Christ Died on Nisan 14, the Day of "Preparation"

Definitions of Evening

Because I am a Gentile raised on the concepts of a Roman day and the Gregorian calendar, I have had a difficult time understanding biblical days. Since Elohim created light out of darkness, the first (and subsequent) days last from "evening" to "morning" (Genesis 1:5ff). Yeshua would have considered a 24 hour "day" (yom in Hebrew, and hemera in Greek) to last from dusk to dusk; half of which would have been daylight (John 11:9). I thought and taught Yeshua ate Passover with his disciples and then was crucified on the afternoon of Nisan 14 on Passover day based on the following Scripture:

In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread. (Lev. 23:5-6)

But I was wrong. The word "is" has been inserted by the translators. The 14th is the day of preparation for Passover during which the lambs are killed. All four gospels agree that Christ was crucified on Nisan 14 the day of "preparation" (Mat. 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14, 31, 42), so that the Sanhedrin could get rid of Him before Passover.

I didn't understand the biblical words "even" and "evening" can mean a period of darkness or the hours prior to darkness (late afternoon). There is no Hebrew or Greek word which translates to "afternoon" (though natah is translated as such in Judges 19:8). So when I read the following passage, I thought the words "evening" and "night" were synonymous and described Nisan 14 as Passover followed by the first day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th; but I was wrong.

In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb . . . a lamb for an house: . . . And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening ['ereb]. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night [layil], roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:3-8)

"Evening" ['ereb] can include noon to 6pm. So the passover lambs were to be slaughtered during those hours on Nisan 14, and then roasted and eaten during the dark "night" [layil] of Nisan 15. Then it makes complete sense that Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread both begin at dusk on Nisan 15.

Here is part of Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 12:6 . . .

"In the evening] beyn haarbayim, "between the two evenings." The Jews divided the day into morning and evening: till the sun passed the meridian all was morning or fore-noon; after that, all was afternoon or evening. Their first evening began just after twelve o'clock, and continued till sunset; their second evening began at sunset and continued till night; i.e., during the whole time of twilight; between twelve o'clock, therefore, and the termination of twilight, the passover was to be offered." {I will call the first evening "even" and the second evening "evening".}

Clarke's "second evening" was subdivided into four watches of three hours each: first watch 6-9pm (Lam. 2:19), second watch 9pm-midnight (Judges 7:19), third watch (Ex. 14:24), and the fourth watch (Mat. 14:25). So we have dealt with the Hebrew terms; on to the Greek terms.

A biblical day began after sun down [helios dumi] (Mark 1:32) and proceeded to "evening" [hespera] (Acts 4:3; 28:23); roughly 6pm to midnight. Night [nux] (Mark 14:30) was the period from midnight to dawn (Acts 20:11). The "rising of the sun" [anatello to helios] can also be translated "morning" [proi] (Mark 16:1-2) or "early" [bathus orthos] (Luke 24:1). Noon is mid-morning [mesohemera] (Acts 26:13) or [mesembria] (Acts 22:6). Clarke's "first evening", or "evening" or "even" [opsios] (Mark 15:42) is roughly noon to 6pm, and includes dusk (Mat. 16:2).

Day of Preparation

Nisan 14 was the day of preparation for Passover. Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread began after dusk on Nisan 15.

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. . . . Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. . . . And they went, and found as he had said to them: and they made ready the passover. [they cleaned out all leaven] And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say to you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you (Luke 22:1-20)

Jesus desired to eat the Passover with them before He suffered, but instead He would become the Passover lamb who would be sacrificed for them, and He would not get to eat the Passover with them until its ultimate fulfillment in His kingdom. The phrase "last supper" is appropriate. It was not Passover because the disciples thought Judas might be buying something for the feast when he left that night (John 13:26-30), and if it was already the high sabbath of Passover, no one would be allowed to sell him anything.

Christ, our Perfect Sacrifice for our Sins

At the Temple in Jerusalem, the priests would be sacrificing lambs all day long, from dawn to dusk; but they also would have made the daily [tamid], perfectly whole [tamiym] sacrifice of a lamb for the morning and evening sacrifices. According to ancient Jewish sources outside the Bible, the morning offering of the Tamid took place at the "third hour" (9 am), and the evening offering took place at the "ninth hour" (3 pm) [Mishnah, Tamid 3:7; Josephus, Antiquities 14.4.3; Philo, Special Laws, 1:169].

