But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:8-10 NKJV)

Peter tells us that, with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years in the context of the second coming of Christ. He said that in the last days scoffers will make fun of the promise that Jesus is coming again. “After all, it’s been almost 3,000 years and he hasn’t come!” And then, Peter makes the statement that a thousand of our years is like one day on God’s calendar. Is there something important about the third day? 

The Bible tells us we don’t know the exact day or hour of His return, but there are clues in Scripture that point to the approximate time – and one clue might be in the number “three.” Here are a few examples of how significant the number three or third is in the Bible…

Jesus began His ministry on the third day at the wedding feast in Cana. (Jn 2:1) He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane as He approached the time of His death. (Matt 26:44) Pilate appealed to the crowd three times on Jesus’ behalf. (Luke 23:22) Jesus referred to Jonah as a sign that He would be in the earth for three days before His resurrection (Matt 12:39-40), because Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days. (Jonah 3:3) Jesus was crucified at the third hour, (Mark 15:25) and He rose from the grave on the third day. (Luke 24:46) After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on three occasions. (John 21:14; 1 Cor. 15:4) It was on the third hour of the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost (Acts 2:15), and Paul was caught up to the third heaven. (2 Cor 12:2)

Many of the judgments during the Great Tribulation have to do with the number three or the third. In Revelation 6:5 the third seal was opened, and in 8:7-12 a third of the trees burned up, a third of the sea became blood, a third of creation in the sea died, a third of the ships were destroyed, and a third angel sounded before a great star fell from heaven and a third of the rivers became bitter. In Revelation 9:18 three plagues will kill a third of mankind. In Revelation 11:14 a third woe is coming. In Revelation 12:4 a third of the stars are thrown to the earth, and in Revelation 14:9 and 16:4, a third angel is involved in the judgments.

And by the way, the Holy Trinity is three Persons in One… (Matt 28:19-20)

There is something significant about the numbers in the Bible – and number three seems to stand out. Though His calendar is different from ours, God is very exacting when it comes to time. As Peter said, a thousand years is like one day with the Lord. 

Is it possible that Jesus will return on the third day or the third millennium after the resurrection? Is that another clue in the Bible pointing to His return?  Just as Jesus was in the grave three days, is it possible He must remain in heaven for three days or three thousand years? (Acts3:21) I know the Scripture doesn’t exactly tell us Jesus will return on the third day, but it sure seems possible. The Bible doesn’t give us the exact day or hour, but it does tell us that when we see the signs of His coming – we need to be ready. So, is the third day in God’s economy a clue? If so, when might that occur? 

Scholars have long supposed that Jesus was approximately 33 years old when He was crucified. However, we don’t know that for sure. The age of 33 is based on the idea that Jesus was born on either 1 BC or 1 AD. (In case you are wondering, there is no 0 AD.) According to the Gregorian calendar, Jesus is believed to have been born in the year 1 AD. However, historians, astronomers, and scholars lean toward an earlier date of approximately 6-4 BC. Those dates are based on other notable events at that time in history, as well as the appearance of the Bethlehem star in the heavens – both of which figured prominently in the birth narrative of Jesus.

Historians tell us that Herod the Great died in 4 BC and the Bethlehem star likely occurred between 7-4 BC. Herod played a major role in in the birth of Jesus when he ordered the death of all male children two and under. Herod himself did not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth but believed it could have been as early as two years prior to his knowledge of Him. So, if Herod died in 4 BC, he would have ordered the death of the children no later than 4 BC, which is how scholars come up with the earlier date of 6 BC for Jesus’ birth. Whether the actual date is 1 AD or 6 to 4 BC, we cannot construe exactly when the third day or third millennium will occur.

However, after studying the data pertaining to the death of Jesus, the evidence points to the date of 33 AD. One of the factors that support this date is Pilate’s governorship in Judea from approximately 26-36 AD. That date is supported by several secular historians. Also, the astronomical data suggests that Nisan 14(Passover) in the year 33 AD fell on April 3, which was on a Friday before the Sabbath. Another proposed date is 30 AD, where the Jewish Passover (Nisan 14 on the Jewish calendar) likely fell on April 3 – again a Friday before Passover. Although both dates are referenced by early Church Fathers, the year 33 AD seems to have the greater support. Colin Humphrey, a prominent British physicist and materials scientist, has contributed studies on biblical history and the connection between scientific findings and biblical accounts. His calculations place the death of Jesus on April 3, 33 AD, Nisan 14 on the Jewish calendar.

Therefore, as far as I can tell, though it could be off by a few years, the consensus is that Jesus was born on 1 BC or 1 AD and died in 33 AD. Based on those numbers, He is thought to be 33 years old when He died. If indeed that date is accurate, the Third Day or Third Millenium would occur in the year 2033. According to 2 Peter 3:10, that date would mark the Day of the Lord, or the day Jesus will return to the earth in bodily form. So, if the rapture of the Church, the snatching away of the saints, occurs prior to the Great Tribulation, that could happen as soon as 2026!   

Again, a lot of this is speculation as the Bible doesn’t give us the exact date of His return. Yet many Bible teachers and scholars believe we are witnessing the greatest fulfillment of end-time prophecies ever – more than any previous generation. When I read the Bible and connect the dots with what is going on in the world, I can’t help but believe the rapture and the Second Coming is at hand.

The dates mentioned above may never come to pass, and then again maybe they will. What was the Holy Spirit actually trying to tell Peter, when He inspired him to write that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years here on earth? Was it possible that Peter had no idea what that really meant? Or was he giving us another clue regarding the Last Days? We don’t know what the Holy Spirit meant when He inspired Peter to pen those words – but we do know that the apostles and the early Church were living with the hope that Jesus could return at any moment. We also know that Jesus warned all His followers to watch and pray – that they might be counted worthy to escape the horrible judgment that will come upon the earth in the Last Days. He wanted His disciples to be ready to stand before the Son of Man.

Jesus is coming soon! Are you ready? That’s the most important question of all…