In my last article, The Calculated Jewish Calendar vs. the Biblical Jewish Calendar (rev310.net), I explained why today’s Jewish lunisolar calendar, which is mathematically calculated, has many flaws and is not always accurate when determining intercalary months or establishing the exact day of the first of every month or the Feasts of the Lord.
A much more accurate lunisolar calendar is the “Biblical Jewish calendar,” which begins the first of the year with the new moon that establishes Passover on or after the Vernal Equinox. Since the full moon of Passover can occur on Nisan 14 – 16, the general rule of thumb is that as long as the latest date, Nisan 16, comes on or after the vernal equinox, an intercalary month is not added.
Ancient people did not know the exact time of the Full Moon, nor did they need to; instead, they simply watched the signs of the age of the moon when it rose monthly on the 14th of the Hebrew month. The important thing is that the middle of the calendar month is within the same period as the middle of the moon’s month, the Full Moon.
Of course, in ancient Israel, the sun and moon were not the only signs that were observed but the ripening of the spring crops as well. I believe this Biblical Jewish calendar closely resembles the “observed” calendar that was used to calculate the 69 weeks (sevens) of Daniel 9:25-26 and will be the calendar to calculate the last seven years of Daniel 9:27. Of course, first, there will have to be a Sanhedrin council established in Israel that will have the authority to replace or change the existing calculated Jewish calendar.
Daniel 9:27 leaves no doubt that a third temple will be built in Jerusalem, as sacrifices and offerings are mentioned. “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” At the mid-point of the seven-year (one week) “confirming a covenant,” the Antichrist will bring an end to the sacrifices in the newly built third temple. Daniel 12:11 expounds upon this extraordinary event.
The New King James Version has subheadings throughout the Bible. Daniel 12’s subheading is “Prophecy of the End Times.” It is described as “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1). There were three “men” in Daniel’s vision. I believe two of them were angels, and the “man in linen” was the pre-incarnate Jesus. One of the angels asked Jesus, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Another translation is, “How long will these wonders last?”
Jesus answered the angel, “…that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished” (Daniel 12:7). In other words, this “time of trouble” would last for 3.5 years. Then Jesus gave very specific details regarding these last 3.5 years, including the exact amount of days from a specific event. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Daniel 12:11).
Daniel’s 70th week (or seven), otherwise known as the Tribulation, will last for seven years, but Jacob’s trouble, the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, will last exactly 1,290 days from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up. These are the very end times before the Millennial reign of Jesus begins that Daniel 9:24 refers to.
The Jewish Sabbath “weeks” (seven years) are approximately 2,540 or 2,570 days in duration (give or take a few days) for both the Calculated Jewish calendar and the Biblical Jewish calendar. I believe the last seven years of Daniel’s prophecy (the 70th seven) will contain 2,569 days. The 69 “sevens” prophecy of Daniel 9:24-25 was from 444 BC to AD 33 (IMHO). Even though this timeline was from Nisan to Nisan, it still contained 69 sevens or Shemitah years. In other words, there are 69 sevens (Sabbath years) within the 476-year timeline of Daniel’s prophecy. See Sevens (rev310.net).
Tishri 1 is the start of the new year on the Jewish civil calendar, where the year count changes. For this 476-year timeframe, there are 173,847 days in a Jewish calendar (Nisan to Nisan or Tishri to Tishri), and there are 173,856 days in a proleptic Gregorian calendar (January to January)… only nine days difference. The end date for the 69 sevens prophecy of Daniel 9:25 occurred when Jesus (Messiah the Prince) was rejected as king of the Jews on Palm Sunday, Nisan 10 (or March 29, AD 33 on the Julian calendar).
I believe one of the reasons the last seven years will be for 2,569 days instead of 2,540 days is to keep the Jewish calendar in line with the Gregorian calendar. If we add 2,569 days to our previous total of 173,847 days, then you have a total of 176,416 days. Likewise, if you were to add 2,557 days (7 Gregorian years of 365/366 days) to the previous total of 173,856 days in the Gregorian calendar, then you have a total of 176,413 days. This is only a difference of 3 days between the Gregorian and Jewish calendar for 483 years.
