Christian Churches of God
No. 195C
Hillel, Babylonian
Intercalations and the Temple
Calendar
(Edition 1.0 20151208-20151208)
This paper deals with the introduction of the Babylonian system to Judah and its catastrophic
effect on the Temple Calendar in Judaism and in the Churches of God under the 20th and 21st
Century Churches under Armstrongism.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369,
WODEN
ACT 2606,
AUSTRALIA
Email: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright © 2015 Wade Cox)
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This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org
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Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
Introduction
God spoke through the prophet Zechariah and
He said what He would do in relation to the
Worship of His House.
This paper deals with the false doctrine of the
Hillel Calendar as used by the Modern Jews
and the WCG offshoots.
Zechariah 5:1-11 Again I lifted my eyes and saw,
and behold, a flying scroll! 2 And he said to me,
"What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying
scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth
ten cubits." 3 Then he said to me, "This is the
curse that goes out over the face of the whole land;
for every one who steals shall be cut off henceforth
according to it, and every one who swears falsely
shall be cut off henceforth according to it. 4 I will
send it forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall
enter the house of the thief, and the house of him
who swears falsely by my name; and it shall abide
in his house and consume it, both timber and
stones." 5 Then the angel who talked with me
came forward and said to me, "Lift your eyes, and
see what this is that goes forth." 6 And I said,
"What is it?" He said, "This is the ephah that goes
forth." And he said, "This is their iniquity in all the
land." 7 And behold, the leaden cover was lifted,
and there was a woman sitting in the ephah! 8 And
he said, "This is Wickedness." And he thrust her
back into the ephah, and thrust down the leaden
weight upon its mouth. 9 Then I lifted my eyes
and saw, and behold, two women coming forward!
The wind was in their wings; they had wings like
the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah
between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the
angel who talked with me, "Where are they taking
the ephah?" 11 He said to me, "To the land of
Shinar, to build a house for it; and when this is
prepared, they will set the ephah down there on its
base."
These are the questions that any serious Bible
Student or follower of God and the Bible
should ask and then answer.
These people who thieve and swear falsely by
God‘s Name and use the system of worship of
the House of God are punished and cut off.
This transfer into the Babylonian Mystery
Cults has happened and in the 20th century it
took over the Churches of God with the Hillel
Calendar.
You have seen this done in Judah and in the
last days in the 20th century in the Churches
of God. You have seen it established among
God’s people and their ministry have lied to
them and their people love to have it so.
We will now explain how that Babylonian
system was placed among the people of God.
When did the Hillel Calendar come into
effect? On what is it based?
Why are its intercalations different from the
old Temple Calendar system according to the
conjunctions and also the Church of God
determinations of the Lord's Supper in the
20th century?
How do we know for certain that it was never
in use during the Temple period?
When were its last modifications made and
by whom?
What are the punishments according to God’s
Law for keeping the Hillel Calendar or any
other system not according to God’s law?
There are specific and definitive punishments
for keeping the Hillel or Modern Jewish
Calendar and it will cost any member of the
Church of God the First Resurrection for
doing so and it is that important!
A year in the Hebrew Calendar is normally
twelve months beginning from Abib or Nisan.
The months are Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz,
Av, and Elul, Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev,
Tevet, Sh'vat, Adar.
In the Modern Jewish Calendar the year
begins in Tishri and the Babylonian Rosh
HaShanah is observed in Tishri contrary to
Biblical Law.
The Temple Calendar (and the Calendar that
CCG follows) has a calendar of normally
twelve months.
Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
Adar II, the extra month, is intercalated in
seven of every nineteen years.
Years: 2,5,7,10,13,15,18.
The years 2, 5, and 13 are the very earliest
possible and that means the 7th month will be
as early as 31 August, or 1,2,3 of September.
There are 17 times in 100 years (2 Jubilees)
that this intercalation happens. The Jubilees
are in years 27 and 77 of the Current or
Modern Era; hence 1927, 1977 and 2027.
