The Saturday Sabbath REQUIRES a Friday Passover in the year 31 AD, the year of Christ's death, in order to be valid. It can be proven that Passover fell on a Tuesday in the year 31 AD. This is why Catholicism and some Protestants make the claim for Christ's death to occur in 33 AD, because they believe 33 AD had a Friday Passover. But I will show that that can be proven false as well. The bottom line is that the lunar Sabbath is the ONLY way to satisfy and harmonize all the facts.
These are the facts...
Proof 2: The death of Herod
Herod died, according to historical records in 4 BC. And Jesus was born just before the death of Herod according to the Gospels (Matthew 2:19, 20). And Jesus was baptized when He was about 30 years old according to Luke (Luke 3:23). So that puts Jesus baptism at AD 27, 30 years from 4 BC.
Proof 3: The fifteenth year of Tiberius CaesarLuke records the baptism of Jesus to be in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1, 21). According to historical records the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar was AD 27.
Proof 4: The Building of the TempleWhen Jesus visited Jerusalem temple for the first time after His Baptism in the month of Abib, the first Jewish month, He had a discussion with the leaders of the Jews. He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). To which they replied that the temple was in construction since 46 years, and how could He build it in 3 days. From historical records we know that Herod started to rebuild the temple in 19 BC. And 46 years later would put the baptism year of Jesus to be AD 27.
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. Ex. 12:5-6 (Just as the lamb was to be without blemish, Christ was without sin. Also notice that the lamb is kept until the 14th day before being killed. So the Passover lamb can't be killed before the 14th, and therefore the Passover meal can't be before the 14th. At close examination, being killed in the evening is more properly said to be killed "between the evenings." The Hebrew calendar has 12 hours in the day. The first evening is in the 6th hour, when the sun first begins its descent from its highest point in the sky. The second evening is at sunset at the 12th hour. So "between the evenings" means that the Passover lamb was killed at the 9th hour. The 9th hour, on the 14th day, on Passover is the exact time that Christ died.)
1) Christ died in the year 31 AD. (PROVEN FACT)
2) Christ died on Passover. (PROVEN FACT)
3) The 7th day Sabbath followed the day of Christ's death. (PROVEN FACT)
4) The Passover in 31 AD fell on a Tuesday. (PROVEN FACT)
Conclusion: The ONLY way for the 7th day Sabbath to follow Passover in the year 31 AD is if the Sabbath day is reckoned by the new moon. This is 100%, conclusive proof for the lunar Sabbath. The Saturday Sabbath is biblically IMPOSSIBLE.
FACT #1 - Christ died in the year 31 AD
Proof 1: Daniel 9 Prophecy of 70 weeks
The prophecy in Daniel 9 proves that Christ died in the year 31 AD. Please click on the link for further explanation. 70 weeks in prophetic time is 490 years. Christ was “cut off” in “the midst of the week” – in the middle of the final week, he was crucified. The decree to restore and build Jerusalem went forth in 457 BC. Count 490 years(or 70 weeks) forward and you come to 34 AD when Stephen was stoned and then the gospel went out to the Gentiles. Count 483 years(or 69 weeks) forward and you come to 27 AD when Christ was baptized and his ministry began. Christ was prophesied to die in the middle of 27 AD and 34 AD. Therefore, Christ died in the year 31 AD.
7th Day Adventists(Saturday keepers) are especially tied to these dates. Their 1844 doctrine depends on the year 31 AD as the year of Christ's death. While I am not in agreement with their 1844 doctrine, they are correct in their interpretation of Daniel 9's 70 week prophecy and Christ's death in the year 31 AD. The SDA leadership is well aware of this discrepancy of Friday not lining up with the year 31 AD's Passover, but they have chosen to blindly ignore this and continue with their tradition of Saturday Sabbath due to fear of the consequences of changing. That is their choice, but what will your choice be?
Herod died, according to historical records in 4 BC. And Jesus was born just before the death of Herod according to the Gospels (Matthew 2:19, 20). And Jesus was baptized when He was about 30 years old according to Luke (Luke 3:23). So that puts Jesus baptism at AD 27, 30 years from 4 BC.
Proof 3: The fifteenth year of Tiberius CaesarLuke records the baptism of Jesus to be in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1, 21). According to historical records the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar was AD 27.
