A renewed debate in Bible prophecy circles is drawing attention to March 2026, not as a date for the rapture, but as a possible turning point in biblical history. The discussion centers on an ancient solar calendar preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls and whether it signals the beginning of what some interpret as the final Jubilee, or final generation, of the Age of Grace.
That argument was recently outlined in a discussion between Josh Peck and Dr. Ken Johnson, who has spent decades studying the Dead Sea Scrolls and their calendar system. Johnson argues the scrolls preserve what he calls the original biblical calendar, distinct from the modern Gregorian system. “According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was the original calendar given by God,” Johnson said, adding that it stretches “from creation…through the millennial reign to the end of time.”
What makes this calendar different
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which relies on lunar adjustments and shifting weekdays, Johnson says the Dead Sea Scrolls calendar is a 364-day solar system designed to keep weeks and feast days fixed. “On a 364-day calendar, everything is the same,” he said. “The Passover is the 14th of Nissan. It’s always Tuesday. The new year always starts on Wednesday.”
The year is structured around 12 months of 30 days, plus four additional marker days tied to the equinoxes and solstices. Rather than adding leap days, Johnson says the system stays aligned by using leap weeks every few years, keeping it closely synced with the seasons while preserving consistent weekly cycles.
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Why March 2026 matters
The calendar framework leads to the central claim that March 18, 2026, marks the start of a final 50-year Jubilee period, which Johnson equates with a generation. “The Dead Sea Scrolls seem to indicate the last Jubilee is the last generation,” he said. That places the proposed prophetic window between 2026 and 2076.
Johnson is careful to stress that this is not date-setting. “We’re not supposed to set dates,” he said. “The calendar is a calendar system.” Still, he argues that major biblical events historically cluster within these Jubilee periods, especially toward the end of an age.
He points to the time of Jesus as an example, noting that “most of the prophecies are about His ministry, His death, the creation of the church,” which he places within the final Jubilee of the previous age. “He dies in 32, but it’s still in that 50-year period,” Johnson said.
Patterns, not predictions
Rather than claiming certainty, Johnson frames the model as a means of observing patterns. He argues that the scrolls suggest that the end of an age is marked by turmoil, whereas the beginning of the final generation may initially be marked by spiritual activity. “They also seem to indicate the beginning of the last generation is usually blessed with revival, miracles, things like that,” he said.
He also identifies developments to monitor, including the end of ongoing wars, Israel’s territorial expansion, and potential archaeological discoveries. Johnson claims that some scroll texts indicate that regional conflict ended around 2026 or 2027, though he emphasizes this as interpretive rather than definitive.
A call for discernment
Both men repeatedly caution against obsession or fear. Johnson’s closing message is deliberate. “Don’t read too much into it. Don’t try to set dates.” Instead, he urges believers to take prophecy seriously without being driven by speculation.
Whether or not their interpretation proves accurate, the discussion highlights a broader point. Scripture calls believers to remain watchful, informed and discerning. As global instability grows and prophetic themes increasingly intersect with current events, the challenge is not to predict the timeline. The challenge is to stay anchored in truth, alert to deception and grounded as the last days continue to unfold.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
