” I see nothing in these words that would tell me the Father had abandoned the Son he sent to finish his work.  

And after all the signs and wonders Jesus had done to prove who He was and who had sent him, the Jews set up a mock trial, rigged the jury, and condemned this innocent man to death. Luke wrote,

Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel (12 tribes) know assuredly, that God (the Father) hath made the same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

The apostle’s questions concerning his return and the end of the age were premature at best. Jesus in both Matthew 24 and Mark 13, warned the Jews about a series of events that would occur before the “end of the age.” 

The Holy Spirit would first be sent and then the Temple destroyed. The reason was so the Jews would move away from all temple worship and works of the law. 

In the Old Testament, God had pronounced curses on the Jews, and many had yet to be fulfilled. Also, the gospel message was to be shared with the gentile nations. And before the harvest of believers, there would first have to be a great falling away of believers. A great deal of work was yet to be done before the apostle’s questions were answered. 

Jesus was speaking from the position of his human knowledge, not from the standpoint of His divine omniscience when He said, 

Matthew 24:36, “Of that day and hour (the end of the age) knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” with,

Mark writes, in 13:32, “But of THAT day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Now does the answer to the same question concern the church? No! Why? because the church does not need to know the time of the Lord’s return concerning the “end of the age.” Why? Because the body of believers has to be caught up from the earth before the tribulation begins. Therefore, Paul had no reason to write concerning the Lord’s return at the end of the age. 

This matter of Jesus’ return to establish his kingdom concerned the Jews only; therefore, the answer approached from a Jewish point of view. 

My question is, “Has the answer to these questions been written within the pages of scripture, yet remains a mystery? And is it only now, the shut books of both Daniel and John are being opened and finally revealed by the Father through His Holy Spirit?” 

It would have made no sense to reveal these final hidden mysteries to this question concerning the “last days,” even 100 years ago would have been too early. Why? 

One significant reason is, the Jews had no homeland until May 14th, 1948. Without a homeland, and a place called Israel, the words of the Lord in both the Old and New Testament would have been of little value to anyone. We have seen this over the centuries when many mainline churches and cults have claimed, ‘God is finished with the Jews because they are without a homeland and scattered to the four corners of the earth. Therefore the church is to inherit all their blessings. We are “spiritual Israel.’ 

But now, we stand in the year 2023, and months away from the Jews have been in their land, seventy years, that day, March of 2020, the month the coronavirus became a pandemic. This is one of the reasons why I believe the Father is revealing one of the last mysteries hidden within the pages of scripture, “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

In 2022, the Jews will have been in their land for some 75 years, one generation. This generation has witnessed many false prophets and false Christs, has suffered afflictions and wars, has been witnesses to the rising of nations against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, suffering through famines, pestilences, and murders. And in the history of the Jews, there abounds a hatred throughout the gentile nations for the Jews as never before. 

There are those in this generation of Jews who now live in the land that had suffered at the hands of Nazi Germany, Russia, and Islam. The enemies of the Jews are many, all being tormentors of the Jews, that is, all but the Christian community. 

Jesus said, in Matthew 24:34, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” So here we stand 70 Years passed, one generation of Jews having been witness to many of the events of Matthew 24. 

Acts 1:6-7, the disciples asked the same question, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? But now they were asking for a risen and glorified Christ, one who was about to ascend to the throne of His Father. Jesus said unto them, “it is not for you (his disciples) to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hast put in his own power.”

The church is standing on the threshold of eternity with its Lord and Savior. The fallen world is standing on the edge of a cliff, shaking its fist at its Creator. Their end, judgment! 

I have repeated some of the information above but added other information concerning this important subject in the following chapter. 

 

Chapter 2: 

What does the phrase “No Man Knows” mean in its context?

In Matthew 24 and Mark 13:32, days before Jesus was to go to the cross, the disciples asked the Lord two questions. The second question concerned his return at the end of the age. The second question will be the focus of this article.

Days before the cross, the disciples and Jesus departed from the temple and walked to the Mt. of Olives. As they looked down on the area where the temple and buildings in the complex stood,

Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked, “Tell us —- what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?”

The Father has set a specific day and hour for Jesus’ return, that time called “the day of the Lord,” but at that time, when Jesus commented on it, it was known to the Father alone.

The question has nothing to do with the church or the catching away (rapture) of the body of Christ, see 1 Thessalonians 4:16. But it does concern Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jews.

When the Lord does return, he will return to the Mt. of Olives (Jeremiah 14:4), and in the same manner, He left (see Acts 1:9), to carry out vengeance upon his enemies. When the judgments are over, He will establish His kingdom in Jerusalem for the next 1000 Years.  

Concerning Jesus’ response, “No man knows,” Commentators and others have set aside both the question and answer. “If Jesus does not know, nobody does.”  

Mark 13:32, Jesus responded to the question. “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

The word “knoweth, or knows” is used in the present tense, so at that time, that information was not relevant. 

Also, the verse does not say the Father would never reveal this information to us through His Holy Spirit. 

We can begin with the following, why did Jesus come for the first time to Israel and the Jews?

Jesus was born in October between the 15th and 30th of the year, 4 B.C. as prophesied. He was, baptized by John and the Holy Spirit 30 years later, between the 15th and 30th of October 27 A.D., see Luke 3:23. 

Three and a half years after his baptism, Jesus went to the cross in April of 31 A.D.

So how can we find out what he meant? Again, the question, “what shall be —the end of the world (age)?” Begin with the question, “Why did Jesus come in the first place?” 

Matthew 15:24, Jesus said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep (the people) of the house of Israel.”

John 5:26, Jesus is speaking, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.

Matthew 4:16, “The people (the Jews) which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”

The Lord Jesus came to bring his good news to the Jews, their Messiah had come, and the kingdom they had been praying for was at hand. 

But, by their own choice, he was rejected by the religious leaders and the people. 

John 19:14, “The chief priests (of the Jews) answered (Pilate, saying,) we have no king but Caesar.”

Luke 23:21, the Jews cried out to Pilate, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Matthew 27:25, “Then answered all the people, and said, His (Jesus) blood be on us, and on our children.”

Matthew 26:56, “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”

Jesus looked down on the crowd and repeated what David wrote in

Psalms 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Both words forsaken and forsook mean to abandon. The people, priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, and disciples had forsaken the Lord, not the Father. His next words,

Luke 23:46, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” Does that sound like the Father had abandoned his beloved Son?  

And after all the signs and wonders Jesus had done to prove who He was and who had sent him, the Jews set up a mock trial, rigged the jury, and condemned this innocent man to death. Luke wrote,

Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel (12 tribes) know assuredly, that God (the Father) hath made the same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

The disciple’s questions concerning his return and the final day of His vengeance and redemption were premature at best. Jesus in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, warned the Jews about a series of events that would have to take place before the “end of the age” came to pass.

When the Holy Spirit came, then the church age began. Animal sacrifices were still going on in the temple, but once destroyed, the Jews would move away from temple worship and works of the law.

God had announced curses on the Jews that were yet unfulfilled. Also, the good news had to go to the Gentile nations. Also, before the church is raptured, there will be a falling away of believers. Only then would the questions be answered.

Jesus was speaking from the position of his human knowledge, not from the standpoint of His divine omniscience. He said,

Matthew 24:36, “Of that day and hour (the end of the age) knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” with,

Mark writes, in 13:32, “But of THAT day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Now does the answer to the same question concern the church? No! Why? because the church does not need to know the time of the Lord’s return concerning the “end of the age.” Why? Because believers will be raptured from the earth before the tribulation begins. Therefore, Paul had no reason to write concerning this matter concerning Jesus’ return at the end of the age.

As for the Lord’s return to establish his kingdom, it’s a concern to the Jews only. So, the answer is to be approached strictly from a Jewish point of view.

My question concerning this matter is, “has the answer to this question already been written within the pages of scripture? And is it now, the closed books of both Daniel and John are being revealed by the Father through His Holy Spirit?” 

It would have made no sense to reveal the hidden mysteries of this question of the “last days” even 100 years ago, or after the tribulation is over. Why?

