56 Comments

1. Concerning day of week when Christ crucified: 1) have to allow 3 days before resurrection on Sunday morning, so it is not Friday. 2) First day of Passover was a Sabbath, as per Exodus 12:16 & Leviticus 23:7, so Preparation Day does not have to be Friday, since there would have been two Sabbaths that week. 3) Thursday or Wednesday would be better(3 days burial), with Thursday best, since the women would have had to wait Friday and Saturday before taking their embalming spices to the tomb, because they were both Sabbaths. If it was Wednesday when Jesus was crucified, the women could have gone there on Friday rather than Sunday, so that is not probable.

   • I am familiar with these issues. Please see the FAQ, Kenneth.

     Blessings!

   • Kenneth, I am in complete agreement with you on a Thursday crucifixion. I arrived at this conclusion based on a study of the Scriptures related to the events of the death, burial and resurrection coupled with OT law on the observance of Sabbaths.

     I really appreciate all of the work on the star question, but find it interesting that he had to work Dec. 25th into the equation. Even if the magi were to have arrived in Bethlehem in December, it was “in the house” not in the manger; And the Child was nearly 2 years old which is why the order was given to kill all the boy children 2 years old and younger. I do not understand why we are so wed to the date of DEC. 25?

     • There is no “need” to include December 25. That date meant nothing to them, and they did not use our calendar system. However, this is the date upon which the Star stopped over Bethlehem on our modern calendar. It’s just a fact.

     • It does not necessarily mean that Jesus was nearly 2 years old. It means that it was about 2 years before that the wise men saw the Star. Around that time there was a conjunction of planets three times over two years. The wise men saw the first conjunction and started out. The Bible says that they rejoiced to see the star again when they came out of the Palace at Jerusalem [2nd conjunction] If they had been following the star all the way they would not have been so excited to see it again.

     • There is one date that everyone misses. That is the date of the choosing of the Lamb. God said it was to be on the 10th day of the month and slain on the 14th. Exodus 12:3-6. When was the Lamb chosen? When He rode into Jerusalem and was acclaimed by the crowds. That is why Jesus said that if the children kept quiet, the stones would cry out. It was the day of the choosing of the Lamb and nothing could stop it. That day clearly was a Sunday. The Lamb had to be examined to see if it was perfect. On the succeeding days Jesus presented Himself in the temple and was questioned by Scribes Pharisees Sadducees and eventually by the High Priest, King Herod and Pilate. No one could find fault in Him. Pilate finally declared ‘I find no fault in Him.’ Jesus was crucified on the 14th in fulfilment of the requirements laid down by God Himself. that would have been Thursday night. The Passover lamb at the temple was tied to the altar at 9am and slain at 3pm – the hours Jesus was on the Cross. He went into the tomb on 15th to fulfil the Feast of Unleavened Bread, taking our sins with Him. [leaven is a type of sin] He rose on Sunday [the third day] in fulfilment of the Feast of Firstfruits. He was the firstfruits of the Harvest.

   • Kenneth I agree, Thurs fits it all together, the missing day, the special Sabbath, gives the three days and three nights (any part of a day counts as one). He rose before sunup on Sunday, so Sunday day time does not count as a day. It seems the one assumption about Josephef dating or Herod, may be what is getting the star alignment off a day? Anyway interesting discussion and I am sure the Lord will straighten it out for all of us when we see Him face to face.

     Blessings

     • I’m certainly not dogmatic about these questions guys. But, neither am I a neophyte. I’m familiar with Issues you are discussing. Several of the entries in the FAQ bear directly on the arguments you are making. My perspective, of course, has to do with astronomy. Events in the sky cannot be bumped one day here or there. They are what they are.

   • The scriptures do not say he was dead for 72 hours/3 days. It simply says on the third day he rose from the dead. So, from sun down Thursday night until sundown Friday night, is one day, from Friday sun down to Saturday sundown the second day, from Saturday sun down to Sunday sun down the third day. Friday began on Thursday evening/sun down. Why would anyone think the women had to “run” out to the local store to buy the spices needed to prepare the body? They likely already had possession of them. They are women…they were prepared already. They were ardent followers of their Lord and had heard what was about to happen. Does anyone really doubt that they didn’t believe Him?

     • except John 20:1 teaches us that on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene ran to the tomb and found it empty.