Christ was nailed to the cross at the "third hour" (Mark 15:25), and died the "ninth hour" (Mark 13:34-39). During the two daily sacrifices, the priests would also have been reciting prayers for redemption, forgiveness, coming of Messiah, and eternal life (website).

Yeshua became our Passover lamb and "daily sacrifice" (Daniel 12:11), making further animal sacrifices unnecessary to approach Elohim, so the veil separating access to His Presence in the Holy of Holies was rent as well as graves (Mat. 27:50-53) because eternal life with our LORD had been purchased at a great price.

Christ Died on a Thursday

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you. But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Matthew 12:38-41)

After all that about biblical days being from evening to morning, now we have a specific time-frame of three days and three nights; purposely beginning with daytime. The first chapter of Jonah does not provide a real time-frame except he slept and was awakened, and the men tried to row towards land before Jonah was tossed into the sea; but the LORD says it began during daylight. Those who ascribe to a Wednesday crucifixion for Yeshua begin with a "night" and then have him resurrect during the night of Sabbath (pre-dawn on Saturday, nullifying a First Fruits resurrection). Those who ascribe to a Friday crucifixion, can't squeeze in three days or three nights. Therefore a Thursday crucifixion works out the best, which was Nisan 14, 33 AD.

Happy Passover!

Jubilee Years in History

A Jubilee is celebrated on the 50^th year according to Leviticus 25:8-13 which is announced on Yom Kippur (10^th of Tishri) with the blowing of the silver trumpets to release the land and its people from all indebtedness. The 48th year must have been an abundant crop so as to sustain the people through the next two years of not sowing the land and again through to the harvest of the year after the jubilee. After the seventh sabbath (49^th) year, the Hebrews were commanded to celebrate another special sabbath year called the year of jubilee. Any lands that had been sold were returned to the original owner or the ownership of their tribesmen. Those who had sold themselves into slavery were freed. All debts were canceled. All farmers took another 'sabbatical' from working the fields.

And you shall number seven sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty and nine years. Then shall you cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall you make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee to you; and you shall return every man to his possession, and you shall return every man to his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you: you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine undressed.
(Leviticus 25:8-11)

There was no sowing during the jubilee year so it can not be counted as the first of the next set of seven years. The year after the jubilee year was the first year in the next set of seven.

Starting Year for Counting Jubilees

After years of research, I agree with Ussher's dating of Adam and Eve's creation on Tishri 1 of 4004 BC. The ages in which sons were born in Genesis 5 provide the year of the flood (2348 BC), and in Genesis 11 provide a chronology to Abram's birth year (1996 BC). Based on other Scriptures, the year of the exodus can be determined (1491 BC) which began on the first Passover (Nisan 15) with the crossing of the Red Sea seven days later on what would be called the Feast of First Fruits (Nisan 21).

The Israelites had a combined lunar-solar calendar which maintained the patterns of the seven-day week with a sabbath, and the forty-year generation. A 13th month of thirty days every six years until reaching the 36th year when the extra month was added to the 40th year. Thus it is likely Moses died on the first day of the thirteenth month of a leap year, and they mourned him for thirty days. Every forty years this ancient Hebrew 360-day calendar (360 calendar) reset to the original start day of the week, and it was in sync with the modern 365.25-day calendar. Their religious calendar began in the Spring with the first month of Nisan, and their civil calendar began in the seventh month of Tishri.

The day the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river and were circumcised was the tenth day of the first month (Nisan); the day they were to select a lamb for the Passover to be eaten on the fifteenth, a full moon. Miraculously all of the men were healed by then (as it usually takes a week to heal), and none of their enemies came upon them for fear of God (Joshua 5:1, 8-10). Seven days later Jericho's walls fell on the Feast of First Fruits, forty years to the day of the crossing of the Red Sea when YHWH destroyed Israel's slave-owners, the Egyptian army. So the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in Nisan of 1451 BC, a spiritual victory; but the civil year and counting of jubilees would be counted from the fall of 1452 BC of the Hebrew year 1452/1451 BC.  That Moses and the Israelites were already considering the jubilee count in Fall of 1452 BC could be construed from the dialogue between Moses and the daughters of Zelophehad:

  "And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers. And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of Jehovah, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right. This is the thing which Jehovah doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married. . . . These are the commandments and the ordinances which Jehovah commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho."  (Numbers 36:4-6, 13)

Joshua Warred a "Long Time," and Caleb's Age  at Wars' End

"Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.  . . . So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war."  (Joshua 11:18+23)

