Biblical Evidence that the Weekly Cycle Has Not Existed Since Creation
Summary: Our Gregorian
Calendar doesn’t show new moons as “the beginning of
the months.” The
record in Exodus shows the new moons took precedence over the weekly cycle. [IaWIa1] They were
followed by six days of work before the Sabbath on the 8th, 15th,
22nd and 29th days of the month. [IaWIa2] “Sabbath”
is not found on any other day in Scripture, though cited 137 times.[IaWIa3]
Counting from the new moon also favors observance of annual Sabbaths with
four of seven falling on 7-th day Sabbath on the 15th, 22nd,
or new moon days. “The World Calendar is a proposed reform of the Gregorian calendar” and with a possible calendar
change coming, we should look again at calendar that God gave to Israel at the Exodus. Maybe another Exodus is coming?
Ivy Lee was paid $10,000 for a
half-hour consultation with Charles Schwab, president of an independent steel
company Lee recommended that Schwab to make a list each day of the things that
he wanted to accomplish and number them in
the order of their importance. He was then work on #1 until he had done all
he could on it before working on #2, etc.
430 years
echoes the time Israel was in Egypt before the Exodus. The
Bible’s last message is to come out of fallen worldly systems. To sing the song
of Moses and the Lamb, we will need an experience like they had.[IaWIa4]
It seems so characteristic of God
to make a simple statement that had so much riding on it. He said, “This is the
beginning of the months.”[1]
The new month began with the new moon in Bible time and we can see it as a thin
crescent in the western sky about half an hour after sunset. Each night the
moon gets bigger and comes up farther east until the 14th and 15th
days when it rises in the east as a full moon at sunset. As the month
progresses, the moon becomes smaller and rises later until it disappears for a
night or two at the end of the month before the next new moon.
God knew what Ivy Lee knew—that
first things are important, and He delivered His people from bondage in that
first month.[2] A year
later on the new moon day of the
first month, the Israelites set up the sanctuary.[3]
A month later, on the first day of 2nd month, Moses numbered Israel.[4]
There are about two dozen references
to new moon and first day of the month, but some references say, for example, “in the beginnings of your
months.” This comes from Numbers 28:11 where the
offering is two bullocks, a ram and seven lambs—a bigger deal than just two
lambs offered on a 7th-day Sabbath. David, who had a heart for worshipping
God, wrote, “Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon on
our solemn feast day.”[5]
Two of those feast days came on the
full moon, on the 15th day of the first and seventh months. And on
another full moon, the month after leaving Egypt, on the 15th day,
God promised Israel manna for six days, but none fell on the Sabbath, the 22nd
day.[6]
This is
the first use of the word Sabbath in
the Bible.[IaWIa5] We overlook the context of its relationship to the
New Moon after which there were 14 days before God, on a Sabbath (15th)
promised manna but none of the 21st day[IaWIa6] .
On the surface this seems just a
coincidence, but the previous month, the first day of unleavened bread on the
15th day was also a 7th-day
Sabbath as seen in Leviticus 23:11. Strong’s
#7676 is Shabbat, a word only
used for 7th-day Sabbaths.
The implication is HUGE. God was
defining the 15th day (and hence the 22nd day) of the 1st
month as a 7th-day Sabbath[IaWIa7] , and Exodus 16:1,23 supports
the 15th day and the 22nd day of the 2nd month
also as 7-day Sabbaths. This cannot happen with our Gregorian Calendar that begins the months with no relationship
to a new moon. If we stop to think about it, a new month without a new moon
should strike us as fishy.[IaWIa8]
Furthermore, when God gave the 10
Commandments, the context of working six days and resting the 7th-day
had been established as a sequel to the New Moon and for the gathering of
manna. We overlook the weekly cycle of six days work and the Sabbath rest as subordinate to the new moon as it
was then with the Sabbath on the 8th, 15th, 22nd
and 29th days of the month.
The word “Sabbath” is found 137
times in the Bible, and if you can find a Sabbath on any other day than the 8th,
15th, 22nd or 29th of the month since the time
of Moses, you may claim a $10,000 reward offered at http://www.lunarsabbath.org
The calendar given by God offers a
big advantage for observing the annual Sabbaths because four of the seven “holy
convocations” fell on 7th day Sabbaths or New Moon Days. They were
the 15th of the first and seventh month, the New Moon and 22nd
of the seventh month These are explained further in Leviticus 23 where God
instituted them “as a statute forever.”[7] [IaWIa9]
Did God forget that Christ was
going to die on the cross and that these would be nailed to the cross? Or did
King James translators, steeped in Catholic traditions, fail to see the
significance of what Paul was saying? They even added the word “is” to say those festivals were shadows,
but the body is of Christ, implying
belief in Him is the substance, and we can forget the shadows!
Eliminating their supplied word,
that statement from Colossians 2:16,17 could read,
Don’t let any one person judge how you keep those holy days but the body of
Christ. [The local church can decide how to observe those special times.]
Paul’s condemnation in Galatians may be understood in the context of their
works to earn salvation. The gospel condemns the law as a means of salvation,
but exalts the law as a standard to live by.
