Ethnic Makeup of the Ancient Egyptians, Israelites, and Hyksos Ethnic Makeup of the Ancient Egyptians, Israelites, and Hyksos A comparative look at the peoples of the Nile and the Levant in the New Kingdom period (18th–19th Dynasties). Ethnic Makeup of the Ancient Egyptians The Egyptians of the New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1189 BC) were primarily a Northeast African population rooted in the Nile Valley. Their features reflected a mixture of indigenous Saharan, Nubian, and Nile Delta ancestry. Genetic studies of royal mummies and skeletal remains reveal a population connected to both Sub-Saharan Africa and the ancient Near East, consistent with Egypt’s geographic position as a crossroads of Africa and Asia. Royal families often intermarried with foreign princesses to cement alliances. For example, Amenhotep III married women from Mitanni and later Ramesses II married Hittite royalty. This resulted in foreign admixture at the highest levels of society, though the g...
Where Are We on the Biblical Timeline?
Understanding time, prophecy, and God’s big picture plan in light of Scripture and history.
The Big Framework
2 Peter 3:8 says that “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Many Bible students take this to mean that human history unfolds in a pattern of seven thousand-year “days” that parallel the seven days of creation. Six days of human labor and history, followed by a seventh “Sabbath day” of rest — the millennial reign of Christ.
Where Are We Now?
According to the Hebrew calendar, the year is currently 5785 (as of 2025). If the calendar is accurate, humanity is approaching the close of the sixth “day.” That would place us near the threshold of the seventh millennium, often associated with the reign of Christ on Earth.
The Margin of Error
Here’s where it gets interesting. Scholars and historians widely agree that the traditional Hebrew calendar is “short” by about 165–200 years. Why? Because the ancient chronicle Seder Olam Rabbah compressed the Persian period of history. If you take the Hebrew year at face value (5785), we still have about 215 years until year 6000. If you add the missing years, we may actually be closer to 5950–5985. That would put us only 50–15 years away from year 6000. In other words, depending on how you look at the math, the final 7-year Tribulation (prophesied in Daniel and Revelation) could be centuries away — or within our lifetimes.
The Role of the Third Temple
One of the most anticipated events in Bible prophecy is the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Scripture points to this temple as playing a central role in end-times events:
- Daniel 9:27 speaks of sacrifices being stopped — implying a functioning temple first.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 describes the “man of lawlessness” setting himself up in God’s temple, claiming to be God.
- Revelation 11:1-2 references the temple and its courts in the end-times vision.
For centuries, the idea of a Third Temple seemed impossible. Today, however, preparations are quietly underway — from priestly training to crafted temple vessels. The Temple Mount remains a flashpoint of global attention, suggesting that when this prophecy comes into play, the whole world will notice.
Takeaway: The return of a physical temple in Jerusalem isn’t just a religious or cultural milestone — it’s a prophetic signpost. Many believers see it as one of the clearest markers that we’re moving into the final stretch of the biblical timeline.
Prophetic Timeline at a Glance
Creation
Genesis 1
Israel
Covenant & Exodus
Jesus
1st Coming
Church Age
Pentecost → Today
3rd Temple
End-time signpost
Antichrist
Rise & Deception
2nd Coming
Return of Christ
Millennium
1000-year reign
Conclusion: Why It Matters
Whether we’re years or decades away, the message of prophecy isn’t about date-setting — it’s about readiness. The timeline reminds us of the urgency to repent, to put our faith in Jesus Christ, and to live in alignment with God’s law. Time is running its course, but God’s desire is that none should perish, and all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
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