In Search of the
True Sabbath
21 Concise Answers to
Lunar Sabbatarian Teachings
by W. Glenn Moore
This article can be downloaded in PDF format at no cost from our website at:
http://www.ponderscripture.org/lunarsabb.html
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“Glenn Moore” <glenn_moore44@yahoo.com>
Glenn Moore
PO Box 77889
Fort Worth, Texas 76177
In Search of the True Sabbath
21 Concise Answers to Lunar Sabbatarian Teachings
by W. Glenn Moore
There is a new doctrine going around which states that the seventh-day Sabbath
commonly recognized by normative Judaism and some Christian groups is pagan, and
that even the continuously-repeating weekly cycle is of pagan origin. The true, seventhday Sabbath (they claim) is based upon the lunar cycle. They are known as “lunar
sabbaths,” and those who observe them are called “lunar sabbatarians.” They believe
the weekly Sabbath is determined by the new moon. The day of the new moon, which
lunar sabbatarians do not consider to be a day of the week, is a day of “no regular
work.” The first day of the week for lunar sabbatarians, then, is the second day of the
month. The first sabbath of the month always falls on the eighth day of the month. If
we do the math, we find that each month consists of sabbaths that fall on the 8 th, 15th,
22nd, and 29th days of the month.
What makes this calendar all the more unusual is the fact that, from the perspective of
those who recognize a continuously repeating weekly cycle, lunar sabbatarians observe
the weekly sabbath on different days of the week each month. If you aren’t sufficiently
confused by this point, then I will point out that there are different sects of lunar
sabbatarians, some of whom believe the weekly sabbath should fall on the 7th, 14th, 21st
and 28th days of the month. I will provide a sample calendar later in this study in order
to better acquaint you with what a lunar sabbatarian calendar looks like.
When I first heard of this doctrine, I could not believe that anyone would be so gullible
as to fall for such an obvious fallacy. And yet, it appears that this doctrine is beginning
to gain some ground and more websites and more people are popping up in defense of
this doctrine. The truth of the seriousness of this issue hit home when a man whom I
had brought to the faith began to accept this doctrine and eventually accused me of
being “blind” and “grieving the Ruach (spirit)” because I would not accept this
interpretation of Scripture. Even though I presented substantial evidence to show that
lunar sabbaths cannot be Scriptural, he did not accept my answers, in spite of not
offering reasonable responses to the objections which I raised. I realized then that this
issue could no longer be ignored, which explains the reason why I am writing this
article.
iii.
I realize many people have written extensive articles refuting this doctrine. However,
lunar sabbatarians tend to jump from one subject to another so quickly that it is difficult
to get a word in. We need to have at our disposal a “Lunar Sabbath Emergency Kit” in
order to quickly go down the list and answer their claims. Our answers must be brief
and to the point if we truly wish to defend our faith. Therefore, while I would like to
persuade lunar sabbatarians that their beliefs are in error—I feel it is best if I direct my
research to those who have not yet heard of and/or know very little about this doctrine.
This presentation therefore could become a useful tool to give short direct answers to
the lunar sabbath doctrines. It does not cover all the issues, only what I believe to be
“core” issues—issues which can easily and directly be addressed.
These answers are divided into four groupings: Issues Arising from the TaNaK, Issues
Arising from the Messianic Writings, Issues Arising from Commentaries, and Issues
Arising from Ancient History and Science. Each numbered point has Bold/Italic, Bold,
and regular text. The Bold/Italic text is the brief statement refuting that particular point
regarding lunar sabbaths. The rest of the Bold text is a more complete explanation.
The regular text that follows is an even more detailed explanation, including possibly
illustrations and full Scripture quotes.
ii.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS LUNAR SABBATARIANISM? ......................................... 1
ISSUES ARISING FROM THE TANAK .......................................................................... 7
1. THE MOON NEWLY CREATED ON THE FOURTH DAY DISRUPTS LUNAR SABBATH. ............ 7
2. THE MOON RULES THE “NIGHT” NOT THE “DAY”—W E ARE NOT CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT.
..................................................................................................................................... 7
3. THE LUNAR CYCLE IS NOT THE ONLY CYCLE OF TIME THAT IS CALLED A “MOED” OR
“APPOINTED TIME.” ......................................................................................................... 9
4. THE EXODUS W OULD HAVE BEEN ON A LUNAR SABBATH. ........................................ 14
5. THE COUNT TO PENTECOST DISRUPTS LUNAR SABBATH DOCTRINE. ......................... 15
6. THE FALLING OF MANNA IN THE W ILDERNESS INDICATES CONSECUTIVE SEVEN DAY
CYCLES FOR 40 YEARS. ............................................................................................... 18
7. THE SABBATICAL/JUBILEE CYCLES PROVE THAT THE W EEKLY CYCLE IS A CONTINUOUS
REPEATING CYCLE. ...................................................................................................... 20
ISSUES ARISING FROM THE MESSIANIC WRITINGS .............................................. 22
8. THE DAY MESSIAH HEALED BLIND MAN W AS PROBABLY NOT A LUNAR SABBATH. ..... 22
9. DID THE MESSIAH TRAVEL ON A LUNAR SABBATH? .................................................. 23
10.
THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF YAHUSHUA DOES NOT LINE UP W ITH LUNAR
SABBATHS. .................................................................................................................. 24
ISSUES ARISING FROM REFERENCE WORKS AND COMMENTARIES ................. 27
11.
DOES THE UNIVERSAL JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA GIVE US A CREDIBLE WITNESS
CONCERNING THE ORIGINS OF THE SABBATH? ................................................................ 27
12.
DOES THE BABYLONIAN (AND POSSIBLY ASSYRIAN) CUSTOM OF KEEPING SOMETHING
LIKE LUNAR SABBATHS COME FROM THE HEBREWS? ...................................................... 28
ISSUES ARISING FROM HISTORY AND SCIENCE ................................................... 32
13.
THE GREAT ENDURANCE AND UNIVERSALITY OF THE W EEKLY CYCLE. ................... 33
14.
CYCLES OF SEVEN IN MUSIC, SOUND AND LIGHT. ................................................ 35
15.
SCIENCE CONFIRMS THAT CYCLES OF SEVEN EXIST IN NATURE, AS A NATURAL
RHYTHM WITHIN MAN AND BEAST. ................................................................................. 38
16.
THE W ORD “SABBATH” HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN MANY LANGUAGES AND ALWAYS TO
DESIGNATE THE 7TH DAY SABBATH (SATURDAY). ............................................................ 41
17.
FOUR MAJOR W ITNESSES INDICATE THAT 200 YEARS BEFORE THE MESSIAH THE
WEEKLY CYCLE W AS W IDELY UNDERSTOOD THROUGHOUT JUDEA TO BE OF A CONTINUOUS
NATURE, NOT BASED UPON THE CYCLES OF THE MOON. ................................................ 43
19.
IF WE ASSUME THAT THE JEWS WERE KEEPING LUNAR SABBATHS AT THE TIME OF
MESSIAH, THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO ASK IS "WHEN DID IT CHANGE?" AND, "HOW DID IT
CHANGE?" ................................................................................................................... 52
20.
JEWISH HISTORIAN JOSEPHUS TESTIFIES OF CONTINUOUS W EEKLY CYCLE. .......... 54
21.
JEWISH HISTORIAN PHILO TESTIFIES OF CONTINUOUS W EEKLY CYCLE. ................. 54
CONCLUSION: LUNAR SABBATHS ARE A DECEPTION........................................ 55
i
Introduction: What Is Lunar Sabbatarianism?
The lunar sabbath doctrine reasons that the weekly Sabbath is not based upon a
continuously repeating cycle of seven day weeks starting from the time of creation.
Instead, lunar sabbatarians believe that the seven-day cycle is to begin on the day
following every New Moon and is “reset” every month. The result is that they teach that
the sabbath day changes every month when the monthly cycle is “reset” at the sighting
of the New Moon (or calculated conjunction, depending on which teaching they follow).
Here is the Scripture that lunar sabbatarians will often start with to anchor their belief in
lunar sabbaths:
“And Elohim 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. And
Elohim made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the
lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And Elohim set them
in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule
over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness:
and Elohim saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were
the fourth day.” (Genesis 1:14-19)
A typical explanation of this text from a lunar sabbatarian point of view indicates that the
phrase “let them be for lights. . . “ is the keynote proof establishing lunar sabbaths.
Notice what they say about this in this article The New Moon and the Weekly Sabbath—
Side-By-Side!, by John D. Keyser:
“Let's, now, read Genesis 1:14 for ourselves—
“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.’
“In verse 16 we read:
“’Then God made two great lights: the greater light [sun] to rule the day,
and the lesser light [moon] to rule the night. He made the stars also.’
“Now, we should be able to recognize that whatever these ‘lights’ are,
they are NATURAL PHENOMENA which dictate the rules of order for
calculating time. And, notice, it is not a singular source of light YEHOVAH
God made (i.e., the sun) but all collectively – ‘let THEM [the sun and the
moon] be for signs...’
1
“It should be quite apparent that nothing in our present seven-day cycle or
week can be tied to anything in the natural phenomena that YEHOVAH
God outlines in the above verses -- the sun, moon or stars. Moreover, our
‘week’ doesn't even flow with the current Gregorian calendar. January 1st
(the beginning of our ‘year’) falls on a different ‘week day’ everytime it
comes around. The beginning and end of our seven-day cycle are simply
not ANCHORED in nature, and this in itself proves that YEHOVAH's true
Sabbath day is neither Saturday nor Sunday (except occasionally when
the Sabbath happens to fall on these days) -- in light of the fact that:
“1/. The reckoning of time is only by the ‘lights in the heavens’ and
“2/. the Fourth Commandment clearly specifies that YEHOVAH God had
a particular day in mind when He said ‘remember to keep the sabbath
holy.’”1
What are the basic assumptions of this author, assumptions which have not yet even
been established? 1) “The reckoning of time is only by the ‘lights in the heavens’. 2)
That in order to calculate the weekly cycle, it requires the use of both of the great
lights—the sun and the moon.
Please take note that lunar sabbatarians will place emphasis upon the fact that this text
says “and let them be for. . . .” Does this prove that we must use the moon and the sun
both to establish any of the great cycles of Yahweh’s calendar? Of course not! The
sun does not need the moon to determine the days. The moon does not need the sun
to determine the months. And as for the stars . . . other than to establish the general
seasons of the year (and help ocean voyagers determine their course), they neither
determine the days, the months, or the years!! If you are going to say that “let them”
refers to the heavenly bodies and how they must be involved in the establishment of
any cycle of time, then how do the stars fit into such an equation? They do not!
The first assumption of lunar sabbatarians is that in order to calculate the weekly cycle,
it requires the use of both of the great lights—the sun and the moon. And yet, they
leave the stars out of this equation. This is one of their chief arguments, and it is based
upon their faulty interpretation of Genesis 1:14. They believe that it commands both the
sun and the moon be used to establish the weekly cycle, since the weekly cycle cannot
be seen in the natural order of things. However, while it is true that the weekly cycle
does not appear to be seen in nature,2 the account in Genesis 2 plainly reveals that the
weekly cycle was not based upon the heavenly lights, but based upon the 7 days of
Creation week:
1John
D. Keyser, The New Moon and the Weekly Sabbath—Side-By-Side! http://www.hope-ofisrael.org/sideside.htm
2We will be presenting evidence soon that shows that cycles of seven are actually common in nature,
continuous cycles of seven musical notes, seven colors in the rainbow, and cycles of seven day biological
rhythms as described in the relatively new science of chronobiology.
2
“And on the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and
he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And
Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he
had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.” (Genesis
2:2-3)
In looking at this text and the text of Genesis 1:14, lunar sabbatarians seem to overlook
the fact that 1) The stars are not included (by them) in the list of great lights used to
establish cycles of time, 2) The “week” is not mentioned in this text, as it only speaks of
“days” and “years.” 3) In point of fact, not all of the great cycles of time are based
primarily upon the lights in the heavens (examples: the seven day week, the seven
weeks to Pentecost, the seven year sabbaticals, and the seven weeks of years leading
to the year of Jubilee). What they seem to overlook is that Yahweh intended to
establish the weekly cycle based upon things which are “not seen” so as to determine
who (by faith) would give honor to Him as the Creator of the universe. If it were not so,
He could have simply included the word “weeks” in the list of things to be determined by
the greater and lesser lights of Genesis 1:14. Yet He did not—not there and not
anywhere else.
Another of their arguments is that there is no difference between the weekly Sabbath
and the 7 annual feast day Sabbaths. Only a cursory examination of the evidence will
show that this is simply not true. For example, the word used for the weekly Sabbath (in
Hebrew) is “Shabbat” and it has a slightly different meaning from the word used to
describe the feast day Sabbaths and that word is “shabbatone.” Shabbatone (in the
Hebrew) indicates a day in which no “servile work” shall be performed, whereas on the
Shabbat “no work” shall be done of any kind. It is a very subtle yet significant difference
showing that the seven annual sabbaths and the weekly sabbath are not the same.
Another assumption (related to the first one listed here) is that since the weekly Sabbath
is mentioned right along with the other feast days in Leviticus 23, the weekly Sabbath
must also be based upon the moon just as the feast days are. However, while the
Sabbath is mentioned at the start of this chapter it is only referred to as a “moed” (or
“appointed time”) in the Masoretic texts. The Septuagint refers to the sabbath as a “holy
day” (or heortai) in this passage, not as a “moed.” By this example (and by others) it
shows that the seventh day Sabbath is a special “holy day” distinct from the other
“appointed times.”
The Hebrew word for “appointed times” has a much more broad range of meaning than
some would like to give it, therefore not all of the “appointed times” are determined by
the moon. The Hebrew word “moed” can not only mean “appointed feast” but also
“meeting place,” “a fixed time,” “until now,” “appointed days,” “appointed season,” and
“assembly.” Yahweh did establish the moon to determine the “appointed feast” type of
“appointed times” (or “moedim”) according to Genesis 1:14, but not all “appointed
feasts.”3 He gave us the sun to rule over (and therefore establish) the day. The sun is
also used to determine cycles of time (the day and the year) just as the moon is used to
3This
will be explained in more detail later.
3
determine the months. To say that only the moon can be used to determine the weeks
is just pure fantasy.
Another assumption is that since the Sabbath in Exodus 16 also happens to line up with
the 15th day of a particular month, therefore it is the Sabbath because of lunar cycles.
However, the lunar cycles will (on occasion) begin on a day such that the weekly
Sabbath and the lunar cycles will be in alignment. This is not evidence of a lunar
sabbath—just because Exodus 16 appears to give us one Sabbath day which may line
up with an alleged lunar sabbath.
The Sabbath is a memorial of Creation. To say that it must change every month
according to the cycles of the moon is to change that memorial of the Creation of the
Earth into a memorial to the moon and its creation. In what way did the moon play a
part in the great cycle of time mentioned in Genesis 1-2? It played no part at all, since it
was not created until the fourth day. Also, the moon is the “lesser light” not the “greater
light” (which is the sun). And so the Sabbath commandment is quite simple and does
not require extensive algebra to figure it out:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour,
and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of Yahweh
thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days Yahweh made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
wherefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus
20:8-11)
The pattern mentioned here is work six days, rest one day. Keeping lunar sabbaths
does not and cannot fulfill the requirements of this commandment. When the end of
the month comes a lunar sabbatarian must rest for more than one day—in contradiction
to Scripture. Then when the next lunar cycle comes, he is no longer using the same
cycle. The cycle is broken. In addition, this command does not even suggest that the
cycle of six days work and one day rest would be interrupted by a new moon.
