This is it......The christian community is now calling abomination ...OK....I remember this girl from back in the 90's.....We even met her @ a christian book store......but to find this behavior acceptable.....it is abomination at it's highest!
(CNN) -- Rumors were rampant when Christian music artist Jennifer Knapp walked away from a successful career seven years ago.
After selling about a million records and winning at Christian music's prestigious Dove Awards in 1999, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter simply vanished in 2003 -- leaving fans wondering where she had gone. There were countless theories as to why Knapp checked out, including the possibility of illness.
But the one that raised the most ruckus among her die-hard fans was the one which proved to be true: Jennifer Knapp is gay.
This week Knapp burst back onto the music scene with news of a comeback and a coming out. Her new album will be released in May, and she has revealed that she has been in a same-sex relationship for the past eight years.
The revelation rocked the Christian music scene, where Knapp was a darling of fans and critics before her self-imposed exile. The intensely private singer said she's not at all surprised by the shock waves.
"I'm aware that the evangelical community has problems with divorce and many other facets of their artists, let alone homosexuality," Knapp said. "I really felt a strong obligation to be able to address that because for many people, it was really clear that they wouldn't participate in buying a record because it was against their beliefs."
"For many people who buy Christian music or have been familiar with me and my writings as a person of faith, I felt like it was the honest thing to do," she added. "The last thing I wanted to do was to have someone go out and buy a record and feel like they had been hoodwinked."
Knapp is not the first artist to find fame in the genre before revealing their sexuality.
In 2008, Christian singer/songwriter Ray Boltz came out as a gay man after a 20-year career in the industry. In 2009, gospel star Tonex went public with his homosexuality as a guest on "The Lexi Show," a popular program on the Christian channel The Word Network.
Lexi, who is also a gospel music artist, said that while many in the Christian music industry are aware of who is gay, "we don't talk about it, because that's the unspoken rule."
Lexi said she doubts most fans will ever fully embrace an openly gay artist, but she points to other artists who have been able to straddle the line between secular music and songs of faith.
"I think some Christians will totally avoid [Knapp] and say that she is the devil and all that, but there are some that are more open who will embrace her new material," Lexi said. "Then she will find a new audience."
Mark Moring, senior associate editor for Christianity Today, was one of the first to write about Knapp's revelation and said it has been extremely polarizing among his publication's audience. People have vacillated between anger that Christianity Today would even write the story and praise for Knapp's honesty, he said.
"There are people who will always love Jennifer Knapp, no matter what decisions she may make," Moring said. "I think the word that I've read the most often [among those commenting on the Christianity Today web site] is 'sad' as in 'I'm sad that she has made this choice, but I still love her music.' I think that has been a recurrent theme."
Rev. DL Foster is the founder of the Gay Christian Movement Watch Web site and said he believes as society has become more accepting of homosexuality, Knapp and other artists are finding it easier to go public.
"For a person to try and combine [being gay and being a Christian music artist] is not biblically correct, and I would hope that the church would reject such music because it does not represent us," he said. "To me, it doesn't matter if you are openly gay or closeted gay, sin is still sin."
Knapp is very clear that she is not marketing herself as a Christian artist, a term with which she said she has never been comfortable. She's no longer on a Christian-based record label, and her new album of folksy rock songs is described as being about "inner-conflicts, spirituality and life lessons."
Knapp quit the industry and moved to Australia, she said, because she was simply exhausted by all the performing and unprepared for the challenges being a music star brought her way.
She said she began writing music again in earnest two years ago and the music, as well as the decision to go public with her sexuality, all happened "organically." Knapp said she is no longer afraid of her gifts as a musician and now realizes that who she is as a private person can remain intact even as she shares herself with the world through her music.
"I was tired of not writing because I was afraid of what other people were going to think of me," she said. "So for me it was a really healing process."
Knapp said she realizes that some fans will now view her earlier work with lyrics about inner turmoil as evidence of the struggle between her beliefs and her sexuality. But she says she has always struggled as a person of faith to be the person she wants to be, and her sexuality was only a part of that, she said.
God has always known she would walk this path, Knapp said.
"I would rather be judged before God as being an honest human being," she said. "If I am in any way unpleasing in his sight, I can only hope and pray that he gives me the opportunity to find who I am supposed to be."
