Lunar Sabbath or 7 Day Continuous Cycle?

There is an amazing phenomenon happening all around us and it’s not going away, for it is a movement of our creator.  There are thousands of people waking up to the deceptions of the world and have a sincere desire written on their hearts; a yearning to keep the commandments of Yahuah – notably, the Sabbath.

Exodus 31:16-17

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yahuah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

HalleluYah!

Here is the fork in the road; the two options for keeping the Sabbath:

• The continuous 7-day cycle on the 7th day of the week (known to many as Saturday).
• The shifting Lunar Sabbath cycle based off of the moon.

The Lunar Sabbath has been something that’s been brought up to me several times over the last few years now; a topic that I have casually looked over, but I have to admit, I didn’t give it the time it deserved.  While discussing this topic with a close friend, a few things were placed on my heart and led me to invest in some diligent research into this; which was long overdue.  Many of us in these last days have a zealous desire to come out of Babylon (Egypt) and with this, comes a natural desire to correctly serve our amazing father, Yahuah Tseva’oth and his beloved son, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach with all that we have, so let us go through this together and see if the Lunar Sabbath is what the scriptures teach. First, let me concede that both sides should agree that these two things are an issue that needs to be addressed:

• The papacy created the current standard; the gregorian calendar that the world adheres to.
  (We should start being more diligent about knowing Yahuah’s timekeeping)

• The 7th-day cycle Sabbath day of rest is on a day known as “Saturday” in the Englishx, which is connected to Saturn, a pagan god.

We will address these and many more issues as we dig in. Let me reiterate, a group of people waking up in these last days that have the Torah of Yahuah in their hearts (a sincere desire to obey) is nothing short of a miracle and absolutely his work, and I’m honored to call many of you my true family, regardless if we agree or disagree. The fact that anyone has a desire to keep the Most High’s Sabbath is a gift in and of itself and not to be taken lightly.

Before we discuss the topic at hand, l will freely admit that Yahuah has led me to an important conviction during this research, something most Lunar Sabbath keepers have absolutely right. Most of us are missing out on an opportunity to be obedient to a commandment that has been sorely overlooked!  A blessing to commemorate the New Moons, as it is written:

Numbers 10:10
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacri­fices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your ELOHIYM: I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKEM.

Get your trumpets (or shofars) ready!  If you haven’t already started, and let us consider keeping this part of his amazing Torah (his instructions for life!). We will make a separate short video explaining in more detail, as to how we can commemorate the New Moon days, but for now, it seems a simple time of prayer, thanks and joy unto Yahuah whilst blowing the shofar would be fruitful. However, let’s move on to the study at hand.

If you happen to be new to this discussion, or are at least curious; the Lunar Sabbath keeping teaches that the Sabbath day is not fixed to a specific day of the week (as most of us are used to), but ‘floats’, or changes every month with the lunar cycles. If found to be true, this would be a huge shift in how we worship Yahuah and keep his commandments, so let’s dig in and test this out.

What the Moon Is For

“He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.” TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 104:19 את CEPHER

Seasons = The Hebrew word: Moed. Defined as feast day, appointed time, Holy Day, meeting etc…

‘He made the moon also to serve in her season (moed) for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. ‘From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreases in her perfection. The month is called after her name…” SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 43:6-8 את CEPHER

The question at hand; is the Sabbath considered a Feast Day (Moed) as it pertains to the Moon?

Leviticus 23 is the chapter with the explanation of Moedim (feasts of Yah) and how we keep them:

AND YAHUAH spoke unto Mosheh, saying, Speak unto the children of Yashar’el, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of YAHUAH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy assemblies, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Shabbath of rest, a holy assembly; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Shabbath of YAHUAH in all your dwellings.” VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 23:1-3 את CEPHER

The Sabbath is openly stated as being a feast, and it is clearly written how it is to be observed; count six days and the seventh is Shabbat, no instructions for anything else. No “transition days”, “non-days” or new moon days, which the lunar sabbath decrees (we will explain this a little more in detail shortly).  Six days of work and one day of rest, that is the command, clear, and concise. Remember Deuteronomy 4:2 – “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YAHUAH your ELOHIM which I command you.” I watched many of the Lunar Sabbath teachings to see what their rebuttal to this was and unfortunately, there hasn’t been a clear answer.  Typically when this is brought up, the question is deflected to attacking the gregorian calendar, but we will discuss this later.

Leviticus 23 continues with verse 4:

“These are the feasts of YAHUAH, even holy assemblies, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed times. In the fourteenth day of the first month at evening is YAHUAH’S Pecach.” VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 23:4-5 את CEPHER

The rest of Leviticus 23 describes all 7 of Yahuah’s feast days, and their specific timing in their respective months. Verse 4 is important and cannot be ignored, making a separation between the 7 feasts and the Sabbath. It is also written, that these 7 are observed in their appointed times, different than the command prior to simply count six working days, then rest on the seventh for the Sabbath. Let’s take a look at other scriptures, which make the same division between them.

