Oddly enough the Bible doesn’t tell us the year of Jesus’ crucifixion. Why is it important? It’s imperative we know the year of Christ’s death because the timing of God’s end time prophecies are very precise and they’re all tied to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. It’s the most important event in human history because if Jesus rose from the dead it means our sins have been forgiven and we too will be resurrected when we die. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will not see eternal death in hell but instead will see the resurrection of eternal life in heaven as God’s children. It will be proof our sins have been forgiven by God.
Mark 13:32 – But about that day or hour (the rapture) no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back (the rapture) and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.
I’m a long time student of Bible prophecy, especially end time prophecy. Bible scholars almost universally agree Jesus died between 29 AD and 33 AD. That’s a five year gap which is unacceptable for those of us trying to pinpoint when the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will occur or when the rapture will happen. Most experts now think Jesus died in either 30 AD or 33 AD, with plenty of people advocating each date. I used 33 AD as the date of Christ’s deaths in my blog titled, “Jesus is Coming!!!” , posted on February 5, 2022. In that blog I calculated the date of the Second Coming of Christ and the rapture. What if I chose the wrong date? I’m currently taking a New Testament course and my renowned professor is of the opinion that Jesus died in 30 AD. My confidence has taken a hit so let’s go back and review the evidence for each date.
Revelation 3:10 – (Jesus speaking) – Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial (the tribulation) which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Matthew 24:30-31 – (Jesus speaking) – Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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.
Before we start I need to explain how the world dating system came into being. It took several centuries after Christ’s death for Christianity to become the dominant religion of the world and for everyone to realize the importance of Jesus’ birth. A Roman world dating system was in use at that time, but in 527 AD Pope John 1 commissioned a noted monk and mathematician named Dionysius Exiguus to come up with a new world dating system that made the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. Dionysius probably based his new world dating system on early Christian writings. There was no zero in his system so the birth of Jesus was set at 1 AD, which means the year before Jesus’ birth would have to be 1 BC, a difference of two years instead of one like it should be. The first year the new dating system was actually put in use became 532 AD. AD doesn’t mean “after death” like some people think. AD is from the Latin “Anno Domini” meaning, “the year of our Lord.” The use of BC (before Christ) for earlier periods in world history did not start until two centuries later, in 731 AD, by a man named Venerable Bede.
Luke 17:34-36 – (Jesus speaking about the rapture) – I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.
Philippians 3:20-21 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (the rapture), who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Right now the majority of scholars advocate the 30 AD date but most Christian laymen still believe Jesus died in 33 AD. If 30 AD is the right date it means Jesus was born some time between 2-4 BC and not 1 AD. God is so precise in everything he does I just can’t bring myself to believe that God would allow a mistake like that in the world dating system that honors his son Jesus Christ. In the gospels we learn that Jesus attended at least three Passovers and possibly four which is not consistent with a 30 AD crucifixion date. Jews can’t be called Rabbi or teach in the synagogue until age 30 and Jesus did both. If Jesus’ ministry lasted three and a half years that’s consistent with the crucifixion date being 33 AD and Jesus being 33 and a half years of age at his death. When Jesus was born and how old he was when he died is not nearly as important for us as the date Jesus died and rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – (Paul describing the rapture) – Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Romans 6:8 – Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.
What do the scholars say about the death of Jesus? First, Jesus was crucified by the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate. We know from Roman historical records that Pilate was the Prefect of Judea from 26 AD to 36 AD which gives us a ten year window for Jesus’ death. Second, we know from the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death that Jesus died on a Thursday (preparation day) before the Passover the following day, which fell on a Friday. Jewish days start at sundown and continue to the following sundown. Jesus was buried before sundown on Thursday and was in the earth for three Jewish days and rose from the dead early Sunday morning, which is why Sunday is the sabbath for Christians. A review of the Jewish calendar and lunar astronomical records show that during that ten year window when Pilate was Prefect in Judea the Passover fell on a Friday only twice; in 30 AD and again in 33 AD. There’s a 99% probability Jesus died on one of those two dates. But which date is the correct date of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection?
