CREATION DATE CALCULATION IN DETAIL
We cannot put a date on the second coming of Jesus, but the simplest possible Bible chronology suggests we are now close to 5930 years after creation, and therefore may expect to see the birth (and significant birth pains) of the final 70 year generation.
The year 5930 plus 70 is 6000 years.
According to the Sexta-Septamillennial Tradition, God is giving mankind six thousand years to multiply on this earth before Jesus returns to usher in his Kingdom. This timeline is based on the six day creation account in Genesis 1, and that for God a day is like a thousand years, (2 Peter 3v8, Psalm 90v4).
The 6000 years may be summarised as follows:
Two thousand years from Adam to Abraham,
Two thousand years from Abraham to Jesus, and
Two thousand years from Jesus until today.
The calculation for the year of creation is remarkably simple:
The 20 generations from Adam until the birth of Abraham span 1948 years.
God’s covenant with Abram in Genesis 15 was at about the age of 85.
Add a further 430 years until the Exodus (Exodus 12v40).
Add 480 years until Solomon began building the temple (1 Kings 6v1).
Historians date this to 966 B.C.
The total: about 1948 + 85 + 430 + 480 + 966 = about 3909 B.C.
Therefore Biblical evidence for the year of creation points to about 3909 B.C.
Adding 2021 years gives a total of 5930 years with approximately 70 years remaining until year 6000.
***A more detailed version of this calculation is below.
Therefore we should study birth to consider what God may have planned for the birth of the final generation which is one of the main purposes of the Cross2Victory mission.
While Bible chronology has some ambiguity as will be discussed, the calculation demonstrated here seems to be the simplest, most straight forward.
This chronology may prove to have real prophetic value as a true sign from God. It connects with astonishing astronomical evidence:
Four Heavenly Signs
Heavenly Signs have occurred prior to the beginning of each 2000 year period:
Two thousand years from Adam to Abraham,
Two thousand years from Abraham to Jesus, and
Two thousand years from Jesus until today.
The seventh millennium is for rest and reward.
The corresponding heavenly signs are as follows:
Birth of creation — the Revelation 12 sign of 3915 B.C.
Birth of Abram — the sign of Jasher 8.
Birth of Jesus — the Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2).
Birth of the final generation — the Revelation 12 sign of 2017.
The first and the last of these heavenly signs are astronomical alignments called, “The Revelation 12 Sign”. They look identical in astronomy software and present the birth of Jesus in the sky.
The first Revelation 12 sign occurred in 3915 BC, six or seven years before the year of creation in about 3909 BC.
The Revelation 12 sign is understood to be a six or seven year warning, so the timing appears to be a perfect confirmation of the creation date, or perhaps the date of the fall when Adam and Eve sinned and left the garden of Eden.
Abraham was also born with a heavenly sign, then like baby Jesus and Moses, he was almost killed by the King as recorded in the book of Jasher ch. 8. The book of Jasher is not in the Bible but is referenced in Joshua 10v13 and 2 Samuel 1v18. See also Abraham’s Prophecy
Jesus was born with a heavenly sign that the Magi saw in the east and followed to worship Jesus (Mat 2v2, 9-10). King Herod tried to kill him, but Jesus escaped.
There was a real astronomical event at the time of Jesus’ birth that can be seen in astronomy software. Rick Larson presents this sign in his documentary film, The Star of Bethlehem.
The recent Revelation 12 sign occurred on 23rd of September 2017. The Eclipse Reversal occurred on 5th January 2015. These signs are described in Rev 12v1-5 and depict the great calamity and miraculous escape that occurs at the time of birth.
With the six or seven year warning in mind, please be alert to world war three in approximately 2023 or 2024.
Daniel 11v36-44 describes how this war will begin so that we may act with great wisdom and foresight to help many people escape the calamity. This is explained on the page, “God’s Plan”.
Seven Step Calculation
The calculation is broken into 7 steps as outlined here. The detailed calculation will follow this format.
1. The 1656 years from creation to the flood, using Genesis 5 and 7.
2. The 292 years from the flood to the birth of Abram using Genesis 11.
3. About 85 years from the birth of Abram until the Covenant using Genesis 12, 15 and 16. (There is also some ambiguity to discuss.)
4. The 430 years from God's covenant with Abram until the Exodus and the Mount Sinai law as per Galatians 3v15-17 and Exodus 12v40.