In a previous article entitled The End of the Age – From Firstfruits to Hanukkah: Part II (rev310.net), I gave several potential (hypothetical) dates for Jacob’s Trouble (the Great Tribulation), which were determined by the Calculated Jewish calendar. Since I now know this calendar is flawed (sometimes by 30 or more days), I believe my calculations were flawed as well. Let’s take another look at possible (hypothetical) timelines for Jacob’s Trouble using the Biblical Jewish calendar.
Another reason why I think the last “week” of Daniel’s 70th week will be for 2,569 days is because that is what is required to get 1,290 days from two specific Feast of the Lord days (more on this later). The last 3.5 years need to have two intercalary months added for this to be possible.
I have included the tables from my previous article so we can examine these years for relevant information to make these calculations. As you can see from the Biblical Jewish calendar, there are only two choices within this Metonic cycle that have two intercalary months within three years. They are: 1) 2019-2020 (384 days), 2020-2021 (354 days), and 2021-2022 (384 days). 2) 2030-2031 (384 days), 2031-2032 (354 days), and 2032-2033 (384 days).
NISAN 1 DATE FOR BIBLICAL JEWISH NISAN 1 DATE FOR CALCULATED JEWISH
CALENDAR CALENDAR
March 7, 2019 – March 24, 2020 (384 days) April 5, 2019 – March 24, 2020 (355 days)
March 25, 2020 – March 13, 2021 (354 days) March 25, 2020 – March 12, 2021 (353 days)
March 14, 2021 – April 1, 2022 (384 days) March 13, 2021 – March 31, 2022 (384 days)
April 2, 2022 – March 21, 2023 (354 days) April 1, 2022 – March 22, 2023 (356 days)
March 22, 2023 – March 10, 2024 (355 days) March 23, 2023 – April 7, 2024 (382 days)
March 11, 2024 – March 29, 2025 (384 days) April 8, 2024 – March 28, 2025 (355 days)
March 30, 2025 – March 19, 2026 (355 days) March 29, 2025 – March 18, 2026 (355 days)
March 20, 2026 – March 8, 2027 (354 days) March 19, 2026 – April 6, 2027 (384 days)
March 9, 2027 – March 26, 2028 (384 days) April 7, 2027 – March 27, 2028 (356 days)
March 27, 2028 – March 15, 2029 (354 days) March 28, 2028 – March 15, 2029 (353 days)
March 16, 2029 – March 4, 2030 (354 days) March 16, 2029 – April 2, 2030 (383 days)
March 5, 2030 – March 23, 2031 (384 days) April 3, 2030 – March 23, 2031 (355 days)
March 24, 2031 – March 11, 2032 (354 days) March 24, 2031 – March 11, 2032 (354 days)
March 12, 2032 – March 30, 2033 (384 days) March 12, 2032 – March 29, 2033 (383 days)
March 31, 2033 – March 20, 2034 (355 days) March 30, 2033 – March 19, 2034 (355 days)
March 21, 2034 – March 10, 2035 (355 days) March 20, 2034 – April 8, 2035 (385 days)
March 11, 2035 – March 27, 2036 (383 days) April 9, 2035 – March 27, 2036 (354 days)
March 28, 2036 – March 17, 2037 (355 days) March 28, 2036 – March 15, 2037 (353 days)
March 18, 2037 – March 6, 2038 (354 days) March 16, 2037 – April 4, 2038 (385 days)
March 7, 2038 April 5, 2038
As Daniel specified, the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week is when the Antichrist stops the sacrifices in the temple and commits the abomination of desolation. I believe this will occur during the Passover Feast, specifically during the Feast of Firstfruits, as determined from the first day after the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) that follows Passover. The end of the 1,290 days of Daniel 12:11 will occur on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This day will mark the end of Daniel’s 70th week.
There are several inexact time frames regarding the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, such as time, times, and half a time (Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, and Revelation 12:14) and forty-two months (Revelation 11:2, and Revelation 13:5). These are terms for 3.5 years, but the exact number of days aren’t given.
