Restorers of Truth Calendar Beliefs and Practices

I want to begin by stating, we are not against any believer in The Most High, who by their own conscious are adhering to the Torah/instructions to the best of their ability. I applaud them as they are seekers of truth having a desire to be right with the Creator.

We recognize and understand there are many so called biblical calendars in circulation based on Dark Moon or Full Moon, Enoch or Zadok, and Lunar Solar/Solar Lunar. 

Mishle/Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

The word understanding in v.7 has the Hebrew #H998, which is biy nah. It means understanding, discernment, act, faculty, object, personified. It has a root of #H995 as biyn or bene, which is to separate mentally or distinguish.

Therefore, our goal is to use scriptural and historical records to show the Shabbats (weekly Sabbath and Feast days) were observed and calculated/counted.

We find in Bereshith/Genesis 1:14-16 our first record of observing tools that Yah gave to man.

Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens (shamayim) to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years,

Gen 1:15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it came to be so.

Gen 1:16 And Elohim made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the stars.

Let’s explain a few things from verse 14:

Signs - in Hebrew is #H226 as oth - the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.: - mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token……….what’s to come

Appointed times – in some translations Seasons is used; but the Hebrew #4150 is Mo’ed; an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose)…..points to annual or recurring events or a set time –see Gen_17:21; Gen_18:14; Gen_21:2.

Therefore, based on scripture, the lights are to give us a sign (oth-what’s to come), which are appointed times (mo’ed- pointing to annual or recurring events or a set time)

Now, we proceed to Bereshith 4, where we see evidence of an appointed time/mo’ed being observed.

Gen 4:3 And it came to be, in the course of time, that Cain (Qayin) brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to Yah.

Gen 4:4 And Abel (Heḇel) also brought of the first-born of his flock and of their fat. And Yah looked to Heḇel and his offering,

Gen 4:5 but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell.

Notice the phrase in v.3: in the course of time or in the process of time by some translations. This references a time (mo’ed- pointing to annual or recurring events or a set time) as well as place and offering. The question one must ask is, how did Qayin and Heḇel know about this appointed time/mo’ed? We find that answer in the Book of Jubilees.

The Book of Jubilees is believed to be a narrative account of creation that Moshe received by the Melekim/Angel of the Presence of Yah. And what one sees in the first few chapters of the book is the history of the division of the days/yom or yomim of the law and of the testimony, of the events of the years, of their (year) weeks, of their Jubilees throughout all time.

Throughout this book (Jubilees) we also see terms/phrases as first year, third day, fourth week and months etc. Coincidentally, we see the same pattern of terms/phrases as first year, third day, fourth week and months etc... throughout the Torah. Notice, the days and months are not given names, they are given descriptions such as Abib (to be tender; green, i.e. a young ear of grain...Exodus/Shemot 13:4, 23:15, 34:18, Deuteronomy/Dabarim 16:1). But there is a distinctive seventh day called Sabbath, and selective appointedtimes as Sabbaths, commonly called Feasts or Festivals.

Things to consider when calendar researching and studying:

• The scriptures are a Hebrew book and are written in terms and phrases understood by a Hebrew cultural people.

• One must compare Jubilees Chapters 2 and 6 with Bereshith 1:14 to properly observe the sign (oth-what’s to come), and calculate appointed times (mo’ed- pointing to annual or recurring events or a set time)

• It’s not about a named day.

• Remember; observe and calculate.

Back to the question, how did Qayin and Heḇel know about this appointed time/mo’ed? One can conclude it was taught to them by Adam, who was taught by Yahuah.

Having laid this foundation, let us proceed in calendar comparisons. 

