Some Apparently Unresolved Items Relative to the Below References - And the Resolution to the Apparent Dilemma

Statement of belief: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

Updated 5927± 02 11 2023 [2007-04-29]

Some Apparently Unresolved Items

Relative to the Below References

–

And the Resolution to the Apparent Dilemma

Abstract:

Notably the following two quotes from EGW are also (i.e. in addition to the day Yeshua was released out of the grave) at variance with the within calendar discoveries. (The solution to the dilemma is also presented below:)

1. It was on the first day of the week that Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. {DA 569.3} [Cf. the context given below;] and

2. On the first day of the week, Jesus resumed his journey to Jerusalem to join in the feast of the passover. {2SP 383.2} & {4Red 115.3} [Cf. the context given below.]

The above two quotes were an indication that I had additional work to do on these particular items within my study. It should be noted that neither one of those items are pivotal to the main framework of my study, nor would a change within my study of those particular items change much else since not much within my study is built upon either one of those two items. (The only items affected would be some of those items marked “[Colt dep]” elsewhere within this study, and presently dated from April 15 until sunset on April 18 within “A Preview of the Friday Aviv 17 Crucifixion.”) One of my first tasks in this regard was to pursue the basis for these statements of Ellen White, e.g.: Does her statements re timing have a basis in the Holy Scriptures, either in the common translations, or at least in the original Greek text? Or else, are her statements based upon another mistranslation in KJV?

The first task was to review and restudy all scriptural passages dealing with those events. I did not make any additional scriptural discoveries upon reviewing all the passages I could find relative to these particular events.

The next task was to review the context of Ellen White’s writings with a focus upon the basis for her dating these specific events. In so doing I was impressed that in her bible studies Ellen White’s best available reference was the KJV translation. Based on this fact, and on the still prevalent common belief that Yeshua was crucified on Friday, i.e. Preparation Day, and that He rose on the First Day, i.e. on Sunday, she apparently concluded that the passage “Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany” (John 12:1) must of necessity have been pointing to the last Sixth Day prior to the day of crucifixion, i.e. since it could not very well have pointed to a Shabbat. Since the Torah instructions of Deut. 16:4 makes it clear that the Passover sacrifice is killed at sunset between Aviv 14 and Aviv 15, such reasoning makes the Fifth Day of that week Aviv 14 and the Day of Passover. The sixth day before the Fifth Day of the week is the Sixth Day of the week. Thus far Ellen White’s reasoning may seem apparently correct. Unfortunately for all those that believe that Yeshua was crucified on Aviv 14, such reasoning makes it imperative that He was crucified, not on Aviv 14, but on Aviv 15.

The next text passage to consider is: "12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem," John 12:12 (KJV) Here is an apparent problem, for the day following upon the Sixth Day is Shabbat, and it doesn’t seem likely that the activities associated with riding upon the colt into Jerusalem would have occurred on a Shabbat, especially when nothing is said in the Scriptures about Shabbat in this connection.

Ellen White has resolved this dilemma, in much the same way as probably most others, by skipping Shabbat as a day of rest while deferring these events to the First Day of the Week. The basis for doing so appears to be the words “on the next day,” which words are here being used in a similar way as is frequently the Hebrew word “machar” in order to place the Wave Sheaf offering upon the morning of the First Day, rather than in accord with the Torah instructions, which, as best I can tell, makes it quite clear that the Wave Sheaf offering is to be made on the morning of the Shabbat.

One other problem with this approach of Ellen White is that the feast in Simon’s house is apparently attributed unto the Eve of the Shabbat, and that she states that “From the supper [Judas] went directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands. {DA 563.3}” How likely is it that the council was assembled on the Eve of the Shabbat? And how likely is it that the Priests were willing to make a monetary transaction during the hours of Shabbat?

Ellen White’s conclusion that the supper at Simon the leper’s house occurred on the Sixth Day may well be correct. However, that is not the same as saying that this event occurred on Friday night, because Friday night is Shabbat and, not the Sixth, but the Seventh Day. Thus in effect, Ellen White’s description of the events at the supper in Simon the leper’s house may well fit better into an understanding that this supper took place on Thursday night, i.e. on the Sixth Day of the week. However, as best I can tell from the scriptural record there must have been two suppers in Bethany and two anointments of Yeshua by Mary, and Ellen White’s writings of the events re the Feast at Simon’s House may fit better when applied upon a Monday night supper?

The words in John 12:12, “On the next day…” are a translation of words in the Greek, which are primarily giving reference to the morning breeze, and may well be a translation from the Hebrew word “machar,” which word is also primarily giving reference to the morning hours of the day, rather than giving reference to the next 24 hour period starting at the next following sunset. This fact makes it possible for Yeshua’s riding into Jerusalem on the colt to have occurred on the Friday morning following upon a Thursday night supper in Bethany, which is in agreement with the events as I have discerned them, and as well with Ellen White’s writings, with the one exception that the riding upon the colt into Jerusalem did not take place on “the first day of the week,” but on the Sixth Day of the week. The events as recorded by Ellen White re Yeshua casting out them that sold and bought in the temple fits the within study as an event occurring on “the first day of the week.” Cf. Luke 19:45.