   • The year 31 A.D. works best! On that year, Nissan (Abib) 14 lands on Wednesday April 25th per the astronomical model from the “The United States Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC)”. The First Day of the unleavened bread (Nissan 15) IS the Sabbath not the Passover proper which is known also as preparation day. The sign of the prophet Jonah requires three days and three nights. With crucifixion & death by mid afternoon and burial on Wednesday just before sunset you have three nights and three days fulfilling the sign of Jonah. Y’shua resurrected before the weekly Sabbath ended exactly 72 hours after His death. This was discovered after the weekly Sabbath ended, still on Saturday but already on the first day of the week by Jewish reckoning, when the women rushed to the tomb to perform embalming rites. The rabbinical sources (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 39b) claim that 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple, the doors to the inner court opened by themselves and for 40 years the lot cast on the he goats didn’t pick the right hand. Josephus also records this event on a Passover but doesn’t date it. For this reason the Encyclopedia Judaica dates the crucifixion on 30 AD. But there is no contradiction, there are 40 Passovers from 31 AD to 70 AD inclusive. If you take the 30 AD date to 70 AD inclusive, it results in 41 Passovers. Likewise, if you assume the crucifixion on 30 AD then it results on a Friday April 7 Passover.

   • No, the Wednesday April 25 (Nissan 14) 31 AD date works best. The Women knew there was a roman soldier watch for three days at the tomb so they would NOT have gone there on Friday but after the weekly Sabbat as they did. Furthermore, John the Baptist began his ministry in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (Lucas 3:1). Tiberius became Caesar (emperor) to the death of Augustus Caesar the August 17 of the 14 C. E. The first year of his ascension to the throne of Caesar from 17 August until Rosh Hashana (October 13 of the 14 C. E. ) and so on we have 15 years until the 27 C. E. If we speculate that Juan began his ministry in the Rosh Hashana (Festival of Trumpets), this has much prophetic sense as the ten days of awe or reflection until the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) are very much in agreement with the preaching of John the Baptist. If Y’shua was baptized shortly after Rosh Hashana in the 27 C. E. this meets perfectly with the prophecy of the prophet Daniel for the three and a half years, half of the week “years” (Daniel 9:26 ) , forty and two months, 1260 days of the Messiah’s ministry.

   • Exactly my point. The bible gives you enough clues to come to that conclusion!

2. Food for thought,
   Kenneth is correct. According to the OT there can be more than one Sabbath in a week if one of the Festivals that has a High Sabbath occurs sometime other than Saturday. Let’s lay out a timeline.
   Luke 23:54, He was buried as the Sabbath drew on.
   Mark 16:1, The women bought burial spices after the Sabbath.
   Luke 23:54-56, The women prepared spices before the Sabbath.
   They bought spices after the Sabbath and then prepared them before the Sabbath? That puts Jesus in the tomb for an entire week, unless there were two Sabbaths with one day in between. That puts the crucifixion on a Wednesday afternoon, not Friday. That also allows for the 3 nights in the tomb, according to His word, since he was up and walking around before the sun came up on the first day of the week, John 20:1. The year that matches that timeline is in 31 AD. So, what were the stars doing then? I’d be fascinated to know.

3. I have found Rebekah’s statements to be a more correct time line for the death of Christ. I was able to solve this from the Testaments, study and Sabbath keeping for years. I wish there could be a correction of the timeline to match the Birth timeline, this would successfully change Christian doctrine and help many Jewish scholars who have thought our three day timeline inconsistent.

4. Would not any day before the Passover be refered to as a preparation day since Passover was a Sabbath?

5. Jesus was baptized in 27 A.D. (fifteenth year of Tiberius Ceasar, began his reign in 12 A.D.)
   Luke 3: 1,21-23. Jesus was crucified on Passover 31 A. D. Passover was wednesday . There is no friday crucifixion. Jesus was born 3 B.C. on the Feast of Tabernacles.

   • This is correct for all days and dates, only the year of that first Tabernacles do I differ with (choosing Oct. 5, 7 C.E. for the birth, and the 12th of that month for His presentation).
     Thanks for stating this which is the ‘most concurred with’ all info considered!

6. Martin’s chronology has Jesus dying in 30 AD but you favor 33. Is there other evidence that points toward 33 as being right?

   • Of course. You can start with what you find on this website. There is a large section on this site concerning this question. Also, please use the menus on the site to find the academic resources. There you will find Finnegan, Hohner, and others.

