WHAT DOUBLE SIN ARE WE COMMITING BY WORSHIPING ON A PAGAN DAY
What is a Biblical New Moon and how do we find it?
What double sin are we committing by worshipping on a pagan day?
written by Jack M Samardzija Brisbane 28th June 2024
This is an update on previous text’s written on the subject,
God in His wisdom has given us a calendar in the sky for all to see, this calendar has never changed nor can it be changed by early powers. He uses the sun and moon to establish days, months, years, and also His appointed observances, Genesis 1:14. A critical component to His calendar is the new moon, which starts each Biblical month. God commanded special offerings on each new moon, and one special new moon is even a Feast day called the Feast of Trumpets,Isaiah 66:23.
God uses the new moon to establish moedim, or commanded observances, Psalm 104:19. Special offerings were also given on the new moons, 2Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 23:31.
We find many references to the new moon or beginning of months in the Scriptures, including the obligation for True (the emphasis being TRUE) worshipers to observe them, Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15; 1Chronicles 23:31;2Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Ezra 3:5; Ezekiel 46:1, 3, 6; Colossians 2:16. Why would God point out TRUE WORSHIPERS, is there other kind of worshipers and who might they be?
Apostolic Believers, who remained true to His Word, continued to honour new moon days as well as observe Feast days in the New Testament, Acts 18:21; 27:9; 1Corinthians 5:7-8 as beginnings of each month.
Where does the bible say that feast days are not to be observed?
Further, we learn from Ezekiel’s prophecy (46:3) and Isaiah 66 that new moon days will be kept as beginning of the month in the coming Kingdom: “The people of the land shall also worship at the doorway of that gate before God on the sabbaths .
Make no mistake. The Biblical admonition to observe the new moon as a special marker in the Biblical calendar is not a pronouncement about worshipping the moon itself. God prohibits worshipping any celestial body: “And beware, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which Yahweh your Elohim has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven” (Deut. 4:19). At the same time He commands us to watch for and observe the new moon each month so that we honour and follow His unique calendar and the setting of His special holy days.What Constitutes a New Moon?
What exactly is a new moon according to the Scriptures? The Jewish calendar creates some confusion because it uses the conjunctions of the moon (Hebrew molad) in setting the beginning of each month. Also somewhat confusing, a certain verse of Scripture seems to equate the new moon with the full moon.
If you are baffled about what the new moon is, i hope this study will settle the issue for you.
Let’s first look at the astronomical conjunction. A lunar conjunction is when the sun, moon and earth are directly in line. Because the sun is behind the moon, no sunlight is reflected from the lunar face. The moon is a total blackout during a conjunction. No part of the moon can be seen in an astronomical conjunction. In my opinion and considering the fact that God is perfect and wise he would not allow manipulative positions of the moon to alter his day of WORSHIP, what do you think?
The average wall calendar portrays the conjunction with a large black dot and calls it a “new moon.” But in reality it is a “no moon.” It is invisible, and a “no moon” many theologians claim that new moon begins with thin crescent, i on the other hand believe that cycle is complete and new moon begins when no moon can be seen providing sufficient time has lapsed between the new moons , in simplicity if we adopt monthly cycle that God created it works perfectly as swiss watch appearing without fail always at the same time between new moons. Conjunction is not what the Bible means by a new moon, which we will see.
The Bible uses the same Hebrew word for both “new moon” and “month.” Therefore, the new moon is linked to and sets the beginning of the month. But on our Gregorian wall calendars the “no moon” conjunction floats all over the 12 calendar months. Modern calendars completely ignore the Biblical way of setting the first day of the month by the visual new moon or establishing certain time between new moons, even though the word “month” is derived from the word “moon” and should be oriented to the moon as it was intended by the Creator.As one of my friends said if January 1 is the beginning of this year how come Saturday is on the 4th of the month?
Historically, new moon spotters in Israel watched for the thin crescent to establish the beginning of each month. This practice was not accurate and corruption within the Sanhedrin was overwhelming as each member had his own agenda. Once seen they reported their sighting to the calendar court authorities of the Sanhedrin. Note what one authority says, “Originally, the New Moon was not fixed by astronomical calculation, but was solemnly proclaimed after witnesses had testified to the reappearance of the crescent of the moon,” Encyclopaedia Judaica, Vol. 12, p. 1039. This method of visualisation by two witnesses was not what God intended, if God taught them to count 1-7 then all they had to do count 7+7+7+7=28 from dusk to dusk and new moon is here, i am certain that this is what God intended and during Exodus there is no recorded event where witnesses used to determine when Shabbat was here. How did Israelites in the wilderness know which is 7th day beside when they had no food?
The switchover from watching for the first visible crescent (as non-biblical it was) to calculating conjunctions to determine the month’s beginning came with Hillel II’s calendar revisions in the 4th century C.E. in fact 358/9“By the middle of the fourth century, the sages had established a permanent calendar and the public proclamation of the New Moon was discontinued” (Ibid). This methodology used by Sanhindren was so corrupt and manipulative that no wonder Jesus called them as he did.
Going by the calculated lunar conjunction contradicts the command in Deuteronomy 16:1: “Observe the month [chodesh, new moon] of Abib and keep the Passover…” Here, the word “observe” in the Hebrew is shamar and also means “look narrowly for, search” (No. 8104 in Strong’s).
The Holladay Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon defines it as watching in the sense of looking. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words includes the definitions “mark, watchman, wait, watch, look narrowly.” The command is to look for, wait for, watch and mark the new moon.
The problem is that you cannot see a moon that is completely black or dark, as it is during a conjunction. but logic must prevail that just because we can’t see it yet it’s time has lapsed from the last new moon then that non-vision is the new moon. For Jews would be lunacy sending out new moon watchers on the night of a conjunction to look for a moon they cannot see. Hence how are they explaining that day that moon is not visible, well that is 29th day justifying their surplus number of days.To visually confirm the new moon there must be something to identify yet is that biblical, use your own logic as God’s calendar has no loose or excess days .
Another predicament is created by the use of the conjunction because during the period surrounding the conjunction there are as many as two or even three nights when no moon is visible. This leads us to wonder which three invisible moons are we commanded to “look narrowly for”? On which of three invisible starting points does the month begin? God’s calendar is based on observation. Man’s calendars are based on calculation. The only real way to establish new moon is by using time when is non visual or a black moon as a starting point and start counting from dusk to dusk.
No U.S. Naval Observatory existed in the time of the prophets or Apostles. The ancients had to have something tangible to go by that was visible on only one day each month. They needed to see the first thin crescent of a moon as it began its building or waxing phase. In my opinion, their sabbaths were as regular as their faith.
Philo was a prominent Jewish leader who lived in Alexandria from about 20 B.C.E. to about 50 C.E. and was a contemporary of both God the Messiah and Paul. He was aware of what the Saviour and His followers considered was the new moon. In his Treatise on the Special Laws, Book II, XI (41), Philo discusses the Biblical observances. Note how he describes the new moon:
“[It] is that which comes after the conjunction, which… [is] the day of the new moon in each month.” In his detailed discussion of the new moon, Philo describes what constitutes a new moon: “…at the time of the new moon, the sun begins to illuminate the moon with a light which is visible to the outward senses, and then she displays her own beauty to the beholders.”
As Philo noted, the new moon follows the conjunction but it is not the conjunction itself. His observation reveals to us what was considered the new moon in God’s
day and what the Saviour Himself also observed as the new moon. That is all we need to know to realize what still constitutes the Biblical new moon today.
Does ‘New’ Mean ‘Full’?
Some people read Psalm 81:3 and conclude that the new moon is a holy feast day, and also (because of mistranslation) that the new moon is the full moon and not the first light of the moon. The KJV reads, “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.” Time “appointed” is the Hebrew kacah and means “to plump, i.e. fill up hollows” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).
This appointed time is a full moon totally filled with light and on which a solemn Feast day occurs. Does that mean that the new moon is the full moon? Very good question dark full moon is new moon and a lighted rounded is full moon.
The New King James and some other translations add to the confusion by not translating Psalm 81:3 precisely enough: “Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon (dark full moon unseen version), on our solemn feast day.” One immediate problem we note is that nowhere in Scripture is the regular monthly new moon referred to as a Feast day, nor is it a full moon, as we shall see.
