« Dear Brother in Christ:—
The other day, having read the 15th chapter of Genesis, the 9th verse seemed to suggest that the years mentioned had some meaning, and, doing a little figuring, here is the result. In the 8th verse Abraham asked some proof that he should inherit the land promised him in the seventh verse. In verse 9 the Lord said to Abraham, “Take me an heifer three years old, and a she goat three years old, and a ram three years old, a turtle dove and a young pigeon.” Now a bird is usually considered young up to one year old. So I figured three years each for the heifer, goat and ram—nine years—and one year each for the birds, eleven years in all. Eleven prophetic years of 360 days each equals 3,960. A day for a year gives us 3,960 years. On page 42, Vol. II, of the Dawn have the chronology as follows :

From the Covenant to the giving of the Law . . . . 430 years
To the division of Canaan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 “
Period of the Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 “
“ “ Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513 “
“ “ Desolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 “
Thence to A. D. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536 “
Total from the Covenant to A. D. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2045 “

2045 taken from the 3960 years leaves 1915 years from A. D. 1, which seems to be the proof Abraham asked of the Lord whereby he should know that he would inherit the land. This seems at least to be a remarkable coincidence.
Wishing you God’s rich blessing, I remain yours in the blessed Redeemer, » — Magazine : Zion’s watch tower and herald of Christ’s presence, March 1907, pages 78-79 [3957] § 6-7.