Frequently Asked Questions: the New Moons (No. 158)

Christian Churches of God No. 158

Frequently Asked Questions: The New Moons

(Edition 4.0 20000405-20000909-20100318-20110925)

One of the most difficult aspects of the Law of God is that of the New Moons. Should they be kept? If so how? Should they be kept as Sabbaths? If so, what about our jobs? The world system operates in such a way as to make it very difficult for the New Moons to be kept as Sabbaths and the world’s calendar hides them. There are many questions raised on this issue.

Christian Churches of God PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA Email: [email protected]

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FAQ: The New Moons

Before we look at the questions regarding the the Passover season, the preparation day of the New Moons we should have a brief look at the fourteenth of the First Month may fall on the Calendar as set down by God. equinox but the First Holy Day of the Passover on Fifteen Nisan must fall after the equinox. The Sacred Calender is based entirely on the Thus the first day or preparation day may fall new moon. The first new moon of the year is on the equinox, but cannot precede the equinox critical in that it sets the calendar for the year. and fall into the Northern Winter season and the 15th must fall after the equinox. These Exodus 12:1-2 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron 2 were the two governing rules until the Hillel in the land of Egypt, "This month shall be for you revision of 358 CE. the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. (RSV) The New Moon is a precise astronomical If we do not know when the 1st day of the event, which is perfectly predictable. The event month is, we can not obey God in the keeping can occur on different days because of the of any of His ordained festivals – Passover, rotation of the earth. The determination of the Pentecost or Tabernacles. We can not properly New Moon, therefore, must be determined prepare for them. For instance on the First Day from the time in which it occurs in Jerusalem of the First Month is the New Year and a to ensure the uniformity of religious worship Solemn Feast Day (Psalm 80[81]: 3-5). throughout the world, given increased communication. This is based upon the Psalm 80[81]: 3-5 Blow the Trumpet in the new Scriptures that place Jerusalem as the throne of moon at the glorious day of your feast. For this is an the Lord (Jer. 3:17), the centre of the law and ordinance for Israel and a statute of the God of the point from which it will issue under Jacob. He made it to be a testimony in Joseph, when Messiah (Isa. 2:3) and through the waters of he came forth out of the Land of Egypt: … the Spirit (Zech. 8:22; 14:8-21). God has (Brenton, Hendrickson, 1992 print). placed His name there for ever (2Chr. 33:4). On the Seventh day of the First Month we must sanctify the simple and erroneous (Ezek. As mentioned, Psalm 81:3 refers to the New 45:20); the Tenth day of the Seventh Month is Moon of the First month yet the RSV and the Day of Atonement; the 14/15th days of the other translations have rendered the text: First Month are critical to the keeping of “at the new moon, at the full moon (Kehseh) Passover and Unleavened bread, and so on. ...” If “full moon” is correct then it must Each of the important dates for keeping the refer to another feast day. How can we Feasts as laid down by God is stated in the explain this away? Bible as a particular day of a particular month. This whole issue rests on the proposition that the word Kehseh (SHD 3677) refers to the full How do we know when the First New Moon moon. Yet in the KJV it is translated to read at occurs? the appointed time and the full moon is not God’s Sacred Year begins with Abib or Nisan mentioned in that translation. (Ex. 12:2). This is determined from the New Moon nearest to the spring equinox in the The word Kehseh (SHD 3677) is derived from Northern Hemisphere, which begins the the root at SHD 3680 which is Kacah. That summer season. The autumnal equinox in the word is a pre- root meaning: to plump or fill up Northern Hemisphere begins the winter season. hollows and to cover for clothing or secrecy These are the two seasons mentioned by the meaning to clad self, to close, clothe, conceal, Bible (Gen. 8:22; Ps. 74:17). to cover (self), to flee, hide or overwhelm. It has nothing to do with the full moon but rather The method of determining the month of Abib, to a time when the moon is “concealed” from which means spring, is that the Passover may our sight. not precede the equinox. Thus the First Day of FAQ: The New Moons Page 3

