The KEY To The
Crucifixion Date
by Paul Kroll
(Originally published in the Good News magazine, April-May
1966)
(It also
answers questions like When Did Jesus' Ministry Start?)
Scholars
attempt to destroy key proof which reveals true date of
Crucifixion. Theologians attempt to alter this proof to
uphold "Good-Friday, Easter-Sunday tradition. Read the
astonishing and thoroughly documented proof that both
scholars and theologians are in error! Here is proof that
the true date of the crucifixion can be completely
understood.
CAN
YOU prove that Christ was crucified in 31 A.D.? Do you know
— and know that you know — Christ was not crucified in 33
A.D. as Roman Catholics teach? Could you prove to a Jew that
Jesus came the very year Old Testament prophets said the
Messiah would come?
Missing
KEY
Here is the
KEY that unlocks the PROOF. This KEY the scholars and
theologians have sought to hide.
Few
understand that one of the most conclusive proofs of Jesus'
Messiahship is found in the date Artaxerxes issued his
famous decree (Ezra 7) for the Jews to rebuild
Jerusalem.
When you know
the date of the issuance of the decree — you can pinpoint
the EXACT YEAR of Christ's death. That precise year,
foretold by the prophet Daniel, can be simply understood and
known. It is amply proved by the Bible and historical
records.
How
Theologians Reason
Here is how
scholars misunderstood the important points surrounding this
decree. They say:
"One of the most perplexing and controversial problems
of Ezra — Nehemiah is that of the date of Ezra's arrival
in Jerusalem. Traditionally Artaxerxes is identified with
Artaxerxes I (464-424 B.C.) whose seventh year was 458
B.C."
This fact
would place the coming of Nehemiah several years after
Ezra's appearance in Palestine. But what do scholars
conclude? Just the opposite. They place Nehemiah before
Ezra.
Continuing
the quote: "Since Ezra followed Nehemiah into Palestine and
was not his contemporary [which is a totally erroneous
assumption], the Artaxerxes must have been Artaxerxes II
(404-359 B.C.), whose seventh year was 398 B.C."
(Interpreters Bible, Commentary on Ezra, vol. 3, p.
624.)
Their
incorrect date of 398 B.C. for the decree would make Christ
come in 86 A.D. — which is a totally ridiculous assumption!
However, this totally erroneous date is now being supported
— not only by theologians — but also by scholars and
archaeologists:
Notice this
statement by a well-known "authority."
"The chronological problems connected with the era of
Ezra-Nehemiah remain UNSOLVED, though there is a growing
scholarly consensus in favor of reversing the traditional
order (which place Ezra in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
I, i.e. 458, and Nehemiah in the 20th year, or 445).
Van Hoonacker
was the chief exponent of the view that Ezra followed
Nehemiah and was therefore to be dated in the reign of
Artaxerxes II (seventh year-398)." (The Bible and the
Ancient Near East; G. Ernest Wright, editor, p. 213.)
Other scholars reason that errors crept into the Bible. They
would tell you a scribe made an error — and later tried to
"reconcile" the dates which actually need no reconciling.
Many theories are advanced. But no one seems to have the
truth!
Fundamentalists
Incorrect
Even among
those religionists who hold the "traditional views" there is
much inaccuracy.
Here is an example:
"Then as hopeful Daniel was confessing his and Israel's
sins and praying, he was given the glorious prophecy of
the seventy weeks, fixing the time of Messiah's earthly
advent. So understandable and so exact in its time
features was it that at the DUE TIME, A.D. 29, the Jews
were expectantly awaiting the Messiah." (Equipped for
Every Good Work, p. 229.)
What
deception!
This
religious sect, as some others, would incorrectly place the
decree as going into effect as late as 455 B.C. Why? So that
they can place the crucifixion on Friday in 33 A.D. But the
Bible and the true facts of history reject such an erroneous
date.
It seems so
few really understand and correctly place the decree of
Artaxerxes. If they do, none grasp the tremendous
significance of this date. Yet, as Christ said, these things
are revealed to babes.
We can
understand them!
Decree
of Artaxerxes
This
important decree as found in Ezra 7:11-26 reads:
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and
at such a time.
