Bible Prophecy Numbers:

"The Writing is on the Wall"

Chapter Two

Bible Numbers: The Writing on the Wall against Belshazzar.

"How Long?"

"One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,

"How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?"’"

(Dan. 12:6)

Please use updated version below!

 

Updated Version
Bible Prophecy Numbers

 

 

 

The General Meaning of the

Time-Periods in the Bible

"A mighty angel" (cf. Rev. 10:1) radiating the glory of Christ stands above the river (of time?) with two witnesses{1} down below either side. In the hearing of these two witnesses, the answer to "How long?" thunders from this mighty one:

When carefully compared with the rest of the Bible (esp. Rev. 10), the answer from the angel points to the time when the Jewish people will once again be engrafted into the "olive tree;"{2} that is, into God’s kind purposes covenanted to their forefathers––to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Rom. 11:24).

Just as Israel was "broken" off from the olive tree when the majority of Jews rejected Messiah due to the hardness of their hearts, so again they will be "broken," but this time leading to brokeness and contriteness of heart; "And so all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26).

However, the text applies generally to all men too, especially those "of the faith of Abraham"––whether Jew or Gentile (Rom. 4:16), "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23); all are born in sin and slaves to it, even as the Israelites of old who were delivered from the bondage of Pharaoh at the exodus. The numbers greatly reflect this exodus motif, and the exodus reflects the ministry of Christ who frees us from our sins:

To summarize then, this is the general meaning of the various time-periods in the Bible: A period determined upon a people or person for the purpose of glorifying God in the display of both His power and love in their humiliation and redemption––by breaking and making them fashionable unto His purposes, no matter how long, many, or varied, the trials––to the intent that they might be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and mirror His glory.

Exactly what form these trials take is reflective of both man’s decisions and God’s predetermination. This, then, is the answer to the age-old question of "How long?" (I.e., "As long as it takes to be broken!" and also, "As long as He has predetermined!")

Someone might wonder: "But how does this answer give comfort in my question "How long will my trial last?"’"

The comfort appears when one explores the awesome thought and care put into every trial from above––be it our fault or not––as we shall discover in the numbers. "Behold, the very hairs of your head are numbered," Jesus consoles (Matt. 10:30); "He causes it to rain on the good and the bad" (Matt. 5:45). Therefore, if God cares for His enemies, how much more His friends! Let us look, then, at the goodness of God toward His enemies, which He would make His friends.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery––as good as dead. At any rate, certainly in Israel’s mind he was presumed dead. But really he was alive in Egypt––the savior of the world!

God orchestrated a seven-year famine that followed on the heels of seven good years. The famine impoverished the world and brought them to their knees. Joseph alone had the keys of life and death––he alone had the keys to the storehouses of grain.

 

Numerical Patterns for Isa. 52:4

"At first my people went down to Egypt to live;

lately, Assyria has oppressed them."

(Isa. 52:4)

 

From the seven-year "world-wide" famine of Joseph,

until the falls of Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Judah, and Babylonia…

Table 1

1878–1871

Enter Egypt in 1876 BC

 

1446 BC

722 BC

612 BC

586 BC

539 BC

Joseph’s seven-year world-wide{4} famine

 

Fall of Egypt{5} (i.e., exodus)

Fall of Israel

Fall of Assyria

Fall of Judah

Fall of Babylon

Total years later from famine -->

 

430 years

from famine

1150 years

from famine

1260 years

from famine

1290 years

from famine

1335 years

from famine

"…therefore in that day they will know

that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I."

(Isa. 52:6b)

Before examining the above chart, let us define each of the numbers and where they are found in the Bible.

 

Theologians{6} prior to the 20th century commonly understood the prophetic time-periods of "days" as figurative for "years." This day-for-year principle is especially evident in the Book of Ezekiel.

God told the prophet Ezekiel to lay on his side, "a day for each year," after the pattern of when Israel came out of Egypt. At that time, Israel had been sentenced to 40 years of wandering in the desert according to the 40 days that they had spied out the land––"a day for every year" (Num. 14:34). Likewise, God told Ezekiel:

Dan. 9:24-27 is another indisputable example of where a day can symbolize a year.{7} Though the text literally reads "70 weeks," yet scholars universally understand "weeks" here as symbolic of "70 times ‘seven’-years."

 

I) Ezekiel's "Siege" (Ezk. 4:2, cf. ch. 4–5)

II) "The Daily Sacrifice" (Dan. 8:13, cf. ch. 8)

          A.) 1150 days{9} equals 2300 "evenings and mornings" of consecutive "sacrifices" (Dan. 8:13; 9:21; cf. Ex. 29:38-42; i.e., it can be viewed as either 2300 full days or 2300 half-days){10}

            "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled––the vision concerning the daily sacrifice…?" (Dan. 8:13a)

            "He said to me, "It will take 2300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconstructed"’" (Dan. 8:14). evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconstructed"’" (Dan. 8:14).

