The ability to determine the number of days in “time, times and half a time” (X, X’s & ½ a X), requires a working knowledge of the Hebrew calendar and an understanding of when the Great Tribulation will begin.
The Hebrew calendar has been a point of contention within God’s Church over the years. This should not be, since God committed its preservation to the Jewish people (Rom. 3:2).
To learn more about the Hebrew calendar read Herman L. Hoeh’s article titled, “The Hebrew Calendar—Authoritative for God’s Church Today!” (The Good News, April 1981). Also read the introduction to “God’s Sacred Calendar 86-87.”
The Hebrew calendar is a solar-lunar calendar. It operates within a nineteen-year time cycle that is connected to the alignment of the sun, moon and earth. Months are based on the lunar cycle (Num. 28:11; II Chr. 2:4), while days are determined by the setting of the sun (Lev. 23:32).
It should be noted a new nineteen-year time cycle is set to begin at sunset on April 8, 2016. The table below reflects the number of days for each year in this upcoming time cycle.
A nineteen-year time cycle has twelve years consisting of twelve months and seven years consisting of thirteen months. Because there is a variation in the number of days for certain months, a variation is created in the total number of days for a particular year.
The Start of Great Tribulation
Knowing when the Great Tribulation will begin is critical for calculating the number of days in X, X’s and ½ a X. While the year in which this prophesied event will start cannot be known at this time, the day on which it begins is provided in God’s Word.
Bible prophesy reveals captives of modern Israel will return back to Egypt as slaves during the Great Tribulation (Jer. 30:4-7; Matt. 24:21).
“And the LORD will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you". (Deut. 28:68)
Anciently, the Israelites were resettled by their Assyrian captors in an area around the Caspian Sea (II Kings 17:6), not back in Egypt.
Hosea points specifically to Ephraim’s (Britain’s) return to Egypt.
“They return, but not to the Most High; They are like a treacherous bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the cursings of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt". (Hos. 7:16)
“For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, But the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt". (Hos. 8:13).
“They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria.” (Hos. 9:3)
The peoples of the United States and Britain will be taken as captives back to Egypt during the Great Tribulation for their rebellion against God’s Law (Ezek. 7:1-4).
When will their punishment begin?
“What will you (Ephraim and Manasseh) do in the appointed day, And in the day of the feast of the LORD? For indeed they (Ephraim and Manasseh) are gone because of destruction. Egypt shall gather them up; Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their valuables of silver; Thorns shall be in their tents.” (Hos. 9:5-6)
What appointed day is Hosea speaking of? Which one of God’s feast days signals the start of modern Israel’s punishment?
“They have dealt treacherously with the LORD, For they have begotten pagan (strange) children. Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure". (Hos. 5:7, 9)
To what time frame does “a New Moon” point? It points specifically to the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25).
The Feast of Trumpets begins on the 1st day of the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar. God’s months always begin with a new moon (Isa. 66:23). The Feast of Trumpets is the only holy day to occur at the start of a new month (Ps 81:3a).
The Meaning of Trumpets
A trumpet is used primarily in the Bible to signal the onset of war.
Nehemiah used a trumpet to alert an attack from those trying to prevent him from rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem (Neh. 4:20).
The 7th trumpet will signal the start of the Day of the Lord.
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand:..." (Joel 2:1)
“The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.”
“A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers" (Zeph. 1:14, 16)
The Great Tribulation will begin on the Feast of Trumpets. With this understanding, the Hebrew calendar can now be used to calculate the number of days in X, X’s and ½ a X accurately.