“And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto YAHUAH in the Shabbaths, in the New Moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before YAHUAH” DIVREI HAYAMIYM RI’SHON (1 CHRONICLES) 23:31 את CEPHER

“Behold, I build a house to the name of YAHUAH ELOHAI, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Shabbaths, and on the New Moons, and on the solemn feasts of YAHUAH ELOHAYNU. This is an ordinance forever to Yashar’el. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 2:4 את CEPHER

He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Shabbathoth, and for the New Moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the Torah of YAHUAH. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 31:3 את CEPHER

Here is the interlinear for 2 Chronicles 31:3, showing the division between the 3 https://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_chronicles/31-3.htm

-If the Sabbaths were to be considered and calculated the same way as the 7 feast days, why is there a separation within the texts (Sabbaths, New Moons & Appointed feasts)?  It is because they are observed/calculated differently.

Caution

The hardest thing to overcome with the lunar Sabbath and a big area of caution for me, is the breaking of the clear commandment to work six days and rest the seventh, as commanded by The Most High.  The problem is, you cannot consistently get a seven-day week with the moon cycles.  The moon has a 354-day yearly course and is not divisible by seven, ever. While the secular world also confirms the 354-day cycle of the moon, let us turn to the scriptures for evidence.

For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon how it disturbs the seasons and comes in from year to year ten days too soon. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb the order, and make an abominable day the day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and Shabbaths and feasts and jubilees.  YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 6:36-37 את CEPHER

We will find out a little later through the Word, that a year constitutes 364 days. While some calendars use this same verse to prove the moon cannot be used for the months, let us not forget this clear scripture:

‘He made the moon also to serve in her season (moed) for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. ‘From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreases in her perfection. The month is called after her name…” SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 43:6-8 את CEPHER

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) was included in the 1611 KJV, the Septuagint and found among the Dead Sea Scrolls collection, so it should be taken seriously, regardless of the fact of it being taken out of the cannon in the 1800’s by the dispensational movement. We will get back to this in a bit, in the meantime, let’s break it down more simply as to what is at stake here; here is the command:

Six days shall you labour, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Shabbath of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 20:9-10 את CEPHER

This is a major issue with the Lunar Sabbath.  By allowing the moon to dictate the weeks and sabbaths, their calendar adds to the commandment via “New Moon days”, “transitional days”, “non-days” or even “second New Moon days” (there are many different terminologies within this group). None of these are found within the Torah, the prophets, writings, or even any apocryphal texts or any scripture that I have ever seen. Not one commandment is found that declares any mandate to not work or participate in any commerce on these added days (there are two passages that possibly could allude to this, which we will cover at the end). With the lunar sabbath, you will not consistently get a six- and one-day week (7-day week). Sometimes it renders an 8- or 9-day week (we will explain more in-depth in just a moment with a visual aid) which transgresses by adding to the commandment. Remember, the command for there to be a six-day work week and one day of rest is simple to understand, and stems from the very first pages of scripture; Yahuah giving us his example to follow:

And on the seventh day ELOHIYM ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And ELOHIYM blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which ELOHIYM created and made. BERE’SHIYTH (GENESIS) 2:2-3 את CEPHER

Work six days and rest the seventh, no more, no less.  Our amazing Father left us his perfect example to follow. Now we will look at an illustration of what happens with the lunar sabbath cycle and the extra days not mentioned in scripture:

This is a lunar calendar transposed on the Gregorian calendar, for a reference point only. (This was taken from the website of the main Lunar Sabbath ministry)

The blue underlined days on this calendar represent Sabbaths.
The orange line represents a New Moon Day

– Take a look at the 6th through the 12th, and the 13th through the 19th.  These are weeks of normal six working days and one day of rest, as commanded.

Now take a look at the 20th.  We have our first day of work after the Sabbath which was on the 19th and then the 21st is the New Moon day (a day which some say is a rest, others no commerce).  Regardless, the pattern that Yahuah initiated during the creation week and clearly stated in his commandments is broken; either due to additional rest days that are not commanded, or ever explained (represented here by the 20th and 21st), or by default, two additional days of work before the next Sabbath on the 28th. The result is either 8 days of work and then a rest on the 9th, or two additional rest days that are not commanded, ever.  Either way, this would be adding to or taking away from the simple commandment he has left for us. Remember:

Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahuah your Elohim, which I command you.

