On the Road to the 7th Millennium
Written by Darrell Genzlinger in May 1997
Last revised in Summer of 2003

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A fairly recent event in Israel brought to the chalkboard an age old problem. In 1996, Israel celebrated the 3000th anniversary of making Jerusalem the capital of Israel by King David. This declaration assumes some knowledge by the Israelis for arriving at their decision. If the Israelis are correct in establishing the year 1005 B.C. as the year that Jerusalem became Israel’s capital, then we can get a handle on the age of the world, and consequently, on the end of the 6th millennium. How the Israelis calculated the year when Jerusalem became the capital of Israel is not known for sure but the date does agree within one year of Edwin R. Thiele's 'The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings'.

Using 1996 as the starting date, one can approximate the end of this age. In fact, the later year for the end of the age can be calculated. But first, two major events of Scripture have to be dated, in particular, the birth of Abraham and God’s covenant with Abraham. Figure 1 is the method used for calculating the start of the 7th millennium. Figure 3 shows the chronology of Biblical events from creation.

First date Second date Second date Third date Third date Fourth date Fourth date Fifth date Fifth date Sixth date Sixth date Seventh date .

1996 A.D. -3000 years 1005 B.C. 1005 B.C. -36 years 969 B.C. 969 B.C. +480 years 1449 B.C. 1449 B.C. +430 years 1879 B.C. 1879 B.C. +85 years 1964 B.C. 1964 B.C. +2008 years 3972 B.C. 6000 years -3972 B.C. 2029 A.D. .

The year Jerusalem celebrates its 3000th anniversary The year David moved the capital of Israel from Hebron to Jerusalem (subtracting 1 year for going from A.D. to B.C.) David reigned for 33 yr. + Solomon for 3 yr. before the Temple was built The year King Solomon starts building the Temple Temple construction was started 480 years after the Israelites left Egypt The year of the Exodus Israelites left Egypt 430 years after the Abrahamic covenant The year of the Abrahamic covenant God made a covenant with Abraham when he was 85 years old The year Abraham was born Abraham was born 2008 years after the world was created God created the world End of the 6th millennium The start of the 7th millennium (adding 1 year for going from B.C. to A.D.)

Figure 1

The chronology of events in Scripture is based on the Masoretic text of the Bible. I am well aware of the life span and lineage's of the patriarchs being different in the Septuagint from those in the Masoretic writings. I believe the Greek translation of the Bible has errors in it. The Jews of the second century of the Christian Era probably did too. They abandoned the Septuagint in favor of the Masoretic text.

Abraham’s (Abram’s) birth
The number of years between creation and Terah, Abraham’s father, is given in the book of Genesis. Terah was born 1878 years after creation.

Gen. 11:26 reads, “And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.”

At first glance, Gen. 11:26 implies that Terah begat Abram when he was 70 years old. Because Abram was mentioned first, one assumes Abram was the first born of Terah. However, further study of this verse and the following verses, especially Genesis 11:32, Genesis 12:4 and Acts 7:4, would lead one to conclude this to be an incorrect interpretation.

If Terah was 70 years old when he begat Abram, and Abram was 75 when he moved his wife and his nephew to Canaan, then this would make Terah 145 years old when Abram moved to Canaan. But, Gen. 11:32 says Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran. This could only happen if Terah lived 60 years after Abram had moved to Canaan. But Acts 7:4 says that Abram moved from Haran to Canaan when his father was dead. Thus, Terah begat Abram when he was 130 years old or older.

The question is, ‘Can Terah father a child at the age of 130 years’? Abraham did. In fact, Abraham was older than 137 years. Sarah (Sarai), Abraham’s wife, died when Abraham was 137 years old. And then, Abraham married Keturah and had six sons by her. He died at the ripe old age of 175.

If Terah was older than 130 years when he begat Abraham, how much older?

Gen. 11:30 tells us Sarah was barren when Abraham, Sarah, and Abraham’s nephew, Lot, moved from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran. This would lead one to conclude that Sarah was at least 40 years old or older (Abraham 50 or more) when they moved to Haran. And Terah would be 180 years old or older.

If Terah had Abraham at an older age than 130, then the world would be older by the difference between Terah’s age at the time when he begat Abraham and 130. I tend to believe Abraham moved his family within a year or less after his father’s death. Acts 7:4 seems to support this by using the phrase ‘when his father was dead’.

Now if we can make the connection between Abraham’s birth and the building of the Temple, we will have approximated the age of the world.

Abrahamic covenant
God made a covenant with Abraham, a minimum of five separate times (Gen. 12:1-3, Gen. 12:7, Gen. 13:15, Gen. 15:1-21, and Gen. 17:1-22).

