The 1335-Day Promise: Endurance Rewarded

1. Introduction to the 1335-Day Blessing of Daniel

A blessing promise for enduring 1335 days is the final prophecy of Daniel, and our last date-specific prophecy in the twelve lessons on the Great Tribulation.

A. Previously

This is our eleventh lesson on the Great Tribulation from 66 CE to 73 CE.

In our Introduction to the Great Tribulation, we learned:

1. The Great Tribulation will never happen again.
2. The Abomination of Desolation was the Roman armies
3. That all nations had been preached to before the Great Tribulation.
4. Josephus is a credible historian.

The Seven Seals of Revelation are associated with the Great Tribulation, which occurred from 66 CE to 73 CE.

The 144,000 are Jews from the first century, both before and during the Great Tribulation.

The calendars from the first century help us understand the historical perspective on the Great Tribulation.  The lack of knowledge of these calendars was a major reason theologians couldn’t discern historical truth.

Our lessons on Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy revealed that these seventy weeks perfectly coincided with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  By understanding various calendars, we can pinpoint the start of the New Covenant, Stephen’s martyrdom and ultimately Jesus’ birth in 4 BCE.

Then we learned that the Euphrates army, comprising a 10,000-man legion of horsemen called the Legio Equestris and a second legion of 10,000 men, came from the Euphrates to attack Jerusalem.

B. Great Tribulation

In the eighth lesson, we learned that the Great Tribulation was the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel.

In 67 CE: A Year of Signs, we learned that God sent four powerful signs inside the Temple linking the books of Daniel and Revelation to the events of the next three and a half years.

Then, in the Forty-Two Month Prophecy of Revelation, we learned that the Idumeans (Edomites) trampled the Temple courts for the full period, fulfilling the prophecy that the Gentiles would do so.

Finally, we discovered that the Five-Month Prophecy of Revelation represents the culmination of the Great Tribulation, which spans from Nisan 15 to Elul 14. This period encompasses the siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

2. Scripture Promise for 1335-Day Blessing

We’ve already discussed the 42 months in Revelation, derived from the three-and-a-half years in Daniel. In Daniel 12, we see that this period shattered the Jewish nation. During those three-and-a-half years, as many as one-third of the world’s Jewish population was killed by Idumeans (Edomites), fellow Jews, and then the Romans.

Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel 12:7

Beginning on Nisan 15, 67 CE, during Passover, Daniel adds 30 days to the 1,260 days, bringing the total to 1,290 days. He then adds another 45 days, bringing the total to 1,335 days. Finally, he states that anyone who reaches the end of this 1,335-day period will be blessed.

A. Added Words

In the following verses, there are a few words that have been added in by the translator:

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

As we look more closely at this verse, the NKJV includes a few additional words for clarity. Neither “And from the” nor “there shall be” appears in the original text. Without these additions, verse 11 reads as follows:

The time for the daily sacrifice to be taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Daniel 12:11-12

B. The Army of God

Luke also teaches that the “abomination of desolation” specifically refers to the Roman army.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Luke 21:20

As we observed, the four legions would be like locusts, consuming everything in their path.

”So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army, which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25

So now we know that the “abomination of desolation” is the Roman army  (four legions) appointed by God to take away the daily sacrifice and make the city of Jerusalem desolate in 1290 days.

C. Ordained Desolation

Now, let us examine the Hebrew word for “is set up”. Looking at Daniel 12:11-12 again:

The time for the daily sacrifice to be taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

The phrase “is set up” is the Hebrew word נָתַן nâṯan, which also means “to appoint or ordain.” We can confidently alter the wording of v11 to:

The time for the daily sacrifice to be taken away, and the abomination of desolation is ordained, shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Daniel 12:11

D. Start of the 1290-Day Prophecy

To determine historical accuracy, we will commence on the same day as the 42-month prophecy, which falls on Nisan 15, 67 CE (18–19 April). The table below shows the first three years, totalling 1,092 days according to the Hebrew calendar, as one of the years is a lunar year.

E. End of the 1290-Day Prophecy

This brings us to the day before Passover in 70 CE. To introduce the 1,290-day and 1,335-day prophecies, we will now calculate using the following table:

Why does Daniel refer to a 1290-day and 1335-day period that goes beyond the destruction and burning of Jerusalem?