5. The 480 years from the Exodus until the fourth year of King Solomon with the building of the temple, 1 Kings 6v1.
6. And 966 BC is the accepted fourth year of King Solomon’s reign when the temple building works began.
1656 + 292 + 75 + 430 + 480 + 966 = 3909 BC.
7. To get to our present time add the AD years:
3909 BC + 2021 AD = 5930 years AM.
(AM is “Anno Mundi” - “Year of the world”)
If a child born today lives for about 70 years: 5930 + 70 = 6000 years AM.
Therefore the final generation of Mat 24v34 may may be born which is presented in Scripture as possibly 40, 50, 70 or 80 years.
To reiterate:
This calculation cannot predict the year or even the decade of Jesus' return, because there will be no sign of the end, but special signs are given at the time of birth.
DETAILED CHRONOLOGY
The Timeline from Creation — 6000 years
Chronology in Scripture can be followed with some ambiguity, intentional of course, all the way from the creation of Adam and Eve to the building of the first temple in the fourth year of King Solomon, 966 BC, which historians believe is accurately dated.
The year of creation is year 1 AM.
AM means Anno Mundi, which is Latin for “Year of the world”.
BC means Before Christ
AD means Anno Domini, which is Latin for "in the year of the Lord".
To know the current date in AM format we need to know the year of creation, so the calculation begins...
If Adam and Eve were created in the year 1 AM, then Seth was born in the year 130 AM (Gen 5v3), etc.
The detailed chronology of creation is arranged in 7 steps:
STEP 1
The 1656 years from creation to the flood.
Genesis 5
Verse 1 When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. (Gen 5v1)
3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. (Gen 5v3)
6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh.
9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.
12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.
15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.
18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.
25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.
28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah
32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Genesis 7v6
Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. (also Gen 7v11).
Adding up the above years places Noah's flood in the year 1656 AM
STEP 2
The 292 years from the flood to the birth of Abram.
Genesis 11
Verse 10, Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. (I included the 2 years but it is ambiguous with 5v32 and 7v6).
12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.
14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.
16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.
18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.
20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.
22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.
24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.
26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram
There were 292 years from Noah’s flood until the birth of Abram.
With 1656 years from creation to the flood and then 292 years to the birth of Abram:
1656 + 292 = 1948 AM
Therefore Abram was born in 1948 AM
Birth of Abram Question
Archbishop James Ussher’s well known calculation dates creation at 4004 BC, but he ignored v26 above by assuming that Abram’s journey began when Terah died at age 205. His theory was based on Acts 7v4, but that interpretation is disputed. According to Gen 11v26 and 12v4 Terah was 145 years old when Abram set out from Haran.
The books of Jubilees and Jasher confirm Terah was still living when Abram set out from Haran, so the reference in Acts 7v4 to the death of his father may have been to Noah who was also a Father to Abram. The death of Noah in 2006 AM may have given Abram inspiration for his journey.
If as James Ussher claimed, Terah was 130 years old when Abram was born, the birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100 years old would have been unremarkable. However, Gen 17v17 and 18v12 show such a thing was unheard of in those days.
Therefore as Gen 11v26 states, Abram was born when Terah was 70 years old.
A SIGN
An intriguing observation here is the prophetic parallel that emerges between the years AM and AD:
Abram was born in 1948 AM…
The modern nation of Israel was also born in 1948 — AD !
Abraham was the father of the nation of Israel, so this is a perfect place for such a sign. With this in mind the next part of Abram’s life in step 3 is very interesting.
STEP 3
The 85 years (approx.) from the birth of Abram until the Covenant.
However there are three possible covenants made with Abram. Due to this ambiguity we need to consider a 24 year period when Abram was 75 to 99 years of age, (Genesis 12 and 15-17).
The LORD called Abram to begin his journey in Genesis 12v1, promising him great blessings.
“So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” — Gen 12v4.
The call of Abram:
1948 + 75 years = 2023 AM
The End Times Journey of 2023
The intriguing parallel between the AM and AD years continues. As Abram began his journey in 2023 AM this appears to confirm the prophecy for 2023 AD - (Abraham’s Prophecy).
Abram’s journey involves a large chiasm of birth pains during which these covenants are made.
A ‘chiasm’ is a pattern of mirroring ideas.
