New Moon? If your of the modern scientific and/or astronomical mindset a New Moon, or more appropriately described as the Dark Moon, occurs by Man's definition at the moment of conjunction in ecliptical longitude with the Sun, when the Moon is invisible from the Earth. The precise moment when the Moon is invisible does not depend on one's geographical location on Earth. Man has quantified mathematically the lunar phases of the Moon and characterized it based on its reflected light, its visibility or luminosity, associated with an exact time: New Moon (0% Luminosity), Waxing Crescent Moon (0% < Luminosity < 50%), First Quarter Moon (50% Luminosity), Waxing Gibbous Moon (50% < Luminosity < 100%), Full Moon (100% Luminosity), Waning Gibbous Moon (100% < Luminosity > 50%), Third Quarter Moon (50% Luminosity), and Waning Crescent Moon (50% < Luminosity > 0%). The Moon's lunar phases repeat every 29.53 days.
New Moon? The Word of God in the Bible characterizes the definition of the New Moon as the first visible crescent of the Moon after conjunction with the Sun when the Moon was totally dark, invisible to the eye and observation of Man. The first visible reflection of the Sun's light from the Moon, the thin waxing crescent, appears low in the western sky close to the time of Sunset as the direct light from the Sun is diminished. The date and time the first visible crescent of the Moon is observable by Man is dependent upon the geographical location the Moon is viewed from, just as the Sunset is at different times around the world. Just as the Word of God in the Bible declares the start of the 24 hour day begins at Evening, with the Sunset - "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:5) - the first day of the New Month begins with the observation of the thin crescent of the New Moon with the onset of Evening.
God's appointed time for the start of the Day (Genesis 1:5), the observance of a new Month (Deuteronomy 16:1), or the beginning of the New Year (Exodus 12:2) has always been "...in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there." (Deuteronomy 16:2) There is only one place on this Earth that God has chosen:
- "A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." (Deuteronomy 11:12)
- "...the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name." (2 Kings 21:4)
- "...whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever." (2 Chronicles 33:4)
- "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation." (Psalm 132:13)
- "...the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem..." (Revelation 3:12).
God further clarified that His Word shall go forth from Jerusalem to the entire world:
- "...for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
- "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem;" (Joel 3:16)
- "...The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem;..." (Amos 1:2)
- "And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:2)
Lastly God revealed upon the return of His Son that the entire earth, ALL people, shall know of it at the same instant:
- "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30)
- "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7)
If you are to observe God's appointed times, one must adjust your local time to align with God's time in His chosen location Jerusalem, Israel. To adjust your location's time with God's time in Jerusalem, Israel is a very simple process - see suggested website timeanddate.com to quantify the time difference.
If you can discern the Truth of God's Words, the beginning of "times" is also revealed in the first verses of Genesis (Genesis 1-2) as illustrated in picture below.
It shall be established for ever as the moon,
and as a faithful witness in heaven.
Nothing Man can do is able to corrupt the testimony of God's faithful witness in heaven, the Moon. Man's modern science has mathematically characterized in extreme and precise detail the lunar phases of the Moon for times past, present, and into the future; but Man is unable to change the facts, the testimony of God's faithful witness, the Moon. Despite Man's increase in knowledge of the intricacies of God's heavenly bodies, none of Man's knowledge is needed to simply observe the initial appearance of the thin crescent of a New Moon that signifies the start of a new Month. As it was in the times past of Adam & Eve, it remains the same today and forever; one freely chooses to observe and exhibit obedience to God's "signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" (Genesis 1:14)
Jesus told us to beware of deception and false religious faith leaders, "...Take heed that no man deceive you." (Matthew 24:4) and "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:11). Jesus told us we could know of their falsehoods; "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16); Deuteronomy 18:21-22: "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." If ALL the words, doctrines, and mandates of your religious institution or faith leader "follow not" the Word of God in the Bible, you know they DO NOT speak for God, are NOT inspired and NOT led by God. Heed the Biblical advice given: "...they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Moon is God's faithful witness in heaven and coupled with the Word of God, you can know with certainty the time of God's appointed Holy Days (Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29). If your religious institution or faith leader's declared Holy Days of God DO NOT match God's appointed Holy Days, you must choose - obedience to God's Truth or abdication to Man's deceptions. Choose wisely.
How to Observe the Initial Appearance of the New Moon?