One significant reason, the Jews had no homeland until May 14th, 1948. Without a homeland, and a place called Israel, the words of the Lord in both the Old and New Testament would have been of little value to anyone. We have seen this over the centuries when many mainline churches and cults claim, “God is finished with the Jews, we are the inheritors of all his blessings, we are, “spiritual Israel!”

This is one of the reasons why I believe the Father is revealing one of the last mysteries hidden within the pages of scripture, “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

On May 13th, 2019, one generation of Jews will have been in the land of Israel. This generation has witnessed many false prophets and false Christs, having suffered many afflictions and wars; also witnessed nations rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, suffering through famines, pestilences, and murders. And in the history of the Jews, there abounds a hatred throughout the gentile nations for the Jews as never before. 

There are those in this generation of Jews who now live in the land that had suffered at the hands of Nazi Germany, Russia, and Islam. The enemies of the Jews are many, all being tormentors of the Jews, that is, all but the Christian community.

Jesus said, in Matthew 24:34, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” So here we stand, seventy years, one generation of Jews witnessing the prophesies written in Matthew and Mark. 

Acts 1:6-7, the disciples asked the same question, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” But now they were asking for a risen and glorified Christ, one who was about to ascend to the throne of His Father. Jesus said unto them, “it is not for you (his disciples) to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hast put in his own power.”

Power here means having the authority of doing or not doing, as in license, liberty, or free choice. The word is used in Acts 5:4 when Peter was speaking to Ananias and Sapphira when he said to them, “was it not thine own (speaking of the land)? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power (control)?” 

Romans 9:21, “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

1 Corinthians 7:37, “Hath power over his own will,” as in, it stands in his own free will.

So has the time of Jesus’ return already been written in scripture, but only now to be revealed? Possibly, that’s the reason Christ said, “Search the scriptures.” 

 

Chapter 3. How Does God Keep Time?

Galatians 4:4, “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made (born) under the law.” 

Time never stands still, and neither is history static. From the fall in October of 4004 B.C. to this very day, over 6000 years have passed. From the moment of the fall, the Creator began carrying out His plan of redemption for a fallen world.    

Our Creator is LORD and Sovereign over the creation and over time, and every man, woman, and child of us is subject to it.

Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself.” 

He establishes the cycles of years and seasons. He controls world history, declares kings, nations, and empires,

Dan.2:21, “And he (God) changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings and sets up kings:”                      

God’s timeline is the measuring of time, compiling and recording a list of occurrences past, present, and future. 

Let us examine one of God’s names, “Jehovah Olam.” Within this Hebrew name, “Olam,” there is a threefold manifestation of his character.

1. Olam speaks of God being “Everlasting.”

2. Olam, or to, ”hid, or be hidden,” speaks of the mysteries within the mind and will of God and the mysteries of God himself. 

3. Thirdly, it means “time, or a specified age.”

Hebrews 1:1, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” 

The first time we run into the title “Everlasting God” is in Genesis 21:33; “And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting = (Olam) God.”

In Psalms 10:1, we read about the second meaning of the name Olam,

David wrote, “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why “hidest = (Olam)” thou thy self in times of trouble?”

Also, in Psalms, “Olam” speaks of time or age:

Psalms 90:2, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou had formed the earth and the world, even from “everlasting to everlasting” = (Olam to Olam) thou art God.”

The everlasting God in Genesis 21 speaks of more than the God who exists from eternity past to eternity future. And, from within the framework of the creation exists time, leaving us with a long chronology of historical events that slowly and in proportion reveal secrets about Jehovah God. And within that framework, God has always been Sovereign.

He is from Everlasting to Everlasting, from Eternity to <______________________________> Eternity

Time, designed by the God of Creation, our everlasting God. It lays out for us prophesy and the history of that prophesy. It includes His creation; His dispensations; the flood; the call of Abram; of Israel; of the law; Jesus’ birth; baptism, love, sacrifice, and his death. He teaches us about the age of grace; the times of the gentiles; His return, judgment, and establishment of His kingdom.  

So, when the name “Jehovah Olam” is used, it makes the point God is not only from everlasting to everlasting. And, if and when He chooses to, he will reveal his will to us, for He is omniscient, knowing all things and LORD over all.

Galatians 4:4, “When the fullness of the time (meaning the exact time) had come, God (the Father) sent forth his Son (Jesus), made of a woman (Mary), made (born) under the law.” We only know that time of the Lord’s birth came in April between the 15th and 30th of 4 B.C. 

God’s timepiece: the heavens and the earth.

How does God keep time? by the solar systems he created. Science knows of at least 500 solar systems that now exist. So, what exactly is a solar system? It’s a gravitationally bound system consisting of a sun, planets, and other objects that orbit around it.

In our solar system, the largest eight are called planets; the others consist of smaller objects such as small Solar System bodies and dwarf planets, and indirectly, the moon that rotates around the earth.

Our time on it.

Let us begin with the earth and its rotation on its axis. It rotates once every 24 hours. There is also the rotation of the sun, moon, and stars, each working in union with another.

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:14, “God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them (the lights) be for signs (time), and for seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall) and for days (24 hours) and years.”

On the 4th day, the stars, sun, moon, and earth are all set perfectly in the heavens, and by their movement through space, the Creator can record time for us. And by his written word, all events, past and future can be known and understood.

We understand the earth rotates about an imaginary line that passes through the North and South Poles of the planet. This line is called the axis of rotation. The rotation around the axis is once every day, approximately 24 hours. That rotation period, meaning the time elapsed for one rotation concerning the stars is a sidereal day. A sidereal day is 24 sidereal hours, specifically; 23 hours and 56 minutes on a standard clock. 

Time, according to our clocks, is based on the earth’s rotation concerning the sun from solar noon to solar noon. This is called a solar day and is divided into 24 hours. Because Earth travels about 1 / 365th of the way around the sun, in that one day, there exists a slight difference between solar time and sidereal time.

The little ball below represents the earth as it makes a complete 360 degrees rotation, a full circle around the big ball representing the sun every 365.24 days, this is equivalent to one year.

————-0————- O

        earth sun     

So, our earth takes about 1/365th of a day and about 4 minutes more to get into the same position concerning the sun from where it started. We use sun-based time because it is more important to us whether the sun is up rather than a given star is up.

We also need to talk about leap years.

Nearly every four years is a leap year, 366 days, as opposed to a year having 365 days in the Gregorian Calendar, but the actual time is 365.24 days. Because of this, we have to add one day every four years to our February to compensate. Leap years have 366 days. Our next leap year will fall on 2/29/ 2020.

To conclude, we add leap years to keep our modern-day calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun.

So, before calendars, sundials, and various other instruments were invented, God counted a year according to the time it took the planet to make a complete 360 Degree circle around the sun. In this, He reports to us that one year has passed. So, if the scriptures reveal that it took 120 years to build the ark, we know exactly how many cycles the earth made around our sun. So now we can understand how the LORD has determined time and written it in the Bible. Written so we can understand it, and there are no errors. 

Also, let me mention the equinox: An equinox is a moment in which the plane of the earth’s equator passes through the center of the Sun’s disk, occurring twice each year, around March, 20th and September 23. As a result, the northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated. Why? Because the sun is exactly overhead at a point on the equatorial line.

Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwiddom.com

Chapter 4: This Generation.

Ezekiel 37:21-28, “Thus said the LORD God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen (nations) whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land (1948 to this day): I will make them (all 12 tribes) one nation they all shall have one shepherd (the Lord Jesus) they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes … I = (the LORD) will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant … And the nations shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” 

Scriptures reveal that there’s a generation that will not pass away (die) before the tribulation begins.

Two questions; how long is a generation? And, are we living in the generation scriptures speak of?

Concerning the length of a generation: first understand that this verse is speaking of an end time generation, not the generation Jesus and the apostles were living in.

There are three schools of thought concerning the length of a generation. They are, one hundred years; Seventy years, and forty years. Seventy appears to be the answer,

Psalms 90:10, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten = (70).”