Side note: The Lunar Sabbath crowd launch a similar fault with the 7-day continual cycle observers; saying the six day work and one day rest week pattern is interrupted with the 7 moedim which can, and do come about in their times.  Example: Let’s say the Day of Atonement falls on the 4th day of the week (known to many as Wednesday) and therefore adds a day of rest within our normal week (having a sabbath of rest on the 4th and 7th days of the week).  Interestingly enough, the Day of Atonement does the same on their calendar, however, the big offender here would be adding to, or taking away from a normal week due to something not commanded in the scriptures (Transition days, Non-days, Non-counter days, New Moon days). The picture below is an example of an extra Sabbath with the 7-day continuous cycle calendar:

Now for reference, the same happens on their calendar; a ‘normal’ Sabbath on the 25th and an additional one on the 27th:

My question; if the pattern of ‘work six and rest one’ is to ever be altered, would the wiser path be, to have extra rest days for the commanded 7 feast days, or with the non-commanded additional days of rest or work within the “New Moon days”, “transition days” or “non-days?”  This is up to you to decide.

Manna

Considering what was shown above, what would the Israelite’s do in the wilderness as it pertained to Manna?  Would Manna rain down on transition days or New moon days?  Once again, the command was simple:

Exodus 16:26-30
“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 Yahuah said unto Moshe, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my Torah? See, for that Yahuah hath given you the sabbath, therefore he gives 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.”

How confusing it would have been for them to have no commandment regarding the ‘extra days’ (like our example in the picture above).  How could Yahuah have rebuked them for not “keeping his Torah” if it isn’t in his Torah?  This point cannot be understated; there is not one commandment other than six days of manna and rest (and no gathering) on the seventh. Here is a visual aid for the issue at hand:

What would the Israelite’s have done with the extra days? (represented by the 20th and 21st)  How could Yahuah rebuke them if they went out to gather on those days?  Why was there no command for the extra days?

Here is what the commandment really looked like. Simple and straightforward, as Yahuah’s character is. (Remember, the only command given was six days of manna and one day without). This is a perfect example for our weekly Sabbaths.

Changed Laws and Times (Calendars) by the Papacy – The Weak Straw Man

The Lunar Sabbath teachers preach that the seventh-day continuous Sabbath cycle is  proven wrong with the expositions of the easy to defeat straw-man; the pagan gregorian calendar. Many of these teachers do a phenomenal job of exposing the pagan calendar for what it is, filled with satanic names and history.  Unfortunately, after hours and hours of successfully attacking the straw-man, most listeners are quickly turned to this alternative Sabbath, thinking it’s the only other option (much like the Zeitgeist video years back- hit em with the truth, then the agenda). The fact of the matter is, Rome has changed times and laws as they were prophecied to do in Daniel 7:25:

“And he shall speak great words against EL ELYON, and shall wear out the qodeshiym of EL ELYON, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a period of time and times and the dividing of time. DANIY’EL (DANIEL) 7:25 את CEPHER

They have successfully done so with the changing of the years, months, commandments of Yah, and his feast days (IE: Christmas and Easter in favor of the 7 true Holy Days); however, their calendar cannot and does not govern the 7 day continuous week. Think about it; when a new year or new month begins in the gregorian calendar, do the days of the week reset?  Can a new year or new month fall on any day of the week?  Yes, it’s because the papal calendar doesn’t touch the days of the week, something I believe our creator has not allowed the enemy to molest. Think of the gregorian months and years; they have no bearing or adjustments with the days of the week.  What am I saying?  When the new month rolls around, does the first day of the month reset the 7 days of the week and revert to Sunday, or any other day for that matter?  Never.  While lunar Sabbath teachers find fault in calling the 7th day “Saturday” (a pagan god) I do as well, but this does not diminish the fact that the papal-gregorian calendar does not touch/alter the 7-day week.  This argument can be placed right back in the lunar Sabbath keepers court; what happens when their Sabbath falls on: Sun’s Day, Moon’s Day, Tiw’s day, Woden’s Day, Thor’s Day or Frei’s Day (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday—all honoring pagan false gods). Truth is, the papacy has put their focus into extreme measures over the centuries to perpetuate Sunday worship in favor of the seventh-day (the Sabbath), which is their mark of authority:

QUOTES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ABOUT THE SABBATH
( these are but a few among many )

Catholic Record (September 1, 1923): “Sunday is our mark of authority…The [catholic] Church is above the Bible, and this transference of the Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.”

The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1957): 50: “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.”

The Catholic Mirror (September 23, 1893): “The Catholic Church, for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday…”

Catholic Priest T. Enright, CSSR, Kansas City, MO: “It was the holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the 1st day of the week. And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but at the Council of Laodicea, AD 364, anathematized those who kept the Sabbath and urged all persons to labor on the 7th day under penalty of anathema.”