Chiastic structure: A, B, C, D, E, d, c, b, a
A mirrors a, B mirrors b, etc.
The chiasm is 10 chapters long, spanning Genesis chapters 12-21:
12 Call of Abram, sojourn BORN
12 pandemic Egypt, Sarai sis.
13-14 war, Lot rescued
15 covenant of parts
16 -- BIRTH -- Ishmael?
17 covenant of circumc.
18-19 destructn, Lot rescued
20 pandemic Gerar, Sarah sis.
21 Isaac BORN
The chiasm is all about birth. The call of Abram mirrors the birth of Isaac on the outer extremes, and at the focus of the chiasm is the birth of Ishmael. Troubles along the way progress through pandemic, war and destruction to covenant, and the birth of Ishmael, a blessed slave child.
This sequence of events is highly relevant to the prophecy that we are considering about world war three and the birth of the final generation. The covenant that marks the next division in time has special end-times significance, as discussed here:
Which Covenant?
We need to know the timing of God’s covenant with Abraham because step 4 below is measured from a certain covenant promise, but which covenant is debatable.
There are three possible covenants in the 24 year period spanning Genesis 12 — 17, all relating to the time of birth as part of the above mentioned chiasm of birth pains.
The call of Abram at 75 years of age is when God made some important promises. It’s a possible covenant, but the word ‘covenant’ is not actually mentioned in Genesis 12, so while possible, it’s a little less certain.
The covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17 is also a possibility, made when Abraham was 99 years old, shortly before Isaac was born, but it is an “everlasting covenant” (Gen 17v7, 13, 19).
Instead of an everlasting covenant, a more suitable covenant should relate to the period of slavery that defines the next division in time of Step 4.
The most fitting covenant to mark the next division in time is ‘the covenant of parts’ in Genesis 15. There are a few reasons:
The covenant is near the focus of the chiasm immediately prior to the birth of Ishmael, a blessed slave child.
The covenant is for a long time period — 400 years (Gen 15v13), which is similar to the 430 years of step 4. (The 30 year difference can be explained…)
The covenant is for a time of slavery in a land not their own (Gen 15v13). Step 4 of the calculation covers slavery in Egypt.
The covenant was made in apocalyptic circumstances which relates well to the idea of an end-times journey beginning at a time of birth.
The apocalyptic circumstances of the Covenant of Parts is interesting, being made in a ‘thick and dreadful darkness’ (Gen 15v12) just after a major war in Gen 14, and near the centre of a chiasm of birth pains.
Other covenants also came after great calamities, for example:
The covenant with Noah followed the flood and represents a birth or baptism (1 Peter 3v18).
The covenant at Mt Sinai followed the plagues and the exodus from Egypt, also relating to birth, and called a baptism. (1 Corinthians 10v1-2)
These things are believed to ultimately resemble the circumstances of the birth of the final generation.
The covenant of parts was made when Abram was 85 years old, as “Abram had been living in Canaan ten years” Gen 16v3, but it wouldn’t take effect for another 30 years, as will be explained in step 4.
In summary, step 3 of the calculation is to the Covenant of Parts:
1948 + 75 + 10 = 2033 AM
We could say 2033 is within a 40 year range of less 10 or plus 30 years with regards to the covenant, to be further discussed in step 4.
STEP 4
The 430 years from God's covenant with Abram until the Exodus
The 430 years is mentioned in Galatians 3v15-17 and Exodus 12v40 when the law was given at Mount Sinai, just after the exodus.
Galatians 3v15-17
15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”
Exodus 12v40-42
“The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.”
430 Years includes both Egypt and Canaan
The 430 years cannot refer only to the time in Egypt but must also include time in Canaan. Proof is seen in the combined lifespans of Levi’s descends, Kohath, and Amram who was the father of Moses.
Kohath was among the seventy who travelled to Egypt with Jacob (Gen 46v8, 11 & 26). Kohath was the father of Amram and lived a total of 133 years (Ex6v18).
Amram was the father of Moses and lived a total 137 years (Ex 6v20).
Moses was 80 at the time of the exodus (Ex7v7).
Adding these only gives 350 years, but of course Kohath was probably not a new born when they went down to Egypt, and their lives will also have overlapped, so the period in Egypt was much less than 350 years.