We also know there are teachings that a generation can be speaking of 100 Years, or 40 Year. We know the average generation is not 100 years; it’s too long! It may have stood up in Abraham’s day, but surely not today. Forty years would be to short, even in the poorest of nations today, their average age is higher than 40.

A little math here; if we take 100 + 70 + 40 we get 210 divided by three = 70 years.

Therefore, I have based my conclusions concerning this article on 70 years. I also tallied the average age of some 80 nations, from the poorest to the wealthiest, and came up with an average age of 71.5 years according to today’s world censes.  

So, Christ appears to be speaking to us, today concerning the days before the tribulation, when a generation will have an average age of 70 years. Jesus said, 

Matthew 24:34, “Verily I say unto you (the disciples), this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

This discourse in Matthew 24 concerned the Jewish people, and not the church. Why? Because the discourse took place in April of 31 A.D. days before the cross, and the gentile church was still 7 years in the future, when Paul would begin his ministry to the gentiles.

Christians do not look for signs, but we can be well aware of what Jesus did say. His words then are today’s reality, especially in the Middle East and in Israel.

Let’s backtrack: Deuteronomy was written by Moses some 3500 years ago. In this book, God said he would in these last days draw the Jews back to the land of Israel, and in one literal day, Israel would once more become a nation. Following is one of many verses that describe the events of Israel’s past 1900 + Years of Jewish captivity by the Romans; their dispersion, suffering and return to the land in May of 1948.  

Deuteronomy 29:25, Moses wrote, “They (the Jews) have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers” Verse 26, “For they served other gods, and worshipped them,” Verse 27, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, (Israel) to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:

Verse 28, “And the LORD rooted = (uprooted) them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.”

Deuteronomy 30:1-2-3, The LORD said, “All these things are come upon you, and you shall call them to mind among the nations, whither (from where) the LORD your God has driven you, and shall return (future) unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all your heart, and with all your soul;”

The last dispersion came at the hands of the Romans in 70 A.D. Over one million Jews were killed, Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed, and over 100,000 taken into captivity.

Now here’s the, “but then:”

Deuteronomy 30:4, “Then the LORD your God will turn (back) your captivity, ——- and will return and gather you (the Jews) from all the (Gentile) nations, from where the LORD your God had scattered you.”

Verse 5.  “And the LORD thy God will bring thee (back) into the land (Israel) which your fathers possessed, and you shalt possess it; —-”      

Verses 6-7, “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart (put away their old nature and give them a new nature, this is still in Israel’s future), and the heart of your seed (children), to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”  —- I, “will put all these curses upon your enemies, and on them that hate you, which persecuted you.”

The Jewish people have come through 1900 + years of God’s curses having been put on them and their children for the murder of their prophesied Messiah. Yet to this day, 2020, they have maintained their Jewish roots and nationality; their religion; their Hebrew language; the shekel and, the Holy city of Jerusalem is once again is in their hands. God’s promises are being kept.  

Isaiah 55:7-8, “Before she (Israel) travailed (was in birth pains) she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered (brought forth) of a man child (Jesus Christ).

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day (a Savior)? Or shall a nation (Israel) be born at once? For as soon as Zion (Israel) travailed (suffered severe birth pains in World War 2), she brought forth her children.”

Isaiah was written 700 years before the birth of Christ, and 2600 years before Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. And in the same day, America, the most powerful and wealthiest nation earth issued a statement recognizing Israel’s sovereignty.

Adolph Hitler, one of the most notorious butchers to ever take a breath, was used by God to fulfill the above prophesies concerning the return of the Jews to their land.

May 14, 1948 marked the first day of the first year, and on May 13th 2022, they will have been in the land a full 74  Years, one generation.

Matthew 24:32-33, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: So you (the generation being spoken of) in like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, (they have now witnessed these things) know that it (meaning the ultimate return of Christ) is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.” And they are still alive and well!

I understand that Israel’s rebirth in 1948 marks the beginning of the generation that will see all the events leading up to the second coming of Christ. This thinking is based upon the generation alluded to in the parable of the fig tree, in which the fig tree should be taken in a natural sense.

Let’s take a few moments and examine what events this generation of 1948 is to witness. Many shall come in Jesus name claiming to be Christ. I have counted about 32 people in recent years that have claimed to be Christ.

This generation shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: nations shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom (a kingdom refers to a people and territory under kingly rule) there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in many places.

In the Middle East, many of the Arab nations have been independent for a very short period of time. Example, Jordan was born on 5/25/1946. Qatar 9/3/1971: United Arab Emirates 12/ 1971: Then we have Omar: Kuwait: Morocco: Saudi Arabia and Bahrain:  

Middle East conflicts raging now, including the problem of the coronavirus:

Yemeni and Al Qaeda conflict:

Syrian civil war:

Yemeni crisis:

Iran and Saudi Arabia conflict:

Iraq war:

West Iran clashes:

Turkish coup d’état: Iraq,

Kurdish conflict and,

Bahraini uprising.

In verse 8, Jesus said, “These are the beginning of sorrows.” Another meaning for sorrows in “birth pains,” same word. They (the Jewish people) will be afflicted, murdered, hated for Jesus Christ’s sake. Many shall be offended, betrayed: there will be many false prophets; iniquity shall abound and the love of friends and families will grow cold.

The abomination of desolation, meaning the Dome of the Rock that is standing in God’s holy place on Mt. Moriah will one day be the place where the son of perdition, the antichrist will enter to pray and sacrifice, not worshipping the God of his fathers, but himself, claiming to be Jesus Christ, the King and High Priest of Israel.

And when any Jew sees these things, they are told to run, run as fast as they can into the mountains. This will be the ultimate abomination unto the true God of Israel. This false Christ, a Jew, or it may be a Muslim will claim to be the Christ. He will enter into this Temple and claim to be the Messiah.

The reason it cannot be known if this person is a Jew or Arab, is because of Daniel 11.27, we read, concerning this antichrist “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers.” Both the Jews and Arabs trace their father back to Abraham who worshipped Jehovah God. The Arabs through Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and the Jews through Isaac, also the son of Abraham. 

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.”

When Israel was declared a nation in May of 1948, this opened the door to the remaining mysteries of God, they having been veiled in scripture  until now. It’s now up to us to pray, ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding.

None of the 12 apostles or Paul had any idea that 1900 + years would pass before the prophesy of Jesus’ return to the Jews would be fulfilled. 

Before 1948, and before World War 2 was raging, the Jews in most of Asia, Europe and other parts of the world were being persecuted and slaughtered. And because of the slaughter of them in World War 2, some 6 million of them, the mystery of Israel’s return could never have been understood. Six million represented 1/2 of all the Jews in the world back then.

The return of the Jewish people to Israel is called (Aliyah, a Hebrew word meaning “to ascend,” or “to go up”.) This going up, began in 1881 when 70,000 Jews returned to Israel. The second Aliyah between 1904-1914; the third between 1919 1923; the 4th 1924 -31 when some 48,000 returned and settled cities like Tel Aviv; another Aliyah occurred, this one between 1931 -39 when 230,000 Jews, most fleeing Nazi Germany immigrated to Israel. Now, from 1881 to 1946, the Jewish population grew from 24,000 to 686,000.

The Jews purchased land (paid for in cash) from the Arabs who thought they were exploiting the poor Jews by selling them desolate, desert land that was for the most part considered worthless. But the returning Jews turned this wilderness into fertile farmland and citrus groves.

Cities sprang up, commerce and banking thrived and roads constructed.  So, the Arabs who sold them the land, never realized their actions would help lay the foundations for the restoration of the Jewish state. “Isn’t God’s work a wonder?” He used the enemies of the gospel and of Christ, the Arabs, Nazi Germany, the League of Nations, and the U.N. to fulfill His prophesies.

Phillip LaSpino   www.seekfirstwisdom.com

 

Chapter 5: Confirming The Covenant of Daniel 9:27. 

Daniel 9:1, “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.”