Now here is a typical question one might receive from someone who is seeking to
become (or has already become) a lunar sabbatarian: “Can you prove historically that
our seven day week goes all the way back to creation?” Of course, the answer is no.
But a more important question for us is, “Can you show from Scripture that there is a
continuous unending seven-day cycle from the time of Creation?” We believe we can,
and here is why:
Genesis 1 and 2 plainly tell us that Yahweh created the heavens and the earth in six
days and rested on the seventh. Therefore, the seven-day week that we have today is
based upon and is a continuation of that first week of creation. However, since this may
not be enough to convince a lunar sabbatarian—we will introduce other evidence that is
even more compelling.
4
The first evidence we will mention is the fact that in Leviticus 23:15-16 it plainly
commands the Israelites to count 7 Sabbaths until the “morrow after the seventh
Sabbath”, for a total count of 50 days. Now in case your math is a little rusty, please
consider that 7 X 7 = 49, and that 49 + 1 (the “morrow after the seventh sabbath”) = 50.
Here is a clear example of weeks which extend beyond a lunar cycle (which could only
contain 4 weeks). Now if the weekly Sabbath were to be controlled by the moon, then it
would be difficult (if not impossible) to explain how you could fit seven lunar sabbaths
within a period of only 50 days. It would require 52 days to obtain seven sabbaths, not
50 (according to weekly sabbath counting only). And if you count the “intermission”
days as some groups do (dark moon and new moon) as sabbaths, then you will reach
the seventh sabbath too early—after only 37 days. In order to have 50 days in the
count, the 7 weeks which expired during this time would have to be consecutive
weeks.
Another useful piece of evidence is that found in the Sabbatical/Jubilee year cycles. In
Leviticus 25:1-11 it plainly states that Israel was to work the land for six years and allow
it to rest on the seventh year (a sabbatical year). This is so obviously based upon the
Creation week that it hardly needs to be mentioned. Yahweh also requires us to work
six days and rest on the seventh day. Is there a connection? Yes. This is significant
enough, but there is more. They were also to count seven weeks of years (7 X 7 = 49)
and in the 50th year they were to declare a year of Jubilee. Weeks of years actually
have nothing to do with the moon, and again the fact that there are seven weeks of
consecutive years proves without doubt that “weeks” are intended to be understood as
continuous cycles of time. And again, this is just another significant piece of evidence
which supports the concept of the weekly cycle being continuous as opposed to
supposedly being broken up (by the phases of the moon).
A third piece of evidence which we feel is very important in showing that a “week” is
intended to mean a continuous seven day cycle is the actual meaning and usage of
such words as “week” and “sabbath” as they are used in the Scriptures. The Hebrew
word for “Sabbath” (shab-bawth') appears to be closely related to the Hebrew word for
“week”, and in the Greek shabbaton is translated as both “week” and “sabbath.” The
Hebrew word for week is shaw-boo'-ah and it literally means something that is
“sevened”. The word can mean both “seven” and “week” and can even be used to mean
“weeks of years.” In the two examples given above, we have a week (shaw-boo'-ah)
and the plural form of that word (shaw-boo-oth). So let us consider the fact that a “week”
is a period of something (like a day) which has been “sevened” (or multiplied by seven).
A week is therefore a period of seven days. The plural form of that word (shaw-boo-oth)
means “weeks” and indicates more than one week, or consecutive multiple periods of
seven days.
Now let us stop and think about this: If Yahweh had intended for us to keep lunar
sabbaths, then there could not be more than four continuous weeks at any given time
(before the weekly cycle is reset by the new moon). And yet we have two clear
5
examples from Scripture: the count to Pentecost (which happens to be called the
”feast of weeks (shaw-boo-oth), and the count to the year of Jubilee, where the “weeks”
(shaw-boo-oth) extend beyond just four weeks to include seven weeks and the next day
(or year) after the seventh week is to equal 50 days (or years), a double confirmation of
the continuous weekly cycle.
For most of us, the answers given here so far are quite sufficient to demonstrate that
lunar sabbaths are not taught in Scripture. But for those who wish to hold onto their
“lunar sabbatarian” beliefs, such evidence (while often known of) is usually ignored.
They cannot answer these most basic points, yet they will often merely change the
subject so as to avoid the need to admit they were wrong. It is therefore hoped that this
listing of 21 Concise Answers to Lunar Sabbatarian Teachings will prove to be a
valuable arsenal in the war over truth verses error.
6
Issues Arising from the TaNaK
1. The Moon Newly Created on the Fourth Day Disrupts Lunar Sabbath.
In the Creation account of Genesis 1-2, the sun, moon and stars are mentioned as
being created on the fourth day. Most likely, the moon would have been created
in the “new moon” phase of its orbital path. Of course, even our suggestion that
the moon was created in the “new moon” phase is conjecture since we have no
idea which “phase” the moon was created in. Scripture simply does not tell us.
Nevertheless, it tells us enough that we can be certain that this creation account
cannot be used to establish lunar sabbaths. If this is valid, and the moon was
created on the fourth day (and in the “new moon” phase), then the 7 th day of the
new month would have been the 10th day of creation not the 7th day of creation!
Conclusion: The seven days of creation were in no way connected with the
phases of the moon.
There are those who will claim that the sun, moon and stars were created on the first
day since Scripture says there was “evening and morning”. They will point out that
there had to be a light source to distinguish day from night and the sun was most likely
that source. Therefore (according to them) on the 4th day all of these heavenly bodies
came out from behind “clouds of vapor” which had previously been “blocked” from view.
However, the text is clear that these were created (not just revealed) on the 4th day,
and whatever the light source that created the appearance of “evening and morning” it
could not have been the sun—at least not in it’s final form (as created on the 4th day).
Reference:
“And Elohim 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. And Elohim made two
great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the
night: he made the stars also. And Elohim set them in the firmament of
the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over
the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and Elohim saw that it
was good.” (Genesis 1:14-18)
2. The Moon Rules the “Night” Not the “Day”—We Are Not Children of the Night.
It is interesting that a closer look at Genesis 1:16 shows that the “greater light”
(i.e., the “sun”) rules the day while the “lesser light” (i.e., the “moon”) rules the
night. The cycle of the sun determines days (7 of which make up a week) and the
years (based on the equinox). The moon is used to determine the months and
therefore the timing of the feasts. The point is that lunar sabbatarians reverse the
order of importance to the heavenly bodies—it is the sun that rules the day, not
the moon. The week is composed of 7 days, therefore it is based on the sun NOT
7
on the moon. In metaphoric language, the righteous are not “children of the
night” but of the day. Therefore, they will not use the “moon” as the foundation
of their faith, nor to establish lunar sabbaths.
Here is how that verse should be translated based on the actual Hebrew text: “And
Elohim made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule
the night and the stars.” (Genesis 1:16) The phrase “he made” in the KJV is in italics,
showing that it is supplied. This text is actually telling us that the sun “rules the day”
and the moon “rules the night and the stars.” Please notice how it is translated (quoted
verbatim) from several different Bible versions:
“And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the
smaller light to rule the night, and the stars also.” (Modern King James
Version)
“And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a
lesser light to rule the night: and The stars.” (Douay Rheims Bible)
And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and
the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.
(English Standard
Version)
Now what is the significance of this? Lunar sabbatarians have reversed the order of
importance to the heavenly bodies—the sun has authority over the day, not the moon,
as lunar sabbatarians teach. Sometimes the moon can be seen together with the sun,
but even then the sun dominates the sky. The moon has its rule over the night, not the
day. And it does not (therefore) affect the 7 days of creation.
All through the
Messianic Writings it speaks of how we should avoid the “works of darkness” and follow
the “light of truth.” While it is right to use the moon to determine the timing of the
months and the 7 annual festival sabbaths (based on Leviticus 23 in connection with
Genesis 1:14-18), to say that the moon should be the foundation of our faith and
should be used to determine all of the feasts and strictly determined by the moon is the
same as saying the moon is more dominant than the sun, even on a bright sunny day!
(Lunar sabbatarians would include in this the 7 th day Sabbath, which we believe is
greater than a feast). Such a statement as this is so obviously flawed that it only
requires the most basic understanding of logic to see through it. Lunar sabbatarians are
following the moon even in the most brilliant light of day, and are therefore truly
following the “works of darkness.” They are following the “lesser light” and ignoring the
“greater light”. We are “children of light” not “children of darkness”! Let us cast off the
“works of darkness” as revealed by those who follow “lunar sabbaths.”
References:
“And Elohim made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night and the stars.” (Genesis 1:16)
8
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk
honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering
and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” (Romans 13:12-13)
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of Elohim upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now
are ye light in Yahweh: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit
is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is
acceptable unto Yahweh. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of
those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are
reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make
manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise
from the dead, and Messiah shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:6-14)
3. The lunar cycle is not the only cycle of time that is called a “moed” or
“appointed time.”
One of the most significant foundations for the lunar sabbath doctrine is the use
of the word “Moed.” In Leviticus 23 the Sabbath is called a “moed,” and because
it is linked to Genesis 1:14 it suggests that the heavenly lights are directly
involved in determining the great cycles of time. Psalm 104:19 seems to “nail it
down” by stating that the “moon” is used to determine “appointed times” (a
“moed”). However, the problem is that the word “moed” is used in many different
ways to describe many different “cycles” of time. In Jeremiah 8:7 it plainly says
that the “stork knoweth her appointed times.” Since the stork is known to return
to its location at the same “season” every year, therefore the lunar cycle has
nothing to do with this particular “appointed time.” So, not all “appointed times”
are determined by the moon.
It is often argued that the new moon is regularly mentioned in connection with the
weekly Sabbath and therefore the weekly sabbath must be based upon the new moon.
However, this is an assumption which has no basis in Scripture. The fact that they are
often mentioned together is no more proof of lunar sabbaths than the idea that “meat
and potatoes” often mentioned together proves that “meat” comes from “potatoes”! It is
just another example of faulty logic and fallacious reasoning.
Now in Leviticus 23:1-3 the Sabbath is first mentioned among the feasts of Yahweh.
The word for “feast days” is this same word mentioned earlier—“mowadah”. It is often
translated “appointed times.” So the lunar sabbatarian will use this inference to say
(based upon this and Psalm 104:19) that the moon is used to determine the feast days,
including the seventh-day Sabbath. However, there is a major flaw in the logic and we
will examine this more closely here.
9
The three texts which are tied together to support lunar sabbaths are as follows:
“And Elohim 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
[moedim], 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. And
Elohim made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the
lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And Elohim set them
in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule
over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness:
and Elohim saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:14-18)
“And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of
Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts [moedim] of Yahweh,
which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my
feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of
rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of
Yahweh in all your dwellings. These are the feasts [moedim] of Yahweh,
even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the
fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahweh’s passover. And on
the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto
Yahweh: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye
shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye
shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh seven days: in the
seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
(Leviticus 23:1-8)
“He appointed the moon for seasons [mowadah]: the sun knoweth his
going down.” (Psalms 104:19)
By taking verse 19 of Psalms 104 literally, it is understandable why people might be
inclined to believe that the moon determines the Sabbath, since the Sabbath (in
Leviticus 23) is also called a “moed.” However, while we agree that the moon is used to
determine some cycles of time (such as the feast days)—it is obviously not used to
determine all cycles of time.
Has the moon been appointed for “appointed times” [moedim]? Of course. Does that
mean only the moon can be used for this. No. If such were the case, the text in Psalm
104:19 would have said that “He appointed the moon for ALL seasons.” However, he
did not say that. The sun also plays a role in the establishment of the appointed times
and cycles, as the rest of that same verse clearly shows.
As we examine the word “moedim” throughout Scripture we find that it is a word which
has a much more broad range of meaning so that it is not limited to a set time
established strictly by the moon. It has also been translated “seasons,” and therefore
10
could be used to refer to yearly cycles of time as well as monthly. Here is one example
of that. In Jeremiah 8:7 it says:
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times [mowadah];
and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their
coming; but My people know not the judgment of Yahweh!”
The stork does not observe monthly migrations, but yearly migrations—just like most all
other birds do. So what does this “appointed time” have to do with the moon? Nothing!
Yes, the feast days of Leviticus 23 are based upon the moedim, but not all moedim are
based upon the moon. The other “appointed times” listed in Leviticus 23 are not a
memorial of creation (like the seventh-day sabbath) and are therefore not in the same
category. There are those who will try to limit this term “moed” to separate it from other
“appointed times” which are obviously not connected with the moon. They will use the
term “worship MOEDIM” to distinguish it (based upon the moon) from other “Moedim.”
However, the addition of the word “worship” is not found in Scripture. Nowhere in
Scripture does it speak of “worship MOEDIM”—it is simply a feeble attempt to explain
away the clear evidence of different usages of “Moedim.”
Does the fact that the Sabbath is also called a moed prove that the weekly Sabbath is
determined by the moon? No, because we have already learned that there are other
ways in which a “moed” can be established in addition to the lunar cycle. The weekly
Sabbath is not just a “moed”—it is a special kind of moed called a “holy day” (or heortai)
in the Septuagint. It is superior to the other “appointed times” as it is a memorial of
creation. We find confirmation of this when we examine the Septuagint translation of
Leviticus 23. If all moedim were determined by the moon, then why didn’t the Hebrew
scholars who translated the Torah into the Greek Septuagint render the Hebrew word
“moedim” with the Greek equivalent of “kairos?”

mo-ade', mo-ade', mo-aw-daw'
From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season;
specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as
convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the
place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): - appointed (sign,
time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed,
due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).
Notice the broad range of uses for this one word moed:
Appointed: Job 30:23.
Meeting Place: Psalm 74:8.
A fixed Time: Genesis 17:21, Genesis 18:14, 21:2, Exodus 9:5, Deuteronomy 31:10,
Joshua 8:14, Judges 20:38, 1 Samuel 13:8, 1 Samuel 30:35, 2 Samuel 20:5.
11
Appointed Time: 2 Samuel 24:15, Psalm 102:13, 104:14, Jeremiah 46:17, Daniel 8:19,
11:27, 11:29, 11:35, Habakkuk 2:3.
Until Now: 1 Samuel 9:24.
Appointed Days: 1 Samuel 13:11, Lamentations 2:22.
Appointed Season: Exodus 13:10, Numbers 9:2, 9:3, 9:7, 9:13, 28:2, Deuteronomy
16:16, 2 Kings 4:16, 4:17, Jeremiah 8:7, Hosea 2:9.
Appointed Time (of the Month): Exodus 23:15, 34:18.
Appointed Feasts: Leviticus 23:2, 23:4, 23:37, 23:44, Numbers 10:10, 15:3, 29:39, 1
Chronicles 23:31, 2 Chronicles 2:4, 8:13, 30:22, 31:3, Ezra 3:5, Nehemiah 10:33, Isaiah
1:14, Lamentations 1:14, Lamentations 2:6, 2:7, Ezekiel 36:38, Ezekiel 44:24, 45:17,
46:9, 46:11, Hosea 2:11, 9:5, 12:9, Zechariah 8:19.
Time, Times, and Half a Time: Daniel 12:7.
Assembly (or Congregation): Exodus 17:21, 28:43, 29:4, 29:10, 29:11, 29:30, 29:32,
29:42, 29:44, 30:16, 30:18, 30:20, 30:26, 30:36, 31:7, 33:7, 35:21, 38:8, 38:30, 39:32,
39:40, 40:2, 40:6, 40:7, 40:12, 40:22, 40:24, 40:26, 40:29, 40:30, 40:32, 40:34, 40:35.