The first was in Haran when Abraham was 75. God promised to give him some land, to be a great nation, and to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. (Gen. 12:1-3)

The second time was in Canaan shortly after they arrived. The Lord said, “Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him”. (Gen. 12:7)

The third time was in Canaan after Abraham came back from Egypt where he had gone to escape a famine, and after he and Lot had split up. The Lord said unto Abraham, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever”. (Gen. 13:15)

The fourth time was the first time that Abraham questions God. It was before Abraham’s tenth year in the land of Canaan; and before Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid, became pregnant by Abraham. (Ishmael was born of Hagar when Abraham was 86 years old.) The Lord God reassures Abraham of His covenant plus He promised him to live to a good old age and to give his descendants a land with boundaries. God also told Abraham his descendants would be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will be afflicted by them for 400 years, but they will return to this place in the fourth generation. (Gen. 15:1 -21)

The fifth time God spoke to Abraham was when he was 99 years old. God reaffirms His former covenant. Abraham is told, for the first time, his heir will be born of Sarah and he will be named Isaac. God says that Isaac and his descendants are to receive the everlasting covenant. (Gen. 17:1 - 22)

430-year period
The 430-year period is only mentioned twice in Scripture. Once in chapter 12 of the book of Exodus, when the Israelites were leaving Egypt, and again in chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the Galations.

Ex. 12:40-41
Verse 40: “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.”
Verse 41: “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.”

Verse 40 makes it sound as if Israelites were in Egypt 430 years. This passage is clarified in the third chapter of Galations.

Gal. 3:16-17
Verse 16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Verse 17: “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.”

The Law given by God through Moses cannot annul the promise given by God in Christ to Abraham 430 years earlier. Therefore, the 430-year period is a period that began with the Abrahamic covenant and ended with the giving of the Law that occurred only two months after the exodus from Egypt. This author believes it started when Abraham was 85 years old.

What then is meant by the 400-year period mentioned in Genesis 15?

400-year period
The Israelites were not in Egypt 400 years either. The 400 years referred to in Genesis 15 must be talking about Jacob (or Israel) and the Israelite nation, i.e., Abraham’s descendants. The nation of Israel was born with the birth of Jacob and the 400-year period ended with the conquest and dividing of Canaan amongst the 12 tribes of Israel. (Josh. 14)

Gen. 15:13 reads “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed [Christ] shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs [the nation Israel], and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them [the nation Israel] four hundred years." The words in brackets have been added for clarification.

Gen. 15:16 says “But in the fourth generation they [the nation Israel] shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”

The genealogies of the tribe of Levi and Judah are given in Scripture, and therefore, the prophecy above can be verified (Gen. 46, Ex. 6, Num. 1, and Matt. 1). The four generations are as follows:

Levi's offspring
Kohath, Gershon and Merari went to Egypt as youths, or at least unmarried.
1. Amram was born in Egypt, died at age 137 years.
2. Aaron was born in Egypt, died at age 123 years.
3. Eleazar born in Egypt, was at least 30 years old.
4. Phinehas was born in Egypt.

Judah's offspring
Perez, Zerah and Shelah went to Egypt.
Hezron went to Egypt when approx. 20 years old.
1. Ram was born in Egypt.
2. Amminadab was born in Egypt.
3. Nahshon born in Egypt, was greater than 20 years old during the Exodus.
4. Salmon was probably born in Egypt, married Rahab, the harlot from Jericho.

The book of Joshua gives Caleb’s age when he was sent to spy out Canaan and when the Israelites divided up the land. Caleb was 40 years old when he was sent as a spy (Josh. 14:7). Because he and Joshua were ready to take the land, they were spared from dying in the desert during the forty years when all men over the age 20 died off. Caleb was 85 years old when they divided up the land amongst the twelve tribes (Josh. 14:10).

From the above analysis, the exodus from Egypt occurred 2523 years after the creation. Now to make the link for connecting the exodus with 1005 B.C.

Exodus-to-Temple Period
In II Samuel 5:3, it states that David reigned over Judah 7 years and 6 months in Hebron and then he moved to Jerusalem where he reigned for 33 years over all Israel and Judah. King David’s son, Solomon, took over after David’s death. King Solomon was responsible for building the Temple. I Kings 6:1 reads, “And it came to pass in the four hundred eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord”. So, the Temple was started 33 + 3 = 36 years after David moved to Jerusalem, or 969 B.C. As a result, the exodus from Egypt occurred in 1449 B.C. or 2523 years after creation.

Figure 3 shows the chronology of Biblical events discussed above, along with many other events. The figure gives time in years from creation, in reference to our present calendar, and in reference to Abraham’s birth.