Luke 3:1-3 – Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias Caesar, Pontius Pilate became governor of Judea, Herod became 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. And he went into all the region around Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 2:1-5 – And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Agustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
Third, according to the gospel of Luke, John the Baptist’s ministry started in the fifteenth year of the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar. John the Baptist was only six months older than Jesus and he was the prophesied forerunner of Christ, preaching in the wilderness shortly before Jesus started his ministry. The problem is there are two dates for the start of Tiberias’ reign. Tiberias became co-regent with Caesar Augustus in 11 AD and then he became sole regent and Caesar after Augustus’ death in 14 AD so Luke could be referring to either date and be technically correct. With the 11 AD date John the Baptist began his ministry in 26 AD and in 29 AD if the later date is right. That means Jesus Christ probably began his ministry in the following year; which is either 27 AD or 30 AD. The Bible makes no reference to a co-regent ruling with Tiberias so we have to assume their was none which makes the 30 AD ministry date more plausible. If Jesus started his ministry in 30 AD his crucifixion had to have occurred three and a half years later in 33 AD.
Matthew 27:45-46 – Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Daniel 12:2 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
On the other hand, four noted historians from those times independently described a darkening of the sun in the eighteenth year of Tiberius on Nisan 14, the Passover which would be dated 30 AD. This perfectly correlates with the three hours of darkness when Jesus died. It was not a lunar eclipse because Passover is held on the full moon. Eclipses don’t last for three hours and cannot happen during the full moon of Passover. Scripture also indicates Jesus was born during the time of the first Roman census when Quirinius was governor of Syria in 5 BC, but not in 1 AD. The gospels said Herod died in 1 BC and Jesus was born before then (2-3 BC). I was once 90% sure of the 33 AD date for Jesus’ death. I’m still supporting 33 AD as the year Jesus died but my confidence level is down to about 70%. When your confidence level is only 70/30 your best option is to make sure you’re ready for either date to be correct.
Luke 21:36 – (Jesus speaking) – Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass (the tribulation), and to stand before the Son of Man.
Revelation 16:15 – (Jesus speaking) – Behold, I am coming as a thief (the rapture). Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.
I think the clincher for me to stick with the original 33 AD date for Jesus’ death was the actions of Pontius Pilate during the crucifixion week. The feckless behavior of Pilate during Passover week was consistent with 33 AD but not 30 AD. Let me explain. Prior to 30 AD the Roman Emperor Tiberius had retired to the Isle of Capri and left the running of the empire to Lucius Sejanus, the head of the Praetorian Guard in Rome. It was Sejanus who appointed his protege Pilate as Prefect in Judea. Both were antisemites. Normally Roman governors wouldn’t hesitate to ruthlessly exert Roman power at the slightest provocation. If Jesus had come before Pilate in 30 AD he would have been crucified immediately. Pilate wouldn’t have sent Jesus to Herod for judgment and he wouldn’t have tried to wash his hands of Jesus’ death because in 30 AD Pilate was secure politically and his benefactor Sejanus would have made sure nothing negative about Pilate or Judea ever reached the emperor’s ear.
2 Timothy 4:8 – Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (the rapture).
Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Pontius Pilate’s situation had changed dramatically by 33 AD. In 31 AD Tiberias found out Sejanus planned a palace coup so Tiberias had Sejanus executed. Friends of Sejanus, like Pilate, were immediately under suspicion as possible collaborators in the attempted coup against Tiberias. Tiberias was looking for the slightest excuse to replace all of Sejanus’ political appointments so Pilate was on tender hooks and in a very weakened position politically. Pilate simply couldn’t afford a confrontation with Herod nor could he allow a Jewish uprising in Judea or Herod would send a bad report about Pilate back to Tiberias. In my mind, actions taken in those tumultuous times speak louder than the words of historians who lived hundreds of years after those events occurred. Pilate’s actions in Judea were consistent with the political realities that existed in 33 AD but not in 30 AD.