 III) "Seventy Weeks of Years"{11} (Dan. 9:24, RSV, cf. ch. 9–12)

      A.) 490 (i.e., literally "seventy weeks," KJV)

            "Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." (Dan. 9:24, NIV)

      B.) 3½ years (there are seven variations)

          The "middle" of the last "week" (‘seven’) of the 490 represents a 7-year period divided into two equal parts (i.e., 3½ + 3½ = 7 years, Dan. 9:27), just as the "2300 " (i.e., 6½ years) is also divided in half.

            "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation…" (Dan. 9:27)

                1.) 1260 days:

                  "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth" (Rev. 11:3).

                  "The women fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1260 days" (Rev. 12:6).

                2.) 1290 days: (The 1290 is the 1260, except with the 30-day intercalary month added).{12}

                  "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days" (Dan. 12:11).

                3.) 1335 days: ("1335" is both inclusive or exclusive of the 1290, for a total of 3½ or 7 years).

                  "Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days" (Dan. 12:12).

          {"Three-and-a-half-years" can be identified four other ways besides the above three ways. However, since they are found in the Bible implicitly rather than explicitly, these four will be utilized on a secondary level, and only in amalgamation with the above three primary forms. Accordingly, when used they will always be placed in brackets.{13}

                4.) A normal lunar 3½ years of the Jewish cal. is 1270 days.

                  "…In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering…" (Dan. 9:27).

                5.) However, the next (lunar) 3½-year period that completes the full 7-years is generally 1299 days. (Thus there are ordinarily about 2,569 days within any given 7-year period; i.e., 1,270 + 1,299. Yet, "1,270" occurs most frequently over any given 3½-year period.)

                6.)

                6.) Moreover, a strict "42 months" of the lunar cal. amounts to only 1240 days: (I.e., "42 months" is 3½ years without its leap months; 3.5 x 12 = 42.){14}

                  "…They will trample on the holy city for 42 months" (Rev. 11:2).

                7.)

                7.) And correspondingly, "42 months" of our modern solar calendar amounts to exactly 3½ complete years, or 1278 days.

                  "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months" (Rev. 13:5).

The Chart Explained

From the seven-year famine of Joseph,
 until the falls of Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Judah, and Babylonia
 are 430, 1150, 1260, 1290, and 1335 years respectively

Table 2

7.) And correspondingly, "42 months" of our modern solar calendar amounts to exactly 3½ complete years, or 1278 days.

    "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months" (Rev. 13:5).

The Chart Explained

From the seven-year famine of Joseph,
 until the falls of Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Judah, and Babylonia
 are 430, 1150, 1260, 1290, and 1335 years respectively

Table 2

1878–1871

Enter Egypt in 1876 BC

 

1446 BC

722 BC

612 BC

586 BC

539 BC

Joseph’s seven-year world-wide{4} famine

 

Fall of Egypt{5} (i.e., exodus)

Fall of Israel

Fall of Assyria

1278 days.

    "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months" (Rev. 13:5).

The Chart Explained

From the seven-year famine of Joseph,
 until the falls of Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Judah, and Babylonia
 are 430, 1150, 1260, 1290, and 1335 years respectively

Table 2

1878–1871

Enter Egypt in 1876 BC

 

1446 BC

722 BC

612 BC

586 BC

539 BC

Joseph’s seven-year world-wide{4} famine

 

Fall of Egypt{5} (i.e., exodus)

Fall of Israel

Fall of Assyria

1878–1871

Enter Egypt in 1876 BC

 

1446 BC

722 BC

612 BC

586 BC

539 BC

Joseph’s seven-year world-wide{4} famine

 

Fall of Egypt{5} (i.e., exodus)

Fall of Israel

Fall of Assyria

Fall of Judah

1878–1871

Enter Egypt in 1876 BC

 

1446 BC

722 BC

612 BC

586 BC

539 BC

Joseph’s seven-year world-wide{4} famine

 

Fall of Egypt{5} (i.e., exodus)

Fall of Israel

Fall of Assyria

Fall of Judah

Fall of Babylon

Total years later from famine -->

 

430 years

from famine

1150 years

from famine

1260 years

from famine

1290 years

from famine

1335 years

from famine

 

I) 390 + 40 = 430 years (i.e., Ezekiel’s "siege"):

Israel spent exactly 430 years in Egypt (Ex.12:41), and in Ex. 2:11-15, (with Acts 7:23-25), we are told that Moses thought to deliver the nation 40 years earlier, but was forced to flee instead for his life. Therefore, we have the same breakdown of the 430 here as in Ezk. 4:4-6 (i.e., 390 + 40 = 430 years). (See especially Ezk. 20:1-44 for the thematic link of Ezekiel to the exodus.)

