Answers to a COG Calendar Doctrinal Statement
There resides a deep and abiding resistance to the elements of the God given calendar residing in the Word of God. This resistance has caused what can only be described as either a willing or involuntary (spiritual inertia) lack of investigative diligence, for so many, regarding the subject of the calendar. It is accepted that a functioning calendar required an understanding of when a day begins, when a month begins and when a year begins. All of this information has been given to us by God. The ingenious way that God has provided that information has, for the most part, not been recognized for its awesome value. It seems that the majority of the "Churches of God" stand firm in their belief that there is either not enough information for a calendar in the Bible or even say that there is no calendar in the Bible.
It is easy enough to understand why there is such a popular attraction to the Jews mathematically calculated calendar. It made it easy for the Jews for more than 1500 years to establish a form of unity. That form of unity was valued by Mr. Armstrong and the leadership of the church that Mr. Armstrong was the head of. The Jews calendar makes it easy to declare, years in advance, the day that they think that Gods commanded appointed times would be. But at what cost has it been to the way of God to have this intended convenience. The creations foundation can be defined as: that which is true. There is NO BIBLICAL TRUTH that resides in the Jews calculated calendar.
The following are quotes from a COG "Hebrew Calendar Doctrinal Statement" that will be responded to.
1. The Bible does not provide us the complete means for calculating a calendar.
2. The Bible clearly indicates that there were the components of a calendar in existence almost from the beginning: hours, days, months, seasons, and years are all mentioned. These are the essential elements of any calendar.
3. Most calendars that are being proposed use the new moon as the beginning of the month. While we would not disagree with this principle, we know of no definitive biblical statement to that effect. We accept the new moon as the beginning of the month, and there are references in the Bible which indicate that the new moon was the beginning of the month. But we know of no clear statement that the calendar is to be calculated on this basis.
4. When God gave the Holy Days to Israel, they were not in the land of Judah. What city was used in the book of Exodus for the frame of reference? None is identified. Where is the authority for choosing Jerusalem? This concept was accepted by the Jews, but it is not found in Scripture.
5. The vernal equinox is referred to as the first day of spring. This is virtually universal in the various calendars. There is no statement in the Bible to this effect. Most calendars also assume that Passover must always fall after this vernal equinox. Again, the Bible is silent on this issue.
6. The point in all this is very simple. Every calendar is based up on some assumptions. While we can argue that some of these assumptions make more sense than others, we cannot argue the point of a “pure” biblical calendar. The question really comes down to: Which calendar will we accept? The one preserved by the Jews for at least 1,500 years? Or one devised by others?
7. At this point in time we have not seen enough evidence to cause us to reject the currently accepted Hebrew Calendar.
8. (From a Letter from Mr. Armstrong in the spring of 1940.) "In conclusion, unless God
has preserved His sacred calendar through the Jews, then we do not know how to figure Passover or any of the Holy Days this year. For there is no authority for any other way."
9. There appears to be no dispute (at least none is recorded) regarding the calendar calculations during the time of Christ and the apostles.
10. In Romans 3:1-2 Paul states very clearly that the Jews received the oracles: --- Could the calendar be among these oracles? We really have no evidence to believe otherwise.
11. Is it possible that the Jews are wrong in the calendar they have preserved?
12. We accept the Scriptures as being the Word of God, faithfully preserved for our benefit by the Jewish people. If we do not accept the Hebrew Calendar, then which calendar should we accept?
13. How will you use the vernal equinox--the nearest new moon to it, the one just before it, or the one just afterwards? All would be in the vicinity of spring. But which would be right? And how would you know?
14. The Holy Days are observed on days of the year, based on a calendar. Some people have taken it up on themselves to determine the calendar.
15. There will continue to be an ongoing study into this matter. We currently have seen no evidence that would cause us to reject the Hebrew Calendar that has been accepted in the Church of God since at least 1940.
Those are the statements that require a valid response. They will be considered in their numerical order.
But by far the first thing that should be done is to provide the verses that sum up Gods calendar. They are all familiar and may seem brief but they contain uniquely critical information. The information that's provided by Strong Exhaustive Concordance is very important and has to be carefully considered.
Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lightsH3974 in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs,H226 and for seasons,H4150 and for days,H3117 and years:H8141
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights;H3974 (H853) the greater lightH3974 to rule the day, and the lesser lightH3974 to rule the night: he made the stars also.
3974 From H215; properly a luminous body or luminary, that is, (abstractly) light (as an element); figuratively brightness, that is, cheerfulness; specifically a chandelier: - bright, light.