If the Beast of Revelation wanted to trick everyone into keeping the wrong Sabbath day and hide the Lunar-Calendar, it would have been more clever to keep things where they were during the time of Yahusha’s ministry, the 7th day worship, but as history shows, they didn’t, but they put all their focus on Sunday, the 1st day of the week. In fact, they even hid the evidence, that the apostles met on the Sabbath day, by changing the translation in Acts 20:7, to “the first day of the week”, promoting Sunday gatherings; bringing forth it’s fruit unto this day, as mainstream Churchianity guards it.

As you guessed or assumed, yes it is the Sabbath, and it was deliberately hidden by the KJV translators (and many other versions following suit), in order to perpetuate Sunday (first day of the week). Ask yourself, why did they go through all this trouble with ‘the first day of the week’, if the seventh wasn’t the truth?  Take a look at the underlined portions as well, all alluding to a consistent 7-day week.

Next, we will be reviewing historical records confirming the 7th day Sabbath.  While our foundation is in the scriptures alone, I’m going here because the Lunar Sabbath teachers seem convincing at times, using historical writings that may allude to their method being correct. We want to show that there is quite a bit of documentation that proves otherwise, and ultimately confirming all things must be established by the scriptures alone. Remember, with the Lunar Sabbath cycle, you cannot find one single scripture that plainly teaches a lunar sabbath doctrine.

History concerning the Sabbath

Josephus – Wars of the Jews 4:582

“And the last was erected above the top of the Pastophoria, where one of the priests stood of course, and gave a signal beforehand with a trumpet, at the beginning of every seventh day, in the evening twilight, as also at the evening when that day was finished, as giving notice to the people when they were to stop work, and when they go to work again.”

(There is also much debate as to when the Sabbath begins and ends; this is an interesting piece of evidence to consider, but of course, not conclusive because it is not scripture)

70-84 AD – Fontius, a Roman Soldier: Strategematicon
“The deified Augustus Vespasian attacked the jews on the day of Saturn, a day on which it is sinful for them to do any business.”

Cassius Dio, Roman Historian 2^nd Century
Roman HIstory 37.16

“Most of the city, to be sure, he took without any trouble, as he was received by the party of Hyrcanus; but the temple itself, which the other party had occupied, he captured only with difficulty. For it was on high ground and was fortified by a wall of its own, and if they continued defending it on all days alike, he could not have got possession of it. As it was, they made an excavation of what are called the days of Saturn, and by doing no work at all on those days afforded the Romans an opportunity in this interval to batter down the wall.  The latter, on learning of this superstitious awe of theirs, made no serious attempts to rest of the time, but on those days, when they came round in succession, the assaulted most vigorously.  Thus the defenders were captured on the day of Saturn, without making any defense, and all the wealth was plundered.  The kingdom was given to Hyrcanus, and Aristobulus was carried away.”

Another battle.  This one resulted in King Herod coming to power and shows us that the jews kept the 7th day Shabbat before the time of Yahusha. Remember, Yahusha never corrected them for celebrating the wrong days and purposefully did miracles on the Sabbath they were celebrating.

Cassius Dio
Roman History 49.22
“The Jews, indeed, had done much injury to the Romans, but they suffered far more themselves.  The first of them to be captured were those where were fighting for the precinct of their god, and then the rest on the day even then called the day of Saturn. And so excessive were they in their devotion to religion that the first set of prisoners, those who had been captured along with the temple, obtained leave from Sosius, when the day of Saturn came round again, and went up into the temple and there performed all the customary rites, together with the rest of the people.  These people Antony entrusted to a certain Herod to govern; but Antigonus he bound to a cross and flogged, a punishment no other king had suffered at the hands of the Romans, and afterwards slew him.”

Because Christians ought not to Judaize, and to rest in the Sabbath, but to work in that day… Preferring in honor the Lord’s day (Sunday), if they desired to rest, they should do this as Christians (on Sunday). Wherefore if they shall be found to Judaize (keep Sabbaths), let them be accursed from Christ
(History of the Sabbath, p 270).

2nd Century:

“The ancient Christians were very careful in the observance of Saturday, or the seventh day…It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest part of the world, observed the Sabbath as a festival…Athanasius likewise tells us that they held religious assembles on the Sabbath, not because they were infected with Judaism, but to worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, Epiphanius says the same.”
Antiquities of the Christian Church,” Vol.II Book XX, chap. 3, sec.1, 66. 1137,1138.

“In the last half of that century St. Ambrose of Milan stated officially that the Abyssinian bishop, Museus, had ‘traveled almost everywhere in the country of the Seres’ (China). For more than seventeen centuries the Abyssinian Church continued to sanctify Saturday as the holy day of the fourth commandment.” Ambrose, DeMoribus, Brachmanorium Opera Ominia, 1132, found in Migne, Patrologia Latima, Vol.17, pp.1131,1132.

“Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, said that when he was in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome observed Sunday. This gave rise to the proverb, ‘When you are in Rome, do as Rome does.”
Heylyn, “The History of the Sabbath” (1612)

PERSIA-A.D.335-375
“They despise our sun-god. Did not Zorcaster, the sainted founder of our divine beliefs, institute Sunday one thousand years ago in honour of the sun and supplant the Sabbath of the Old Testament. Yet these Christians have divine services on Saturday.”
O’Leary, “The Syriac Church and Fathers,” pp.83, 84.

“For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrated the sacred mysteries (the Lord’s Supper) on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Allexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refuse to do this.” The footnote which accompanies the foregoing quotation explains the use of the word “Sabbath.” It says: “That is, upon the Saturday. It should be observed, that Sunday is never called “the Sabbath’ by the ancient Fathers and historians.”
Sacrates, “Ecclestical History,” Book 5, chap. 22, p. 289.

SPAIN (400 A.D.)
“Ambrose sanctified the seventh day as the Sabbath (as he himself says). Ambrose had great influence in Spain, which was also observing the Saturday Sabbath.”
Truth Triumphant, p. 68.

There is much more historical evidence than this, but this should be sufficient to show there is plenty of documentation to support the 7th day Sabbath (aka Saturday).

What the Seventh day of the week is called in other languages

Arabic: Sabet
Armenian: Shabat
Bosnian: Subota
Bulgarian: Sabota
Corsican: Sàbatu
Croatian: Subota
Czech: Sobota
Georgian: Sabati
Greek: Savvato
Hebrew: Shabbat
Indonesian: Sabtu
Italian: Sabato
Latin: Sabbatum
Maltese: is-Sibt
Polish: Sobota
Portuguese: Sábado
Romanian: Sambata
Russian: Subbota
Serbian: Subota
Slovak: Sobota
Slovene: Sobota
Somali: Sabti
Spanish: Sabado
Sudanese: Saptu
Ukranian: Subota

Every one of these stem from the Hebrew word Shabbat.
(there are many more, consider looking into this further for yourself)

As mentioned prior, a major contention regarding our current Sabbath being fixed on a day we call “Saturday”, tied to the pagan god Saturn quickly diminishes when we take the whole picture of other languages into account. Speaking of languages, let’s look at some Hebrew!

The 7-day fixed week alluded to in the Hebrew language

The word seven is the root word for week

Seven – Hebrew sheba’ (sheva) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7651&t=KJV

Week – Hebrew shabuwa’ (shavua) Meaning “sevened” (not eight or nine) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7620&t=KJV

Feast of Weeks – shabuot’ (Pentecost – shavuot)  ( 7 weeks of 7, we will cover this major point momentarily) https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/34-22.htm

Shabbat – Cycle of 7 – Hebrew shabbat/shabat https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7673&t=KJV

Look how close the language is for week (shabua) and (shabbat) for Sabbath. Coincidence? The connection with Sheba, Shabua, Shabuot and Shabbat in the Hebrew language cannot be ignored; all connecting to seven; not eight or nine as the lunar sabbath week sometimes consists of. Take a look at the screen show below, discussing the Hebrew word Shabbat:

Calculating YAHUAH’S Time

And ELOHIYM 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 for appointed feasts, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  BERE’SHIYTH (GENESIS) 1:14-15 את CEPHER

Yes, the lights above are for Yahuah’s time keeping.  Just as a clock we are used to has second, minute and hour hands, let’s dig deeper to see what the specific tasks are of each luminary:

Days: The Sun

And on the fourth day he created the sun and the moon and the stars, and set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon all the earth, and to rule over the day and the night, and divide the light from the darkness. And ELOHIYM appointed the sun to be a great sign on the earth for days and for Shabbaths and for months and for feasts and for years and for Shabbaths of years and for jubilees and for all seasons of the years.  YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 2:9 את CEPHER

This would be a perfect opportunity to state the Moon is also for the Sabbaths, it is just not in the text.

The Sun is for the Days.

Weeks: The Fixed Seventh Day Sabbath

And he gave us a great sign, the Shabbath, that we should work six days, but guard the Shabbath on the seventh day from all work.  YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 2:18 את CEPHER

As explained just a moment ago, using the Hebrew language, we were able to show the connection of the number seven and the Sabbath.  How is one to count a week per the Torah?

Leviticus 23:15
“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:”

This is how we properly arrive at Shavuot, the ‘feast of weeks’, also known as “Pentecost”, meaning 50. The only way to arrive at 50, is to count the day after the Sabbath, then 7 additional sabbaths (7×7 = 49 + the 1 day = 50).  With the Lunar calendar and the inconsistent seven day week as demonstrated earlier, things get very confusing quickly and out of order, which is unlike the character of Yahuah. Because of this, some Lunar Sabbath keepers mark the 7 Sabbaths, then add an additional 50 days, putting them way off for the proper harvest timing.

