Recent discoveries about the Dead Sea Scrolls’ calendar illuminates the timing of the end of this age and frames the window for Jesus’ return
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New Discoveries Reveal Where We Stand in Time
From the beginning, God established a 6+1 time cycle. He created the world in six days and took one day of rest. The week He prescribed to the Israelites followed this pattern with six days of work and a one-day sabbath. He also declared a week of years called a shemitah, the seventh year being a sabbath year.
The Bible seems to communicate that this pattern also applies to humanity’s time on earth. The Apostle John described a sabbath millennium during which Jesus returns to reign over the earth. Extra-Biblical sources confirm this belief, including the Talmud, apocryphal texts such as Enoch, and writings of the early church fathers such as Barnabas.
Through these writings, we know that early Jewish and Chrisitan scholars expected Messiah (Jesus) would be on the throne by the year 6,000. That means all of the events of end-times prophecies leading up to the seventh millennium must happen before that time. These prophecies include the Antichrist’s reign, the rapture, Armageddon, and the resurrection of the saints.
While this concept is well supported, there is disagreement on where on this timeline we stand. The current Jewish calendar places us in the year 5,782, with 218 years left in the present age. However, rabbis altered this calendar after Jesus’ crucifixion such that it no longer reflects the timeline of the Bible.
But in 2018, Israeli researchers announced that they had translated a Dead Sea Scroll that appeared to contain writings of the “perfect” Hebrew calendar. This “Qumran calendar” included a 364 day year, divisible by seven such that dates occur on the same day of the week every year since creation.
But this calendar tracks more than the events and festivals of the year; it helps us track the 7,000 years of man.
The 7,000 Year Timeline
The Talmud has numerous writings concerning 6,000 years of man followed by a 1,000 year age of the Messiah. These writings include the Tanna Debei Eliyahu (teachings of the school of Elijah), which states, “the school of Eliyahu taught: six thousand years is the duration of the world. Two thousand of the six thousand years are characterized by chaos; two thousand years are characterized by Torah, from the era of the Patriarchs until the end of the Messianic period; and two thousand years are the period of the coming of the Messiah.” (Sanhedrin 97a).
From this description and other writings in the Dead Sea Scrolls, we know there are three 2,000-year ages: the Chaos Age, the Torah Age, the Messianic/Church Age, and a 1,000 year age of the Messiah, also known as the Millennial Kingdom.
Rabbeinu Bahya, Devarim 30:15:3 states that “The words ראה נתתי לך היום, [from Genesis 2:3] are intended to convey that immediately after the 6,000 years the period of the Messiah will commence.”
The Book of Enoch also contains an accurate to date, 7,000-year apocalypse of weeks, containing prophecies about ten, 700 year periods.
And Barnabas described how the week of 6+1 signifies the 7,000-year time of man and Jesus’ return in the seventh millennium (Barnabas 15:3-9). This concept is in keeping with Peter’s statement that a day is like 1,000 years.
So assuming this 7,000 year period is accurate, where do we stand today in the timeline?
Where We Stand on the Timeline Today
Since discovering the Qumran calendar, researchers have been trying to replicate the calendar and plot out the Biblical timeline. Dr. Ken Johnson believes he has accurately accomplished this task. He started with the fourth day of creation when God formed the sun and moon. He then plotted significant dates using men’s ages disclosed by the Bible at certain events.
Dr. Johnson was then able to confirm the date system using events described in the Dead Sea Scrolls, such as a prophecy of the Messiah. A scroll known as 11Q Melchizedek prophesied that a forthcoming event would free men from their iniquities (fulfilling Isaiah 61). The scroll stated that this event would occur at the end of the first shemitah of the last jubilee of the Torah Age.
The Torah age ended in the year 4000, which according to Dr. Johnson’s calculations, was the year 75 AD. Working back from this year, the last jubilee of the age would have started in 26 AD. And the end of the first shemitah of that jubilee would have been 32 AD; April 6, 32, to be exact. This date aligns with the range of dates experts believe Jesus was crucified (30 AD-33 AD). This evidence stands as strong support that Dr. Johnson’s calendar is accurate.
The end year of 75 AD also matches events that closed the age. Those events include the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (70AD) and the Alexandrian temple (73 AD). These two events effectively ended Jewish sacrifices and the Torah Age.
Based on this Qumran calendar, we are currently in the year 5946 AM (Anno Mundi, “the year of the world”), less than five years away from the first year of the last jubilee of the Church Age.
When Will Jesus Return?