The year, 530 B.C. Cyrus the Great had just passed away and Darius became king over the Medio Persian Empire. Daniel writes in the first year of Darius of the future Messiah of Israel.   

Daniel 9:27, “And he (Messiah) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (or 7 years) and in the middle of the week he (Jesus) shall cause the (blood) sacrifices and the oblation (offerings) to cease.”

Now I know a lot of people will disagree with this assessment, but read on.

The above verse raises four questions,

  1. What two parties are involved in this new covenant?
  2. What is the covenant that is to be confirmed?
  3. When did the first 3 ½ years of conformation of the covenant begin and end?
  4. And lastly, when will the last 3 ½ years begin and end?

Question 1: “Who is this future covenant between?” The covenant Daniel speaks of is between Jesus Christ and the Jewish people.

Question 2, “What covenant is Daniel speaking of that is to be confirmed? And who is the “he” that causes the sacrifices and oblation to cease?  

We must first understand what a covenant is.

A covenant is a disposition or arrangement. In the New Testament it speaks to God’s covenants with Abraham, Moses and David as in the divine promises conditioned on the people’s obedience. But the new covenant is sanctioned only by the blood of Christ, and not by the works of the law. Compare,  

Jeremiah speaks of this future new covenant:

Jeremiah 31:31, Was written to the Jews between 627 and 586 B.C., while they were still in captivity in Babylon, and, is yet to be fulfilled:

“Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.”

Verse 33, “This shall be the covenant that I (the LORD) will make with the house of Israel (all 12 tribes): After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Yet future!

Hebrews 8:8-10, was written to the Jews between the years 68 to 70 A.D., just before the Roman invasion.  Behold, the days come, said the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel (10 Northern tribes) and with the house of Judah (2 Southern tribes).

Verse 10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel (12 tribes), after those days, said the LORD; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.”

Paul writes in Romans 11:25-27, in 57 or 58 A.D., 28 years after the cross;

“I (Paul) would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (a secret hid in God until now revealed), unless you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part (for a short time) is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in (meaning, when the last gentile in the Christian church has been declared by the Holy Spirit).”

Verse 26-27, “All Israel (12 tribes) shall be saved: How is this to be done? “There shall come out of Zion (Israel) the Deliverer (Jesus Christ), and shall turn away ungodliness (sin) from Jacob (unbelieving Jews).” This is yet to be fulfilled.  

Also, the above supports the teaching that ALL 12 tribes will one day be united as one people. There are no lost tribes!

The warning if the Jews reject this new covenant:

Hebrews 10:28-29, “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much worse punishment suppose you shall he be though worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite (insulted and mock) unto the (Holy) Spirit of grace?

Now we know what a covenant is. It’s an arrangement between God and the people of Israel.

Who is the “he” that confirms the covenant? We have to back up to verse 26 to answer the question.

Daniel 9:26, “And after threescore and two (62) weeks shall Messiah (Jesus) be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince (prince here means the anointed one) that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Temple); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

“Not for himself:”  “The Jews were looking for their Messiah to deliver them from the yoke of the Romans. Mankind had been alienated from God for over 4000 years when Jesus was born in 4 B.C. Jesus did not come for Himself, but He came to finish the transgression; to take away the sins of his people,  to destroy the works of the devil, to provide righteousness for all sinners. He came as a peace-maker; and to build once again the bridge between Father and mankind.  God and man had been alienated for some 4000 Years, therefore his work was to close that breach. 

Many say Titus was that prince, but Titus was only a general in the Roman army when he led his troops into Jerusalem. He was neither a king or a prince.

As Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great; as Seleucid, Antiochus and others were sent by God to punish Israel with the rod of men, so also were the Romans sent by God to accomplish his will.

Revelation 1:5, “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince (note lower case) of the kings of the earth.”   

Jesus was “cut off” by his own; the same people He came to save from their sins. His being cut off, can be connected directly to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. This is a perfect example of cause and effect.

Sometime in early April of 31 A.D., days before the cross, Jesus had declared the Temple abandoned, Matthew 23:38. Therefore, it was the Lord who told the Caesar of Rome to turn the Roman Legions (the people)  loose on Jerusalem and the people, as he had done with with Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Antiochus and others. Jesus is,

Revelation 1:5, “The prince (ruler over) of the kings of the earth;” it is he who rules over men. His command came at the exact appointed time, He had the armies of Rome move against Jerusalem and its people with their war machine in 70 A.D. They destroyed the city, the temple, killing over a million Jews and taking 100,000 into captivity. This was by God’s will, and God’s will shall was accomplished. 

Question 3: When did the first 3 ½ years of confirming the covenant begin, and end? And when does the last 3 ½ years begin and end?

For 3 ½ Year beginning in October of 27 A.D. after his baptism, and confrontation with the devil in the wilderness, Jesus began to confirm his new covenant. But it would be abruptly ended in April of 31 A.D. 3 ½ years later, when Judas betrayed him, and when he was taken by the priests to be tried.  

Matthew 4:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus then goes into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days by the devil, Luke 4:2. After 40 days of fasting and being tempted, the devil again tempts him with three greater temptations, but fails.

Luke 4:13, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation (testing) he departed from him (Jesus) for a season (Appointed time, set time, as in fixed or definite time.)”

Question: When would that season or appointed time for the devil begin?

John 14:30, 3 ½ years after the wilderness experience, Jesus is speaking with his disciples and said to them, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing (against) me.”  

As the feast of Passover in April of 31 A.D. drew near, this is when Satan began his second attack on Jesus;

John 21:2-3, “The chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him (Jesus): for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve (apostles). And he (Judas) went his way, and communed (conferred) with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.”

Jesus was taken shortly after; he was tried, beaten, sent to the cross, buried for 3 days, raised and ascended into heaven.

Isaiah 53:8, we read, “He (Messiah) was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off (would suffer a violent death) out of the land of the living.”

So, after the cross their remains 3 ½ years for the covenant to be confirmed. Question: So, who will finish the conformation of this covenant for the final 3 ½ years, and when?

It will be the two witnesses who will confirm the covenant for the final 3 ½ years. It will begin when the 7 years of tribulation begins.

Revelation 11:3, “I (Jesus) will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days (3 ½ years).” Verse 7, “And when they shall have finished their testimony (testimony here means to speak the truth of Jesus mission and his gospel), the (1st) beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them (the two witnesses), and shall overcome them, and kill them.”

I will do a separate article on the two witnesses and this 1st beast of Revelation 11.

Their testimony shall be given in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified and where he had confirmed the first 3 1/2 Years of his covenant.

Also, at the beginning of the tribulation, 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel will receive God’s mark in their foreheads, but there is no mention of the work they are to accomplish or where the Lord will send them during the 7 years of tribulation.

Thirdly, Revelation 14:6-7, An angel —- having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come;”  

Question 4: Who is it that ends the sacrifices and oblations that were taking place during the Temple period, up until 70 A.D.

Two days before the cross, Jesus said to his three disciples on the Mt. of Olives,

Matthew 23:38-39, Behold your (the Jews) house (the Temple) is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, you shall not see me henceforth, until you shall say, blessed is He that comes in the name of the LORD.” This conversation occurred in April of 31 A.D.

Jesus in the above has declared that he is the Lord of the Temple, and now, the Temple will be without God, this  when he left it for the last time.

Matthew 24:1, “Jesus went out, and departed from the temple —.”

“O Jerusalem, for the glory is departed from you.”

Malachi wrote in 3:1, “I will send my messenger (John the Baptist), and he shall prepare the way before me (Jesus) suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant.”

So, the answer to the question is, Jesus Christ ended the sacrifices and oblations in the Temple when He declared the house of the Lord to be abandoned, in early April of 31 A.D. a few days before the cross and Pentecost. The Jews no longer had a Temple worthy of sacrificing for their sins, and were also without God until He removes their blindness, and restores them once more.

Phillip LaSpino   www.seekfirstwisdom.

 

Chapter 6: The Decree of 457 B.C. The Return of The Jews.

