The Secret of the 1260 Days of Daniel and Revelation

The Secret of the 1260 Days of Daniel and Revelation By Beth Mehaffey

The Secret of the 1260 Days • Is hidden in the Feasts of the Lord and the Metonic Cycle. • Understanding the significance of the feasts and using the Metonic Cycle can help us determine a possible date for Christ’s return. • This will fulfill Daniel 12:9-10: “And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” NKJV

Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23) • The Spring Feasts take place between Nissan and Sivan. • Passover = Preparation Day (Pesach) • Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot) • Feast of Firstfruits (Yom HaBikkurim) • Feast of Weeks/Counting the Omer/Pentecost (Hag Shavuot) • The Fall Feasts take place in Tishrei. • Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) • Day of Atonements (Yom HaKippurim) • Feast of Tabernacles (Hag Sukkot) • 8th Day Assembly (Shemini Atzeret)

Spring Feasts • Jesus ate His last meal (also known as the Lord’s Supper) with His disciples in the evening as Nissan 13th became the 14th. • As they shared this meal, Jesus used the traditional Jewish marriage customs of the day to establish the New Covenant. • This meal was celebrated similar to the Passover Seder which would celebrated by the Jews the following evening on Nissan 15th when the Feast of Unleavened Bread officially began (John 18:28).

Spring Feasts • Jesus, our Passover Lamb was hung on the cross at 9am and died at 3pm on Passover. • These were the times of the usual morning and evening sacrifice. • Jesus was buried just before sundown as Nissan 14th became Nissan 15th which is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. • See John 19:31, Luke 23:54, Mark 15:42.

Spring Feasts • The first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are known as High Sabbaths. • In Leviticus 23:11, the Hebrews were commanded to offer firstfruits from the barley harvest on the day after the Sabbath. • BUT, there is a difference of opinion as to which Sabbath is referred to here. • It is either the day after the first High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread or after the regular weekly Sabbath.

Spring Feasts • English versions of Matthew 28:1 indicate the women went to see the tomb after the Sabbath (singular) as the day of the week was dawning but Jesus’ body was missing. • Actually, the Greek New Testament indicates they went to Jesus’ tomb after the Sabbaths (plural). • This would have been after both the first High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread and the weekly Sabbath.

Spring Feasts • Therefore, Jesus most likely died and was buried on Wednesday (Nissan 14th) right before sundown and rose from the dead on Saturday evening (Nissan 17th) right after sundown which was technically Sunday (Nissan 18th). • 1 Corinthians 15:20 indicates Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have died. • This allows for 3 full days and nights in the grave.

Spring Feasts • Please see a discussion on the various methods of Counting of the Omer from Torah Resource. • http://torahresource.com/ArticlesEnglish.html • If this is article is too technical for you to process, please go to the end of the article for the summary. • Since Jesus’ death also fulfills elements from the Day of Atonement, the fact He was firstfruits from the dead doesn’t necessarily confirm the correct day to celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits.

Spring Feasts • Traditionally, the Feast of Weeks/Counting the Omer (Hag Shavuot) is when God spoke the Ten Commandments to His people so that He could eventually dwell among them. • On the day of Pentecost (Greek for Hag Shavuot), the Holy Spirit came to dwell within all believers (Acts 2:1-4). • Hag Shavuot is the fulfillment of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Act 2:41, Acts 10:45-46).

Feasts of the Lord • Since Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts with such precision, it makes sense to believe that He will fulfill the significance of the fall feasts in like manner. • This will most likely take place in a year of Jubilee in order to fulfill the typology of the feasts. • It is interesting to note that the Counting of the Omer and Jubilee follow a similar pattern: • Counting the Omer: 7 weeks of 7 days plus 1 day = 50 days. • Jubilee: 7 weeks of 7 years (shavuiym) plus one year = 50 years.

Feasts of the Lord • Both the Counting of the Omer and Jubilee represent a time when God dwells with His people: • Counting the Omer (Pentecost): The Holy Spirit dwells within the hearts of believers. • Jubilee: Jesus will physically dwell on earth in Jerusalem with His people.