Leviticus 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, 3:2, 3:8, 3:13, 4:4, 4:5, 4:7, 4:14, 4:16, 4:18, 6:16, 6:26, 6:30, 8:3,
8:4, 8:31, 8:33, 8:35, 9:5, 9:23, 10:7, 10:9, 12:6, 14:11, 14:23, 15:14, 15:29, 16:7, 16:16,
16:17, 16:20, 16:23, 16:33, 17:4, 17:5, 17:6, 17:9, 19:21, 24:3. Numbers 1:1, 1:2, 2:17,
3:7, 3:8, 3:25, 3:38, 4:3, 4:4, 4:15, 4:23, 4:25, 4:28, 4:30, 4:31, 4:33, 4:35, 4:37, 4:39,
4:41, 4:43, 4:47, 6:10, 6:13, 6:18, 7:5, 7:89, 8:9, 8:15, 8:19, 8:22, 8:24, 8:26, 10:3,
11:16, 12:4, 14:10, 16:2, 16:18, 16:19, 16:42, 16:43, 16:50, 17:4, 18:4, 18:6, 18:21,
18:22, 18:23, 18:31, 19:4, 20:6, 25:6, 27:2, 31:54, Deuteronomy 31:14, Joshua 18:1,
19:51, 1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Kings 8:4, 1 Chronicles 6:32, 9:21, 23:32. 2 Chronicles 1:3,
1:6, 1:13, 5:5, Psalm 74:4, 75:2, Isaiah 14:13, 33:20, Lamentations 1:15, 2:6,
Zephaniah 3:18.
Some of the texts listed here have been highlighted. The reason for doing this is to
show that they give us additional evidence in support of the idea that the seventh day
Sabbath is distinct from the other feast days. Surely if the seventh-day Sabbath were
exactly the same and held on the exact same day as many of the other feasts, then
such a distinction would be proof that they are based upon completely different methods
of computation.
“And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose
up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and
all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that
there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.” (Joshua 8:14)
12
Here we have the same word “moed” used to describe a certain time which they were to
meet the king of Ai in battle. Nowhere in this text does it even hint at the idea that such
an “appointment” was based upon the moon.
“Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the
liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of
the city.” (Judges 20:38)
Here we have the same word again, and this time it is referring to a “an appointed
sign”—it is not even speaking of a particular time. And even if it were speaking of an
“appointed time,” there is no connection between this and the moon.
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the
turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but
my people know not the judgment of Yahweh.” (Jeremiah 8:7)
We already addressed this text. The stork knows her “appointed times,” and most
assuredly they are not based upon the moon but upon the completion of a yearly cycle.
“And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden:
he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: Yahweh 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.” (Lamentations
2:6)
If the “seventh day Sabbath” and the “feast days” are really one and the same days,
then why does this text speak of them as if they are two distinctly different days? We
could ask the same question about the next text:
“I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons,
and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.” (Hosea 2:11)
Please take note of the fact that this is just one of many texts which lunar sabbatarians
like to use to supposedly prove that the sabbaths, feast days, and new moons are all
based upon the moon. However, it actually proves just the opposite. As we mentioned
in connection with the text from Lamentations 2:6, the fact that the “moedim” (feasts)
are mentioned in contrast to the “Shabbat” (sabbath) is obviously showing that the two
are different. The use of the word “and” between them also shows that they are all
distinct from each other. The “feast day” is not the same as the “new moon”. And the
“new moon” is not the same as the “sabbath.” They are all different, just like “meat and
potatoes” are different. To say that they are the exact same is simply a clear example
of faulty logic.
13
4. The Exodus Would Have Been on a Lunar Sabbath.
Israel left Egypt on the 15th day of the month, traveling a distance of 10-30 miles
that day (Numbers 33:3). Yahweh would not have timed these events so that they
would have to travel on a Sabbath (which would have been a sin) so therefore it
was not a Sabbath. And yet, for many lunar sabbatarians, the 15th day of the
month is a lunar sabbath to them. And for other lunar sabbatarians (who honor
the 14th day of the month) they would have also been breaking Sabbath by
collecting spoils from the Egyptians on that day (according to Exodus 11:1-4).
How could they have traveled on a Sabbath, which was forbidden by Yahweh's
law? Or how could they have collected spoils on the Sabbath, which was
forbidden by Yahweh's law?
When Israel left the land of Egypt, we are able (because of the exact timing of the
Passover) to determine which day of the month certain events took place. According to
Scripture, Yahweh allowed the 10 plagues to fall with deliberate timing such that Israel
would leave Egypt and travel from 10 to 30 miles (night and day) on the 15th day of
Abib (Numbers 33:3). And yet, according to many lunar sabbatarians, the 15th day of
the month is a lunar sabbath. If the 15th day were a lunar sabbath, what are these
Israelites doing breaking the "sabbath" by making a long journey on that day?
And for those lunar sabbatarians who believe the 14th day of the month would be a
lunar sabbath, they have a similar issue to overcome. On the 14th day the Israelites
were going about collecting their "back pay" (the "spoils of Egypt"), according to Exodus
11:1-4. If the 14th day were a lunar sabbath, what are these Israelites doing breaking
the "sabbath" by collecting spoils on that day? The only way to answer these questions
is to realize that Israel did not keep lunar sabbaths.
References:
“And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day
of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel
went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.” (Numbers
33:3)
“Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his
neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels
of gold. And Yahweh gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.
Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight
of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. And Moses said,
Thus saith Yahweh, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:”
(Exodus 11:2-4)
14
5. The Count to Pentecost Disrupts Lunar Sabbath Doctrine.
In Leviticus 23:9-16 Scripture plainly tells us (in verse 16) that the children of
Israel were to count 50 days from the “morrow after the sabbath.” Now was that
the “morrow” after the weekly seventh day Sabbath, or the “morrow” after the
“festival sabbath”? Well, it matters not which view you take on this particular
point, for the text plainly says that during that 50 day period there would be
“seven Sabbaths”. Since a lunar sabbath calendar would add extra days to the
cycle at the end of every month, it would require 52 actual days to take them to
Pentecost and only six Sabbaths (shown in blue) would take place during that 50
day period of time, not seven. If you count the “intermission” days (shown in
red) like a “sabbath” (dark moon and new moon) then you will reach Pentecost
too early, in only 37 days. If you do not count “intermission” days (shown in
green) you would reach Pentecost in 44 days. Therefore, whichever system lunar
sabbatarians use to count to Pentecost totally contradicts the plain teaching of
Scripture!
Illustration:
Month of Abib (Lunar Sabbath Cycles)
1
New Moon
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Lunar
Sabbath
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 1 1
Lun. Sabbath
Passover
Day
16
17
18
19
20
21
1st Day
Feast of
Unleavened
Bread
22 2 2 1
Lun. Sabbath
Feast
Day 1 of 50
day Count
23
Feast
Day 2 of 50
day Count
24
25
26
27
28
Last Day of
Feast
Day 7 of 50
day Count
29 3 3 2
Day 10 of 50
day Count
Day 11 of 50
day Count
Day 12 of 50
day Count
Day 13 of 50
day Count
Day 14 of 50
day Count
Feast
Day 3 of 50
day Count
Feast
Day 4 of 50
day Count
Feast
Day 5 of 50
day Count
Feast
Day 6 of 50
day Count
Lun. Sabbath
Day 8 of 50
day Count
30
Day 9 of 50
day Count
4
Day 15 of 50
day Count
15
Month of Zif (Lunar Sabbath Cycles)
1
New Moon
Day 16 of
50 day
Count
2
3
Day 17 of
50 day
Count
9
4
Day 18 of 50
day Count
10
Day 24 of
50 day
Count
16
Day 25 of 50
day Count
17
Day 31 of
50 day
Count
23
Day 32 of 50
day Count
24
5
Day 19 of
50 day
Count
11
Day 26 of
50 day
Count
18
Day 33 of
50 day
Count
25
6
Day 20 of
50 day
Count
12
7
Day 21 of
50 day
Count
13
Day 27 of
50 day
Count
19
Day 28 of
50 day
Count
20
Day 34 of
50 day
Count
26
Day 35 of
50 day
Count
27
8 5 4 3
Day 22 of
50 day
Count
14
Day 29 of
50 day
Count
21
Day 36 of
50 day
Count
28
Lunar
Sabbath
Day 23 of
50 day
Count
15 6 5
Lun. Sabbath
4
Day 30 of
50 day
Count
22 7 6
Lun. Sabbath
5
Day 37 of
50 day
Count
294
7 6
Lun. Sabbath
Day 38 of
50 day
Count
Day 39 of 50
day Count
Day 40 of
50 day
Count
Day 41 of
50 day
Count
Day 37 above would be the 7th Sabbath,
according to many lunar Sabbatarians.
4Some
Day 42 of
50 day
Count
Day 43 of
50 day
Count
Day 44 of
50 day
Count
Day 44 above would be the 7th
Sabbath according to some lunar
Sabbatarians.
months have 29 days and some have 30 days, therefore in our illustration we alternate between both.
16
Month of Sivan (Lunar Sabbath Cycles)
1
New Moon
Day 45 of 50
day Count
2
3
4
5
6
7
Day 46 of 50
day Count
Day 47 of50
day Count
Day 48 of50
day Count
Day 49 of 50
day Count
Day 50 of 50
day Count
Day 51 of 50
day Count
9
10
11
12
13
14
8
7
7th
Sabbath
Day 52 of 50
day Count
15
Lunar
Sabbath
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Lunar
Sabbath
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Lunar
Sabbath
30
Day 52 above would also be the 7th
Sabbath according to some lunar
Sabbatarians.
Here we have placed the lunar sabbath count to Pentecost on a calendar so as to see if
it will fit within the Scriptural requirements for fulfilling Pentecost. Scripture states the
count to Pentecost must be a 50 day count, it must include seven Sabbaths (which are
shown in red, green, and blue), and the 1st day must be the “morrow after the
Sabbath.“5 Based upon this simple calendar, lunar sabbaths cannot be valid since in
the count to Pentecost they require either 37, 44, or 52 days to reach the weekly
“seventh sabbath.”
Reference:
“And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of
Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give
unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of
the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf
before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath
Septuagint reading for Leviticus 23:15-16 is: “And ye shall number to yourselves from the day after the sabbath,
from the day on which ye shall offer the sheaf of the heave-offering, seven full weeks: until the morrow after the last
week ye shall number fifty days. . .” In the illustration above we used the example of the first day after the weekly
Sabbath to begin the count, but for those who start the count according to the Septuagint, that is, after the “High
Sabbath” or first day of unleavened bread (no matter which day it begins on) it also yields similar results.
5The
17
the priest shall wave it. . . . And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched
corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an
offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute forever throughout your
generations in all your dwellings. And ye shall count unto you from the
morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the
wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow
after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a
new meat offering unto Yahweh.” (Leviticus 23:9-11, 14-16)
6. The Falling of Manna in the Wilderness Indicates Consecutive Seven Day
Cycles for 40 Years.
The murmuring of the Israelites began soon after the 15 th day. Now some will
claim that the count of the six days begins on the following day, therefore
showing that the 22nd day was a lunar sabbath. Maybe the 15th day was a
Sabbath, but it cannot be proven for certain because we are not told exactly when
(after that day) they began complaining, nor when exactly the falling of the manna
would begin. The fact they were traveling on the 15th day provides strong
evidence that it was not a Sabbath day, for Yahweh would not have them travel on
that day. But even it if were a Sabbath day, it would not prove that it was a “lunar
sabbath” since there will be times in which the lunar cycles will be in-line with the
weekly Sabbath. Above and beyond all of that, the Scripture plainly teaches that
the manna which fell in the wilderness fell for six days, with a double portion
falling on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath. The Septuagint and other
authoritative historical sources confirm that it was a double portion that could not
allow for extended sabbaths at the end of the month. It nowhere says or even
implies that this cycle of seven days would be broken by the new moon.
According to the Torah, Yahweh had to “re-educate” the Israelites concerning how and
when to keep the sabbath—for that was something which they had tended to forget in
their Egyptian captivity. The tool He used for this was the falling of manna for 6 days,
with no manna falling on the Sabbath (or seventh) day. There is no evidence that this
pattern of 6 days manna and 1 day of rest had been altered during the 40 years in the
wilderness. There is no evidence that the pattern was “reset” with every new moon. If,
as lunar sabbatarians maintain, the moon is used to determine the weekly sabbath,
then why did Yahweh use the 6 days of manna when He could have used the actual
phases of the moon to be their guide? He could have simply said, “look up at the sky
and when you see the new moon you know the new week has begun, then keep
Sabbaths every seventh day approximating the quarter, full, waning quarter and dark
moon.” While it is true that in some societies such a division as this might be found
(Babylonians and possibly others), such a statement as this cannot be found in the
whole of Scripture. And if this were true, then using manna to teach them how and
when to keep the Sabbaths would not have been necessary.
.Reference:
18
“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the
children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim
and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing
out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of
Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the
children of Israel said unto them, Would to Elohim we had died by the
hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and
when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this
wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then said Yahweh
unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people
shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them,
whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on
the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be
twice as much as they gather daily. And Moses and Aaron said unto all
the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that Yahweh hath
brought you out from the land of Egypt: And in the morning, then ye shall
see the glory of Yahweh; for that he heareth your murmurings against
Yahweh: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? And Moses said,
This shall be, when Yahweh shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and
in the morning bread to the full; for that Yahweh heareth your murmurings
which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not
against us, but against Yahweh. And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto
all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before Yahweh:
for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake
unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked
toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of Yahweh appeared in the
cloud. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the
murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye
shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye
shall know that I am Yahweh your Elohim. And it came to pass, that at
even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the
dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up,
behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as
small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw
it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And
Moses said unto them, This is the bread which Yahweh hath given you to
eat. This is the thing which Yahweh hath commanded, Gather of it every
man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the
number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his
tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some
less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had
nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every
man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till
the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some
of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and
19
Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered it every morning, every
man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. And
it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread,
two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and
told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which Yahweh hath said,
To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto Yahweh: bake that which
ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which
remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it
up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there
any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath
unto Yahweh: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall
gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be
none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the
seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And Yahweh said unto
Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
See, for that Yahweh hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you
on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place,
let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested
on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:1-30)
7. The Sabbatical/Jubilee Cycles Prove that the Weekly Cycle is a Continuous
Repeating Cycle.
In Leviticus 25 Moses gives us instruction on how to keep the Sabbatical and
Jubilee Years. This simple evidence shows that the years were to be divided into
six years of planting crops and one year of letting the land rest. This was to be
repeated seven times and in the 50th year a year of release (Jubilee) was to be
proclaimed. Such a system as this is another solid proof that the weekly cycle is
a continuous cycle which is not based upon the moon, but instead is based upon
Creation week.
“And Yahweh spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the
children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I
give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto Yahweh. Six years thou
shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather
in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto
the land, a sabbath for Yahweh: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune
thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou
shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a
year of rest unto the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for
you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired
servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, And for thy cattle,
and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be
meat. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven
times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be
20
unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the
jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of
atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And
ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall
return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto
his family. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow,
neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of
thy vine undressed.” (Leviticus 25:1-11)
In Leviticus 25:1-11 it plainly teaches that Israel was to work the land for six years and
allow it to rest on the seventh year (a sabbatical year). We know because of the
wording (“Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard,
and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the
land”) which is remarkably similar to the command to keep the weekly sabbath, that the
Sabbatical and Jubilee years are based upon Creation week.