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." (1 Corinthians 3:18)
Become a fool to be wise? Yes, disregard everything you know and the opinions of others. "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:37) WATCH!! Observe the setting of the Sun, the greater light, and the Moon, the lesser light, will appear at its appointed time (Genesis 1:16). It is truly that simple, as God intended it to be in the times of Adam, times of Moses, times of Jesus, as it is today, and into the future. While the appearance of the Crescent New Moon can be observed at any location on Earth at different times, understand the only true perspective is of God and His chosen location, Jerusalem, Israel (Revelation 3:12).
Repetitive observations and experience will guide you to the same knowledge that is quantified by modern Man. The Moons lunar phases repeat every ~29.5 days and the initial crescent of the Moon will be visible on the 29th or 30th day. Most have never observed the very instant the Crescent New Moon appears as it overcomes the diminishing direct light of the Sun at sunset. Take it upon yourself to WATCH and experience this unique sign from God.
For those that desire more detailed information or predictions of the Moons lunar phases, they abound if you seek them.
For many that have a typical printed wall calendar the four major phases of the Moon (New, First Quarter, Full, & Third Quarter) are usually illustrated. Almost all with a electronic device, have internet access, and access to multiple websites and applications that provide the Moon's phases in detail.
Textual dates of moon phases and equinoxes/solstices are available at the website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and is called SKYCAL (Sky Events Calendar).
A typical website that provides Moon phase data is timeanddate.com as illustrated in picture below.
While knowing the date and time of the New Moon phases is edifying, the desired information of many is what date and time is the Crescent New Moon potentially visible. This information is also readily available if you seek it.
The astronomical data for “Crescent Moon Visibility” from website Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office Websurf 2.0 provides textual predictive data as shown in picture below.
Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office has an additional website called MoonWatch that provides diagrams of global projected visibility and probability of sighting the new crescent moon. They provide a series of diagrams that span the potential days for sighting the new crescent moon as shown below.
The website In-The-Sky.org provides ephemeris data for the Moon in a tabular format showing moonrise, moonset, and predicted moon visibility times for each day. The following table shows ephemeris data for Jerusalem, Israel for March/April 2022.
The Israeli Society for the View of the New Moon website provides their own diagrams to aide in the sighting of the Crescent New Moon tailored to the Jerusalem, Israel location as shown below. They also solicit report data on actual sightings within the bounds of God's declared Holy Land, Israel.
The website TorahCalendar.com provides forecast diagrams of "New Moon Day" based on observation from Jerusalem, Israel as shown below.
There are many more websites that provide dates and times for Moon lunar phases and forecasts of the probability of sighting the Crescent New Moon. As with everything, use your own inspired judgement and "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
If you desire even more insight beyond the single snapshots of static data of the Moon's lunar phases and appearance of the Crescent New Moon, a realistic, real-time simulation (planetarium) of the movement of heavenly bodies spanning past, present, and future times is available in a program called Stellarium. Stellarium is free to download and use and has capabilities and customizations beyond the needs of a novice user. The picture below is from the program Stellarium with location set to Jerusalem, Israel for date of 2 April 2022 prior to local sunset time of 18:59 PM IDT.
Despite having knowledge of the date and time with the high probability of when the New Crescent Moon will be visible, it is incumbent upon oneself to actually physically sight the New Crescent Moon with your own unaided eyes. This simple act of observing reflects obedience to God (Deuteronomy 16:1).
As many are not located at God's chosen location Jerusalem, Israel (Revelation 3:12), it is impossible to physically sight the New Crescent Moon from God's perspective. However, there are many websites that post their observations on the internet from within the Holy Land of Israel. Many other individuals share New Moon sighting information on their own personal websites or media accounts. As with everything, evaluate the findings with scrutiny and your own inspired judgement; and above all, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Search the internet to discover sites that present unbiased and unfiltered results of New Moon sightings. While I don't endorse all facets or ideology of the following sites below, they do provide some valued information of New Moon sightings within Israel. It is suggested to check and compare multiple sites (witnesses) to confirm validity of New Moon reports - there should be 100% agreement on the physical sighting of the New Moon and start dates of Months, to include the current one and past history. Division and disagreement as to what Month it currently is should be expected and is subject to one's own inspired discernment of God's Truths or lack thereof - Very Important: Do not be like the Pharisees and Sadducees and judge and condemn others - be like Jesus, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1). Stand firm in your inspired beliefs, hopefully based in Biblical texts, but agree to disagree with love and respect.