These are the 17 years:
1929, 1932, 1940, 1948, 1951, 1959,
1967, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1989, 1997,
2005, 2008, 2016, 2024, 2027.
These are the years from March to March. In
these years the Hillel Calendar is ONE
MONTH later than the Temple Calendar and
which CCG uses.
The following is information from a typical
Hillel Calendar. They actually use the word
POSTPONED.
Once the date of the Molad of Tishrei (or
Tishri) has been calculated, some additional
considerations must be taken into account to
determine the actual date of Rosh HaShanah
(the New Year of Tishrei). These
considerations may cause the actual date of 1
Tishrei to be postponed from the date of the
Molad Tishrei. There are four such
postponements:
First, if the time of the Molad of Tishrei is
later than 18 hours from the beginning of the
day, Rosh HaShanah is postponed to the next
day. This probably accounts for or is based on
the fact that the young moon could not have
been observed until the next day.
Second, for common years only, if the Molad
of Tishrei falls on a Tuesday, and is later than
nine hours and 204 halakhim from the start of
the day, Rosh HaShanah is postponed to the
next day. This rule prevents a situation in
which the postponements for the next year
would require the year to be 356 days long.
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Third, for years following leap years only, if
the Molad Tishrei falls on a Monday, and is
later than 15 hours and 589 halakhim from
the start of the day, Rosh HaShanah is
postponed to the next day. This rule prevents
a situation that would require the previous
year to be only 352 days long.
Finally, if Rosh HaShanah would fall on
Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday, it is
postponed to the next day. In combination
with one of the above postponements, Rosh
HaShanah could be postponed by as much as
two days. This postponement prevents certain
holidays from falling on the Sabbath.
Those that were in the WCG system were all
guilty of following the Hillel Calendar. So
also the Nigerians associated with Dugger in
Jerusalem.
Many didn't know, but they were still guilty.
Now we all have a choice to make. Now we
are beginning to know.
The Hillel Calendar determines the year from
Tishrei the 7th moon.
However, doesn't scripture say determine it
from Abib/Nisan? Yes it does say that in
Exodus 12:2 and Esther 3:7. The Babylonian
Rosh HaShanah means “the head of the year”
and is directly contrary to the Law of God.
No one has the right to postpone the days of
God’s Calendar for any reason.
The Rosh HaShanah postponement rules are
an innovation of the fixed arithmetic
traditional Jewish Calendar that came in
under Chief Rabbi Hillel II in 358 CE. It did
not exist in Judah or the Churches of God or
anywhere else until 358 CE.
They did not apply the observational lunar
crescent calendar that was introduced by the
Pharisees after the fall of the Temple in 70
CE.
Instead, the observational calendar varied the
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Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
month lengths to be 29 days if the new lunar
crescent was seen at sunset at the end of the
29th day, or 30 days otherwise.
The Visibility of the New Lunar Crescent
on Rosh HaShanah
On the other hand, the Talmud Bavli
mentions in tractate Rosh HaShanah that the
Court (Sanhedrin calendar committee from
Jamnia etc.) used to intimidate visible
crescent witnesses to withdraw or confuse
their testimony or to disqualify them if
otherwise Rosh HaShanah would be
sanctified on Wednesday or Friday (see rule
#1, below).
Rambam, in Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh
(literally translates as "The Laws of
Sanctification of the New Month") wrote that
the reason for the postponements has to do
with the underlying nature of the mean
astronomical calculations that are employed
for the molad, in point 7 of chapter 7, vaguely
suggesting that the postponements bring the
date of Rosh HaShanah closer to the actual
lunar conjunction.
Likewise, the Chinese Calendar, based on
astronomical algorithms for the longitudes of
Sun and Moon, varies the length of months
from 29 to 30 days depending on the
computed moment of the actual lunar
conjunctions.