In the 1st Commandment,
God asks to be made first. We are supposed to do so for tithe, setting
it aside at the first of the week.[8] [IaWIa10] God asked for the first-born and the first fruits. In
this study we might see God as wanting the first day in worship We will do so in heaven “from one new moon to another.”[9]
“Practice makes perfect!”
After the New Moon Day[IaWIa11] , we work six work days and rest on the Sabbath, a
cycle that is continuous for the month. We might wonder [IaWIa12] about the 30th day of the month after the
Sabbath on the 29th day, before the new moon of the next month appears The moon has
a 29.5-day cycle and every other month will have an extra day before the new
moon.
This may be [IaWIa13] why the count to Pentecost specifies “seven Sabbaths
shall be completed,”[10]
an allowance for an extra day at the end of some months that is not part of a
complete week, just as Israel also added a month some years if the barley was
not ready for Passover.
We
believe the woman clothed in light represents the true church as
opposed to the harlot in Revelation 17, but we forget she has the moon under
her feet.[11]
This implies a foundation based upon the moon, or a lunar understanding. We should protest a false calendar from a false
church that begins its month without reference to the new moon and ignores rich
Old Testament heritage as an opportunity to understand more of the plan of
salvation which those feasts were designed to teach. [IaWIa14]
The new moons and annual Sabbaths
were abolished by the little horn power that “thinks to change times and laws.”[12] In the “times of restitution of all things”[13] we can be on Elijah’s side. Before Christ comes,
“Elias must come first and restore all things.”[14] We overlook the context of that promise. “Remember ye
the law of Moses…with the statutes and judgments. Behold I send you Elijah…”[15] The statutes include the annual feast days “forever”
in Leviticus 23:14,21,31,41.
Only
the religion that comes from God can lead to God, and the pope’s calendar won’t
get us there. Christ told of a man who found a treasure
(truth) buried in a field (the Word of God) and said, So
shall it be at the end of the world” before and
after that parable.[16]
Will we value the treasure of truth enough to sell what we have to obtain
it? It will be worth more to those who
find it than the $10,000 that Ivy Lee was paid for good time management. [IaWIa15]
[1] Exodus 12:2
[2] Ibid.
[3] Exodus 40:1,17
[4] Numbers
[5] Psalm 81:3
[6] Exodus 16:1,23
[7] Leviticus 23:14,21,31,41
[8] 1 Corinthians 16:2
[9] Isaiah 66:23
[10] Leviticus 23:15
[11] Revelation 12:1
[12] Daniel 7:25
[13] Acts 3:21
[14] Matthew 17:11
[15] Malachi 4:4,5
[16] Matthew 13;40-49
[IaWIa1]This line of thinking is commonly known as the Lunar Sabbath teaching. Beginning in June 2009 there was what became a couple of somewhat extensive threads at the CARM-forum. I entered those threads belatedly beginning on November 21, 2009 for the purpose of discovering what if any strength this line of teaching might have. In the end I was able to penetrate to the bottom of every claimed basis, only to discover that there is nothing firm to stand on, that is, upon which to build the Lunar Sabbath teaching.
Although those threads became unavailable when CARM later moved on to another server, I was able to save those threads to my computer before they were lost and to make them available on my website for the enlightenment of whomever may be of a mind to learn some of the details of that heresy.
As I recall, the basis for the claim within this particular sentence is nothing beyond some Jewish Encyclopedia and Jewish oral tradition. It is clear from my own in depth studies that this claim does not hold up in the face of that which is certainly provided in the Old Testament re the days of the months upon which certain days of the week fell at that time. You’ll be able to find many more details within my posts as found under the above link…
[IaWIa2]This sentence in particular does not hold up to a detailed study of the Torah and of the Old Testament.
[IaWIa3]This sentence is simply not true…
[IaWIa4]This is a very interesting insight in view of the fact that, per Wikipedia, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced by a papal bull issued by Pope Gregorian XIII on February 24, 1582.
Giving that date some thought, I find that, using Scriptural reckoning, year #1 of the Gregorian reckoning began with Tishri 22, 1582 CE. It follows that year #430 of the Gregorian reckoning begins with Tishri 22, 2011, while ending with the end of Tishri 21, 2012.
SNB October 16, 2012 CE Jerusalem horizon sunset: 17:23:32; moonset: 17:59:18; lag: 37 min 46 sec; illumination: 1.84%.
Accordingly, it follows that Tishri 1, 2012 begins at sunset October 16, 2012, and, adding 21 days to that, I find that the beginning of Tishri 22 begins at sunset November 6, 2012.
That is, the 430th year of the Gregorian calendar era, using Scriptural reckoning as best I’ve learned how to use it, ends at sunset Tuesday November 6, 2012 CE, or if inclement weather in Israel on October 16, 2012, possibly at sunset Wednesday November 7, 2012.