7. I have to say that I watched the youtube presentation and I am in awe of the celestial timeline. I have been of the opinion of the Thursday Passover for over 20 years as I went to a messianic church back in college. I do agree with the Thursday AD 31 timeline from that perspective. But if this is an accurate model of the stars back at that time, as I’m sure that it is, I will say that the scripture that he uses, that by the way is true, is speaking loudly and in conjunction with the signs in the heavens causes me to sit back and prayerfully ponder what it all means. I for one am more interested in what God is saying than in what I’m hearing. Imagine seeing those events unfold at that exact time of day, down to the minute. For anyone not to see these events as predestined, then I don’t know what would be.

8. Great dvd Mr. Larson. Great information presented in a very interesting way.

   I do still have a question that others here have asked, and I’m not finding the answer on your site. Maybe you could give a link. I’m not getting this – “Putting these two Biblical puzzle pieces together, we see that the crucifixion must have occurred in a year when Nisan 14 happened to fall on a Friday, Preparation Day. That narrows things down considerably.”

   Why did Nisan 14 have to fall on a Friday? I had come to the conclusion that a Friday crucifixion was only a tradition and did not allow for Jesus being dead for 3 days. Not arguing or even trying to teach – just trying to get it. 😀

   • The Jewish lunar calendar system (and our solar one) allows days of the month to float among days of the week. For example your birthday is always on the same day of the month, but not always on the same day of the week. That’s how we know from these three verses that Jesus was killed when Nisan 14 fell on Friday. Please see the FAQ for more on the three days and three nights issue. There are several relevant entries. Hope this helps!

9. Larson,

   I wanted to thank you for your hardwork and steadfast research. It is refreshing to see you interact with others that may be dogmatic and passionate about their views and research. Fact is fact and you can’t change it, but many seem to try and argue it. I don’t discourage verifying truths or facts, but I just wanted to express my appreciation to you of how you handle and interact with others on these issues. I know it must be tiring all your travels and dealings. I will pray for you and hope you find encouragement in strength in the small things along the way. I need to get more of your DVD’s for my command group to experience. My ministry is here in the Military. I ask for your prayers as well. Thank you.

   BENJAMIN MOORE
   1LT, MP
   OPERATIONS

10. Hi, I watched your DVD and was stunned, just wondering if you could give me the web adress for the sky simulation program you used, will you please?

    • I use Starry Night. Check the FAQ at bethlehemstar.net

      Blessings!

      R

11. Notwithstanding the interpretation that Peter’s quotation of Joel (about a blood moon, due to a partial eclipse on Apr. 3, 33 AD), referenced the crucifision, I feel Harold Hoehner of Dallas T.S. was off by about one month in his calculations, and that the correct date for the crucifixion was Friday, May 1.

    I say this chiefly because the requisite number of 173,880 days for Daniel’s 69 weeks, running backward from the Day of Triumphant Entry (Hoehner has it at Mar 30), necessitates a (Julian) Mar. 5, 444 BC beginning ‘bookend’ date for Daniel’s prophecy. The problem with this is that archaeological records show that in 14 instances the Jews at Elephantine (in the 5th century BC) began Nisan seomwhere between Mar. 26 and Apr. 24 (within a day). Therefore even if we allow for a 6-week window for the beginning of Nisan, Mar. 5 is too early. But by advancing the ‘bookends’ one month later, this places both ‘bookends’ within the acceptable range. Thus I calculate that the 69 weeks ran from Apr. 6, 444 BC to Apr. 27, 33 AD, with the crucifixion on (Friday) May 1, and the Resurrection May 3.

    Further (if of much lesser note), when we consider the drift of the Julian Calendar, Mar 5 would more or less equal the seasonal ‘feel’ of our Feb. 28, making the 16th of Nisan ‘feel’ like our Mar. 15, which seems too early a date for barley to have matured to its first edible state, which the Offering of First Fruits required.

    Personally, I feel that the archaelogical records, not Peter’s quote of Joel (which IMO doesn’t NECESSITATE that it be a referent to the event of the crucifixion) strikes me as the weightier evidence needing to be reconciled.

12. My wife and I just watched your DVD that we purchased from Amazon. We absolutely loved it. One of my all time favorite books is E.W. Bullinger ‘Witness of the Stars”. I have read it two or three times. I know I will treasure your DVD and watch it for years to come.