Daniel 9:24. This section of Daniel was written in the first year of Darius, the king of the Persia, in the year 530 B.C. This is the same year Cyrus the Great, king of Persia was beheaded at the battle of Massagetae.

Daniel writes in 9:24-25, “Seventy weeks (490 Years) are determined upon your (Daniel’s) people (the Jews) and upon the holy city (Jerusalem), to finish (end) the transgression, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophesy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto (to) the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks (483 Years): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”  

From the above, we are told, after a full 490 Years have ended, everlasting righteousness shall be brought in by Jesus Christ. Now it’s up to us to break this 490 Years down so it makes sense and does not force or distort any verses or words.

The prophesy is broken down into several segments beginning with the command to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince.

The first segment of time is seven weeks, meaning 49 Years. This began when the command was given in 457 A.D. The second segment was 62 weeks, or 434 years. The third part, one week or 7 years is not mentioned in Daniel 9:25, but is picked up in Daniel 9:27.

We are told that this final seven years will be broken into 2 periods, each to be  3 ½ years.  So here is what we need to be figured out. 

  1. Who gave the command to the Jews to return home?
  2. When was the command given?
  3. When did the first 49 years begin and end?
  4. When did the 434 years begin and end?
  5. When does the first 3 ½ years of the seven begin, and who is it that confirms that?
  6. When does the second 3 ½ years begin and end, and who’s to confirm it?

The last part of the prophesy in Daniel 9:24, “To finish (to end) the transgression, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophesy, and to anoint the most Holy,” is to be fulfilled only after the last seven years has been completed, and the day the Lord sets up his 1000 Year reign.  

Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks (490 Years) are determined upon your (Daniel’s) people (the Jews) and upon the holy city (Jerusalem),

In the first year of Darius, king of Persia in the year 530 B.C., is when the angel Gabriel informed Daniel of the prophesy. The prophesy concerns a future king of Persia. That king would be Artaxerxes who began his rule in the year 457 B.C.

Daniel 9:25, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (49 Years) and threescore and two weeks (434 Years): the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times.” The period mentioned above, covers only 483 years, and not the whole 490 years.

Four words stand out in the verse and must be examined and understood. They are, Restore: Build: Street: and Wall.

The 1st word is “Restore.”

In most commentaries I have read, the word “Restore” has been miss-represented. Its true meaning in Hebrew speaks of the Jews returning, being sent back to their former residence, to the place of their original habitation, that place, Israel. So, to restore means to return from captivity.

The second word is “build,” means to construct, repair: to bring back to its past condition; raise up and establish.

The third  word is “Street. (refers to the open square in Jerusalem):”

The forth word: is “Wall.” In Hebrew “wall” has several meanings: (1) In Daniel it speaks of a ditch or moat, (2) and the wall surrounded Jerusalem. Obviously, after 70 years in captivity, the moat, wall and square in the city were in dire need of repair.

Now, when we move forward in time from the year 457 B.C. when the king published his decree for the Jews to return, until the end of the 69 weeks of years, or 483 literal years, we would be standing in the year 27 A.D.

It was in October of 27 A.D. when Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, the Prince of Peace would be revealed to the religious leaders, and the people of Israel at the river Jordon. This happened when Jesus was 30 Years of age, see Luke 3:23.

Jesus was baptized by John; then by the Holy Spirit; then declared by His Father in heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” So there we have three witnesses

Then Jesus was sent into the wilderness; fasted for 40 days and during that time tempted of the devil. Luke 4:2, “Being forty days tempted (tested) of the devil.” After fasting forty days he was tempted 3 more times by the devil, and when it was over, Jesus said to the devil,

Matthew 4:10, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, you shall worship the LORD your God, and him only shall you serve.”  

Matthew 4:11, “Then the devil left him.” Also, we read in Luke 3:13, “the devil departed only for a season.”

When did that season end for the devil? 3 ½ years after the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus was at the last supper with the twelve. This would be the devils second attack on Jesus, the season for him had arrived,

Luke 22:3, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he (Judas) went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him (Jesus) unto them.”

Let’s back up once more to the days soon after Jesus baptism. He goes to the Synagogue to read from the book of Isaiah, Luke 16-30. After the Lord closed the book, the people,

Verse 29, “Rose up, and thrust him (Jesus) out of the city, and led him unto the brow (edge of precipice) of the hill where their city was built, so that they (the crowd) might throw him down headlong. But he passed through the middle of them and went his way.”

Now we know, after his baptism by the Holy Spirit, in October of 27 A.D. he would first be tested by the devil; then confronted with violence by the Jews in the synagogue. The war between the devil and his disciples was about to explode into a full scale spiritual war, lasting 3 ½ years, until Jesus death on the cross.

So, it was in October of 27 A.D.  after Jesus temptation with the devil in the wilderness when the Lord would be cut off by the people. But, he would begin to confirm the new covenant found in Jeremiah 31:31 with the people. Of course, we know they rejected the message and killed the messanger.

This would finish the full 69 weeks, or 483 years, ending on October of 27 A.D. So, their remains  3 ½ Years to confirming God’s new covenant with the Jews. This will be accomplished by the two witnesses found in Revelation 11. I will do an article on this matter.

When Artaxerxes made his decree in 457 B.C., the Jews returned to their homeland to begin repairing Jerusalem, the square, the moats, and the walls surrounding the city. But, the work on the Temple would not be finished until Herod the Great ruled, more than 400 years after the Jews returned.

When the year 27 A.D. ended, two parts of Artaxerxes prophesy had been completed. The first 7 weeks or 49 years began in 457 B.C. and ended in 408 B.C.

408 B.C. ended the Old Testament prophets and their writing. Malachi was the last book to be written and finished sometime late in the 4th century B.C. 408 B.C.,  may have been the year Malachi died, fulfilling the 49 years.  

The next 62 weeks of years, or 434 Years ended in 27 A.D. as prophesied.  The above period of time began and ended exactly to the day and year declared by God. From October of 27 A.D. until April of 31 A.D. the Lord had confirmed his new covenant with the Jews. So, what remains are the final 3 ½ years.

Many claim the 7 years has been finished, but I find this to be a false teaching. I have found no evidence from time of Christ’s baptism to this day, 2020, where exactly 7 years fits anything in history. Some try to attach it to the Temples destruction. Not so! Only several days before the Lord went to the cross in April of 31 A.D., He declared;

Matthew 23:38, “Your house (the Jews) is left unto you desolate (abandoned).” The Temple had been abandoned by God, having no further value to Him or the Jews.

“For I (Jesus) say unto you, you shall not see me henceforth, until you (the Jews) shall say, blessed is He that comes in the name of the LORD.” This is yet to be fulfilled.

Matthew 24:1, “And (after Jesus said the above) he “went out, and departed from the temple,” no evidence that He had ever returned, none!

Why were the Temple sacrifices valueless from the year 598 B.C.? Because, there was no Levitical priests as ordered by law. The Ark of the Covenant was missing, the mercy seat and eternal flame, gone! These were the types of the things to come, and when Jesus came, He was rejected. Jesus Christ was that antitype, the real deal.

He is to the Jews, their King, and High Priest who is after the order of Melchizedek; he is that mercy seat; he is the Ark of the Covenant that held the rod of Aaron, the broken stone in which the law had been written; and the manna from heaven.

Also, the Holy Spirit with Christ was that eternal flame. Once they left, the Temple, it was of no further value to God or the people.

In Matthew 24:3, in early April of 31 A.D., days before the cross, at the top of the Mount of Olives Jesus points to the buildings of the Temple Mt. and the Temples and said,

“See you all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Some 40 years later, Jesus the prince of the people, sent in the armies of Rome under the command of general Titus to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. This was God’s will. He sent the Romans just as he had sent Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander and all the other enemies of the Jews. Why? To punish them with the rod of their enemies for their sins against him. God did just as He had done in the past, destroy Jerusalem, the Temple and scatter the people.  He accomplished this in 70 A.D. fulfilling Jesus words. Over a million Jews were killed, and some 100,000 thousand taken into captivity, the Temple destroyed, as was Jerusalem.   