"And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, see, I am this day fourscore and five years old. . . And the land had rest from war. " (Joshua 14:10+15)

Two years and two months after the exodus (Num 10:11-12) and another five weeks to get to Paran after burying the dead (Num. 11) comes to July of 1449 BC, when Caleb was forty years old and sent from Kadesh-barnea by Moses to search out the land of Canaan.  At the end of Joshua's wars in Canaan, Caleb was eighty-five years old (compare Jos. 14:10 with Num. 13:3-16, and Deut. 1:36); consequently the war ended by July or August of 1944 BC.  Joshua's wars began with the destruction of Jericho on (April) Nisan 21 in 1451 BC, so April to the end of August is five months plus the six Tishri years of 1451/1450 to 1454/1444 possibly ending in August comes to six years and six months of war.  Therefore, the land of Israel's first year of sabbath rest was (September) Tishri 1444/1443 BC; it was there seventh year in the land promised to them by their Deliverer. 

Parallels of Solomon's Temple and the Temple of Jesus' Body

Solomon's Temple construction began in the second month Zif in 1011 BC of his fourth regnal year 1012/1011 (1 Kings 6:1), and it ended in the seventh month Tishri in 1003 BC of Sabbath year 1003/1002.

Fall, 1004 Temple completed in the eighth month; furnishings 

(I Kings 7:40-50)

Fall, 1003 Temple dedicated in the seventh month during
Feast of Tabernacles

Fall, 1002 Ninth Jubilee began in the fall
 1452 - (9 X 50) = 1002

Hanukkah, 4 BC Jesus conceived (see video)

Tishri 1, 3 BC Jesus born 1000 years after Temple's dedication (hanukkah)

            Christ “tabernacled with us” (John 1:14), and referred to His body as a temple (John 2:19).  

      Hanukkah, 2 BC Wise men gave gifts to King Jesus on 29^th Jubilee year.

   The Jubilee year of 2 BC was followed by the first year of the next seven of Sabbath years. Because there is no year zero, the next Sabbath year was 6 AD, so the 30^th Jubilee year was 49 AD.

     BC 3   2  1  1  2  3  4  5  6 AD

count 49 50  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

   Therefore 1999 – 2000 AD was the 69^th Jubilee year. From 1996-2000 AD the sign of "Virgo birthing the moon" (Rev. 12:1-2) occurred each fall like it did on Tishri 1, 3 BC; and many sought the Lord's return in 2000 AD. I don't recall any Scriptures which state Messiah will return during a jubilee year. By my calculations the 70^th jubilee will be 2049-2050 AD, which I hope will be during Christ's millennial reign.

History of Intertestamental Sabbath Years

Herod the Great Captured Jerusalem 37 BC

Herod's brother Joseph was killed in his attempt to capture Jericho and its summer harvest in 38 BC. Herod heard the news and began attacking through Gallilean cities in his attempt to bring vengeance upon those in Jericho, but he was stopped by a “great storm” (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:15:11) according to Josephus “for a few days' time” (Wars of the Jews I:17:1-3); the storm was likely the kind of mini-hurricane often associated with the Sea of Galilee. As soon as his army could travel, Herod made haste to take Jericho. They captured Jericho, and burnt five little cities to the ground. “. . . upon the confidence of which victory, Herod had marched immediately to Jerusalem, unless he tad been hindered by the depth of winter's [coming on].” (Wars of the Jews I:17:6) Then they laid siege to Jerusalem for five months, and during this time Herod went to Samaria and married Mariamne (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:15:14). Herod rejoined his men in Spring, and by Summer his men broke through Jerusalem's wall and slaughtered many of the people (Wars of the Jews I:18:1-2). Herod stopped their slaughter and raiding, and gave his soldiers rewards from his own purse. Herod's capture of Jerusalem was in the Tishri-Tishri year 38/37 BC, which was the second sabbath year (14th year) from the jubilee year of Tishri 52/51 BC.