"I make a decree, that all they of the people of
Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which
are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go
with thee." (Quoted from verses 12-13.)
This decree
of Artaxerxes contained the commandment to go forth and
build Jerusalem. It gives the starting year of the prophecy
recorded in Daniel 9:25, 26. Thus, it reveals the key year
in which Christ was to begin His ministry!
"Know therefore and understand, that from the going
forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem
[contained, as we shall later see, in the decree of
Artaxerxes] unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be
built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."
Daniel
records that there would be sixty-nine (7 + 62) prophetic
weeks till Christ would begin His ministry. Sixty-nine
prophetic weeks equals 483 days (69x7). But a prophetic day
equals one year in prophecy (see Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6
for the Biblical proof). Therefore, we have a total of 483
YEARS!
If we
discover the beginning year of Daniel's prophecy, we can
know the exact year Christ began His ministry. But since
Daniel's prophecy refers to the decree of Artaxerxes for the
beginning — we must go to that prophecy to discover the key
year.
We must
determine the EXACT YEAR of Artaxerxes decree in order to
fix the starting date in Daniel's prophecy! Once we know the
exact year of the decree, we can pinpoint — from this date —
the exact year (483 years later) in which Christ began His
ministry. It would be a simple task then to find the date of
His crucifixion — three and one-half years later.
Why
This Confusion?
Theologians
and scholars deny Christ by claiming that He was buried on
Friday and rose on Sunday — in HALF the time He said He
would (Mat. 12:40).
But these
same men cannot escape the fact that Christ was crucified at
the END OF THE PASSOVER! Hence, they have inherited another
problem. They must incorrectly say that the crucifixion
occurred in a year when the Passover fell on Friday. The
only possible Friday — Passover — crucifixion year would
have been 33 A.D.
Theologians force themselves to put the crucifixion of
Christ in 33 A.D. — to maintain the "Good-Friday,
Easter-Sunday" tradition. This is the ONLY POSSIBLE year in
which Christ could have been crucified at the end of the
Passover — and still rise in time for Sunday morning
(according to the false "one-and-a-half days" theory).
If we prove
Christ was not crucified in 33 A.D. — this false idea would
be destroyed!
Of course, it
is quite clear that Christ's ministry lasted three and a
half years. If you have not proved this, be sure to write in
for our article, "The Crucifixion was not on Friday."
Now, in order
to substantiate a 33 A.D. crucifixion — these scholars must
date the beginning of Christ's ministry in 29 A.D.
Therefore, they must either suggest the decree of Artaxerxes
cannot be understood — or put it in a year which will make
the 483 years end in 29 A.D.
Now it is clear why the decree of Artaxerxes is of such
monumental importance. If theologians place the crucifixion
in 33 A.D., they falsely place the decree of Artaxerxes in
455 B.C.
Now see the
proof that Artaxerxes DID NOT issue his decree in 455 B.C. —
the "Good-Friday, Easter-Sunday" tradition is shattered!
Ezra
Holds Key
The book of
Ezra holds the key for a correct understanding of this most
important decree. Therefore it is of tremendous importance
to understand what was taking place — and the chronological
sequence of the book of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ezra 1:1-2,
reads "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that
the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be
fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of
Persia, that he made a proclamation... Thus saith Cyrus king
of Persia, The Lord God of heaven... hath charged me to
build him an house at Jerusalem
Remember,
this was to build the TEMPLE — not the city. This decree
therefore is not the one spoken of by Daniel in chapter
9:25.
So the people
of Judah and Benjamin arose to go to the land of Palestine
and began rebuilding the house of God (Ezra 1:5). They kept
the Festival of Tabernacles that year in Palestine (Ezra
3:1). In the second year the ministry was installed (Ezra
3:8).
But then
their troubles began!
The
Samaritans began to harass the Jews. First, they tried
fifth-column tactics — and attempted to overthrow the
project from within. When this failed. they hired people to
frustrate them. Finally, the work was stopped.
"Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the
people of Judah, and troubled them in building. And hired
counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all
the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of
Darius king of Persia" (Ezra 4:4-5).
Here is the
account of the Jews' problems with the Samaritans concerning
the building of the temple. It lasted throughout the days of
Cyrus.