Table 3

Entry|_____390_yrs_____|exile___+_40____|Exodus

1876 BC (Israel enters Egypt after 2 yrs of the famine) + 390 years = 1486 BC (failed exodus, and exile of Moses), + 40 = 430 years total till the actual exodus of 1446 BC

In 593 BC, Ezekiel was told to symbolically siege Jerusalem 430 days––"a day for each year"––in anticipation of her doom that occurred exactly seven years later (593 to 586 BC). Therefore, it is significant that there are three cycles of 430 years from entering Egypt (1876 BC), unto exiting Egypt (1446 BC), unto the exile back again into Egypt (and Babylon) in 586 BC. (Indeed, the "430 x 3" is divided up, not merely into one-plus-two segments as shown in the chart below, but into all three segments––as shown in subsequent chapters.)

Furthermore, "430 x 3" amounts to the 1290 years of Dan. 12:11.

Table 4

Entry|___430___|Exodus____+ 430 x 2___| Judah exiled

Entry|_________= 1290 yrs_________| Judah exiled

1876 BC (enter Egypt) + 430 x 3 = 586 BC (back to Egypt and Babylon again! Jer. 39-44)

(Also, 430 x 3 = 1290 years of Dan. 12:11––to be tabled in detail shortly)

 

II) 1150 years (i.e., "2300 evenings and mornings" of sacrifices, Dan. 8:13; = 1150 days):

(The remaining tables start from the seven-year famine of Joseph and overlap the falls of Israel, Assyria, Judah, and Babylonia. The amazing rhyme and reason for why each overlaps in the specific place it does will be examined over the next few chapters; but for now please observe how that the span of each siege occurs entirely within the seven-year boundary of Joseph’s famine when forwarded in time by these prophetic numbers.)

From the seven-year famine of Joseph, (Israel entered Egypt two years into this famine), till the siege and fall of Samaria, (capital of Israel), there are 1150 years.

Table 5

Famine|_______+_1150_yrs_________|Israel exiled

1878–1871 BC (7-yr famine) + 1150 years = 728–721 BC.

The "3-yr" famine-siege of Samaria lasted 725–721 BC

 

III) 1260 yearsyears:

Again from this seven-year famine of Joseph, till the fall Nineveh (612 BC), capital of Assyria, there are 1260years. (It was Assyria who had earlier destroyed Israel, but now it was Assyria’s turn to drink "the cup of wrath," Isa. 51:17-23; cf. Isa. 8:4.)

Table 6

Famine|________+_1260__________| Assyria falls

1878–1871 BC (7-yr famine) + 1260 years = 618–611 BC.

Assyria’s three capitals fell during the years 614–612 BC

 

IV) 1290 years (i.e., the prophetic 3½ years-of-years):

        A) 1278 years (i.e., our solar 3½ years-of-years);

        B) 1270 years years (i.e., a normal lunar 3½ years-of-years).

The above lunar, solar, and prophetic 3½ years of years––even all three––aligns exactly with all three deportations from Judah when starting from the entry into Egypt in 1876 BC. Furthermore, each of these are repeated again at one year a part, as a parallel witness! This one-year-apart parallel pattern has its beginning starting from the middle of the 7 years of Joseph’s famine (instead of the entry), ending at these same three exiles.

{

{It was mid-famine when both the Egyptians and their land were sold into bondage to Pharaoh in agreement for the exchange of food.{15} The middle of the famine was either one or one-and-a-half years after the entry, i.e., in spr. or aut. of 1875 BC.

Our first line of calculation which starts from when Israel entered Egypt (spr. of 1876 BC), ends at the non-preferred, yet possible dates for the exiles of Judah, (i.e., 606, 598, and 587 BC); whereas the second parallel line (though using the same numbers), starts from the mid-famine position yet still ends at these very same exiles, except using the preferred 605, 597, and 586 BC dates. Everything of everything in the numbers has two or three witnesses to them. Therefore, amazingly the primary number of "1290 years" spans to the like primary exile of 586 (587) BC, whereas the minor lunar and solar calendars aligns with the like minor exiles of 605 (606) and 597 (598) BC. Hence, the minor calendars are positioned so as to buttress the testimony of the primary (prophetic) calendar, rather than originate a distinct pattern on its own.

The use of the solar and lunar in buttressing its parent calendar (i.e., the prophetic) is evident in the pattern itself. There are a total of 8 separate strands of alignment when using the prophetic number of 1290, but only two each for the lunar and the solar, (hence a total of 12 separate strands––see the next few tables for clarification).

If one objects to my using the possible dates of 606, 598, 587, and 582 BC for the exiles of Judah idealistically in company at once at once with the commonly preferred dates (i.e., set one year later), it matters little anyway; whatever one’s own preference, there yet remains a minimum of 6 strands of alignment!}

To continue: As said, all four exiles aligns from when Israel entered Egypt, and yet again from the middle of the 7 years of Joseph’s famine. The mid-famine starting position (spr.–aut. 1875) is equally as significant as the Egypt–entry position (spr. 1876) because firstly, this was when the gentiles were ‘enslaved’ to Pharaoh, (see Gen. 47:18-21); hence, the theme is consistent––from the enslaving of the Egyptians to the enslaving of the Israelites are 3½ years-of-years distant. Secondly, the mid-seven-year-famine position is significant because it foreshadows prophetically the mid-seven-year-tribulation period prophesied to come––which prophesy is the very originator of these same "3½-year periods." Thus it makes perfect sense that from the middle of this seven-year famine should flow that same amount of days converted to years: (I.e., the first 3½ literal years of famine intersecting with the figurative 3½ years-of-years of same number).