In the next statement, however, he
contradicted himself by hinting that the
postponements increase the likelihood that
the lunar crescent will be visible at sunset at
the beginning of Rosh HaShanah (point 8 of
chapter 7).
The Modern Jewish Calendar has constant
month lengths, but something has to vary to
accommodate the non-integral mean length of
the molad (representing the mean lunar
cycle), which equals 29 days 12 hours 44
minutes 1 part (each "part" equals 3+1/3
seconds = 1/18 of a minute), and this is
accomplished by adjusting the lengths of the
two months after the previous month of
Tishrei, that is Cheshvan and Kislev,
according to the following four rules:
These attributes are mutually exclusive.
1. Molad Zakein: If the molad of Tishrei falls
on or after noon then postpone Rosh
HaShanah to the next day.
2. Lo ADU Rosh: If the molad of Tishrei falls
on Sunday, Wednesday or Friday then
postpone Rosh HaShanah to the next day.
3. If the molad of Tishrei for a non-leap year
(12 months) falls on Tuesday on or after 9
hours and 204 parts then postpone Rosh
Hashanah to Thursday
4. If the molad of Tishrei after a leap year (13
months) falls on Monday on or after 15 hours
and 589 parts then postpone Rosh Hashanah
to Tuesday.
The actual lunar conjunctions precede the
visible new lunar crescent by 1 to 3 days.
If the postponements were to bring Rosh
HaShanah closer to the actual lunar
conjunction then they would have to decrease
the probability of observing the new crescent
on the holiday.
On the other hand, if they were to increase the
likelihood of observing the new lunar
crescent on Rosh HaShanah then that could
only be accomplished by delays relative to the
actual lunar conjunctions. Astronomical
analysis of the visible crescent frequencies on
Rosh HaShanah will reveal which of these
alternatives is correct, as follows:
Lunar crescent visibility varies with weather
conditions, clouds, atmospheric dust and
clarity (especially in the westerly direction),
temperature, humidity, nearby and westerly
light pollution, and local elevation with
unobstructed view of the horizon.
Astronomically it depends on the apparent
lunar size and brightness, elongation from the
Sun, and altitude above the horizon at sunset.
Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
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Why Is Passover So Late in 1997? (No. 239)
Human factors include observer maturity,
truthfulness, sanity, visual acuity and
stereoscopic perception, iris pigmentation and
pupil diameter, experience and preparation,
and the use of optical aids such as telescopes
or binoculars.
It also helps a lot to know exactly when and
where to look, and then to actually look at the
correct position in the sky!
When the new lunar crescent is very dim, it
may be visible only to more light-sensitive
peripheral vision, rather than the sharpest
central color vision.
In such cases, it might be seen only when one
looks slightly askance of its position, then
away, then back again.
How much simpler is it to follow the
Conjunction time. Note the purpose and
symbolism of the conjunction.
The One True God is UNSEEN.
The NEW MOON is UNSEEN and then the
waning moon represents the revelation of
God.
The probability of false sighting for a typical
observer has been estimated at 15%; hence
observational calendars that depend on a few
positive sightings from a large number of
observers will almost invariably start early by
mistake.
This article was published in the Jewish Bible
Quarterly, Volume 25, No. 1, 1997 and is
reprinted with permission. The Jewish Bible
Association maintains a website at
http://www.jewishbible.org/.
Following the Hillel Calendar automatically
makes you postpone. They postpone the
Conjunction to the Crescent and even days
later.
Being 'allowed' by some Rabbi to do that is
far from having been given permission under
Biblical Law. Obey God.
Temple Calendar Intercalation v Hillel
Here we list the years that the Temple
Calendar intercalates as against the years that
the Hillel Calendar intercalates and postpones
in any one Jubilee. This will demonstrate the
Babylonian Calendar versus the true Temple
Calendar. Anyone keeping Hillel is keeping
the Babylonian system.
Let us again list some "Rules/Observations"
Regarding the 19 Year
Intercalations of Adar2.