Proof 4: The Building of the TempleWhen Jesus visited Jerusalem temple for the first time after His Baptism in the month of Abib, the first Jewish month, He had a discussion with the leaders of the Jews. He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). To which they replied that the temple was in construction since 46 years, and how could He build it in 3 days. From historical records we know that Herod started to rebuild the temple in 19 BC. And 46 years later would put the baptism year of Jesus to be AD 27.
FACT #2 - Christ died on Passover
Most people understand that Christ died on Passover. But let's prove our case through scripture anyways.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. And on thefifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Lev. 23:5-6
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:44-46 (The passover lambs were being slaughtered at the exact time of Christ's death.)
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 1 Cor. 5:7 (Christ is directly linked as our passover sacrifice.)
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Mark 13:1-2 (The Last Supper had already ended, and this time is described as being before the feast of the passover. That's because the Passover meal was for the following night on the 14th.)
For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him,Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. John 13:29 (The disciples didn't understand what Jesus was telling Judas at the Last Supper. They thought Jesus was telling him to buy things for the upcoming Passover meal. This tells you that they didn't perceive the meal they had just eaten as the Passover meal. It was perceived to be the next night on the 14th.)
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:38-40 (Pilate is saying that this day that followed the Last Supper, was the Passover.)
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. John 18:28 (If Jesus and the disciples ate the Passover meal the night before at the Last Supper, then these people wouldn't be concerned with keeping themselves clean for the upcoming passover that had not yet occurred.)
And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him,crucify him. John 19:14-15 (The "preparation day" in scriptures, is always in reference to the day of Passover on the 14th. They must prepare not only for the Passover meal that night, but also the Feast of Unleavened Bread the following day.)
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. John 19:30-31
There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. John 19:42
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate. Matt. 27:62
And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Mark 15:42
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Luke 23:54
This is pretty clear and straight forward. This is the truth, proved through scripture, that Christ died on Passover. But if you have gotten caught up in the confusion of the "Passover discrepancy" or supposed contradiction, then please click on this link below and I'll clear it up for you as best as I can. The gospel books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all appear to say that the Last Supper, eaten on the night before the 14th of the Passover, was the Passover meal. This has caused much confusion but it really bears no consequence to the point of this page, because either way, the Passover in 31 AD was not on a Friday. But for those that like further Bible study, I've provided my take on that subject in the link below.
FACT #3 - The 7th day Sabbath followed the day of Christ's death
The scriptures are clear that the Sabbath followed the day of Christ's death. Although some people will argue that it wasn't the weekly Sabbath, but the annual Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But I will PROVE, that not only was it the annual Sabbath, it was ALSO the weekly 7th day Sabbath that followed the day of Christ's death. And that is why it is important for Saturday Sabbath keepers to show a Friday crucifixion. The Sabbath that followed Christ's death was called a "high day." The Jews will tell you that a high day Sabbath occurs when the annual and weekly Sabbaths fall on the same day. Some will try to argue that a high day Sabbath is simply certain special annual Sabbaths. But Jewish history and tradition says otherwise. I am big on history, but not so much on tradition, so I will prove my case another way.
Passover is on the 14th, the day Christ died. The 15th begins the feast of unleavened bread which is a high day Sabbath. I already discussed what a high day Sabbath is, but like I said, I'll show you another way to show that this was a weekly Sabbath as well. The day after this Sabbath, is the 16th of the month, and that is when the sheaf is harvested to be waved before the Lord on Firstfruits. This event pictures the resurrection of Christ.
Now there is a lot to address from this passage alone. The feast of Firstfruits, the day of the wave sheaf offering, pinpoints the day of Christ's resurrection. God uses physical agricultural harvests to picture the sowing and reaping of spiritual human souls. The reaping of the harvest parallels with the resurrection of the dead.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Col. 1:15 (Christ is first of the firstfruits.)
Firstfruits spoken of in Lev. 23 speaks of reaping the harvest. The sheaf is harvested as first of the firstfruits. This is a clear representation of Christ and his resurrection from the dead. A lamb without blemish is sacrificed on this day, which again is a clear representation of Christ who was pure and sinless. The fine flour represented the beating that Christ took from the Romans on the day of his death. The oil represented the Holy Spirit in which Christ possessed. The wine represented the blood poured out by Christ during the day of his death. Everything about the wave sheaf points to Christ and his resurrection from the dead because that is what this day represents. Now let's determine when this day took place and see what conclusions can be drawn.