There are, however, 3 timeframes within Daniel’s 70th week that specify an exact amount of days. One thousand two hundred and sixty (1,260) days is mentioned twice. Once in Revelation 11:3 and once in Revelation 12:6. One thousand two hundred and ninety (1,290) days is mentioned once in Daniel 12:11. One thousand three hundred thirty and five (1,335) days is mentioned once in Daniel 12:12. The only timeframe that describes the first half of Daniel’s 70th week is Revelation 11:3. If it wasn’t for this verse and Daniel 9:27, you would think the Tribulation’s duration is for 3.5 years instead of 7 years.
Daniel’s 69 weeks began and ended in the month of Nisan (Nisan 10). I now believe the 70th week will begin and end on Tishri 10, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This is a Shemitah “week” (seven years), as described in Leviticus 25:1-7.
In our hypothetical example, the year for the start of Daniel’s 70th week will be 2026 AD. It is seven years from 2033, and 2033 is 2,000 years (2 days for the Lord) from 33 AD.
The beginning date for the Tribulation in this scenario will be September 22, 2026. It is possible the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will begin their ministry on this same date, which is the holiest day of the year for Jews, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
3.5 years, or 1,260 days later, on March 5, 2030, the two witnesses will be killed by the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit. This fulfills Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 11:7. The date on the Biblical Jewish calendar is Nisan 1. 3.5 days later, the breath of life from God will enter them, and they will stand on their feet. Then, a loud voice from heaven will say, “Come up here,” and they will ascend into heaven in a cloud (Rev. 11:12). In the same hour, a great earthquake will strike and a tenth of the city of Jerusalem will fall, killing 7,000 people (Rev. 11:13).
Nine (the number for judgment) days later, on March 14, 2030, the Antichrist will ride into Jerusalem on a white horse declaring himself king of Israel and the entire world. This is Nisan 10 on the Biblical Jewish calendar, the same day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as the Jew’s king (Messiah, the Prince) but was rejected.
Five days later, on March 19, 2030, the Jews Passover will begin on Nisan 15. I think the Antichrist will be killed four days later on the evening of March 23, 2030, Nisan 19, which is the weekly Sabbath of Passover. “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast” (Rev. 13:3). It is apparent that he actually dies, for the same words are used in Revelation 5:6 referring to the Messiah the Lamb, “as though it had been slain.”
Whether resurrected or resuscitated, the Antichrist will come back to life on Sunday, March 24, 2030. This is a day of infamy and prophecy when Satan is ejected out of heaven and is confined to the earth (Rev. 12:9). It is possible he possesses the body of the Antichrist temporarily. This abominable event occurs on Sunday, Nisan 20, the 6th day of the Passover.
It is the Feast of Firstfruits (according to the Biblical Jewish calendar, Karaite, and Sadducees reckoning) or the start of “the counting of the Omer,” as the Jews call it.
This is the same Feast of the Lord that Jesus was resurrected on. The Antichrist will stop all sacrifices on this day and will set up the abomination of desolation, as described in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15. This is day 1,279 from the start of the Tribulation (September 22, 2026). It is the “in the midst” event of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27), which is 2,569 days in duration. There are exactly 1,290 days left that constitute the “Great Tribulation.”
The Jews will flee Jerusalem and Israel, as directed by Jesus in Matthew 24:16-20. I believe they will spend approximately 30 days in the wilderness before finally arriving in Petra, Jordan, perhaps spending some time in Masada first. They will arrive in Petra on April 23, 2030, where they will spend the next 3.5 years, or exactly 1,260 days, until the end of Daniel’s 70th seven on October 3, 2033, which is the Day of Atonement. This fulfills the prophecies of Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14.
“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”
Ten days before the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will return to the earth on September 24, 2033, Tishri 1, on the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashana. It will have been 1,290 days from March 14, 2030 (Nisan 10) when the Antichrist first rode into Jerusalem as the king of the world. The true King of Kings and LORD of Lords, Jesus Christ, will return as the “Man of War” and destroy the Antichrist, false prophet, and their evil forces, as described in Revelation 19:11-21.
I believe the events of Revelation 20:1-4 will occupy the remaining ten days “of Awe or Repentance” between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The end of the Tribulation will occur on October 3, 2033, on Tishri 10, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It will have been exactly 2,569 days from the start of Daniel’s 70th week on the Feast of Yom Kippur (September 22, 2026). From Tishri 10, 2026 to Tishri 10, 2033 is a Shemitah week or cycle and is the last one before the Millennium Kingdom. It is Daniel’s long-delayed 70th week.