This completes the analysis for determining the upper bound on the age of the world. Assuming the Jews were correct in calculating the 3000th anniversary of Jerusalem. Now, I would like to give some other Bible passages that seem to support 2029 A.D. as the start of the seventh millennium.

Supportive Evidence - Prophecy in Luke
Jesus prophesied his second coming to the Pharisees in Luke 13:32 when he told them to “Go, tell that fox [Herod], ‘Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’”

It should be noted that Jesus is not talking about His resurrection here. This prophecy was given sometime after His ministry had started here on earth. Yet, it was before the week of His crucifixion, so it cannot be referring to His resurrection.

Jesus has been performing miracles for the last two days, or two thousand years. Whereas, people like Peter and Paul performed miracles including healing, casting out demons and raising people from the dead, it was through the power of Jesus that they did this.

The third day I shall be ‘perfected' (KJV, NKJV), ‘finish’ (AAT), or ‘reach my goal’ (NIV). The footnote in the Pilgrim Study Bible says ‘I shall have finished the work that I came to do’. Strong’s Concordance gives the definition of the Greek word ‘teleioo’, as complete, accomplish, consummate, consecrate, finish, fulfill, make perfect.

Figure 2 describes what Luke 13:32 means to me. It fits quite well with the my article on Dating Christ’s Death and Resurrection, dated November 27, 1996.

Years from Creation - A.M.	Date	Event
0 4000 - 4001 4001 - 5000 5001 - 6000 6001	3972 B.C. A.D. 29 29 - 1028 1029 - 2028 2029	Creation First Coming (Jesus began his ministry) Day 1 (today) Day 2 (tomorrow) Start of the third day (Christ’s Second Coming ???)

Figure 2

Supportive Evidence - Prophecy in Psalms
Psalm 90 is used quite extensively to prove that a thousand years is like a day (verse 4) but what about verse 10. Verse 10 has something to say too.

Ps. 90:10
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

The phrase ‘we fly away’ could be referring to our flying away in the rapture.

If we add 70 or 80 years to 1948, the year Israel became a nation again, we arrive at the year 2018 or 2028. However, this refers to the rapture, and not to Jesus’ Second Coming. If this is the correct interpretation of Scripture the rapture occurs at least 7 years before Jesus Christ’s Second Coming but probably after A.D. 2018.

Supportive Evidence - Prophecy in Matthew
Jesus made a very peculiar statement during passion week. He cursed a fig tree because it did not have any fruit on it. An inanimate object - - why did he curse a fig tree? This is the only time, that I can recall, in Scripture, that God curses an inanimate object. Besides, fig trees are not likely to have any figs on them when their budding in the spring.

Then, later in the week He tells His disciples the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree, most likely, represents the nation of Israel. Matthew and Luke record this parable.

Matt. 24:32-36
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his [Israel’s] branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Verses 29-31 of the same chapter tell us what ‘all these things’ are. Everything that He mentioned in Verse 4 through Verse 31 including the tribulation and Christ’s Second Coming.

A reasonably literate person in the Bible during the tribulation should know the week or month or year of Jesus’ Second Coming, but not that day and hour.

‘This generation’ cannot mean the people living in Jesus’ day. So, it must mean those people who see the fig tree budding or the birth of Israel as a nation. How long is a generation? It could be 70 or 80 years.

Come Lord Jesus.

