JOHN HOLBROOK JR.
Although I am reluctant to write about myself, I believe that I owe my readers some indication of who I am. Thus, you need to know a bit about who raised and trained me, what I have experienced, what I believe, and why I am writing about these beliefs – particularly when the subject matter is so important to each one of us because it bears on where we will spend eternity.
Visual Snapshot
Photo by Tom McHugh, 2009
Verbal Snapshot
I am a Bible-believing Christian; a husband of one wife since 1961; a father of two daughters; a grandfather of three grandsons and one granddaughter; an experienced architect, planner, and administrator who specializes in (a) architectural, organizational, and strategic planning, (b) financial analysis, accounting, and reporting, and (c) board governance;[1] a skilled chairman or moderator of meetings of every kind; and an avid reader of non-fiction books.
Before 1980
Education & training: I attended Saint Bernard’s School, graduating in 1950 at the end of 7th grade, Saint Paul’s School 1950-55, from which I graduated Cum Laude, and Yale College 1955-59, where I rowed on the varsity crew and from which I graduated with a B.A. in English Literature. I then spent three years (1959-62) on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, where I served in an infantry battalion as a platoon commander, a company executive officer, and finally the officer in the S-3 section doing all the battalion’s operations planning. I attended the Yale School of Art & Architecture 1962-68, from which I graduated with an M.A. in Architecture. While I was pursuing my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I began a life-long study of the ancient world by taking courses in ancient art and architecture, ancient history, and the history of science.
Career: After apprenticeships in several architectural firms, I practiced architecture and developed real estate in Washington DC (1969-1974) and then practiced architecture and farmed in Grafton VT (1974-1980). During these years I also served on several non-profit boards, often as chairman.
Continuing education: I took a course in Amphibious Warfare (1964). I also continued my historical studies.
Anni Mirabiles (1980-81)
In 1980, I experienced two dramatic encounters with God: the first converted me from an atheist to a born-again Christian and the second convinced me that the Bible is the Word of God written and therefore completely trustworthy. The following year, a third commissioned me to be an emissary to the Jewish people. As a result, I began a lifelong study of the Bible and the focus of my ambitions soon shifted from success as defined by the world to success as defined by the Bible.[2]
After 1980
Career: I practiced architecture and farmed. I also formed and oversaw a woodworking business until its failure in the recession of 1981-82, which resulted in the loss of my farm and a move to New York City. There the focus of my professional life shifted from designing buildings to planning of all types. I served as VP of the Episcopal Church Building Fund, where I managed its loan portfolio and taught dioceses and congregations how to organize and plan for building construction. I was a consultant to Merrill Lynch’s Corporate Real Estate Department, where I led a strategic planning team that concentrated on the company’s space-bank in the NYC metropolitan region. In 1988, I became a Merrill Lynch VP and managed the planning and design of its major building projects. I ended my career as a consultant to and then CFO of Chosen People Ministries, where I was responsible for administration, finance, and development. During these years I also served on several church and ministry boards, often as chairman.
Continuing Education: I took courses in Long Range Planning & Strategic Facilities Management (1984) and Strategic Planning for Non-profit organizations (1988). I also continued my historical and biblical studies.
Retirement: Since retiring at the end of 2001, I have served on several church and ministry boards, worked on a number of books, and created this website and blog, where my writings are and will be appearing.
My talk at my retirement banquet – “Ambassador to Israel”
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[1] I am a strong advocate of John Carver’s Policy Governance.
[2] The word “success” appears in the King James Version only once: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (KJ21 Joshua 1:7-9).
Greetings,
Firstly I’d like to greet you as one in the Household of Faith, as a brother in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The works published on this website, specifically in the field of civilization chronology, is exceptionally well done; it is curious to note that you have arrive at many conclusions I have made as well, as a result of using Sola Scriptura (Genesis, creation account, table of nations, Cush and Babel, e.t.c.), truly the work of the Holy Spirit is a wonder to behold.
I write primarily concerning a pressing question, with potentially prophetic significance.
The question is as so;
How, or why, did you arrive at 3977bc as the date of creation in the article ‘Timeline 1A-0 – Creation Week (3977 BC)’ ?
(This date puts creation at the age of roughly 5996: a year foretold to be unlike any other)
For such was the conclusion I had arrived at as well, specifically from attempts to pinpoint the start of the last 1335, 1290, and 1260 day figures given in the Book of Daniel, and Revelation.
I most eagerly look forward to your response, and hope that this correspondence proves fruitful to us both, and further, brings glory to God.
Your brother in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Aaron Freeman
Aaron:
Thank you for your interest in my site. I am glad that you have found it helpful.
Regarding your question about how I arrived at 3977 BC as the date of Creation Week, there is a clear timeline running through Scripture from Creation to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord. It indicates (a) that 3,975 years elapsed from Creation to Messiah’s birth, that Messiah’s birth occurred on August 28, 2 BC, which was Rosh Hashana (the Feast of Trumpets), and that 33.5 years elapsed from Messiah’s birth to His death on Passover early in April of 33 AD. I have posted many papers regarding Bible Chronology on this site, so I will not take the time here to elaborate on the subject here. Happy reading!
Shalom, John.