3. March to Caesarea – 45 days left to the Blessing of the 1335-Day Prophecy

Now we will look at the major events in the epilogue to the destruction of Jerusalem. A table of events is available later in this chapter.

A. Roman Celebrations

For three days after the fall of Jerusalem, the Roman armies celebrated their victory with promotions and the distribution of plunder before departing for Caesarea. The Twelfth Legion was sent to the Syrian Euphrates, while the Tenth Legion was ordered to stay behind.

B. March to Caesarea

Of the 1.2 million people inside Jerusalem, only 97,000 Jewish captives survived. The estimated 12-day march of these severely malnourished and diseased prisoners would have caused many additional deaths, though the exact number is not recorded. I have suggested that 1,000 of them would have died on this 120km downhill march. The dates suggest that the Romans took their time, keeping them alive so they could be sold as slaves or sent to Caesarea to be killed in the games. 

C. Domitian Games

Titus decided to honour his brother Domitian by celebrating his birthday. Domitian was well-known for his cruelty, so it seemed fitting to him to have 10,000 Jews killed during the games at the hippodrome in Caesarea. These games marked the end of the 1,290-day prophecy.

D. Simon ben Giora

A week or more after the fall of Jerusalem, Simon and the Idumeans emerged from the caves, having failed to dig their way out through the underground tunnels to the outside of the city. Simon came out of the Temple dressed in his messianic garments, hoping—but failing—to intimidate the Romans. He and the 700 men remaining with him were captured. Instead of being executed in the games at Caesarea, they were taken to Rome so the Romans could witness the defeat of the Jews in the Roman games. All 700 of them died there.

E. Inside the Minds of the Jewish Captives

I want you to imagine the Jews who survived the destruction of Jerusalem. Exactly on September 8th, 70 CE, they had witnessed the fulfillment of

• the forty-two-month prophecy in Revelation,

• the three-and-a-half-year prophecy in Daniel, and

• the five-month prophecy in Revelation.

The Jews would have realised that the beginning of the three and a half year prophecy earlier in the same chapter of Daniel marked the start of both the 1290-day and 1335-day prophecies. 

F. Syncretist Jewish Captives

When the Twelfth Legion Fulminata was defeated, we learned that most Christians fled Jerusalem in November and December of 66 CE, before Nero—the Antichrist—declared war on the Jews in response to Jesus’ prophetic warning. However, some Christians likely remained among them. Just as today, some Christians incorrectly believe we must celebrate the feasts, there were Jewish believers in Jesus who held the view that they needed to follow the Mosaic law and that it was still in effect. However, the law died with Jesus on the cross.

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that were against us, which were contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

They would have remembered the three signs that occurred on Passover 67 CE, marking the start of Daniel’s three and a half year prophecy:

• A sacrificed heifer gives birth to a lamb inside the Temple, 
• The East gate to the Temple opened by itself at midnight on Passover, 
• Bright light in the Holy Place starting at 3 am for 30 minutes.

G. End of Last Days

Jesus had said the Last Days would finish in forty years.

The Jewish Christians would also have seen Elul 14 70 CE as the fulfilment of:

• Jesus’ prophecy regarding the Temple’s destruction
• Jesus’ prophecy about the Roman army as the abomination of desolation
• the five-month prophecy of Revelation, and 
• its connection to Joel in light of what they had just witnessed,
• and the trampling by the Idumeans in the forty-two month-prophecy of Revelation. 

When the captives considered Joel, they would have recalled Peter’s sermon and how it marked the commencement of the last days (though not the conclusion of the Gentile era). Peter, recalling Jesus’ prophecy concerning the destruction of the city and the temple, delivered this message with a focus on the outpouring of the Spirit. It is also evident that Peter intended to warn the Jews of the impending destruction of Jerusalem.

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapour of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Acts 2:16-20

They had seen the blood, fire, and smoke as Jerusalem was destroyed by the Jews, Idumeans, and Romans. Thos living in Jerusalem had witnessed the blood-red moon on the night Titus surrounded the city, and the full moon on 1 September 70 CE, Jerusalem burned, turning the moon red and blackening the sun. 