Years from Creation	Date (B.C.)	Years from Abraham’s birth	Event (from Gen. 5, Gen. 11 or other stated reference)
0 130 235 325 395 460 622 687 874 930 987 1042 1056 1140 1235 1290 1422 1558 1651 1656 1657 1658 1693 1723 1757 1787 1819 1849 1878 1996 1997 2006 2008 2018 2026 2049 2083 2083 2093 2094 2096 2107 2108 2126 2133 2145 2148 2158 2168 2183 2187 2208 2231 2239 2246 2259 2276 2288 2289 2298 2315 2369 2443 2523 2562 2563 2568 2960 2967 3000 3003 3010 4001 4005 4042 5920 5968 6000 6001	3972 1964 1879 1804 1449 1410 1409 1404 1012 1005 972 969 962 721 586 516 444 396 A.D.29 A.D.33 A.D.70 A.D.1948 A.D.1996 A.D.2028 A.D.2029	----- 0 10 75 85 86 99 100 125 137 140 160 175 200 223 231 238 251 268 280 281 290 307 361 435 515 554 555 560 952 959 992 995 1002 -----	Adam created SEVENTH DATE Seth born of Adam when he was 130 Enos born of Seth when he was 105 Cainan born of Enosh when he was 90 Mahalaleel born of Cainan when he was 70 Jared born of Mahalaleel when he was 65 Enoch born of Jared when he was 162 Methuselah born of Enoch when he was 65 Lamech born of Methuselah when he was 187 Adam dies Enoch was taken by God when he was 365 years old Seth dies at age 912 Noah born of Lamech when he was 182 Enos dies at age 905 Cainan dies at age 910 Mahalaleel dies at age 895 Jared dies at age 962 Shem born of Noah when he was 502 Lamech dies at age 777 Methuselah dies at age 969. Flood begins. Flood ends Arphaxad born of Shem 2 years after the flood when he was 100 Salah born of Arphaxad when he was 35 Eber born of Salah when he was 30 Peleg born of Eber when he was 34 Reu born of Peleg when he was 30 Serug born of Reu when he was 32 Nahor born of Serug when he was 30 Terah born of Nahor when he was 29 Peleg dies at age 239 Nahor dies at age 148 Noah dies at age 950 Abraham (Abram) born of Terah when he was 130 SIXTH DATE (Determined by analysis from Gen. 11:32, Gen. 12:4, Acts 7:4) Sarah (Sarai) born. Reu dies at age 239 Serug dies at age 230 Terah dies at age 205 Abraham, Sarah & Lot leave Haran and dwell in Canaan (Gen. 12:4). God made covenant with Abraham. FIFTH DATE Start of 430 year period ending with Exodus (Gen. 15:18, Ex. 12:41). Ishmael born of Abraham & Hagar (Gen. 16:16). Arphaxad dies at age 438 Ishmael circumcised (Gen. 17:25). Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed. Isaac born of Abraham & Sarah when Abraham was 100 (Gen. 21:3-5). Salah dies at age 433 Abraham offers Isaac as a sacrifice (Josephus' Antiq.b.1, c.xiii). Sarah dies at age 127 (Gen. 23:1). Isaac marries Rebekah at age 40 (Gen.25:20). Shem dies at age 600 Jacob (Israel) & Esau born of Isaac when he was 60 (Gen.25:26). Start of 400 year period prophesied in Gen. 15:13. Ends with dividing of The Promised Land. Abraham dies at age 175 (Gen. 25:7). Eber dies at age 464 Esau marries at age 40 (Gen. 26:34). Ishmael dies at age 137 (Gen. 25:17). Jacob flees to Haran and lives there for 20 years. Jacob weds Leah at age 78; 7 days later weds Rachel(Gen. 29:20-30). Joseph born of Rachel. Jacob flees Laban & returns to Canaan after 20 years (Gen. 31:41). Joseph sold into slavery at age 17 (Gen. 37:2). Isaac dies at age 180 (Gen. 35:28). Joseph becomes Egypt's Minister of Agriculture at 30 (Gen. 41:46). Jacob, at age 130, and his posterity move to Egypt after 7 good years and 2 lean years (Gen. 45:11, Gen. 47:9, Gen. 47:28). Jacob dies at age 147 (Gen. 47:28). Joseph dies at age 110 (Gen. 50:26). Moses born. Israel leaves Egypt (the Exodus). FOURTH DATE End of 430 year period stated in Ex. 12:41. Aaron dies at age 123 (Num. 33:38). Moses dies at age 120 (Deut. 34:7); 30 days later Israel enters Canaan, The Promised Land, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Israel divides Promised Land amongst the 12 tribes (Jos. 14:10). End of 400 year period prophesied in Gen. 15:13. David begins his 40-year reign as king of Israel (I Kings 2:11). David makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel (I Kings 2:11). SECOND DATE 3000th Anniv. of David making Jerusalem the capital of Israel in 1996. (No known reference, Possibly Edwin R. Thiele's, "The Mysterious Numbers of Hebrew Kings") Solomon begins his 40-year reign as king of Israel (I Kings 11:42). Solomon starts temple in the 4th year of his reign (I Kings 6:1) THIRD DATE 480 years after the Exodus (I Kings 6:1). Solomon’s temple completed (I Kings 6:38). Assyria takes the Northern Kingdom of Israel (II Kings 18:10). Solomon’s temple destroyed (II Kings 25). Zerrubbabel’s temple completed (Ezra 6:15). Command to rebuild Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1, Dan. 9:25). End of Old Testament prophecy (??) Jesus began His ministry Crucifixion of Jesus, the Messiah Temple destroyed by the Romans Israel becomes a nation by a vote of the United Nations 3000th Anniversary of Jerusalem being the capital of Israel START - FIRST DATE End of the 6th Millennium (??) Start of the 7th Millennium (??)

Figure 3: Chronology of Biblical Events

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