Other translations clear up the problem by showing two completely different and separate observances in this verse: “Sound the ram’s horn at the new moon, and when the moon is full, at the day of our feast” (NIV).
In Psalm 81:3 God is speaking of a new moon as well as another observance or appointed time that comes at a full moon. During each of these separate times the trumpet was to sound.
The Hebrew in fact reveals two distinct clauses in this passage, making a definite division of thought. The first is the trumpet as applying to the new moon. The second is the trumpet as it applies to a solemn feast day, which is by Biblical definition different from a regular monthly new moon.
From the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, one would translate Psalm 81:3 this way: “Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and in the fullness of our festival day.” This translation makes most logic.
The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament also makes a differentiation between the two clauses of verse 3: “Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast.”
The Complete Jewish Bible reads: “Sound the shofar at Rosh-Hodesh [new moon], and at full moon for the pilgrim feast.”
The Psalms for Today: A New Translation from the Hebrew into Current English translates the verse: “Sound the trumpet at the new moon, and at the day of our festival, when the moon is full.”
These Hebrew-based translations show that the new moon is different from the full moon and different from a Feast day. The Hebrew shows that the new moon and the full moon are not synonymous. The first is barely visible, the second totally visible. Different words are used for each. Considering that new moon is astronomically and mathematically always beginning of the month day light time before new moon appears is always Shabbat one can not interpret the above text and context when bible describes new moon and full moon as the same event, ono; y plausible answer is that dark moon is new moon (often not seen) and full moon is full moon but full of light.(definitely seen)
The Hebrew word levanah meaning white, occurs three times in the Hebrew text and poetically refers to the white brilliance of the full moon (see Song of Solomon 6:10; Isa. 24:23; 30:26). And the Hebrew word kehseh, meaning fullness, is twice translated full moon (Ps. 81:3; Prov. 7:20). Chodesh, on the other hand, refers to the new moon and is never used for full moon.
Counting Backward from the Full Moon?
Some postulate that all that is necessary is to wait for the full moon and then count back two weeks for the beginning of the month.
First, such a method ignores Scriptural mandate and practice. Why would one need to “narrowly look for” and diligently search for a full moon? A full moon is in plain sight all night long.
Second, by this reckoning there would historically have been no need for special moon watchers to search the evening sky and report their findings to the Sanhedrin.
Third, those moons immediately preceding and following a full moon have nearly full lumination and are difficult to distinguish from the actual full moon without side-by-side comparison and an expert, discerning eye. This is not the case with a new moon crescent that is either seen or not seen, as by a shepherd boy like David out in the sheep fields.
Fourth, the astronomical full moon does not consistently fall at the exact midpoint between two lunar conjunctions. The full moon may follow the lunar conjunction by as little as 13 days, 21 hours and 53 minutes, or by as much as 15 days, 14 hours and 30 minutes. That is why months vary in length between 29 and 30 days according to Roman calendar. This anomaly is because the moon’s orbit is not perfectly circular they claim, world refuses to accept the logical fact which is whatever God has created it is perfect, yet using Roman calendar they would like us to believe that God did not make perfect creation, hence the claim non-perfect orbital circ-lation.
Fifth, this method is based on the conjunction, which we have shown is not the Scriptural new moon.
Consequently, determining the new moon by counting backward from the full moon is anything but scripturally ordained and at times quite inaccurate. And in one special case doing so would even be out of the question: the Feast of Trumpets, itself a new moon and the first day of the seventh month, would be two weeks past by the time the full moon arrived and the backward count is made.
Special moon watchers is not biblical and this practice can be attributed to Sanhedrin's manipulative tactics, would God create such a system that his 7th day of worship depends on 2 witnesses and or members of the Sanhedrin for whom Jesus said were like painted gravestones? (corrupt or not) In my humble opinion, God’s creation was made and it was in use long before Sanhedrin and in those days heavenly bodies were visible to all mankind, Sanhedrin took upon themselves to manipulate God’s creation , interesting to note during Jesus’s time we don’t have evidence that sabbath started when Sanhedrin decided unless i misread it or missed it.
Scimitar-shaped New Moon
Scholars who know the Hebrew language also claim to know that the new moon is defined as a thin, crescent moon. I for one don’t agree with the scholars and here is why, dark moon as we will call it does not belong in the end part of the month and according to the scholars it does not belong to the new moon part of the month. So in actuality, there is a floating day that is not counted anywhere, i wonder why would God create a system that is not perfect. Would God that you believe create an unperfected and manipulative system?
Vine’s says, “Chodesh means ‘new moon,’ ‘month.’ The word refers to the day on which the crescent reappears.”
The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says of (c)hodesh, “Although this word properly means ‘new moon,’ it is commonly used as an equivalent to our word ‘month’ because the month began when the thin crescent of the new moon was first visible at sunset.”In my opinion and understanding of God’s creational accuracy and perfection, first crescent is of the moon is new moon but it’s end of the first day beginning of the second, with his understanding we have a 7 day cycle all the above calculations have a transitional day for which there is no biblical support unless you accept those heads of Sanhedrin as people of God, yet that would be hard considering what Jesus called them and what he thought of them.
An Act of Worship on Lords ‘ 7th day
Looking for the new moon each month is, above all, an act of worship. Worshipping 7th day is not optional it is mandatory as i understand the bible and the purpose of creation, looking for the crescent of the new moon does not give us day FIRST it just proves that day before was day ONE. It is axiomatic that we cannot let our worship be done by someone else. James tells us, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” 1:22. Do we have the dedication to go out and search the evening sky for a sliver of moon that is often very difficult to locate? Or do we just rely on others in our area or in some other part of the world to do it for us? Which authority to we accept today, is it the church, is it NASA, we don’t have Sanhedrin so we are happy to accept Babylonian and Roman calculations and our worship is dictated by those empires, deep down in your hearts you must know that this can not be pleasing God in fact on the contrary.
As we learn through hundreds of lessons in the Scriptures, True Worship takes effort and self-sacrifice to search out God’s ways in order to honour Him. It takes no effort or sacrifice to see a full moon or follow computer calculations, yet world at large are content with following 7 day cycles totally unrelated to new moon or the biblical part of truth. With this in mind there are 7 possibilities of having 7 different 7 day cycles each starting and finishing with different day, Saturday is just one of those cycles which does not correspond with God’s calendar and New Moon.
Question that most Christians specially sabbath keepers should ask them self’s is, if your Saturday is not the day God has blessed and Sanctified are you serving god by worshipping on that day ? Many will say once God opens the way for them to see and understand the scripture they will follow and worship Lords 7th day. Whilst i fully understand that but i must strongly detest that view, we can not dance tango with the devil and hope not to be stepped on, likewise while we are in the churches that worship the devil’s imposed 7th-day there is very little chance that true light will reach us. If for no other reason but because devil’s shades are very dark.
I know view of many sabbath keepers and church goers and i wish them good luck, whilst God might help but would God be present in churches not worshipping as his will dictates?
Author’s view on the relevance and importance of worshipping real God and on God’s appointed 7th day
Most of you know that i have been battling with many issues but this issue of Lord’s worshipping day 7th has been for long time, have written about the subject extensively, found myself not understood by my closest friends and family yet i can’t walk away from the subject, i have tried many times to give it up using excuses that it should be someone else’s problem and no matter what i do it flares up in me and i just cant walk away. I don’t wish to ascertain some greater power but for those that know me it is out of character to say the least. Person that was close to me said don’t give up God has a plan for you, it is evident that i cant run away from the message in relation to biblical sabbath contrary to today’s Saturday, very view people are prepared to even think about it little on study and research, yet most of them claim remnant status. If you are an honest believer and earnest researcher can you with a clear mind and conscience say that worshipping on a day not designated by God is worshipping a Baal/Satan? If you feel that these words are harsh please find me a biblical softener which will describe where and how is my description wrong.