    I like others on here disagree with your date of crucifixion but was fascinated with the data on the Lunar Eclipse. I have placed Jesus crucifixion on Aviv (Nisan) 14 in 32 AD. So I checked out the Nasa Lunar Eclipse data and found that there was one also on April 14, 32 AD which matches up to Nisan 14. You can view it here http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/0001-0100/LE0032-04-14T.gif. (I base the 32 AD crucifixion using the Hebrew calendar based on Lunar data from 445 BC the 2nd of Nisan to 10 Nisan 32 AD which is 5888 moons + 8 days, or 173,880 days.)

    I understand the difficulties in running perpetual Julian calendars given the shenanigans that happened at the council of Nicea in 325 AD when they moved the winter Solstice from December 25 to December 21. There was a lot of anti anti-Semitism that occurred there. The Romans up to that point observed an 8 day a week cadence called the Nunidal Cycle they wanted to move to Seven days a week but no way wanted to synchronize it with the Hebrew seven day a week calendar. The way they made the correction was absolutely deceitful.

    Well I am getting off on a Rabbit Trail here, sorry for rambling.

    Keep up the great work and God Bless you and your family!!!!

    William Black

    • William:

      If you get a chance to study this site, you will find several lines of evidence that lead to the 33 A.D. date. More than I could include (or would be appropriate) on the DVD.

      I’m guessing that you will enjoy reading Hoehner, which I was able to link in fulltext on the academic resources page of the site. Also, Finnigan, however that book is not available in fulltext, at least that I have found so far, and the paper version has become expensive. I would suggest the library. Because you are a fan of Bullinger, you might also enjoy Rolleston’s Mazzaroth, which is the basis of much of his work. Much to enjoy!

13. Mr. Larson’s statement about a 33 AD date for the crucifixion has the support of an interesting line of evidence involving Artaxerxes’ ascension. 5th century papyri written in Aramaic by Jewish mercenaries at Elephantine reveal that Cowley no. 6 papyrus is dated to Jan. 2, 464, a document which places itself in Xerxes’ 21st year and Artaxerxes [i]ascension[/i] year.

    All this suggests the accession of Artaxerxes did not go smoothly, since (according to the Britannica Encyclopedia) Persian astrological records show an August, 465 BC assassination date for Xerxes, which should have meant (from the Elephantine Jewish perspective) a short accession year of one or two months for Artaxerxes, in which case he would have begun his 1st regnal year upon the 1st of Tishri, 465.

    But because the papyrus is dated Jan. 2, 464 BC and places itself in Artaxerxes’ [i]accession[/i] year, this shows there was a delay in Artaxerxes’ accession until after the 1st of Tishri, 465. According to at least one ancient history, Artaxerxes’ elder brother was involved in the plot to assassinate Xerxes, thus inaugurating the struggle between brothers. Whether this or something else caused the delay, the papyrus in any event demonstrates a delay in Artaxerxes’ accession. And so this affects what regnal year was in fact Artaxerxes’ 20th year, a thing of importance as it marks the beginning ‘bookend’ of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy. As for the reason the papyrus refers to Xerxes’ 21st year, it was an artificial extension of that king’s reign, presumably for chronological purposes, so that when Artaxerxes’ began his 1st regnal year (by Jewish reckoning) upon Tishri, 464, the reigns of kings’ years can be added together in simple addition to get the sum total. Incidentally, as a matter of historical record, the Persians did use accession year reckoning.

    Thus the 20th year of Artaxerxes mentioned by Nehemiah ran from Tishri up to Tishri 445/444 BC, with Nisan falling in the spring of 444. Therefore 483 years of 360 days each brings us to a Nisan, 33 AD crucifixion.

    • Good stuff, Dan, I’m sorry that Harold Hoehner has gone to be with our Lord. We three will have plenty of opportunity for a great discussion when the time comes 🙂

14. Dear Mr Larson,
    There is something I don’t understand about the birth of Jesus. “BC” means “Before Christ”, does it not? So, if you say that Jesus was born 2BC then you are saying that He was born 2 years before His birth??? Please explain to me what you mean. I really would appreciate your clarification on this.

    • Janet, the dividing line of history was set by a monk named “Dennis the Short”. He could not have imagined the influence and historical trail of his work.

      His conclusion made sense with the information he had at hand. And he came close—without the internet. Let that sink in.