They were to count seven weeks of years (7 X 7 = 49) and in the 50th year they were to
declare a year of Jubilee. Weeks of years actually have nothing to do with the moon,
and again the fact that there are seven weeks of consecutive years proves without
doubt that “weeks” are intended to be understood as continuous cycles of time. And
again, this is just another significant piece of evidence which supports the concept of
the weekly cycle being continuous as opposed to broken up (supposedly by the phases
of the moon).
Obviously, Leviticus 25 is describing 7 Sabbatical years with a "double sabbath" at the
end. Now does the Jubilee year make it a 50 year cycle or a 49 year cycle. Here are the
reasons I believe it points to a 49 year continuously repeating cycle:
1. The Sabbatical and Jubilee Cycle is Based on Creation Week. Since the Weekly
Cycle generally consists of 6 days of work followed by a 7th day of rest, it only makes
sense to continue the cycle of "weeks of years" without any break. While this is
generally true, there are exceptions to this rule of work 6 days and rest 1 day in the
various "appointed times". Therefore, the same holds true for the year of Jubilee, which
would be the “exception” to the rule. So, the Jubilee year would then be the 50th year
and yet it is also the 1st year of the next cycle, since the cycle remains unbroken.
2. The most direct parallel to the Jubilee cycle is the count to Pentecost. Since the count
to Pentecost takes us to a 50th day and yet does not break up the cycle of our 7 day
week—therefore the Jubilee cycle is the same way. It cannot break up the cycle of a 7
day week, whether made of "days" or "years."
The count to Pentecost (if it is understood as completed on the morrow after the 7th-7th
day Sabbath) is a copy of the Jubilee cycle with a double sabbath at the end. And yet
the count to Pentecost does not change the weekly cycle, does it? I don't think so. And
I don't think the 50th year changes the cycle of "weeks of years" either—does it?
21
Therefore, the Sabbatical/Jubilee year cycles are proof positive of a continuous weekly
cycle in Scripture.
Issues Arising from the Messianic Writings
8. The Day Messiah Healed Blind Man Was Probably Not a Lunar Sabbath.
In John 7 it tells us that the day was the "last great day" (meaning, last day
of Tabernacles, the 22nd day). It says in John 8:1-2 that a new day came. Then in
chapter 9 it says the Messiah healed a man on that same day, the Sabbath day.
That day was the 23rd day of the month. But a lunar Sabbath would have to take
place on the 21st (or 22nd according to other lunar sabbatarians). Therefore, the
day that Yahushua healed a blind man (assuming the narrative is truly
chronological) was probably not a lunar Sabbath.
I would think that the Messiah was keeping the true Sabbath. If He wasn't, and was
deceived into keeping a false sabbath, then this would disqualify Him as being the
Messiah—right? If this is the case, then an explanation is in order here. Those who
claim the lunar sabbaths were from the beginning and replaced soon after the return of
the Jews from Babylonian captivity have to answer the question of why the Messiah
never rebuked the Pharisees for keeping the wrong day. Those who believe the change
came after the time of the Messiah and believe the Jews (including Yahushua Messiah)
were still keeping lunar sabbaths have to explain how they could have been keeping a
lunar sabbath in contradiction of the plain statements from the Messianic Writings (and
historical evidence, as we will show later). If (as we believe) he kept the same day as
the Jews, then he could not have been a lunar sabbatarian.
It is well known among feast day keepers that the sighting of the moon establishes the
start of the new month. Lunar sabbatarians also do the same to determine the start of
the new week. In John 7:32 it is recorded that on the "last great day" of the Feast of
Tabernacles (which always happens to fall on the 22nd day of the month) Yahushua
cried out "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink!" John chapter 8:1-2 says
"Yahushua went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into
the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them". So
the narrative of chapter 8 tells us it is the next day, which would have been the 23rd day
of the month. Chapter 9 is a continuation of the events of that same day, and in chapter
9 he heals a man of blindness on the actual Sabbath: "They brought to the Pharisees
him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Yahushua made the
clay, and opened his eyes." OK, the 23rd day of the month was a Sabbath day. If the
Jews (along with the Messiah) were keeping lunar sabbaths (as some are teaching)
then this could not have been the lunar Sabbath, because if you go by lunar sabbaths
they would have been on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days. Some lunar sabbatarians
go by 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th days. Either way you work it, the 23rd day of the month
22
(based on the narrative as given) was most likely a Sabbath and therefore it could not
have been a lunar sabbath.6
References:
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yahushua stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that
believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)
“Yahushua went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he
came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat
down, and taught them.” (John 8:1-2)
“And as Yahushua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his
birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man,
or his parents, that he was born blind? Yahushua answered, Neither hath
this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of Elohim should be
made manifest in him.“ (John 9:1-3)
“And it was the sabbath day when Yahushua made the clay, and opened
his eyes.” (John 9:14)
“Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of Elohim,
because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man
that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.”
(John 9:16)
9. Did the Messiah Travel on a Lunar Sabbath?
In John 12 Messiah travels 6 days prior to one of the Passovers during his
ministry. That would be the 8th day of the month, which is a lunar sabbath
according to many lunar sabbatarians. This trip was about 14 miles long. If
Yahushua kept lunar sabbaths, then He would have broken the sabbath—if this
were the case.
In John 12:1 we find that 6 days before Passover Yahushua traveled a long journey to
Bethany. In chapter 11 we find that he had been staying in Ephraim. That is a 14 mile
journey through rough terrain. This is not a trip which an observant Jewish rabbi would
take on the Sabbath.
Since it is a Scriptural certainty that Abib 14 is Passover (read Leviticus 23:4 and
Numbers 28:16) and since 6 days prior to this would be Abib 8, that day could not be a
6Some
lunar sabbatarians go by the conjunction moon instead of the new crescent moon. Regardless,
they have the same problem here. If the Messiah were living by Torah and assuming the Torah taught
conjunction moons, then it is still the wrong day.
23
Sabbath—for travel on the Sabbath was not permitted in Torah. Calculations of
Passovers from the 3 years of Yahushua’s ministry indicate that Passover took place on
April 28, 28 CE (a Wednesday), April 17, 29 CE (a Sunday), and April 6, 30 CE (a
Thursday).7 Six days prior to these dates would be April 22, 28 CE (a Thursday), April
11, 29 CE (a Monday) and March 31, 30 CE (a Friday). None of those dates (if he
traveled on them) would have been a Sabbath. And yet, according to lunar sabbatarian
calculations, the Messiah would have been traveling on a lunar sabbath. Since lunar
sabbaths (according to the prevalent view) would be on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th,
this only adds more compelling evidence that the Jews did not observe lunar sabbaths.
References:
“Yahushua therefore walked no more openly among the [Judeans]; but
went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called
Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the [Judean]
Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to
Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. “ (John 11:54-55)
“Then Yahushua six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where
Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”
(John 12:1)
10. The Death and Resurrection of Yahushua Does Not Line Up With Lunar
Sabbaths.
In regards to the season of Passover, it is a feast which is determined by the
sighting of the moon in conjunction with the spring equinox. There are those
who believe that the Jews at that time used a calculated calendar. However, this
does not agree with the historical evidence. The calculated calendar was
introduced into Judaism in the 4th century. So, we are able to determine exact
days (through tracing lunar cycles back 2000 years). Since we have determined
that the best option for the day and year of crucifixion was April 25, Wednesday,
31 CE—that would place the Passover on the afternoon of the 14th. We know
Messiah came out of the tomb on a “Saturday night” because it was the next
morning (“first day of the week”) that Mary found the empty tomb. Therefore, the
Sabbath during the feast of Passover that year was on the 17 th day of the new
moon. And yet, according to lunar Sabbath doctrine, the sabbath would have to
have been either on the 14th or the 15th day of that month. Therefore, based upon
the crucifixion account, it is not possible to have a lunar Sabbath.
We know that there are those who believe that Messiah was crucified on a Friday, and
while Friday’s are also called a “preparation day”, the statement from John 19:31 makes
7Please
see the US Naval Observatory website to make the proper calculations.
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/SpringPhenom.html to determine when the Passover was for the time of
the Messiah’s crucifixion and http://aa.usno.navy.mil/ to determine the day of the week for that date.
24
it clear that this was a “high sabbath” and “Passover” which they were preparing for. It
was the 14th of Abib, Passover day, and the “preparation” for the sacrifice of the
Passover lamb that evening and the “preparation” for the entire “Feast of Unleavened
Bread.” Therefore, all the evidence we have available to us points to a Wednesday
crucifixion, not a Friday crucifixion.
In Matthew 12 Yahushua tells the people that the only sign they will have is the sign of
Jonah, and that like Jonah the “son of man” will be in the grave for three days and three
nights. This prediction was fulfilled, and Yahushua was in the grave from Wednesday,
April 25, to Saturday afternoon, April 28. A Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection
does not allow for three days and three nights in the grave. On the first day of the
week, when the Sabbath was over, Mary came to the empty tomb to find that Yahushua
was already gone.
Of the 2 best options for the year of crucifixion (30 and 31 CE), the year 31 CE is the
most likely year that this took place.8
(The year 33 CE is too late in the historical
th
timeline.) This was the 14 day of the first month of the Jewish religious calendar. By
going to this website you can input the dates 31 CE and April 25 to find out which day of
the week it was: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/ We know that this was the correct date
because the next conjunction of the moon for 31 CE (after the spring equinox) was on
April 10. (Please see this link for the equinox and new moon listings under 31 CE:
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/SpringPhenom.html.) You add 1 day to April 10 to
take you to the first sighting of the crescent moon (since the new moon was determined
by visual sighting).9 The new moon would have been sighted on April 11. 10 That makes
April 12 the first day of the new moon. Add 14 days to April 11 and you have April 25,
Wednesday, the date of the crucifixion and the date of Passover.
Yahushua was crucified on the 14th of Abib, a Wednesday. That was Wednesday, April
25, 31 CE. The next day would have been a “lunar sabbath” (according to most lunar
sabbatarians). But it was three days later (on the evening of the 17th, a “Saturday
night”) that Yahushua was resurrected. We know it was a “Saturday night” because it
was on the next morning (“first day of the week”) that Mary found the empty tomb.
Therefore, the Sabbath during the feast of Passover that year was on the 17th day of
the new moon. And yet, according to lunar Sabbath doctrine, the sabbath would have
to have been either on the 14th or the 15th day of that month. The 15 th day of Abib
could not have been both a “High Sabbath” and a regular Sabbath because the various
8A
crucifixion in the year 30 yields a Passover on April 6, Abib 14, and therefore a Thursday crucifixion.
are computer programs which can be used to determined the exact phases of the moon going
back over 2000 years (for example Sky Globe, by Mark Haney). They confirm that the first new moon
after the equinox of 31 CE would have been sighted on April 11. That would make the following day
(April 12) the first day of Abib and April 25 the 14th day of Abib, or the day of Passover.
10Philo, a contemporary Jew of Yahushua’s day, writes that the new moon was determined (in his day) by
sighting the visible crescent. Here is what he says: “For 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.” The Works of Philo, translated by C. D. Yonge, Hendrickson Publishers,
Peabody, MA, Foreward (by David M. Scholer), “The Special Laws, II” p. 581.
9There
25
testimonies from the Messianic Writings indicate something altogether different. And
when we compare that testimony to the testimony of the US Naval Observatory’s
calculations concerning the new moons of antiquity, we have no choice but to go with a
Wednesday as opposed to a Friday crucifixion. Therefore, based upon the crucifixion
account, it is not possible to have a lunar Sabbath.
References:
“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying,
Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto
them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there
shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as
Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the
Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
(Matthew 12:38-40)
A Friday crucifixion does not allow for the Messiah being “three days and three night” in
the grave. Only a Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion allows for that, and because of
the new moon calculations from the US Naval Observatory a Thursday crucifixion is
also ruled out for Abib 14 that year (31 CE).
“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and
he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with
him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your
King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then
delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took
Yahushua, and led him away.” (John 19:14-16)
“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies
should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath
day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken,
and that they might be taken away.” (John 19:31)
Because it was dawning toward the first day of unleavened bread (the “high sabbath”)
they did not have time to prepare the spices for his burial. That “high day” was a
Thursday. It could not have been a reference to Friday as the preparation for the
Sabbath, because John 19:14 plainly says it was the “preparation of the Passover” and
that the next day (according to John 19:31) would be a “sabbath…high day”. Anyway,
preparing spices and ointments for burial is a work that requires a large part of the day
to accomplish. They could not have done it the next day because it was a sabbaton (or
Festival Sabbath—the first day of unleavened bread). Therefore, the preparing of
spices was done on the following day, a Friday (Abib 16), and they waited for the
Sabbath to be completed before they came to the tomb. While that may appear like a
long delay, they had no choice in the matter because of the sabbath.
26
“And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the
women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld
the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and
prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to
the commandment.” (Luke 23:54-56)
The first “sabbath” they were speaking of here was simply the “high day” or the first day
of unleavened bread. Then they came to the tomb on Friday to see how his body was
laid out. That day they prepared spices and ointments and waited till after the sabbath
to go and anoint his body.
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the
week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment
white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as
dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not
ye: for I know that ye seek Yahushua, which was crucified. He is not here:
for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
(Matthew 28:1-6)
This text plainly says that when the stone was rolled back it was merely to reveal that
Yahushua was already gone, for he tells her plainly “He is not here.” He was
resurrected at the end of the third day, and it is now the fourth day since the crucifixion,
Abib 18. Remember, a lunar sabbath would have to be either on Abib 14 or 15. But the
7th day Sabbath in 31 CE was on Abib 17, which could not have been a lunar sabbath.
Issues Arising from Reference Works and Commentaries
It should be noted here that reference works and commentaries are just that—the
scholarly (yet fallible) opinions of men. It is amazing to me that people will be so quick
to accept so-called “scholarly opinion” while at the same time refuse to listen to the
voices of those who lived much closer to or even at the time and event in question.
Those who lived in ancient times and had contact with (and/or were part of) the Jewish
nations would surely be able to qualify as better commentators regarding what is or is
not the truth. However, such testimony is ignored or distorted to paint another picture.
Nevertheless, let us examine some of this supposed scholarly “evidence” of lunar
sabbaths.
11. Does The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia give us a credible witness
concerning the origins of the Sabbath?
One of the first line arguments from lunar sabbatarians is a statement from this
publication, where the author says “The New Moon is still, and the Sabbath
27
originally was, dependent upon the lunar cycle.” Since the author, Max Joseph,
says that the week was originally based upon the cycle of the moon, people will
use this to support lunar sabbaths. And yet, what they do not tell you is that in
another article by the same author it states that the origins of the Sabbath are
“obscure.” Based upon this testimony we have no choice but to dismiss this
reference as a non-credible witness to the true origins of the Sabbath.
Let us look at what evidence some lunar sabbatarians have sought out in modern
commentators and we will see how credible such commentary is. This is from the
Universal Jewish Encyclopedia:
“1. Sabbath and New Moon (Rosh Hodesh), both periodically recurring in
the course of the year. The New Moon is still, and the Sabbath originally
was, dependent upon the lunar cycle. Both date back to the nomadic
period of Israel. Originally the New Moon was celebrated in the same way
as the Sabbath; gradually it became less important, while the Sabbath
became more and more a day of religion and humanity, of religious
meditation and instruction, or peace and delight of the soul, and produced
powerful and beneficent effects outside of Judaism.”11
The author of this commentary, Max Joseph, tells us that the new moon is dependant
upon the lunar cycle just as “the Sabbath originally was”. Yet he gives us no evidence
to support his contention. Now this same author, in another section of that same work,
makes a contradictory statement in regard to the origin of the Sabbath. He says this:
“The origin of the Sabbath is obscure.”12
It is clear that this commentary is completely unreliable as a source of credible
information regarding the origins of the Sabbath. For us to use this as “proof” that the
7th day Sabbath was originally based upon the cycle of the moon would be a serious
error, since the author (on the one hand) tells us that the “origin of the Sabbath is
obscure” and yet speaks with confidence (on the other hand) that the Sabbath originally
was based upon the “cycles of the moon” is completely out of the question.