The Wise Will Understand • Since the timing of Jubilee is currently debatable, we’ll need to consider a few verses to see if we can get a correct year. • Why? I think God expects us to figure it out. • Daniel 12:9-10 says, “And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” NKJV

The Wise Will Understand • God expected His people to understand the 70 weeks of Daniel and to know when to expect the Messiah when He came the first time. Unfortunately, many people missed it. • Likewise, God expects us to know when He’ll be coming in the future. • This understanding will come as knowledge increases and will be based on world events, other prophecies in the Bible, and a little help from the Metonic Cycle.

The Day of the Lord • BUT what about Mark 13:32-33? • “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” NKJV

The Day of the Lord • Well, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 says, “But concerning the times and the seasons (moedim = feasts), brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” NKJV

The Day of the Lord • Jesus did not know the year or exact day He would return but He certainly knew the season (moed = feast, appointed time) because in Matthew 24:31, Jesus said, “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” NKJV • The Jews have always understood this to be the Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah).

The Day of the Lord • Can we figure out the day of the Lord’s return? • We’re not attempting to prophesy, we’re just trying to understand this as God expects us to… • Remember, the primary reason we can’t know for sure is because the Day of Trumpets is dependent on the appearance of the new moon. • This marked the beginning of the new calendar year. • We need to understand the Metonic Cycle in order to determine the exact day.

70 Weeks of Daniel • Recall from Daniel 9:24 that a total of seventy weeks had been decreed for God’s people. • These “70 weeks” were divided into 7 shavuiym, 62 shavuiym, and 1 last shavuah. • The Hebrew word for “weeks” is shavuiym (plural) or shavuah (singular). • A shavuah is specifically a period of seven years. • This is not some kind of prophetic or Biblical time as some prophecy buffs suggest.

70 Weeks of Daniel • Not all of the 70 weeks (shavuiym) have been fulfilled yet. • Those who study prophecy often try to figure out the details of 70th week (the final shavuah) of Daniel 9:27. • Everyone agrees it is the last 7 years prior to Christ’s return and the last 3 ½ years (1260 days)is known as a period of great tribulation but many base that on a 360 day year which I believe is an incorrect approach. • The Metonic Cycle is critical to understanding the timing of the final shavuah.

Metonic Cycle • Originally, God planned for His people to monitor the changing of the months by the sighting of the new moon. • The sighting of the new moon is important because it insures the feasts of the Lord are celebrated on the correct days of the year and will signal the exact day of Christ’s return. • As God’s people were spread throughout the world, it became impossible for everyone to know when the sighting of the new moon took place in Israel. They had to figure out a way to make is easy to predict the appearance of the new moon for those in the diaspora.

Metonic Cycle • “The Hebrew calendar has evolved over time. For example, until the Tannatic period, the months were set by observation of a new crescent moon, with an additional month added every two or three years to keep Passover in the spring, again based on observation of natural events, namely the ripening of barley to reach the stage of "aviv" (nearly ripened crop). Through the Amoraic period and into the Geonic period, this system was displaced by mathematical rules. The principles and rules appear to have been settled by the time Maimonides compiled the Mishneh Torah.” • See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar

Metonic Cycle • Based on the 7 days of creation, the Jews believe that God has assigned man to have 6000 years -- one for each of the first 6 days of creation plus a final 7th millennium when the Messiah will rule over the world. • This pattern is similar to man having a lifespan of 120 years (Gen. 6:3) or mankind having 120 Jubilees (120 X 50 Jubilee cycles = 6000 years). • 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” NKJV

Metonic Cycle • According to the Jewish Calendar which was created by the Jews, the Hebrew year for 5772 begins September 29, 2011. • The year 5772 is not very close to 6000 years; however, world events seem to be leading up to the final shavuah. • Could the number of years of the Hebrew calendar be incorrect?