      Most current scholarship shows that Christ was born before one AD. Please check the academic resources page at bethlehemstar.net

      Begin with Steinmann. He’s linked in fulltext.

15. Mr. Larson,

    I’d like to express my gratitude for your faithfulness and perseverance in figuring all of this out! I’m amazed at the detail. The way in which the astronomy, math, Jewish calendar, & world events match the Word of God floor me! I’ve watched your video repeatedly – I can almost quote it verbatim! Thank you for all of your hard work.

    So, my question is this:

    Is it your opinion that in the last days the Antichrist will appear, claiming to be the ‘Messiah’ starting at Passover (or on Nisan 10 when Christ rode in on the colt being hailed The King of the Jews when the prophetic clock stopped) and the Great Tribulation will then unfold for 3.5 years ending at RH/YK/FOT? If Christ’s perfect work on this earth was laid out along this timeline, doesn’t it stand to reason the AC’s will work backwards? (If I’m not confusing you.) Any thoughts you have on this would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you again for all of your hard work. Please also thank Julie Davison Larson for the beautiful music that added to the DVD. It was wonderful. May God bless you & your family.

    In Christ,

    Pat

    • Pat, Julie and I thank you for your kind encouragement! At this point, I am not called to discuss future events (check the FAQ). I do think that Mark Biltz is doing interesting work in this area. If you have not already learned about the tetrads, I suggest you do so.

      My current research is geophysical, and I hope you will visit christquake.com for more information.

16. Dear Mr Larson, I noted in your website where you proposed the year 30 AD or 33 AD as the year of the cruxifixion of Christ. According to the Babylonian talmud “The rabbis taught: Forty years before the Temple was destroyed, the lot never came into the right hand, the red wool did not become white, the western light did not burn, and the gates of the Temple opened of themselves, till the time that R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: “Temple, Temple, why alarmest thou us? We know that thou art destined to be destroyed. For of thee hath prophesied Zechariah ben Iddo [Zech. xi. 1]: ‘Open thy doors, O Lebanon, and the fire shall eat thy cedars.'”
    If all this happened with the crucifixion of Christ and knowing that the second temple was destroyed in 70 AD Could this be a cue that the year of the crucifixion could be dated to 30 AD? Thank you in advance for any comments.

    Marta Zettle

17. Based on the dates April 7, 39 AD and April 3, 33AD
    Go to the link below and see that these 2 days fell on a Thursday.
    Very cool to see just enter the dates above and see for your self.
    http://www.moonpage.com/index.html

    Tuesday night – Passover Seder (meal), prayer in Gethsemane, arrested,
    brought before the Jews
    Wednesday morning – before Pilate, on the cross by 9 a.m., dead by 3 p.m.² ( on preparation day)
    Wednesday night – Y’shua in the tomb – first night, High Sabbath begins at sundown (Passover and Feast of unleavened bread)
    Thursday – Y’shua in the tomb – first day, High Sabbath,
    Thursday night – Y’shua in the tomb, second night, end of High Sabbath
    Friday – Y’shua in the tomb, second day, spices bought & prepared on preparation day for weekly sabbath.
    Friday night – Y’shua in the tomb, third night, weekly Sabbath begins
    Saturday – Y’shua in the tomb third day, weekly Sabbath rises 3pm.
    Saturday Night – Y’shua NOT IN THE TOMB, End of weekly Sabbath

    Think about the stone was rolled away when Mary got to the tomb on the first day.
    I hear a lot of people saying the since the stone was moved on the first day that’s when He rose. This I know. Christ/Yahushua the messiah did not have to move the stone to escape the tomb. He just walked out.
    I think the guards heard Him leave the previous date. Rolled the stone away, saw he was gone and left! Mary got there the next morning and that’s is what she saw.