12. Does the Babylonian (and possibly Assyrian) Custom of Keeping Something
Like Lunar Sabbaths Come from the Hebrews?
The Babylonians speak of a tradition which involves the keeping of something
like lunar sabbaths, called Shabbatum. Obviously, there is a connection. The
question is: Is this the source of the Sabbath, or did the Babylonians pervert the
institution as given in the original Creation Sabbath? Regardless of which
11The
Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, Edited by Isaac Landman, The Universal Jewish
Encyclopedia, Inc., New York, 1941, article “Holidays,” p. 410.
12The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, Edited by Isaac Landman, The Universal Jewish
Encyclopedia, Inc., New York, 1943, article “Sabbath,” p. 295.
28
position one takes on this issue, the simple fact is that the “scholars” were
simply not there and cannot possibly hope to prove that the original weekly cycle
(and therefore Sabbath) was based upon the cycles of the moon.
Notice one of the many scholarly references used by lunar sabbatarians to supposedly
prove that the original sabbath was based upon the lunar cycles:
“Luni-solar calendar foundations of the Jewish calendar extend from the
earliest verses of scripture. Natural, uniform motions of the heavenly
spheres are the pivotal markers of time reckoning. The list of ancient
characters mentioned in the Old Testament used this lunar-solar calendar
system of time recording. Observation of lunar phases coupled with solar
positioning graduated the lifetime ages of Adam and his descendants. . . .
“Changes in the appearance of the moon provided the seven-day week.
Originating with ancient interpretations of lunar time, divisions of seven
days separate the four basic lunar phases...Starting with a dark new
moon, the moon gradually comes into view on following nights. In about
seven days the first half of the moon is visible. The second half waxes
until full moon and the end of two weeks. Lunar light reverses progression
in the third week, waning to half visibility again. A fourth week completes
the month, and visibility again diminishes toward a new moon. Completion
of four lunar phases comprises the month.”13
And here is another scholarly statement from the Encyclopedia Biblica:
". . . the stars served to mark divisions of time. They are set in the
firmament 'to divide the day from the night,' and to 'be for signs, and for
moeds/signs/festivals/appointed times, and for days and years!' The
Hebrew month is a lunar month and the quarter of this period—one phase
of the moon—appears to have determined the week of seven days" 14
Yes, the lunar sabbatarians are correct about one thing: There is a controversy among
scholars over how the Sabbath came about. But please notice the ambiguity of this last
scholar—“appears to have determined the week of seven days.” Do we normally base
a Biblical doctrine on an ambiguous declaration of an unknown scholar? Some scholars
have suggested that the Hebrews received the Sabbath from Babylon (based upon the
Babylonian practice of Shabbatum) and that it was based upon the cycles of the moon.
However, there are just as many scholars (or more) who are either not sure (like the
author of the Encyclopedia Biblica), or confidently protest that the Jews did not get their
Sabbath from Babylon at all. And this last group also does not believe the weekly cycle
of Scripture was based upon the moon either. And yet, lunar sabbatarians state
unequivocally that all of this is positive proof for them.
13Ages
of Adam, published in 1995, by Clark K. Nelson.
Biblica, The MacMillan Company (1899), P. 4780
14Encyclopedia
29
Notice what the lunar sabbatarians are teaching:
“As is wont with all humankind, the original meaning and intent of the
Sabbath day, as revealed by YEHOVAH God to Adam and his
descendants, became perverted after the flood and associated with pagan
gods. However, the timing of these Sabbath or rest days was kept
intact.”15
How could John Keyser possibly know that the perversion of the sabbath after the flood
was limited to associating it with pagan gods? Of course, he couldn’t know this!! Why
did they not also change the rest days so as to connect them with the worship of the
moon goddess Asherah? This would explain how man began to worship Yahweh along
with a female “consort” by the name of Asherah. And this would also explain how they
forgot the purpose of the moon (to determine the months) and began to worship the
moon instead, by keeping something like lunar sabbaths.
Let’s look at something else stated by Keyser:
“Almost all scholars today agree that the primal seven-day calendar, as
used among the ancient Semites (including the Babylonians and
Hebrews), was based upon the moon. Furthermore, this unique weekly
cycle was observed in tandem with the lunar phases.”16
Is it true that “almost all scholars” believe that the seven-day calendar was originally
based upon the moon? No it is not true. In fact, several of the very same “scholars”
which Keyser quotes from have already shown that they are not absolutely certain of
this. Yes, “some” scholars believe this, but certainly not “almost all.” And yet it is really
immaterial how many scholars believe something, because the “scholars” simply were
not there at the creation of this earth. They were not there when the children of Israel
received the manna every week so as to become re-acquainted with the weekly
Sabbath. All they have to go on is the evidence which they have uncovered from
ancient Babylon (and a few other cultures) which suggests that there is a connection
between the Babylonian Shabbatum and the Hebrew Shabbat (Sabbath). Proving a
connection is one thing. Proving that both practices were the same (and therefore
involved lunar sabbaths) is something quite different. For those who believe the
teachings of Scripture concerning the continuous nature of the weekly cycle, it is not a
difficult matter to understand. The Babylonian Shabbatum is simply a pagan perversion
of the weekly cycle and the Sabbath which was given to man at Creation. To say it is
proof of lunar sabbaths for Israel is beyond belief!! And it is something that even the
“scholars” cannot prove, or else most of them would have been more forthright in their
declarations.
15From
Sabbath to Saturday: The Story of the Jewish Rest Day, by John D. Keyser, Hope of Israel
Ministries. http://www.hope-of-israel.org/sabtosat.htm
16Ibid.
30
Let’s look at what some other “scholars” have to say about this subject. Here is a quote
from the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible:
"In ancient Babylonia a particular day of distinctive character was known
as sabbatu (sabattu) a name plainly identical with the Hebrew xxx. It was
designated specifically as the "day of quieting of the heart." The precise
meaning of this expression is uncertain, but at least the concept of
relaxation is implicit therein. Furthermore, the seventh, fourteenth, twentyfirst, and twenty-eighth days of certain months, and not improbably of
every month, and likewise the nineteenth day—i.e., the forty-ninth, the
seven times seventh, day from the first day of the preceding month--were
regarded as "evil days." Upon these days the physician, the oracular
priests, and above all, the king might not function in any official or
professional capacity whatsoever. While there is no definitive evidence
that these successive seventh days were identical with the sabbatu, it is a
reasonable inference that such was the case. On the basis of this
evidence certain scholars have maintained that the biblical sabbath was
of Babylonian origin. Such, however, is not at all the case."17
In the Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion under "Sabbath" it says regarding this
issue of the "Babylonian" connection:
"SABBATH, the weekly day of rest observed from sunset on Friday until
nightfall on Saturday (a period of approximately twenty-five hours). It has
been suggested that the biblical Sabbath displays certain similarities to
the Babylonian shappatu, but the connection is dubious."18
Here is a reference now from the Harper's Bible Dictionary under the heading for
"Sabbath":
"Scholarly explanations of the Sabbath's origins have focused on certain
days in the Babylonian monthly calenar on which normal activities of the
king and certain professions were restricted. These days, known as "evil
days," were determined by the lunar cycle, corresponding with the
quarters of the moon. While the postulating of a dependence on the
Babylonian calendar is tempting, it cannot be objectively sustained. The
biblical Sabbath was ordained as a weekly institution with no
relation whatsoever to the lunar cycle. Moreover, the somber nature of
the Babylonian "evil days" stands in stark contrast to the joyous nature of
the Sabbath."19
17Interpreter's
Dictionary of the Bible (Volume 4), Abington Press, Nashville, p. 135.
Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, edited by R. J. Zwi Werblowsky and Geoffrey Wigoder, p. 595
under "Sabbath".
19Harper's Bible Dictionary, editor Paul J. Achtemeier, under the heading for "Sabbath".
18Oxford
31
I think the point of my bringing up these references is simply to show that scholars have
all kinds of opinions about all kinds of issues. Yes, the Babylonians and possibly the
Assyrians had some sort of weekly cycle based upon the lunar cycles. No one is
questioning this. What we are questioning is this idea that Judaism got their Sabbath
ideas from the Babylonians (or the Assyrians, or anyone else for that matter). And we
are also questioning this idea that the Babylonian practice of Shabbatu was the same
as the ancient Jewish practice of keeping Sabbath (and thereby supposedly proving
lunar sabbaths). If the Babylonians have a word that is similar to the Hebrew word for
Shabbat does this prove the Jews received it from them, or could it be they received it
from the Jews? And assuming this word and even some aspects of the seventh-day
Sabbath came from the Jews, does that mean that the Babylonians observed the
Sabbath just like the Jews? Or did they pervert it by basing it on the moon? We know
that they perverted it to some extent, because they were worshipping idols. So lunar
sabbatarians would have us believe that they perverted only the nature of Sabbath
worship, not the actual weekly cycles (supposedly based upon the moon). Is that a
reasonable assumption? No, it is not. And yet, such an assumption is the basis of
lunar sabbath doctrine—and it does appear to defy reason!
Friends, I can tell you for a certainty that you can right now go to your back ally and go
jumping into the garbage to find food that you might possibly be able to eat—but I would
not recommend it! Once the food has found its way to the garbage it may look like the
original, but it is still second hand food. Likewise, a Babylonian practice of keeping
sabbaths based upon the lunar cycles may "look" similar to the Jewish practice (as
found in Scripture) but it by no means proves that the Babylonian practice is superior
nor that it is the same practice as given in Scripture. Friends, we have to consider the
"source." Ancient societies practiced human sacrifice, does this mean the Jewish
sacrificial system originally came out of the practice of human sacrifice? No, it does not.
And the ancient Babylonians worshipped the moon (“Asherah”) as part of their
Shabbatum worship. Would this not seem to suggest that they could have also
perverted the weekly cycle so as to augment their worship of the moon?
So when we look at references from "scholars" we need to consider the fact that the
"scholars" were not there!! And those who follow the “scholars” blindly are really doing
a spiritual form of "dumpster diving"!! Occasionally they will stumble upon little bits and
pieces of "food for thought" but divorced from its original context such "food for thought"
is not really all that edible. The published statements of scholars are not always based
upon solid facts, and are more often than not a mixture of truth and error. The scholars
just really don't know what exactly happened. Sometimes they will even admit that they
don’t know by using terms such as "could be", "might be", "possibly." We need to be
attuned to such ambiguous references whenever we look at what the "scholars" say,
because we want to make certain that we always place the weight of evidence upon a
"thus saith Yahweh" NOT a "thus saith". . . "maybe" . . . "could be" . . . from a scholar
who may be basing his opinions upon theories and inconclusive evidence.
Issues Arising from History and Science
32
13. The Great Endurance and Universality of the Weekly Cycle.
The 7-day cycle of time we know of as a “week” had its genesis in Genesis 1-2
with the creation of this world. It is a cycle of time which cannot be determined
strictly by the sighting of a heavenly sign alone. Those who study into the
history of the weekly cycle have found that men throughout time and often
separated for many centuries by religion, by language, by culture, and by
continents have continued to incorporate not only “a” weekly cycle of seven
days, but the “exact” weekly cycle which we still use today. Also, no other day of
the week was designated as a “sabbath” except the 7 th day. In fact, most of those
societies also retained the knowledge of when the 7 th day was and that it was the
“Sabbath”—a day of rest.
A Chart of the Week, written by Dr. William Meade Jones, was published in 1886. In it
he lists the days of the week as indicated by the 160 ancient languages of the world. Of
the 160 languages and their words for the days of the week, 108 of them (two-thirds)
identify the seventh day of the week as “sabbath”. [We will give the list later.]
Throughout history men in various countries have attempted to set up various calendars
for determining time. The Assyrians and Babylonians even attempted to set up a
weekly cycle which was based upon the moon—similar to but not exactly like the lunar
sabbatarians of today. But this was limited to those in office, and did not generally
include the populace at large.20 And so, the weekly cycle cannot be determined by
anything other than the creation week of Genesis 1-2.
And as we use the signs in the heavens (according to Genesis 1:14) to determine the
moedems, we find that there is even disagreement concerning this today (among those
who seek to keep the feasts). However, while we can determine the timing of the days
by the setting of the sun, the months by the moon, the weekly cycle is not determined
by any visible token in the heavens.
Now regarding the basis for establishing cycles of time, Genesis 1:14 sets the pattern
for the rest of the cycles:
"And Elohim 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:" (Genesis 1:14)
The daily cycle is based upon the sun as it rises and sets upon the earth. The monthly
cycle is established by the moon, the yearly cycle is established by the equinoxes (both
Spring and Fall) and so it also is based upon the sun. But on a larger scale Yahweh has
established cycles which are only partly based upon the visible heavens, a cycle of
Sabbatical years every 7 years ("weeks of years"), Jubilee Cycles every 49 years
20Online
Encyclopedia, Sabbath. http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/RON_SAC/SABBATH.html
33
("weeks of weeks of years"), and then finally a week of millenniums over a period of
7000 years (1000 years of 7 days each).
While it is true that a week is a period of seven days, it cannot be just any days (Exodus
20:8-11). The weekly cycle must be synchronized with the first week of Creation.
Should someone decide that the week could be any period of seven days, then the
Sabbath would be randomly set by the whim of man. Men could therefore redefine the
week in any of a number of different ways. Even among lunar sabbatarians, there are
many differences of opinion on which day the Sabbath should fall on, depending on
when they start the month (waning crescent, dark moon, or visible crescent) and
depending on their own interpretations (7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days or 8th, 15th, 22nd,
and 29th days). There have been many attempts in the past to alter this continuous
weekly cycle in some way (lunar sabbaths in Babylon, lunar quarters in Rome, 8 day
weeks in Rome, 10 day weeks in Egypt, China and modern day France, etc.). All
attempts to do so have been met with frustration and confusion, and the seven day
week has always won out.
Admittedly, the weekly cycle is not based on any of the planetary motions. We cannot
physically observe this weekly cycle (except in a few areas of science, which we will
speak of shortly). This weekly cycle cannot be seen in the motions of the sun, or of the
moon. Those who follow the weekly cycle do so based upon the Creation week. Each
Sabbath is an important anniversary to celebrate Yahweh’s Creation of this earth and of
us. Our knowledge of the weekly cycle has been handed down to us for many
generations, and it has been preserved by Yahweh’s word in combination with history
and the practices of Judaism.
However, it is not a strictly Jewish practice—for many other societies have also been
found practicing this continuous weekly cycle. So how did the ancients who were often
separated for millennia by language, culture, religion, and oceans devise a system of
weekly cycles that were (generally speaking) in almost total harmony? There is a
publication entitled A Chart of the Week, published in 1886 by Dr. William Meade Jones,
which lists 160 ancient languages identifying the seventh day sabbath Of the 160
different languages of the world, about two-thirds of them identified the seventh-day of a
seven day week with a word meaning “Sabbath” or “rest” or some other similar term.
How did they know? Who told them?
If anything, the universality of the weekly cycle is (above everything else) one of the
greatest evidences of a Creator and one of the best evidences in support of the
inspiration of the Scriptures. Diverse people have attempted to set up different
calendars throughout history, but the resilience of the weekly cycle is proof positive of a
Creator.
