Pictures of the Messiah:
The Festival Calendar

<< Festivals
Exploring Salvation

Page Contents

Also declared Elohim occurs beacons within stretch the Heavens by separating between the day also between the night also occurs unto signals also unto meetings also unto days also years.
(Gen 1:14 WGV)
  • The Types of Calendars

  • The Length of Calendar Segments

  • Purpose of the Calendar in Scripture

  • Which Calendar is Used




    The Types of Calendars

    Definition of a Calendar

    In the most basic form, a calendar is a method of determining and measuring the beginning, duration, sections, and end of a year. Throughout history and across virtually all cultures, calendars have existed and have survived in many forms.

    Astronomical Calendars

    Astronomy is the scientific study of the physical things outside of the earth. This includes the sun, moon, stars, planets, asteroids, and other objects in the known universe. The scientific aspects which are studied include observations and calculations about where an object is and the motion of the object. Typically, the motion of the sun, moon, and/or earth are used in determining parts of a calendar. There can be no doubt that the ancient civilizations knew of the motion of the sun, moon, and stars in astonishing detail. The calendars left behind by the Egyptians, Aztec, Mayan, Druid, and other cultures or empires typify what was known. They knew of the eqinoxes and solstices of the sun and the mathematical timing of the moon's cycle.

    Agricultural Calendars

    Another type of calendar was one that depended upon the seasons of the year and how they effected the growing season of crops locally. This could be found within both nomadic peoples as they followed the seasonal cycles in where they would search for food and within the stationary societies which followed the seasons to grow their crops.

    Observational Calendars

    Observational calendars are based on something that can be seen or observed to mark the times of the year. This is often based upon astronomy or agriculture.

    Numerical Calendars

    Numerical calendars use mathematics rahter than they cycles of nature. Instead, they arbitrarily choose how to section up the year for any number of reasons. If a certain number has meaning in that culture, then the calendar could likely have a division in it based on that number.

    The Length of Calendar Segments

    The Day

    Most calendar determine the day by the rotation of the Earth around its axis which yields a 24 hour period of time. Mathematical models will often choose a time like midnight (the middle of the dark time) to start the day. Observational calendars will use an event, such as sunset to sunset, to determine the start and end of the day.

    The Week

    The seven day week, which is known throughout the world, is unusual in that it has no corresponding natural cycle. The only explanation that fits is that it exists from the time of creation and because Elohim sanctified the Sabbath as a day of rest.

    Metonic Cycle

    One of the more prominent mathematical formulas is the metonic cycle which is named after the Athenian astronomer Meton. This is a solar / lunar (sun / moon) calendar that works on a nineteen year pattern. It uses the sun to determine the length of the year and the moon to determine the length of the month. Since each year is almost 12 1/2 moons in length, the calendar has 12 years with 12 months and 7 years with 13 months with the leap months being planned roughly every third year.

    Purpose of the Calendar in Scripture

    Worship

    One of the foremost purposes of the calendar in Scripture is to mark the timing of the Assemblies and Festivals. These are the times when all the Nation of Israel would come together to worship the One Most High. This would include such events as the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread. The sun, moon, and stars were made to be beacons (a sign) of these times and the dates for these events were set according to them.

    The Messiah

    As history has progressed, we have learned that these times of worship are fulfilled in the work of the Messiah. The spring festivals represent the first coming of the Messiah which is shown in the death, resurrection, and giving of the spirit which occurred about 2000 years ago. It does not take much to see that the autumn festivals can represent the second coming of the Messiah.

    Which Calendar is Used

    The Calendar in Scripture

    The calendar in Scripture is an observational calendar using both astronomy and agriculture. The day is determined by the rotation of the earth (specifically from sunset to sunset). The month is determined by the new moon. The year is determined by the appearance of the mature barley crop which will typically fall close to the spring equinox due to the growing season in Israel.

    Rabbinical Judaism

    Orthodox Judaism have to concurrent calendars in use. The first is the civil calendar which begins in the autumn, usually around september or october, and comes after the harvesting of the crops and is believed to be the time of the birthday of the world. The second is the religious calendar which is based on the calendar of Scripture but which now uses the mathematical Metonic cycle to determine the start and end of the months and years.

    Karaite Judaism

    Within Karaite Judaism, the Rabbinical modifications such as mathematically calculating the year are considered incorrect and are not followed. Karaite groups choose to continue the use of an observational calendar using the moon to determine the months and the barley crop to determine the beginning of the year.

    Christianity

    The Christian calendar follows the Roman Gregorian calendar. This calendar determines the year by the earth's cycle around the sun. It determines the months by mathematically dividing that year into twelve months of unequal lengths of time.

    Messianic Judaism

    The formal Messianic Judaism groups will follow the Rabbinical calendar using the Metonic cycle. The less formal groups may independently choose to follow the observational calender used by Karaite Judaism.

    Todd Elder is a believer in the Messiah who wants to help people understand Scripture and know the message of Salvation. For more information from the Assembly and Festival Series, please visit http://www.exploringsalvation.info and look under 'Messiah'.
    Additional Information