AbibofGod.com Biblical Calendar information
Ancient Path New Moon - Restoring the True Biblical Time
Biblical Calendar Forum: Aviv Barley and New Moon Reports from Israel
Devorah's Date Tree - New Moon and Aviv Barley
April Fools' Day - The First of the Month
Oh!!, how so appropriately coincidental. Some assert that those who subscribe importance to the First Day of the Month or New Year are just Fools, for isn't one day as significant as any other.
By all accounts, the predictions of the sighting of the New Moon on 2 April 2022 within Israel were in total agreement, it would be very easy to sight the crescent of the New Moon on the 29th day of the current Biblical Month. Notice the illustrations of New Moon predictions above, they are real, and all indicate 2 April 2022 is the evening it will be easy to sight the New Moon. Understand that the evening/sunset of 2 April to the evening/sunset of 3 April 2022 would be declared the First Day of the New Month for some, as a Biblical Day is determined from even unto even (Genesis 1:5, Leviticus 23:32) - the previous Biblical Month would end on its 29th day.
As this New Moon was to be the declared the First Month of the Biblical Year (Exodus 12:2) for many, not all; some being industrious set forth to capitalize on the surety of its prediction. Websites were updated to reflect all of God's Holy Days (Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29) for the New Year in fancy calendar displays, literature, videos, and communiques. Some ministries that take profit from the free Word of God had already recorded sales of their "inspired" writings and predictions; and professionally developed glossy new calendars with glamours religious background pictures and Bible quotations.
Well on the evening of 2 April 2022, just after sunset, reports of sighting the New Moon were witnessed and confirmed throughout various locations on Earth. In the Holy Land of Israel, their was silence. There were no reports (read here) from anyone within Israel that the Crescent New Moon was physical sighted; this was attributed to weather as cloud cover obstructed visibility.
On the evening of 3 April 2022 it was confirmed that the New Moon was sighted within Israel (read here and here) as illustrated below. {Moon characteristic data is from free program called Stellarium - see here and here.}
Inspired Choices?
You have been presented with the available facts of the New Moon sightings of the month of April 2022, stop and contemplate of your own inspired accord. What Choice are You inspired to make?
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16)
The Choices?
For many, the Choice is No Choice, as many do not believe in any "god" and the Bible is a book of fiction, of ignorant myths and fables. The appearance of the New Moon to them causes no change in their Choice as they don't recognize the appearance of the New Moon as a sign from God. (Genesis 1:14-19)
Many of the Christian faith observe the New Year on the 1st of January and their Months are fixed and defined by the adoption of the Georgian calendar per edict of Pope Gregory XIII. They have disavowed God's declared Sabbaths and Holy Days identified in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29 and observe days of their own declaration as published in their mandated liturgical doctrines. They determine the resurrection day of Jesus by Man's devised rules. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full Moon after the spring equinox; adopted and mandated by the Papacy, Holy See of Rome. The appearance of the New Moon coupled with the Biblical scriptures is of no significance and does not alter their Choice.
Many of the Jewish faith adhere to the last President of the Sanhedrin, Hillel II, mathematically calculated Hebrew Calendar. It is formulated on a complex set of Rules of Postponement devised by Man. They profess Unity of the People above revealed Truths and blindly adhere to the Hillel II Hebrew Calendar, even though their calculated and declared New Moon day does not match the physical sighting of the New Moon. The appearance of the New Moon does not impact their Choice, as the Truth revealed by God's faithful witness (Psalm 89:37) is shunned. Example calendar: link 1.
There are also those that believe in Jesus and identify themselves as Christians that follow the Hillel II Hebrew Calendar, instead of the Papacy doctrine and also disregard Biblical scripture. As they place faith in the word of a Man over the Word of God, they observe God's appointed Holy Days on days determined by Man, not God. Example calendar: link 1, link2, there are many more...
The dates these groups advocate are as follows:
- New Month/New Biblical Year - Sunset 1 April to Sunset 2 April 2022
- Passover - Sunset 14 April to Sunset 15 April 2022
- Feast of Unleavened Bread - Sunset 15 April to Sunset 22 April 2022
- Shavuot/First Fruits of Wheat/Pentecost - Sunset 4 June to Sunset 5 June 2022
There are a few that profess they adhere to the Word of God, unaltered by Man, is the only path to follow; as it is the path and example set by Jesus. Yet within these few, different Choices were made regarding the sighting of the New Moon and start of the New Biblical Year based on their own discernment and interpretation of scripture.