Cycle
for
The 100 years of the two Jubilees from 1928
to 2027:
There are Five 19 Year Cycles plus 5 years in
the Two Jubilees (100 years).
False sightings can, however, be refuted if the
Moon was actually below the horizon or
ahead of the actual lunar conjunction at the
moment when it is claimed the new lunar
crescent was seen.
The 2nd, 5th, 13th years of each 19 year cycle
are the earliest dates possible.
If the moment of the actual lunar conjunction
is known to good accuracy (better than ±1
minute is easy to calculate), then testimony
claiming a sighting less than 18 hours later is
highly doubtful.
There are 17 times these earliest dates occur
in this period of 100 years.
Note this paper on the effects of Hillel
showing its error.
1928------Year 1 of the next 50 years to 1977
1978------Year 1 of the next 50 years to 2027
These dates separate the Hillel Calendar from
the Temple Calendar by ONE MONTH.
For logical consistency, we numbered from
the Jubilee in 1927 which was the 50th year.
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Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
There are 37 Adar2 or We Adar, when the
13th moon is added to intercalate.
Of these 37 years, 17 are of the earliest dates
possible.
The First New Moon of the year on 1 Abib is
never earlier than 7 March and was at that
time in 1970, 1989. In 2008 it was 8 March
and in 2027 it will be 8 March. In 1997 it was
9 March.
The Seventh Moon, 1 Tishri is never earlier
than 31 August, but it can be that early and
was in 1970, 1989, 2008, and will be in 2027.
The New Moon of the New Year at 1Abib is
never later than 5 April.
The New Moon of the Seventh month is
never later than 29 September.
It is never in October.
The calendars from WCG since around 1968
show:
March 12 and September 5 were the earliest
dates that WCG observed the 1st of Abib and
Tishri.
The New Moon of March 12, 1975, WCG
observed on the postponed 13 March.
The New Moon of September 5, 1975 the
Seventh month, WCG observed on 6
September 1975.
Any date before 12 March or 5 September,
WCG observed one month later.
How do we know historically that the
calendar that is kept today originates in
Babylon, which was pagan?
Some basic research in the Judaic or other
encyclopaedias will show that two
Babylonian Rabbis in 344 CE brought the
basis of the calendar to the Chief Rabbi and
in 358 CE Rabbi Hillel II issued the Hillel
Calendar. It was wrong when it was issued
and they have played with it up until
Maimonides in the Twelfth century.
When you study the matter of the
intercalations of the Hillel Calendar you will
find that the Babylonian system is the one
that is used. That fixed intercalary system was
made in the Sixth century BCE and that is a
well known fact of history. According to the
Babylonian Calendar this is the year 5776
which is the date that the Hillel system says it
is. The Bible chronology shows that it is the
Year 5988 from the closure of Eden thirty
years after the creation of Adam in 4004
BCE.
This year the Seventh month is out by a day.
That means Atonement is kept on the wrong
day and the punishment is to be cut off from
Israel. Some very few years and a Passover by
a fluke are on the correct days (e.g. 2013/14).
That will not occur again for some time.
The intercalary calendar of the Babylonians
does not accord with the Bible history and
dating and that is why the Modern Jewish
years are a couple of hundred years short of
4004 BCE which is the Bible date of the
Creation of Adam (see the paper Outline
Timetable of the Age (No. 272)).
For that reason the Babylonian Calendar
intercalates in the wrong years and the Hillel
Calendar is not only pagan, it also holds the
feasts in the wrong month almost 40% of the
time. The postponements add to the problem
and that means that the Hillel Calendar is
wrong almost all of the time and is correct
only very infrequently.
The Hillel Calendar is pagan and those
following it have been keeping the wrong
calendar all of the time in WCG and the
offshoots including LCG, PCG, UCG, COG
awa, CGG, CBCG, Continuing COG, RCG
and on it goes almost ad infinitum. CCG is
the only COG that keeps the Ancient Temple
Calendar correctly and keeps the new moons
as it was done in the Temple System and the
earlier Churches of God.
