If you're using expectations and Joda Time, you now have the ability to freeze time in expectations (version 1.4.16 and above). The following code demonstrates how you can use the freeze-time macro to set the time, verify anything you need, and allow time to be reset for you.
Under the covers freeze-time is setting the current millis using the DateTime you specify, running your code and resetting the current millis in a finally. As a result, after your code finishes executing, even if finishing involves throwing an exception, the millis of Joda Time will be set back to working as you'd expect.
The freeze-time macro can be used in both the expected and actual forms, and can be nested if you need to set the time multiple times within a single expectation.