And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and these will make the entire year complete. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tablets. And there is no neglecting this commandment for a single year or from year to year. And command you the children of Yashar’el 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.  YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 6:30-32 את CEPHER

364 days divided by 52 weeks = 7, our unit of measuring a week. Yahuah is an El of order and perfection.

Surely, per the Torah, weeks are calculated in intervals of 7 days by the fixed Sabbath.

Months: The Moon

He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. ‘From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreases in her perfection. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven;  SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 43:6-8 את CEPHER

THEN I saw another progress and regulation which he effected in the law of the moon. The progress of the moons, and everything, Uriy’el showed me, the holy angel who conducted them all. Their stations I wrote down as he showed them to me. I wrote down their months, as they occur, and the appearance of their light, until it is completed in fifteen days.  CHANOK (ENOCH) 74:1-3 את CEPHER

A side note to consider regarding the last days:
IN those days Uriy’el answered and said to me, Behold, I have showed you all things, O Chanok; And all things have I revealed to you. You see the sun, the moon, and those which conduct the stars of heaven, which cause all their operations, seasons, and arrivals to return. In the days of sinners the years shall be shortened. Their seed shall be backward in their prolific soil; and everything done on earth shall be subverted, and disappear in its season. The rain shall be restrained, and heaven shall stand still. In those days the fruits of the earth shall be late, and not flourish in their season; and in their season the fruits of the trees shall be withheld. The moon shall change its laws, and not be seen at its proper period. But in those days shall heaven be seen; and barrenness shall take place in the borders of the great chariots in the west. It shall shine more than the orders of light; while many chiefs among the stars of authority shall err, perverting their ways and works.  CHANOK (ENOCH) 80:1-6 את CEPHER

When exactly is the “days of the sinners?” I cannot conclude, however, this is something to take note when we consider:

Exodus 31:16-17
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yahuah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

This is why the discussion about the sabbath is extremely important. Next is an example of the Hebrew word ‘Yerach’ (Month) which is closely related to ‘Yareach’ (Moon)  being used as month with the birth of Moshe:

Exodus 2:2
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

We will clarify this point in more detail towards the end of this study. While we are here, it is also worthy to note, that even within the Lunar Sabbath crowd, there is much infighting in regards to how it works, considering there is zero scriptural direction, it’s no doubt this happens (is the New Moon the conjunction? The first visible sliver? Or how about the full moon?).

Surely, per the scriptures, the months are calculated by the moon.

Stars and Others: The Years

THESE are the leaders of the chiefs of the thousands, which are over all creation, and over all the stars; with the four which are added and never separated from the place allotted them, according to the complete calculation of the year. CHANOK (ENOCH) 75:1 את CEPHER

“Enoch 74:12
And the sun and the stars bring in all the years exactly, so that they do not advance or delay their position by a single day unto eternity; but complete the years with perfect justice in 364 days.

So Yahuah’s heavenly time clock consists of:

Sun = Days
Shabbat = Weeks
Moon = Months
Stars (and others combined) = Years

Evidence in favor of the Lunar Sabbath

The Jewish Encyclopedia
“The Sabbath depending, in Israel’s nomadic period, upon the observation of the phases of the moon, it could not, according to this view, be a fixed day. When the Israelites settled in the land and became farmers, their new life would have made it desirable that the Sabbath should come at regular intervals, and the desired change would have been made all the more easily as they had abandoned the lunar religion.” Link

Visit the link for yourselves, there is no citation to this opinion and it is worthy to note, that this Jewish Encyclopedia was conceptualized and funded by the Rothschild family. Link

1 Samuel 20:18-19
The Claim:  1 Samuel 20:18-19 shows the pattern of the New Moon and the ‘extra days’.  It also demonstrates that no commerce or work is to be conducted, based on the word ‘business’ used in the verse. Lastly, Saul was having a meal or banquet, which some say proves this is a Sabbath rest.

1 Sam 20:18-19 ” Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.”

Some points to consider:

The Septuagint renders it: “and shalt come to thy place where thou mayest hide thyself in the day of thy business”.  This version implicates the day of this event/deed/trouble. https://ebible.org/eng-Brenton/1SA20.htm

Other versions:

ESV: “On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand and remain beside the stone heap.”

NASB: “When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.”

BereanSB: “When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel.”

NKJV: “And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.”