34
14. Cycles of Seven in Music, Sound and Light.
The number seven is represented in nature in the form of music (sound) and light.
In fact, it not only reveals the cycle of seven but it reveals it as a continuous cycle
from one level to another. In music an octave is 7 whole notes leading to the final
note (the 8th), which is the same note as the first—only one octave higher. In a
rainbow, there are 7 colors represented. The evidence of repeating cycles of
seven are clearly represented in color and sound.
According to modern scientific understanding, the number seven can be and has been
found frequently in nature. For example, in music “the number of notes in the musical
scale”21 is equal to seven, with the eighth note being equivalent with the first note in the
next octave. This alone is an interesting phenomenon, for it not only establishes the
cycle of seven but it connects the cycle of seven into an ever increasing harmonic of
musical heights. And since music is a product of naturally occurring sound frequencies
in nature (and since sound and light both have the same source, the sun), it is therefore
evidence that the basic fundamental composition of all matter is also built upon the
pattern of seven. Here is how this harmonic can be illustrated in the musical scale:
21
7 (Number), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven
35
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8/1
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
So
La
Ti
Do
When you connect the scale with each of the increasing octaves you have a cycle of
sevens which are continuous. Notice how this is accomplished:
First Octave
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8/1
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
So
La
Ti
Do
Second Octave
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8/1
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
So
La
Ti
Do
Third Octave
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8/1
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
So
La
Ti
Do
There are various other scales besides the diatonic octave scale, however the diatonic
scale is considered the basic foundation of all music.22 Another important scale is the
chromatic scale which basically covers the same 8 notes of the diatonic scale (with 8
and 1 being the same note, only an octave higher). The difference between the
chromatic scale and the diatonic scale is that it includes the half-notes in between each
22Exploring
Scales, David Webber 1994-96. Mozart Music Generator Program
Concise Dictionary of Music, 1986.. http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1795/scales.htm#Eref
36
of these “whole” notes. As such, the chromatic scale contains 13 notes instead of 8.
You will notice that when you subtract the final note (which is harmonically equal to the
first note) you will have 7 unique notes in the diatonic scale and 12 notes in the
chromatic scale. Please note that in Scripture the numbers 7 and 12 are both used
frequently. And please also remember that this division of music (or sound frequencies)
into 7 steps is not a product of men’s invention, but is instead the natural way in which
sound is divided.
If this phenomenon takes place in regard to frequencies of music, it is not surprising that
such would also take place in regards to light (for both light and sound are related). So,
sure enough, this same phenomenon happens in connection with colors, for example,
the colors in a rainbow. There are 7 basic colors in a rainbow. “Even though a rainbow
spans a continuous spectrum of colours, traditionally the full sequence of colours is
most commonly cited as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.”23
In an article The World of Seven, by Hillel ben David (Greg Killian), he presents an
interesting case for the meaning of the number seven. While I do not agree with every
assessment he makes in his article, I find it (for the most part) extremely interesting to
our study of the weekly cycles. Here is just one of the comments which he makes as it
relates to the spectrum of light:
23Rainbow,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow
37
“Just as the seven notes in the octave can be combined into chords which
harmonize music, so too can the corresponding colors be combined to
form harmonious colors.
“When the colors of light are combined they form a white light. When the
same colors in pigment are combined they form an earth color – brown.
This teaches us that the ethereal dimension of light produces white while
the physical colors of pigment return to the physical color of earth.”24
It would seem that the cycle of seven is indeed represented in nature, even though most
people would not have recognized it unless they had made a close examination of the
nature of light and sound. Those who would seek to change this cycle of seven based
upon the cycle of the moon are not representing the way things operate in nature (as
can be seen in the cycles of seven present within both sound and light). In nature, the
frequency of seven is a continuous unbroken cycle.
15. Science Confirms that Cycles of Seven Exist in Nature, as a Natural Rhythm
within Man and Beast.
For those who say that continual cycles of seven cannot be found in nature
please consider that this is simply not true. While it is true that the sun and the
moon do not establish weekly cycles, continuous cycles of seven can be found in
nature through biology. It would seem that most animals (including man) have
been found to contain within the very fiber of their being certain natural rhythms
which follow known cycles. Some of these rhythms are about a day or a month in
length. However, many of them follow a cycle of continuous weeks. As such,
they are a “living” testimony to the enduring nature of the seven day week.
As if to make certain that the continuous cycle of seven would be forever implanted
within the mind of man, Yahweh has placed within us natural rhythms which also follow
the cycles that are presented to us in Scripture. Yes, one of those cycles involves a
corresponding equivalent with the lunar cycles. However, many of these cycles are
based upon cycles of seven days. The scientific field of study that is involved here is
called the relatively new science of chronobiology.
“The relatively new science of chronobiology has uncovered some totally
unexpected facts about living things, as Susan Perry and Jim Dawson
report in their book The Secrets Our Body Clock Reveal. ‘Weekly rhythms
— known in chronobiology as "circaseptan rhythms" — are one of the
most puzzling and fascinating findings of chronobiology. Circaseptan
literally means "about seven;" see chart. Daily and seasonal cycles
appear to be connected to the moon. But what is there in nature that
would have caused weekly rhythms to evolve?
24The
World of Seven, by Hillel ben David (Greg Killian), http://www.betemunah.org/seven.html#_ftn1
38
"’At first glance, it might seem that weekly rhythms developed in response
to the seven-day week imposed by human culture thousands of years
ago. However, this theory doesn't hold once you realize that plants,
insects, and animals other than humans also have weekly cycles. . . .
Biology, therefore, not culture, is probably at the source of our seven-day
week.’ (14)
“Campbell summarizes the findings of the world's foremost authority on
rhythms and the pioneer of the science of chronobiology: ‘Franz Halberg
proposes that body rhythms of about seven days, far from being passively
driven by the social cycle of the calendar week, are innate, autonomous,
and perhaps the reason why the calendar week arose in the first place.’
(15)” 25
A simple chart showing the basic circaseptan rhythms within mankind shows that we do
indeed have within us a natural cycle of seven days duration (along with other important
cycles). Notice what the chart demonstrates:
“There are five major rhythms that beat in our bodies to insure our health
and happiness (see chart below). The daily or circadian rhythm (from the
Latin for "around a day") is the easiest to detect and measure. We are
born with our own set of circadian rhythms that in time become
synchronized with our environment. Our rhythms vary slightly from
individual to individual (23.6 hours, 24.3 hours, 25.4 hours, etc.) and they
usually shorten as we age. For some unknown reason, women tend to
have shorter circadian cycles than men.
Your Inner Rhythms26
Type of
Rhythm
Ultradian
Length
Less than 24
hours
Examples
Heartbeat. 90-min. fluctuations in energy
levels & attention span. Brain waves.
25God's
Mysterious
7-Day
Cycle
in
plants,
animals
and
MAN!
(Part
1)
http://www.biblestudy.org/godsrest/sevencyc.html . See also references within that article, (14) Susan
Perry and Jim Dawson, The Secrets Our Body Clocks Reveal, (New York: Rawson Associates, 1988), pp.
20-21 (emphasis added), and (15) Jeremy Campbell, Winston Churchill's Afternoon Nap, (New York:
Simon and Schuster, 1986), p. 79.
26Ibid.
39
Circadian
About a day
Temperature. Blood Pressure. Sleep/Wake
Cycle. Cell Division.
Circaseptan
About a week Reject of organ transplants. Immune
response to infections. Blood & Urine
chemicals. Blood Pressure. Heartbeat.
Common Cold. Coping hormones.
Circatrigintan
About a month Menstrual cycle
Circannual
About a year
Seasonal depression. Sexual drive.
Susceptibility to some diseases.
Continuing with this presentation by Ken Westby, we find that it is impossible to point to
religion or culture as the source of this weekly cycle. The reason that this is so is
because such a cycle not only is found in man, but in plants and animals. Therefore, it
is inherent even within the very nature of our existence on this earth.
“The most intriguing of all biological rhythms are those set to a clock of
about seven days. In his chapter ‘The Importance of Time,’ Jeremy
Campbell reports:
"’These circaseptan, or about weekly, rhythms are one of the major
surprises turned up by modern chronobiology. Fifteen years ago, few
scientists would have expected that seven-day biological cycles would
prove to be so widespread and so long established in the living world.
They are of very ancient origin, appearing in primitive one-celled
organisms, and are thought to be present even in bacteria, the simplest
form of life now existing.’ (20)
“One of Franz Halberg's amazing discoveries is that of an innate rhythm -about seven days -- occurring in a giant alga some five million years old
on the evolutionary time line. Because this microscopic cell resembles a
graceful champagne glass, the alga (plant) is popularly known as
mermaid's wineglass (Acetabularia mediterranea). When this ‘primitive’
alga is subjected to artificial schedules of alternating light and dark spans
of varying length over many days, this single intact cell is somehow able
to translate all that manipulation of light and darkness into the
measurement of a seven-day week!
“As Campbell says, this inherent rhythm has to do with the internal logic of
the body, not with the external logic of the world. Many more examples
could be given. Involved experimentation with rats, face flies, plants and
other life have revealed circaseptan rhythms similar to that of the
mermaid's wineglass. (21)
40
“If the seven-day week is an invention of culture and religion, as most
historians would have us believe, how do we explain innate circaseptan
rhythms in "primitive" algae, rats, plants and face flies? These forms of life
have no calendar, can't read the Torah and don't know Saturn from Santa
Claus.”27
For those who seek to alter the weekly cycle based upon the moon, I would suggest
that they consider what kind of effects this would have upon the human body? Just like
when someone takes a night job it destroys the normal cycle of sleep (and therefore
weakens their natural immune system) I believe that interrupting the weekly cycle with
the phases of the moon would do something very similar to that. For the sake of their
own health, it would be better for lunar sabbatarians to abandon that cycle which is
contrary to their own body’s natural rhythm.
16. The Word “Sabbath” Has Been Preserved in Many Languages and Always to
Designate the 7th Day Sabbath (Saturday).
The Jews have continually understood that the Sabbath falls on the day typically
referred to as Saturday. In the various languages of the world has been
preserved the truth of this statement. Here are examples of how Sabbath has
been preserved and used exclusively to refer to the 7 th Day of the Week, as listed
in the Chart of the Week:28
Language
Word
Ancient Syriac:
Arabic
shab-ba-tho
as-sabt
Arabic (ancient):
shi-yar
Armenian
Bagrimma
Bornu
shapat
sibbedi
sibda
Location
Western Asia,
northern and
western Africa:
Armenia:
Central Africa:
Central Africa:
27God's
English
Translation
Day
Referred
To
“Sabbath”
“the Sabbath”
Saturday
Saturday
"chief or rejoicing
day"
"Sabbath"
"the Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Mysterious
7-Day
Cycle
in
plants,
animals
and
MAN!
(Part
1)
http://www.biblestudy.org/godsrest/sevencyc.html . See also references within that article, (20) Jeremy
Campbell, Winston Churchill's Afternoon Nap, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986), p. 75, and (21)
Franz Halberg, "Quo Vadis Basic and Clinical Chronobiology: Promise for Health Maintenance," American
Journal of Anatomy 168:543-594 (1983), pp. 569-570; Jeremy Campbell, Winston Churchill's Afternoon
Nap, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986), pp. 75-76.
28A Chart of the Week, by Dr. William Meade Jones, 1886.
41
Brdhuiky
Chaldee Syriac
shembe
shaptu
Congo
Coptic
sabbado or
Kiansbula
pi sabbaton
Dayak
D'oc. French
sabtu
dissata
Ethiopic
Falashas
French
Fulfulde
Georgian
Hausa
Hindustani
san-bat
yini sanbat
samedi
assebdu
shabati
assebatu
shamba
Ingoush
Italian
Kabyle
shatt
sabato,
sabbato
saptoe or
saptu
ghas assebt
Kazani-Tartar
Kurdish
Latin
Logone
Maba
subbota
shamba
sabbatum
se-sibde
sab
Makassar
sattu
Malagassy
Malayan
alsabotsy
hari sabtu
Maltese
Mandingo
is-sibt
sibiti
Orma
zam-ba-da
Javanese
Beluchistan:
Kurdistan and
Urumia, Persia:
West equatorial
Africa:
Egypt:
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
"Sabbath"
Saturday
"the Sabbath"
Saturday
Borneo:
Ancient and
modern:
Abyssinia:
Abyssinia:
France:
central Africa:
Caucasus:
Central Africa:
Muhammadan
and Hindu,
India:
Caucasus:
Italy:
"Sabbath"
"day Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
"Sabbath"
"the Sabbath"
"Sabbath day"
"the Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"the Sabbath
"Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Java:
"Sabbath"
Saturday
North Africa,
Ancient
Numidan:
East Russia:
Kurdistan:
Italy:
Central Africa:
Central Africa:
"the Sabbath day"
Saturday
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"the Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Southern
Celebes and
Salayer islands:
Madagascar:
Malaya,
Sumatra:
Malta:
West Africa,
south of
Senegal:
South of
Abyssiania:
"Sabbath"
Saturday
"the Sabbath"
"day Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
"the Sabbath"
"the Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
"Sabbath"
Saturday
42
Osmanlian
yom-es-sabt
Turkey:
Pahlivi
shambid
Pasto
Permian
Persian
Portuguese
Roman
shamba
subota
shambah
sabbado
dissapte
Samaritan
shab-bath
Spanish
Suanian
Swahili
sabado
sammtyn
as-sabt
Tamashek
a-hal es-sabt
Teda
Votiak
Wolof
essebdu
subbota
alere-asser
Ancient
Persian:
Afghanistan:
Russian:
Persia:
Portugal:
Spain,
Catalonia:
Nablus,
Palestine:
Spain:
Caucasus:
East equatorial
Africa:
Atlas
mountains,
Africa:
Central Africa:
Russian:
Senegambia,
west Africa:
"day of the
Sabbath"
"pleasantest day of
the week"
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"day Sabbath"
Saturday
"Sabbath"
Saturday
"Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"the Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
"the Sabbath"
Saturday
"the Sabbath"
"Sabbath"
"last day Sabbath"
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
By and large, the original word “Sabbath” (“shabbat” in Hebrew) has retained both its
pronunciation and its meaning. In many cases they specifically identify even the day
with which it is associated. For instance, in Spanish the word sabado very clearly has
retained the basic sound of the original word “Shabbat” with only the sh sound being
changed to an s sound as is typical for words brought into many languages. The really
important thing, as it relates to this study, is that sabado specifically indicates the day of
the week which is commonly known as “Saturday.” Such uniformity throughout so many
languages also suggests a common origin in ancient times—as well as a uniform cycle
of seven days, since the word “Sabbath” itself is related to Hebrew words which actually
mean “seven.” If the original meaning of “Sabbath” was intended to point to floating
sabbaths we would have found these words associated with different days of the
week—or none, since it could have been any of them. And yet, this is not the way it has
been throughout history and up to our own present day.
17. Four Major Witnesses Indicate that 200 Years Before the Messiah the Weekly
Cycle Was Widely Understood Throughout Judea to be of a Continuous
Nature, Not Based Upon the Cycles of the Moon.
The Essenes of Qumram used a 364 day calendar (52 consecutive weeks) about
200 BCE, The Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees both speak of the same
kind of calendar, and another 364 day calendar was found in the ruins of Masada.
These four witnesses prove conclusively that many Judeans were making use of
43
a 364 day calendar composed of 52 consecutive weeks, at least as early as 200
years before the advent of the Messiah.