The use of all three major types of calendars here testifies to the all-encompassing nature of God’s judgement and of His mercy (just as the seven-year famine of Joseph did). Like the rainbow (Gen. 8:33; 9:12-17) they represent God’s three faithful witnesses in the sky (Jer. 31:35-36)––the sun, moon, and stars––that are given "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years" (Gen. 1:14; cf. Rev. 12:1-6). Nevertheless, the prophetic numbers (such as 1290 and 1260) have lead over their lunar and solar counterparts.

The Lunar Witness (Table 7)

Entry|1876 BC_______+_1270________as 606 BC| Exile

Middle|1875 BC________+_1270________as 605 BC| Exile famine

 

The Solar Witness (Table 8)

Entry|1876 BC_______+_1278________as 598 BC| Exile

Middle|1875 BC________+_1278________as 597 BC| Exile famine

 

The Prophetic Witness (–1 yr) (Table 9a)

Entry|1876 BC_______+_1290________as 587 BC| Exile

Middle|1875 BC________+_1290________as 586 BC| Exile famine

General Explanation of the Above Table ‘9a’ only

1878–1871 BC (7-yr famine) + 1290 yrs = 588–581 BC.

Siege of Jerusalem lasted from Jan. 588 to 586 BC, (or to 587 with the alternative date).

(The "– 1 yr," (thus, for a total of only 1289 yrs), is explained shortly.)

 The Prophetic Second Witness (Table 9b)

7-yr famine|1878–1871 BC__+_1290_(–1 yr)__as as Jan. 589–582|

7-yr famine|1878–1871 BC___+_1290_____as as Jan. 588–581|

Start of siege till final exile

Start of siege till final exile

1878–1871 BC (7-yr famine) + 1290 years (or –1 yr etc.) = 588–581 BC.

Jan. 588 BC is when the siege of Jerusalem started; (it ended 2½ yrs later).

And 581 BC was the fourth and last exile (Jer. 52:30). Hence, there are two separate strands of alignment, i.e., from both the start and finish of the 7-yr famine).

 

In the last two tables (i.e., tables ‘9a’ and ‘9b’––excluding the very last time line), the true total is 1,289 years (cf. "– 1 year,"), rather than an exact 1290. Why this slight inaccuracy? (Nevertheless, this principle exists in the numbers: Whatever appears to be a weakness is actually a concealed strength.)

Before I answer this question, let the reader remember the utter simplicity and flawlessness of the earlier chart (i.e., table ‘4’), where Daniel’s "1290" was divided evenly by Ezekiel’s "430" (i.e., 1290 ÷ 3 = 430); where exactly 430 years was spent in Egypt as well as 1290 years till the exile back again to Egypt (and Babylon) forming cycles of even 430-year periods. However, to make the alignment of these last charts (i.e., tables ‘9a’ and ‘9b’) perfectly conformable with the two charts before it (i.e., tables ‘7’ and ‘8’), we must subtract one year (i.e., 1,289 years instead of an even 1290). Thus we ask, "Why?"––"Why isn’t table ‘9a’ and ‘9b’ flawless like the others time-lines?" The answer is to be found in the way the Bible breaks down a 3½-year period, and then comparing that breakdown with the lengths of Ezekiel’s siege added to the actual siege. As we shall see, these two sieges were exactly 7 years apart,{16} with the total length of both sieges together amounting to 1290 days, less one-day. Hence, the exact total number of siege days (1,289) when when converted to yearsconverted to years, spans back to Joseph's 7-year famine as just observed in tables ‘9a’ and ‘9b.’ Hence, both 1290 and 1,289 day-years are correct, with "1,289" in this context being an authorized variation of the "1290" of Dan. 12:11.

 
  • "A Time, Times, and Half a Time"

Three times in the Bible, the familiar "3½-year period" is broken-down into "a time, times, and half a time" (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14, cf. Dan. 4:16,23,25,32). Anything repeated three times in the Bible is exceptionally important. The consensus of scholarship understands "a time, times, and half a time" to represent "a year, two years and half a year." In other words, "a time, times, and half a time" consists of "360 days, 720 days, and 180 days," for a total of 1260 days or 3½ years (Rev. 11:3; 12:6).

In addition, the reference to "time, times, and half a time" from Dan. 12:7 is situated in direct parallel with the "1290 days" mentioned just four verses later in Dan. 12:11. By standard interpretation, the "1290" is simply the "1260" (of Rev. 12:6) except with the leap month of 30 days added to it. (See appendix on the "Intercalary Month"). Consequently, again we have "a time" ("360," except + 30 now makes it "390"), "times" ("720"), "and half a time" ("180 days"), for a total of 1290 days.