This paper aims to illustrate how we are to determine the start and end of each day, week, month, and year, as outlined in the Bible. Grasping God's biblical calendar and observing it correctly serves as a testament to our identity and a sign that we are God's chosen people (Exod. 31:13, 17; Ezek. 20:12, 20). It is a crucial aspect of our covenant relationship, a way to express our gratitude for the eternal salvation and grace bestowed upon us through Christ Jesus (Exod.13:3-10, Lev. 23:1-2, Num. 10:10; Isa. 43:26).
Therefore, it is paramount that we comprehend and identify the structure of when we are commanded to come before God to praise, honour, and worship Him. (from new moon to new moon and from Shabbat to Shabbat) Isaiah 66;23
It's crucial to note that when God designed the calendar, He did so without any provisions for multiple or two versions to operate simultaneously. This is because God is a God of peace and order , not confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). He has established a single, unchanging method for determining His calendar and his day of worship, which is not just applicable to a select few but to all individuals, regardless of their location or ethnicity.
This calendar was ordained by God from the very beginning of creation, making it an integral part of the creation sequence. It was established before the creation of man or nation. The stability and reliability of God's calendar should inspire trust and confidence in us, knowing that we are following a divine and unchanging path.
Throughout human history, neither God nor His Son has authorised a change in how God's calendar is determined, and such a change could never be made (Matthew 5:17-19). God is unchanging (Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6), and Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
This means that the days on which we worship must also remain the same yesterday, today, and forever, as the entire sacrificial system is based on God's grace found in Christ's sacrifice. This unchanging aspect of our worship should bring a deep sense of reassurance and security to our faith, knowing that we are following the path set by our unchanging God.
If we go beyond scripture to determine God's calendar and change the way we determine God's holy days, we have breached the Second Commandment and created an idol. We have made calendars in the likeness of what is in the heavens above.
Exod. 20:4 "You are not to make for yourselves an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on earth below, or in the water under the earth
Any change or deviation from scripture regarding how we determine God's calendar will create an astronomical anomaly, eventually leading to the wrong day being observed somewhere. It is inevitable and factual.
Unfortunately, some churches have justified altering God's calendar on the grounds of technological advancements in communication. However, they may not realize that this practice is akin to worshipping Baal, the god of convenience, through computer chips and communication devices. Just as the worship of Baal was a deviation from the true worship of God, so too is the alteration of His calendar. In his writing, the apostle John warned us to guard ourselves against idols (1Jn. 5:21), which includes the use of false calendars. One of my closest friends with whom i had discussion about today’s Saturday and God’s 7th day not being the same, his answer to was after a certain pause “brother if i changed now all the people i know will laugh at me” this is the only part of his answer that makes sense they would laugh at him , in my opinion that is very small price to pay to worship God on his 7th day. What could we say about Noah, everybody laughed at him for building the boat 120 years but he did not care as he obeyed God, we will not have the luxury of 120 years but in order not to get burned we must get out of the fire.
Determining the Start and End of a Day
We should note that God has prescribed boundaries not only upon the surface of the waters but also between light and darkness. Job 26:10 . He has prescribed a limit upon the surface of the waters, and a boundary between light and darkness.
According to the Bible, a day starts and ends in the evening (Gen. 1:5; 14-19; Exod. 12:18; Lev. 23:26-32; Neh. 13:19; Acts 27:27-33; cf. Lev. 15:5-7,19, 17:15).
The word used for 'evening' translated from Strong's Hebrew word (H6153) 'ereb,' has a broad application. It can refer to the time from afternoon to twilight and even up to when it is completely dark or night. Archaeological evidence suggests that prior to the global deluge described in Genesis 1:2, there was an extended period during which the planet was habitable. Historians claim that the planet was likely left in this prolonged state of submergence in preparedness for the introduction of the Adam’s creation. This was to ensure no organic life from the old world would persist past the reset. This interpretation implies a significant time gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, a period not detailed in the creation account. There is no evidence of this hence all is possible but might not be probable.
It's intriguing to contemplate the possibility that God may have initiated multiple re-creations in this manner leading up to the genesis of humankind. Biblical scripture records that the Lord employed this method during Noah's era to address humanity's complete moral corruption, subsequently promising not to bring a similar cataclysmic flood upon the earth again (Gen. 9:11).
In verse 2, we can see that God was already at work before reintroducing light to the earth.
Gen. 1:1-5 (JPS In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. (3) And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light. (4) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. (5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Emphasis added)
The earth, after being flooded for an extended period, became formless and void. Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God hovered over the waters. The process of re-creation was now in motion, but there was still no light.
Interestingly, God could see everything in the darkness, as darkness is no different from daylight for Him (Ps. 139:11-12).
God did not start the first day with light but brought light into it. Light was the only thing God established on the first day. Therefore, the first part of the first day, i.e., "evening", had to have been pitch black and utterly void of light.
God then divided the light from the darkness. The only way to do this was by the presence or absence of light from the sun to any degree.
God also instituted that a day would have two distinct parts: an evening of darkness and a period of daylight. On the first day, darkness and light were present (Gen. 1:5). In every day of the creation week, God confirms that each day started with darkness and ended with a period of light (Gen. 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31).
Understanding the importance of the day beginning in total darkness is crucial for comprehending the creation story and the timing and rationale behind events in scripture.
Creation Mirroring Our Calling
The account of re-creation mirrors our calling in numerous ways. Initially, Adam and Eve were created sinless. Then sin entered, and chaos ensued. Eventually, mankind's understanding of the faith became a spiritual wasteland, void of the truth, life, and light offered through Christ (Jn. 8:12, 9:5, 14:6).
1Jn. 2:7-11 (NKV) Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard. (8) Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining. (9) If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. (10) Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. (11) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Darkness was upon the faces of our hearts and minds (Isaiah 60:1-3; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 2:11). It is only through God's intervention and grace that He brings the light of Christ to dawn in our hearts, i.e., the sun of righteousness. Mal. 4:2; Isa. 9:2, 49:9-10, 50:10; Lk. 1:76-79, 2:32; cf. Ps. 67:1, 84:11; 2 Sam. 22:22:29, 23:3-4; Eph. 5:8, 14).
Even before God decided to deal with us, He saw every aspect of our being and character; there is nothing he doesn't know about us (1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 44:21, 90:8, 139:1-3; Heb. 4:13).
The light of Christ did not initially reside within us; it was not a part of our spiritual existence. We were introduced to Him when we were in total spiritual darkness. This intervention and introduction was a gift, a grace bestowed upon us. It would not have happened without God's intervention.
Mat. 4:15-17 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— (16) the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Emphasis added)
Mal. 4:2 (BSB) “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. (Emphasis added).
Isa 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (2) For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. (3) Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lk. 1:76-79 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, (77) to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, (78) because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, (79) to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Emphasis added)
From a spiritual standpoint, the belief that the day begins at daybreak or just after sunset when there is still light in the upper atmosphere suggests that we all start in the light of Christ and possess inherent goodness. However, this perspective diminishes the significance of God's grace in guiding us to the truth.
Only through His grace can we comprehend and embrace the truth. Just as God declared, ‘Let there be light, and there was light; it is only by God's direction and will that we arrive at the truth (Mat. 16:13-17). Each day serves as a reminder of our spiritual journey from complete darkness to light, and we petition the Father to provide us with the bread of life - Jesus, our Messiah daily.
Lights Out
Thus, following the biblically ordained principle, the day ends when it’s light does—it's 'Lights out', so to speak. The day officially ends when it is completely dark, and there is no direct trace of light from the sun.
Gen 1:14-19 KJV And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: (15) And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. (16) And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
(17) And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (18) And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (19) And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Emphasis added)
The amount of light fluctuates throughout the day. The daylight period commences at dawn, when the sun starts to ascend above the horizon, traverses the sky, reaches its zenith at midday, and then gradually descends until it vanishes below the horizon. Complete darkness ensues once the sun’s geometric centre is 18 degrees below the horizon.
The point at which the sun is below the horizon, known as sunset, is traditionally considered the end of the day. However, this is not entirely accurate. Even after sunset, up to three hours of sunlight can still be present in the upper atmosphere. Therefore, the end of the day is not determined by whether the sun can no longer be seen. Also, the end of a day is not determined at a point of less light, such as sunset or End Evening Nautical Twilight (EENT). But it is biblically proven that Sunset is not biblical methodology of ending a day, it is Dusk, the difference between Sunset and Dusk is 1 hour and 20 minutes every day, so in reality biblical length of the day is 25 hours and 20 minutes, if we were to adopt this our moon rotation would be exactly 28 days instead of 29.53 days as it does with this calendar calculations.