Strong also falls into the trap of including full The Bible makes mention of some of the moon as a base meaning leading to appointed names of the months but not all of them. It also but specifically says it means appointed (rather makes mention of some of the months by their than full moon). Canaanite names as well. It is normal practice for the Samaritans, for example, to use the However, it should be noted that the Hebrew numbers such as The First Month, Second word “Kehseh” does not mean “at the Month etc. The Modern Jewish practice is to appointed time”. It means “when it is use the names, most of which are derived from hidden”. This is proven in the Babylonian the Baylonian. They are: Talmud, page 13: 1. Nisan (March-April) or Abib (Canaanite) “It is written [Psalms, lxxxi. 3]: "Blow on the new 2. Iyyar (April-May) (or Ziv; Canaanite) moon the cornet at the time when it [the new moon] 3. Sivan (May-June) is hidden on our solemn feast day." 4. Tammuz (June-July) The Talmud’s interpretation re-establishes 5. Ab (July-August) (along with Philo), that the New Moon is to be 6. Elul (August-September) celebrated when the moon is hidden (at 7. Tishri (September-October) (or Ethanim; conjunction), and not on the sighting of the Canaanite) crescent moon. Since the Talmud was written 8. Marcheshvan (October-November) (or in the third century, long before the 4th century Bul; Canaanite) change of Psalm 81 to say “at the full moon”, it 9. Chislev (November December) is a very important historical piece of 10. Tebeth (December-January) information. 11. Shebat (January-February) 12. Adar (February-March) Some people render the text as full moon because to not do that means that they have to The cycle of twelve lunar months (354¼ days) keep the New Moon of Abib as a solemn feast falls short of the solar year (365¼ days). day. This does not suit the Jews, or the Trinitarians, or the Karaites. Green for The spring Passover-Mazzoth festival, which example gets sucked into this error. begins the cycle of agricultural feasts, needs to be kept at a set time in the year, at the The Karaites particularly do not wish to do this beginning of the Barley harvest. The Wave because they corrupt and pervert Scripture and Sheaf was the firstfruits of this harvest and have done since the twelfth century. Their represented Christ being presented before God particular little heresy did not exist until then. as the firstborn from the dead (see The Wave Sheaf Offering (No. 106b)). It is thus obvious In the Temple period the New Moon of Abib why the intercalary month is placed in Adar at was the New Year and was a solemn feast and the end of the year and not the First Month, it was determined according to the conjunction Nisan (March-April) (or Abib; Canaanite). as we know from Philo and the ancient authorities and from the Talmud as we see The intercalary month is WeAdar (or and above. See also the paper The Moon and the Adar) according to M. Ned VIII.5 (see New Year (No. 213). Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 1, p. 487). The rabbinical calculations show seven Does the Bible make mention of the names out of every nineteen years have an extra of the months? month, which we term Adar II. (Much of the above is taken from the paper. God’s Calendar (No. 156), which should be read in full.)

New Moons with the Sabbath Should New Moons be kept as Sabbaths? Page 4 FAQ: The New Moons