Perhaps the most telling clue to where Jennifer Knapp finds herself in life after so many years is contained in the title of her new album. It's called "Letting Go."
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The New Moon and the Biblical New Year
A very good friend of mine wrote this artical......it is very good. If you would like a copy of this, e-mail me an I will put you in touch with it's author.
Be Blessed!!!
The book of Enoch reveals many of key factors regarding the new moon and the calendar year. These are essential in determining the Passover and thus the remaining feasts YHWH has instructed us to keep. Combining Enoch’s words with scientific data, the new year can be determined.
Before you respond in your mind and say “Enoch isn’t Scripture” you should realize that our Messiah, Jude, James, and Peter either directly quoted from it or issued statements that had direct parallels to the Book of Enoch. The Catholics didn’t canonize it, but that certainly does not mean it isn’t inspired scripture. We have more than two reliable witnesses in our scriptures that believed it was inspired without any contradictions. Information about these can be found following the conclusion.
The New Moon
There are currently two views as to what the new moon is. Many say the crescent moon, while others say the conjunction. After diligent searching, prayer, and the leading of the Father, we’ve found that it is indeed the crescent moon. The following details such proof as found in the book of Enoch. Let’s look at Enoch chapter 73.
73:4 It the moon rises in this manner: Its head faces the easterly direction, coming out on the thirtieth day, on that day, that is, on the thirtieth day, it comes into existence, and it appears with the sun in the gate through which the sun exits; and you have the beginning of the month.
73:5 Considering half of it to be divisible into seven parts, the whole disk of it is without light, with the exception of one-seventh part of the fourteenth part of the light of the sun, one seventh of its half light.
73:6 On the day when it receives one-seventh part of its one half, as the sun sets, it becomes equivalent to one-seventh light of one half of it.
73:7 Then when the sun rises, the moon rises together with it, taking a portion of one half of its light; that night the moon, just beginning its monthly journey on its first lunar day, sets with the sun and becomes dark, in respect to its thirteen parts that night. On that day it rises and shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle.
If the new moon was on the conjunction, it would say when the light disappears, or something similar. Instead it says the first lunar day of the month is when the light shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle, or as we know as the crescent new moon. For another witness in the book of Enoch, let’s consider chapter 78.
78:5 The moon comes in and goes out by the western openings, and circles via the northeast and rises through the eastern openings upon the face of the earth.
78:6 When the moon begins its cycle, it appears in the sky one half of a seventh part; it will become fully illumined from the fourteenth day;
78:7 it completes its illumination the fifteenth, becoming fulfilled according to the sign of the year and becoming fifteen parts. Thus the moon waxes in fifteen parts.
78:8 In its waning, the moon decreases on the first day to fourteen parts of its light; on the second day, it decreases to thirteen parts of light; on the third, to twelve parts; on the fourth, to eleven parts; on the fifth, to ten parts; on the sixth, to nine parts; on the seventh, to eight parts; on the eighth, to seven parts; on the ninth, to six parts; on the tenth, to five parts; on the eleventh, to four parts; on the twelfth, to three parts; on the thirteenth, to one half of the preceding; on the fourteenth, all its light decreases to one half of one seventh; and on the fifteenth, all the remaining light disappears.
Notice it says that when the moon begins its cycle it appears as one half of a seventh part, fully illuminated (full moon) after the fourteenth day, and after another fifteen days the remaining light disappears. A month is typically 30 days, so the beginning is marked by the crescent moon, middle by the full moon, and the month ends with the conjunction.
Want yet another witness? Take a look at verse 12 of the same chapter.
78:11 During all the seasons when the moon is made to run its cycle, the light is being beamed into it the moon facing the sun until the illumination of the moon is completed in the course of fourteen days; and when it is lit completely, it radiates light in the sky.
78:12 On the first day, it is called the new moon because on that day the illumination begins to set upon it.
78:13 These illuminations are completed with exactitude on the day when the sun descends into the west, and the moon simultaneously rises in the east in the evening, shining during the night until the sun rises opposite it, and it is over against the sun.
78:14 From the same side where light entered the moon, from there also it gradually wanes until all the illumination disappears and the days of the moon expire, its disk empty without light.
How can we say the conjunction is the new moon when this clearly states that a new moon is when illumination begins to set upon it? Clearly the new moon is the crescent moon.