A Year with the Leap Month Added Equals 390 Days{17}

Table 10

"TIME"

"TIMES"

"HALF-TIME"

=> 3½ years

360 days

720 days

180 days

=> 1260

390 days

720 days

180 days

=> 1290

 

Evidently, therefore, the "390 days" that Ezekiel besieged Jerusalem simply denotes a prophetic year with the leap month added; it is but the first "time" ("390") of the "time, times, and half a time." Furthermore, since Ezekiel acted out his siege precisely 7 years before the city fell (i.e., seven "times," cf. Dan. 4:16,23,25,32), thus we have here a "time, times, and half a time" (3½ years), twice repeated between Ezekiel and the fall of the city; (i.e., 3½ "times" multiplied by 2 = 7 years). (All three time-lines here in table ‘11’ are of equal value.)

Table 11

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 _____1290 + 1260 days___July 586 BC|Exile

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 ___3½ "times" + 3½ "times"___July 586 BC|Exile

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 ___390, 720, 180 + 360, 720, 180___July 586 BC|Exile

 

Therefore, Ezekiel’s "390" has a part in the breakdown of the 1290 of Daniel as much as the full "430" of Ezekiel did, (i.e., 430 x 3 = 1290; and 390 + 720 + 180 = 1290 too). In the next two chapters, all of this will be fine-tuned to the exact "hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men" (Rev. 9:15, cf. Ezk. 5:2). But for now, we add the "390" of Ezekiel’s siege together directly with the actual siege-days of Jerusalem, as if they were but one siege. To repeat, we discover that the total number of days of Ezekiel’s symbolic siege added to the actual siege equals 1290 days––less one day––which agrees therefore with the 1290 years––less one year–– from Joseph's 7-year famine! (see table ‘9a’ and ‘9b’). Moreover, this also means that there are 1260 days in the gap between these two sieges! What great precision, Oh Master Watchmaker! "Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name" (Rev. 15:4)?

Three times in the Bible we are told that the actual siege of Jerusalem lasted precisely 2½ years less-a-day (2Kg. 25:1-7; Jer. 39:1-4; 52:4-11):

    "And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

    So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land." (Jer. 52:4-6).

{

{Compare this last verse with the famine of Joseph and notice the obvious thematic parallels: "And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore" (Gen. 47:13). Furthermore, both episodes repeat the same prominent theme––the sojourn into Egypt (at the time of Joseph, Isa. 52:4), and the exile into Egypt (at the collapse of Jerusalem, Jer. 43:7).}

Let us add the total of Ezekiel’s siege-days to the actual one:

The actual siege lasted one day less 2½ years, which is 899 days using the prophetic calendar of 360 days in a year,{18} {18} (i.e., 2½ x 360 = 900, less-a-day, = 899 days). The 390 days of Ezekiel’s siege plus this 900 (less-a-day) of the true siege totals 1290 days (less-a-day, hence an exact total of 1,289 days). To repeat,{19} this also means a 1260-day gap gap in-between the two sieges.{20} Or, in other words, we have a "time (390)," separated from its remaining "times (720), and half a time (180)," by 1260 days. (In the following chart, the fourth column (in green) is the total of the third column in green; and likewise for the red. All four time-lines here in table ‘12’ are of equal value.)

Table 12

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 _____1290 + 1260 days____July 586|Exile

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 ____3½ "times" + 3½ "times"____July 586|Exile

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 ___390, 720, 180, + 360, 720, 180____July 586|Exile

Ezk.’s siege|July 593 __390 (of Ezk) + 1260 + 900 (siege) -1 dy__July 586|Exile

 

Therefore, there are two lines of "1290 years" from 1876-5 BC till 587-6 BC, and both are repeated twice!{21} (See tables ‘4,’ ‘9a,’ and ‘9b’). There are 1290 years from 1876 and 1875 BC (i.e., the entry and mid-famine respectively), till 586 and 585 BC (see Ezk. 32 for "585 BC"), but 1,289 years till 587 and 586 BC (i.e., the two possible dates for the fall of Jerusalem), with the use of this lesser figure of 1,289 vindicated by virtue of it also being the total number of days of both sieges. of both sieges. Hence, we have 1,289 years intersecting 1,289 days. (This likewise holds true for 1290 years intersecting exactly 1290 days, as explained in the next chapter when we analyze the sieges in detail.)

