Millennium

The 19th century is the 1800s, the 1900s was the 20th century, and now we have entered the 21st century.

If the centuries are named after their occurrence does it not stand to reason that the years also are named after they occur?

The first year is counted as '1' after it has passed.

We then continue to call the second year the year one, thus the 2000 counts the 2000 years that preceded it or so I had always believed.

I have heard the argument for 2001 that you would need to throw out the first year between Christ's supposed time of birth and the year 1.

Apparently that's what happened. The zero year is counted as 1 B.C., meaning that 1 A.D. is the first year and 2 B.C. would be the year -- 1.

But if you consider that Christ actually was born three or five years earlier and if that actually marked the beginning of the century as intended by God, then we may have missed the new millennium celebration sometime between 1995 and 1999. Oh, no !

When did time begin? I doubt the calendar reflects the actual span of time.

The calendar does not begin with the date that God -- or whoever you view the creator as being -- intended for the beginning of time. So the actual beginning of the millennium is unknown except to the time-maker.

Are you thoroughly confused? So am I. Does it matter? No.

The Y2K threat came and went without much of the predicted chaos.

So we celebrate once and then again. Can you think of a better reason to celebrate other than the sacrifice of our lord Jesus?

After all, the beginning of the millennium comes only once, or twice, every thousand years.

- Roger W Hancock