The Biblical Calendar and New Year
We all know that our current calendar is not based on the Father’s revelations. However, to determine Passover, we need to have the knowledge He imparted long ago. Through Enoch, He revealed the amazing and perfect calendar marked by the coming and going of the luminary bodies. Genesis chapter 1 states that He gave them to us as signs for the seasons and years.
Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years,
Gen 1:15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it came to be so.
Enoch was shown information that recent scientists have patted themselves on the back for, thinking they’d found a breakthrough in science. Without going in to too much detail about that, we need to know when the new year begins. Let’s consider Enoch chapter 72 for a moment.
72:1 The Book of the Itinerary of the Luminaries of Heaven: the position of each and every one, in respect to their ranks, in respect to their authorities, and in respect to their seasons; each one according to their names and their places of origin and according to their months, which Uriel, the kodesh malak who was with me, and who also is their guide, showed me -just as he showed me all their treatises and the nature of the years of the world unto eternity, till the new creation which abides forever is created.
72:2 This is the first commandment of the luminaries: The sun is a luminary whose egress is an opening of heaven, which is located in the direction of the east, and whose ingress is another opening of heaven, located in the west.
72:3 I saw six openings through which the sun rises and six openings through which it sets. The moon also rises and sets through the same openings, and they are guided by the stars; together with those whom they lead, they are six in the east and six; in the west heaven. All of them, are arranged one after another in a constant order. There are many windows both to the left and the right of these openings.
72:4 First, there goes out the great light whose name is the sun; its roundness is like the roundness of the sky; and it is totally filled with light and heat.
72:5 The chariot on which it ascends is driven by the blowing wind. The sun sets in the sky in the west and returns by the northeast in order to go to the east; it is guided so that it shall reach the eastern gate and shine in the face of the sky.
72:6 In this manner it rises in the first month through the major gate; it proceeds through this gate which is the fourth among those six openings which are located in the direction of the east.
72:7 By this fourth gate through which the sun rises during the first month there are twelve open windows from which a flame flows, when they are opened at the appropriate time.
72:8 When the sun rises in the east in the sky, it goes out through this fourth gate for thirty mornings and descends faithfully through the fourth gate in the western sky.
72:9 During those thirty days the day daily becomes longer and the night nightly shorter, for thirty days.
72:10 On that day, the day is longer than the night by one ninth; so the day turns out to be exactly ten parts and the night to be eight parts.
72:11 The sun rises from that fourth eastern gate and sets in the fourth western one, and then it turns and comes into the fifth gate of the east for thirty days, through which it rises, and sets in the fifth gate.
72:12 At that time the day further becomes longer and becomes eleven parts and the night shortens and becomes seven parts on account of the sun.
72:13 It then returns to the east and comes into the sixth gate, rising and setting through that sixth gate for thirty one days, according to the principle of the gate.
72:14 On that day the day becomes longer than the night still further; so the day becomes twelve parts and the night shortens and becomes six parts.
72:15 Then the sun is raised in such a way that its duration shortens and night occurs; the sun returns to the east and enters the sixth gate, rising and setting through it for thirty days.
72:16 When thirty days are completed, the day decreases exactly by one part, and becomes eleven parts, and the night seven.
72:17 Then the sun, leaving the west by that sixth gate and going to the east, rises through the fifth gate for thirty mornings and sets again in the fifth gate in the west.
72:18 On that day the day decreases by two parts; so the day becomes ten parts and the night eight parts.
72:19 Then the sun, departing from that fifth gate and setting in the fifth gate, in the west, rises in the fourth gate for thirty one days according to the principle of the gate, and sets in the west.
72:20 On that day the day is aligned with the night, so that they become equal; so the night becomes nine parts and the day nine parts.
72:21 Then the sun, departing from that gate and setting in the west, returns to the east and comes out through the third gate for thirty days, and sets in the third gate in the west.
72:22 On that day the night becomes longer than the day; it becomes longer than the previous night and the day becomes shorter than the previous day, for thirty days; so the night turns out to be exactly ten parts and the day to be eight parts.
72:23 Then the sun, departing from that third gate in the west and returning to the east, comes out through the second gate in the east for thirty days, and in the same manner it sets through the second gate in the western sky.
