THE CRUCIFIXION

... return to "The Prophecy"

Setting dates sensitive to Christian belief and faith based on astronomical data might stir opposition. At the same time, using these methods to unlock the important date of His crucifixion, was only logical. Should we trust prophecy as in Daniel or phyisical observations during the event and the Astronomical Almanac given that GOD made and masters the heaven and the stars? At the end, the date of Jesus' crucifixion at his earth-age of 33 revealed by astronomical data may surprise, my trust in Him and His guidance while doing this research not.

THE GREAT DARKNESS OF NOVEMBER 29 AD

One of the first Gentile writers who mentions Christ is Thallus, a Samaritan-born historian, who wrote in 52 AD. However, his writings have disappeared and we only know of them from fragments cited by others. One such writer is Julius Africanus, a Christian writer about 221 AD. One very interesting passage relates to a comment from Thallus. Julius Africanus quotes:

"'Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away this darkness as an eclipse of the Sun'-- unreasonably, as it seems to me" and he explains "...unreasonably, of course, because a solar eclipse could not take place at the time of the full Moon, and it was at the season of the Paschal full Moon that Christ died."

The central eclipse of November 24, 29 AD (see left) emphasizes the most central character as seen from Jerusalem. The eclipse starts over Jerusalem at 9:24am, is greatest at mid day at 10:47am and lasts nearly 3 hours over Jerusalem ending at 12:15pm. See below the view from the moon.

Thus, from this reference we see that the Gospel account of the darkness which fell upon the land during Christ's crucifixion was well known and required a "naturalistic explanation" from those non-believers who witnessed it.

Phlegon, another first Century historian, is mentioned by Origen in "Contra Celsum": Philopon says: "And about this darkness . . . Phlegon recalls it in the "Olympiads" (the title of his history)." He says that "Phlegon mentioned the eclipse which took place during the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, and no other (eclipse), it is clear that he did not know from his sources about any (similar) eclipse in previous times . . . and this is shown by the historical account of Tiberius Caesar itself."

Julius Africanus also mentioned Phlegon. His "Chronicles" have been lost, but a small fragment of that work confirms the darkness upon the earth at the crucifixion. After his (Africanus) remarks about Thallus' unreasonable opinion of the darkness (see above!), he quotes Phlegon that "during the time of Tiberius Caesar an eclipse of the Sun occurred during the full Moon."

Typical for a central eclipse as seen from Jerusalem, observers saw a dark "Full-New-Moon" in front of the Sun caused by light reflected from earth. The same day November 24 was also the beginning of a new Jewish month, the first day of Kislev. Rosh Chodesh Kislev, which refers to the transition day or days between the preceeding month Cheshvan, which consists at times of one day, and at times of two. The Beit Din (Jewish Supreme Court) sanctified the month through the testimony of witnesses, who testified as to when they had seen the New Moon, where in the sky they had seen the New Moon, and exactly what it looked like. Messengers of the Beit Din went out to places distant from "Yerushalayim", to make known when the new month had been sanctified.

Kislev is a month with significant Biblical happenings. The first rainbow, observed after the Flood, was seen in Kislev. (Genesis 9: 8-17) "And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I set between Me, and yourselves, and between every living being that is with you, unto eternal generations. I have placed my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the Earth.' " "This is the sign of the covenant" - God showed Noah the bow and said to Him: "This is the sign of which I spoke" (Bereishit 9).

Astronomical calculations confirm, there was no similar eclipse in 50 years previous to this date, or in 50 years following it. The central eclipse of November 24, 29 AD followed by a new moon was unique, it could be seen over Jerusalem during mid-Day and lasted 3 hours. Eyewitness accounts written 23 years later can be taken seriously.

Friedhelm Dohmann, November 1996

View the Eclipse of November 24, 29 AD, as seen from space locked on Jerusalem. (IE Version 5 and Windows Media Player required!)

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