V) 1335 years

"Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days"––this vision came to Daniel (10:1, 4; 12:12) in April of 536 BC––1335 years to the very month from the end of Joseph's 7-year famine. One month after this vision came to Daniel, they began rebuilding Solomon’s temple (Ezra 3:8), which was 430 430 years to the very month (1Kg. 6:1, cf. Ex. 12:41) after Solomon himself had first begun to build (May 966 BC to May 536 BC)! Babylon had fallen exactly 2½ 2½ years to the very month prior to this vision of Daniel (aut. 539 to spr. 536 BC, or plus one month more to the temple rebuilding in May). (This is a repeat of the Jerusalem siege that also lasted 2½ years, with yet another month till the fall of the temple. Thus God reverses the harm Babylon caused Jerusalem, here illustrated in the recurrence of same time sequences.) The decree to return home to Judah was in 538 BC{22} (2Chr. 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1). Their actual journey home, till the reconstruction of the altar was from spr. to aut. 537 BC (Ezra 1:11; 3:1, 2). Seven months after the altar was built, as said, the temple itself began to be rebuilt (May 536 BC)––ending "70 years" of captivity as prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet (i.e., 606 to 536 BC).

    "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem" (Dan. 9:2).

The all-important temple (with its own fortifications) was finally captured and burned 30 actual days (31 prophetic) after Jerusalem itself was taken.{23} Thus it took 930 prophetic days till the temple was captured (i.e., 899 till the fall of the city, + 31 more = 930 days); but 945 actual days (i.e., 915 days till the fall of the city, + 30 = 945). Therefore consider this amazing fact, that, just as the 1290 days of Dan. 12:11 is made up of the 900 (prophetic) days of the siege of Jerusalem (i.e., 899 exact) plus the 390 of Ezekiel’s siege (see table ‘12’), even so the 1335 days of Dan. 12:12 is likewise made up of the 945 (actual) days till the fall of the temple plus the same 390 of Ezekiel, (i.e., 390 + 945 = 1335 days total.){24}

"Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days"

Table 13

"Famine" |________+_1335_yrs________| "Blessing"

1878–1871 BC (7-yr famine that includes entering Egypt) + 1335 years = 543–536 BC

(Fall of Babylon, the return, and rebuilding of the temple, were from aut. 539 to spr. 536)

 

      Thus was fulfilled the word to Jeremiah:

      "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that it shall no more be said, As Jehovah liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, As Jehovah liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north (i.e., from Babylonia), and from all the countries whither he had driven them" (Jer. 16:14–15; and 23:7–8 too).

These three numbers: 1) the exact "430" years from Solomon’s temple as prophesied by Ezekiel, (agreeing in both number and theme with the likewise "430 years" till the exodus/tabernacle, see table ‘3’ and ‘4’); 2) the prophesied "70" years from the first exile (606 BC); 3) and the "1335" years from Joseph’s famine; these three numbers bear witness together that God’s set time of deliverance had come. God kept His promise to Judah concerning how long the captivity would be, and God will keep His promise to you too!

 

Notes

{1} Perhaps the two witnesses at the banks of the river are the two witnesses of Rev. 11 since Rev. 11 flows out from the previous chapter which in turn is a virtual repeat of Dan. 12 here under discussion.

And who are these "two witnesses"? This is a question that might as well be answered now since it has great bearing on the numbers.

They represent all those, before and after Christ, who have the Spirit of Christ and testify to the Christ by walking ideally in the footsteps of Moses and Elijah, however weakly that might be.

Will the "two witnesses" culminate in two literal personages at "the time of end"?

I do not know, but probably so. As said, the "two witnesses" are patterned after "Moses" and "Elijah" (Rev. 11; cf. Mal. 4:4-6). And we know that John the Baptist "came in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17; cf. Matt. 11:14); and we know that Jesus was that "prophet liken unto MosesMoses" (Deut. 18:15, 18) even as the Apostle Peter said: "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me…" (Acts 3:22; cf. 7:37).

Therefore, just as John and Jesus are explicitly likened unto Elijah and Moses––thus it may be that two other literal persons ("witnesses") may arise "in the time of the end" who will likewise be comparable to Moses and Elijah. (Also note "Zerubbabel" and "Joshua" of Zech. 4 with Rev. 1:4.)

But whatever happens, let us fix our eyes on "Jesus alone" as His Father commanded at the Mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13; cf. 2Pet. 1:16-18). {See next note too.}

{2} The "two olive trees" (Rev. 11:4) in part symbolizes faithful Jews before Christ and Christians (predominately Gentiles) after Christ: These are the "two witnesses" of Rev. 11, if you will, (but see previous endnote). Cf. Rom. 11:17-32 with Rev. 11:4 and Zech. 4.

{3} The phrase, "sons of Joseph" is here used poetically for the Northern Kingdom of Israel (as distinct from Judah, the southern tribe). The two sons of Joseph were Manasseh and Ephraim and were adopted as Jacob’s own children (Gen. 48:5). "Ephraim" became the dominant tribe of the north and so became synonymous for "Israel," the northern tribe. (Hos. 11:12 etc.).

{4} "All countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was sore in all the earth" (Gen. 41:57).

The household of Israel entered Egypt and sojourned there "430 years" (Ex. 12:40, 41). They entered Egypt two years into the seven-year famine, i.e., in the spr. of 1876 BC (Gen. 45:6).

