Question: Other websites teach the lunar Sabbath should be
calculated from when the New Moon is observed in Jerusalem. This would unite the world in worshipping on
one day. Why doesn’t WLC calculate the
months this way?
Answer: Yahuwah created all His set apart appointments to be celebrated when they
arrive at any location. Everyone in SPIRITUAL ISRAEL is now in Zion / Spiritual
Jerusalem from which Yahuwah’s truth now flows. It is the establishment of the
false Gregorian calendar and International Date Line which make it appear that
the dates1 are different. If Jerusalem time is used, those just east of the
border would still fall in a different time zone for their observation of the day. Those living immediately east of the Jerusalem border will be one
day behind those living in Jerusalem (if indeed the day were supposed to begin
in Jerusalem). Those living immediately east of the Jerusalem border will
be observing Sabbath while those living in Jerusalem will be observing
the first day of the week. However, even those who endorse New Moon
reckoning by Jerusalem time are not truly making Jerusalem the date
line.
Think about this …
When you use Jerusalem time to determine the Sabbaths and Feast days, you
are simultaneously using the man-made International Date Line – because you are
still using this line to determine when the day begins in order to unite the
world in worshipping on the same Gregorian date. This method of reckoning is very illusive, as
it does not truly draw a date line across the earth at 31°47’N (Jerusalem’s latitude),
but rather is dependent on the imaginary man-made date line and the Roman
Gregorian calendar.
The belief that the Sabbath must be determined by Jerusalem time is
based on a verse which states, in part: “. . . out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of . . . [Yahuwah] from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3,
KJV) Taken as a phrase out of context, this would seem to support such a claim.
However, there are problems with this interpretation. First, the verse
is actually a prophecy referring to the earth made new, as seen when it is read
in context:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the
mountain of . . . [Yahuwah’s] house shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to
the mountain of . . . [Yahuwah], to the house of the . . . [Elohim] of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of
Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of . . . [Yahuwah] from
Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many
people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)
Yahuwah established Jerusalem in a very strategic location. To the
west was the Mediterranean Sea; to the east, an inhospitable desert.
Palestine was the corridor through which people traveled from north to south
and back again. By positioning His people in this well-frequented
passageway, Yahuwah intended for them to be a shining light to all the world,
those passing through taking the truth back to their native lands. In
this way, the law was to “go forth” from Jerusalem.
However, there is nothing in Scripture that teaches Jerusalem must be the
starting point of time-keeping for the entire world. Only the lights in
the heavens have been given that function. “He appointed the moon for
seasons [mo’ed]; the sun knoweth his going down.” (Psalm
104:19) The Creator’s clock/calendar has been constructed as an integral
part of the solar system! It operated before there was ever a Jerusalem
and it continues to tell time for all on earth.
A few
days before His crucifixion, Yahushua mourned over Jerusalem, saying:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have
gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her
wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37, KJV)
Yahuwah never forces human will. When Jerusalem rejected her Messiah,
she did not remain the chosen city against her will. Yahuwah respected
Jerusalem’s decision. She was set aside and none are to now look to
Jerusalem for light, including the time for
beginning the month.
Related Content:
1 When reckoning the dawn after conjunction as the beginning of New Moon Day, the entire world will be united in observing the same day. While it might appear that two different days are being observed when communicating the dates via the Gregorian calendar, in reality everyone on earth will be observing the New Moons, Sabbaths, and Feast Days during the same solar revolution, each beginning their day within the same 24-hour period. In other words, all countries of the world will experience the arrival of His Sabbath and Feast Days within one 24-hour solar revolution. Not only does this method unite the world in observing the Feasts on one 24-hour Solar Revolution, but none will begin New Moon Day more than 24 hours after the actual Conjunction takes place. Remarkably, there are only 24 hours from the time of Conjunction until New Moon Day dawns in the last geographic region to receive the day. This is an amazing testimony to the uniqueness and consistency of Yahuwah’s world date line.
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