We find that the period of Jesus' ministry is book ended by periods of 40 days. He was tempted of the devil for 40 days at the beginning of His 3½ year ministry. And then He showed Himself alive after His resurrection for 40 days at the close of His ministry on the earth. This is very unusual and we wonder why?

Well, we also find that Jesus' entire life span on earth was 40 calendar years:

7 BC (birth of Christ) to 33 AD (death on cross/resurrection) = 40 calendar years.

Then after that 40 year period-came the New Testament Church Age which the Bible typifies as representing 1,260 days, or 3½ years:

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

And,

Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The 1,260 days (3½ years), or the entire period of the Church Age, officially came to an end in the year 1994. And what do we find? From the year 1994 there are 40 inclusive years until the year 2033 AD:

2033 - 1994 = 40 inclusive years

This sets up an incredible picture of Jesus' first coming with the overall picture of the whole New Testament era:

1st coming of Christ: 40 days temptation, 3½ years ministry, 40 days showing/proving resurrection.

Overall timeline: 40 (calendar) years Jesus' ministry, figurative 1,260 days (3½ years) Church Age, 40 (inclusive) years end stage of N.T. era.

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