Keeping with the timeline established by Dr. Johnson, the end of this age will occur in the year 2075. As we see so many signs of the end of the age already happening, that date seems like a long time away.
But in examining past ages, we can see that a transition occurs from one age to the next. The end of the Torah age began in the last jubilee of that age, which would’ve started the year 26 AD. Many believe that Jesus began his ministry this year, although other estimates place it around 29 AD. However, another 50 years would transpire for the end of the age to be completed with the temple destroyed and the sacrifices effectively ended.
Can we expect a similar transition at the end of this age, with Jesus’ return occurring near the beginning of the end?
Transition to the Millennial Kingdom
Through Daniel’s and John’s visions, we know that significant world events must occur before Jesus fully establishes His kingdom on the earth. In addition to the events of the seven-year rise of the Antichrist, there will be time for the saints’ judgment of angels (Dan. 7:9-10, Rev. 20:4, 1 Cor. 6:2-4), and the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10, Rom. 14:10), when Jesus will give rewards to the saints for their righteous deeds (Matt. 16:27). Because the saints will reign with Christ (Rev. 20:6), Jesus may take additional time to seat such saints in official posts over his kingdom.
The paradigms of Bible prophecy provide evidence that the closing of this age will closely mirror the closing of the last age. Matthew 24 and Luke 21 give several signs that occurred at the end of the Torah age and the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet Revelation 6, which was written at least 20 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, gives the same signs for what is yet to come at the end of the next age.
We are only four years away from the start of the last jubilee of this age. If the end of this age mimics the end of the prior age, we should expect to see these things transpire within the next ten years. However, the end of the age does not occur for another 54 years, so the events of Revelation could take place any time up to the last few years.
Unfortunately, we do not have specific timeline prophecies such as those given to Daniel to pinpoint Jesus’ return. However, Jesus gave us many signs so we would know when the time approaches.
We Will Know the Season of Jesus’ Return
In the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24, Jesus makes it clear that we will recognize the season of his coming but will not know the hour. Many of these signs appear to be manifesting today, indicating that we are already in the season.
Until Jesus returns, we should keep our lamps full of oil and run the race with endurance, knowing that the finish line for this age is near.
While great tribulation is coming, the next age will truly be glorious as Jesus sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rules the world.
Related Posts:
Antichrist Spirit Rising: The Paradigm at the End of the Ages
Apostasy Rising: Past Ages Reveal What Comes Next in this End of Age Paradigm
I think the dates are off and here is why. Herod who ordered the killing of every child from 2 yrs old and younger, and would later die as a judgement from God, died in 4 B.C. per Roman historical documents. Which means Jesus would have been born around 6 B.C. and was close to being 2 yrs old when the wisemen showed up, they didnt see Him in a manger, but the scripture says, they walked into a house, add to that 33 years that he lived and he would have been crucified in 27 A.D. Scientist state that an earthquake occurred during that time, which happened at Christs death, and is mentioned in the Bible, and historical records. So 2000 years since his crucifixion ends in April, 2027. The third day, or 3rd 1000 year period will begin. With the Jewish calendar being off by some 200 years, the end of the 6000 years of man also ends this decade and a 7th day begins. I think the convergence of those two things points to a possible return of Jesus this decade.
Great point Jessee. You may be right – I have seen several arguments for birth dates ranging from 5(or 6) BC to 2 BC. I am not a historian but tend to lean towards the later date. Many scholars believe that the eclipse Josephus referenced in proximity to Herod’s death occurred in 1 BC (see this article https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/herods-death-jesus-birth-and-a-lunar-eclipse/ and https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/when-did-king-herod-great-reign-and-die/). Chuck Missler also did some research examining the dates of Zechariah’s temple service to support a 2 BC birthdate (see https://www.khouse.org/articles/2020/1402/?mc_cid=e6fe94a1a1&mc_eid=7dd0848e5f). Also supporting the later date, Luke 3.1 places the beginning of John’s ministry around 28 AD (in the 15th year of Tiberius). Assuming Jesus began His ministry soon thereafter, at age 30, a birthdate around 2 BC seems reasonable. There is a lot of debate around this and you may have good arguments for why my reasoning is wrong. Believing there are a lot of smart people on both sides, I have confidence that we will hit the 2,000th year of Jesus’ resurrection sometime in the late 2020s to the early 2030s. But even if we pinpoint that date, it doesn’t necessarily tell us what day or year He will return. I tend to accept that there are some unknowns here, but that we are definitely in the season. Thanks for reading and commenting!