Exodus 12v40 in the Greek Brenton Septuagint provides further confirmation that the 430 years includes time in Canaan:
“…Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Chanaan, was four hundred and thirty years.”
The Samaritan Pentateuch concurs with the Septuagint, as does the apostle Paul in Galatians 3v15-17. Paul measures the 430 years from the covenant promises made to Abram.
The 30 Year discrepancy
A question arises, why is the covenant only for 400 years in Gen 15v13 while the Exodus is said to be 430 years later?
This 30 year discrepancy concerns the heir of the promise.
The four hundred years of the covenant were given to Abraham’s descendants or “offspring” to be strangers or ‘sojourners’. But at that time Abram still didn’t have any offspring, so the 400 years couldn’t begin right away.
The additional 30 years apply to Abram during the period from the covenant until Isaac would come of age to be a sojourner and eligible as heir to Abraham (Gen 15v2-4 and 13).
Legal responsibilities were given to boys when they came of age, when showing signs of maturity at the age of puberty.
The covenant was made when Abram was about 85 years of age.
Ishmael was born when Abram was 86, but Isaac was eventually born when Abraham was 100.
The covenant wouldn’t legally apply to Isaac until he was about 15 years of age, so Ishmael had an advantage.
In Galatians 4 Paul discussed how the law and the covenant relates to Isaac:
“If you belong to Christ Jesus, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.” — Gal 3v29 - 4v1-2
Ishmael was considered Abraham’s offspring (Gen 21v13) and perceived as a rival to Isaac while he was of legal age of entitlement and Isaac remained under age (Gal 4v1).
Ishmael was just coming of age, about 15 or 16 years old when Isaac was weened. He had an advantage and was mocking, (Gen 21v8-10)
So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. — Gal 4v3-5
In Galatians, Paul continues to discuss Hagar and Sarah as two kinds of covenant, the two different births. Ishmael and Isaac present the struggle between flesh and spirit.
Abraham was in great distress during this period (Gen 21v11). He loved Ishmael, but he was forced to send Hagar and Ishmael away, which represents repentance, or putting off the flesh symbolically.
This is also our struggle as we repent by putting off the desires of the flesh so that we may live by the Spirit.
Paul as a fatherly Abraham figure suffers “the pains of child birth until Christ is formed in you” (Gal 4v19).
The 400 years of Gen 15v13-14 began when Isaac, the seed of Abram came of age (Gal 4v1-2) as heir and sojourner (Gen 15v2-4, 13). Isaac was born 15 years after the Covenant of Parts, and came of age at around 15 years of age, 30 years after the covenant was made.
2033 (+ 30) + 400 = 2463 AM
The 430 years is measured from the Covenant of Parts in Gen 15 to the Exodus:
2033 + 430 = 2463 AM
STEP 5
The 480 years from the Exodus until the fourth year of King Solomon
King Solomon began building the temple in his 4th year, 1 Kings 6v1.
There were 480 years from the Exodus until the building of the temple.
1 Kings 6v1
“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord.”
From the exodus to the Fourth year of King Solomon (1 Kings 6v1).
2463 + 480 = 2943 AM
STEP 6
966 BC is considered a solid historical date for the fourth year of King Solomon.
2943 + 966 = 3909 AM.
Therefore about 3909 BC = 1 AM or Anno Mundi - “Year of the world”
The Creation date is about 3909 BC.
STEP 7
To get to our present time add the AD years:
3909 BC + 2021 AD = 5930 years AM.
Year 5930 AM
AM is “Anno Mundi” - “Year of the world”, and is a measure of time from the year of creation, or perhaps from the fall of Adam and Eve.
The year 5930 relates to the birth of the final generation.
Adam lived 930 years (Gen 5v5). By God’s grace we have had an additional 5000 years since then. (5 represents God’s grace).
Consider the 5000th anniversary of the death of Adam!
Biblical chronology is prone to ambiguity, but a simple approach is likely to be most correct, especially with astronomical evidence for confirmation.
God created the sun the moon and the stars and said, “let them be for signs and for seasons” — Gen 1v14.
With the amazing astronomical evidence of the Revelation 12 sign, this chronology appears to be a true sign pointing to the birth of the final generation.
Minor adjustments could me made for issues such as inclusive counting. That is, whether or not to count the first year. The Jewish system of counting includes the first year, but we typically start at zero and count 1 on the second year.