18. The prophecy in Daniel of Christ has nothing to do with his crucifixion, it is about his birth. It there will be seven sevens, and “62 sevens until he comes, not until he dies. It says after the 62 sevens he will be cutoff, there is no time frame for that. Just as there were three different invasions of jerusalem from 605bc to 586 BC there were also three different returns. Using the lunar calender of 354 days a year as the old testament does if you add up the time frames of each return and don’t include the time in between the returns it adds up to 49 years. Then from there 62 sevens comes to 3/4 BC. The time Christ was born. From there 30 years is 26 ad. And 3.5 years later is 30 ad. Now he arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover, nowhere between his arrival.at Bethany and the crucifixion was there a sabbath, so he had to have arrived in Bethany on Sunday the day after the sabbath. When he came to jeruselem it was the 10th the day the lamb without blemish was to be kept until the Passover when he would be killed at twilight. So Thursday the 13th was when he was crucified and twilight that began Passover the 14th was when he died as the sacrifice. So he was in the grave thurs. night, fri.night. And sat night. Just as he said he would be three nights and three days just
    Ike Jonah . He rose on sun. The day of first fruits , thus fulfilling every prophecy. Also in Daniel the decree of Cyrus in 539 BC is the only decree that reflects the prophecy. And if you really study bible prophecy you will see they always happen in threes the number of god. Such as the covenant of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. The exodus happened in three stages, their release, 40 years of wandering, and the conquest of the promised land. Even the 70 sevens are split in threes. In revaluation there are 7 seals 7 trumpets and 7 bowls. You never need to cook the books with the bible, it is always accurate. The question of Herod is simply it is Herod archaleus not Herod the great. The death spoken of in Matthew refers to when was deposed.

19. I miss wrote that last part, I ment Herod archaleus took over for Herod the great before he died, and then was deposed in 6 ad. Herod the great was physically unable to retain his throne so his son took over which explains how he didn’t die in 4 BC .

20. Mr. Larson,
    I was hoping that you might be able to give me your opinion on a couple of things.

    First, I can’t afford “Starry Night” so I am using “Stellarium” which is free. Is it just as good or do you know?

    My findings so far seam to match yours:
    From Babylon -2 AD (3 BC):

    August 11th, at 19:00, Jupiter & Venus conjoin (in Leo), it might be visible all day long.
    August 24th – September 3rd, Venus & Mercury conjoin and dance
    September 11th – 18th, Jupiter crowns Regulus/Rigel in Leo
    September 11th is a New Moon, (the Feast of Trumpets), New Year
    September 10th – 12th, Venus, Mercury, the Sun and the Moon remain lined up, Revelation 12:1-2
    September 21st (the Day of Atonement), at 21:00 Mercury and the Sun in close proximity to Spica
    September 26th Full Moon, the Feast of Tabernacles, (Jesus born?)

    June 17th – 18th -1 AD (2 BC) Jupiter & Venus conjoin (in Leo), it might be visible all day long. The Wise Men depart for Israel?

    I’m not sure what to look for to verify that Jupiter “stopped” “stood over where the young child was.” (Matthew 2:9) on December 25, -1 AD (2 BC)

    Thank you so much for all the work that you have done. I will certainly be directing people to your research.

    I do however strongly disagree with your conclusions about the date of the crucifixion.

    For one thing it appears to me that your math is way off?
    If Jesus was born in September of -2 AD (3 BC), and as the Scripture says, and you point out,
    “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, …” -Luke 3:23 when He began His ministry.
    If we count forward from September of -2 AD (3 BC) we come to around 27 AD when Jesus was “about thirty years of age”. (If the crucifixion was in 33 AD wouldn’t that make Jesus between 35-36 years old at the crucifixion??? That can’t be right!)

    After Jesus is baptized Daniel’s 69th week ends and the 70th week begins. The 70 weeks began in 457 BC with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

    Now Daniel 9:26-27 tells us “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: … And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

    So Jesus would have been crucified in the midst of the week. That is a week of years, or 7 years.

    So 3 1/2 years plus 27 AD equals around 31 AD

    Nisan/Abib 14 (the Preparation of Passover) fell on the 4th day (in the midst) of the week in 31 AD, which is the 25th of April.

    Jesus said that, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” -Matthew 12:39-40

    Many people say that Jesus doesn’t mean a literal 72 hours, but Jesus says, “… Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” (John 11:9-10)
    So Jesus is clearly defining a day as 12 hours and distinguishes it from the night, which would also be 12 hours.

    Jesus died at about the 9th hour which was 3 PM Wednesday and was placed in the tomb at about sundown, (7 PM), at which point the High Sabbath known as the First day of Unleavened Bread began.

    The women then bought and prepared spices on Friday after the Thursday High Sabbath and rested Saturday the weekly Sabbath, (see the comparison of Mark 16:1 & Luke 23:56).