2 Peter 3:8 – But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years (a God day), and a thousand years as one day.
Hosea 6:1-2 – Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.
In verse one of the above Scripture God is referring to nonbelieving Gentiles who receive his grace (salvation). In verse two God is saying the time of the Gentiles will last two days. God is referring to God-days lasting 1000 each, or 2000 years total. If the church age started on Pentecost of 33 AD then it must go to 2033 AD at Pentecost, which is exactly 2000 years, in order to fulfill the Scripture. After this 2000 years God says he will revive us, which is just another way of saying he will rapture the believer. In the same sentence God says he will raise the believer up on the third day so we may live in his sight. The word revive means to return an incapacitated person to their previous state. After Jesus calls all believers to himself in the air (the rapture) he will return us to our previous state of having glorified bodies like Adam and Eve had before they fell from grace. The word “revive” tells us everything we want and need to hear. It also tells us the second day was ended by the rapture and the third day is about to begin.
The beginning of the third day is the Second Coming of Christ and the third day is actually the millennial kingdom of Christ where we’ll reign with Jesus for a thousand years. God doesn’t say “then” after the second day but instead he pauses, which leaves an obvious gap between reviving us and raising us up at the Second Coming (the last Day). That gap is the seven year tribulation period. I’ve often heard the rapture could happen at anytime because there are no more prophecies that have to be fulfilled. I disagree with that. Hosea 6:1-2 tells me the rapture can’t happen until at least Pentecost of 2033 AD. The rapture has to happen between Pentecost 2033 AD and the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and the antichrist. That’s the window in which the rapture will occur but we don’t know the timeframe. The rapture could occur precisely on Pentecost of 2033 AD or God could wait months or years before he pulls the trigger. Godly men can figure out the approximate time of the rapture but only God knows the actual date and time of our “blessed hope.”
There are two more things that lead me to believe Jesus died in 33 AD. During the tribulation we know Russia attacks Israel. If Russia can’t defeat the Ukraine they are certainly no match for the Israeli defense force (IDF). Russia’s army is currently being destroyed by fighting in the Ukraine and who knows when that war will end. Military experts say it’ll take Russia at least ten years to rebuild their armed forces back to their pre-war levels. That timeframe coincides perfectly with 33 AD. If the rapture comes in 2033 AD as I predict then the Second Coming will be seven years later in 2040 AD. If you’re a student of the Bible like I am then you know God is fond of the number forty and any multiple of forty. 2040 AD not only ends in forty it’s a multiple of forty. Jesus left this earth at the Mount of Olives on Pentecost of 33 AD and the angels told the disciples Jesus would also return to that spot the same way he left. The Second Coming will come after the time of the Jews has been fulfilled. All of these facts support 2033 AD as the date for the rapture and 2040 AD as the date for the Second Coming.
Hebrews 9:28 – So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time (the rapture), apart for sin, for salvation.
Matthew 24:42 – (Jesus speaking) – Watch therefore, you do not know what hour your Lord is coming (the rapture).
In a previous blog titled, “Jesus is Coming” I predicted the rapture would occur in April 2026 and the Second Coming on Easter Sunday of 2033. I mistakenly subtracted the seven year tribulation period from the time allotted to the Gentiles. I should have added the seven year tribulation period to the time God deals with Israel (Daniel’s seventieth week) which comes immediately after the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled in 2033 AD. The Scriptures confirm that God has a sense of humor and we know God can laugh. I can see why God would laugh at my feeble attempt to figure out his timeline for the end of time. I don’t mind being laughed at by God or anyone else because I love Bible prophecy and my machinations will never stop. I know what I know and I’ll stand for my beliefs against all comers. I’ll let God decide whether I’ve been faithful or not on the last day. I personally think God is pleased when his servants meditate on the kingdom of God and look forward to the rapture; even if we do get the timing all wrong.