Similarly, when starting or resetting a month, God follows the pattern of beginning in complete darkness, as seen in the astronomical event known as the new moon. The new moon occurs when the moon is in complete darkness for a brief moment in its cycle, known as the point of conjunction. This event marks the beginning of a new lunar month, aligning with the biblical principle of starting anew in darkness.
The Three Twilights
Since most of us have been led and conditioned to believe that sunset is the point where a new day, it is worth taking a closer look. Astronomically, from sunset to the point when it is completely dark and the sun cannot emit any more light, it is broken into three twilight sections.
The three twilights are;
- Civil twilight
- Nautical twilight and
- Astronomical twilight.
The website “www.timeanddate.com” provides the following definitions for civil, nautical and astronomical twilight;
Civil
Civil twilight is the brightest of the three twilight phases. The Sun is just below the horizon, so there is generally enough natural light to carry out most outdoor activities.
Nautical
Nautical twilight is the second twilight phase. The horizon and the brighter stars are usually visible at this time, making it possible to navigate at sea.
Each twilight phase is defined by the solar elevation angle, which is the position of the Sun in relation to the horizon. During nautical twilight, the geometric center of the Sun's disk is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon.
The horizon is faintly visible during this twilight phase in clear weather conditions. Many of the brighter stars can also be seen, making it possible to use the position of the stars in relation to the horizon to navigate at sea. This is why it is called nautical twilight.
Astronomical
Similarly, astronomical dusk is the instant when the geometric center of the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the evening. It marks the beginning of night time and the disappearance of the last shimmer of natural daylight.
Thus, the last of the sun's light ends once the End of Astronomical Twilight (EAT) has been reached.
Many people tend to overlook the significance of correctly identifying the start and end of a day according to scripture. Often, they follow longstanding traditions and beliefs without giving it much thought. However, God places great importance on observing each day's correct start and end times. This is evident in the fact that God has linked the Day of Atonement, one of the most sacred days in His Calendar, to specific references about its start and finish.
According to scripture, the Day of Atonement falls on the 10th day of the 7th month. It starts from the end of the 9th day in the evening and continues until the 10th day in the evening. This reinforces the biblical principle that a day begins in the evening, when it is dark, and lasts until it is fully dark again, usually around 25.20 hours later.
I had to come back to this issue of Atonement and God’s strict rules as to it’s duration, when i say strict it was high voltage strict death was the price for disobeying, what is the price we will pay for disobeying God by worshipping on Satan’s day? Is acceptable excuse “when God opens our eyes to the truth” or truth is already there but we refuse to see it?
Lev 23:26-32 (LITV) And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, (27) Also, on the tenth of this seventh month shall be a day of atonement; there shall be a holy gathering, and you shall humble your souls and shall bring a fire offering to Jehovah. (28) And you shall do no work in this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to atone for you before Jehovah your God. (29) For any person who is not humbled in this same day shall be cut off from his people. (30) And any person who does any work in this same day, I shall even destroy that person from the midst of his people. (31) You shall do no work; it is a never ending statute throughout your generations, in all your dwellings. (32) It is a sabbath of rest to you, and you shall humble your souls in the ninth of the month at evening; from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath. (Emphasis added)
The precise definition of the beginning and end of the Day of Atonement holds significant importance. It is because the entire day is a solemn occasion, and God will destroy anyone who engages in work on that day from the midst of His people. If we abandon our devotion to God and return to work just after sunset, when it may still have one to three hours before it officially ends, we will be solely responsible for our actions. We should not follow the crowd or opt for a method that seems right. It must align with the scripture, or we will be held accountable for idolatry (Proverbs 14:12; James 4:4; Matthew 7:13-14).
Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
It is evident that maintaining a "close enough is good enough" mentality regarding this issue is not in accordance with God's will.
The First Day of the Month
According to the Bible, the start of each month is called the day of the New Moon. This is the day when the Earth, sun, and moon are in perfect alignment, also known as a conjunction. During this time, the moon is directly between the Earth, and it does not reflect any light from the sun for at least a day or around 25.20 hours. This is called a "New Moon," and there is no waxing or waning of light during this time.
God knew that humans would try to change His calendrical method, so He ordained the moon as a faithful witness to testify to the truth of the matter (Psalm 89:37; Colossians 2:16-17). The moon still serves as a witness and anyone who testifies falsely is accused of it.
Interestingly in Colossians “anyone who testifies falsely is accused of it” how do we testify falsely in this regard? Would worshipping on the wrong 7th day fall under this category?
The rule for determining the first day of the New Moon is simple: the local conjunction must occur inside what is biblically defined as a day (Numbers 10:10; 1 Samuel 20:5, 18; Ezekiel 46:1, 6). If no part of the entire day has the local conjunction, it is evidence that the wrong day is being observed.
Eze. 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. (Emphasis added)
In Genesis 1:14, we are commanded to "let them be for signs,...for days..." The first day of the month is when the moon faithfully testifies as a conjunction. If we say we are observing the first day of the month without proof of the moon's conjunction occurring in our location, we are guilty of perjury. We become false witnesses.
It is also worth noting that the day of the New Moon does not begin at the point of conjunction; it starts (and ends) according to the law of how a biblical day is defined (Leviticus 23:32). According to scripture, it is "in the day" in which the conjunction occurs that is the determining factor. Therefore, it stands to reason that the first day of the month cannot extend beyond from dusk to dusk from when the local conjunction occurred.
New Moon - First Crescent?
The word “crescent” is derived from the Latin word “crescere,” which means “to grow.” It first appears some 24 hours + (plus) in the growth period after the earth, moon, and sun were momentarily in a straight line. Therefore, it's important to note that the moon is no longer considered "new" by the time the first crescent appears. It may even take three days after the conjunction of the new moon for the crescent to appear. There is no extra days or transition day as most scholars call it, some Christians that do not agree with Babylonian/Roman calendar have made up Lunar calendar which has day one full moon yet day 8 is their seventh day, how absurd is this ?
This cycle of the moon’s reflective light, seen growing (from Earth), is called “waxing.” It indicates that we are somewhere between 2 or 3 days into the next month. The other crescent moon is known as a “waning crescent” when the month is coming to a close.
Throughout history, the crescent moon has been linked to various pagan deities. In Babylon, the Mesopotamian deities associated with the crescent moon are named 'Sin' or 'Suen', with the goddess Ningal regarded as Sin's wife. Their best-known children are Inanna, known by the Babylonian, Akkadian, and Assyrian Empires as Ishtar, from which we get the English word Easter.
In ancient Greece, the goddess of the hunt, Moon, and wild places, Artemis, was most commonly linked to the crescent Moon. Selene, the Greek goddess of the Moon and all its phases was also associated to some extent and often portrayed with a crescent moon. In Rome, Diana, who began as a goddess of the hunt, eventually became a lunar goddess. She is frequently connected to the moon's powers and depicted wearing a crown adorned with a crescent moon in some classical artwork. Thoth, an Egyptian lunar deity, is often depicted wearing a crescent on his head, have you wondered why?. Because the moon crescent has been adopted as pagan hence it marked the beginning of the month as wrong as it was.
Confirmation
Astronomical conjunctions are precise events that can be calculated accurately to the second using tables that have been available for hundreds of years. Some people argue that since these events cannot be pinpointed by visual observation, there is no singular event to confirm them. However, visual confirmation is not necessary, as the Bible shows that Ancient Israel knew of the celestial movements in advance.
1 Sam. 20:5 So David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. (NASB)
1 Samuel 20:18 Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. (NASB)
8. The Hillel II Calendar
Today, most Jews and Christian denominations follow the Hillel Calendar, standardised around 358 CE. Its primary purpose is to prevent weekly Sabbaths, New Moons, and holy days from occurring back-to-back. To ensure this, the calendar has established several postponement rules. However, many believe these rules mock God, His Word, and His ordained calendar.