The principle factor to be aware of from these verses is that the light from the sun and the moon are to provide the foundation of the Biblical calendar. "let them (sun and moon) be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" The focus of the first few words of Genesis 1:14 and verse 16 is on the light of the sun and moon. Now there are only three other verses that complete the foundation of the structure of Gods calendar.
Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib (young ear of grain), and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.Psa 104:19 He appointed the moon (the lesser LIGHT) for seasonsH4150: the sun knoweth his going down.
H4150 mo-ade' From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival;
These three verses teach us that the first month is in the spring and that the moon is to be used in the observance of the "appointed times" or Holy Days. And using Genesis 1:14 and Psalm 104:19 together we can see that it is the light from the moon that makes it possible to keep the Holy Days at their proper time.
Now, it is so necessary to get as full an understanding as possible of the word signs in
Gen 1:14
"Let there be lights in the firmament --- and let them be for signsH226",
H226 oth Probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.: - mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token.
It is most important to understand the actual meaning of this word. The lights in the firmament, the sun and moon, are to be for "signals". What we have to do is be aware of what the signal is and when the signal occurs. The basic information is given to us. What we have to do is apply what logic we have to discern God's purpose for the light of the sun and of the moon. And we are given help such as the term "new moon". So what would be the unique signal that would make it possible to know when the Holy Days would occur? It is the first light that the moon presents that signals the beginning of a month. This occurs after the moon has disappeared for a time. As will be shown later, this was the method that was used during the time of Jesus.
Now we are able to begin evaluating the statements that are made in this COG Calendar Doctrinal Statement.
1. "The Bible does not provide us the complete means for calculating a calendar." By the evidence that has been given one should be able to see that there is a calendar given in the Bible.
2. A calendar does need to include days months and years. The essential elements are clearly given in Genesis 1:14.
3. "But we know of no clear statement that the calendar is to be calculated on this basis." The basis spoken of is the new moon basis. After a careful examination of the verses previously given we should be able to understand how important the first light of the moon is regarding the beginning of the month.
4. "What city was used in the book of Exodus for the frame of reference? None is identified." This statement is in reference to the timing of the Holy Days. It is true that the calendar was in use before the Israelites got to Jerusalem. Therefore they had to wait for the light of the sun or moon to give them direction for the calendar, where ever they were. This would include determining the spring equinox and the moons first light (new moon) The sundial can be used for determining the equinox and its history goes back 3500 years BCE. The example of the Israelites use of God's calendar in the wilderness and later has determined the calendar we use today. We wait for the signals given by the "light" of the sun and the moon to come to us.
5. "There is no statement in the Bible to this effect". This statement is in reference to the relevance of the vernal equinox. This comment by this COG magnifies the need to understand the completeness of the instructions given in Genesis 1:14. Once again we are looking for a signal. This time it comes from the light of the sun to determine when the year begins. --- Let there be lights in the firmament ------- and let them be for signs (signals), and for seasons, and for days, and years:
What then could possibly be a signal that can come from the sun beside the sunset that announces the beginning of a day? There are four of them: summer solstice, winter solstice, spring equinox and fall equinox. But we are interested in only one of them that would be related to a Biblical year. We are told that the first month of the year is in the spring, so then; the signal that we are interested in would be the spring equinox.
As the Israelites waited for the new moon in their wanderings, so also they waited for the spring equinox to give them the signal from which they could then look for the first new moon of the year. As they waited so we should wait for that signal, wherever we are, to then look for the first new moon of the year. God's way is sublime in its perfection and its simplicity. We have never tired of seeing the first light of the new moon as it, from month to month, inspires us as we witness a most important aspect of God's creation. There are calculations that guide us in our ability to see that first light but we depend on our observation or someone else's in our area if the clouds hamper our vision.
6. The statement that "every calendar is based up on some assumptions" is not a true statement. This paper explicitly expounds on the calendar that had been given to Israel and to us by God. God would not have commanded Holy Days to be kept without giving us the information of when to keep them.
7. This calendar paper states that "at this point in time we have not seen enough evidence to cause us to reject the currently accepted Hebrew Calendar". One can only say that they hadn't been given the evidence of God's Biblical calendar at that time that their paper was written.
8. From Mr. Armstrong: --- "In conclusion, unless God has preserved His sacred calendar through the Jews, then we do not know how to figure Passover or any of the Holy Days this year. For there is no authority for any other way." Mr. Armstrong gave the Jews calculated calendar the distinction of being sacred. How can something that is inspired solely by the mind of man be considered sacred? (this does not take into consideration the influence of nefarious external forces). Unfortunately for the Church of God over these past decades, Mr. Armstrong was not aware of the Biblical calendar and of the priceless knowledge contained in Genesis 1:14 and among the other verses mentioned.