Metonic Cycle • According to J. R. Church of Prophecy In the News, it is. • For now, just remember that there are 243 missing years in the Hebrew calendar. • For a full explanation of the 243 missing years, please see : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hcg4hB8mvY • You can also read his book entitled Daniel Reveals the Bloodline of the Antichrist. This book is also discussed in their program archive at http://www.prophecyinthenews.com

Metonic Cycle • Keep in mind: • The sighting of the crescent new moon signals the beginning of the first day of every month, the first day of the year and thereby the count of the dates of the holy days. This is why no one could know for sure the day or the hour of Christ’s return. • Two or three witnesses are required to confirm the presence of the crescent new moon in Jerusalem. • A calendar day actually begins at sundown and changes to the next calendar day when the sun goes down the following day.

Metonic Cycle • The Hebrew calendar used today is based on a 19 year cycle called the Metonic cycle. • The Hebrew calendar normally has 12 months each year but sometimes it is necessary to add a 13th month (an embolismic month called Adar II) if the barley is not ripe. • This ensures that Passover is always celebrated correctly in the month of Nissan when the barley is ripe (in the state of “Aviv” or “Abib”). • The full moon which marks the beginning of Nissan must come after the spring (vernal) equinox.

Metonic Cycle • An embolismic month (Adar II) takes place 7 times in the 19-year Metonic cycle. • Adar II is added in the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years of the Metonic cycle. • This pattern is sometimes described as: 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2.

Metonic Cycle • It is possible to determine which years in the past and in the future had/will have an embolismic month (30 intercalary days); however, Hebrew date converters which convert Gregorian calendar dates (that we use) to Hebrew dates warn us that results for year 1752 C.E. and before may not be accurate when calculating date conversions. • Hebrew date converters found on the internet are an important tool for those interested in prophecy and in celebrating the feasts of the Lord because Gregorian dates calculated from Hebrew dates vary from year to year.

Metonic Cycle • Originally, the months of the year were numbered like the days of the week but eventually they were given names while the Jews were living in Babylon. • Tishrei begins the civil calendar year which is when the number of the year changes. • Nissan begins the religious calendar year which begins the counting of the months of the year for the feasts of the Lord (Ex.12:2).

Metonic Cycle • The months of the Jewish year are: • Tishrei (30 days) • Cheshvan (29 or 30 days) • Kislev (29 or 30 days) • Tevet (29 days) • Shevat (30 days) • Adar I (29 or 30 days) • Adar II (29 days) • Nissan (30 days) • Iyar (29 days) • Sivan (30 days) • Tamuz (29 days) • Av (30 days) • Elul (29 days)

Metonic Cycle • Due to the variation of the number of days in Cheshvan, Kislev, Adar I, the possible presence of Adar II, there can be either 354, 355, 356, 383, or 384 days in a Jewish year. • Remember, the times and seasons of Daniel center around the feasts of the Lord because they are His appointed times and we’ll soon see how the Metonic Cycle fits into all this.

Metonic Cycle • Within the 19 year Metonic Cycle, a shavuah (7 year period) can be either 86 moons (months) or 87 moons (months). • For the timing of the Feasts of the Lord to be fulfilled correctly, we’re looking for a shavuah with 86 moons.

Metonic Cycle • The following 7 year spans have 86 moons: • 2011-2017 (2013 and 2015 have embolismic months) • 2014-2020 (2015 and 2018 have embolismic months) • 2016-2022 (2018 and 2021 have embolismic months) • 2019-2025 (2021 and 2023 have embolismic months) • 2022-2028 (2023 and 2026 have embolismic months) • 2024-2030 (2026 and 2029 have embolismic months) • 2025-2031 (2026 and 2029 have embolismic months) • 2027-2033 (2029 and 2032 have embolismic months)

Metonic Cycle • Can any of these shavuiym be the one we’re interested in? • Remember, the last shavuah should also end in a year of Jubilee. • But when was the last Jubilee mentioned in the Bible?

Metonic Cycle • Before we can discuss that, we must understand that the Jews had a set schedule for the reading of Torah portions (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and Haftarah (Prophetic) portions of Scripture in the synagogues. • Synagogues still follow either a 1 or 3 year reading cycle of Torah and Haftarah portions of Scripture today. • In addition, certain portions of Scriptures are read on their corresponding holy day. • See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah_reading#Origins_and_history_of_the_practice for more details.