• We do not rely on commentaries of men, but it’s interesting that 7 out of 8 commentaries render this passage to mean:
  • When the business was in hand — “When this same business which they were now treating about was in agitation formerly; namely, to discover Saul’s mind and purpose toward David” (1 Sam 19:2-3)
  • 1 Sam 19:2-3: “But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.”
    • View the commentaries here https://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_samuel/20-19.htm

With a thorough investigation, I believe this passage is not describing the word business as in commerce or labor, and not solid evidence that the New Moon days are additional sabbaths or days of rest or no commerce. Also, having a meal does not prove that a New Moon day was equal to a Sabbath.

Amos 8:5
The claim: Amos 8:5 demonstrates that it is unlawful to buy/sell on the New Moon days, which makes it equal to the Sabbath:

“When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

On the surface, this does seem to imply that there is a command in the Torah instructing us not do any commerce on the day of the New Moon, however, there is none to be found in Torah. Let’s dig a bit further into this verse.

The portion of the passage alluding to ‘selling’ is not included in the Dead Sea Scrolls version of this text:

Amos 5:8 DSS manuscript
“Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain be satisfied?…”

http://dssenglishbible.com/amos%208.htm
(click the link to view the evidence for yourself)
In the DSS scroll version, “sell grain” is not included in the text (noted by the strike-through) but simply states “be satisfied” (underlined).

The point isn’t that one version is more correct than the other, but that we cannot hinge a new doctrine, void of any clear Torah directions based off this piece of evidence that has two different conclusions (especially considering the passage in the Dead Sea Scrolls is older and is in opposition to the doctrine that New Moons are rest days, or days of no commerce).  Amos 8:5 is a foundational verse for supporting the lunar calendar, as the only way they are able to feel comfortable with breaking the commandment to work six days and rest the seventh, is by justifying the New Moon as another type of Sabbath, or a ‘non counted day’. Unfortunately, as for proving the New Moon day being equivalent to the Sabbath (not buying and selling) this verse is on shaky ground.

Lamentations 2:6
The claim: The Most High has “hidden” his Sabbath, so that only those who really search can find it and therefore it cannot be the seventh day of the week we know as Saturday.

Lamentations 2:6
And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: Yahuah 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.

This passage in Lamentations is about the complete falling away of his people and the destruction of Jerusalem. They had forgotten his ways and were taken away into captivity because of it.  One thing many of us have learned over time; the Torah is clear and easy to understand, that children can learn of it.  Just because the Lunar Sabbath is hard to understand, or against the grain of society, doesn’t make it the right way. While many of us are so eager to flee Babylon and her ways, we must remain grounded in the Truth and we cannot let every wind of doctrine sway us. The truth is, this is more probably of the context of ‘forgotten’:

Beware that you forget not YAHUAH ELOHAYKA, in not guarding his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command you this day:  DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 8:11 את CEPHER

Joshua and the March Around Jericho
The claim: Because they marched seven days around Jericho, this proves the New Moon on the 1st day of the month and a Sabbath on the 8th day of the month, as there’s no way Yahuah would have them marching, working or traveling on the Sabbath.

The Lunar Sabbath teachers also claim that every Sabbath found in the scriptures are on either the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd or 29th of the month, proving the Lunar Sabbath calendar.  However, they cannot have it both ways.  Here are examples of working and traveling on these days:

AND they took their journey from Eylim, and all the assembly of the children of Yashar’el came unto the wilderness of Ciyn, which is between Eylim and Ciynai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Mitsrayim. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 16:1 את CEPHER

“And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Tabernacle was reared up.” SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 40:17 את CEPHER

Isaiah 66:23
The claim: Isaiah 66:23 demonstrates that Sabbaths and New Moons are the same, intertwined or dependent on each other.

Isaiah 66:23
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahuah.”

‘Chodesh’ is the word used for New Moon or New Month.  As mentioned in the beginning, we firmly believe the Moon is for the months.  It should be noted, that Isaiah 66:23 could easily have been translated to say/mean; from month to month and Sabbath to Sabbath (or week to week as we learned earlier with Yahuah’s time keeping) will all flesh come to worship him. Regardless, this doesn’t prove much, other than the New Moon days are important, which we will expound on in a moment.

Ezekiel 46:1
The claim: Ezekiel 46:1 is proof the New Moon day is the same or to be treated as the Sabbath.

Ezekiel 46:1
“Thus saith Yahuah Elohaynu; The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.“

As we mentioned at the very beginning, we fully believe there is much wanting in our communities with observing and rejoicing in the New Moon, however, this isn’t conclusive that the New Moon is a day of no work or commerce, which is required to justify the lunar Sabbath calendar. Here is what we are commanded in regard to the New Moon day:

And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto YAHUAH; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto YAHUAH. And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of a hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of a hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto YAHUAH shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.  BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 28:11-15 את CEPHER

And:

“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your ELOHIM: I am the YAHUAH your ELOHIM.” (Numbers 10:10)

As for clear-cut instructions, this is what we are given, nothing more, nothing less. So, the New Moon days are for blowing the Shofar and a sacrifice.  Considering Yahusha has put the animal sacrifices to rest until New Jerusalem comes, this is how we currently understand sacrifices in our time:

Wherefore YAHUSHA also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to YAH continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices YAH is well pleased.  IVRIYM (HEBREWS) 13:12-16את CEPHER

Let us blow the Shofars and praise his name every New Moon!