Chapter 7 A: Nebuchadnezzar; 7B, his dream of empires.

After the flood in the year 2348 B.C. Nimrod, meaning “Rebel” the son of Cush would establish both Babylon and Assyria in the land of Shinar. Nimrod is said to have been,

Genesis 10:9, “a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

The beginning of his kingdom was called Babel or Babylon. Nimrod would invade and conquer Assur, or Assyria east of the Tigris river, where he built Nineveh. The meaning of his name Nin, signifying, “a son,” the most celebrated of the sons of Cush. Here Nimrod would establish his government, and introduce the Zabian idolatry, or worship of the heavenly host. After his death, he would be made a god by his subjects, then proclaimed to have been translated into the constellation of Orion. He may have been a mighty hunter of animals, but, a mighty persecutor in the sight of Jehovah God.

From that time forward, the two kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon would wage war against each other for control of the plains of Shinar, and the areas surrounding this territory. The Assyrians would eventually emerge victoriously, taking control of the people in the region. Their rule would dominate the Chaldeans, the Medes and the people of Babylon.

From the Assyrian people, a man would arise, his name, Nabopolassar, who would become the first Babylonian king. After the death of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in 627 B.C. a new dynasty would emerge led by Nabopolassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar who would rule some 20 years, beginning in 625, ending at his death in 605 B.C. His name meant, “favored or chosen of Nebu”

King Nebuchadnezzar is first mentioned during the destruction of Assyria that had been the arch-enemy of Babylon. At that time, he was crown-prince, meaning heir to the throne. With his allies, the ruler of the Medes and Persians, Nebuchadnezzar would lead his armies against the Assyrian’s and Egyptians who were led by Necho ll, who had been occupying Syria. Nebuchadnezzar defeated them at the Battle of Carchemish. Their defeat brought Syria and Phoenicia under the control of Babylon.

The LORD called Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 25:9, “my servant.”

In the year 606 B.C. Daniel was taken captive to Babylon as a young man, most scholars believe he was about seventeen. Nebuchadnezzar rule began in 605 and ended in 562 B.C., some 42 or 43 years.

Now we need to establish a correct timeline. The prophesy of empires begins in Daniel 2, they symbolized by an image of man having a head of gold. The image is said to have been, “terrible,” meaning awesome!

The LORD gave the king this dream in the second year of his reign, 603 B.C.  Daniel was sent for by the king to interpret the dream.

Daniel 2:28, Daniel reveals to the king, “There is a God in heaven that reveals secrets (hidden things), and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.”

The book of Isaiah was written between 740 B.C. and 699 B.C. during the Assyrian captivity. He writes,

Isaiah 2:2, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain (Kingdom) of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains (the Holy City of Jerusalem), and shall be exalted above the hills; and all (Gentile) nations shall flow unto it.”

The prophetic perfect tense in which Isaiah writes, implies that he sees some 100 Years into the future as though it had already happened.

The “Last days” refers to the end of this present age when the Lord returns to set up His kingdom. Back to Daniel: He interprets the kings dream:

Daniel 2:31, “You, O king, saw and beheld a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and the form was terrible (awesome.) This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass (bronze, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them (the feet and toes) to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and become like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain (Kingdom) and filled the whole earth.”

Daniel went into captivity in 606 B.C. One year later, in 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar came to the throne. Daniel begins to interpret the dream beginning with the head of Gold. He tells the king, Daniel 2:36, “You are this head of gold.”

Nebuchadnezzar went on to reign over Babylon for 42 years, he died in the year 563 B.C. Twenty-five years would pass when the Babylonian empire would fall under the rule of king Belshazzar. He would be defeated by Cyrus the Great on October 12th 539 B.C.

Cyrus the Great would rule as the king of the Medes and Persians. This kingdom is represented by the breast and arms of silver. The two arms, one representing the Medes, the other representing the Persians, both joined as one at the chest. The Medio Persian kings that would follow Cyrus were;

King Darius from 550 B.C., to 486 B.C. He was followed by king Ahasuerus or Xerxes who ruled from 486 B.C. to 465 B.C. Then came Artaxerxes 1st of Persia who ruled from 465 B.C. to 424 B.C. Others of this family linage were Artaxerxes 5th who was the last reigning king of the empire. He was defeated by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.

Alexander’s conquest were the belly and thighs of bronze. Alexander would represent the belly. He invaded the Persians in 334 B.C. defeated them in 331 B.C. and died in 323 B.C. After his untimely death, his conquered territories were taken over by his four Generals: The generals and the territories they ruled over, were;

Cassander, would reign over Macedonia and Greece;

Lysimachus ruled eastward in Thrace and Asia Minor;

Ptolemy in Egypt, Cyprus and nearby Asia Minor; the fourth was Seleucus all the way to the Indus river.

Eventually Cassander and Lysimachus would fall, leaving Ptolemy, king in the South who ruled from Egypt; and Seleucus who ruled in the North from a city founded by him called Seleucia on the Tigris. This was a major Mesopotamian city which stood on the west bank of the Tigris River.

In the early months of the year 281 B.C. king Seleucus would consolidate the whole of Alexander’s conquest and continued the Hellenization of many areas of his conquered territories, including Israel and the Jewish people. And because of this Hellenization, we have the common people of Israel speaking various dialects of the Greek language. Also, it resulted in our New Testament being written in the Greek language. This had all been planned out by God well before the events took place. 

In the latter part of the year 281 B.C. king Seleucus was murdered. He would be followed by the infamous family of Antiochus. The king’s son, Antiochus 1st Soter, was followed by his son, and on and on. The family of Antiochus’s is represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s image as the little horn that waxed (grew) great, read in Daniel 8:9.

Antiochus 1st Soter was a friend of the Jewish nation, he died in 261 B.C. It was quite different with his son and those who followed. Antiochus the 3ed, Antiochus the 4th who was the bad boy that set up an idol in the Jewish Temple. In their pride, some of these kings took on for themselves the title of Theo, meaning God. In 63 B.C. we see the last of the Antiochus reign. The Greeks were pushed back by the Romans to their original island nation, ending the Greek dynasty.

Now, the two thighs of bronze would give way to the two legs of iron. As a knee is a joint of transition between the upper thigh and the lower leg, so also does it appear the Greeks gave way to Rome, more because of their exhaustion in manpower, wealth and resources resulting from 300 years of war.

Greece’s demise was nothing like Babylonian’s being totally defeated by the Medes and Persians, or the Persian being destroyed by Alexander. After a little research it appears to have been more of a time of transition: history calls it the Greco-Roman world.

The term Greco-Roman refers to a geographical region, and countries that historically and culturally were directly and in the long-term influenced by the language, the culture, government and religion of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is termed as the “Mediterranean world,” the extensive tracts of land centered on the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins. The populations were one in cultural perceptions and ideas. Both the Romans and Greeks during this period responded to the peoples will and needs. 

Greek became the language of the intellectual culture and commerce in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, and Latin was the language spoken for most public management and forensic advocacy, especially in the Western Mediterranean area.

In its early years, the mighty Roman empire was ruled by Augustus Caesar, born Gaius Octavious on September 23, 63 B.C. He died in 14 A.D. From the year 11 B.C. until Augustus’s death, Tiberius Caesar had co-ruled with his father Augustus Caesar. The Roman dynasty would last for some 450 years.

The two legs of Nebuchadnezzar’s image would represent the two capitals of Rome. The first was the Western portion of the empire ruled from Rome; and the other leg of iron, the Eastern portion ruled from Constantinople. As a side note, both cities were built on seven hills. 

It was prophesied that Rome, the 4th beast would break in pieces, and subdue all things. Rome grew in authority and power, conquering vast areas of land in North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

During Roman rule in Israel, on October of 4 B.C. between the 15th and 30th was born the King of the Jews, Jesus, the Son of God.

Matthew 1:23, “They shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” 

During this period of Jesus childhood, Rome was at peace, giving him the opportunity to grow into adulthood. In 27 A.D. at the age of 30, Jesus would be baptized by John the Baptist and by the Holy Spirit at the river Jordon. He would then be led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and tempted of the devil.