Instead of trying to explain this to the reader, it is best that we simply quote from the
sources of this information so that the reader can look up the information for
themselves.
"It is clear from the scrolls recovered at Qumran (the Dead Sea scrolls)
that some among the ancient Jewish sects did once adhere to a calendar
of weeks. As is further explained below, there is little doubt but that a
formal calendar—predicated upon an annual reckoning of 52 weeks or
364 days—was religiously used by a sect that once resided at Qumran.
"It is also clear from literature produced/circulated outside of Qumran that
mainstream Judeans were quite familiar with some version of this
respective calendar. For example, the use of a weekly calendar of 364
days can be recited from the 'Book of Jubilees'. A calendar of weeks can
also be recited from other literature that was circulated among more
mainstream Jews. Consequently, it seems probable that some kind of a
calendar predicated upon the reckoning of the week was in rather
widespread usage in Judea around the time of the first century.
"A study of the cited calendar of weeks reveals that the week unit (a 7-day
cycle) was almost surely reckoned across long cycle segments of weeksof-years (or 7-year cycles). Ultimately, great cycles of 7 years and 70
years appear to have been time tracked.
"The origin of this peculiar calendar of weeks may herald from the time of
the Jewish kings (in the 7th century BCE). It is reasonably clear that this
respective calendar may have been in use at Jerusalem at the beginning
part of the 6th century BCE. Consequently, it seems possible that some
version of a calendar predicated upon weeks-of-days and weeks-of-years
was used in the environs of Jerusalem throughout the Second-Temple
Era.
"What is remarkable is that the epoch of the solar year can almost
perfectly be determined through a simple method of reckoning weeks-ofdays across weeks-of-years. As such, it is possible that early astronomers
at Jerusalem were quite capable of precisely defining the limits of the
solar year (in average time).”29
While there are some who would attempt to make the Dead Sea Scrolls prove lunar
sabbaths, the truth does not line up with this theory. The Qumram community were
generally keeping a 364 day solar calendar, although it is possible they were also aware
29The
Significance Of 70 Years, by James Dyer, http://www.creation-answers.com/seventy.htm
44
of the lunar cycles (since lunar cycle observations were also found at Qumram). For
those willing to “do the math” 364 days is evenly divided by 7. Even if the Essenes of
Qumram were keeping a "lunar-solar calendar" I have to say that this proves nothing,
because a "lunar-solar calendar" does not prove lunar sabbaths. It only proves that
people kept track of the monthly cycle based upon the moon. And while it is true that
some kept the 364 day calendar exclusively—it is more likely that many kept the 364
day calendar in conjunction with the "lunar-solar calendar".
Please notice now some actual references from the Qumram Scrolls which in various
ways point to the practice of a continual weekly cycle:
"And the year is complete - three hundred and si[xty-four] days"30
"On that day, Noah went out of the ark at the end of a complete year of
three hundred and sixty four days, on the first (day) of the week... "31
"... concerning the ages made by God, all the ages for the
accomplishment of all the events, past and future. Before ever He created
them, He determined the works of... age by age. And it was the order of
the creation of man from Noah to Abraham, until he begot Isaac; ten
weeks of years"32
This is very interesting. Here we have three of the Dead Sea Scrolls which support the
continuous weekly cycle. Could there be more? Based on the information I have, there
are actually seven manuscripts from the Dead Sea Scrolls which shows that the
Qumram community were keeping a continuous weekly cycle of 52 weeks per year:
4Q180, 4Q252, 4QMMT, 4Q325, 4Q326, 4Q327, and 4Q394.
Along with these scrolls found at Qumram, they also found fragments from the books of
Enoch and Jubilees. What do these books give as a definition of a yearly cycle (as it
supports the continuous nature of the weekly cycle)? Please notice first what is written
in the book of Enoch:
"... Four [seasons]... divide the four portions of the year... they belong to
the reckoning of the year... one [seasonal division] in the first portal and
one in the third, and one in the fourth and one in the sixth, and the year is
completed in three hundred and sixty-four days." ('Enoch', Chapter 82:4-6,
translated by R.H. Charles).
30Scroll
4QMMT, lines 20-21, refer to 'Calendars In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Measuring Time', by
Vanderkam, P. 65
31Ibid., from Scroll 4Q252 2:2-3.
32From 4Q180, translation borrowed from 'The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls In English', Vermes, p. 520.
45
"... the exactness of the year is accomplished through its separate three
hundred and sixty-four stations." ('Enoch', Chapter 75: 2-3, translated by
R.H. Charles).
"And in those days, if five years are taken together, the sun has thirty
superabundant days; and all the days which belong to him for one of
these five years, when they are full, are three hundred and sixty-four
days." ('Enoch', Chapter 74: 10, translated by R.H. Charles).
"Happy are all the just, happy all those who walk in the paths of justice
and have no sin like the sinners, in the counting of all their days, in which
the sun goes through the heavens, entering and departing from the gates,
each time thirty times, together with the heads of the thousands of this
order of the stars, together with the four that are added and separate
between the four portions of the year, which they lead and enter with them
four days. And on their account men will be at fault, and will not count
them in the reckoning of the whole world; but men will be mistaken and
will not know them exactly. For they belong to the reckoning of the year
and are exactly marked forever, one in the first portal and one in the third
and one in the fourth and one in the sixth, and the year is completed in
three hundred and sixty-four days. And the account of it is true, and the
marked reckoning exact; for the luminaries and the months and the
festivals and the years have been shown and given me by Uriel, to whom
the Lord of all creation had given command, in reference to me, of the
host of the heavens." ('Enoch', Chapter 82: 4-7, translated by R.H.
Charles).
The book of Jubilees also give us the same understanding of the cycle of the year being
364 days (exactly 52 consecutive weeks). In fact, it even defines the Jubilee cycles as
49 year cycles as well:
"And command thou the children of Israel that they observe the years
according to this reckoning- three hundred and sixty-four days, and
(these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time
from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them
according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor
disturb any feasts." (Jubilees 6:32-33)
"Each one of them is thirteen weeks from one to another of the
remembrances, from the 1st to the second, and from the second to the
third, and from the third to the fourth, and all the days which will be
commanded will be fifty-two weeks of days, all of them are a complete
year." (Jubilees 6:29)
46
Three clear and unmistakable references which show an unbroken cycle of 7 year
weeks, cycles which extend beyond the 49 years (or 7 weeks) leading up to the year of
Jubilee—as shown in the Book of Jubilees
" . . . And then spake Jacob to Rebecca, his mother, and said unto her:
'Behold, mother, I am nine weeks of years old, and I neither know nor
have I touched any woman, nor have I betrothed myself to any, nor even
think of taking me a wife of the daughters of Canaan. For I remember,
mother, the words of Abraham, our father, for he commanded me not to
take a wife of the daughters of Canaan, but to take me a wife from the
seed of my father's house and from my kindred. I have heard before that
daughters have been born to Laban, thy brother, and I have set my heart
on them " (Jubilees 25:4-6)
My Comments: 7 weeks is the limit of a cycle of less than 50 years. 9 weeks is in
excess of that, but no mention of an additional year to cover the year of Jubilee. Again,
this shows continual weeks of years extending beyond the four weeks which would be
found in a lunar month, and also showing that the Jubilee year was considered the first
year of the next cycle.
". . . And Isaac slept on his bed that day rejoicing; and he slept the eternal
sleep, and died one hundred and eighty years old. He completed twentyfive weeks and five years;" (Jubilees 36:18)
My Comments: 25 X 7 = 175 // 175 + 5 = 180 No question, this is over 3 jubilees long
and the count of years confirms that an extra 50th year is not in the count (showing that
the 50th year was included within the 49 year cycle). Again, this supports a continuous
weekly cycle (of years).
" . . . And Joseph took of the corn of the harvest the fifth part for the king
and left four parts for them for food and for seed, and Joseph made it an
ordinance for the land of Egypt until this day. And Israel lived in the land
of Egypt seventeen years, and all the days which he lived were three
jubilees, one hundred and forty-seven years, and he died in the fourth
[2188 A.M.] 14 year of the fifth week of the forty-fifth jubilee. . . . (Jubilees
45:12-14)
My Comments: 3 X 49 = 147, exactly 3 Jubilee cycles. The numbers from Jubilees add
up exactly, and show 21 continuous weekly cycles (of years).
This is what I found in my search of Jubilees. There is probably more evidence that I
have yet to find. No question about it, the book of Jubilees confirms that from about the
time the book was written (about 150 BCE) it was a general understanding that the
sabbatical/jubilee years were a repeating cycle of 49 years, the jubilee year being the
1st year of the next cycle. It also, because of its mention of a 364 day year, proves that
47
it was commonly believed that the weekly cycle was a repeating cycle of 52 consecutive
weeks per year.
Now there are those who will say that Jubilees and Enoch are not Scripture. While I
agree that they are probably not Scripture, that does not mean they do not contain
certain elements of inspiration. They were even considered important by the Apostles
of Yahushua and many other Jews. And since these books were widely read and used
in Judea at that time, we have to at least consider them a valuable contributor to our
understanding of Jewish history and culture.
Please consider the evidence of just how important the Book of Enoch was to the
Apostles. Notice what is written in Enoch:
"And behold, he comes with myriads of the holy to pass judgment upon
them, and will destroy the impious, and will call to account all flesh for
everything the sinners and the impious have done and committed against
him." (Enoch 2:9)
Does this sound familiar? It should! Look what it says in the book of Jude:
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute
judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all
their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their
hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude
1:14-15)
Did the author of Jude consider the Book of Enoch to be important? Obviously! Did he
consider it to be inspired? It is a possibility!
The Qumram Scrolls and the books of Jubilee and Enoch are not the only places that a
continuous weekly cycle are taught (as part of a 52 week, 364 day yearly cycle) but they
were also found in the fortress of Masada. Please note this reference to that discovery:
"Parts of 14 biblical, apocryphal and sectarian scrolls found at Masada are
the first scrolls discovered outside of caves in a dated archaeological
stratum. The biblical scrolls are mostly identical with Masoretic texts but
some show slight variations. One important find was a sectarian
document identical with one found in Qumran, and using a 364-day
calendar used also by a Dead Sea Sect. This was a proof that the Dead
Sea Scrolls were dated correctly."33
33Temple
Models, http://www.yahrzeit.org/text_link/masada_text/textpage97.htm
48
A yearly count of 364 days is specifically mentioned not only in the Dead Sea Scrolls of
Qumran, but are also found in the books of Enoch and Jubilees, as well as documents
discovered in the ruins of Masada. Evidently, the use of a solar-based calendar of 364
days in a year was well known in Judea at the time of the Messiah. To suggest that this
was part of a plan to "phase out" a supposed lunar calculation of the weeks is totally
without warrant. It proves conclusively that the continuous, uninterrupted, weekly cycle
was well known as far back as 200 years before the advent of the Messiah.
Now some will say that even though the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Enoch were
found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, this fact does not prove that they were widely read
by the people of Judea. Were these merely the writings of an eccentric Essene Jew
whose obscure work was found by modern researchers, preserved in a cave? Well, we
do have evidence that these books were indeed widely read by Judeans (at least, by
the time of the apostles in the first century CE). Please review the evidence for
yourselves: First, let’s establish the context from which the Book of Jubilees comes
from. Here is a statement from an online study of the book of Jubilees:
“Given the fact that at least fourteen copies of it have been identified from
the Qumran caves, it is clear that the Book of Jubilees was a popular and
probably authoritative text for the community, which implies that the
sectarians took seriously the text’s claim to be divine revelation mediated
to Moses by the angel of the presence.”34
This statement (among many others I could have quoted) shows that Jubilees was an
important book for the Qumram community, and may even have been authored by one
of its members (although this cannot be proven conclusively). But does this mean that
the Essenes of Qumram were the only group that knew of that book? Wikepedia gives
more background information on that book which clearly indicates that it was more
widely read than just in the Qumram community:
"The Book of Jubilees . . . sometimes called the Lesser Genesis
(Leptogenesis), is an ancient Jewish religious work. It was well known to
Early Christian writers in the East and the West. Later it was so
thoroughly suppressed that no complete Greek or Latin version has
survived. It was once part of the Jewish midrash, and is still considered
canonical for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, where it is known as the
"Book of Division" (Ge'ez:Mets'hafe Kufale); it is considered
pseudepigraphal by most Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern
Orthodox Christians. In the modern scholarly view, it reworks material
found in the Biblical books of Genesis and Exodus in the light of
traditionalist concerns of some 2nd century BC Jews. . . . .
"The book was evidently held in high regard by the Early Church Fathers
of the Christian Church. However, the Jewish Sanhedrin declared it
34
http://www.abu.nb.ca/Courses/NTIntro/InTest/Jubilees.htm
49
and several other books to be no longer included in the Hebrew
Bible at the Council of Jamnia, ca. 85 AD."35
If Jubilees had not been widely known, it would not have been necessary for the Jewish
Sanhedrin to declare it “to be no longer included” within the Hebrew Scriptures in the
year 85 CE. Thus, regardless of how Jubilees is viewed, it evidently had been well
known enough that there was a dispute over its inclusion within the canon of Scripture.
Such fights don’t normally occur over books which are not widely known and read.
I believe that the idea that Jubilees was an obscure book from the ancient past is
reinforced by the fact that once it was suppressed most copies of it were destroyed, few
people knew about it, and few copies of it were ever found. However, fragments have
been found in Greek, Hebrew and a complete text in Ethiopic. There is a reference to
the book in Syriac also, suggesting it may have been translated into Syriac as well.
Such a wide assortment of translations into many different languages is not normally
the product of an obscure writing.
One more point which needs to be presented is the fact that a reference to Jubilees can
even be found in the writings of the apostle Peter. So let's look at a statement from
Jubilees which just happens to also deal with our topic:
"And at the close of the nineteenth jubilee, in the seventh week in the
sixth year thereof, Adam died, and all his sons buried him in the land of
his creation, and he was the first to be buried in the earth. And he lacked
seventy years of one thousand years; for one thousand years are as one
day in the testimony of the heavens and therefore was it written
concerning the tree of knowledge: 'On the day that ye eat thereof ye shall
die.'" (Jubilees 4:29)
Adam dies (according to the author of Jubliees) near the end of 19 Jubilees. Scripture
confirms that this was 930 years. 19 Jubilees using a count of 50 years per cycle would
be almost 950 years, not 930. And yet, by using a 49-year cycle it is much more in line
with what Scripture teaches. Adam lived 930 years and so it is obvious he died in his
931st year, just as you would calculate the life of any other person today. 931 years is
exactly 19 Jubilees using 49-year cycles—confirming once again that it uses a
continuous weekly cycle. But another important statement here is where we find that
"one thousand years are as one day." Where else is such a statement recorded?
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with
[Yahweh] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2
Peter 3:8)
If Peter does not wish us to be "ignorant" of the fact that a thousand years are as a day,
then isn't he telling us that he does not want us to be ignorant of what the Book of
35The
Book of Jubilees, Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilees
50
Jubilees says? Doesn't this give the Book of Jubilees much more weight of authority in
our minds than before? It should! While we can rightly question the "inspiration" of
Jubilees and Enoch, we have to admit that since they are given authority in the minds of
the Apostles—they must be important for us to study and understand. The authors of
the books of Jubilees and Enoch could not have been lunar sabbatarians, and yet their
books were so widely read that they were considered by some Judeans to even be part
of Scripture—at least as late as the year 85 CE.
18. The History of the Conflict Between Sunday Keeping and Sabbath Keeping
Shows that Sabbath Has Always Been Understood to Mean the Day
Commonly Called “Saturday”.
