Written by: Christopher Sernaque
Dear Readers,
Below are 5 argument summaries that prove that validity of the dates of the 2,300-year prophecy that have historically been taught by Bible-believing Seventh-Day Adventists:
The 2,300 Days
Determining the date of Jesus’ baptism from His age and the year He was born/year Herod died.
Herod died in the year 4BC.
Therefore, Jesus could not have been born after 4BC.
When Herod died, Jesus was still called a “young child”, which is an infant from newborn to 12 months. (Matthew 2:8,9,11,13,14,19-21.)
Moses, who typifies Christ, was also called a young child when he was three months old. (Acts 7:17-20)
Therefore, Jesus could have been no older than 12 months in 4BC.
Jesus was baptized when he was 30 years of age. (Luke 3:21, 23)
In order to determine the date for Jesus’ baptism, we must subtract 4 from 30 and arrive at 26. Because we are transitioning from BC to AD, just like we do on a number line, we must add one. We thus arrive at 27AD as the date for the baptism of Christ and thusly Christ fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 9:24 by being anointed at His baptism. (Acts 10:36-38)
Determining the date of close of probation for the Jewish nation and the crucifixion of Christ from the stoning of Stephen.
Daniel 9:24-27 prophesies the close of probation of the Jewish nation.
The close of probation occurred when the Jewish church stoned Stephen in Acts 7, as made evident by the fact that Christ was seen standing, which Biblically represents the close of probation. (Acts 7:54-60, Luke 13:24-28, James 5:9, Ezekiel 9:3-6)
Historians, even Catholic historians, date the stoning of Stephen in 34AD.
Thus, the close of the Jewish church’s probation occurs exactly as predicted, seven years after the anointing of the Messiah. (Daniel 9:24-27)
Quickly going to back to Daniel 9:24-27, the Bible predicted that in the midst of the last prophetic week, which is 7 literal years, Jesus would be crucified as the “Passover Lamb.” Passover is one of the spring feasts (Exodus 23:15), and 3 ½ years back from 34AD would be the spring of the year 31AD. Because Christ’s crucifixion took place in the Spring of the year 31AD, the stoning of Stephen must have taken place in the Autumn of the year 34AD, as that is 3 ½ years later.
Determining that Jesus was baptized in AD 27 because AD 27 is the 15th Year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.
Christ was baptized in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. (Luke 3:22-23)
The Bible indicates that we should begin the year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar when he was co-ruler with Augustus. This is indicated by the fact that the context outlines the co-rulership of Pontius Pilate and Herod, Phillip and Lysanias, and Annas and Caiaphas. (Luke 3:1-2)
Tiberius was co-ruler with Augustus in the year 12AD, and thus the 15th year of his reign would be 27AD.
Christ was baptized in the 15th year of Tiberius’ reign, therefore Christ was baptized in the year 27AD.
Determining the date of Jesus baptism, from the first Passover He went to after His baptism.
Christ was baptized in John 1:29-34.
John 2:13-25 chronicles the first Passover that Christ went to after His baptism.
In speaking with Christ, the Jews mention that it has taken 46 years to renovate the temple. (John 2:20)
Herod began renovating the Temple in the year 19BC. In order to arrive at the time at which Christ and the Jews were speaking, we must subtract 19 from 46, which results in a difference of 27. However, because we are again making the transition from BC to AD, we must add one year.
Thus, the conversation between Christ and the Jews at the temple took place in the Spring of the year 28AD, which is after Christ got baptized in the fall of the year 27AD.
Determining the date of Jesus’ baptism from the date which the foundation of the Temple was laid.
There are 14 generations from the laying of the foundation of the temple to Christ coming to it. (Matthew 1:17).
14 generations are 560 years. (40*14=560) (Psalm 95:10)
Cyrus began to reign in 536BC, and the Jews laid the foundation for the temple in the second year of his reign, or in the year 534BC.
The “desire of all nations”, which is Christ, was prophesied to come to the temple after its foundations were laid. (Haggai 2:7,18)
In order to arrive at the time when Christ went to the Second Temple, we need to subtract 534 from 560. This leaves you with a difference of 26, however, because we are again transitioning from BC to AD we must add one, which leaves us with the year 27 AD.
Christ went to the temple to preach, as predicted, in the year 27AD. (Luke 4:16).
Jesus, while at the Temple, makes the reference of the fact that He had been anointed that same year, and thus He was baptized in the year 27AD. (Luke 4:16, 18; Luke 3:21-23, Acts 10:36-38)