Instead of using the true astronomical (biblical) conjunction to determine the first day of the month, the Hillel calendar has adopted the first crescent (or the first sliver of light), a Babylonian practice dating back thousands of years, as its sign. As noted, the first crescent is a well-documented symbol for the moon god in Mesopotamian mythology, Assyrian, and Babylonian history.
Although Israel has adopted this ancient Babylonian practice for some time now, it doesn't legitimize its use. Crescent observations were never observed by the patriarchs, Christ, or the early Church.
The Hillel Calendar only considers the conjunction in Jerusalem to determine the first day of the month. This means that a fixed point or singular conjunction in Jerusalem alters the method of determining God's ordained calendar. The residents of Israel and surrounding nations that share the same observable sky will determine their calendar by local conjunctions.
However, those who live on the opposite side of the planet and do not share the same observable astronomical sky must ignore their local conjunctions and align with Jerusalem. This sometimes leads to postponing their actual first day of the month, which means the day being observed does not have the sign, i.e., the conjunction God ordained. Worst still, a crescent moon may be visible, further compounding the sin.
Therefore, the Hillel Calendar, along with any variant of a Jerusalem-based Conjunction calendar, consists of two different calendars that operate simultaneously. God did not establish the signs in the heavens so that some people could use local astronomical signs while others were required to ignore or reject them. The signs in the heavens were given to all mankind, regardless of their location, for the same purpose (Gen. 1:14; Ps. 104:19). God does not show partiality (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11-16).
Adam - Represented us All or more to the point we inherited the consequences of his actions right or wrong its a fact.
Adam represented us all, a man of no ethnicity, race or nation. Regarding the calendar, the exact location of Adam's creation did not matter because he would have still received the same calendar.
Genesis 1:14-15 says, 'And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. God did not say, 'And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years 'only for some'. God does not excuse anyone for ignoring His Word because man says so. If you have a different biblical explanation will be glad to hear it.
Gal. 6:7-8 MKJV Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap. (8) For he sowing to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But he sowing to the Spirit will reap life everlasting from the Spirit.
God has given all of Adam's descendants the same reference point to tell time, which is where we currently are. Assuming the Garden of Eden was near that of modern-day Jerusalem, God did not instruct Adam by saying, ‘This is my calendar, which you and all your descendants must observe. Observe my signs in the heavens as they appear from this location. But if you, or any of your offspring, travel far enough from this place, you must ignore the heavenly signs there when determining the first day of the month. You will somehow have to envisage the heavenly signs as they appear in Jerusalem from the other side of the planet. That is the only day on which my word does not matter.' Even a child can see the inconsistency and absurdity of this reasoning.
God made it explicitly clear that there shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.
Exod. 12:49 (ESV) There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you."
As a body of believers scattered around the globe, we who are in Christ, who sojourn with and in him, are not bound or defined by any geographical boundary. Our citizenship is in spiritual Jerusalem. This means that regardless of where we live, everyone's local conjunction is as valid and sanctified as Jerusalem’s (Jn. 4:21). We are all on the same equal footing. God is not a respecter of persons (Deut. 10:17; Ac. 10:34; Rom. 2:11). Therefore, a Christian in Jerusalem today has no higher standing than a Christian, say, in Australia, Asia or Africa (Gal. 3:28; Ps. 101:6-7).
Time - Something We All Share Equally
The sky above us is a universal clock that we all share equally. Time is constant and defined by the signs God has ordained in the heavens, irrespective of our location on earth. Whether in Jerusalem or Japan, or Serbia we all need to use the same method to keep track of time.
Japan's citizens are required to use their local conjunction to determine the first day of their month, just like those in Jerusalem. If anyone chooses to forego their local conjunction and instead follow Jerusalem's, two different calendars would operate simultaneously.
Even within the same country, like Australia, Russia, the USA or Canada, the start and finish of the weekly Sabbath are not standardised because of the varying hours of daylight from one side of the country to the other. Everyone accepts that. So why can't we accept that conjunctions across nations can occur on different days of the week when dealing with the entire planet? But let me correct my self, this only applies to time zones and nothing more and nothing longer.
As a result, when travelling to a place at a significant distance, it is critical to carefully and thoroughly examine the local astronomical signs ahead of time to confirm the first day of the month. This is necessary if any Feasts, Sabbaths, or New Moons occur during your stay.
The (unofficial) Universal Jerusalem Calendar (UJC) or Temple Calendar
This calendar determines the first day of each month according to the biblical guidelines of adhering to the day of the conjunction, but only as it pertains to the nation of Israel. All other conjunctions around the globe have no bearing or relevance. This calendar operates on a "one conjunction fits all" principle, similar to the Hillel Calendar.
To put it another way, that if one's local conjunction happens on a different day of the week than that of Jerusalem's, then they must delay their day of conjunction and synchronise it with Jerusalem's. This is done despite any astronomical differences that may exist to the contrary. Such an approach creates two sets of laws - one for individuals living in or proximity to Israel and another for those who don't - which goes against what scripture says (Exod. 12:49).
However, we should remember that God's calendar was set from creation, irrespective of landmarks or locations, and cannot be altered. The calendar was already in motion before mankind came into being. God gave mankind only one calendar, not two. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked in discussions of the Universal Jerusalem Calendar, which includes postponements that make it just as invalid and idolatrous as the Hillel Calendar.
Proponents of this calendar also vary as to when the day officially starts and ends.
Arguments Used to Support the Universal Jerusalem Calendar (UJC)/ Temple Calendar
Even though the Universal Jerusalem Calendar is designed to integrate two different calendars to work simultaneously, some users have been known to misapply scripture to justify its use. Some even refer to it as the "Temple Calendar." They often use Jeremiah 3:17 to support the use of this calendar.
Jer. 3:17 KJV At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
The above scripture is set in the future, after Christ's return. At that time, Jerusalem will be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations will look to it for guidance, leadership, and understanding.
If Jeremiah 3:17 refers to the stage of creation when it's entirely a spiritual existence, then this verse has no bearing on the debate. Ironically, this verse also refers to those who use a false calendar, such as a Hillel or a Universal Conjunction Calendar, and how they will no longer walk after the imagination of their evil heart.
Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, has already made it clear that a universal conjunction calendar for the earth is not possible while the physical realm exists. According to Christ, even during his millennial reign, the Law (which determines the time set out from creation) cannot be changed or updated until the entire physical creation is translated into a spiritual existence.
Mat 5:17-20 KJV "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. (18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19) Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Emphasis added)
Interesting thinking in response to above texts, “one who relaxes “ one of these commandments “and teaches others” emphasis being teaches others will be called least in Kingdom of Heaven. In reality, what does this mean?, should we teach false and change existing commandments including 4th that those will be called least in Heaven?
Does this mean they will be up there but be lower class or will not be there but will be considered as such?
Question if significance is , can we have Faith in Jesus Christ yet manifest rebellious against God’s law, yes i fully understand that we are all sinners but this is not a question of sinners or non sinners, this is a question of believing and understanding God’s law to be exactly that “God’s Law” despite that we might brake it on few occasions to many? With this in mind those that worship Lords 7th day imposed by Roman calendar , are they false teachers and do they qualify the description in Mathew 5;17-20.?
If the answer is yes then all of us should think that this is no longer an occasional sin, this is a permanent false doctrine which to say the least qualifies those as Mathew 5;17 does, if the answer is “NO” then try to explain it to you self and others if you can.
The prophet Isaiah is also used to achieve this ruse.
Isa. 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
According to scripture, the law and the word of the Lord, including the determination of how time is to be measured, will flow from Zion. The law will not be updated to accommodate the adoption of a universal conjunction calendar based on Jerusalem, which was decided upon by mankind. This means that the scriptures that support the law (Gen. 1:14, Exod. 16:29-30, 20:8-11; Jer. 17:19-23; Neh. 13:19; Num. 10:10; Ezek. 46:3) and the words of our Saviour (Mat. 5:17-19; Jn. 4:21-23) will always remain valid and unchanged.
Many have been swayed to adopt a Universal Jerusalem Calendar by an erroneous interpretation of scripture found in 2 Kings 21:7 (cf. 2 Chron. 6:6). Well Well Well, explaining this will not be easy , but then again bigger problem is accepting that we are dead wrong.