Isn’t it fitting that the first 69 sevens of Daniel 9:25 were from Nisan to Nisan, which is the start of the religious Jewish calendar in which Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts, and the 70th seven of Daniel 9:24,27 will be from Tishri to Tishri, which is the start of the civil calendar in which Jesus will fulfill the fall Feasts?
Also, from March 24, 2030, on the Feast of Firstfruits, when the Antichrist stopped the sacrifices and set up the abomination of desolation in the temple in Jerusalem, to October 3, 2033, on the Day of Atonement, will be exactly 1,290 days in duration. This fulfills the prophecy of Daniel 12:11, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
There are no other seven years within the 19-year Metonic cycle listed above (in either calendar) that have exactly 1,290 days from the “in the midst” event of the Feast of Firstfruits to the end-time event of the Day of Atonement. I even researched further into the future to 2045 and still could not find any other 1,290-day timeframes. There were a couple of 1,293 days but no others with exactly 1,290 days.
Most scholars believe there will be a 45-day gap between the end of Daniel’s 70th week and the beginning of the Millennium Kingdom, by reason of Daniel 12:12 (1,335 days). Five days after the Day of Atonement, the remaining Jews will celebrate Tabernacles (Sukkot) with Jesus from October 8 – 15 (Tishri 15 – 22). During this 45-day gap period, many necessary events will be accomplished, such as the judgments of the tribulation survivors (Matthew 24:45-51; 25:31-46), appointing judges and officers (Isaiah 1:26), and preparing the Millennial Temple, as described in Ezekiel 40-48.
On November 17, 2033, exactly 1,335 days from the Antichrist’s abomination of desolation on March 24, 2030, the Millennium Kingdom will begin. “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days” (Daniel 12:12). It’s interesting that this chapter and verse is 12, as 12 is the biblical number that represents Israel. The day on the Jewish calendar will be Heshvan 25/26 (depending on the time of day). This is the 8th month of the religious Jewish calendar but the 2nd month of the civil calendar.
Before God had Moses change the start of the calendar from fall to spring during the time of the Exodus, Heshvan was the second month on the Hebrew calendar. A fall-to-fall calendar has been one of the prevailing calendars since the dawn of man. I believe Heshvan 27 could be the same month and day recorded in Genesis 8:14. “And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried.” The 1,335th day is a day short of the 27th day of the second month (separated by about 4.3 millennia) when Noah and his family left the ark, but it’s close enough. “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37).
On this day and month, Noah’s family and the animals left the ark and stepped onto dry ground. It was a world that had been transformed by the flood. It was truly a blessed day for the occupants of the ark, who would start a new life where sin was no longer rampant and out of control. During this “new age,” Noah and his family made a covenant with God to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and God would never send a flood to destroy the earth again. This new age started the dispensation of human government. It began with 8 believers in YHWH.
Like Noah and his family, the remnant survivors of the Tribulation will start a new life on a transformed planet. Also, similar to the Noahic dispensation, only true believers will be allowed on the planet to begin the Kingdom dispensation. I believe the blessed 1,335th day that Daniel prophecies about will be when the remnant of Jewish saints (and Gentiles) still alive at the end of the Tribulation will gather together to crown and anoint King Jesus as His Millennium Kingdom officially begins.
Those who have been “waiting” for this day for a very long time, the Old Testament saints, will be translated into their immortal bodies (as well as the Tribulation saints) and will inherit the Kingdom of God on Earth, thus fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies, including the last verse of Daniel, in which the Lord told Daniel, “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13). This blessed 1,335th day will see Daniel and his fellow Old Testament saints receive their inheritance at the end of days.
There will be a great feast on this day. Some see the marriage supper of the Lamb occurring on this day, with Christ as the bridegroom, the Church as the bride, and the Old Testament saints (and Tribulation saints) as the guests. “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9). Everyone will have to be properly attired in their wedding garments (their new immortal bodies) to attend this delayed wedding feast, according to the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:11-14.
“And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:6-9).
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Randy Nettles