Six Hours

“From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45).

— David Rice

The death of Jesus at Calvary provided the Ransom price for mankind. Jesus yielded his life to pay the death penalty for Adam. As mankind has the condemned life of Adam passed down to them through inheritance, by redeeming the life of Adam, mankind is redeemed as well.

That Jesus was placed on the cross for his final experience, and remained for a time on the cross after his death, provided release for Israelites from the additional curse of the Law. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).

Mark tells us that the crucifixion of Jesus began at the third hour, and that his passing came at the ninth hour (Mark 15:25, 34, 37). By common reckoning today, these times would be from 9 am until 3 pm, thus a period of six hours. This reminds us that Jesus’ death was to redeem mankind from 6000 years of sin and death.

Two Daily Sacrifices

These times connect also to the daily offering of two lambs by the Hebrews, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The two lambs remind us that Jesus’ crucifixion provided redemption for two classes — Jews and Gentiles. Jesus’ death was for Adam and all mankind. But, in addition, his placement on the cross provided release for Israelites from the curse of the Law.

The texts in the Law that refer to these two offerings are found in Exodus and in Numbers. The first of these is Exodus 29:38-40. “This is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. (39) The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even.” The expression “at even,” in Hebrew, means “between the two evenings.” Concerning the meaning of this, there are two opinions — either mid afternoon, or following sunset.

With each lamb they were to offer flour mingled with oil, and 1/4 of a hin of wine for a drink offering (verse 40). The flour and wine remind us of the emblems Jesus used at the last supper to represent his life — his body and blood — given for mankind. The oil mixed with the flour reminds us of the rich measure of the holy Spirit that attended the ministry of Jesus.

These two daily lambs were to be offered day by day throughout Israel’s history. “This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee” (verse 42).

The same directions are repeated in Numbers 28:3, 4, with one additional requirement. The two lambs were to be “without spot” (verse 3), thus a good picture of our lamb, Jesus, who was without sin. John 1:29 identifies Jesus as our redemptive lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Another Time Connection

In addition to morning and evening, the hour of noon is also noted in the experience of Jesus on the cross. “From the sixth hour [noon our time] there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45). This darkness at noon, normally the brightest part of the day, perhaps represents that at the height of Israel’s favor, marked by the presence of Messiah, their blessings darkened because they rejected Jesus.

These same three times — morning, noon, and mid afternoon — also appear in an experience in the time of Elijah, in his confrontation with the priests of Baal. Elijah’s challenge to the priests of Baal commenced in the morning, continued until noon when Elijah provoked them further, and proceeded until mid afternoon. This is of interest, because in this experience a bullock was being offered, which like a lamb, is also used to represent the sacrifice of Jesus.

“They took the bullock … they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon … at noon … Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud … either he [Baal] is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awakened. … they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice” (1 Kings 18:26-29).

Thereafter Elijah went into action, built an altar of 12 stones, one for each tribe of Israel, poured four barrels of water on the offering three times, and prayed to God. Immediately the offering was consumed and the water in the trench about the altar was licked up and gone. Whereupon the people jointly proclaimed that Jehovah, he is God — and eliminated the representatives of Baal (1 Kings 18:39, 40).

In the case of Jesus’ death, Israel was to lose their favor, but blessings from Christ’s ransom would expand to many. The prophetic meaning of Elijah’s experience pertains to the end of Papacy’s dominance over the Christian world. After that, a renewed blessing respecting Jesus’ ransom sacrifice would blossom again.

Jesus’ death followed his 3½ year ministry. The experience of Elijah mentioned above, followed a 3½ year drought (James 5:17). During Jesus’ ministry he spoke the word of truth and the principles of godliness throughout Israel, but was opposed by Jewish leaders of his day. During the 3½ prophetic times of Papacy’s rule, the truth of the scriptures was opposed by Papacy.

The Length of Jesus’ Ministry

Jesus was suppressed by Jewish authorities during his ministry of 3½ years, as the Church was suppressed by Papacy for 3½ prophetic “times.” That period for the Church equaled 1260 years. Can we be precise respecting the number of days of Jesus’ ministry?

The RVIC translation, Luke 4:1, footnote 65, suggests that Jesus’ ministry may have been for precisely 1260 days. On page 264 of the New Testament section, is a fuller explanation. “Jesus was baptized in 29 AD, and died on April 3, 33 AD (Julian date). If he was baptized on the first Sabbath following the Feast of Tabernacles (so that his 40 days in the wilderness did not cause him to miss that observance), then in 29 AD his baptism would have been on October 22 (Julian). This yields a ministry of 1260 days.”

The New Testament does not specify precisely when Jesus was baptized. But to avoid missing the Feast of Tabernacles, it seems reasonable that Jesus would have waited until its close, and then commenced his ministry the following Sabbath. All males under the Law were to observe this feast annually (Exodus 23:14-17). In this case, Jesus’ ministry would consume precisely 1260 days. The specifics of this count are in the box below — precisely 1260 days.