It's Not a "Jewish" Thing, it's a Bible Thing
Leviticus 23 - New King James Version
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations (dress rehearsals), these are My feasts.
Thus says the LORD (Yahweh): Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. ~ Isaiah 1:14
The most reliable calendar in the universe is the sun because it never varies from its appointed course, and cannot be manipulated by man. It is so accurate that the U.S. Naval Observatory sets their atomic clock by the sun.
The Spring equinox is the beginning of months, the true Biblical New Year, just as the Autumn equinox is the first day of the seventh Biblical month. With these two immutable witnesses, we can be certain that we are following the correct seasons for the Lord’s appointed Feasts. The moon has absolutely nothing to do with keeping time, and is one of the erroneous assumptions that many people make because they believe in the traditions of the Jews. The words "new moon" means new month, not the planet or phases of the moon.
I
pray you take this information in the spirit of love. Search the
Scriptures to prove what is true. I'm not an
"authority." I have no axe to grind.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
~Proverbs 25:2
How Are The Correct Dates For The Feasts of the LORD Calculated?
Genesis 1:14 tells us when Yahweh's calendar was created...
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years." Notice the word month or "moon" is not mentioned. The moon does not determine seasons, days, or years.
Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.
~Genesis 1:16 We assume that the "greater light" means the sun and the "lesser light" means the moon. However, we know that the Scriptures always have a much deeper meaning. Is it not plausible that the greater light refers to understanding and the lesser light refers to traditions of men. What communion has light with darkness? ~
2 Corinthians 6:14
For you were once darkness (ignorant), but now you are light (have correct knowledge) in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) ~Ephesians 5:8-9
Man has created many calendars, none of which are totally accurate.
A perfect calendar is one that conforms to the four seasons and is easy to understand. A year consists of 365 and one-fourth days, four seasons, and twelve months.
The equinoxes, and the solstices are the correct guidelines for an accurate calendar. These are the signs God gave in Genesis 1:14. The phases of the moon are not necessary for determining the length of a month. A simple calendar is one that has 5 Spring and Summer months of 31 days each for a total of 155 days. The 7 Autumn and Winter months have 30 days each for a total of 210 days. 155+ 210 = 365 days.
There are 52 Weeks in a year. A true statement, but is it accurate? 7X52 = 364 days. Where's the missing day? It isn't missing at all. There are 52 weeks and one day in a year. Now we have a true statement that is also accurate.
Most people assume a sunset to sunset day based on Genesis 1:5 - "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."
Notice it says God called the "darkness Night", it does not say the evening was the beginning of a day.
The
sun was created on the 4th day. So what was the source of the light
when God said, "Let there be Light"? The Hebrew word for light consists
of three letters: aleph, vav, resh (pronounced ore) and was translated
"light."
However, "ore" also means brightness which I believe is the better translation.
Jacob
Milgrom (February 1, 1923 – June 5, 2010) was a prominent American
Jewish Bible scholar and Conservative rabbi. Milgrom spent most of his
career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he headed the
Department of Near Eastern Studies. He was known for his research on
Biblical purity laws and on the book of Leviticus.
Milgrom unequivocally states that the biblical day begins in daylight, not sunset, citing, for example, Genesis 19:33-34; Leviticus 7:15; Numbers 9:11, and 33:3; Judges 19:4-9; and 1 Samuel 19:11.
There
are two twilights per day, sunrise AM and sunset PM. Each twilight
endures for 18 degrees each day... all chickens already know this.
I believe High Noon is the correct starting point for a Biblical Day. In modern times it is expressed as AM meaning Ante-Meridian (before noon) and PM meaning Post-Meridian (afternoon). Meridian means starting at the highest point and returning to the highest point in a circular motion. It isn't called High Noon for nothing. God said: Let there be Light... not let there be sunset and darkness. Remember, the sun was not created until the 4th day. ~Genesis 1:19
At one second past noon it is afternoon that turns into evening that turns into night and returns to daylight at Sunrise and continues to Noon. Thus the "evening and the morning" make a Day. Sunset to Sunset and Midnight to Midnight make a 24 hour cycle, but is it accurate? Sometimes what we think we understand God says may be true, but is it accurate?
Every four years the equinoxes are self-adjusting and add one day to the 12th month for a total of 366 days. The "leap day" is a zero day because it was not formed by the 24 hour cycle, but is made up of fragments of time over a four year period. Therefore, the leap year does not change the dates of Yahweh's set appointments.