72:24 On that day the night becomes eleven parts and the day seven parts.
72:25 Then the sun, departing on that day from that second gate and setting in the west in the second gate, returns to the east and rises in the first gate for thirty one days, and sets on that day in the western sky.
72:26 On that day the night lengthens and becomes twelve parts, whereas the day shortens and becomes six parts.
72:27 Thus the sun completes its appearances, and goes through those same cycles of appearances a second time, coming out through all the openings for thirty days and setting also in the west opposite to it.
72:28 On that night the length of the night decreases by one ninth; so the night becomes eleven parts and the day seven parts.
72:29 Then the sun, returning and entering the second gate which is in the east, resumes its appearances for thirty mornings, rising and setting as usual.
72:30 On that day the night becomes shorter, so the night becomes ten parts and the day eight parts.
72:31 On that day the sun, departing from this second gate and setting in the west, returns to the east and rises through the third gate for thirty one days, and sets in the western sky.
72:32 On that day the night shortens and becomes nine parts and the day nine parts. Then the night becomes equal with the day, and the days of the year add up to exactly three hundred sixty four days.
72:33 The lengths of the day and the night as well as the shortness of the day and the night, are determined by the course of the circuit of the sun, and distinguished by it.
72:34 The circuit becomes longer or shorter day by day and night by night respectively.
72:35 Thus this is the order for the course of the movement and the settlement of the sun -that great luminary which is called the sun, for the duration of the years of the universe -in respect to its going in and coming out.
72:36 It is that very luminary which manifests itself in its appearance as YAHWEH has commanded that it shall come out and go in, in this manner.
72:37 And neither does it diminish in respect to its brightness nor take rest but continue to run day and night. As for the intensity of its light, it is sevenfold brighter than that of the moon; nevertheless, the sun and the moon are equal in regard to their respective sizes.
We see in verse 6 that the first month enters through the fourth gate. Now, when is that? The following chart summarizes the information contained in the previous verses to give a clearer understanding of what was said.
So we can see without much difficulty that the end of the year is marked by a time when the day and night are equal in time. The vernal or spring equinox marks the end of the year, and beginning of the new. Now, we know that it must be springtime in the new year as we see from reading Exodus 9:31, the barley was in the ear during the plague of hail. Also, Enoch 82:16 shows us how the first season of the year comes after the winter.
82:9 These are the orders of the stars which set in their respective places, seasons, festivals, and months.
82:10 And these are the names of those which lead the ones that come out and go down in their appointed seasons, which lead them in their respective places, orders, times, months, authorities, and locations.
82:11 The four leaders which distinguish the four seasons of the year enter first; after them enter the twelve leaders of the orders which distinguish the months; and the three hundred and sixty captains which divide the days and the four epagomenal days, and leaders which divide the four seasons of the year.
82:12 These captains over thousands are added between leader and leader, each behind a place to stand; but their leaders make the division.
82:13 And these are the names of the leaders which divide the four seasons of the years which are fixed: Malki'el, Hela'emmemelek, Milay'ul, and Narel.
82:14 The names of those who lead them are 'Adnar'ul, 'Iyasus'el, 'Elum'el -these three follow the leaders of the orders, as well as the four which follow after the three leaders of the orders, which follow after those leaders of the stations that divide the four seasons of the year.
82:15 At the very beginning, Malkiyal, whose name is called Tam'ayen -and the sun rises and rules; and all the days of his authority -during which he reigns -are ninety one days.
82:16 And these are the signs of the days which become manifest during the period of his authority: sweat, heat, and dryness; all the trees bear fruit and leaves grow on all trees; there will be good harvest, rose flowers, and all the flowers which grow in the field; but the winter tree shall wither.
The only season and time of year that trees begin to grow leaves and fruit, is in the spring. This year, 2010, we were told that the equinox was March 20. However, we can see by the information on timeanddate.com that the true equinox was around the 16th or 17th. Below are tables showing data for Wichita, Kansas and Jerusalem. (The tables were constructed with information directly from their website). Examine the Wichita data first. Notice how the length of day for the 20th is 12 hours and 8 minutes – how can that be the true equinox? Look at the data for the 16th and 17th. With each day showing nearly 12 hour long days, the equinox occurs somewhere around these two days. Compare the data from Wichita to that of Jerusalem. How amazing is it that the 16th is 11 hours and 59 minutes while the 17th is 12 hours and 1 minute. Obviously, between these two days is the true equinox. How perfect and beautiful is this?!