I conclude that Ellen White’s dates as attributed to these particular events are most astute, and, in addition, they were the best available dates based upon the best available references at the time. I find that the present insights on timing makes the writings of Ellen White, not less, but more trustworthy, considering that some of the apparent problems with the events as she has recorded them are now being removed.

In conclusion, I suggest that presently available light upon these issues forces a different set of dates than those used by most everyone, even in our days, and Ellen White is no exception in this particular. She did her best, and who can blame her for not knowing everything? After all, how correct was Ellen White and Joseph Bates as to the correct beginning of the hours of the weekly Shabbat? The advise given Ellen White by the angel is still most current and most important to all of us, isn’t it? Or, are we to remain even more stubborn in mending our ways and our prior convictions than were Ellen White and Joseph Bates?:

“Said the angel: "Take the Word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find ..." {1BIO 324.3}

Quotes of the full contextual EGW paragraphs,

and of the relevant paragraphs from the preceding chapters of her books

EGW’s references to “the first day of the week” prior to the crucifixion:

It was on the first day of the week that Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Multitudes who had flocked to see Him at Bethany now accompanied Him, eager to witness His reception. Many people were on their way to the city to keep the Passover, and these joined the multitude attending Jesus. All nature seemed to rejoice. The trees were clothed with verdure, and their blossoms shed a delicate fragrance on the air. A new life and joy animated the people. The hope of the new kingdom was again springing up. {DA 569.3}

On the first day of the week, Jesus resumed his journey to Jerusalem to join in the feast of the passover. Multitudes who had flocked to Bethany to see him, accompanied him, eager to witness his entry into Jerusalem. All nature seemed to rejoice; the trees were clothed in verdure, and blossoms which shed their delicate fragrance upon the air. Many people were on their way to the city to keep the feast of the Passover. These companies were continually joining the multitude attending Jesus. He sent two of his disciples to bring "a colt, the foal of an ass," that he might ride into Jerusalem. It was but a short distance, and as he had always chosen to travel on foot, his disciples were puzzled to know why he should prefer to ride. But hope brightened in their hearts with the joyous thought that Jesus was about to enter the capital and proclaim himself King of the Jews, and assert his royal power. While on their errand, the disciples communicated their glowing anticipations to the friends of Jesus, and the excitement spread far and near, raising the expectations of the people to the highest pitch. {2SP 383.2}&{4Red 115.3}

EGW’s references to the events occurring on the Sixth Day “six days before the Passover” and the Shabbat following:

The Saviour had reached Bethany only six days before the Passover, and according to His custom had sought rest at the home of Lazarus. The crowds of travelers who passed on to the city spread the tidings that He was on His way to Jerusalem, and that He would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany. Among the people there was great enthusiasm. Many flocked to Bethany, some out of sympathy with Jesus, and others from curiosity to see one who had been raised from the dead. {DA 557.3}

Six days before the passover, Jesus stopped at the house of Lazarus in Bethany. He was on his way from Jericho to attend the feast of the passover at Jerusalem, and chose this retreat for rest and refreshment. Crowds of people passed on to the city, bearing the tidings that Jesus was on his way to the feast, and that he would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany. This information was received with great enthusiasm by the people; for the news had spread everywhere of the wonderful works wrought by Jesus, the last and most astonishing of which was the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Many flocked to Bethany, some from curiosity to see one who had been raised from the dead, and others because their hearts were in sympathy with Jesus, and they longed to look upon his face and hear his blessed words. {2SP 372.1}&{4Red 105.1}

EGW’s statements [“Six days before the passover, Jesus stopped at the house of Lazarus in Bethany,” “he would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany,” and “It was on the first day of the week that Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem,”] apparently implies that the supper at Simon the leper’s house occurred on the Evening of the Shabbat, and that on the Eve of the Shabbat the Priests were in council and willing to buy Yeshua for money [“from the supper [Judas] went directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands. The priests were greatly rejoiced... and bought their Lord for thirty pieces of silver”:]

But the look which Jesus cast upon Judas convinced him that the Saviour penetrated his hypocrisy, and read his base, contemptible character. And in commending Mary's action, which had been so severely condemned, Christ had rebuked Judas. Prior to this, the Saviour had never given him a direct rebuke. Now the reproof rankled in his heart. He determined to be revenged. From the supper he went directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands. {DA 563.3}

The priests were greatly rejoiced. These leaders of Israel had been given the privilege of receiving Christ as their Saviour, without money and without price. But they refused the precious gift offered them in the most tender spirit of constraining love. They refused to accept that salvation which is of more value than gold, and bought their Lord for thirty pieces of silver. {DA 564.1}

Judas had indulged avarice until it overpowered every good trait of his character. He grudged the offering made to Jesus. His heart burned with envy that the Saviour should be the recipient of a gift suitable for the monarchs of the earth. For a sum far less than the box of ointment cost, he betrayed his Lord. {DA 564.2}

The look which Jesus cast upon the selfish Judas convinced him that the Master penetrated his hypocrisy and read his base, contemptible character. He was stirred with resentment. His heart burned with envy that Jesus should be the recipient of an offering suitable to the monarchs of earth. He went directly from that supper to the chief priests, and agreed to betray him into their hands. The priests were greatly rejoiced at this, and "they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver, and from that time he sought opportunity to betray him." {4Red 111.2} & {2SP 379.1}

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