As for calculating the New Moon, we turn to Enoch for guidance on what constitutes the New Moon:

Enoch 77:6
“And when the moon rises one-fourteenth part appears in the heaven: the light becomes full in her on the fourteenth day she accomplishes her light.  And fifteen parts of light are transferred to her till the fifteenth day (when) her light is accomplished” Link

This solidifies the full moon is not considered the first day, as some would ascribe, but the middle of the month (15 days into the cycle).

Enoch 77:11-12
“During all the period during which the moon is growing in her light, she is transferring it to herself when opposite to the sun during fourteen days, and when she is illumined throughout, her light is accomplished full in the heaven. 12. And on the first day she is called the new moon, for on that day the light rises upon her” Link

The New Moon is the first visible sliver per Enoch (light rises upon her), as it says the first day, she is called such and we also learned that on the 15^th day her light is accomplished, or full (full moon).

Reminder, we do believe that the scriptures give us ample evidence that the moons are for the months, and that the New Moon day marks the new month on Yahuah’s calendar. This fact puts calendars that do not use the moon to calculate the months into serious question. Please do not take offense my brothers and sisters, but these matters should be discussed in love.

While we’re here, let’s take another look at the use of the Hebrew word Yerach (month link ) and it’s relation to Yareach (moon link ) used in the context of month(s).  Don’t forget the verse in Sirach 43 that stated the months were named after the moon!

Exodus 2:2
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months (Yerach)”

Deuteronomy 33:14
“And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon (Yerach)”

Job 29:2
“Oh that I were as in months (Yerach) past, as in the days when Elohim preserved me”

Isaiah 60:20
“Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon (Yerach) withdraw itself: for Yahuah shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended“

Final thoughts

Let us not be quick to forget, that the 7-day week was shown to us in the creation account and his Sabbath is in memorial of that week, not to the moon.

Genesis 2:2-3
“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.”

I believe our amazing Father left us clear and concise instructions and I put this information and study forth, not to be contentious, but due to a care for my brethren and our desire to serve Yahuah correctly, as he has decreed it to be done.  While prophecy can be hard to understand, or difficult to put the pieces together at times; I believe Yahuah has made following his commandments, especially one as important as the Sabbath, easy to pursue. The reason this study is so important, is because I believe the Lunar Sabbath disobeys the simple commandment of Yahuah; the seven-day continuous Shabbat, which is a “sign” between him and us, letting him know we are his.  Remember, there is not one single commandment or instruction in any scripture that tells us to use the moon for Shabbat, and if we use historical “evidence” alone in favor of Yahuah’s Word, in whom are we putting our trust? Let’s review the official giving of this command:

Remember the day of the Shabbath, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labour, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Shabbath of YAHUAH ELOHAYKA: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days YAHUAH made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YAHUAH blessed the day of Shabbath, and hallowed it. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 20:8-11 את CEPHER

With the information put forth at this time, I am still led to keep the 7th day of the week, which is called Saturday in this country and other names worldwide. I am now more certain than ever, the moon is used to calculate the months, which ultimately gives us the correct days to celebrate the 7 Feasts of Yahuah, as the scriptures clearly state. Aside from this, most of us are not looking up at Yahuah’s timepiece enough, getting a true feel for Yahuah’s monthly cycles and appreciating what he has made for the service of man.

“The heavens declare the glory of YAH; and the firmament shows his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)

Regardless of our current understanding and interpretation, let us not belittle one another, but build each other up and pray for one another, that Yahuah would bestow wisdom upon us (including me if I’m in error).  As with all matters, please take this to prayer and let Yahuah and the Ruach he has bestowed upon you, to lead you unto all truth (Psalm 119:142).

Shalom and may:

“Yahuah bless you and keep you,
Yahuah make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
Yahuah lift up his countenance upon you and give you Shalom.”
(Numbers 6:24-26)

p.s. here is a neat 3-minute video showing that beavers* always work 6 days and rest on the 7th day Shabbat continuously; Yahuah’s creation confirming our direction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49T5unQEIbY

*apparently this is also true for bees and some other animals (I’m not certain on this, but am going to look into that further)

If you made it to the end and you’re still on the fence, take some time to look at the opposing comments; carefully measure the fruit that is shown, as this will always be telling.

#Sabbath #LunarSabbath #7thDay