“They also erected new works when the former were ruined, and making mines underground, they met each other, and fought there; and making use of brutish courage rather than of prudent valor, they persisted in this war to the very last; and this they did while a mighty army lay round about them, and while they were distressed by famine and the want of necessaries, for this happened to be a Sabbatic year. The first that scaled the walls were twenty chosen men, the next were Sosius's centurions; for the first wall was taken in forty days, and the second in fifteen more, when some of the cloisters that were about the temple were burnt, which Herod gave out to have been burnt by Antigonus, in order to expose him to the hatred of the Jews. And when the outer court of the temple and the lower city were taken, the Jews fled into the inner court of the temple, and into the upper city; but now fearing lest the Romans should hinder them from offering their daily sacrifices to God, they sent an embassage, and desired that they would only permit them to bring in beasts for sacrifices, which Herod granted, hoping they were going to yield; but when he saw that they did nothing of what he supposed, but bitterly opposed him, in order to preserve the kingdom to Antigonus, he made an assault upon the city, and took it by storm;” (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:16:2)

Jubilee and sabbath years backwards from magi's Hanukkah

Joshua entered into Canaan in the Spring of 1451 BC which was part of the Tishri year 1452-1451 BC, so I count jubilee years every 50 years from Tishri year 1452/1451 BC.
 

Year

2 BC was the 29^th jubilee from Joshua's entrance into Canaan.

3 BC was the 7^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

10 BC was the 6^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

17 BC was the 5^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

24 BC was the 4^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

31 BC was the 3^rd sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

38 BC was the 2^nd sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

45 BC was the 1^st sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

52-51 BC was the 28^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

53 BC seventh sabbath

60 BC sixth sabbath

67 BC fifth sabbath

74 BC fourth sabbath

81 BC third sabbath

88 BC second sabbath

95 BC first sabbath

102-101 BC was 27^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

103 BC seventh sabbath

110 BC sixth sabbath

117 BC fifth sabbath

124 BC fourth sabbath

131 BC third sabbath

138 BC second sabbath

145 BC first sabbath

152-151 BC was 26^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

153 BC seventh sabbath

160 BC sixth sabbath

167 BC fifth sabbath

174 BC fourth sabbath

181 BC third sabbath

188 BC second sabbath

195 BC first sabbath

202-201 BC was 25^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

Maccabees

The Maccabees fought against Syria and their mercenary troops from 167-160 BC. A list of dates for the battles is at wikipedia. The Maccabees had retaken Beth Zur and Jerusalem in 164 BC when Antiochus IV died, but his generals fought back to retake the cities again.

I Maccabees 6:44-63 "And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him that the king was on it: And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and mount Sion. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings. And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place. Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, and to reign, to be king, Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom: Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation. And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it. And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the stronghold. Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about. And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city."

Eleazar died in the Battle of Beth Zechariah in 163/162 BC, so the sabbath year when Lysias could find no food in Jerusalem was most likely 160/159 BC.

Four Passovers to Fulfill Messiah being “Cut Off” in the Middle of the 70th Week

The traditional understanding of the “seventy weeks” prophecy in Daniel was that it foretold when Messiah would begin His ministry, and that He was “cut off” in the “middle of the week” causing the Temple “sacrifice and the oblation to cease”. The prophetic “week” is seven years, and half of seven years is three and one half years. Then there was a gap of close to forty years being one “generation” before the Temple was made “desolate” in 70 AD; thus completely fulfilling the “seventy weeks” prophecy. In the 1800's the validity of the book of Daniel and all it contained was challenged, and a new view of the “seventy weeks” called the pre-tribulation rapture theory began to take hold in England and America in which the 70^th week became seven years of tribulation which believers would be raptured from in which an “antichrist” broke a covenant after 3.5 years starting 3.5 years of great tribulation. In order to attribute the 3.5 year period to an “antichrist” some now even challenge Christ's 3.5 years of ministry. I provide an outline of Messiah's 3.5 year ministry given in John's gospel, which I place from Fall 29 AD to Spring 33 AD. 

Overview of Seventy Weeks

The 1^st of Tishri is the “memorial of blowing” called Feast of Trumpets and Rosh haShanah. Regnal years in the Bible are from Tishri to Tishri, like a school year which begins in fall, but our modern years are from January to January; hence the need to represent biblical years as two modern years. Artaxerxes Longimanus had a 9-year coreign with his father Xerxes beginning in 475/474 BC. In the 20^th year of Artaxerxes' reign (455/454 BC), he made a decree to rebuild Jerusalem which began the 70 Weeks clock in Daniel 9 until “Messiah the Prince”.

“Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27)

Though Nehemiah and Ezra saw Jerusalem's wall rebuilt in 52 days, I assume that it took 7 “weeks” (49 years) to fully restore the “streets” and to return to business as usual by 406/405 BC. After another 62 “weeks” (434 years) the Messiah was introduced as the “Prince” or “Son of God” at His baptism when He was about 30 years old. 434 – 406 = 28, but since there is no year zero, you must add one year to make 29 AD the year of Christ's baptism. Evidence points to Jesus being born on the 1^st of Tishri in 3 BC. I believe Jesus was baptized on the 1^st of Elul, a month before His 31^st birthday. Jesus was 1 year old in Tishri of 2 BC when the magi began their travels to see “he that is born King of the Jews” and encountered king Herod (who died in Spring of 1 BC when there was a full lunar eclipse, not in 4 BC). Jesus was 2 in 1 BC, and He was 3 in 1 AD. 29 – 1 = 28. 28 + 3 = 31, but since Jesus was baptized a month before His birthday, He was thirty years old; and Jesus began His ministry of 3.5 years when He was aged 31. The first half year of ministry was from Fall 29 AD to Spring 30 AD.

Outline of Four Passovers

1^st Passover was after the miracle of changing the Water into WINE at Wedding in Cana.

Our Bridegroom, Jesus, was in Jerusalem at Passover in Spring 30 AD.

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brothers, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 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 had made a whip 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; And said to them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. . . . Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ” (John 2:11-16, 23)

In the winter of 31 AD, Jesus spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria, and His disciples returned and begged Him to eat.

“Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:34-35)

“And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. ⁴³Now after two days he departed there, and went into Galilee. . . . Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went to the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went to him, . . . Jesus said to him, Go your way; your son lives. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and he went his way. . . . So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said to him, Your son lives: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” (John 4:42-54 edited) [ v54 is the last in chapter 4]

“The feast” here refers to Messiah's first passover. The barley harvest is celebrated after Passover during First Fruits in the month of Nisan. The wheat harvest is celebrated two months later in Sivan. So Jesus must have spent about six months in Judea before returning to Cana of Galilee.

2^nd Passover after making a paralyzed man whole

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. . . . And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. . . . The weak man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” (John 5:1-9 edited) [In other manuscripts “a feast” is translated “the feast” or “passover”.]

3^rd Passover after the miracle of feeding BREAD to over 5,000 who wanted to force Jesus, the “Bread of Life”, to be king near the Sea of Galilee in Spring 32 AD

“And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. . . . There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples . . . he said to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves . . .When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. And when even was now come, his disciples went down to the sea . . . and went over the sea toward Capernaum. . . . And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ” (John 6:3-17, 35, 51 edited)

John 7:2 is the Feast of the Tabernacles which occurs in the Fall.

John l0:22 mentions the Feast of Dedication which is in Winter.

4^th Passover after Jesus, “the resurrection and the life”, called Lazarus back from the dead

in Bethany prior to Christ's passion week in Spring 33 AD.

“Then said Jesus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. . . . Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: . . . Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? She said to him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. . . . Jesus said, Take you away the stone. . . . Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, . . . he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go. . . . Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, . . . And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said to them, You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went there to a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the Jews' passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.” (John 11:14-55 edited)

“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.” (John 12:1)

Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”, died on Nisan 14^th before sunset in 33 AD.  I think He is returning as the "Lion of Judah" on His birthday this year, September 16th.

Scroll of 7 seals is NOT deed to earth

It has often been taught that the scroll with the seven seals is the deed to the earth which was trasferred to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. This is not true since the physical earth and heavens are the LORD's (Ex. 9:29 and Deut. 10:14), including all they contain and all those physical beings who dwell there.
“The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)
Nor does Satan control the boundaries of the world's kingdoms and who rules them, for “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: (Daniel 2:20-21).”
Satan offered Jesus the power and glory of the kingdoms which had been “delivered” or betrayed unto him.
“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to him, All this power (exousia) will I give you, and the glory (doxa) of them: for that is delivered (paradidomai) to me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” (Luke 4:5-6)
“. . . according to the prince of the power (exousia) of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: (Eph. 2:2)”
Because Adam and Eve rejected the LORD's reign in their lives, they betrayed themselves into the reign of Satan in their lives; bound to sin. The LORD later rescued the Hebrews from Egypt and restored Himself as King over them, but they eventually rejected His reign again and asked for a human king (1 Samuel 8:4-8). Satan was offering Jesus a way to become the King and Savior of the world without having to endure the cross (but then sin and death would remain).
Instead, Jesus chose to give those who believed in Him the resurrection power (kratos) to overcome Satan's power (exousia).
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty (ischus) power (kratos), Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places (epouranios), Far above all principality (arche), and power (exousia), and might (dunamis), and dominion (kuriotes), and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” (Eph. 1:19-21)
“Finally, my brothers, be strong (endunamoo) in the Lord, and in the power (kratos) of his might (ischus). Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (arche), against powers (exousia), against the rulers (kosmokrator-singular, referring to the devil) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (epouranios).” (Eph. 6:10-12)
It is a spiritual battle which we fight together through prayer and the preaching of the gospel; and our honest, righteous living through faith in the Word of God. May we continue to do so until the King of kings returns to establish His Kingdom on earth.