Rosh HaShanah
Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
Rosh Hashanah was the Babylonian New
Year festival that began in the Seventh
month. It did not enter Judaism until the end
of the Third century CE just prior to the
adoption of the Hillel Calendar. That is why
the Hillel Calendar counts backwards from
the Molad of Tishri contrary to the Law of
God.
Rabbi Kohn states the time of the adoption of
Rosh HaShanah in the 1894 work Die
Sabbatharier in Siebenburgen (Sabbatarians
in Transylvania CCG Publishing, 1998). The
book was translated into English and
published by CCG Publishing in 1998 in
English.
Some of the Jewish apologists for Hillel try to
claim that the council of Nicea abolished the
Jewish Calendar which was a complete
fabrication aimed at supporting Hillel in the
Twentieth Century Churches. The Council of
Nicea was concerned with regularising the
dates of Easter from its own internal conflicts
(as opposed to the Quarto Deciman Passover)
and they resolved to place the authority with
Alexandria. One such fabricated article
actually claims that Nicea tried to “outlaw
heavens calendar.” As the canons of 325 were
all destroyed in 327 we have no real idea of
what they resolved. The resolutions regarding
Easter were all based on the worship of the
god Attis whose festival went from the Friday
when he was allegedly killed to the Sunday
when he was allegedly resurrected from
Hades by the goddess Cybele. Easter is a
pagan festival name for the Goddess Easter or
Ishtar and has nothing to do with Christ (see
the paper Origin of Christmas and Easter
(No. 235)). The effigy of Attis was paraded
around Rome on a pagan sun cross. All they
did was to resolve the problems in the
calculation of Easter and not the Passover.
The month was however the same month of
the spring festivals.
As we said above Exodus 12:2 states that
Abib/Nisan shall be the beginning of Months
to you. It shall be the first month of the year.
Rosh HaShanah means exactly that and it
Page 7
comes from the Babylonian system and is a
pagan festival that did not commence until
the end of the Third century in Judaism as we
see above.
The Church of God split with Rome in the
end of the Second century over the
Quartodeciman Disputes. These are listed in
the paper The Quartodeciman Disputes (No.
277). The British Church was Quartodeciman
until 664 after the Synod of Whitby at Hilda's
Abbey.
The absurd claim that the calendar was based
on the observation of two witnesses has
nothing to do with the Temple Calendar.
We are also told that disputes arose with
Samaritans who began lighting false beacons
in conflict with Judaism after the fall of the
Temple. The facts of the matter are that the
Pharisees began introducing postponement
and lighting the signal beacons around their
postponements and false witnesses. The
Samaritans had been perfectly happy over the
entire Temple period because they and the
Sadducees kept the calendar according to the
conjunctions. The Pharisees and their
creatures the rabbis forced the Samaritans to
light beacons on the actual New Moons
according to the conjunctions.
We know exactly how the Temple Calendar
was calculated and it was based on the
conjunctions of each New Moon which
occurred on the day of the New Moon and
they were determined in the Astronomical
Schools. Philo’s historical notations on these
aspects and the festivals are listed in the
Special laws and recorded in the paper God’s
Calendar (No. 156). God condemned Judah
and Edom and booted the Pharisees out of
Judea and Palestine by 70 CE because of their
disobedience. We have also seen these
creatures of WCG claim that the Hillel
Calendar was in operation at the time of
Christ and we have even seen one creature
claim that there was no Temple Calendar.
May the Lord God of Heaven rebuke them.
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Hillel, Babylonian Intercalations and the Temple Calendar
Look also at the papers Distortion of God's
Calendar in Judah (No. 195b) and The
Calendar and the Moon: Postponements or
Festivals (No. 195).
The truth is simple. Read the Bible. Keep
Hillel and the Babylonian intercalations and
you go to the Second Resurrection. The
choice is yours. Do not blame anyone else.
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