There’s lots in the world to be worried about, but we can be less anxious if we knew about future events.

The Old Testament has predictions of future events and people. For example, Abraham was told about 200 years beforehand that the Israelites would be 400 years in Egypt (Gen. 15:13). Isaiah named king Cyrus about 200 years before he reigned over Persia (Isa. 44:28 – 45:1). And Daniel was told about the death of Christ over 400 years beforehand.

Daniel was told by an angel that 483 years will pass “from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem [after the Babylonian invasion] until a ruler—the Anointed One [Jesus]—comes”. He would, “put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness”. “The Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a (different) ruler [the Roman Titus] will arise whose armies will destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the Temple [in AD 70]” (Dan. 9:24-26NLT).

In 445 BC, the Persian king Artaxerxes issued a decree to Nehemiah to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1-8). If we count 483 years (476 years in the modern calendar) from the decree of Artaxerxes, we come to about AD 32 (there was no year zero) and the death of Christ. Of course, it’s always clearer looking back – hindcasts are always better than forecasts. After all, the Bureau of Meteorology is a non-profit organisation!

The New Testament says, “when the right [or “set”] time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman … to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children” (Gal 4:4-5). And “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners” (Rom 5:6). And the reason He came was, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).

God had a precise time for Christ to be born (Dan. 9:24-27). Jesus fulfilled God’s set time. If God can determine the times in history for nations (Acts 17:26) and establish governing authorities (Rom. 13:1), He can determine when Jesus came to earth. Of course, all history is in God’s hand – David said, “My times are in your [God’s] hand” (Ps. 31:15).

“The Roman Empire brought the Pax Romana (the peace of Rome) throughout the empire. There was remarkable political stability throughout the Roman world. Freedom to trade and travel throughout the realm was the greatest in the history of the empire. The Koine (common) Greek language was the main language, making it a suitable time for spreading the gospel. Jesus did not come at some random time; He came precisely at the moment God designed from eternity.” (Richinson)

Prayer

Father God, we acknowledge that all history is in Your hand. That should calm any anxiety. You sent Jesus at a precise time to come and save sinners by sacrificing His life.

Thanks for sending Jesus as the perfect Son of God who could die for our sins and rise again in great power over sin and death. So, we offer thanks and praise for all that you have done through Jesus. In Christ’s name, Amen.

G Hawke