The early believers in Messiah kept the sabbath day, as is attested to by
countless historical documents. When the time came for Sunday keeping to be
introduced, the conflict was very obviously a conflict between a 7 th day Sabbath
(on Saturday) and the “Lord’s Day” (1st day, on Sunday). In no place is there any
record of a conflict between Sunday and a floating sabbath, nor is there any
record of a conflict between Saturday and a floating sabbath. On that issue
history is silent. But history is full of detailed information about the conflict over
the 7th day Sabbath verses the 1st day festival to Sol Invictus.
Socrates Scholasticus, 440 C.E.:
"For although almost all churches throughout The World celebrated the
sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of
Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refuse to
do this." [Footnote on “Sabbath”: "That is, upon the Saturday. It should be
observed, that Sunday is never called "the Sabbath' by the ancient
Fathers and historians."]36
We should add that by this time the Christians were also keeping the day of the Sun as
a special festival day, for it was about 2-3 centuries prior to this that Sunday began to
be observed by the Christians. Those who lived in Alexandria, Egypt and Rome had
“ceased” to keep the Sabbath. That means that they at one time were indeed keeping
the Sabbath. While it doesn’t identify directly what the “Sabbath” day is (except as is
obviously inferred by the use of the word Sabbath, and as indicated in the footnote—
i.e., the Jewish Sabbath [Saturday]) it DOES identify the frequency of its being kept and
the cycle that is being used. “every” tells us it is a repeating event, “week” tells us it is
the typical 7 day week which has survived to this day from ancient times.
Sozomen, 443-450 C.E.
36Socrates,
"Ecclestical History," Book 5, chap. 22, p. 289.
51
"The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble
together on the sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which
custom is never observed at Rome or Alexandria (7:19)."37
The context of this statement plainly reveals that “sabbath” is kept in contrast to “the first
day” and that both of them are a part of that cycle of time called a “week”.
Those who propose the lunar sabbath teaching not only have no scriptural basis for
their beliefs (as has been shown) but their belief also lacks historical foundation. 38 The
only ways they can convince people to accept this lunar sabbath doctrine is to either
“re-write history” or convince people to ignore the testimony of history based upon the
faulty extreme understanding of “Scripture Only”. The rally cry of the Protestant
Reformation was “Scripture and Scripture Alone”—but the objective of that theme was
to rid them of doctrines which came from the traditions of man. Now the lunar
sabbatarian has turned that rally cry on it’s head by introducing faulty logic and distorted
Scripture references. The result is that they do the very thing which they profess not to
do! They have introduced a tradition and doctrine of man, while claiming it is based on
Scripture. Once they have their followers almost convinced with their many words, then
they put the seal on their doctrine by declaring that they must use “Scripture and
Scripture Alone” and so therefore they must consider all history as being unreliable.
They either will not use any history to help them find the truth of the true sabbath, or
they will allow only certain statements from history and pervert the meaning of other
historical documents to support their strange views. And yet they end up taking the
word of some modern day teacher to tell them that the weekly cycle we have now is
completely of pagan origin. What blindness!! While it is true that history contains its
own share of distortions, mistranslations and even outright lies—for the true student of
Scripture it still has an important role in his study of the Word, provided it is used to
augment (not supercede) his fundamental use of Scripture.
19. If we assume that the Jews were keeping lunar sabbaths at the time of
Messiah, the question we have to ask is "when did it change?" And, "how did
it change?"
All of the historical evidence we have available to us shows that the Jews kept
the Sabbath on the day the Romans call "Saturns day", and in the following
centuries when the Sabbath was replaced with Sunday, it is always clearly
indicating that this "Sunday" was the day after the Jewish Sabbath.
If there were a change in the Sabbath, such a change would have produced a
controversy. The only "controversy" regarding the Sabbath mentioned in history is in
regard to the debate between keeping the 7th day sabbath and the "lord's day"
(Sunday). For those who say "show the evidence of when the Jews stopped keeping
37
Socrates, "Ecclesiastical History," Book 7, chap.19.
good website to go to for historical information regarding the continuous nature of the 7th day Sabbath,
please go to Sabbath Truth at http://www.sabbathtruth.com/history/sabbath_history5.asp
38A
52
the new moon as a 'special sabbath,'" please realize that there is no record of that
because the "new moon" was not kept as a Sabbath (except for the new moon of the
7th month).
In ancient times travel was slow so once people arrived in a location they tended to stay
there a long period. Those who became isolated would tend to hold onto many of their
ancient beliefs a long time. Thus we would expect to find lunar sabbaths being
observed by those groups of Israelites who were dispersed through the nations.
However, in not even a single instance can we find any group of ancient Jews (or lost
Israelites) who kept lunar sabbaths. Instead, they were often found keeping the 7th day
Sabbath.
As if that were not enough, we must consider the fact that most of the lunar
sabbatarians believe that the Messiah (along with the rest of the Jews living at that time)
kept lunar sabbaths. If this were the case, then why is it that we do not have ANY
historical evidence that the Jews living then switched from keeping lunar sabbaths to
the regular weekly Sabbath? The answer is simple: the Jews never kept lunar
sabbaths!
Let us consider the deep ramifications of such a scenario—that the Jews suddenly
abandoned lunar sabbaths for a weekly Sabbath. Lunar sabbatarians have to believe
that all Jews throughout the world lost track of the true “lunar sabbath”. Where are the
truehearted believers who continued to keep the lunar sabbaths? Where is their
testimony? What of those who were isolated from the rest of the world? Why is it that
these isolated Jews continued to keep the 7th day weekly Sabbath, instead of lunar
sabbaths? And where is the documentation that lunar sabbaths were changed?
Answer: there is no documentation of lunar sabbaths (among the Jews) nor of any
change.
Now when faced with such overwhelming evidence of Jews (and Christians, and
Messianic groups) who continued to keep the 7th day Sabbath, the lunar sabbatarian
has no choice but to invoke the argument that history has been completely re-written,
much of the evidence has been destroyed or altered, and therefore that is why the
evidence is lacking. It is true that throughout history attempts have been made (and
continue to be made) to suppress and or alter the truth of various events. But along
with this attempt to suppress “truth” there has always been a faithful witness
somewhere attesting to what the truth is. In fact, there have been many faithful
witnesses who were willing to die for what they believed! Yet, the lunar sabbatarian
searches in vain through countless historical documents to find not one single shred of
historical evidence of the keeping of lunar sabbaths by either the Jews or the Christians.
It is simply not there and therefore this excuse that history (and/or Scripture) has been
altered is simply without merit.
Even though there is no evidence of lunar sabbaths being kept in ancient times (except
possibly in Babylon and Assyria), and ABSOLUTELY NO HISTORICAL EVIDENCE AT
53
ALL that the Jews ever kept lunar sabbaths, the lunar sabbatarian will argue that in time
the evidence will be found and their belief in keeping lunar sabbaths will be vindicated.
They tend to believe that the history of lunar sabbaths has been almost completely
destroyed. Please notice what one prominent lunar sabbatarian has proposed along
these lines:
“I might also add that I believe more historical information will be
forthcoming but I also believe that much historical proof of a lunar
reckoning has been destroyed to hide the truth and further the deceitful
schemes Satan has devised many ways to keep us from walking
Yahweh’s way of truth and light.”39
It is true that Satan has attempted to deceive the very elect in these last days (and even
throughout history). But Yahweh has set a limit to his power to deceive and will not
allow every single piece of historical evidence concerning truth to be altered or
destroyed—not without a faithful witness to preserve at least some of it. And yet, many
lunar sabbatarians would have us believe that ALL historical evidence (except, of
course, historical evidence which supports their teaching) is unreliable.
Is there some historical record (any record will suffice) that the “true” Sabbath of
Yahweh has been lost by the Jews? We need to see an official, historically
documented, record of that change. Lunar sabbatarians do not have such a document
and therefore their argument that we should be keeping lunar sabbaths is completely
without merit.
20. Jewish Historian Josephus Testifies of Continuous Weekly Cycle.
According to Josephus, an historian only a few decades after the time of the
Messiah, the Jews kept the Sabbath (like Sabbatical years) in a repeating cycle
consisting of 7 days. Here is the quote, from The Wars of the Jews:
"And as the siege was delayed by this means, the year of rest came on,
upon which the Jews rest every seventh year as they do on every
seventh day."40
Do we just ignore all of this evidence or do we humble ourselves as Yahweh has
revealed His truth to us in His word?
21. Jewish Historian Philo Testifies of Continuous Weekly Cycle.
“It [number seven] was also greatly honoured by Moses, a man much
attached to excellence of all sorts, who described its beauty on the most
The Burning Question: Sabbath – When is it? by Ernie L. Hoch, 1/18/2002,
http://www.yahwehmusic.com/covenants/burningquestion.htm , pp. 2, 10.
40Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book I, ch. 2, sect. 4:
39From
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holy pillars of the law, and wrote it in the hearts of all those who were
subject to him, commanding them at the end of each period of six days to
keep the seventh holy; abstaining from all other works which are done in
the seeking after and providing the means of life, devoting that day to the
single object of philosophizing with a view to the improvement of their
morals, and the examinations of their consciences.”41
Conclusion: Lunar Sabbaths are a Deception
In these last days, Satan is working with all power and lying wonders to deceive (if
possible) the very elect (Matthew 24:24). His great desire is to cause those who have
already placed themselves under “the sign of the covenant” (which is the Sabbath) to
become confused about that “sign” and turn away from that covenant. If he cannot get
them to keep “Sunday” in place of the true 7 th day Sabbath, then He will be just as
satisfied to have them turn to “floating sabbaths” (as taught by lunar sabbatarians).
Are lunar sabbaths clearly taught in Scripture? No, they are not. And yet the Torah
clearly shows that Yahweh does not have a problem telling us EXACTLY what He
expects of us in many different areas, as well as EXACTLY what punishment we will
receive for not doing as we are commanded. In Leviticus 18, for example, Torah
explicitly lists in ever so precise detail exactly what sexual relations we can or cannot
engage in (no relations with a sister, mother, step-mother, another male, animals,
menstruating women, married woman, etc.). Where are the precise, exact, legislations
in regard to keeping lunar sabbaths? I know of none.
Is there anyplace in Scripture where it plainly says that the weekly cycle must be
patterned after the sun or moon? If lunar sabbaths are truly based upon Scripture,
would we have to search all over Scripture to find even a glimmer of a hint of lunar
sabbaths? When something that is simple (like the continuous weekly cycle) is made to
become complicated (with lunar sabbaths) then the implication of such a system is that
it is a serious mistake. It is Satan who has complicated our lives on this earth, not
Yahweh. Some lunar sabbatarians will reluctantly admit that this “truth” of lunar
sabbaths is not so plainly presented in Scripture, therefore they have to "dig deep" to
find the supposed "truth" of lunar sabbaths. The point of my whole presentation here is
that if lunar sabbaths were not really plainly presented (whether true or not), then we
would have no sin for not keeping lunar sabbaths.
The Works of Philo, translated by C. D. Yonge, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, “On the
Creation,” XLIII, sect. 128, p. 18.
41Cf.,
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The Messiah once said when addressing a question from the Pharisees. As it is written
in John 9:40-41:
"And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and
said unto him, Are we blind also? Yahushua said unto him, If ye were
blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin
remaineth."
One thing which I have noticed among most of those who advocate the lunar sabbath
doctrine is that they are often spiritually intolerant of those who insist on keeping the 7 th
day Sabbath. They believe that they “see”, and readily accuse others who do not agree
with them of blindness. They may even accuse us of the “rejection of the holy spirit.”
While I do not "know it all” (as I have also been accused) I am just as capable of being
in error as anyone else. So, if lunar sabbaths were based upon Scripture, and I could
have clear and convincing statements upon which to build my faith, I would be among
the first to adopt the keeping of them—regardless of the financial, social, political, or
even physical consequences of such a decision.
The typical explanation of why lunar sabbaths are not clearly spelled out in Scripture is
because it is a “hidden” message (a great secret) which is only to be revealed to the
“vessels of honor.” But let us suppose (as lunar sabbatarians would have us believe)
that this doctrine is some sort of “mystery” which only the righteous can come to see
and accept. And let us presume (as some would have us do) that it is a sin to keep the
Sabbath without regard to the cycle of the moon (while Yahweh does not appear to
plainly teach this in the Torah). Well then, the words of Messiah written above are just
as valid for me as well: If we are "blind" then we truly have no sin! If we are blind to this
teaching (and should it prove to be true after all), then our blindness is not because of
unbelief or rejection of the plain teachings of Scripture. If we are “blind” for keeping
continuous weekly 7th day Sabbaths (assuming that lunar sabbaths are the correct ones
to keep) then our blindness cannot be a source of condemnation. If it is true that
Yahweh intended to keep this lunar sabbath issue a secret from us, then not only are
we blameless, but the character of Yahweh could be called into question.
We have covered this subject in detail and have found that lunar sabbaths are not
based upon Scripture. Yahweh does not wish us to be ignorant of truths which are of a
salvational nature. That is why He has given to us HIS Word, so that we will be without
excuse. Therefore, He does not and would not play games with us on a subject as
important as which day we should keep as the Sabbath. If the Sabbath were to be
based upon the cycles of the moon, Yahweh should have plainly said so in HIS Word.
But He doesn’t, and instead gives us plenty of evidence to show that the weekly cycle is
a continuous cycle of 7 days per week over a period of consecutive weeks. Of course,
the truth of the matter is that Yahweh does tell us about the true Sabbath. He tells us of
seven continuous weeks leading to Pentecost. He tells us of seven continuous weeks
of years leading to the year of Jubilee. He gave the Israelites manna for 40 years, 6
days of manna and none on the seventh, with not the slightest hint that such a cycle
was to be interrupted by the new moon during those 40 years. The true sabbath is a
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celebration to commemorate the creation week, and therefore does not need to have
the moon to determine its cycle. Genesis 2 plainly tells us what the weekly cycle is
based upon:
“And on the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and
he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And
Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he
had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.” (Genesis
2:2-3)
And the book of Hebrews places this issue in its proper perspective, as it plainly tells us
the reason for the Sabbath—that it was to give us rest so that we could enter into His
rest. Those who follow lunar sabbaths cannot truly enter into this rest, for they disrupt
that rest by changing the day of rest every month. How can one enter into Yahweh’s
rest if they must alter the cycle of rest every month?
“For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And
Elohim did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place
again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that
some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered
not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in
David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts. For if Yahushua had given them rest, then
would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth
therefore a rest to the people of Elohim. For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as Elohim did from his. Let
us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief. For the word of Elohim is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:4-12)
At the time that Hebrews was written, the book of Jubilees was a most popular writing
(as we have previously discovered in this article)—popularly considered by many even
to be part of the canon of Scripture. I do not believe Jubilees is part of the canon of
Scripture, but the point is it would have been well known at that time. In the book of
Jubilees the continuous nature of the week was clearly established with a 52 continuous
week year composed of 364 days per year—yet none of the Jewish Rabbis of that time
rejected it because of their supposed lunar sabbaths being challenged by a 52 week
continuous cycle. Therefore, we have both a Scriptural and historical foundation for
knowing that the continuous weekly Sabbath was known and being kept at the time of
Messiah Yahushua. Therefore {according to Hebrews) for those who continue to
remain steadfast in their keeping of the continuous weekly Sabbath, Yahushua has
indeed given them rest. He has not therefore “afterward. . . spoken of another day”—
whether it be the “sol invictus” ("the undefeated Sun" or Sunday) or lunar sabbaths.
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