Question: "At the end of the year 999, many waited for the return of Jesus Christ. Why do you think that the Second Coming is going to happen after the second millennium?"

Answer: (31 May 2000) There was certainly much histeria at the end of the first millennium as regards the return of Jesus Christ. The main reason for this was the repetition of the words "a thousand years" in chapter 20 of the Revelation of John. In the interpretation of Revelation as set out in "How Near Armageddon" it will be seen that Revelation measures "three and a days" in each millennium. This is based on the interpretation of the resurrection of the "two witnesses" after "three and a half days" in Revelation 11:11. It will also be revealed that Revelation can be interpreted in a 'time frame' of two thousand years. Each millennium is a unit of "one thousand years", but also of "three and a half days". Therefore the time span of two millennia is also a total of 'seven days'. "Seven" in Revelation is a number of totality.

The difference between the "thousand years" and "three and a half days" in Revelation is "about" ( Rev 8:1 "about half an hour") eight to twelve years. ("Half an hour" in Revelation's total time measurement is twelve years.) In Revelation this time of about eight to twelve years is "a short season" ( Rev 6:11 and 20:3) and is measured at about the end of each millennium.

The reason why this is so, is because Almighty God in his infinite wisdom knew that in the year 2000 men would place the birth of Christ ( as a result of inaccurate dating of early historical manuscripts as well as allowing for the adjustment of the calendar over two millennia) at 4BC. The accuracy of Revelation is astounding!

Therefore Revelation seems to measure time to about the year 2004 or just beyond. It must be remembered that the total time measurement of Revelation can be incorporated within this time frame.

Of the greatest significance is the fact that the words of Jesus Christ spoken on earth seem to verify this measurement. In John 16:16 Christ says "in a little while you will see me no more and then after a little while you will see me". These words related to his death and resurrection, but as we now know, in the year 2000, through Revelation's time measurement, also to the understanding of the book Revelation. It seems to verify that each millennium is a unit of "a thousand years" and "three and a half days". This enhances the meaning of the words of Revelation 5:5 that "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David", that is Jesus Christ, can open "the scroll with the seven seals", that is Revelation.

When you read "How Near Armageddon" you will see that the words of the prophets of the Old Testament, but particularly the words of Jesus Christ spoken on earth, relate to Revelation's unique time measurement. That the words of Jesus Christ spoken on earth also relate to the opening of the book Revelation, sublimely confirms and reveals to the unbelieving world of the year 2000, that he is the Son of God. For when he spoke to men on earth he already had knowledge of his Return. The Return being only known to Almighty God himself.

Through a correlation with the history of the past two thousand years, we can now understand the meaning of the symbolism of verses of the book Revelation.

Therefore the expectation of the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the first millennium can in no way compare with our knowledge in the year 2000 and how Revelation correlates with two thousand years of history. At the beginning of the third millennium, the Second Coming is imminent.