Now, we know from above that the new moon is the crescent and the first new moon of the year takes place after the equinox, so the new moon should be seen around the 16th or 17th. From information gathered on the internet, for this example we used www.paleotimes.org (the specific information is listed on http://www.paleotimes.org/whatsNew/2010/mar_17_2010.htm), we know when the new moon was sighted. Of course, you could have found it for yourself. Nonetheless, across North America the new moon was sighted on March 16, 2010 (around sunset, of course), thus Passover should be the 30th (beginning sundown the 29th), with the memorial observed after sundown on the 30th, which also marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread.
For additional evidence, regarding the crescent moon sighting, lets consider a few more details. Remember back to Enoch 73:7.
73:7 Then when the sun rises, the moon rises together with it, taking a portion of one half of its light; that night the moon, just beginning its monthly journey on its first lunar day, sets with the sun and becomes dark, in respect to its thirteen parts that night. On that day it rises and shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle.
One seventh of fifty percent (or 1/14, whichever way you look at it) is 0.071429. With a margin for human error in our calculations, and for argument’s sake, let’s just say it’s close to 1%. Look at the table below, also compiled from information on timeanddate.com.
In Kansas on the 16th, the moon was illuminated 1.00%! In Jerusalem, it appears as though the new moon could have been seen, but faintly on the 16th, however, it’s documented to have been widely sighted on the 17th.
Realizing this is a large amount of information to digest at one time, it’s still evident that everything that was revealed to Enoch to determine the new moon and first month of the year comes together beautifully.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve reviewed this plethora of information, let’s boil it down. The new year begins at the equinox, with the new crescent moon. Which happen to fall perfectly together at the spring/vernal equinox. This marks the first day of the month, so simply count fourteen days, and you’ve found the date for Passover. (Of course, remember that the biblical day begins at sundown the evening before).
One More Thing…
Let’s remember back to Enoch 72:32 for a moment.
72:32 On that day the night shortens and becomes nine parts and the day nine parts. Then the night becomes equal with the day, and the days of the year add up to exactly three hundred sixty four days.
There is no need for a leap year or an added month every now and then. Each year is perfect in its coming and going, and thus we can figure the year with little difficulty.
A parting thought from Enoch chapter 82.
82:4 Blessed are all the righteous ones; blessed are those who walk in the street of righteousness and have no sin like the sinners in the computation of the days in which the sun goes its course in the sky. It the sun comes in through a door and rises for thirty days together with the chiefs of the thousands of the orders of the stars, together with the four which are added to determine the intervals within the year, that is, the intervals between the four seasons of the year; those that lead them along come in on four days.
82:5 On this account there are people that err; they count them the four? in the computation of the year: for the people make error and do not recognize them accurately; for they belong to the reckoning of the year.
82:6 Truly, they are recorded forever: one in the first gate, one in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth. The year is completed in three hundred and sixty four days.
82:7 True is the matter of the exact computation of that which has been recorded; for Uriel, whom YAHWEH of all the creation of the world has ordered for me in order to explain the host of heaven, has revealed to me and breathed over me concerning the luminaries, the months, the festivals, the years, and the days.
82:8 HE has the power in the heaven, both day and night so that HE may cause the light to shine over the people; sun, moon, and stars, and all the principalities of the heaven which revolve in their respective circuits.
May you find this information useful, and may YHWH bless you.
Be Blessed!!!
The book of Enoch reveals many of key factors regarding the new moon and the calendar year. These are essential in determining the Passover and thus the remaining feasts YHWH has instructed us to keep. Combining Enoch’s words with scientific data, the new year can be determined.
Before you respond in your mind and say “Enoch isn’t Scripture” you should realize that our Messiah, Jude, James, and Peter either directly quoted from it or issued statements that had direct parallels to the Book of Enoch. The Catholics didn’t canonize it, but that certainly does not mean it isn’t inspired scripture. We have more than two reliable witnesses in our scriptures that believed it was inspired without any contradictions. Information about these can be found following the conclusion.