It has been argued that it is not for one to it is written, as a general statement in relation disprove that the New Moons are Sabbaths, but to New Moons and Sabbaths. Taking the verse to find sufficient evidence to prove that they in context, the chapter is dealing with God’s are. The New Moons were kept as Sabbaths in displeasure with His people. He is angry that ancient Israel. the Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts are not being kept correctly and that the people are not The New Moons are all significant and dealing justly with each other. important days. They are days of sacrifice, and of worship. Acknowledgment of them is vital Numbers 10:10 states that the trumpets should for keeping them. But does this mean that they be blown at all New Moons. are Sabbaths? We have seen above that the first New Moon of the year is a Solemn Feast So you are saying that Christians today need Day. Thus one of them is a Sabbath at the very to keep the New Moons as Sabbaths? I.e. no least. The New Moon of the Seventh Month is servile work and gathering with others if also the Day of Trumpets and hence also a this is possible? Solemn Feast Day. Yes. They do need to be kept as Sabbaths and Messiah will reintroduce and enforce them We will see in the other texts that the New with the Sabbath when he returns (Isa. 66:20- Moons were days of assembly and God dealt 23) together with the other feasts of God (see with Israel and the world on these New Moon Zech. 14:16-19). days. He spoke through His servants the Prophets on these days. This issue is a complex one and the New Moons are the last part in the restoration of the Where can it be shown that the New Moon understanding of the individual. There are a is a Sabbath - that no trade or heavy labour series of papers on these New Moons. Refer to can be done on this day? the list of papers at the end of this paper. The clearest texts we have are in Exodus at the Sanctification of the Temple as a Day of Why does Leviticus not mention it? Why Solemn Assembly and also in Amos 8:5. Amos does Nehemiah 10:31, which talks about not castigates Israel for wanting the Sabbath and trading on Sabbaths and Holy Days, not New Moon to be ended so that they could mention New Moons and then 2 verses later commence trading. They were keeping them, talks of the sacrifices and here does mention but God was unhappy that they were not the New Moons with the Sabbaths and Holy keeping them with a whole heart and they Days? wanted them to end to begin trading. It is mentioned in Numbers 10:10: Numbers 10:10 On the day of your gladness also, Amos 8:5 saying, "When will the new moon be and at your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings over, that we may sell grain? And the sabbath, that of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your ephah small and the shekel great, and deal peace offerings; they shall serve you for deceitfully with false balances, (RSV) remembrance before your God: I am the LORD your God." (RSV) Amos 8:5 which is the only other place which talks of trade and a New Moon is To understand Nehemiah 10:31 we first have ambiguous. Is it a general reference to all to look at Exodus 3:5 and all verses dealing new moons or could it relate to Trumpets with this, from Nehemiah 10:31-33 as a block. only, or could it even be a reference to a Exodus 3:5 And he said, “Draw not nigh hither: put seasonal requirement as with new and old off they shoes from off thy feet, for this place harvest restrictions marked by the offering whereon thou standeth is holy ground.” of the wave sheaf? There is nothing in this verse to indicate that it Nehemiah 10:31-33 And if the people of the land is dealing with any specific harvest or bring ware of any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or Trumpets. Therefore, the text should be read as on the holy day: and that we would leave the FAQ: The New Moons Page 5

seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 32 Also We should look at past history and what the we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves practice was. The trade that went on between yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; 33 For the shewbread, and the Feast High Days was only partial activity for the continual meat offering, and for the continual or work of a limited nature. People did not do burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, heavy work for trade. There was only minimal for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the activity done on these high days. If we can’t go sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and to work in the middle of Tabernacles, then we for all the work of the house of our God. certainly can’t go to work on the New Moons The word used for holy, hodesh (SHD 6944), either. It is very clear. That is the way it was means set apart, as separated and refers to all viewed anciently. days set apart to the Lord and is not simply a reference to the high days of the Feast, and has Why did Israel the Nation do heavy labour to be taken to include New Moons and on the New Moons in building the temple Atonement. We see this by the Sabbath year and travelling? For example, Exodus being included in the reference and in 10:32 40:2,17-18. there is direct reference to Atonement. In 10:33 Let’s examine the context. Exodus 40:2-16 is the entire structure of the Sabbaths, New dealing with a ceremony that needed to take Moons and Feasts is incorporated, thereby place on the first Holy Day of the Sacred Year, showing that the text in 10:31 is specifically the First Day of the First Month. In this explained in the subsequent two verses, to instance the tabernacle was to be prepared so incorporate all the Holy Days as well as New that the items inside the tabernacle could be Moons and Feasts. sanctified and then the ordination of Aaron and his sons took place and they were anointed into This should be taken as further proof that the the priesthood. restoration of the law under Nehemiah is involved in the restoration of New Moons. We In other words this was not the normal know this to be an historical fact, as the New weekday work; it was not trading, it was the Moons were kept from Nehemiah right through preparation of the tent of meeting in order to hold the services of the day. to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE and Exodus 40:2-16 "On the first day of the first month we know they were also kept by the early you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 church at the same time (Col. 2:16-17). This is And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, a second witness to Amos 8:5. 4 and you shall screen the ark with the veil. And you shall bring in the table, and set its arrangements in Is the fact that we are required to Sacrifice order; and you shall bring in the lampstand, and set 5 and worship on New Moon days sufficient up its lamps. And you shall put the golden altar for proof that these days should be treated as incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up 6 Sabbaths? What about other days which are the screen for the door of the tabernacle. You shall similar, such as the days inside the Holy set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the 7 Days of the Feasts, which are also days of tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and place the sacrifice and worship? laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and 8 During the Millennium all people will be put water in it. And you shall set up the court round about, and hang up the screen for the gate of keeping the Feasts, therefore all preparation 9 will have to be done in advance, because there the court. Then you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and will be nobody to trade with during those days. consecrate it and all its furniture; and it shall There will be punishment for not keeping them 10 become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of then, which will be visible and immediate. burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the Now the punishment is death and confinement altar; and the altar shall be most holy. 11 You shall to the Second Resurrection, which is not also anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it. immediately visible. It is nevertheless very 12 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the real. door of the tent of meeting, and shall wash them with water, 13 and put upon Aaron the holy garments, and you shall anoint him and consecrate Page 6 FAQ: The New Moons