From the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature - Julian Calendar - 

The Roman year had hitherto consisted of 355 days, with a month of thirty days intercalated every third year, so that the average, length of the year was 365 days. This arrangement was attributed to Numa Pompilius, who added two months to the short year of Romulus; its regulation was left to the pontiffs. If the intercalation had been regularly made, the Romans would have lost nearly one day in every four years, since the real length of the solar year is about 365 days; but the business was so carelessly executed that the difference between the civil and the solar year sometimes amounted to several months. Caesar called on the astronomers, especially on Sosigenes of Alexandria, to rectify the discrepancy and prevent future error. It was determined to make the first of January of the Roman year U.C. 709 coincide with the first of January of the solar year which we call B.C. 45. But it was calculated that this Jan. 1 of the year U.C. 709 would be 67 days in advance of the true time; in other words, it would not concur with Jan. 1 of B.C. 45, but with Oct. 22 of B.C. 46. Two intercalary months, making together 67 days, were therefore inserted between the last day of November and the first of December of the year U.C. 708. An intercalary month of 23 days had already been added to February of that year, according to the old method. The Roman year 708 was thus made to consist in all of the prodigious number of 445 days (i.e. 355+-2 +67). It was hence scoffingly called “the year of confusion ;” more justly it shouldbe named, as Macrobius observes, “the last year of confusion.” To prevent future errors, the year was lengthened from 355 to 365 days, each month except February being lengthened (by one or two days, nearly alternately), according to the rule which we still observe. But as the solar year consists of very nearly 365+ days, it was manifestly necessary to add one day in every four years, and this was done at the end of February, as at present in our “leap year.” Such was the famous Julian Calendar, which, with a slight alteration, continues in use in all Christian countries to the present day.

Gregorian Calendar - A Calendar that is widely used today— The addition of one day for every four years would be correct if the solar year consisted exactly of 365+ days, or 365 days and 6 hours; but, in fact, it consists of only 365 days, 5 hours, 47 minutes, 51½ seconds; so that the Julian year is longer than the true solar year by about 12 minutes. Caesar’s astronomers are supposed to have been aware of this, but to have neglected it. Accordingly, in the year A.D. 1582, the beginning of the Julian year was found to be about 10 days behind the true time, the vernal equinox falling on the 11th instead of the 21st of March, its date at the Council of Nice, A.D. 325. The time of Easter, therefore, and of the other movable festivals, had been unsettled by the progressive recession of days, and it was matter of importance for ecclesiastical as well as civil purposes that the calendar should be rectified. Pope Gregory XIII (q.v.) therefore “ordained that ten days should be deducted from the year 1582, by calling what, according to the old calendar, would have been reckoned the 5th of October, the 15th of October, 1582

Notice that both Julian and Gregorian calendars were introduced and authorized by non-Hebrew culture people (what the bible calls gentiles, nations, pagans, heathens). Both calendars' conflicts with Jubilees 6:29-38 where Yahuah says the year is 364 days.

Jubilees 6:29-38

29 And they placed them on the heavenly tablets, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial, from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth.

30 And all the days of the commandment will be fifty-two weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete. Thus, it is engraved and ordained on the heavenly tablets.

31 And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single year or from year to year.

32 And command you the children of Yisrael 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.

33 But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances.

34 And all the children of Yisrael will forget and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new months, and seasons, and Shabbats and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years.

35 For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto you, and it is not of my own devising; for the book is written before me, and on the heavenly tablets the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Gentiles after their error and after their ignorance.

36 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.

37 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 kodesh with the unclean, and the unclean day with the kodesh; for they will go wrong as to the months and Shabbats and feasts and jubilees.

38 For this reason I command and testify to you that you may testify to them; for after your death your children will disturb them, so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new months and seasons and Shabbats and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.
 

Note: Jubilees 2:8-9 aligns with Bereshith 1:14-16; however, it points to the role of the greater light (sun).

8 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.

9 And YAH appointed the sun to be a great sign on the earth for days and for Shabbats and for months and for feasts and for years and for Shabbats of years and for jubilees and for all seasons of the years.

Automatically, by simple comparison, the Julian and Gregory Calendars of 354,355,365,366 days are at odds with the Scriptural and Hebrew Culture appointed times of 364 days.