In April of 31 A.D. Jesus was turned over by Pontus Pilate to the Jewish crowd who called for him to be crucified. He was taken outside the city walls of Jerusalem, and nailed to a cross. 

Three years after the cross Saul of Tarsus would become Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Three years later about 37 A.D., Paul would begin his ministry to the Jews first, but then to the Gentiles.

As the years past, Constantine the Great came to rule over Rome. He was born in the year 272 A.D., died in 337 A.D. He brought Christian’s from the murderous hands of men like Nero, Tiberius, Hadrian, Nero, Caligula and other butchers to a time of safety.

The empire grew in size, so a second capital was needed. Rome would rule in the West, and Constantinople in the East. Constantinople took on its new name in May of 330 A.D.

Another historical note, Constantine in the year 325 would call the Council of Nice, bringing together 318 bishops. Here is where the doctrine of Bishop Arius was put down. Arius taught that Jesus was not God, but only a god. Does that sound familiar? Every time a Jehovah Witness or Mormon comes knocking at your door that’s exactly the spiritual poison they teach; shame on them!

We will now enter into the period represented by the legs of iron and clay mix.

The Goths, would sack Rome in 410 A.D., soon to follow were the Vandals in 455 A.D. And because the leaders of these barbarians had long admired Roman culture, subsequently they became civilized. They adopted Roman laws, culture, its monetary system and also embraced a form of Christianity through the Catholic church which would over time be led by the Popes of Rome.

Upon their victories, the Roman spoils were divided between the Franks in Gaul, (French); Visigoths in Spain; Angles, Saxons and jutes, Ostrogoths in Britain; and the Lombard’s in Italy. Like secular Rome, the Popes would come to rule over the vast empire with unchallenged power, authority and brutality. The Catholic church would represent the right foot of Nebuchadnezzar’s image of a man whose feet were of iron and clay, and the Muslims would represent the left foot. The Catholic church with it’s popes ruled from Rome and the Muslims would rule from Constantinople, now called Istanbul. 

In the year 570 A.D., Mohammed was born. Because of his hatred for the Jews and Christian’s, Mohammed began the religion of Islam. He took the Jewish Old Testament, taking the blessing God gave Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and rewrote parts of the Old Testament and inserted Ishmael for Isaac. Mohammed claimed to be of the linage of Ishmael, therefore claiming to be a prophet of God. Mohammed acknowledged Jesus as a great prophet, but not greater then himself. Islam has taken Jesus mother Mary and assigned to her as do the Catholics the top position among all women.

He brought in a religion of intolerance, a religion ruled by men who shed the blood of any who dared defy them. Today, Islam claims over a billion and a half worshippers. It has spread it’s hate and intolerance for Democracy to America, Israel and to every Jew and Christian around the world. Eventually Islam would conquer Constantinople and in August of 2010, teh cities name of Constantinople was changed to Istanbul. 

In the year, 691 A.D. the Muslims would begin to build on God’s Holy mountain, Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem, the abomination of desolation that Daniel spoke of, the Dome of the Rock. It would be finished in the year 692 A.D. It stands today only by the will of God as a memorial for the sins of the Jews against their Messiah. Their Temple, the ancient place where they used to worship God, now can be seen in the heaps of rubble that lie below in the streets.

Today in the year 2022, Nebuchadnezzar’s image stands on its feet and toes made of iron and miry clay. Both the Catholic and Arab nations possess a great deal of wealth, power and influence. Islam has its sights set on the total extermination of the Jew, and all Christian believers. If it were not for the hand of God, Israel would be no more.

So, that’s the history of the king’s image of a man. The image overlays some 2600 years of history, and in these last days, moving into its final countdown.

From my studies, I understand there are prophesies in Daniel and elsewhere in scripture that may help us to pinpoint the return of Jesus Christ. These things could not be fully understood, until the Jews returned to their homeland in May of 1948. I believe God is wiping away the cloudiness from the prophetic mirror, so that the last mysteries of end time prophesy can be studied and understood.

 

Chapter 8: Bad Boys of Greece and Rome.

1 John 3:10, “Whosoever does not righteousness is not of God;”

Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity (irreconcilable hatred) (which is true both literally and figuratively) between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: it (her seed) shall bruise your head, and your seed shalt bruise his heel.”

The seed of the serpent: Let’s begin with the power that stands behind this promised seed of the serpent: It is written,

Ephesians 6:12, that, “We (Christians) wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Jude 6, these are “Angels which kept not their first estate (prior domain) but left their own habitation, he (God) hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Luke 22:53, Jesus said to the chief priests, and captain, and elders, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

From Christ earthly ministry to this day, the devil has been working hard to discomfort, subvert, corrupt and destroy the finished work of the cross. Satan has caused the ruin of man; therefore he is numbered among the rulers of darkness mentioned above. Not only cast from heaven but bound in chains of darkness! So, who are the serpent’s seed? Let’s begin with,

Matthew 3:7 when John the Baptist points us to the Pharisees and Sadducees, whom he calls a “generation of vipers.” And Jesus addresses them under the same appellation,

Matthew 12:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts (desires) of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode (stands) not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

And those of the seed of the serpent who hear God’s word shall never heed them; therefore, the word has no influence over them. Over the centuries they have gathered themselves together to persecute and destroy all that are of the seed of the woman, which are Christ’s.

After Alexander’s untimely death, his conquests were taken over by the 4 generals (the 4 notable horns) who led his armies. Shortly after, one of the Generals, Selencus ((the little horn) would overcome the other three, and in so doing he consolidate the whole of the Grecian Empire early in the year 281 B.C., thus was born the Seleucid Empire. Now from the sons and grandsons of Selencus came a line of Kings called Antiochus represented as “the little horn (that) grew exceeding great,” Daniel 8:9.

When Judea was under the authority of the Seleucids, the process of Hellenization was enforced by law. Hellenization was the spread of the ancient Greek culture and its language over foreign peoples who had been brought into its sphere of influence. This effectively meant requiring pagan religious practices. In 167 B.C. Jewish sacrifices were forbidden, Sabbaths’ and feasts were banned as was circumcision outlawed. Altars to Greek gods were set up and animals were prohibited to the Jews, but were sacrificed on these pagan altars to the Greek gods and the possession of Jewish scriptures was made a capital offence; also, an image of Zeus was placed on the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes.

Antiochus Epiphanes the 4th, born 215, died 164 B.C. King of the Hellenistic Syrian kingdom encouraged Greek influences, during the course of which he inadvertently promoted the creation of the independent Jewish state of the Maccabees. He conquered the Jewish stronghold of Jerusalem and attempted to Hellenize the city.

Eventually the Empire of the Greeks was absorbed by the mighty Roman Empire, the 4th beast, (the legs of iron) described by Daniel. Herod the Great was made King of Judea by the Romans. His reign began in 37 B.C. and ended in 4 B.C., the year Jesus was born. He was a heartless, paranoid and blood thirsty man who committed unimaginable atrocities. He married 10 wives, his 5th being Cleopatra mother of Herod Antipas who ruled in the days of John the Baptist. Just before he died, he ordered that the most notable men in Judea to be executed so his funeral would be marked by a national outpouring of grief. Fortunately, his command was ignored.

Herod Antipas son of Herod the great heard of a star in the heavens pointing the way of the coming King; and because of his fear of rival rulers he inquired of the wise men concerning this star. Thinking he had been mocked by them he sent forth his servants “And slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under” and as God would have it, one of Herod’s own sons was murdered.

He also had John the Baptist beheaded; later he ridiculed Jesus whom Pilot had sent to him; dressed him in some worn-out royalty and sent him back to Pilate as a mock king, and later to have him killed. Also, Herod Agrippa grandson of Herod the Great had James, son of Zebedee beheaded.

These tyrants were followed by the Roman Caesars, many of them were scoundrels, erratic, paranoid, delusional and even insane. But some were able administrators, that is, unless you were a Christian, in which case you were in great danger.