14 35 him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the bring his sons also and put coats on them, 15 and tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. may serve me as priests: and their anointing shall (RSV) admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations." 16 Thus did Moses; according to This text shows that they were assembled for all that the LORD commanded him, so he did. the object of worship at the tabernacle. It is (RSV) actually a proof text for the keeping of the New Moon as a Day of Assembly and dedication to The chapter then skips to the next First Day of the Lord, as part of the Sanctification of the the First Month a year later. The work for the Tabernacle (see Sanctification of the Temple tabernacle had been taking place all year. This of God (No. 241)). This was all about Christ was the final putting together of the tabernacle and the cleansing of the Temple prior to the and on this occasion it was readied for the Passover, which Temple we are. Presence or the Glory of God. Again this was not the weekday work, but the readying of the References place of meeting. Exodus 40:17-35 And in the first month in the Why is the concept of New Moon being a second year, on the first day of the month, the Sabbath not directly referenced in more 18 tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the places in the Bible as the Holy Days and tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, Sabbath are? 19 and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and There are many examples in the Bible of he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the significant events taking place on a New covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had Moon. Let’s look at some of these events. 20 commanded Moses. And he took the testimony After the flood, the waters were first seen to be and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, 21 abating on the First Day of the Tenth Month. and set the mercy seat above on the ark; and he Genesis 8:5 And the waters continued to abate until brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. 22 testimony; as the LORD had commanded Moses. (RSV) And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the 23 north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and In the year 601, on the First Day of the First set the bread in order on it before the LORD; as the Month the land became dry and the ark could 24 LORD had commanded Moses. And he put the be opened up. lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table Genesis 8:13 In the six hundred and first year, in the 25 on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the first month, the first day of the month, the waters lamps before the LORD; as the LORD had were dried from off the earth; and Noah removed 26 the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the commanded Moses. And he put the golden altar in face of the ground was dry. (RSV). the tent of meeting before the veil, 27 and burnt fragrant incense upon it; as the LORD had 28 Moses was given charge of the tabernacle and commanded Moses. And he put in place the the instances of its control and use in the 29 screen for the door of the tabernacle. And he set wilderness, which began with the New Moon. the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon Exodus 40:2 "On the first day of the first month you it the burnt offering and the cereal offering; as the 30 shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. LORD had commanded Moses. And he set the (RSV) laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and 31 put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Exodus 40:17 And in the first month in the second Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle 32 feet; when they went into the tent of meeting, and was erected. (RSV) when they approached the altar, they washed; as the 33 LORD commanded Moses. And he erected the The Feasts are major examples: court round the tabernacle and the altar, and set up The New Year in the First Month (see above): the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses Psalm 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the tent in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the (KJV) FAQ: The New Moons Page 7

according to the number of names, every male, head On the Day of Trumpets in the Seventh Month: by head; 3 from twenty years old and upward, all in

Leviticus 23:24 "Say to the people of Israel, In the Israel who are able to go forth to war, you and seventh month, on the first day of the month, you Aaron shall number them, company by company. 4 shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy each man being the head of the house of his fathers. convocation. (RSV) 5a And these are the names of the men who shall attend you. (RSV) Numbers 29:1 "On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It is a day for you to blow the We see here the concept of the New Moon trumpets, (RSV) being a focal point for the assembly of the army of God. For the Sanctification of the Temple: Numbers 1:18 and on the first day of the second