{5} "Fall of Egypt" in the sense that "Egypt was ruined" by the plagues of Moses (Ex. 10:7); or as Isaiah puts it, "Rehab" (Egypt) was "cut to pieces" (Isa. 51:9-10).

{6} Steve Gregg in his parallel commentary on the four main Protestant views of Revelation lists a number of outstanding theologians who have held the "historicist" view. (The "historicist" regards the Book of Revelation as a survey of the whole of Church history. Personally, I find that all four views compliment one another.)

Concerning the historicist view, Gregg says: "A unique characteristic of this line of interpretation is its advocacy of what is called the "year-for-a-day principle."’" He lists the following among the adherents of this view:

    "John Wycliffe, John Knox, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Phillip Melanchthon, Sir Isaac Newton, Jan Huss, John Foxe, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, C. H. Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, E. B. Elliot, H. Grattan Guinness, and Bishop Thomas Newton." (S. Gregg, "Revelation: Four Views," Nashville: Thomas Nelson Pub, 1997, p. 34.)

{7} Dan. 9:27 divides the last "week" of the full "seventy-weeks" in half (i.e., one week = 3½ + 3½ days). In Daniel’s subsequent vision, this half-a-week is specified as "1290 days"––equaling 3½ years, (Dan.12:11,12). Thus, half a "week" converts to "3½ years."

Rev. 11:3,9 brings this out most clearly. After they prophesy 1260 days (i.e., 3½ years), the two witnesses are put to death but rise again 3½ days later––thus placing years in direct parallel with days. What we have here evidently, is a narrowing down "like birth pains" (Matt. 24:8,15) of the 3½ period––1260 years (i.e., 3½ years of years) + 1260(i.e., 3½ years) + 3½ days.

The equivalence of "1290 days" (Dan. 12:11) with three cycles of Ezekiel's "430–day–years" further implies this day-year conversion; (i.e., 430 x 3 day-years = 1290 day-years too).

{8} The numbers "70," "40," and "65," are mere subparts of these primary numbers and therefore not included in this list. The number "70" (Jer. 25:11,12; 29:10; Zech. 7:5) and "40" (Ezk. 29:11-13 etc.) are explicitly identified in the Bible as subparts of the major numbers "490" (Dan. 9:2,24) and "430" (Ezk. 4:6).

Likewise, "seven-years" is a subpart of the "490" (Dan. 9:27), and is divided in half as 3½ + 3½ years, which in turn is the same as 1260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) + 1290 days (Dan. 12:11), etc.

The number "65" is mentioned only once in the Bible (Isa. 7:8) and is part of the "390" (which in turn belongs to the "430"). The "65" is 390 divided by 6. It will be looked at much later.

Eventually, however, it will be observed that even the major numbers are related to one another like a giant jigsaw puzzle!

{9} It is generally believed that the "2300 evenings and mornings" was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes ("a little horn," Dan. 8:9) desecrated the temple, which remained defiled exactly 3 years (Kislev 25, (Dec.) 168 BC to Kislev 25, 165 BC). Jews today celebrate its restoration as the feast of Hanukkah, mentioned in John 10:22.

Because this 3–year desecration lasted a little less than the specified 1150 days (i.e., Dan. 8:14), it is presumed by many that the missing two months be due to Antiochus having removed the Lord’s altar shortly before he desecrated it, (and thereby removing "the evening and morning" sacrifices too). Thus, we compute the 1150 days as 70 days (without sacrifices) plus 3 x 360 days (without sacrifices and defiled as well) = 1150 days. (The "360"-days-in-a-year is the standard year of the prophets. Compare the "70" here with the previous endnote).

{10} E.g., The Good News Bible reads "1150 days."

The dividing of the nearly seven years ("2300 days") in half (i.e., 1150 days), accords well with the dividing of the seven years ("week") of Dan. 9:27 (i.e., 1260 x 2). To be consistent, the dividing of the one number necessitates the dividing of the other, even without the textual clue to the same (viz. "evenings and mornings" of sacrifices).

Furthermore, since the "2300" of Antiochus (see previous note) is understood by scholars to be the prophetic archetype of the coming antichrist (whose career shall last one-half of seven years, Rev. 13:5), surely then, the 2300 should likewise be halved––which in any case agrees with the actual historic length of Antiochus’ desolation, about 1150 days.

Also, compare the striking similarity between the 2300 of Dan. 8:13,14 with that of "the dividing of a ‘seven’" of Dan. 9:27––the accounts are virtually the same! Therefore, the number, context, historical fulfillment, and parallel textual study all validate the optional dividing of the 2300 in half.

{11} I have placed the numbers into three main groups––430, 1150, and 490––although the 490 is in fact the father of all three (including itself). This is because the three internal divisions of the 490 are declared to be "7 x 7," "62 x 7," and "the dividing of 7 (years)," (Dan. 9:24-27). As a result, we have in substance our own three main groups: The "490" because "7 x 7" equals 49 (i.e., a jubilee, Lev. 25)––and 490 is an even 10 jubilee cycles; the "430" because "62 x 7" equals 434, a variation of the 430; and "1150" because "the middle of seven (years)" equals 3½ years and 3½ years is roughly "1150 days."