The solar calendar is a perfect calendar that even a child can understand. Man makes things confusing and complicated. Yahweh is not the author of confusion and makes everything simple for those with understanding. ~1 Corinthians 14:32
So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.
(the Feast of Trumpets) ~Nehemiah 8:2
The Jewish lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year and uses a 19-year cycle to bring it into line with the solar year (proving the solar calendar is correct). The Lunar calendar is the one used to determine the dates of Jewish
holidays (Not Yahweh's Holy Days). Every three years the Jewish calendar must add a 13th month. All
12 months are recorded by name in the Scriptures. There is no mention
of a 13th month, or for that matter, a leap day or leap year. As it is
written: Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
~Titus 1:14
The history of lunar calendars reveals their pagan roots. Jewish Calendars, Chinese Calendars, Gregorian Calendars, and any other calendars are all man made attempts to avoid the instructions of the Creator. Read Bible Months vs Pagan Months.
Thus says the LORD (Yahweh): Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. ~ Isaiah 1:14
The
idea that the Jews have preserved a true biblical calendar is totally
erroneous. And the Gregorian calendar with the “new year” starting in
the dead of winter effectively hides the truth of Scripture. Indeed, Satan has deceived the whole world. ~
Revelation 12:9
The most reliable calendar in the universe is the sun because it never varies from its appointed course, and cannot be manipulated by man. It is so accurate that the U.S. Naval Observatory sets their atomic clock by the sun.
The Spring equinox is the beginning of months, the true Biblical New Year, just as the Autumn equinox is the first day of the seventh Biblical month. With these two immutable witnesses, we can be certain that we are following the correct seasons for the Lord’s appointed Feasts. The moon has absolutely nothing to do with keeping time, and is one of the erroneous assumptions that many people make because they believe in the traditions of the Jews. The words "new moon" means new month, not the planet or phases of the moon.
With the exception of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), all of the Biblical Holy Days are set
from the Spring and Autumn equinoxes. That way we are never out of
season. Not complicated or confusing, even a child can understand.
The Feast of Dedication
is not a commanded feast day, but Jesus observed it as very briefly
mentioned in John 10:22. However, the Feast of Dedication is another
clue to understanding God's calendar.
The Feast of Dedication, on the third day of Adar (Ezra 6:15), is 40 days before Passover. Adar 3 corresponds to February 22. The word dedication in Hebrew is Hanukkah. Yes, the eight day Jewish festival celebrated in December which has no basis in Scripture. It's simply a tradition of men that passes itself off as religious. As you know, Satan is a great
counterfeiter and always attempts to hide or distort the Truth of
Scripture. To further hide the truth, the Roman Church made Ash Wednesday 40 days before Easter, and those without understanding fell for it.
If you believe Easter observance is in the Bible, please site the Scripture reference where Jesus instructs His followers to hold a sunrise service to remember His resurrection and hunt colored eggs.
Spring Holy Days
Passover
is always on the evening of Abib 14 (April 3rd), followed the next day by the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Passover is the anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb. It is an annual memorial to be observed forever. Jesus did not say observe it every
day, every week, every quarter, or whenever you feel like it. Most Church denominations take communion or the Lord's Supper instead of Passover. However, the word communion only appears in three scriptures, none of which say to replace Passover with a communion service.
The crucifixion of the Savior took place on Wednesday, April 3, 30 AD and He rose the third day after 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. Most Bible commentaries claim Jesus was crucified on Friday in 33 AD to fit the popular "Good Friday - Easter Sunday" doctrine. Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection is false. Jesus rose Saturday night because the tomb was empty early Sunday morning. ~ John 20:1
Pentecost comes 50 days (or 7 weeks) after the sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread and always observed on Sunday.
Autumn Holy Days
Feast of Trumpets is always on the first day of autumn, September 22nd
Day of Atonement is always October 2nd
Day of Atonement is always October 2nd
Tabernacles is always October 7 thru October 14 with the Last Great Day on the 15th
The Sabbath
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation (a "dress rehearsal" for the real thing ~Hebrews 4:1-10). You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.
