(Published March 2021, Edited July 2022)

What is interesting is that this ‘nearness’ of their appearance is very rare. Only four such ‘approaches’ (also known as ‘conjunctions’) between Jupiter and Saturn have occurred in the previous 800 years (since 1200 AD) and the next one will be in 2080 AD. The next one after 2080 AD will be over 300 years later (beyond 2400 AD).

The detail (for this) is in the following table, which lists the dates and the ‘measure of nearness’ (arcminutes) based on astronomical retrospection and projection. Only conjunctions less than 10 arcminutes apart are listed. (‘Arcminutes’ are used to measure ‘visual’ distance between objects in the sky when viewed from our perspective on the earth. As an example, 10 arcminutes is approximately one third of the width of a full moon).

So, a very rare celestial event occurred between Jupiter and Saturn in 2020 which previously had not happened since 1623 and will not happen again until 2080. After 2080, there will be no more conjunctions (less than 10 arcminutes) for over 300 years.

This would be the end of the matter if it was not for the recent discovery of a ‘2080-day’ symmetry between important dates of the biblical ‘watch’ including ‘Brexit’, the ‘Chilean Miner Rescue’ and a possible date for the Rapture. The presence of the number ‘2080’ (which happens to be ‘triangular’) together with the rarity of this conjunction and that it was on the shortest day of the year, qualify this event for special examination. Is this a sign of biblical importance and, if so, what does it mean? 

The Bible is very clear that there will be signs at the end of the Christian Age which will precede the second coming of Messiah. Moreover, Jesus explicitly taught what type of signs these would be! The following passage from the Book of Luke reads as follows:

Luke 21:9-11 “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven”.|

The world, over the previous 100 years, has certainly aligned with these signs (namely wars, earthquakes and famines) and is currently (at time of writing in Spring 2021) in the middle of a global pestilence called the ‘COVID-19 pandemic’. The timing of this extremely rare planetary ‘sign from heaven’ (of Jupiter and Saturn) is, therefore, a complementary fit in keeping with the types of expected signs which Jesus spoke of nearly 2000 years ago.

If this is the case, what do the symbols of the sign represent? Well, ‘Jupiter’ is an excellent representation of Messiah. Not only is it the largest planet in the solar system, but importantly, Jupiter is associated with the number ‘12’ because it has a solar orbit 12 times the solar orbit of the earth. Jupiter is also just under 12 times (11.2) larger than earth. Biblically the number ‘12’ speaks of ‘governmental perfection’ during the Millennial Kingdom, when Messiah will preside in glory over the 12 thrones of the 12 tribes of Israel:

Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”.

Regarding ‘Saturn’, this planet is associated with the Jewish Sabbath on ‘Saturday’ – the seventh day of the week. Prominent Roman historians, as well as Church Fathers like Augustine, acknowledged a special link between ‘Saturn’ and ‘Saturday’, the holiest day of the week for the Jews. Moreover, the Romans named this seventh day of the week ‘Saturday’ (‘Saturn’s Day’) in respect of the planet Saturn. Typologically, this seventh day of the week (the Sabbath) represents God’s Day of Rest (Genesis 2:2) and is a type of the Millennial Kingdom – a ‘seventh day’ of 1000 years because ‘with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day’ (2 Peter 3:8). 

So, by way of interpretation, we have an approach of Messiah (Jupiter) to His Sabbath’s (Saturn’s) day’s rest – a sign, therefore, of Messiah’s soon return to setup His Millennial Kingdom here on earth through the governmental perfection of (believing ‘remnant’) Israel. Also, because this sign occurred on the shortest day of the year (21st December 2020), it may indicate that the fulfilment of this symbolic heavenly ‘approach’ will be soon – given that ‘time is short’.

Why is the Number ‘2080’ so Important?

The number ‘2080’ is of paramount importance in this matter. First, it is a triangular number and biblically, triangular numbers anticipate major divine interventions in the history of humanity. Secondly, the number ‘2080’ is the last in a short mathematical series of triangular numbers beginning with ‘1953’ which will be shown to be a crucial element in the biblical watch of Messiah’s return. The table below highlights the 62nd, 63rd and 64th triangular numbers in mathematics:

Consider that the 2000 bible years of Christendom expired in 1933 and that the world (at that time) entered a ‘transition period’ which Jesus called ‘the consummation of the age’: 

Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the consummation of the age?” 

The signs spoken of by Jesus (detailed earlier in this paper) relate to this ‘transition’ or ‘consummation’ of the Christian Age – a period when world domination is receding away from the Gentile Nations in favour of God’s chosen people, namely Israel which became a nation (again) in 1948 – albeit in unbelief. 

As part of the process of Israel becoming a sovereign nation and beginning her journey towards world government in the Millennial Kingdom, the United Kingdom (UK) blessed Israel with the Balfour Declaration in 1917. This was a letter written by Lord Balfour (the then Foreign Secretary of the UK) which was arguably the tangible beginning of the reestablishment of Israel as a nation (in 1948) which initiated events leading to Israel being raised out of ‘national death’. According to the Abrahamic covenant, (Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”), the Lord reciprocated this blessing by protecting the UK from ‘national death’ (or loss of sovereignty) in 2016. And who is the sovereign of the UK? Queen Elizabeth II, who was crowned queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in 1953. Those who bless Israel reap a blessing. The Balfour Declaration was a significant blessing to Israel.

