One of the first number in the revelations to Daniel and to John, and also hinted in other scriptures, that will guide us to deciphering the time of the second coming of the Lord is the figure 3.5 years. Sometimes we see it written as ‘a time, times and half of a time’ like in Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and in Revelation 12:14.

Sometimes this same figure is represented as 42 months (Revelation 11:2), 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3, 12:6) and even half a week (Daniel 9:27). Before we proceed, I will show you the relationship these numbers have and why there may be some differences in them.

42 months / 1,260 days / 3.5 times prophecy

For your information, there is a relationship between all the numbers: 42 months, 1,260 days and 3.5 times or years.

Using Lunar (moon) calendar (Used by the Jews):

The Lunar calendar is not stable. It gives us something between 353 days to 385 days in a common year or leap year. But the days in this calendar is either 29 or 30 days and the average is 30 days in a month. This gives us 360 days in a year which in prophecy, 360 denotes a complete cycle.

In this way,

1 Lunar year = 360 days.

3.5years x 360 days = 1,260 days!

42 months / 12 months in a year = 3.5 years! (Or 3 and half years or time, times and half of a time)

So, you can see that using the Lunar calendar which was prevalent among the Hebrews in those days:

42 months = 3.5 years = 1,260 days

Using Solar (sun) calendar (Used by the Egyptians and Romans):

This is the same calendar we use today.

There are 365 days (normal year) or 366 days (leap year) in the solar year.

So, we have 365.25 as the mean length of a year in the Julian calendar.

1 solar year = 365.25 days.

42 months / 12 months in a year = 3.5 years! (Or 3 and half years or time, times and half of a time)

42 months = 3.5 years x 365.25 days = 1,278.375 days!

So, you can see that using the solar calendar which was used in Rome and still in use today:

42 months = 3.5 years = 1,278.375 days

We are going to see the significance of these as we proceed.

Our mission now by the grace of God, or if God permits us to interpret accurately, is to know the time of the end. We will also study the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11. We know that these 2 witnesses would prophecy for 1260 days or 42 months or even 3.5 times/years before the end comes or before the kingdom is established Revelation 11:15. So we can say that the beginning of the end is the end of the 42 months prophecy of these witnesses.

Significance of 3.5 years or 42 months (1,260 days) in the Bible

3.5 is the half of 7 or a week. In Biblical gematria, 7 years or 7 stands for completeness which is marked with a rest or sabbath to show that it is indeed the end of that thing. So, we see the LORD rested on the 7^th day. There is also a Sabbath at the 7^th year under the Law (Exodus 23:10,11; Leviticus 25:2-7).

We observe therefore that 3.5 stands for the first half or last half of a cycle or a period.

This is why in Elijah’s first mission (he will come again), he prayed for 3.5 years and there was drought in the land 1Kings 18:1; Luke 4:25; James 5:17).

Also, we have indications from the Gospel of John that Jesus first ministry lasted about 3.5 years considering the fact that he must have seen 4 Passovers during his ministry with only 3 recorded (John 2:13; 6:4; 11:55-57) and the other before his first recorded Passover.

We see that 3.5 is the half of the 7 period of completeness. It signifies an important period of a ministry and prophecy.

We will see the interpretation/application of the 42 months, 1,260 days and 3.5 years in the next chapter.