2 Kings 21:7 ESV And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
Ironically, some people will twist a biblical verse to argue that we should all follow Jerusalem's conjunctions and abandon our own. The reason is that the argument is similar to the sin of Manasseh, King of Judah, who committed a grave spiritual mistake. Similarly, Jeroboam, another king, feared losing people if they were free to worship according to God's word, so he built two golden calves (Ki. 12:26-28).
In many ways, the golden calves symbolise man's attempt to create two competing calendars to operate simultaneously as the basis for worship. Very similar as today’s Saturday and Sunday , both days claim they are God’s day of worship yet they are both no- golden Calves , i used the words non-golden just for simplicity reason as they both become very big to be of Gold origin. So my dear friends if you Saturday or Sunday are modern day Calve how can you please God by worshipping on those days?
Those who disregard God’s word and make others follow suit have sealed their fate (Mat. 5:19). God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24).
Some people may believe that observing the conjunction of the nation of Jerusalem holds a significant religious or moral value. However, some might do it out of misplaced loyalty to past organisations or individuals. It is important to note that the Lord is weary of bearing calendars created by humans. Fact is that at creation God gave moon and the sun so whole world can see them no matter where you are , hence eliminating manipulative space .
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. (14) Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. (Isa 1:13-14, emphasis added)
“please note what Isaiah 1;13-14 says “your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates says the Lord, is in simplicity God hates new moons that man is following accordingly he is not impressed with their appointed feasts , so if they got new moon date wrong, it means that feasts are wrong and last but not least sabbath is wrong.
If we are truly honest, blatant misrepresentation of scripture to rationalise disobedience in the name of conformity or convenience or church loyalty, in the face of numerous scriptures that say otherwise, is will-full sin-rebellion. In my opinion very much so!!!
It does not matter to God where we live; if we honour God, He will come to where we are and bless us.
Exod. 20:24-25 'You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it (Emphasis added.
An idol in the shape of uniformity and Increased Communication
Under the Wikipedia article, “Hebrew Roots/New Moon” the following statement is made.
The New Moon is a precise astronomical event and can occur on different days because of the rotation of the earth. The determination of the New Moon, therefore, must be determined from the time in which it occurs in Jerusalem to ensure the uniformity of religious worship throughout the world, given increased communication.
Above, we see they correctly acknowledge the New Moon as a precise astronomical event that can occur on different days because of the earth's rotation; there is no argument there. The question arises: does scripture allow any of God’s commandments to be altered due to "increased communications?" Does it? Interesting observation, New Moon is precise astronomical event confirming the beginning and end of the month but it occurs on “different days” why do you think is that? Because our calendar day is 24 hours instead 25 hours and 20 minutes, in fact, Moon’s rotation is 29. 53 days hence new moon occurs on different days same as Easter does.
We cannot throw the word of God underfoot just because man wants to fix what he perceives as an oversight perpetrated by God. The only way to 'ensure the uniformity of religious worship throughout the world' is total obedience to the word and will of God by everyone in the same manner. Not likely to happen, Satan has for thousands of years controlled and manipulated calendars and with that he decides which is sabbath to be worshiped despite it differs from God’s 7th day.
Redefining God
The use of any calendar that has been redesigned or adjusted by humans is essentially an attempt to redefine God. It can be seen as an accusation against God's management of creation, suggesting that God is no longer in control or absent from creation. It also implies that God is not steadfast and absolute and that He approves of changing His Word, statutes, or commandments to suit our needs or circumstances. This comment made me stop and think , are people blind or just arrogant in their beliefs which in fact are described in this paragraph as ones that are redefining God’s creation.
Furthermore, this suggests that God doesn't understand our needs, cannot be trusted continually or eternally, and that even God, described as perfect in scripture, needs correcting occasionally. According to this logic, God is not perfect, and human reasoning should be regarded in the same light as God’s wisdom and understanding.
Any change to God's law dictates a redefining of God. When we go against scripture, what we are really attempting to do is change and control God according to our will. People often mask their rebellion with good intentions or motives, such as unity, inclusion, conformity, or manageability. Does this ring a bell?
It's essential to remember that this is not our creation, and we can't define the terms of worship ourselves; only God can do that. This same dangerous spiritual attitude was present at the Tower of Babel, as mentioned in Genesis 11:1-9.
God is alive, as is His word (Jer. 10:10; Heb. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:15). God's word and Law require no fixing, not now or ever.
2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ps. 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in him. Ps. 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right and true.
After God completed all of his work during the creation week and saw everything he had created, he declared it to be 'very good' (Gen. 1:31). He did not simply say it was 'good enough'. Nothing would need fixing or repairing at a later date.
When Christ came, He did not come to destroy or loosen the Law or the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). He remains the same yesterday, today, and forevermore (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, we, as His followers, should not even consider adding to the law for our convenience, regardless of the levels of technological advancement we have access to at the time.
15. Names of the month
In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words refer to the month. The first one is 'chodesh' (SHD 2320), which is commonly translated as 'New Moon'. The root of this word (SHD 2318) means to repair or make new. The second Hebrew word is 'yereach' (SHD 3394), which is equivalent to the English word 'month'.The first month of God's calendar is termed 'Abib' or 'Nisan' (Exod. 12:1-2, 18; Num. 28:16; Lev. 23:5). The 2nd month is called 'Ziv' (1Ki. 6:1). The 3rd month is called 'Sivan' (Esth. 8:9). The 4th is known as 'Tummuz'. The 5th is known as 'Av'. The 6th month is 'Elul' (Neh. 6:15; 7:13). The 7th is 'Ethanim' (1Ki. 8:2), better known as 'Tishri'. The 8th is 'Bul' (1 Ki. 6:38). The 9th is 'Chisleu' (Zech. 7:1), better known as 'Chislev'. The 10th is 'Tebeth' (Esth. 2:16). The 11th is 'Sebat' (Zec. 1:7). The 12th is 'Adar' (Esth. 3:7).
The Ten Commandments
The beauty of the Ten Commandments (and all of God's Commandments that flow from them) is that they can be taken anywhere and applied wherever one resides, without prejudice. Each of us has been given the ability and responsibility to confirm the start of our day, weekly Sabbaths, and the day of the New Month via the faithful witness (i.e., the moon) God has provided equally to everyone (Ps. 89:37).
Of all the Ten Commandments, the Fourth Commandment is the only one directly related to time. Nowhere is a specific landmark such as Jerusalem even mentioned that we are to tie or align ourselves to. On the contrary, we are commanded to remember the Sabbath day,
added "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exod. 20:8; ESV; emphasis d)
The word ‘day' is derived from SHD 3117 from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), and is used in reference to an entire 24-hour day as we know it. Hence, the Sabbath, be it the weekly Sabbath or the New Moon, can only be defined from our location. By its very definition, a day only extends as far as its astronomical breadth. In the very same way, Jerusalem's New Moon conjunction is also limited to its astronomical territory.
The Fourth Commandment starts with the word "Remember". It is Strong's Hebrew Dictionary 2142 'zakar'. It means to mark properly, be recognised, make mention, be mindful, remember, and bring to remembrance. We are not just to remember to observe the Sabbath but also why it was instituted, what it looked forward to, and how it was initially determined, i.e., locally.
How can churches expect people to follow a universal conjunction calendar based on Jerusalem when it was never followed by any of the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, or the early church? The Fourth Commandment was not intended to be split or divided in its adherence or application once global communication became available. On the other hand 4th Commandment is specifically attacked by satan and his followers because it was imposed by God and it is in relation to worshipping God on that holly day, can any other day be substituted and be pleasing to God? What view and or action will God take against those who worship on alternate day such as Saturday? Will a simple answer “we were led astray” be sufficient to eleviate God’s wrath against those that worship pagan Baal.?
God included the word 'day' in the commandment to indicate that we should determine the day of the New Moon, like any other day. Even during the millennium, the Sabbath day in Jerusalem will not be the same time in every region. Scripture emphasises that the Sabbath day is regionalised (Jer. 17:19-23; Neh. 13:19). Hence “New Moon” is seen from all parts of the globe and those that want to follow God’s instruction can always be assured that they will know when biblical first day begins.With that in mind if we can know when is the first day we surely must know which is 7th day and every 7 days after.
