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Comment
If I understand correctly your message is that above all we should LOVE one another which is the ultimate message of God as illustrated to us by Jesus and his sacrifice for us. That LOVE is what makes up the law of God, is this right? Then what do we do about the Sabbath Day, when do we worship? God is always on my mind at home or wherever I am. - Sue
Response
Yes, the Saviour said “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
Force is contrary to Love. It is force (historically from Rome) which has disrupted the true Sabbath, and also caused confusion about the message of love in the commandments, interpreting them as threats instead of promises of deliverance from sin. But Love is not just a feeling - Love produces powerful actions and decisions. The Saviour said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15)
In the future, the issue of the Sabbath will be forced upon people by political action. But the promise of the Almighty is “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev 14.12)
Comment
Hello, your website is very persuasive on keeping the sabbath based on the moon cycles. I have been pondering this idea for several months. Now, I am totally convinced. I found all your information that I read to be factual. This is an extreme rare on biblical or historical topics, on or off the Internet. Thanks for your good work.
Concerning when the real new moon should be observed, I found a biblical manuscript called Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of Numbers 28:14-15 that states that the new moon is when the moon disappears. Below is translation by J.W. Etheridge, M.A.
This obviously refers to the astronomical new moon, not the crescent new moon that the people today who call themselves Jews observed. Follow the link to recent translations of the Aramaic Targums http://www.litpress.org/Series.aspx?ID=17. The prices on Amazon are more affordable. Isaiah Gabriel
Comment
Thank you for your courageous words of truth. It can be lonely out here when you come to believe in Yahuwah's true Sabbaths. May He bless you for your writings!
Response
And thank you for the encouragement.
Comment
Hello, Here in the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand) we keep the feast days as though we are in the Northern Hemisphere. This seems to parallel keeping the winter Northern Christmas in the summer "down under." Surely we don't want to copy Satan's counterfeit festivals.
While I realize we are in a diaspora, we are still told that we will serve in honesty and truth. So, should we observe the spring festivals in the Southern Hemisphere spring? David
Response
You've asked a good question, and both sides could be argued. The following is based upon Scripture, but neverless, represents my understanding of the subject.
First, we should look at the issue of the Levitical priesthood, and its related ordinances, like the Temple in Jerusalem. Many people are familiar with verses like Deuteronomy 12:11, which speaks of YHWH choosing the place for his Temple in the land across the Jordan, known today as Jerusalem. In fact, verse 12:13 specifically says that the people are not to choose their own place.
Verses like these indicate that the Jerusalem is the center of the Temple services and the Feasts, but it is important to note that it is in the context of the Levitical Priesthood.
But is the Levitical Priesthood the permanent priesthood? No, it was temporary - added because of transgression - specifically, the transgression of the Golden Calf. At that time, YHMH chose the tribe of Levi to carry the priesthood. Before that, it was the family patriachs who held the priesthood, but they forfeited their calling by worshipping the idol.
Galatians 3:17-19
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The "430 years since Abraham" refers to the events of the Exodus.
Exodus 12:40-41
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
There was only one "transgression" connected to the Exodus that resulted in a series of laws; it was the idolatry of the Golden Calf, which resulted in the Levitical Priesthood and the Tabernacle/Temple Service. It cannot refer to the laws of the "Ten Commandments", since they were not given in the case of "transgression".
According to the "Book of Hebrews", the Levitical Priesthood is obsolete.
Hebrews 7:11-15
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest ...
The Passover of the Exodus was celebrated in the peoples' homes in Egypt. There was:
- no Temple or veil
- no Levitical priesthood
- no Jerusalem
Further, the Bible suggests that the covenant with Abraham was made on the season of Passover (although it was not called "Passover" at that time). After speaking with Abraham on the anniversary of the covenant, the angels visited Lot, who prepared a "feast" of "unleavened bread" (Genesis 19:3) Lot then made an "Exodus" out of Sodom.
The Children of Israel were aware that the Exodus occurred on the "selfsame day" (Exodus 12:40-41, quoted above), exactly 430 years later after the covenant with Abraham; that day was Passover.
So I am claiming that the appointed time of the Passover had been established long before the Exodus. All of the Feast Days (including the weeky Sabbath) were:
- ordained at Creation
- denoted by the "lights in heaven" (Sun, Moon); see Genesis 1:14
The year beings with the first New Moon after the Spring Equinox, and the weekly Sabbaths are on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th days after the New Moon as determined by the observer at that location. That is, there is no "international date line" used to determine the Sabbath with the Lunar Calendar - the reference is not on the Earth itself, it is the Moon.
If there is no "international date line" used to determine the Sabbath on the Lunar Calendar, then what about the Passover on that same calendar? If it follows the same pattern, then a person in the Southern Hemisphere would be starting the New Year 6 months staggered with the Northern Hemisphere.