They knew that the day of the Lord was upon them a week before the upper city and caves were finally taken on 8 September. And the countdown had begun, if they could endure until the 1,335th day.

H. Salvation

In our lesson on salvation, we learned that the term “salvation” is not limited to being born again. Peter affirmed that Joel’s words referred to the destruction of Jerusalem in his warning sermon to the Jews on the day of Pentecost. In the next verse, we read:

And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

I. Repentance

In the topic on repentance, we learned that the Greek word for repent is *metanoia*, which means “to change the way you think.”

The Christians would have remembered Peter’s warning to repent before the day of the Lord on Elul 14 70 CE.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

The Jews, on the other hand, would have remembered this warning and the sign in the Temple that occurred on Pentecost in 67 CE:

• An earthquake followed by a loud noise and a voice of a multitude: “Let us go hence”

Christians would have remembered the corresponding verse in Revelation

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises (Gk: Voices), thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

Revelation 8:5

J. Repentance From Syncretism

In our discussion on Dating the Great Tribulation, we learned that the Twelfth Legion Fulminata was defeated before the start of the First Jewish-Roman War in 66 CE. We also discovered that most Christians fled Jerusalem in November and December of 66 CE, before Nero (the Antichrist) declared war on the Jews in response to Jesus’ prophetic warning. However, some Christians likely remained among them. As some Christians today incorrectly believe we must celebrate the feasts, Jewish believers in Jesus also believed they needed to follow the Mosaic law and that it was still in effect. However, the Law was fulfilled with Jesus’ death on the cross.

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that were against us, which were contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

K. Temple Sacrifices

To escape their predicament and be blessed by reaching the 1,335 days, they needed to repent and shift their mindset.  While the Temple’s destruction halted official sacrifices, a fundamental change of heart – embracing Christ and Christ alone – was crucial.

Some Jews attempted to reinstate temple sacrifices in the ruins left behind without a High Priest. The Roman edict permitting the collection of the Temple tax was no longer in force, so the sacrificial system remained unofficial, with individuals offering their own sacrifices.

4. Caesarea to Tripoli

A. Inside the Minds of the Christian Captives

Once the Domitian games at Caesarea were over, I can imagine the Christians reflecting on all these things. They would have prayed for salvation, knowing they had reached the 1,290 days and were still alive. They would have begun talking among themselves, and some of the bolder ones would have started to witness to their Jewish friends.

The Jews and Christians would have been working out how many days remained until the 1,335 days were complete. I can imagine them calculating the dates, aware that the worst was over but that they had not yet reached the 1,335th day. When the games at Caesarea concluded the 1,290-day prophecy with 10,000 deaths, they would have wondered what still lay ahead, knowing they had only another 45 days to endure.

B. Northwards March

Having witnessed the final day of Domitian’s games in Caesarea, where 10,000 were killed, they would have pondered the events to come in the next 45 days. On their march, they would have realised they were approaching Berytus, knowing they only had to endure another 45 days before their deliverance. 

C. Beirut (Berytus)

Arriving in Beirut, they would have been informed that their suffering was not yet complete. Titus had decided to hold games in honour of his father, Caesar Vespasian:

After this, Caesar came to Berytus, which is a city of Phoenicia, and a Roman colony, and staid there a longer time, and exhibited a still more pompous solemnity about his father’s birthday, both in the magnificence of the shows, and in the other vast expenses he was at in his devices thereto belonging; so that a great multitude of the captives were here destroyed after the same manner as before.

Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 7.39

D. Cities of Syria

The captives would have believed they were on their way to Rome for their final enslavement, as Simon ben Giora had been informed. This was not to be the case for the majority of the captives. Instead, Titus arranged more games as they marched through Syria. It is probable that this included Byblos and Tripoli, as they were on their way to the Sabattic River. Josephus mentions this river at the end of this quote.