God made it very clear: it is in the day of our gladness, in accordance to our dwelling place, in our solemn days and at the beginning of our months that we to come before Him in praise and worship (Num. 10:10, 28:11), Numbers confirms Isaiah 66;23 without doubt how God intended for us to count our days and from when.
‘On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God' (Num. 10:10; ESV; emphasis added).
Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the New Moons. (Ezek. 46:3; Emphasis added)
Thus said the LORD to me: ‘Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 and say: 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 Thus says the LORD: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers.' 23 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction. (Jer. 17:19-23; ESV; Emphasis added)
As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. (Neh. 13:19; ESV; Emphasis added)
Interesting that God had to put servants at the gates to prevent any loads being delivered on a Sabbath day, who would be delivering those loads and who would be disobeying God’s 7th day? Is this in relation to heathens or alleged Christians?
Christ gave us a fascinating insight as to where, how, and when we would worship the Father,
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. 22 Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know: for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh,
AND NOW IS, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth, the Father seek to be his worshippers (Jn. 4:21-23; RV; emphasis added).
In this passage, Christ spoke to the woman about the importance of true worship. He explained that true worshippers would not be bound by the borders of Jerusalem or specific spiritual landmarks. Instead, we should worship God in spirit and truth, following His will, word, law, and commandments. By doing so, we become the temple of God as described in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. Each of us would have the same law written on our hearts.
In the physical world, Jerusalem is only a temporary dwelling place, not the ultimate destination. Instead, Christ wants us to direct our attention towards the New Jerusalem, a spiritual city in a spiritual realm. The patriarchs and prophets well understood this concept, and they eagerly anticipated it following their resurrection (Romans 4:13).
Are New Moons Holy as some might ask?
Many Christians are unaware of their duty or responsibility regarding the New Moon, i.e., the first day of the month. This is because of God forsaken society at large for thousands of years have neglected instructions God gave at creation and Exodus.The day of the New Moon or ‘new month' is observed like a Sabbath day (Amos 8:5; Num. 10:10; 28:11; 1Sam. 20:5; 2 Ki. 4:23; 1 Chron. 23:31; 2 Chron. 2:4, 8:13, 33:3: Ezra 3:5; Ezek. 45:17, 46:1, 6; Isa. 1:13, 66:23; Hos. 2:11; Neh. 10:33; Col. 2:16).
Some people believe that the Sabbath restrictions applicable to the New Moon only apply to the seventh month, which is also known as the Day of Trumpets. However, according to scripture, these restrictions apply to every new moon. As mentioned in Amos 8:5, merchants and people were not allowed to buy and sell during the new moon, and this restriction was not limited to just one new moon in a year.
Isaiah, states that all people will worship the Lord from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another. Well if Isaiah had the calendar we do he would have hard time adhering to from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath we shall come to the Lord. Please keep in mind 28th biblical day prior to evening of day one is a sabbath day and every 7th day after that.
Isa. 66:23 (RV) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. (Emphasis added)
Leviticus chapter 23 and Exodus 34 complement each other to affirm that God is a God of steadfastness and faithfulness, not confusion. The New Moons are often mentioned between the weekly Sabbath and Holy Days in various scriptures, such as 1 Chronicle 23:31, 2 Chronicle 2:4, 8:13, 31:3, Nehemiah 10:33, and Hosea 2:11.
That is not accidental. It signifies their place in God's calendar as days of worship and reinforces their need to be calculated locally, akin to the weekly Sabbath.
Observing the New Moons appointed by God, precisely on the day of their actual occurrence based on our location, as a sabbath day of rest is a profound act of humility and obedience before God. It is also an essential component of our faith. This practice is a testament to our willingness and commitment to align our lives with His divine timing and will. It also honours God and serves as a means of offering praise, acknowledgement and appreciation for His plan of salvation.
By submitting to His will, we are rewarded with His blessings, instruction, truth, seal, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, grace and life found in Jesus. Our willingness to submit to the will of the Father allows the 'light to shine out of darkness,' revealing the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).Can we obtain blessing by worshipping pagan day and if so can you please explain how and WHY?
Fourth Commandment
The Fourth Commandment consistently sets the standard that the determination of each day, including the Sabbath(s), New Moons, Holy Days, and Feasts of God, is determined locally. Typically, the weekly Sabbath is our initial encounter with a day God consecrated and made holy. Upon reflection, this is the perfect grounding tool to familiarise oneself with how God determines time on a personal level. We quickly learn that we must observe any day according to local astronomical phases (i.e. where we live).
Many of us fail because we don’t see that the same locality rule should still apply when determining the first day of the month.
‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour, and do all your work; 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; 11 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.' (Ex 20:8–11, Emphasis added)
In Leviticus chapter 23, Exodus 31:13 ff, Deut. 5:12-15, God laid down the structure and constraints for the fourth commandment by opening with the weekly Sabbath. By listing the weekly Sabbath first, God established the principle of localised time. The emphasis on "that very day" and "that person from among his people" are not throwaway lines.
‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts. 3"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.' (Lev. 23:2-3)
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27 "Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. 28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath." (Lev. 23:26-32; ESV, emphasis added)
However, in Exodus 34, the Passover and the observance of seven days of eating nothing leavened and eating unleavened bread are mentioned before the weekly Sabbath (Ex. 34:18, 21). It is to be observed in the month of Abib, picturing our departure from spiritual Egypt. Jerusalem is not mentioned here; it is only the place of our former spiritual captivity, where the first month of God's calendar was issued to Moses. That is significant.
The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt. (Exod. 34:18)
Many today say , Christ is our Passover, is the only cornerstone of the calendar we are to tie ourselves to, not Jerusalem. Whilst this is true it does not take out the responsibility that Christ himself kept 7th day holly and worshipped on it, accordingly, we should follow his footsteps. It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as we are in Christ (Jn. 4:23-24)and we follow what Christ did we shall be fine. Case in point, when Noah and his family were in the ark, the waters covered the highest mountain top by 15 cubits. Yet Noah knew when 7th day was did he not? How did he know and can we adopt the same methodology? Yes but Noah had faith in God and he served God faithfully contrary to the pressure of society of his time, unfortunately, we have succumbed to the pressure and teaching of our society and have chosen to follow its pagan ways.
Gen 7:19-20 (ESV) And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. (20) The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.
t Noah still would have been required to observe God's calendar, i.e., weekly sabbaths and New Moons, even though he wasn't on land or any land was visible. This perfect example shows that we are not bound to any landmark or landmass.
The First Month of the Year
The first month of the year is based upon the timing of the liberation and redemption of God's people from bondage in Egypt (Exod. 12). The lamb that was sacrificed and roasted with its blood placed on the doorposts and lintels of every Israelite's home of the first exodus was a sign for the death angel to spare those living in that dwelling and pass over them. It was a precursor to the sacrifice of our Lord and appointed Saviour, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice now releases us from spiritual captivity.
When God released the nation of Israel from bondage during that Passover, He re-instituted the first month of Abib for His people everywhere. Thus, the Passover must be observed in this same month of the year by all who serve God around the world (Exod. 12:1-11; Deut. 16:1-6; Num. 9:1-3; 33:3; Josh. 4:19; Ezek. 45:18, 21). Please note God has re-instituted the first month of Abib/Nisan which confirmed continuation of creational sequence of days.
The physical land of Israel, with its seasons and harvests and the physical temple, was chosen as a prototype for physically illustrating the plan of salvation.
Today, the Church, those called out, is the temple of God. We must conduct ourselves according to the same principles, laws, and statutes. The early church in the dispersion was no longer tied to a physical temple, for God is our sanctuary (Ezek. 11:16).
The New Year is not determined based on when spring occurs on each side of the equator. Seasonal equinoxes are opposite on either side of the equator. As a result, the spring (vernal) equinox in the northern hemisphere is the autumnal (fall) equinox in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, the equinox that occurs in March (of the modern world calendar) is the one each person uses according to the equinox in their hemisphere of observance to determine the first month of the year.