2Chronicles 29:17 They began to sanctify on the month, they assembled the whole congregation first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of together, who registered themselves by families, by the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD; fathers' houses, according to the number of names then for eight days they sanctified the house of the from twenty years old and upward, head by head, LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month (RSV) they finished. (RSV) (cf. the papers Sanctification of the Temple of This highly significant event took place on a God (No. 241) and Sanctification of the Simple New Moon and God spoke through Moses to and Erroneous (No. 291)). Israel in common assembly. This was a day used for prophecy. The Temple was sanctified for seven days and Deuteronomy 1:3 And in the fortieth year, on the on the Seventh Day they sanctified the Simple first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the and the Erroneous and Israel was sanctified. people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them, (RSV) Then they proceeded for the next period to the Passover from the Eighth Day to the Tenth Many significant activities took place on this when they laid aside the Passover Lamb. Then day. on the fourteenth they went out of their gates Exodus 19:1 On the third new moon after the (Deut. 16:5-7) and all Israel kept the Passover people of Israel had gone forth out of the land of from the beginning of the Fourteenth Day and Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of through the night of the Fifteenth Day in Sinai. (RSV) watching and then on the Holy Day of the Reading on here we find that Israel stops Fifteenth Day, they kept service and sacrifice travelling and Moses goes up the mountain to and completed that evening on the Sixteenth talk to God. Moses having received his day. Unleavened Bread continued then for instructions speaks to the people on this day. another six days, with the last day being a Holy Day. Aaron was also taken to God on the New Moon of the Fifth Month of the Fortieth Year The New Moon of Trumpets was also used as a of the Exodus. day of restoration of the Law of God. Numbers 33:38 And Aaron the priest went up Nehemiah 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died before the assembly, both men and women and all there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel who could hear with understanding, on the first day had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the seventh month. (RSV) of the fifth month. (RSV)

The New Moon was a day to speak to the The restoration of the building of the Temple, people as a whole in common assembly. like the restoration of the Law, took place on Numbers 1:1-5 The LORD spoke to Moses in the the New Moon of Trumpets. wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the Ezra 3:6 From the first day of the seventh month first day of the second month, in the second year they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (RSV) 2 "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by families, by fathers' houses, Page 8 FAQ: The New Moons

The commencement of the restoration journey Ezekiel was before God on the New Moons of Nehemiah began to take place on the New and was then given prophecy because he was Year at the New Moon. The beginning took obedient to God. place on a New Moon. Thus he did not simply Ezekiel 32:1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth set out, he began. Like all major restorations it month, on the first day of the month, the word of the was effected by and on these New Moon LORD came to me: (RSV) ceremonies. Ezekiel 29:17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the Ezra 7:9 for on the first day of the first month he first month, on the first day of the month, the word began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the LORD came to me: (RSV) of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him. (RSV) Ezekiel 31:1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the He arrived on the New Moon of the Fifth LORD came to me: (RSV) Month. Are we to assume no significance in this event and simply say that he happened to The same applies to Haggai. travel, or are we to assume it was a day of Haggai 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in assembly and he timed his arrival for this the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to event? Nothing is without consequence or Zerub'babel the son of She-al'ti-el, governor of symbolism in the Bible narrative. Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehoz'adak, the high

Ezra 10:16-17 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra priest, (RSV) the priest selected men, heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them The Bible makes it very clear that it is on these designated by name. On the first day of the tenth 17 New Moons that God spoke with the prophets month they sat down to examine the matter; and when they were before Him, or in His service. by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign Why was Zerub’babel, prince in Judah, women. (RSV) consulting a prophet on the New Moon? The answer from the multiple texts shows it was There again, it is a day when Ezra and the because they went before God on these days selected men were not at their weekday work, and he gave revelation through the prophets on but were dealing with the matter of the church. these days. They commenced on the New Moon and by the New Year they had Israel ready for the The story of Jonathon and David in 1Samuel Sanctification of the Temple of God. indicates that this was a day when David would be missed if he did not attend the King’s Here we see Nisan or Abib again listed as the table on the New Moon.