This is where the first number – namely ‘1953’ – in our short series of triangular numbers, appears. Elizabeth was crowned on the 153rd day of 1953, which was the 2nd June, and in a year whose number contains the digits ‘1’, ‘5’ and ‘3’, in order. On this same day (2nd June 1953), important news came in that the commonwealth climber Sir Edmund Hilary had conquered Mount Everest (the highest mountain in the world). This news confirmed this day as a ‘high’ day in global history. Most importantly, however, God marked the United Kingdom with this most important year ‘1953’ which, as will be seen, would begin a series of three triangular numbers which would be embedded in global signs anticipating the second coming of Messiah. God also marked the United Kingdom with the triangular number ‘153’ by embedding it into the date of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation and this is important because the Bible teaches that the number ‘153’ represents the completed church just before her ‘escape’ at the Rapture.

The next triangular number in our series is ‘2016’ – the year of the Brexit Referendum – which triggered the ‘escape’ of the UK from national death (or loss of sovereignty). This theme of ‘escape’ will be seen to be a recurring theme because the next number in our series, ‘2080’, is the precise number of days back from the Brexit Referendum on the 23rd June 2016 to the Chilean Miner Escape on the 13th October 2010. These two globally witnessed events of the ‘Chilean Miner Rescue’ and ‘Brexit’ were both themed with ‘escape’. In the case of the Chilean Miners, personal escapes from death and in the case of ‘Brexit’, an escape from ‘national death’ (or loss of sovereignty). Importantly, both these globally witnessed events are numerically locked together with the short series of triangular numbers highlighted in the above table.

Now, if there is any measure of truth in aligning these triangular numbers with these (above discussed) globally witnessed events and Messiah’s second coming (which begins with the global ‘escape’ from death of all Christian believers at the Rapture), then there must be biblical confirmation. The ancient Book of Daniel asserts a compelling case.

Daniel’s Understanding of the ‘Number of Years’

In the prophetic and highly symbolic Book of Daniel (which contains information ‘sealed to the end of days’ – Daniel 12:4), Daniel too was watching for a liberation (or ‘escape’) of Israel away from her Gentile captivity (the Babylonian and Medo-Persian exile). This ‘watch’ of Daniel began when 120 satraps were appointed by Darius the Mede in Darius’ first year as monarch and when Darius was 62 years old. Note the discovery of the first clue in our biblical case because the 62nd triangular number (in mathematics) is ‘1953’ and Daniel began his ‘search’ or ‘watch’ for liberation (or ‘escape’) in this same first year of the sovereign, Darius the Mede who was 62 years of age!

Daniel 5:31-6:1 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;  and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 

Next, in the same (first) year (of Darius the Mede) when 120 satraps were appointed, Daniel understood by the books – namely Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10 – the ‘number of years’ to the end of the Babylonian Exile for Israel. In other words, the duration of time in years, before Israel’s escape from ‘national death’. This is confirmed later in the Book of Daniel:

Daniel 9:2 in the first year of his [Darius the Mede’s] reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. [In other words, the desolation of Jerusalem or Israel’s captivity would be seventy years].

This ‘understanding by the books, the number of years’ is really important, because the biblical text of Daniel’s watch contains the first two numbers in our short series of triangular year numbers, namely ‘1953’ and ‘2016’. We have already discovered the first number of ‘1953’ because Darius the Mede was 62 years old and the 62nd triangular number (in mathematics) is ‘1953’ and we are about to discover the second number of ‘2016’.

Note that the 120 satraps, by nature of their number, speak of the 120th Jubilee, which is the timing of the first resurrection (within which the Rapture is the next upcoming event). Most importantly, however, these ‘120 satraps’ have a Hebrew numerical value of ‘2016’ (see diagram below):

So now, the second triangular number (namely ‘2016’) has appeared in Daniel’s search for the timing of a liberation (or ‘escape’) of Israel from her national bondage or Gentile captivity or ‘national death’.

For various reasons, and as will be seen, Daniel was a type of the church. For example, where was Daniel when his three colleagues were ordered (in Daniel 3:19) into the furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel was not present, just as the church will not be present during the Tribulation (because the church has already been raptured). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were bound and cast into the burning fire which had been stoked up to seven times its normal heat (Daniel 3:19) – which is a tribulation, associated with the number ‘seven’ (the length of the Tribulation in the Book of Revelation) – and Daniel was nowhere to be seen!

