Walk with Christ

MONTH

How do YOU define a MONTH?

Most would simply state that a MONTH is about 30 DAYS, about 4 WEEKS, and there are 12 MONTHS in a YEAR. Some would add that a MONTH is one complete cycle of the moon phases. As the Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most of the world, most would state the first MONTH of the YEAR is January and easily be able to state the names of the other eleven MONTHS.  Some could identify the MONTHS by the season they are in; winter, spring, summer, or fall. Some would add that the first DAY of the first MONTH January is the New Year holiday and easily identify other various holidays. Most would know the DAY, MONTH, YEAR of their birth and additional dates important in their eyes. Some of religious persuasions could state the DAY and MONTH of events their institutions or faith hold reverent.

Man’s monthly Gregorian calendar assigns the numerical DAY of a MONTH in a repetitive and repeating order from 1 January to 31 December and the next YEAR’s first DAY continues immediately after 31 December. Man follows past traditions and arranges the DAYS in groups of seven DAYS called WEEKS, with a MONTH on average consisting of four WEEKS. It is important to emphasize that Man’s Gregorian calendar WEEK begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. As Man’s Gregorian calendar is based on the cycle of the earth around the sun it consists of 365.25 DAYS. Normal YEARS are 365 DAYS with every fourth YEAR, a leap YEAR, being 366 DAYS with the addition of one DAY in the MONTH of February. Each of Man’s Gregorian calendar MONTHS has a fixed number of DAYS assigned with February designated with one extra DAY in a leap year.

The Truth reveals that a MONTH is measured from the observation of the first visible appearance of the New Moon, a narrow crescent shape, to its next visible appearance. It designates the count of MONTHLY DAYS begins with the New Moon’s visible appearance. A DAY is simply one complete cycle from darkness (night/evening) followed by lightness (day/morning) until darkness (night/evening) is observed again. The number of DAYS in any MONTH was determined simply by counting the number of DAYS from one New Moon to the next. At the appearance of the next New Moon, the monthly count ended and began anew. As the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days this usually results in 6 months of 29 days and six months of 30 days that alternated through the year. The DAYS are arranged in groups of seven DAYS called WEEKS and were structured to follow the definition of the 7-DAY Biblical WEEK as stated in Genesis 1:1-31 and 2:1-3. The names of the DAYS were simple a numerical label, one through seven, with the 7^th DAY referred to as the Sabbath. The names of MONTHS were originally numbered consecutively from 1 to 12 in a regular year, or from 1 to 13 in a leap year that usually occurred every third YEAR.

The Truth reveals that the first MONTH of the YEAR is called Abib (Exodus 12:2 Exodus 13:4). Abib means grain in the ear, just ripening (Exodus 9:31 Leviticus 2:14). The ripening of the grain is associated with springtime in Israel and when associated with the first visible appearance of the New Moon, it provides a clear sign (Deuteronomy 16:1) of the proper New Moon to start the first MONTH of the New YEAR.

A Biblical YEAR is determined by the observation of spring and the ripening of grain (a fairly consistent point in the Earth’s cycle around the sun that was later associated with the northward equinox) in Israel which determines the number of cycles of the moon around the Earth – this on average results in two YEARS of 12 lunar cycles and a third YEAR of 13 lunar cycles, with this cycle repeating every 3 years. It must be emphasized that the determination of the observation of the New Moon and springtime ripening of grain was a result of the consensus of religious leaders and witnesses, inspired and guided by God. As records of the specific number of DAYS in any given MONTH or YEAR determined by religious consensus during this period of time do not exist, any event of that time period cannot be dated with accuracy.

The Bible contains no reference to any of Man’s Gregorian calendar names for DAYS or MONTHS; neither does the Bible identify the YEAR of any event. Be extremely wary and skeptical of those that make assertions that Biblical events were on a certain YEAR or assign Man’s Gregorian calendrical labels to Biblical events for they are likely adding to the Word of God and heed not 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 the Lord your God which I command you”.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4).