Date of Jesus’ Return
The following is a personal interpretation of the Scriptures so please feel free to disagree.
Matthew 24:36
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of His return, not even Himself, so please keep this in mind as you continue reading this post. Before proceeding it might be helpful to read the following posts for some background…
Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of His return, not even Himself, so please keep this in mind as you continue reading this post. Before proceeding it might be helpful to read the following posts for some background…
In The Stars post which explains the Seven Thousand Year Plan of God.
The Last Days post which explains the seven Jewish festivals.
The Fall Festivals post which shows how the Second Coming of Jesus is fulfilled in the fall festivals.
In the Clouds post which shows how believers (the Elect) are symbolized by clouds at the time of the Rapture and Jesus’ return.
The following “Christmas Day” link presents compelling evidence that Jesus was born during the Jewish festival of Sukkot: Hebrew for Christians - Christmas Day.
So let’s begin…
Luke 3:1-3
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
According to Wikipedia (Wikipedia - Tiberius) Tiberius Caesar began his reign on September 18, 14 AD and ruled for 23 years until 37 AD.
The fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign would have gone from September 18, 29 AD to September 18, 30 AD.
Luke 1:5
Luke 1:5
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luke 1:24, 25
After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
The “Christmas Day” link cites evidence that the division of Abijah would have fallen in the Hebrew month of Sivan (the May-June timeframe) which is when Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist. And adding nine months to Elizabeth’s pregnancy John would have been born in the Hebrew month of Nisan around the time of Passover.
Luke 1:26, 27
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit six months after John the Baptist was conceived so He would have been born six months after Passover during the festival of Sukkot.
Numbers 4:1-3
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, "Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting."
Luke 3:21-23a
Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age,
Both Jesus and John the Baptist would have started their ministries at the age of 30 in order to fulfill the law of the priest. This is also when the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness which was in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar - or 30 AD…
Luke 3:1-3
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
So Jesus would have started His ministry shortly after the festival of Sukkot in the year 30 AD. This also started the clock ticking for Jesus’ return on the third day 2000 years later (see “In the Stars” post).
We also know that Jesus will return on Yom Kippur (see “The Last Days” post) with the clouds of heaven (see “In the Clouds” post) to judge the world.
Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Seven years prior to Jesus’ return, on Rosh Hashanah at the sound of the trumpet (see “The Last Days” post), all those who believe (except the 144,000) will be caught up in a whirlwind to meet the Lord in the air. In heaven we will attend the Marriage supper of the Lamb while the Tribulation takes place on Earth.
As we saw in the post “The Last Days” Jesus fulfilled all four of the spring festivals literally to the day so there is no reason to believe that He will not fulfill the three fall festivals to the day as well.
In conclusion, the timeline summary…
Passover 30 AD
John the Baptist begins his ministry at age 30.
Sukkot 30 AD
Jesus is baptized by John and begins His ministry at age 30.
Passover 34 AD
3 1/2 years later Jesus is crucified, resurrected and ascends into heaven.
Rosh Hashanah 2027 AD
All believers, both living and dead (except the 144,000), are caught up into heaven to attend the Marriage supper of the Lamb while the seven year Tribulation takes place on Earth.
Shavuot (Pentecost) 2031 AD
The middle of the week (or 1,335 days) as per Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel chapter 12 the second Rapture will take place and the Great Tribulation will begin. Please click/tap 1,335 Days and The Rapture(s) for more information.
Yom Kippur 2034 AD
Jesus sets His foot down on the Mount of Olives returning to Earth with the clouds of heaven (you and me) to judge the world and the Millennial Kingdom will begin.
Sukkot 2034 AD
The new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and all of the nations of the world rejoice (Revelation 21:10-27) exactly 2000 years (or “on the third day”) after Jesus was crucified on Passover 34 AD.