Firstfruits occurs the day after the Sabbath. After which Sabbath does this occur, the weekly 7th day Sabbath or the annual Sabbath of Unleavened Bread? Well again, it is both. How do I know this other than the fact that scripture says this was a high day?
Christ rose on the 1st day of the week, therefore, the event that pictures his resurrection occurs on the 1st day of the week as well. So Firstfruits, the harvesting of the wave sheaf, always takes place on the 1st day of the week, same as Christ's resurrection. And this event of the wave sheaf is said to occur after the Sabbath, therefore it is proven that this Sabbath is a weekly 7th day Sabbath. The 1st day of the week, is preceeded by the 7th day of the week. And it is proven that this 7th day of the week, weekly Sabbath, followed the day of Christ's death.
Some people will argue the point that Christ rose on the 7th day Sabbath. This can not be true because the wave sheaf offering occurred the day after the Sabbath, which is the first day of the week. I will further show how this works in the links provided below.
Another natural objection to this is that people can not then reckon how the 3 days and 3 nights works in which Christ was in the tomb. I will show you how all of this harmonizes on another page. The following links tie into this subject and are important to understand in relation to this. When Does A Day Begin? page establishes that a biblical day begins at sunrise. This is important because it helps us harmonize all the dates of scripture. Harmonizing the scriptures can not be achieved when you falsely conclude that a biblical day begins at sunset as the tradition of the Jews teaches today. I recommend understanding that principle 1st before reading the next link. The Sign Of Jonah page will then explain how the count of 3 days and 3 nights works.
FACT #4 - The Passover in 31 AD fell on a Tuesday
It is not difficult to know the day on which the Passover fell in the year 31 AD. We know that the Passover is always on the 14th day from the 1st new moon of the biblical year. The conjunction new moon is easily traced back through history. You simply count forward 14 days from this new moon and that is when the Passover occurred for that year. It is a fact that the Passover occurred on a Tuesday in the year 31 AD. The United States Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department shows that the conjunction in the year 31 AD occurred on Monday, April 10th. This causes new moon day to be on Tuesday, April 11th. Passover is counted 14 days forward to Tuesday, April 24th.
Let me briefly address why some argue that Passover occurred on Wednesday, April 25th instead of Tuesday, April 24th. This is because some people falsely reckon the biblical new moon to be reckoned by the sighting of the 1st visible crescent. Please see my page Conjunction New Moon to explain this further. Also some people will distort the concepts of the crescent new moon and try to explain how a Friday crucifixion was possible because the dark moon can be present for up to 3 days in some cases. They will try to claim that it is possible that the crescent wasn't sighted for the entire 3 days and that would make possible a Friday crucifixion. But even though the crescent moon is a false reckoning to start with, this is still an invalid argument because there can not be 3 days of dark moon from the conjunction. 3 days can only be counted from the last visible crescent. So you can never count 3 days from the April 10th conjunction. The most you could ever count is 2 days from April 10th. So a best case scenario would only allow for a Thursday Passover in 31 AD. But I don't want to focus too much on that because the crescent moon reckoning is a false idea to begin with. I just want to show that even if you used the crescent moon, you still can't make the argument for a Friday crucifixion. And with the conjunction new moon reckoning, their is only 1 scenario, and that is for the Passover in 31 AD to occur on Tuesday, April 24th.
Conclusion:
These facts deal a death blow to the Saturday Sabbath. The Saturday Sabbath is biblically impossible because the facts can not be harmonized with it. The ONLY way for the Passover in the year 31 AD to be a day before the weekly 7th day Sabbath is by using lunar Sabbaths. Lunar Sabbaths always occur on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th of the month. And since the 15th is always a Sabbath, and the Passover always occurs on the 14th, then it harmonizes no matter what year it is. This is 100% PROOF that the Sabbath is reckoned by the new moon, not according to the Roman calendar's continuous cycle of weeks.
The 4th COMMANDMENT is clear. WORK/Labour 6 days rest the 7th. But with the false lunar sabbath every month there’s carryover days where it’s 8 or 9 days before the 7th day sabbath.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the 4th commandment is also clear and pointed to CREATION and 7 day cycle, no where does the COMMANDMENT talk about moon etc. Why would God write with his finger and not be clear?!