Also, we and many others, never would have known of the Scriptural and Hebrew Culture appointed times of 364 days if it was not for the Dead Sea Scrolls (Groups, Books of Enoch and Jubilees). The scrolls informed us of two competing calendars groups. One was a group called Sons of Darkness (Lunar observation), and another group called Sons of Light (Solar observation). 

We also found out that these two groups warred against each other, not physically, but in praise and worship on their observation of appointed times. It is because of this discovery that many are attempting to re-discover the ancient paths of observation and calculation Feast keeping. And in their attempts to be right and obedient, some rather have caused confusion among the believers.

Daniel 7:25 and it speaks words against the Most High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of the Most High, and it intends to change appointed times and law, and they are given into its hand for a time and times and half a time.

Further research on the Calendar that was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls are found here: 

http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Library/calend.html  https://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2003/qumran.html

What Restorers of Truth Ministries Know and Practice 

Torah Sabbath and Feasts are to be followed according to Torah in order to be accurate.

We are to be a reign of priests with Mashiach.

We are to keep the covenant of Yah.

Exo 19:5 ‘And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine –

• Exo 19:6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”

• Dan 7:18 ‘Then the set-apart ones of the Most High shall receive the reign, and possess the reign forever, even forever and ever.’

• Dan 7:27 ‘And the reign, and the rulership, and the greatness of the reigns under all the heavens, shall be given to the people, the set-apart ones of the Most High. His reign is an everlasting reign, and all rulerships shall serve and obey Him.’

• Rev 5:9 And they sang a renewed song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

• Rev 5:10 and made us sovereigns and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth.

The heavens are not to be worshipped!

• Deuteronomy 4:19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens, and shall see the sun, and the moon, and the stars – all the host of the heavens – and you be drawn away into bowing down to them and serving them, which Yah your Elohim has allotted to all the peoples under all the heavens.

The Set Apart Days as listed

Head of the Year/New Year's (Barley sighting) 1st Day/1st Month   Exo 12:2 Deu 16:1

Pesah/Passover and Unleavened Bread  14th/15th of 1st Month          Exo 12:3-14 Lev 23:5-6

Waving of Sheaf of Barley                 26th day, 1st month               Lev 23:9-14

First Fruits of Wheat (Shabuot)         15th day, 3rd month               Lev 23:15-22

Remembrance (Trumpets)             1st day, 7th month                 Lev 23:23-25

Atonement                                       10th day, 7th month               Lev 23:26-32

Succot/Tabernacles (Grapes)  15th-22nd, 7th month             Lev 23:33-43

Restorers of Truth Ministries follows, as best as we can, the Biblical calendar on observation and calculation of the heavenlies (given in Genesis 1:14-19). The Scriptural day begins at sundown as the stars begin to appear in the sky. The Month begins with eyewitness of the crescent or light of the moon. When the new month comes, we blow the shophar as commanded in Numbers 10:10 and Psalms 81:3

We understand there are fellow seekers of truth who observe the Dark Moon or Full Moon at the beginning of a month. However, we do not quarrel with them, as previously stated, they are seekers of truth having a desire to be right with the Creator. One must reconcile Moon vs. Month when reading the scriptures in English, and reconcile the Hebrew words Chodesh, Chadash vs Yerach when researching in Hebrew concordances. 

Shalom,

Brother Yiseka

We are not associated with any man-made denomination or camps. We are keepers of the instructions of Yah according to the covenant (Exodus 20:1-17; 34:14-27), and the MaShiach (Messiah) - (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:33).

Below are ministries we are associated with. What does it mean associated with? It means ministries we have examined through the teachings, example of living, and or through fellowshipping in person and live streaming in Sabbath study and Feast celebrations. Therefore, we can recommend these ministries to any person for spiritual growth and connectivity. 

Torah Menorah https://rumble.com/c/c-5320660 and patreon.com/TorahMenorah

HaRuach Eliyahu https://natzirtzadik.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/user/HaRuachEliyahu

Benayah Israel https://rumble.com/c/c-2730424

Followers of Yah http://followersofyah.com/home/

Shalom,

Brother Yisaka