9. Were there calculations at the time of Jesus? Yes there were.
"In mishnaic times [the Mishnah was completed ca. 200 C.E.], though the authorities were familiar with astronomical calculations, the new moon was fixed on the basis of observation, which meant that, as a rule, the bet din formally proclaimed the New Month only after it had heard evidence of witnesses who had actually seen the new moon." (Encyclopedia Judaica, Volume 14, article: Rosh Ha-Shanah, p.311)
10. This COG paper states: "The oracles clearly consisted of items beyond Scripture, and most likely included the calendar." This is truly a surprising statement. It gives credibility to the "oral" Jewish oracles when none should ever be given. Oracles (utterances or words of God) were given to the Jews and later used by the church. Rom 3:2 states: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. --- Not the oracles of the Jews.
John Plunkett Building bridges Church of God Canada
"The Mishnah is the first major written redaction (edited version) of the Jewish oral traditions. The discussion, recording and editing of these humanly devised ideas was part of the scribes job and this was likely what brought them under Jesus’ ire."
11. "Is it possible that the Jews are wrong in the calendar they have preserved? We simply do not know." This is a question that should have never been asked. The calculated calendar can be off as much as a month. There is no record of two calendars used at the time of the second temple or the first temple or at any time before the first temple. The Jews did have at least two calendars some time, about four century's, after the calculated calendar began to be used. (see Karaite Judaism's calendar) Records show the Jews calculated calendar was first used in around the year 361 CE when Hillel 2 instituted it.
12. This COG asked: "We accept the Scriptures as being the Word of God, faithfully preserved for our benefit by the Jewish people. If we do not accept the Hebrew Calendar, then which calendar should we accept?" Once aware of the calendar that was given by God in the Word of God one can rejoice in the privilege to keep time as God has ordained.
13. "How will you use the vernal equinox--the nearest new moon to it, the one just before it, or the one just afterwards? All would be in the vicinity of spring. But which would be right? And how would you know?" When one understands that God has given us "signals" by the light of the sun and moon you would know what to look for in the spring as a marker or signal giving "permission" to begin a new year --- next, then look for the signal of the new moon. That new moon would then begin the first month of the year.
14. "The Holy Days are observed on days of the year, based on a calendar. Some people have taken it up on themselves to determine the calendar." That is a very true statement. There are proponents of many calendars that believe they are keeping Godly time. Yet, God has one calendar and it has been given to us in His word.
15. Lastly, this COG has this to say. "There will continue to be an ongoing study into this matter. We currently have seen no evidence that would cause us to reject the Hebrew Calendar that has been accepted in the Church of God since at least 1940." As the result of the evidence given in this paper we can see --- God has given us a calendar. As final aspects of information the following is offered.
Hebrew Roots\New Moon; sighting the new moon
“In the times of the Second Temple it appears from the Mishnah (R. H. i. 7) that the priests had a court to which witnesses came and reported. This function was afterward taken over by the civil court (see B. Zuckermann, “Materialien zur Entwicklung der Altjüdischen Zeitrechnung im Talmud, “Breslau, 1882). The fixing of the lengths of the months and the intercalation of months was the prerogative of the Sanhedrin, at whose head there was a patriarch or THÑb. The entire Sanhedrin was not called upon to act in this matter, the decision being left to a special court of three. The Sanhedrin met on the 30th of each month to await the report of the witnesses."
Now, well after 1500 years of the calculated calendar used by the Jews, there is recognition that it is a "man made creation" that needs to be set aside and replaced with that which comes from God.
From Jewish and CRC-observant "Church of God" sources
The Jews readily admit that the current calculated calendar in use is indeed in error and needs reform. Note the following from Encyclopedia Judaica: "the present [calendar] system was expected to be replaced again by a system based on true values more akin to the earlier Jewish calendar in which New Moon (days of the phasis) and intercalations were proclaimed on the basis of both observation and calculation."
(Cecil Roth, editor, Encyclopaedia Judaica, Vol. 5, p.47, article: Calendar). "The rebirth of the state of Israel rekindles in us the hope that a new Sanhedrin, recognized by the whole people of Israel, will be established again in our time. It will be the task of the Sanhedrin to make a decision as to when and how the sanctified calendar of Hillel II is to be modified in accordance with the requirements of astronomy and the Torah."