Problems
Continue
Now, note
this. In Ezra 4:6-23, THE SUMMARY of all the problems the
Jews had is recorded. However, this is an inset in the chain
of events. The account of the problems with building the
temple during the reign of Darius I ENDS at verse five and
resumes in verse 24!
"And hired counsellors against them...all the days of
Cyrus [538-529] king of Persia, even until the reign of
Darius [the first] king of Persia [521-485] :.. Then
ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem.
So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius
[the first] king of Persia" (verses 5, 24).
It was at
this time-around 520 B.C. that the books of Haggai and
Zechariah were written (Ezra 5:1). The matter finally came
to Darius I concerning the temple — and he ordered the
construction to continue (Ezra 6:11-12). Again, this decree
was to build the house of God — not Jerusalem. It is the
restoration of the temple.
"And the elders of the Jews... builded, and finished it
[the temple], according to the commandment of the God of
Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus
[538-529], and Darius [the first, 521-485], and Artaxerxes
[the first, 464-423] king of Persia.
"And this house was finished on the third day of the
month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of
Darius [the first, 516-515] the king."
Temple
Completed
The Jews
began to build the temple during the reign of Cyrus but
accomplished nothing until the beginning of the second year
of Darius I [520-519]; Four years later in his sixth year,
in 515 B.C. — the temple was finished.
Later, after
the temple was completed, Artaxerxes I (464-423) included as
part of his decree to rebuild Jerusalem a clause to procure
any further materials necessary to beautify the temple (
Ezra 7:16).
Now we must
retrace our steps to pick up the account of Ezra 4:6-23.
This gave the summary of problems the Jews
encountered.
We saw that
the temple — except for finishing touches — was completed in
the sixth year of Darius I.
Jerusalem
Rebuilt
Now the
account continues. It takes us past the completion of the
temple.
"And in the
reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote
they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah
and Jerusalem" (Ezra 4:6).
This is the
Ahasuerus of the book of Esther. He is generally regarded as
the Xerxes of Greek history (485-464).
The narrative
then continues:
"And in the
days of Artaxerxes [the first, 464-423] wrote Bishlam,
Mithredath,... Be it known unto the king, that the Jews
which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem,
BUILDING THE REBELLIOUS AND THE BAD CITY, and have set up
the walls thereof,... Then sent the Icing an answer... Give
ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that
this CITY be not builded, until another commandment shall be
given from me" (Ezra 4:7, 12, 17, 21).
This was
probably near the beginning of the reign of Artaxerxes I.
Notice that this concerned the building of the city —
Jerusalem! Artaxerxes commanded that the city and wall
should not be built — until he sent another commandment. How
clear that this "other commandment" he sent is the one we
read about in Ezra 7 — the one sent by Artaxerxes in his
seventh year!
How clear that the Artaxerxes of Ezra 7 is the one who
reigned from 464-423 B.C.
Other
Proofs
An important
fact to remember: Daniel 9:25 is dated from "the going forth
of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem"!! It
is not dated from the time ACTUAL BUILDING began or
terminated.
The prophecy
states that the wall would be built in troublous times —
during the 7 prophetic weeks (49 literal years) before the
62 weeks. Although the decree was issued by Artaxerxes in
his seventh year, apparently little or no building on the
city took place. It was not until the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes — I (445-444) that Nehemiah took action
concerning the construction (Nehemiah 2:1).
This proves
scholars are incorrect in placing Ezra AFTER Nehemiah. Ezra
was of the SAME GENERATION as Nehemiah. In the book of
Nehemiah, chapter 8, verses 1-9 — we see them working
together!
We have
historical and archaeological findings which uphold the fact
that the Artaxerxes mentioned in Ezra and Nehemiah is
Artaxerxes I, who reigned from 464-423 B.C.
"In the Elephantine papyri AP 30 and 31 we learn that
fohanan was high priest in Jerusalem in 407 B.C. This was
during the reign of Artaxerxes II. He [Johanan} is
mentioned in Nehemiah 12:22-23 [also in Ezra 10:6} as a
SON of a high priest Eliashib. Elia-shib held this office
UNDER NEHEMIAH!! (Neh. 3:1)" (Horn Chronology of Ezra 1.
p. 90).