“The Sabbath (a day of rest) was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath (not for man to rest or to be lazy) ~Mark 2:27
After
much prayer and research, I am convinced that Biblical days are from
noon to noon. The weekly Sabbath is noon Saturday to noon Sunday. So, if
you attend church on Saturday afternoon, or Sunday morning, you are
"remembering the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy."
I believe High
Noon is the correct starting point for a Biblical Day. In modern times
it is expressed as AM meaning Ante-Meridian (before noon) and PM meaning
Post-Meridian (afternoon). Meridian means starting at the highest point
and returning to the highest point in a circular motion. It isn't
called High Noon for nothing. God said, "Let there be light"... not
sunset and darkness. The sun was created the 4th day so how was time
reckoned the first 3 days with no sunsets? ~ Genesis 1:14-19
At
one second past noon it is afternoon that turns into evening that turns
into night and returns to daylight at Sunrise and continues to Noon.
Thus the "evening and the morning" make a Day. Sunset to Sunset and
Midnight to Midnight make a 24 hour cycle, but is it accurate? Sometimes
what we think we understand God says may be true, but is it accurate?
Noon to noon is also confirmed by the Passover. God commanded the lamb to be slain on the 14th day of the month of Abib and consumed that self-same evening. A sunset to sunset day causes the lamb to be slain on the 14th and consumed on the 15th which is totally contrary to Scripture. ~ Leviticus 23:4-8
There are certain jobs that require people to work on Saturday and/or Sunday, i.e., doctors, nurses, EMS, firemen, the military, etc. So when is their day of rest? The whole world cannot stop working all at the same time. Even strict Saturday Sabbath keepers want the fire department on duty 24/7.
As it is written: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. ~Romans 14:4-6
It is my considered opinion that the weekly Sabbath is from noon Saturday to noon Sunday. So if you assemble on Saturday it's to the Lord or if you assemble on Sunday, it's to the Lord.
List of The Holy Days as Recorded in the Bible
Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread
These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.
Passover is such an important event that it’s the only Feast that God allows a “make up”… on the 14th day of the second month of Ziv… May 3rd. Numbers 9:1-14
The Feast of First Fruits
New Testament requires a living sacrifice
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ~ Romans 12:1-2
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
And
you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of
the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Lord. Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the Lord, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (ask your pastor how long forever is)
The Feast of Weeks
(Pentecost in the New Testament)
And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven.They are the first fruits to the Lord. And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Lord. Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering.
The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. (for how long?)
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
The Feast of Trumpets
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.The Day of Atonement
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be
the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (has forever past?)
It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict* your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath. (evening begins at one second past High Noon)
*The Hebrew word affict (to grieve) has a spiritual meaning and does not mean to fast (that's a Jewish tradition). Here is the root meaning: to answer, respond, speak, shout, to testify as a witness. Rather than fast, God is telling us to be witnesses and to remember the suffering of Yahshua/Jesus in our stead.
The Feast of Tabernacles
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying: The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.
Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.
You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths (a temporary dwelling) for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (has God changed His mind about forever?)
So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
After reading Leviticus 23, can anyone tell me when the LORD said to observe the New Year in the dead of winter? Celebrate Easter? Christmas? Or ANY of the holiday traditions of men?
Forget the argument about "priest" and "burnt offerings". Any sincere Bible student knows the Old Testament Feast Days were a pattern and shadow to come of the New Testament Feast Days when Christ became our Passover Lamb and our High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Read verses 14, 21, 31 and 41 again. Has forever passed?
NOTE: Don't get hung up on the animal sacrifices. nly the symbols were changed, not the observance.
"For the time will come when they (nominal Christians) will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables". ~2 Timothy 4:3-5
For those who claim the Old Testament is obsolete, let's review.
Jesus told Satan...
It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. ~Matthew 4:3-4 Did the Old Testament proceed from the mouth of God?
Paul told Timothy...
All Scripture (Old and New Testaments) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (an expression of blame or disapproval), for correction, for instruction in righteousness. ~
2 Timothy 3:16 Remember, there was no "new testament" when Paul wrote this to Timothy.
My Church does not keep the Feasts of the LORD, so what do I do now? Find a group near you to fellowship with at Feast time... http://www.feastgoer.org/index.html
God has always preserved a remnant of people who are sincerely trying to do as God instructs. ~1 Corinthians 5:8
Won't it be a wonderful day when all of God's children can meet together and not care what Church they went to.
You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group