    Jesus then rose exactly 72 hours after he was placed in the tomb which would have been around sundown on Saturday which was the beginning of the first day of the week. When the women started out for the tomb, “it was yet dark”, (John 20), and yet it was also “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,” (Matthew 28) And “they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” (Mark 16) Jesus didn’t appear to anyone until after sunrise on Sunday morning, (1st day of the week), which was the day of First Fruits, when He appeared to Mary Magdalene, (Mark 16:9).

    Wednesday April, 25th, 31 AD is the only day that fits every scripture reference including your research of the star of His birth.

    I also believe based upon the accounts of Thallus and Phlegon recorded by Sextus Julius Africanus that there was a solar eclipse at the time of the crucifixion. The moon could not have been the cause of the solar eclipse, however, because it is a full moon. Some other planetary body must have passed between the earth and the sun for 3 hours causing both the eclipse of the sun and a world wide earthquake. Unfortunately we will not find it on any star software as its path is not known.

    • Please check the footnotes and FAQ. I have written much material there concerning your comments.

21. Thank you Mr. Larson, I have now had the chance to read all of it.

    I mean no disrespect Sir, and I hope that you agree that IF our conclusions, (whether drawn from history or astronomy), do contradict the word of God, or create contradictions in the word of God, then they are false. The Bible is our only 100% pure standard by which we can know the Truth.

    From what I can see, you have not addressed Jesus’ description of what a day is in John 11:9–10, and if the crucifixion was not on Wednesday how do you reconcile Mark 16:1 & Luke 23:56?

    I note that you say under:
    “Is there a candidate Passover lunar eclipse on a Wednesday or Thursday?”
    “No. Checking NASA’s eclipse database for Passover lunar eclipses (March, April and May eclipses) in the years 30–34 AD, worldwide, there are two lunar eclipses which might have been seen from Jerusalem: Sunday, April 25, 31 AD and Friday, April 3, 33 AD. Neither of these occurred on a Wednesday or a Thursday. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE0001-0100.html”

    But Nisan 14, in the year AD 31 did in fact fall on WEDNESDAY, April 25, not Sunday.
    see http://www.calendarhome.com/day-of-week.html

    Here it is on Stellarium:
    Solar Eclipse:
    http://postimg.org/image/i1dzpu437/full/
    Lunar Eclipse:
    http://postimg.org/image/5dkvg5qgj/full/

    The Lunar Eclipses from the Moon:
    Wednesday, April 25, 31 AD
    http://postimg.org/image/d5qct370l/full/
    Friday, April 3, 33 AD
    http://postimg.org/image/jqmv5x113/full/

    It appears to me that although the Earth does not fully Eclipse the Sun, on Wednesday, April 25, 31 AD, that the planets Uranus, Saturn, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury are all in very interesting places along the Ecliptic. Note that Jupiter “the King” is in Tarus “the Bull”.

    Your thoughts Sir?

    • A candidate eclipse must have been visible from the Levant.

22. According to the calendar I looked at (on my iPhone) April 3, 33 AD was a Sunday, but you contend that it was a Friday. What am I missing?

    • Ancient chronology is complicated by the fact that so many different calendars were in use, including the Jewish calendar which is an observational lunar calendar, not a calculated solar calendar like our Julian and Gregorian calendars. Because of these problems, I try to use established experts on Biblical chronology for my work. You will find several of them referenced on the resources page of the website. Wherever possible, I have linked them in full text. If you come across a copy, I would recommend that you snap up Jack Finegan’s Handbook of Biblical Chronology.

23. From Footnote #6 above – “This is the day-reckoning of the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Jesus and the disciples ate the Passover meal on the Thursday preceding the crucifixion, at what we call the Last Supper.”
    Source: Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, Chapter IV: “The Day of Christ’s Crucifixion”

    This is not true! The last supper and the passover were two separate events. Jesus Christ did desire to eat this passover with his disciples and even made preparations for it, but it never happened. Passover was to be eaten “standing” and they were sitting at the last supper. When Jesus knew his hour was come, he knew that he would not be able to celebrate the Passover that year. It is correct that this was the “Preparation Day,” but this was NOT prior to the weekly Sabbath (Saturday). It was a special Sabbath! Requirements for the lamb was that it had to be a male of the “first year.” Jesus Christ would have to be in the “first year” of his ministry after legally becoming a man at age 30 and having been baptized by John the Baptist and called to the ministry. The lamb could have “no spot or blemish.” Jesus Christ was without sin. The lamb had to be killed at “even.” Jesus Christ was crucified and buried before sunset, which at sunset, the Passover, a High Holy Day or Special Sabbath began and no “servile” work could be done, and touching a dead thing would have made one ceremonially “unclean” to participate in the Feast. So, Jesus Christ had to be buried before sunset! I personally believe scripture, history and astronomy will account for the fact that he died on a Wednesday before sunset. Sunset=Thursday=Passover and on that year, he was the Passover Lamb, once and for all time, for all people!