Eliashib was
of the same generation as Nehemiah. But at the same time
Eliashib is the FATHER of this other priest — Johanan!
Johanan was
high priest around 407 B.C. — which makes him of the same
generation as Artaxerxes II (404-358).
The
conclusion is inescapable!
This puts
Johanan's father, Eliashib with Nehemiah into the PREVIOUS
GENERATION. So both must have lived during the reign of
Artaxerxes II (464-423).
Again, the scholars are incorrect in trying to make
Artaxerxes II, the one mentioned in Ezra 7. Here is a
diagram to make the simple relationship very clear.
Artaxerxes I (464-423) — Eliashib-Nehemiah Darius II
(423-404)
Johanan
(c. 407)
Artaxerxes II (404-358)
Since
we know which king issued the decree (Artaxerxes I, 464-423
B.C.) — we begin the solution of our problem.
Fall-to-Fall
Reckoning
Now, we can
begin to determine the exact year in which Artaxerxes I
issued his decree. We must now consider whether the Jews
counted a king's reign beginning from spring or fall.
Otherwise, we could be as much as one year wrong in our
calculations.
Carefully
note this!
The Jews had
both a civil and a sacred year. When God revealed the
Passover to Israel, he said that it was in the "beginning of
months: it shall be the first month of the year to you"
(Exodus 12:2).
However, the
calendar is pegged to and centers around — the molad
(conjunction) of the seventh month. Tishri is the seventh
month of the sacred year!
But it is the
FIRST MONTH — as we shall immediately see — of the civil
year! In some ways, the United States has this dual system.
The calendar year begins in January. But the business year
is determined from July to July.
Below is a
listing of the months in God's calendar — according to
sacred and civil designations. (The names were added by the
Jews.)
| TWELVE-MONTH
YEAR |
|
SACRED |
CIVIL |
|
| 1. |
Niran |
Tishri |
|
| 2. |
lyar |
Hsshvun |
|
| 3. |
Sivan |
Chisleu |
|
| 4. |
Tammuz |
Tebet |
|
| 5. |
Ab |
Shebet |
|
| 6. |
Elul |
Adar |
|
| 7. |
Tishri |
Niran |
|
| 8. |
Herhvan |
lyar |
|
| 9. |
Chisleu |
Sivan |
|
| 10. |
Tebet |
Tammuz |
|
| 11. |
Shebet |
Ab |
|
| 12. |
Adar |
Elul |
|
Study the
above chart carefully. It is very important in proving the
next point.
In Nehemiah
chapter one, verse one Nehemiah tells us he received certain
news concerning conditions in Jerusalem,
"In the month CHISLEU, in the TWENTIETH YEAR." After
this time, Nehemiah sends a petition to the king, "In the
month NISAN, in the TWENTIETH YEAR of Artaxerxes the
king." This is found in Nehemiah 2:1.
Notice! The
month Chisleu was regarded as coming BEFORE the month Nisan
— in the SAME year! Look at the chart above. If the civil
year began in the spring — this is AN UTTER IMPOSSIBILITY!!
Nisan is the first month of the sacred year. It could not
possibly come AFTER Chisleu in the same year.
On the other
hand, reckoning the first month in the fall — it is quite
easy to see that Chisleu DOES COME BEFORE Nisan in the same
year!
This is the
simple proof showing from the Bible that the Jews used a
fall-to-fall calendar for reckoning civil months during the
Persian period in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Talmud
Proves Fall-to-Fall Reckoning
The Talmud is
also a witness to this fact! It helps to prove that the Jews
began their civil year in the fall.
"That the fifth century Jews actually counted the
regnal year of the Persian kings according to their own
fall-to-fall calendar is attested not only by
Nehe-miah,... later on (it is) traditionally by the
Talmud.
"According to the explanation of Rosh Hashanah... the
first of Tishri (the seventh month) is the NEW YEAR FOR
FOREIGN KINGS!" (Horn, The Chronology of Ezra 7, p.
73.)
There you
have it! The Jews began numbering a king's year from the
fall — or the seventh month of the sacred calendar!
