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Therefore 'Abdu'l-Baha calculates 457 years to the birth of Christ when determining the period of 490 years to the martyrdom of Christ, but when He determines the 2,300 years to the time of the Baha'i era, He calculates 456 years to the birth of Christ. There is a one-year difference in the calculations, which clearly indicates that the two approaches are not exactly the same. Why is this? (76:1) 'Abdu'l-Baha does not elaborate on His calculations in His brief explanation, but the reason may be to account for the difference between the Jewish and Gregorian calendars. This difference was understood by nineteenth-century Christians, as can be seen in the writings of such Christian ministers as William Miller and his followers, sometimes called the Millerites. They realized that, according to the Jewish calendar, the 2,300 years might not end in 1843 using the formula 457 - 2,300 = 1843, because the last year fell both in 1843 and 1844. Therefore, the 2,300 years would not be completed until the year 1844. This understanding applies both to the calculation of the crucifixion and ascension of Christ, so that the equation 457 + 33 = 490 should actually be rendered 456 + 34 = 490 (76:2) When calculating Daniel's prophecies referring to the time of Christ, 'Abdu'l-Baha simply adds 457 years to the 33 years which the Gospel implies to be Jesus' age at the time of the crucifixion. Since these calculations were generally accepted, there is no need for 'Abdu'l-Baha to divert His attention from the main theme to explain the subtleties involved in such calculations and to point out that the prophecy would overlap into AD 34 of the Gregorian calendar.
(76:3)
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