First Month. 1Samuel 20:4-18 Then said Jonathan to David, 5 Esther 3:7, 12 In the first month, which is the "Whatever you say, I will do for you." David said month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasu- to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, e'rus, they cast Pur, that is the lot, before Haman day and I should not fail to sit at table with the king; but after day; and they cast it month after month till the let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the 12 6 twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Then third day at evening. If your father misses me at were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day all, then say, `David earnestly asked leave of me to of the first month. run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' 7 If he says, Were the Prophets consulted on `Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is Sabbaths and New Moons? angry, then know that evil is determined by him. 8 The book of Ezekiel is clear that it was this Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant First Day and of a month that God spoke to with you. But if there is guilt in me, slay me him. God speaks to us when we are able to yourself; for why should you bring me to your 9 listen, not when we are busy with the everyday father?" And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If affairs of our lives. I knew that it was determined by my father that evil 10 Ezekiel 26:1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of should come upon you, would I not tell you?" the month, the word of the LORD came to me: Then said David to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if (RSV) 11 your father answers you roughly?" And Jonathan FAQ: The New Moons Page 9

said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field. 12 And Jonathan The physical had to be cleansed and the said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be priesthood made ready for the Passover, as we witness! When I have sounded my father, about this have to be cleansed and made ready for the time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and second Sacrament. Only those who have been 13 disclose it to you? But should it please my father baptised as repentant adults into the body of to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan, and Christ are able to partake of the first and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send ‘Lord’s Supper’ element of the Passover. you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. This was the significance behind Christ 14 If I am still alive, show me the loyal love of the 15 cleansing the Temple, both at the beginning of LORD, that I may not die; and do not cut off your his ministry and before the Passover of his loyalty from my house for ever. When the LORD death, when he established the Lord’s Supper cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the 16 on the Preparation Day of the Cagigah meal. face of the earth, let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David. And may the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies." 17 And Thus the physical cleaning pointed towards us Jonathan made David swear again by his love for as the spiritual Temple of living stones. By our him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 18 action we intercede for the simple and Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new erroneous of Israel and thus assist in the moon; and you will be missed, because your seat protection of the nation. We assist in the will be empty. (RSV) spiritual cleansing of the Temple and so help to sanctify the nation in which we reside. Sunday 1Samuel 20:24 So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to communion entirely trivialises this process and eat food. (RSV) negates the Law of God.

Obviously the New Moons were known days The New Moon of the First Month is the start in advance and people were punished for not point of this process and the Moon represents attending. They were commenced by banquets. the church. Judaism negates God's Law in this regard also, by their Babylonian practice of It was usual to seek guidance from the Rosh Hashanah in Tishri. prophets on the New Moons and Sabbaths. This cannot be done if one is working that day. Christ’s actions in cleansing the Temple were 2Kings 4:23 And he said, "Why will you go to him in accordance with Scripture. Christ effected today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She the cleansing of the Temple of God as a said, "It will be well." (RSV) physical act in cleaning out the moneylenders and this came from the law and the cleansing Sacrifices and Offerings of the Temple of God. What was meant by cleansing the Sanctuary Ezekiel 45:18 "Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first on the New Moon of the First Month? month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and cleanse the The entire system of worship in Israel was sanctuary. (RSV) based around the Tabernacle and the Temple. This physical Tabernacle and Temple was a This cleansing began the process of copy of the heavenly structure, which is a reconciliation of man to God. It was first a spiritual edifice and Moses was shown a plan physical act in a physical Temple, to point on which to build the physical Tabernacle. towards the spiritual cleansing of the spiritual Temple. We are that spiritual Temple and the The worship of God had to be pure and He cleansing begins with us on the First New desired to be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Moon of each year. It then goes on throughout The physcial system pointed towards Messiah the year from New Moon to New Moon. This and the spiritual Temple which was the will continue in the Millennium. Numbers 28:11-15 "At the beginnings of your Church. We as the church are the spiritual months you shall offer a burnt offering to the Temple. LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs Page 10 FAQ: The New Moons