Some had previously declared the prior New Moon that occurred on the evening of 4 March 2022 to be the First Day of the New Month of the New Biblical Year. The New Moon of April is the second Month of the Biblical Year for them. Their justification was based on the maturity of wild growth barley, untouched by human hands, not irrigated by man, in the micro-climate area immediately south of the Sea of Galilee. The fields they inspected were natural growth of multiple weed varieties intermixed with some wild growth barley. In agriculture terminology the growth in these fields would be classified as a cover crop to protect the soil - cover crop is also considered "green manure" as it is intended to enhance the soil. These fields yielded no barley harvest for either animal or man; one field they inspected was later bulldozed under by the non-Jewish (Arab) property owner per their reports. The location of the fields they inspected near to the Sea of Galilee is about 20 meters above sea level with a very moderate climate compared to the location of barley fields proximate to Jerusalem at +900 meters above sea level at a significantly cooler temperature. By there own inspection and reports they acknowledge the maturity of the barley fields proximate to Jerusalem were significantly less mature, quoted: "Yesterday we searched areas around Bethlehem Judah where Boaz grew his wheat and barley. Beautiful, beautiful area. I was on the road of the Patriarchs where David and many more would have walked. I was on Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock. All around the area of Bethlem Judah. I was around the area of Shuafat where the refugee camp for Ramallah is. At Gush Etzion, Migdal Oz, Efrat. All along 571 in the territories and many more. I'll post a video as I can, but to abbreviate the barley is just exiting the boot, or the head of the barley is just coming out. Some has JUST begun to bloom. The north is way ahead of this area." Their updated report of 2 April of the fields proximate to Jerusalem stated, "I'm not sure there is an entire field of wild barley that has barley kernels that are indivisible by cutting it with a fingernail. Oh, there are many ripening places within fields but I haven't seen an entire field that is evenly developed to their standards yet. I wonder what the "ripe fields by or before the new moon" groups will do about declaring the first month?" This group's factual reports, pictures, and videos were useful in confirming that March was NOT the proper month to start the New Biblical Year - read this post for further insights as to why.
The dates these groups advocate are as follows:
- New Month/New Biblical Year - Sunset 4 March to Sunset 5 March 2022
- Passover/Last Supper/Crucifixion - Sunset 17 March to Sunset 18 March 2022
- Feast of Unleavened Bread - Sunset 18 March to Sunset 25 March 2022
- First Fruits of Barley/Wavesheaf - Sunset 20 March to Sunset 21 March 2022
- Shavuot/First Fruits of Wheat/Pentecost - Sunset 8 May to Sunset 9 May 2022
Some, distant from Israel, visibly sighted the New Moon at their foreign location on the evening of 2 April and declared the First Day of the New Month of the New Biblical Year to be from the evening/sunset of 2 April to the evening/sunset of 3 April 2022. Even a few within the land of Israel, despite the New Moon not being sighted on 2 April in Israel, succumbed to the overwhelming predictions of ease of visibility on 2 April, and declared the evening of 2 April as the First Day of the New Month of the New Biblical Year, regardless.
The dates these groups advocate are as follows:
- New Month/New Biblical Year - Sunset 2 April to Sunset 3 April 2022
- Passover/Last Supper/Crucifixion - Sunset 15 April to Sunset 16 April 2022
- Feast of Unleavened Bread - Sunset 16 April to Sunset 23 April 2022
- First Fruits of Barley/Wavesheaf - Sunset 20 April to Sunset 21 April 2022
- Shavuot/First Fruits of Wheat/Pentecost - Sunset 8 June to Sunset 9 June 2022
A very few adhered to the visible facts of April's New Moon and declared the First Day of the New Month of the New Biblical Year to be from the evening/sunset of 3 April to the evening/sunset of 4 April 2022 with maturity of barley based on actual barley fields proximate to Jerusalem.
The dates these few advocate are as follows:
- New Month/New Biblical Year - Sunset 3 April to Sunset 4 April 2022
- Passover/Last Supper/Crucifixion - Sunset 16 April to Sunset 17 April 2022
- Feast of Unleavened Bread - Sunset 17 April to Sunset 24 April 2022
- Resurrection - Sunset 19 April to Sunset 20 April 2022
- First Fruits of Barley/Wavesheaf - Sunset 23 April to Sunset 24 April 2022
- Shavuot/First Fruits of Wheat/Pentecost - Sunset 11 June to Sunset 12 June 2022
Choices? As with every Choice and everything in Life, evaluate your decisions with prayerful thought and attention to the Bible. Above all, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
God intended ALL to have uncoerced, freewill choice, so choose wisely. May God bless and guide your Choices.
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