 

Chapter 9: When was Jesus crucified?

If you are one who studies and enjoys end time prophesy, to know exactly when certain historical events occurred is of the utmost importance. The following is to clarify one date in particular, that being, “In what year, month and day was Jesus Christ crucified?

There appears to be a divide as to when the Lord Jesus had been crucified. Was it in April of 31 A.D. or was it April of 33 A.D.? By knowing the correct date, we can also know when the Lord was born, and when He was baptized. No one can move forward with prophesy if they’re not sure of these dates. Let’s begin with several verses in Luke that give the details, holding the keys to the exact time of Jesus death on the cross.

Luke first informs us that what he’s about to write is correct, and his sources impeccable. Luke’s narrative was written in the year 58 or 59 A.D., and writing to the Jewish people.

Luke 1:3, “Many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration (a narrative) of those things which are most surely believed among us. Even as they were delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first (beginning) — that you might know the certainty (surety) of those things, wherein you have been instructed.”

Translated: Luke is about to state his purpose and the methods. What he’s saying is, it’s good to have full knowledge of the Lord’s birth, his preaching, miracles suffering, death resurrection and ascension. Question: How did Luke achieve these things?

Luke in his opening statement includes other writers, most likely Matthew and possibly Mark and Paul. He also speaks of eyewitnesses plus his own timeline and understanding of these historical events.

Following are two passages that have caused a heated debate concerning the time of Jesus crucifixion. Today, we have a great advantage, we can look back in our history books and come to correct conclusions concerning this matter, if, and only if we are not lazy in our research. 

Luke 3:1, “In the FIFTEENTH YEAR of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea,—.” 

Now the following verse when taken at face value appears to contradict the above.

Luke 3:22-23, “Now when all the people (Jews) were baptized (by John the Baptist), it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized —” Verse 23, “And Jesus himself began to be about THIRTY YEARS OF AGE.”

Most agreed that Jesus was born in October between the 15th and 30th of the month, in 4 B.C. This will be the beginning of our timeline. If we begin with 4 B.C. and add a full 30 years as Luke tells us, we should arrive in the month of October in 27 A.D., for Jesus baptism.

Here’s where the problem is. Luke writes in Luke 3:1, It was,

“In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” when Jesus was baptized. Tiberius was SOLE RULER of the Roman empire from 14 A.D. to 37 A.D. If we add 15 years to 14 A.D. we would arrive in the year 29 A.D. And because Jesus earthly ministry lasted 3 ½ years, then the time of his crucifixion would have to be April 3ed 33 A.D. the day before Passover, April 4th.

Now let’s take a closer look at this situation. History reveals that Tiberius was co-regent with Augustus Caesar beginning in November of 11 A.D. Caesar Augustus wanted a successor to his throne, but his first choice of an heir died before Augustus did. So, he adopted his grandson Tiberius Caesar Augustus as his son. In November of 11 A.D. Tiberius was made co-regent with Augustus. When Augustus died on 8/19, 14 A.D., this is when Tiberius became sole ruler. Keep in mind, he had already ruled over Rome with Augustus for 3 years.  

If we begin our count of 15 full years beginning in November of 11 A.D., 12 A.D being one year, we would arrive in late October in the year 27 A.D. And because Jesus ministry lasted for 3 ½ Years after his baptism in October of 27 A.D. we would arrive in early April of 31 A.D. the day before Pentecost.   

Now that would support both of Luke’s reports. For my evidence that 27 A.D. is correct for his baptism and April, 31 A.D. for his death would be correct. Following are what I believe are three creditable sources.

I own an early edition of Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary published in 1873. They report, quote, “the fifteenth year of Tiberius — this is reckoned from the time Tiberius was admitted, three years before Augustus’ death in August of the year 14 A.D.” That brings us back to 11 A.D.

So, this agrees with Jesus birth in 4 B.C. plus a full 30 years, brings us to 27 A.D., the same year Tiberius was in the 15th year of his reign just as Luke reported.  

Also, I have an 1840 edition of Adam Clark. Adam Clark was a British theologian and Biblical scholar who was born in 1760 and died in 1832 A.D.

He wrote,

“On August 28th, 11 A.D., Caesar Augustus associated Tiberius with himself in the full government of the empire; or as the historian Velleius Paterculus expressed it, “that he (Tiberius) might have equal power with himself (Augustus) in all the provinces, and in all the armies of the empire.”

Who was Velleius Paterculus? He was a Roman historian, born in 19 B.C. and died in 30 A.D. His history covered the period from the death of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. to the death of Augustus in 14 A.D.  In 14 A.D., Jesus would have been 18 years of age.

So, the above would account exactly for the three years of difference which appears to exist between the statement of Luke in Luke 3:1, and Luke 3:23.

The computations and conclusions of many modern chronologist is incorrect when they claim Jesus died in April of 33. Why? because they did not allow for the 3 years of Tiberius’s co-rulership with Augustus Caesar. 

To conclude, Adam Clark wrote,

“For, as Tiberius was associated with Augustus on 8/28 11 A.D. and Augustus died on August 19th 14 A.D., it appears that the time in which the two emperors reigned conjointly, was exactly three years plus nine days.”

Luke had reckoned the 15th year of Tiberius did not begin with the death of Augustus Caesar, but from 11 A.D. when he was co-emperor with Augustus. Jesus ministry lasted exactly 3 ½ Years before he was crucified. This would take us to April of 31 AD.

Second question, how do I know that Jesus earthly ministry was 3 ½ Years?

Jesus was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit, in October of 27 A.D., and confronted for 40 days by the devil. This is when his 3 ½ year ministry began.

Following is Johns reports of the events of Jesus first years after baptism. He goes toward Bethany and calls out the first 5 disciples. He now returns north to Galilee with them and does his first miracle. He goes to Capernaum which is 85 miles from Jerusalem on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee with his mother, brothers, and disciples and stays for a short time. We do not know how much time had passed, all I can say is, Jesus did a lot of walking around the land of Israel.

 

John records three Passovers:

The 1st Passover John writes to us about:

John 2:13-14, “And the Jews Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he (Jesus) had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables.”

The 2ed Passover: John writes,

“After there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” A feast was taking place in Jerusalem, but John did not tell us which feast. There were three major Jewish feasts: Passover in the spring: Pentecost 50 days later, and the feast of Tabernacles in the fall.” 

The next Passover: April of 30 A.D. This is what occurred days before.

John 6:4, “And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company (5000 of them) come unto him, he said unto Philip, whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? Scriptures go on to tell us of the young lad that had 5 loaves and 2 small fish. Jesus multiplies what the lad had, and feeds the 5000, then put what remained into 12 baskets. 

John 10:22, then tells us of his travels in Judea, when he visits Martha and Mary in Bethany, returning to Jerusalem for Hanukkah, the feast of Dedication in December of 29 A.D.,

The last Passover fell in April of 31 A.D., this would end  Jesus 3 ½ year earthly ministry:

Following are a few of the places and people Jesus visited, days before the cross.

John 11:55, “And the Jews Passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Verse 57, “Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he (Jesus) was, he should show it, that they might take (seize) him.”

Jesus goes to Mary’s  and is anointed by her, he then goes to Jerusalem.

John 12:1, “Six days before the Passover” he goes to see Mary and Lazarus, the following day he returns to Jerusalem. He washes the disciple’s feet; has his last supper with the 11; gives them a new commandment; and is then arrested.  

So, from Oct of 27 A.D. until the final Passover of 31 A.D., the date of his crucifixion would have to be in April of 31 A.D.

So, here’s the Timeline for Jesus life:

Jesus was born in October of 4 B.C. Tiberius was co-ruler with Caesar Augustus from November of 11 A.D., in 11 A.D., when Jesus was 15 Years old. When he had reached his 30th birthday, sometime in the middle of October of 27 A.D. he would be baptized by John. Exactly 3 ½ Year later in April of 31 A.D., he was crucified.

Phillip LaSpino  www.seekfirstwisdom.com