12 a year old without blemish; also three tenths of an Ezra 3:5 and after that the continual burnt offerings, ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering, mixed with the offerings at the new moon and at all the oil, for each bull; and two tenths of fine flour for a appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of 13 every one who made a freewill offering to the cereal offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram; LORD. (RSV) and a tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a cereal offering for every lamb; for a burnt offering of 14 Nehemiah 10:33 for the showbread, the continual pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD. cereal offering, the continual burnt offering, the Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and a fourth of a holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our 15 month throughout the months of the year. Also God. (RSV) one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it

shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering Ezekiel 45:17 It shall be the prince's duty to furnish and its drink offering. (RSV) the burnt offerings, cereal offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the It is now a spiritual act in a spiritual Temple sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of which makes it more powerful and just as Israel: he shall provide the sin offerings, cereal offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to mandatory. make atonement for the house of Israel. (RSV) (See the paper Tithing (No. 161).) Will the New Moons Continue? These New Moons stand with the Sabbaths and This is a particularly important example Feast Days forever or continually before the because it shows clearly that Ezekiel shut the Lord. gate of the inner court on the working days, but 1Chronicles 23:31 and whenever burnt offerings are it was open for worship on Sabbaths and New offered to the LORD on sabbaths, new moons, and Moons. feast days, according to the number required of Ezekiel 46:1-6 "Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate them, continually before the LORD. (RSV) of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be 2Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I am about to build a house opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it 2 to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices opened. The prince shall enter by the vestibule of before him, and for the continual offering of the the gate from without, and shall take his stand by showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and the post of the gate. The priests shall offer his burnt evening, on the sabbaths and the new moons and the offering and his peace offerings, and he shall appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall 3 for ever for Israel. (RSV) go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. The people of the land shall worship at the entrance of that gate before the LORD on the sabbaths and on This process continues in the three feasts. 4 Trumpets is a New Moon and hence only the new moons. The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the sabbath day shall be six Atonement is left out here. It is fast day. 5 lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish; 2Chronicles 8:13 as the duty of each day required, and the cereal offering with the ram shall be an offering according to the commandment of Moses ephah, and the cereal offering with the lambs shall for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the three be as much as he is able, together with a hin of oil to 6 annual feasts -- the feast of unleavened bread, the each ephah. On the day of the new moon he shall feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles. (RSV) offer a young bull without blemish, and six lambs and a ram, which shall be without blemish; (RSV) The Prince’s Levy is made for the sacrifices and it is the prince’s own responsibility to The prince enters by that gate on these days provide these from the levy. because it symbolises Messiah acting in 2Chronicles 31:3 The contribution of the king from entrance to Israel on non-working days; on his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the days set aside as holy to God. Christ enters the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the church and deals with us on Holy Days, burnt offerings for the sabbaths, the new moons, and Sabbaths and New Moons. This is another very the appointed feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. (RSV) important example relating to the New Moons and their importance in the Holy Spirit entering us and beginning to reorganise and to cleanse FAQ: The New Moons Page 11 us. That is the symbol of the gate being open Hosea 2:11 And I will put an end to all her mirth, and Messiah entering. her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts. (RSV)

Notice that worship is directed on both days. Amos is clear that the populace saw the New Ezekiel is directed to the millennial system Moons and Sabbaths as an impediment to their also. worldly trade and duties.

Amos 8:5 saying, "When will the new moon be Was the New Moon done away with over, that we may sell grain? And the sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the the Sacrifices? ephah small and the shekel great, and deal The Sacrifices were continued on all Sabbaths, deceitfully with false balances, (RSV) New Moons and Holy Days. The Fourth Commandment stands. Only the actual God does not allow people to keep His feasts Sacrifices were eliminated once and for all, and New Moons and proper calendar because because Christ by his crucifixion and death they are false worshippers and only those of nailed our bill of debt of sin, or the the First Resurrection Church of God are Chierogriphon, to the stake once and for all. allowed to keep them. The rest worship false gods, on false days, under a false calendar and To argue that the New Moons were eliminated know no better. They are simply not under with the Sacrifice is to argue the elimination of judgment now. the Fourth Commandment, which is plainly false. We see from David and Jonathan that the New Moon was a compulsory banquet in Israel. Why does God allow these Holy Days David knew that the only valid excuse he not to be kept? would have for not being there at a compulsory event, known well in advance, was to be The Bible is written so that people not called keeping it with his family in another location into Israel will not understand. That is why in Israel. It was the very practice of having Christ spoke in parables (Mat.13:10-14; 10:34- these observatory meals and then trying to 35; Mk. 4:11). resume normal duties and trade on the Sabbaths and New Moons that Amos is God hates the corruption of His Holy Days.

Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is specifically condemning. These people were an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and keeping the New Moons, but they were trying the calling of assemblies -- I cannot endure iniquity to end the day quickly, so they could trade. and solemn assembly. (RSV) God condemned them through the prophet

Amos for such activity, even though they kept Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed them. How much more in condemnation are feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. (RSV) those who keep banquets or special meals, acknowledging them and yet still trade on the Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied with your many Sabbath or the New Moon? Would any argue counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those that they could trade on the Sabbath because who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who they have a special meal on the Sabbath at the new moons predict what shall befall you. (RSV) evening? How then can such logic apply to the New Moon? Here the false prophets corrupted prophecy with star gazing and divination. God then said Will Christ keep the New Moons He would put an end to those sorts of Feasts, when He returns? New Moons and Sabbaths. Did that mean God During the Millennium, the Sabbaths and New would eliminate the Sabbath or New Moons or Moons will be kept.

Feasts? No, it meant He would eliminate false Isaiah 66:23 From new moon to new moon, and worshippers from keeping them. from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the LORD. (RSV) Page 12 FAQ: The New Moons

The New Testament also mentions them. This The understanding of the New Moon is the last is not stating an option as to whether they are phase in the restoration of the individual to the kept or not, but simply the manner in which knowledge of the one true God and Jesus they are kept. However, the injunction to keep Christ, or Joshua the Messiah, whom He sent them with the law is clear from previous (Jn. 17:3). The New Moon is essential to the Scriptures. keeping of the original calendar and hence the

Colossians 2:16 Therefore let no one pass judgment true feasts of the one true God. By making this on you in questions of food and drink or with regard the last and most difficult of the restoration to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. (RSV) only those with the true faith can return to God These Scripture clearly show that the New and keep His feasts on His days under His Moons were important in Israel all through its terms and laws. history. We know from Josephus that they were kept during the entire Temple period and We have to be diligent in trying to keep the the High Priest attended in the Temple on the Laws of God. We have to be diligent in New Moons and Sabbaths. The New understanding the faith in order to be allowed Testament church also understood them. It was to keep the Feasts of God, because it is an not addressed in the New Testament because it honour and the New Moons are part of that was not an issue. All the epistles of the system. Until we understand them we cannot Apostles deal with the problems, which arose fully understand the system of God. in the various churches. The Church of God has kept it for centuries. We know for a fact Further study should be done from the that at the Reformation the Church was following papers: keeping the entire calendar intact as it was in The Wave Sheaf Offering (No. 106b) the Temple period (cf. the paper The Role of The Harvests of God, the New Moon the Fourth Commandment in the Historical Sacrifices, and the 144,000 (No. 120) Sabbath-keeping Churches of God (No. 170) The New Moons (No. 125) and Kohn The Sabbatarians in Transylvania, The New Moons of Israel (No. 132) CCG Publishing 1998). Trumpets (No. 136) God’s Calendar (No. 156) The New Testament is commentary on the Old Tithing (No. 161) Testament. The Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Historical Sabbath-keeping Churches of God It may not be a requirement to prove that the (No. 170) New Moons must be kept, but given the Tishri in Relation to the Equinox (No. 175) evidence it is impossible to prove that they Jeroboam and the Hillel Calendar (No. 191) only need to be acknowledged. The Calendar and the New Moon: Postponements or Festivals? (No. 195) The New Moons are critical to the calendar. The Moon and the New Year (No. 213) God has said He will not allow false Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241) worshippers to hold their apostasy on His feast Josiah’s Restoration (No. 245) days, as we have just seen. From these texts Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah here it is quite obvious that Israel was keeping (No. 252) the New Moons. They were keeping them as Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256) days of assembly. To read that any other way is wilful manipulation of Scripture. q