    Respectfully Yours,

    Dr. Donald Hayden, Th.D.

24. I am confused. If we are putting the death of Jesus in 33AD and Birth around 2/3BC then that would mean he was 36ish. right? Which would put his ministry at 6 years long? Also, my calculations according to scripture have Jesus born around the fall feast of Tabernacles. Trying to work this out.

    • Monica, please check the FAQ for entries that should help you.

25. Also, have you rolled back to see if anything was happening 9 months before Sept 3BC?

26. Nice work Larson!

27. Thanks Rick for your careful studies.

    For everyone having trouble with a Friday Passover Crucifixion and First Fruits Sunday versus: “on the third day,” “after three days,” “three days and three nights,” as understood by the Jewish people, check our Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, http://www.ariel.org, His book “Footsteps of the Messiah” and his seminary/bible conference lecture series on “The Life of Christ from a Jewish Perspective” (now being published as a three volume book series), will resolve all of your doubts. “The day of Preparation” in Jewish thought has ALWAYS been Friday, throughout Israel’s history! Also remember that the Jewish Passover began on our Thursday evening after sunset. The Jewish family Seder was always eaten on our Thursday night. Recall, also, “evening and morning” equals one 24-our day in Genesis 1:5ff. Jewish days begin after sunset the night before our Gentile dating scheme.

    John Page, Pastor-Teacher
    Trinity Bible Church
    Medford, Oregon

28. WOW!! I’ve just discovered You .. Mr. Larson .. this Morning .. (and it was Morning when I started reading this page – HA????HA???? ..) and I’m SO “Blessed and Impressed”! Tho Idk anything about You .. except for what I’ve read on this page .. I’ve gotta say that I SO admire Your “Passion in studying this and Your Compassion in explaining this”.

29. Mr. Larson .. Idk if You’ll actually get my comment – if You still check for comments .. since I’ve noticed the last comment before mine was in 2014. Of course I SO hope You do .. as well as hope You r still researching/ writing/teaching/traveling. Hope to k soon if You r still doing it all. May *GOD-YAHWEY* RICHLY BLESS & KEEP YOU & YOURS!!

30. Jesus was born in 3 BCE, began his ministry in a Sabbatical year (CE 27/28) and was crucified on April 5th, CE 30, which was a Wednesday.

    Ernest Martin wrote an excellent study addressing all of the issues surrounding Jesus’ birth, here:

    http://www.askelm.com/star/index.asp

    According to this calculated calendar, April 5th, CE 30, is a Wednesday:

    http://www.cgsf.org/dbeattie/calendar/?roman=30

31. Very interesting information. Enjoying this page and the video. I lean towards the mathematical accuracy of the stars for the date as well. Math..coupled with scripture doesn’t lie.

32. Mr. Larson, thank you. What Our Father has worked through you is truly amazing to me and puts to rest 44 years of internal wrestling and struggle with this very topic. I am so deeply happy and gratified that at last this information has been brought to the open. I am only recently hearing of your film and discoveries. I ran across it by chance on YouTube.

    I am a Jewish believer, since I was 10. Since about the age of 13 I have tried to puzzle this out, even to the point of getting astronomical software, about 6 years ago. I poured many years of my life over information, but I never found all I needed to find and when I was learning the software I did exactly like you, I got scared and stopped dead in my tracks and never tried to pick it up again. I was certain I had crossed a line into great sin. So I gave up 6 years ago and now, I find your film.

    My heart overflows with joy. Thank You so much for being the person Our Father could use to get this information to the world. I too always believed crucifixion had to be on Wed or Thu, but as you said, the stars and facts don’t lie. It is still hard to let go of the 3 days, but being Jewish, there is not a day that I do not see Christian mis-belief because of a lack of understanding of Jewish history, culture and customs. So much of the beauty, truth and depth of scripture and intended daily Christian life is lost from thinking with a modern western cultural mindset; so what is 3 days or the third day? Faith like a child, right?

    Many Blessings to You and Your Family,

    Pamela

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