Great Tribulation Begins April 6, 2009

In your spirit you know something big is about to happen. The earth has begun its death spiral: more floods, more tornadoes, more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and more volcanic eruptions. Though there are still pockets of peace and sanity, most human institutions have disintegrated. You thought you'd be raptured before the Great Tribulation, but now you find yourself in the midst of it.
John, the apostle, taught believers in Jesus would go through the Great Tribulation and many would be martyred in Revelation. Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught believers would have to persevere through great trial and that the dead are resurrected prior to the living being raptured at Christ's one and only return to earth. They all warned us not to be deceived. Keep believing in Jesus even though you have to stop believing in a pre-trib rapture.

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)

Principles of Geology was written by Charles Lyell in 1830 espousing the new idea that the great canyons around the world were not the after effects of a world-wide flood (cataclysmic), but the constant erosion over hundreds of thousands of years (uniformitarian; "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation"). Until that time, the Bible's description of creation and the cataclysm of Noah's flood were accepted facts. Charles Darwin took a copy of the Lyell's book with him on the S.S. Beagle to the Galapagos Islands, leading to his harmful theories of evolution and the superiority of the white race. Uniformitarianism and evolution eroded people's faith in the historical truth of the Bible. This has led to much false teaching in the church (1 Timothy 6:20) including the pre-tribulation rapture theory, which has led to a lack of holiness, love and power in the church, and a resistance to the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-8).

Deriving the Day of the LORD and the Start of Great Tribulation
Astronomers from the east ascertained the correct year of Christ's first coming, and astronomers from the west (Mayans) have predicted the correct year of Christ's second coming. But the Mayans worshiped the heavens, and so decreed the world's end on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. God has appointed seven feasts for His people. Jesus fulfilled Unleavened Bread (sinless life), Passover (Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world), First Fruits (He rose from the dead), and Pentecost (He sent His Holy Spirit) during His first coming. The Fall feasts are Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths which Jesus will fulfill during His second coming. September 16th, 2012 is the new moon of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets are prominent in the resurrection and rapture and return of Jesus Christ (Psalm 47:5-6; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Joel 2:1-16; Revelation 11:15-19).
John describes the duration of the Great Tribulation as 42 months, 3 1/2 years, and 1,260 days. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16th, 2012 brings us to April 6, 2012. Hebrew days begin and end at sunset. Sunset in Jerusalem will be at 7:02 pm that day.

What Event Starts the 3 1/2 Year Clock?
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.(Rev. 11:2-3)

Two groups who will be involved throughout the Great Tribulation. The Muslims ("Gentiles") continue to occupy the Temple Mount, so doing so for another 42 months will not seem unusual. The Two Witnesses (Jewish and Gentile believers) are already present and proclaiming the gospel, though not to the point of withholding rain or praying plagues upon our enemies to demonstrate God's power. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16, 2012, the Great Tribulation clock begins on April 6, 2009.
All Great Tribulation days and times are according to Hebrew days and Jerusalem time. Dusk in Jerusalem on April 6, 2009, the first day of the Great Tribulation, might not have anything occur physically at all, or it may be very apparent. The war between Israel and Iran might see a major attack. China could stop buying US bonds. Any number of global "natural" disasters could hit.
God starts the Great Tribulation clock. It may be when He tells Michael to release Satan, and Satan "knows that his time is short". Satan's possession of the Antichrist and his deity declaration ("abomination of desolation") may follow shortly thereafter. It may be when God tells the four angels to start sealing the 144,000 (which must occur prior to the first trumpet), or when he tells an angel to announce the everlasting gospel with a loud voice to the world (Rev. 14:6-7).
The more important question is whether your faith can endure until Christ's coming. Jesus has waited to get His Bride for two thousand years. King Jesus is worth waiting for.
For a booklet describing the timing of the events in the Great Tribulation, go to http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/seals-trumpets-and-vials/6668840.