Metonic Cycle • In Luke 4:17-19, Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2a in the synagogue in Nazareth. He said He had fulfilled this passage of Scripture as He read it. • Jesus read this passage from Isaiah at the beginning of His ministry – right after His baptism and time of temptation. • In other words, Jesus announced the last Jubilee recorded in the Bible. • BUT, He did not say He fulfilled verse 2b. • Let’s see what it says…

Metonic Cycle • Isaiah 61:1-2 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God…” NKJV • This day of vengeance of our God is also known as the “Day of the Lord” or the day of the Lord’s return. • The reason He didn’t finish reading that verse that day was because He is going to fulfill the rest of verse 2 when He returns in a future year of Jubilee!

Metonic Cycle • The question we need to ask is: • “What year was it when Jesus read the Haftarah (prophetic) portion of Isaiah in the synagogue that day?”

Metonic Cycle • Luke 3:1-3 gives us a clue: • “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” NKJV

Metonic Cycle • This was in the fall of 28 C.E. because according to Luke 3:1-3, John the Baptist began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign. • Tiberius Caesar’s reign began on the 19th of August in 14 C.E. so the 15th year was 28 C.E. • Jesus began his ministry later that same year.

Metonic Cycle • If Jesus’ ministry began in 28 C.E. around the Feast of Tabernacles and ended in 32 C.E. at Passover, His ministry would’ve lasted 3 ½ years. • Remember, Jubilee takes place every 50 years (Lev. 25:10). • Since Jesus announced Jubilee at the beginning of His ministry in 28 C. E., September 16, 2021 – September 30, 2028 seems to be the most likely 7 year span for the last shavuah. • This of course will be dependent on current events.

Metonic Cycle • The Jewish year usually begins in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. • This is a list of the number of days in the following Hebrew calendar years: • Jewish year 5782 (Gregorian Year 2021-22): 355 • Jewish year 5783 (Gregorian Year 2022-23): 354 • Jewish year 5784 (Gregorian Year 2023-24): 384 • Jewish year 5785 (Gregorian Year 2024-25): 355 • Jewish year 5786 (Gregorian Year 2025-26): 355 • Jewish year 5787 (Gregorian Year 2026-27): 383 • Jewish year 5788 (Gregorian Year 2027-28): 355

Metonic Cycle

Metonic Cycle • We can use a Hebrew date converter to transform these dates to our Gregorian Calendar.

Metonic Cycle

Metonic Cycle • The abomination of desolation should be set up in the coming future temple (which is described in Ezekiel) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. • This future temple will be built in troublesome times like when it was built in Ezra and Nehemiah’s time (Dan. 7:25).

Metonic Cycle • In the fall of 2028, 2000 years will have passed by since Jesus announced Jubilee. • Obviously, between 28 C. E. and 2028 C. E. there are 120 multiples of 50 years. • That number should be expected based on our previous discussion about the pattern of man having a lifespan of 120 years (Gen. 6:3) and mankind having 120 Jubilees (120 X 50 Jubilee cycles = 6000 years).

Metonic Cycle • Now you might be thinking about the last shavuah as having 86 moons… • You may be tempted to divide 86 by 2 to find the middle of the shavuah. Which would be43 months instead of 42 months. You would think my theory is wrong. • But we’re not talking about full months. We’re talking about the appearance of the new moon. • There are exactly 44 appearances of the new moon in the first half of the shavuah including Nissan’s in 5785. • There are exactly 42 months in the latter half of the shavuah which is the timing given in Revelation 11:2; 13:5.

Metonic Cycle • There are 1290 days from the beginning of the Tishrei 1, 5782 through Nissan 19, 5785. • Daniel 12:11 says, “From the time the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.” CJB • Dan 9:27 says, “He will make a strong covenant with leaders for one week [of years]. For half of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and the grain offering. On the wing of detestable things the desolator will come and continue until the already decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.” CJB

The Secret of the 1260 Days of Daniel and Revelation