The Chronology of Man

According to 1 Kings 6:1, the temple was constructed 480 years after the Exodus in the 4th year of King Solomon’s reign.

(2453 + 480) – 4 = 2929

We are now in the year 2929. This is when King Solomon begins his reign over Israel. Now using the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, which provide a precision timeline for the rule of Israel and later Judah, we will continue our calculations:

• Solomon: 40 years (1 Kings 11:42)
• Rehoboam: 17 years (1 Kings 14:21)
• Abijah: 3 years (1 Kings 15:1)
• Asa: 41 years (1 Kings 15:10)
• Jehoshaphat: 25 years (1 Kings 22:42)
• Jehoram: 8 years (2 Kings 8:17)
• Ahaziah: 1 year (2 Kings 8:26)
• Athaliah: 6 years (2 Kings 11:3)
• Joash: 40 years (2 Kings 12:1)
• Amaziah: 29 years (2 Kings 14:2)
• Uzziah: 52 years (2 Kings 15:2)
• Jotham: 16 years (2 Kings 15:33)
• Ahaz: 16 years (2 Kings 16:2)
• Hezekiah: 29 years (2 Kings 18:2)
• Manasseh: 55 years (2 Kings 21:1)
• Amon: 2 years (2 Kings 21:19)
• Josiah: 31 years (2 Kings 22:1)
• Jehoahaz: 3 months (2 Kings 23:31)
• Jehoiakim: 11 years (2 Kings 23:36)
• Jehoiachin: 3 months (2 Kings 24:8)
• Zedekiah: 11 years (2 Kings 24:18)

When we add all of this together, the total timeline before the fall of Jerusalem is 433.5 years.

2929 + 433.5 = 3362.5

The Bible agrees with historians that Zedekiah’s reign ended in 586 BC. However, we will cover this later in the article.

This brings us to the year 3362.5 from the year of the creation of Adam (Year 0) when Jerusalem Fell to Nebuchadnezzar II and ultimately Babylon.

From here, we know that Daniel was in captivity and that Jeremiah prophesied that their captivity would last for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10) bringing the year to 3432.5. When Daniel’s and Israel’s captivity was coming to an end, Daniel received the 70-week prophecy outlining exactly when Jerusalem would be restored (laws and practices) and when the Messiah would begin His ministry. Let’s continue our calculations:

We need to calculate the time of the reign of the Persian kings up until the second decree of Artaxerxes I to go forth and restore Jerusalem.

We know from Historians and Archeological findings that the decree by Cyrus to restore Jerusalem came in his first year of being supreme King of Babylon (539 – 538BC). After opposition and stalling, King Darius of Chaldea (the subordinate of Cyrus who governs Chaldea, formerly Babylon) would re-enforce Cyrus’s decree and it would be another two years before the first group of exiles set out to Jerusalem (536BC). It would take them around 20 years to rebuild the temple and gradually re-establish civilisation (516BC).
It would not be until the year 457 BC in which the command by Artaxerxes I (in his 7th year as king) would the command (second decree) be fully fulfilled to go forth and restore Jerusalem.

516BC to 457BC = 59 years.

So 3432.5 + 59 gives us the year at which the ’70 Week’ Prophecy begins, which is year 3491.5. From here on, the calculation of the years is straightforward. The prophecy applies a day for a year rule. As per the prophecy, it would take them 7 weeks to completely restore the building and restoration of Jerusalem (Which they did) and then it would take another 62 weeks from there before Messiah is on the scene beginning his ministry and gathering His disciples (Totaling 69 weeks).

(69 * 7) = 483 (years) 3491.5 + 483 = 3974.5

So we are now in the year 3974.5 when the Messiah (Christ) has begun His ministry. But what about the final week? As per the prophecy, the Messiah would be cut off in the middle of the week:

(7 / 2) = 3.5 (years) 3974.5 + 3.5 = 3978

We see that Christ died exactly 3978 years from the beginning of man! In the 1000 year for a day rule within the 7000/7 year-week, He would have died just before the sunset on Wednesday, marking the beginning of Thursday (The eve of Thursday as night comes before day).