However, what basis is there for making a parallel between the promise given by God to Abraham, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the papal bull of Pope Gregorian XIII? Sounds like pure bull to me!!! And aren’t the Roman Catholic teachings generally known to be built upon bull, that is, lies, from the very beginning? Yet, there is one similarity that I’ve found: The etymological bases of the names Nebuchadnezzar and Vatican are closely related, while both having a meaning pertaining to the words vision and visionary. Cf. also the Scandinavian word 'vätte.' Clearly, Abram too, by the promise God gave him, was given a most important vision at the beginning of those 430 years, was he not? And, if I am not totally misinformed, it has been claimed, from RCC sources I believe, that the current pope is expected to be the last pope...
At any rate, the end of the Scriptural year, in CE 2012, falls no later than said dates. Most people, however, that is, most Karaites etc., that are believing themselves to be using the Scriptural calendar will reckon Tishri 22, 2012 to begin one month earlier...
SNB September 17, 2012 CE Jerusalem horizon sunset: 18:00:04; moonset: 18:39:30; lag: 39 min 26 sec; illumination: 3.37%.
Thus, Tishri 1, 2012, per that common reckoning of the Karaites, will begin at sunset September 17, 2012 CE. It follows that, per said Karaite reckoning, Tishri 22, 2012 CE, will begin at sunset Monday October 8, 2012 CE, or no later than the evening thereafter.
[IaWIa5]This sentence is obviously false! Or is it not true that the word Sabbath is used several times in Genesis 2?!!
[IaWIa6]21st or 22nd??? Cf. two lines above!!!
[IaWIa7]The fact that God defined certain days of certain months as annual Sabbaths has nothing to do with the weekly Sabbaths, which were predefined – as my be clearly recognized per Leviticus 23:3. The annual Sabbaths defined as the 15th and the 21st days of month #1, as subordinately defined per Lev 23:7-8, cannot possibly both be weekly Sabbaths!
[IaWIa8]I do not see the significance of this sentence in the setting of the line of argument in the context, do you?
[IaWIa9]There are 7 annual Sabbaths defined in the Scriptures. 6, not 4, of those 7 are defined as [annual] Sabbaths:
1. The Eighth Day – Tishri 22
2. The 1st Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread – Aviv 15
3. The 7th Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread – Aviv 21
4. The Day of Sabbaths / The Feast of Weeks / Pentecost – The 50th day using a reckoning beginning with The Day of Omer / The Waving of the Sheaf Day, which day is defined as the weekly Sabbath within the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, whichever one of those 7 days that might be!
5. The Day of Trumpets – The New Moon day that begins Month #7, That is, Tishri 1. (Notice, there is nothing in the Scriptures about any other New Moon day being defined as a Sabbath, only the beginning of the 7th month, that is the Sabbath month of the year!!!!!!!)
6. The At-One-Meant Day – The 10th day of the 7th month, i.e. Tishri 10.
7. Traditionally translated as the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles, however, I believe a more correct translation is the Foremost day of the Feast of Tabernacles, that is, the 7th Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is Tishri 21 and also the very last day of the Scripture year!
Notice the chiasm pattern here! The 4th of the annual Sabbaths is the most important of all the 7 annual Sabbaths, as well as being also the very special weekly 7th Day Sabbath that is to be celebrating each and all of the Creator’s weekly 7th Day Sabbaths, that is, The Day of Sabbaths! Mia ton sabbaton, literally translated!
This 50th day is based upon a reckoning beginning with a weekly 7th Day Sabbath, that is, the Waving of the Sheaf offering was to be brought on the morrow following the beginning of the 7th Day Sabbath, that is, on the Sabbath morning following the Sabbath evening beginning at sunset on a Friday!
Thus this particular annular Sabbath is standing upon a definition twice defined, thus, reaffirmed over and over again!
[IaWIa10]This is one of the important mistranslations of the Greek words ‘mia ton sabbaton’ meaning literally ‘the foremost of the Sabbaths’ while in every instance clearly pointing to nothing but the 7th Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that is Aviv 21. Cf. this link!
[IaWIa11]Notice again, that nowhere in the Bible is any other New Moon day defined as a Sabbath than that of month #7! Thus this Lunar Sabbath group of people are adding 11 or, in 7 out of 19 years, 12 Sabbaths of their own to those defined in the Holy Scriptures!
[IaWIa12]Notice, as soon as a misunderstanding is introduced, there will necessarily follow an untold number of unanswerable questions, questions requiring a man made, but always unfounded, answer, unless we turn back to the Source and correct our thinking and our ways of doing things…
[IaWIa13]Ditto…
[IaWIa14]True to an extent, yet, notice what is at the focal point of that picture of Rev 12, that is, the chiasm point! The point out of which comes the Son of God! That is the most important thing, that is where the image of God is being received out of. That is the where the sign, the seal, and the confirmation of the Creator Himself is first appearing. That is where true perfection has its source and foundation! That is, the Moon under the feet of the woman is truly important, yet it is subordinate to that which is primary, that which is based upon the perfect math of the Creator Himself!
[IaWIa15]Agree! Good point! Yet, we must each and all search for that treasure until we truly find it, while not being fooled by fools gold!