This "rough" margin is in keeping with the current margin of 1335 days established in Dan. 12:12: I.e., "1335 days" are in excess of an exact 3½ years (i.e., 1260 days) almost as much as the "1150" are short. Also see previous endnote).

{12} The intercalary month or "leap-month" is inserted periodically as a 13th month in the year. The procedure is necessary in order to catch up with the seasons of our solar calendar. The leap month is inserted after every two or three years of the lunar cal., and six years (normally) for the prophetic ("360"). For the fascinating procedure of how leap months should be added regularly to the prophetic cal., (or the legitimate effect of not adding them), see appendixes.

{13} It is error to suppose that the patterns derived from these implicit forms (of 3½ years) are the mere result of an increase in chance combinations: (I.e., the more numbers, the greater the odds of producing patterns). On the contrary, since the solar and lunar are only used in conjunction with and parallel to the primary forms of 3½ years, the minor is thus simply reinforcing the primary, rather than originating some new design on its own.

Furthermore, as general rule, these secondary numbers align with secondary dates just as the primary numbers do with primary dates. This will be illustrated later in this chapter.

By "secondary dates" I mean the minor exile in Israel (734-732 BC) before the final (major) one in 722 BC, and the minor exiles in Judah (605, 597, and 581 BC), other than the final (major) one in 586 BC. The 701 BC exile can be taken either way; though it was a major catastrophe, yet the nation itself did not then lose its independence.

{14} This "42 months" (Rev. 11:2), corresponds to the "1260 days" of the very next verse (11:3) wherein the leap month is likewise excluded; (i.e., "42" x 30 = "1260 days").

{15} Gen. 47:18 favors the spr. of 1875 BC for this event, whereas verse 23 seems to favor just before the time of sowing––i.e., aut. in the Middle East. Either way it is still 3½ years into the famine at this point since the first failed-harvest of the 7-year famine would have been spr. of 1878, whereas the failed-rains would have been up to half a year earlier (i.e., aut. of 1879).

{16} In the next chapter, I make known the simplicity and exactness (almost to the very hour) of the 7 years transpiring between the siege of Ezekiel and the actual.

{17} This chart is further developed in the chapter "The Dividing of Time."

{18} See the 150 days of the flood and the 180 days of the Book of Esther for other examples of an idealist calculation of a year as an even 360 days in true historical narrative (Gen. 7:24; 8:3 ; Est. 1:4; cf. 2:12). (See endnote {22}.)

{19} Please excuse my frequent repetition. For many, the numbers in the Bible are unfamiliar territory, for whose sake repetition is necessary.

{20} To be exact, there is a 1,258 day-gap in-between the two sieges prophetically calculated, or 1,262 days actual. Hence, we have a curious margin of plus and minus 2-days. The 2-day (or year) margin appears frequently in the numbers, as explained later in this book.

Note how logical it is for God to reveal the margin here––between the gap in the sieges––because a "gap" is simply another way of defining a "margin." Nevertheless, this "margin" of "2-years" (or days) is not merely a margin, but actually one link in the "time, times, times, and half a time!"

{21} If one objects to my using the possible date of 587 BC for the fall of Jerusalem idealistically in company at once at once with the preferred 586 BC date, it makes little difference for these patterns. There remains 1290 years from 1876 (i.e., the entry) to 586 BC, and still 1,289 years from 1875 (mid-famine) till this same 586 BC; (with both 1290 and 1,289 years intersecting the same in days!).

{22} The "decree" of 538 BC marks the first count down of the prophecy of the 490 years of Dan. 9:24 (i.e., "from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem," cf. Ezra 6:14 with Isa. 44:28). This was the first of four such decrees to rebuild: For as there were four exiles of Judah (605, 597, 586, 581 BC), so also there were four decrees of restoration (538, 520, 458, and 445 BC). The "490" will be discussed in a later chapter.

How fitting it is that the 1335 years should end at this first decree––the very date(s) when the prophecy of the 490 and the 1335 came to Daniel in the first place (i.e., 538 and 536 BC respectively)!

{23}

    "Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, and burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire" (Jer. 52:12,13).

The "930 days," tallied using the prophetic calendar till the fall of the temple, though not the actual total of 945 days, is nevertheless equally valid. As already explained, the "390" of Ezekiel’s siege is rooted is the prophetic calendar; therefore, since God used the prophetic calendar in Ezekiel’s siege of Jerusalem, why not use it in ascertaining the actual siege too? In the numbers, we want to know the rhyme and reason of things as well as the bare facts. (See endnote {17}.)

{24} The total of Ezekiel’s siege and the actual one produces yet another number as succinct as the 1290 and 1335 (and 1260 by default, being the gap in the middle); and likewise synchronizes years with same number of days. We reserve this third primary witness (or "fourth," if we include the 1260) for the start of the next chapter.

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