Now Titus Caesar tarried some time at Berytus, as we told you before. He thence removed, and exhibited magnificent shows in all those cities of Syria through which he went, and made use of the captive Jews as public instances of the destruction of that nation. He then saw a river as he went along, of such a nature as deserves to be recorded in history;

Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 7.96

5. Sabbatic River

The Sabbatic River is the reason why the captives were about to receive their 1335-Day Blessing. This river was close to the main inland route between Tripoli and Antioch. A significant event was about to occur that would ultimately save them from their demise. Titus decided to witness one of the wonders of the age. The river would be dry for six days before flowing with water on the seventh, hence its name. 

It lies midway between Arcea, which belongs to Agrippa’s kingdom, and Raphanea. It hath somewhat very peculiar in it; for when it runs, its current is strong, and has plenty of water; after which its springs fail for six days together, and leave its channel dry, as any one may see; after which days it runs on the seventh day as it did before, and as though it had undergone no change at all; it hath also been observed to keep this order perpetually and exactly; whence it is that they call it the Sabbatic River,–that name being taken from the sacred seventh day among the Jews.

Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 7.97-99

This event must have had a significant impact on Titus, as his attitude towards the Jews appears to have changed abruptly within a few days.

A. Population of Antioch Visit Titus

A large number of Antioch’s populace decide to approach Titus as he approaches the city ask him to expel the Jews from Antioch.

These were not the men only, but a multitude of women also with their children, did the same; and when they saw him coming up to them, they stood on both sides of the way, and stretched out their right hands, saluting him, and making all sorts of acclamations to him, and turned back together with him. They also, among all the acclamations they made to him, besought him all the way they went to eject the Jews out of their city;

Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 7:101-103

B. The 1335-Day Blessing

Instead of expelling the Jews out of Antioch, it appears Titus adds to their population by adding the remaining ~60,000 of the 97,000 original captives from Jerusalem. 

There is no evidence that any except for Simon and his 700 men returned from Antioch with Titus to Jerusalem, Alexandria then Rome. It was in Rome where Simon ben Giora and his men all perished in the Roman games.

C. Arrival at Antioch

Finally, the captives arrive at Antioch around the time of the 1335-day prophecy of Daniel. Because there is no evidence they carried on we need to look at the city of Antioch in detail. Before we do that here is a time-line of Jews march from Jerusalem to Antioch:

6. Antioch

A. Antioch at the End of Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy

When the persecution Jesus and Daniel prophesied began around 15 October 33 CE, Antioch became the new birthplace for the church. 

But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:20-21

This is where they were first called Christians, under the leadership of Paul and Barnabas.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Thus, for a whole year, they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

By 36 CE, God’s focus had shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch, where He was preparing a city that would become the principal theological centre, challenging future Roman Catholicism for nearly a millennium. God intended for the Jewish community in Jerusalem to integrate with the Jewish community in Antioch through the agency of Caesar Titus. Those who found faith in Jesus Christ would find safety from persecution, and many would be born again from 71 CE onwards. 

“How can this be done, since that country of theirs, whither the Jews must be obliged then to retire, is destroyed, and no place will receive them besides?”

Titus: Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 7:103-110

The blessing of being welcomed and receiving salvation by believing in Jesus Christ is the 1335-day blessing as Daniel had prophesied.

B. Ignatius

Ignatius_of_Antioch, a disciple of Apostle John, was the third Bishop of Antioch after Apostle Peter then Evodius. He was martyred between 98 and 110 CE by Caesar Trajan when he was thrown to the lions. It is evident from the letters to the churches that the Jews in the area were becoming Christians after their arrival in Antioch. Those letters show that they were professing Jesus, but at the same time following the law:

 It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 10

C. Return to Jerusalem

Alas some of the Jews eventually returned to Jerusalem.History teaches that although torn down there was sufficient evidence of the Temple to be able to have an unofficial sacrificial system in place for the next 60 years until the 100th anniversary (one generation) of Jesus Last Days prophecy came to pass when Hadrian remove every stone of Jerusalem and the Temple to build another city nearby – Aelia Capitolina. Those who continued to offer sacrifices were missing out on the 1335-day prophecy.

“He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood;
He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol.
Just as they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,

Isaiah 66:3

The 1335-day blessing applies only to those who accepted Jesus, not if they continued in their syncretist way as Ignatius warned them.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/ Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. BVSc. 2026