The ambiguities of the chronology are probably intentional, especially regarding the 40 year period of Covenant making between God and Abram. Ambiguity serves a purpose:
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” — Acts 1v7
The theological prophetic evidence leads us to expect around 40 to 80 years for the final generation of Mat 24v34, until the 6000th year of creation when Jesus will return.
Biblical typology has a clear focus on periods of 40, 50, 70 or 80 years — again, the journey of the final generation will have a 40 year range of ambiguity as to the length.
Someone might make a case for a 100 year generational life span, or at an absolute maximum 120 years, but these don’t appear to fit prophetic picture presented in Scripture.
In my opinion the progressive shortening of the human lifespan, especially in a harsh post apocalyptic environment excludes anything longer than 80 years for those who are obedient in putting off the flesh and walking by the Spirit.
It will be different for those who engage in the ungodly practices of this world. Through technological advancements the human lifespan may have no technical limit, but that will be the lie and the deception of the antichrist when the people of the world begin to reunite.
God says, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” — Gen 11v6
Biblical chronology is especially significant with regard to the recently observed heavenly sign which has now occurred twice in human history: The “Revelation 12 sign” of 3915 BC and 2017 AD. See also the Response to Critics
This astronomical alignment matches exactly the sign John foresaw in Revelation 12v1-2, and is believed to be a seven year warning sign for the births of the first and last generations in accordance with the testimony of Jesus.
The sign of the dragon (Rev 12v3), the Eclipse Reversal appeared in 2015, two years in front of the birth. There were exactly 5930 years from the sign of 3915 BC and 2015 AD.
3915 + 2015 = 5930 years!
The Eclipse Reversal being part of the seven year warning signals that it is now time for war to begin in 2022. God’s 777 signs are additional evidence. So please be alert to the Daniel 11v36-44 prophecy.
Nuclear war will be a fall for the final generation producing pollution similar to the curse that Adam and Eve suffered when they sinned and were cast out of the garden of Eden.
If you see this conflict coming, please do whatever is in your power to warn people, and to help people prepare for a storm like when Noah built the ark, or when Joseph prepared for the famine. God is with us, Immanuel.
Many signs are now being observed providing strong evidence to those who are willing to consider it — that the time has come for prophecy to be fulfilled.
Update:
In early 2022 a potentially serious war began when Russia attacked Ukraine.
Russia attacked Ukraine seven years after the Eclipse Reversal and Biblical Blood Moon Tetrad — true seven year signs!
Signs of birth have been seen in the sky, especially The Revelation 12 sign of 2017. This perfect seven year warning sign appears to be pointing to a climax of birth pains in about 2024 — World War Three.
War is not to be feared. Jesus says, don't be alarmed. “Such things must happen but the end is NOT YET.” — Mat 24v6.
No-one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return, and it certainly can’t be calculated. There will be no sign of the end.
Instead, God gives us signs at the time of birth.
The main significance of this calculation is in regard to the birth of the final generation, which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24v34:
“I tell you the truth this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”
The birth will be a major earth shaking event, world war three. Then we will know the end-times journey has begun.
The Revelation 12 Sign
The Revelation 12 sign of 23rd September 2017 is the most important sign that we have seen in recent years. It is an alignment of the sun, the moon and the stars precisely as described in Revelation 12v1-2, and it represents a birth.
777 Signs
God is currently giving us some astonishing signs that point to a return of Trump and nuclear war. God does miracles to keep his people safe, and these signs are miraculous in themselves.
Eclipse Reversal
The Eclipse Reversal sign relates to the birth of the final generation, and delivers the message, “God's dragon has appeared at the time of the end”. This is the sign of Revelation 12v3.
The dragon wants to devour God's child. This points to the coming war and world government, but God keeps His family safe because our time has not yet come. We have the gospel to preach to all nations before the end comes.
God’s Plan
To consider the significance of these signs, please see “God’s Plan”. Prophecy reveals Jesus, and Jesus reveals the journey of God’s people in the last days.
Prophecy begins at birth. There are many typological examples of the birth of Jesus in Scripture, and by studying these we may learn about the birth and journey of the final generation.
The message is urgent because these signs we are currently seeing are pointing to the war that will fulfil the major part of the birth pains of the last days.
Those who are aware and understanding have a unique opportunity to act now, with foresight, to help many people escape the hour of trial believed to be coming on the world.