Revelation 20:6 – Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope (the rapture) and glorious appearing (the Second Coming) of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, all of human history, from creation to the Great White throne judgment, will encompass only 7000 years. The seven days of creation represent our 7000 years of human history; seven God-days of 1000 years each. The seventh creation day of rest represents the 1000 year millennial kingdom of God where we’ll rest in Jesus. Do you really think God rested on the seventh day because he was tired? The Scriptures confirm the time of the Gentiles will be two God days, each 1000 years in length. This is the 2000 year church age we’re currently in. The church age began at Pentecost of 33 AD, ten days after the ascension of Jesus back to heaven, when God sent the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell all believers and be their helper forever. This 2000 year time of the Gentiles ends on Pentecost of 2033 at sundown. The rapture won’t occur before then or God’s word would be wrong and that can’t happen. The rapture could occur in the first hour of Pentecost or it’s possible God could decide to wait a little while in order to save as many of the lost as possible.
Isaiah 40:5 – The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
God could also choose to rapture the saints at the Feast of Trumpets which is next Jewish holiday on the calendar. Some people think the trumpets blown during this feast are the same trumpets that will announce the rapture so that makes sense. Next on the calendar comes the most important Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, when Jews repent of their sins and seek reconciliation with God. Yom Kippur would also make perfect sense for the Second Coming. In 2040 Yom Kippur falls on September 16. Or God might even decide to postpone the rapture until just prior to the prophesied peace agreement that Israel will sign because that agreement will begin the seven year Tribulation period. The rapture has to occur before then because God promised to remove his church before the time of God’s wrath, which starts immediately after the peace agreement signing between Israel and the antichrist. It’s true what Scripture says that no man knows the exact day and time of the rapture; only God the Father. However, spiritually aware Christians can know the approximate timeframe in which the rapture could occur. In fact, God wants believers to know the season of his coming so we’ll be ready for Jesus when he appears in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (the rapture). And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Romans 8:18-19 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (the rapture).
It’s important to remember that although the time of the Gentiles will end with the rapture of the saints, God still has to complete Daniel’s seventieth week because God suspended the last seven years of his dealing with Israel at 483 years when Christ was crucified. The Second Coming cannot happen until the 490 years of God’s promised time dealing with Israel has been completed. Believers need to be concerned with the time of the rapture because that’s the important event for us. Forget about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ for now because we won’t be on earth to see it. At the rapture all believers, both dead and alive, will be called to meet Jesus in the air where he’ll give us our glorified bodies before taking us back to heaven with him. At the Second Coming of Christ all the saints in heaven will return to earth in the air with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:14 – Knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus (the rapture), and will present us with you.
Romans 14:9 – For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
In summary, don’t start worrying about the rapture until Pentecost of 2033 AD, but be looking for it from that point onward until the peace agreement is signed by Israel. The rapture could happen immediately after Pentecost of 2033 AD or it could take a while. Everyone will know when the peace agreement with Israel is about to be signed because it’ll be front page news. Don’t be surprised by these events because the Bible tells us they will happen. Continue to witness for Christ and do the good works that God has planned for you to do from the foundation of the world. Watch for the rapture and be ready for it to occur in 2033 AD. Over 500 prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled and documented as fact. That gives us confidence that the remaining 500 plus prophecies in the Bible will also be fulfilled in like manner. So far all the prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled in the time that was allotted to them. Early church believers always greeted each other by saying, “Jesus is coming.” We need to start doing that again because the time of Jesus’ return is near; just ten short years away. When we expect Jesus to return soon there will be greater fellowship among believers and we’ll be better witnesses for Christ.
1 John 5:10 – He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself (the Holy Spirit); he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.