The first month of the year for the entire globe must be in agreement with the New Moon nearest the spring equinox of the northern hemisphere, where the Passover, the 14th of the first month, falls after the day of the spring equinox. The latest possible time (date) the equinox can take place is on the 14th of Abib, the day of the Passover.
Suppose the equinox falls on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th of Abib. In that case, the day of the Passover, the day prior, technically falls within winter, as the Bible only has two seasons, winter and summer, delineated by the equinox.
We have been so accustomed to observing the Roman secular calendar all our lives that the concept of an intercalary month is foreign to us. This is why we find ourselves saying, “Spring is late this year." Once we understand that God's calendar requires intercalations, we can determine the start and end of the seasons.
The Bible tells us Israel came out of captivity through the actions of the Angel of God, in the first month of Abib (Ex. 23:20-22; Josh. 5:13-15; Judg. 2:1).
Exo 23:15 (JPS) The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep; seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib - for in it thou camest out from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty;
Thus, the beginning of the year is determined by God and only him as he instructed Moses and Aaron to tell his people first day of the month and first day of the year (who is the beginning of the creation; Rev. 3:14), pictured in the Passover of the Spring Feast in the northern hemisphere. This time of the year marked the liberation of Ancient Israel from slavery in Egypt, and Moses was informed that it was the first month (Ex. 12:2).
Exodus 23:15 instructs us not to come before God empty. This verse emphasises the importance of having the right attitude when we come before God on an appointed day. We should not approach God with a mind, heart, or spirit empty or unappreciative of the grace, mercy and blessings we have received. Instead, we should come to Him with deep reverence and gratitude for all He has done and continues to do through Christ. We should be humbled by the fact that we are invited to partake in the marriage feast (first resurrection) with the groom (Christ) and granted the proper attire made possible through the sacrifice of Christ (Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24).
Question from my limited mind, can God be present and can he bless our endeavours even though we are worshipping him on a day imposed by Satan? Again looking back at history High Priest could enter the Most Holy in the Sanctuary once a year on a day that GOD said he CAN, any other time he would do it he was killed immediately, not only the designated day but at a designated time of the day as well, good thing God does not punish today as he did then how many of us would be struck down ?
1Cor. 11:27-29 (KJV-BRG) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
People Disobeying the Sabbath - in the Wilderness
In Exodus 16:29-30, Ancient Israel was told to ensure every man remained in his place on the Sabbath day. What we found, though, was that some in the congregation went "out of his place" on the seventh day expecting to find manna (v. 27), but they found none.
See! The Lord has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days; remain every man of you in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. (Exod. 16:29-30; ESV; Emphasis added)
By maintaining Saturday worshipping based on present calendar methodology , we have figuratively gone out of our place regarding time and space. We no longer keep God's word to “remain every man of you in his place on the seventh day.” Not only that , we are committing double sin , firstly we worship pagan day and we are working on a day that is 7th day, in actuality satan has got a double whammy , can you see how?
Note that it says, “remain every man of you in his place on the seventh day”. The observance of local astronomical signs applies to everyone irrespective which time zone you live in, especially on the seventh day, a Sabbath. that is, our time zone, according to the heavenly signs.
By following man, we will eventually find ourselves in the same predicament as those who went of their place, in that they found no bread, which today is Jesus, the Christ, the bread of life. The lesson in all this is that there is a penalty for will- full disobedience.
God gave us His method of reckoning time so that we might know we are to obey the Lord God, who sanctifies us, not man.
Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. (Ezek. 20:12; emphasis added)
Ezek. 20:10-12 ASV So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. (11) And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them. (12) Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth them.
God wants us to walk in His statutes and ordinances according to His word and not in the doctrines or constitutions of religious organisations and their ministries.
Ezek. 20:18-20 ASV And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols. (19) I am Jehovah your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; (20) and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.
Conclusion as difficult as it might be
Throughout history, humans have tried altering religious practices to suit their beliefs or pagan customs. In the first century CE, the Romanised Christian Church attempted to change the annual observation of Passover on the first month's fourteenth day to celebrate Easter in honour of the goddess Ishtar. This change was not authorised by God and made it easier for the Romanised Church to shift the weekly day of worship from the Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday. By the mid-third century, people had fixed this custom and continue to practice it today. The determination of the New Moon is also undergoing a similar transition. Having quoted history i must correct myself to the extent that Roman church imposed shift in day sequence so neither Saturday nor Sunday are days that God has blessed and SANCTIFIED.
Religious organisations and groups have advocated for the adoption of a universal Jerusalem calendar (UJC) for some time now. They have accepted this idea as part of their doctrinal faith. However, this concept creates two different calendars that operate simultaneously, which can lead to questioning God's character and opposing His word and authority. Some churches are so entrenched in this idea that they are unaware of its potential consequences. This attitude is comparable to the rebellion that occurred with the golden calf (cf. Exod. Ch. 32).
The Hillel II calendar and a universally based Jerusalem Conjunction calendar are similar to the golden calf that Ancient Israel created. They were both designed, created, and introduced by the ministry. Aaron's use of engraving tools symbolized the etching into doctrine and permanency in people's minds. Both served as means to worship God and establish days of worship according to man's desires, and those who bowed down to them did not consider it idolatry. 'These things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did'. How are Sabbatarians different today than golden calf crew was then?
1Cor. 10:1-12 ESV For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, (2) and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) and all ate the same spiritual food, (4) and all drank the same spiritual drink.
For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (5) Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (6) Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (7) Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." (8) We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. (9) We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (10) nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (11) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (12) Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (Emphasis added)
Heb 3:15 ESV As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (Emphasis added).
Church, is not just a collection of people; it is meant to function as one body, with one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all (Eph. 4:4-5). We will be one step closer to this realisation when we restore and observe God's actual biblical calendar in the same manner as it was initially intended. How likely is this to happen? Highly unlikely !! My experience with introducing this biblically backed alternative calendar is to say the least apprehensive, people are just not interested in listening and are happy in their pagan ways. In fact if they had power messenger would be sacrificed for the cause. Some say we will worship pagan 7th day until God opens our eyes, i will revert back to my readier comment about being in the fire of pagan sin waiting for God to show you the way out. In reality in order to save your life from fire you must get out before you burn.
It is essential to understand that the Fourth Commandment includes the weekly Sabbath, New Moons, and all of God's Feasts and Holy Days. These celebrations are integral to our faith and determined according to our location.
A key lesson from this is that we all need to follow God's Word in the same way, using the same methods and with the same level of commitment, regardless of where we live. God has not specified two ways of measuring time, one for those living in Jerusalem and another for those outside the city.
God wants us to trust Him completely and not rely on our understanding or follow men's traditions. We should acknowledge Him in all our ways; in doing so, He will show us the right path to follow (Proverbs 3:5-6).
For those who observe or promote a universal Jerusalem calendar and Babylonian/Roman calendar and find comfort in knowing that their days are no different from those of Jerusalem, the word of the Lord says:You shall not spread a false report.
You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness (Exod. 23:1; ESV).34You shall not fall in with the many to do evil (Exod. 23:2a).
Suppose there is any uncertainty about whether the "great falling away" mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is about to occur. In that case, we can observe that most Christians today have fallen victim to deception and are following a multitude of false calendars, which have become the "golden calves" of the modern era.
Moreover, the correct observance of the Passover is a topic of much confusion and is discussed in detail in " This, alongside the model of the Church Christ gave the Church to follow, has also been corrupted.
When it comes to the calendar, Passover observance, and Church model, we must always remember that Christ is the cornerstone. Any alteration to these aspects, no matter how seemingly insignificant, diminishes Christ's role and the sanctification that God provides and requires for our part to be with Him. This centrality of Christ in our faith should fill us with a deep sense of reverence and commitment.
Many will come and say Lord in your name we went to church every Saturday, we gave money for the poor, we gave our tithe every week, we did fly and build, we have all the book of the spirit of prophecy (alleged) and he will say “GO AWAY I DO NOT KNOW YOU” Can someone reading this make a comment and categorically say that it will not be him or his church?
God bless all of you
Jack M Samardzija
Please look at the chart and look up the difference between sunset and astronomical dusk
Bible does not recognise sunset as relevant only from Dusk to Dusk
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