- when a person in the North is starting the New Year, the person in the South is celebrating the Feast of Trumpets
- when a person in the North is choosing the "lamb" for the Passover (10th day of 1st month), the person in the South is celebrating the Day of Atonement (10th day of 7th month)
- when a person in the North is celebrating the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, the person in the South is celebrating week-long Feast of Tabernacles
Is the Passover determined by the Barley Harvest in Israel? Note that if the Israelites were obedient, then the harvest would come at the correct time.
Leviticus 26:2-4 Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
The season is always on time, according to astronomy. However, the weather is disrupted because of man's disobedience, and so the crops don't grow at the right time. So I do not think the timing of the Barley Harvest in today's land of Israel is significant.
In the study above, I have presented evidence to suggest that:
- All of the Feast days are determined by the Moon, not a location (dateline or city) on Earth.
- The Levitical Priesthood required an earthy tabernacle, and a Temple in Jerusalem, but it was temporary; the Melchisedec priesthood both preceded and followed it, and requires neither.
Note that some of these are open to other interpretations.
Keep in mind that the confusion about the Sabbath and the Calendar in general are the result of a judgment against sin.
Lamentations 2:5-6 The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
The process of "forgetting" the Sabbath (and Feasts) on the Lunar Calendar was gradual. They completely forgot the Sabbath only after Constantine's calendar was established, but the astronomic events that made the Lunar Calendar inconvenient (and therefore easy to forget) happened during the reigns of Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Comment
Lunar Sabbath is that of the adversary. It is a trick. It breaks Torah and all other scripture. No amount of scriptural twisting will defeat the ultimate author of the scriptures. No real Sabbath = no covenant for you. A lunar based Sabbath is not real. 100% fake.
Response
And the current Jewish calendar, created by the Sanhedrin of the 4th century AD/CE under pressure of Constantine and requiring "Rules of Postponement", is 100% according to Torah? Really?
Comment
Please correct [certain spelling errors].
Response
Good eye. Done, thanks.
Comment (Paragraph 1)
If all knowledge of the world is contained in the Bible, then you must be right to enforce one calendar for the whole world and disregard all else. DISREGARDING is a word that describes the whole personality of people after the great fall: "I know myself what is good and bad; all else I disregard". The Hindu calendar takes 5 parameters into account, so it is called "pancaanga" or "5 limbed". The Chinese calendar takes much more than 5 parameters into account, and it should consider a little more in order to be perfect.
Response
Concerning the extra parameters, the calendar has become more complicated due to changes in the Earth-Sun-Moon relationship which occurred around 700 BC. This resulted in the Solar Year becoming about 5.25 days longer, and the Lunar Month about half a day shorter.
(These occurred during the reigns of Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, including the account of the backwards shadow on the sundial.)
Comment (Paragraph 2)
If we are based solely on the moon for our calendar, why disregard the Sun? Is the Sun less important than the Moon? Or are the seven spirits of God less important? Actually the week days refer to the seven spirits of God which are only symbolized by planets or ancient deities; in Apocalypse there is reference to the 7 spirits of God, and the Jewish menora (7 candle set) is a symbol of the same. We do not worship the Sun or the Planets or any created things. If we must HONOUR our parents, then how much more we should honour the sun that gives life to our world every moment? If we must LOVE our near person as ourselves, then is it not proper to love the great entities and God's servants in God's creation on which our life depends?
Response
The Hebrew calendar does use the Sun as well - the Sun for days, the Moon for Months, and the first New Moon of Spring (after the Equinox, which uses the Sun) begins the year.
We honor and love the Creator who gave us the Sun, and we appreciate our Creator's gifts to us.
Comment (Paragraph 3)
It is clear from what you say that the Biblical Sabbath is lunar based as it was with ancient Akkadians and Sumerians, and I thank you sincerely for all your valuable research. And yet, to observe the continuous 7 day week according to their meaning is all right. Saturn day is proper for purification and rest, as activities on Saturn day have heavy consequences; Sunday is ideal to celebrate the Notional Sun, as we call Jesus Christ, the Lord of all power. We say that Jesus observed the Sabbath ("sabbatizei" [non-Latin characters missing here]) in His grave so he could rise the next day. Friday is called [non-Latin characters missing here], meaning "preparation" that is to prepare our home for resting on Saturday.
Response
If you make the week to be a continuous cycle, then you are ignoring or disregarding the importance of the New Moon which begins the Month and the 4 weeks.
Comment (Paragraph 4)
The day Jesus rose was the 16th of the lunar month, yes, but it coincided with Sunday. Constantinus was not a Mithra worshipper. He respected all religions as an emperor has to do, but he was a Christian. He set the sacred day on Sunday in order to REPLACE the worship of the physical sun by some people. And even the Jews still are in accordance with their own law of resting every seventh day; even not according to the moon phase, it is still every 7th day. If the continuous 7 day week is in your opinion "astrology", then the moon phase calculation is nothing different than astrology either.
Response
Why would I consider one calendar "astrology" and the other not, when both use heavenly bodies? Because the Hebrew calendar was ordained originally by the Creator, and uses the Sun and Moon as the Creator intended.
Thanks for your detailed comments!
Comment
THANK YOU... VERY COMPELLING