Artaxerxes'
Accession Month Known
Archaeologists
have further confirmed these facts.
The following
tablets which have been unearthed determine and prove the
exact period in which Artaxerxes came to the throne.
"A cuneiform tablet found in the excavation campaign of
1930-31 in Ur [concerns itself with], an agreement dated
in the thirteenth year of Artaxerxes I, but states that
the original arrangement was signed in the month KlSLIMU
IN THE TWENTY-FIRST YEAR OF XERXES!" (Horn, Chronology of
Ezra 7, p. 101.)
In Babylonia,
Kislimu began on December 17, 465 B.C. (see Parker and
Dubberstein, Babylonian Chronology, p. 31).
Xerxes
twenty-first year corresponds to our year of 465-464 B.C.
This document proves that Xerxes was alive in late December
465 B.C. (since the tablet shows Xerxes was still alive in
the month Kislimu). Hence, his successor — Artaxerxes I —
could not have taken the throne until after this date.
Precise
Time Absolutely Fixed
Another
document, AP 6, fixes the exact time of the ascension of
Artaxerxes. This papyri bears the following dateline:
"On the 18th of Kisleu which is the (17th) day of
Thoth, in year 21, the beginning of the reign (accession
year) when King Artaxerxes sat on his throne" (Horn, The
Chronology of Ezra 7, p. 101-103).
The
eighteenth of Kisleu of year 21 was January 2/3, 464 B.C.
(see, Parker and Dubberstein, Babylonian Chronology',
P-31).
Therefore, on
January 2, 464 B.C. we see that King Artaxerxes is ALREADY
SITTING ON THE THRONE!.' But Xerxes' death, as we have seen,
could not have occurred before December 17, 465 B.C. Here is
the only conclusion! Artaxerxes I came to the throne between
December 17, 465 and January 2, 464 B.C.
The Jews
reckoning from a fall-to-fall basis counted the time from
December/January to the fall of that year (464 B.C.) as
Artaxerxes' I accession year.
Therefore,
Artaxerxes' regnal years according to Jewish reckoning began
six MONTHS LATER than the Persian count — or in the fall of
464 B.C.
This is the
conclusion! The accession year of Artaxerxes I extended from
around late December, 465 B.C. to the fall of 464 B.C. YEAR
ONE of Artaxerxes I extended from the fall of 464 to the
fall of 463 B.C.
THE
SEVENTH YEAR OF ARTAXERXES I
The
seventh year of Artaxerxes extended from the fall of 458 to
the fall of 457 B.C. It was in this year that the decree of
Artaxerxes was issued.
Ezra's
journey to Jerusalem began in Nisan and ended in Ab of 457
B.C. (Ezra 7:8-9). Thus, according to our months, Ezra's
trip lasted from April to late July 457 B.C.
The decree of
Artaxerxes I went into effect after Ezra's arrival in
Palestine in the early fall — or late summer — of 457 B.C.
This was "the going forth" of the decree recorded in Daniel
9:25-26.
The
Prophecy Fulfilled
We can now
determine the EXACT YEAR in which Christ — the Promised
Messiah — would come. According to Daniel 9:25-26, from the
going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem (issued
and put into effect in the late summer or early fall of 457
B.C.) there would be 69 prophetic weeks (7 + 62) until
Christ would come.
As we have
seen before — sixty-nine prophetic weeks equalled four
hundred eighty-three years!
And 483 years
after 457 B.C. would bring us to the autumn of A.D. 27 — THE
YEAR IN WHICH CHRIST BEGAN HIS MINISTRY!! Three and a half
years later, brings us to a 31 A.D. crucifixion. Proof
positive — completely destroying the false theory that
Christ's ministry terminated in 33 A.D.
Study this
article several times. Become thoroughly familiar with the
books of Ezra and Nehemiah — so that you really understand
the chronological sequence of events! Don't assume one quick
reading is enough. Be sure to get notes in your Bible. Mark
this article. Know and know that you know!
Note: The
old Worldwide Church of God no longer exists and the group
that took it over would not make Herbert Armstrong era
writings available, even when I offered to pay. So the
above article is freely shown in the public interest. The
most faithful remnant of his old church is the Continuing Church of God.