Time is fulfilled

Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God. He said: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the good news. Mark 1:14

As Jesus traveled through Galilee, teaching and healing, crowds flocked to him from the surrounding towns and villages. They even came from Judea and neighboring regions. At times, he was forced to hide from the crowds. Enthusiasm was so great that precautions had to be taken to prevent the Roman authorities from fearing insurrection. The world had never known a time like it. Heaven had come closer to earth. Souls who had long awaited the redemption of Israel, and who hungered and thirsted for justice, now rejoiced in the grace of a merciful Savior.

The gospel message given by the Savior had its basis in prophecy. The "time" he said was fulfilled was the period revealed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. "Know therefore and understand: from the going forth of a word commanding to rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a ruler, there are seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks" (Daniel 9:25), sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years. The decree ordering the rebuilding of Jerusalem, completed by Artaxerxes. Long Hand (Ezra 6:14; 7), went into effect in autumn 457 BC.

From this date, 483 years bring us to 27 CE, in autumn. According to prophecy, this period culminated in the Messiah, the Anointed One. At his baptism in 27 A.D., Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and soon began his ministry. From then on, the message was proclaimed: "The time is fulfilled"...

The time of Christ's coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death and the proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles were precisely indicated. "The Spirit of Christ which was in them ... beforehand, attested the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow." 1 Peter 1:11. Just as the message concerning Christ's first coming announced the kingdom of his grace, the message concerning his return announces the kingdom of his glory.