Daniel, who may be considered a type of the church, therefore understood by the ‘number of years’ of an upcoming event of biblical proportion, namely the liberation of Israel from the bondage of their Gentile exile. So, just as Daniel was searching for a liberation event at the timing of the appointment of ‘120’ (satraps) so too should the church also be ‘watching’ (Revelation 3:3) or ‘searching’ for a liberation event – namely the Rapture (in the first resurrection) at the timing of the 120th Jubilee. Just as Daniel’s ‘watch’ or ‘search’ for liberation used the ‘number of years’, so too should the church use the ‘number of years’ found in Daniel 6:1 – namely ‘1953’ and ‘2016’ – which begin the short series of triangular numbers which depict signs for the liberation (or ‘escape’) event of the church at the Rapture! 

Knowing the wisdom of triangular numbers regarding the end times (Revelation 13:18), has the Lord embedded an additional sign for the watching church regarding another escape from national death (loss of sovereignty) – namely Brexit? Yes! Just as the UK blessed Israel with the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which ultimately raised Israel out of national death in 1948, the Lord reciprocated this blessing (according to the Abrahamic covenant) and protected the UK from national death in 2016. Just as this understanding of Daniel was associated with the first year of Daniel’s monarch or sovereign (Darius the Mede who was 62 years old – Daniel 6:1), was this understanding regarding Brexit to be associated with the first year of the UK’s monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) in 1953? (Remember that the 62nd triangular number in mathematics is ‘1953’).

Interestingly, this first year for Darius the Mede featured a major spiritual battle involving the angels Michael, Gabriel and the Prince of Persia (Daniel 11:1). This spiritual battle most likely manifested as the ‘attack’ of the jealous governors and satraps against the excellent spirit in Daniel (Daniel 6:4) who had recently been promoted above them. The initial stages of this battle saw the new King Darius lured into signing a law which condemned the faithful Daniel to death, however, this devious plan failed when Daniel, through angelic protection (Daniel 6:23), escaped unharmed from the lion’s den. At this victorious moment, the wise King Darius the Mede spoke “to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth” declaring that “all men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever”. Clearly the work and ministry of Daniel was highly contested at a spiritual level which adds further weight to Daniel as a type of the church and the importance of these modern day typological and numerical discoveries.

A word of warning. For those who are wary of watching for Messiah’s return, take careful note of Jesus’ direct instructions to His church in Revelation 3:3:

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

Be greatly encouraged! The Lord uses numbers in His word for a reason. Every hair on our heads is numbered and He has even numbered each of the host in the sky:

Luke 12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.

The Book of Daniel even reveals Messiah as the Wonderful Numberer! (Daniel 8:13) and as discovered elsewhere in scripture, biblical numbers open understanding.

In summary (of Daniel’s case), the Bible has provided compelling evidence for the church to consider the number of years (or year numbers) when watching for a liberation (or ‘escape’) event at Messiah’s return. Specifically, these year numbers are ‘1953’ and ‘2016’ and they are embedded in the biblical text of Daniel’s watch for the liberation of Israel from ‘national death’. The significance of these year numbers is that they are associated with a modern day ‘end times’ escape from national death (loss of sovereignty) for the UK – namely Brexit. Just as the UK blessed Israel with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 which ultimately raised Israel out of ‘national death’ in 1948, the Lord may have reciprocated this blessing (according to the Abrahamic covenant) and protected the UK from national death in the year 2016 – the year of the Brexit Referendum. 

Just as the understanding of Daniel was associated with the first year of Daniel’s monarch or sovereign (Darius the Mede who was 62 years old – Daniel 6:1), this understanding regarding Brexit may be associated with the UK because the first year of the UK’s monarch or sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II) was 1953. (Remember that the 62nd triangular number in mathematics is ‘1953’). In this way, the ancient Book of Daniel asserts compelling reasons for the significance of the first two numbers in our short series of triangular numbers.

What of the Final Number (of Years), ‘2080’?

So, what of the final number (of years), ‘2080’? As already mentioned, this is the number of days between the Brexit Referendum and the precise date of the Chilean Miner Rescue. For other reasons, the Chilean Miner Rescue is a picture of the escape of the church at the Rapture. 

So, if the beginning of the church is signified by the number ‘120’ on the day of Pentecost, what number would the Lord use to signify the end of the Christian Age, given that the completed church is biblically represented by the number ‘153’?

The answer is potentially 33 because 120 + 33 = 153 and this would make the ‘globally witnessed’ miraculous escape of the 33 Chilean Miners from their 2000 foot (below) rocky ‘tomb’ an excellent candidate for a sign at the end of the Christian Age.

The Lord, therefore, may have chosen the final number (‘2080’), in this series of triangular numbers (of years), to be a ‘linking number’ to seal these events together. The number ‘2080’ links ‘Brexit’ to the ‘Chilean Miner Rescue’ because it is the number of days between them. The number ‘2080’ also links ‘Brexit’ with a possible date for the Rapture, as discussed in the previous paper. Note that the number of days (1317) between the beginning and end of ‘Brexit’ is the numerical value of the Greek word ‘apokalypsis’ which means ‘an unveiling, uncovering or revelation’. For perspective, there are only 34 words in the complete original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek text of the Bible (of 446,258 words) with this numerical value (of 1317) making this (Greek word ‘apokalypsis’) highly improbable to appear in this context.