The New Moon
There are currently two views as to what the new moon is. Many say the crescent moon, while others say the conjunction. After diligent searching, prayer, and the leading of the Father, we’ve found that it is indeed the crescent moon. The following details such proof as found in the book of Enoch. Let’s look at Enoch chapter 73.
73:4 It the moon rises in this manner: Its head faces the easterly direction, coming out on the thirtieth day, on that day, that is, on the thirtieth day, it comes into existence, and it appears with the sun in the gate through which the sun exits; and you have the beginning of the month.
73:5 Considering half of it to be divisible into seven parts, the whole disk of it is without light, with the exception of one-seventh part of the fourteenth part of the light of the sun, one seventh of its half light.
73:6 On the day when it receives one-seventh part of its one half, as the sun sets, it becomes equivalent to one-seventh light of one half of it.
73:7 Then when the sun rises, the moon rises together with it, taking a portion of one half of its light; that night the moon, just beginning its monthly journey on its first lunar day, sets with the sun and becomes dark, in respect to its thirteen parts that night. On that day it rises and shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle.
If the new moon was on the conjunction, it would say when the light disappears, or something similar. Instead it says the first lunar day of the month is when the light shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle, or as we know as the crescent new moon. For another witness in the book of Enoch, let’s consider chapter 78.
78:5 The moon comes in and goes out by the western openings, and circles via the northeast and rises through the eastern openings upon the face of the earth.
78:6 When the moon begins its cycle, it appears in the sky one half of a seventh part; it will become fully illumined from the fourteenth day;
78:7 it completes its illumination the fifteenth, becoming fulfilled according to the sign of the year and becoming fifteen parts. Thus the moon waxes in fifteen parts.
78:8 In its waning, the moon decreases on the first day to fourteen parts of its light; on the second day, it decreases to thirteen parts of light; on the third, to twelve parts; on the fourth, to eleven parts; on the fifth, to ten parts; on the sixth, to nine parts; on the seventh, to eight parts; on the eighth, to seven parts; on the ninth, to six parts; on the tenth, to five parts; on the eleventh, to four parts; on the twelfth, to three parts; on the thirteenth, to one half of the preceding; on the fourteenth, all its light decreases to one half of one seventh; and on the fifteenth, all the remaining light disappears.
Notice it says that when the moon begins its cycle it appears as one half of a seventh part, fully illuminated (full moon) after the fourteenth day, and after another fifteen days the remaining light disappears. A month is typically 30 days, so the beginning is marked by the crescent moon, middle by the full moon, and the month ends with the conjunction.
Want yet another witness? Take a look at verse 12 of the same chapter.
78:11 During all the seasons when the moon is made to run its cycle, the light is being beamed into it the moon facing the sun until the illumination of the moon is completed in the course of fourteen days; and when it is lit completely, it radiates light in the sky.
78:12 On the first day, it is called the new moon because on that day the illumination begins to set upon it.
78:13 These illuminations are completed with exactitude on the day when the sun descends into the west, and the moon simultaneously rises in the east in the evening, shining during the night until the sun rises opposite it, and it is over against the sun.
78:14 From the same side where light entered the moon, from there also it gradually wanes until all the illumination disappears and the days of the moon expire, its disk empty without light.
How can we say the conjunction is the new moon when this clearly states that a new moon is when illumination begins to set upon it? Clearly the new moon is the crescent moon.
The Biblical Calendar and New Year
We all know that our current calendar is not based on the Father’s revelations. However, to determine Passover, we need to have the knowledge He imparted long ago. Through Enoch, He revealed the amazing and perfect calendar marked by the coming and going of the luminary bodies. Genesis chapter 1 states that He gave them to us as signs for the seasons and years.
Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years,
Gen 1:15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it came to be so.
Enoch was shown information that recent scientists have patted themselves on the back for, thinking they’d found a breakthrough in science. Without going in to too much detail about that, we need to know when the new year begins. Let’s consider Enoch chapter 72 for a moment.
72:1 The Book of the Itinerary of the Luminaries of Heaven: the position of each and every one, in respect to their ranks, in respect to their authorities, and in respect to their seasons; each one according to their names and their places of origin and according to their months, which Uriel, the kodesh malak who was with me, and who also is their guide, showed me -just as he showed me all their treatises and the nature of the years of the world unto eternity, till the new creation which abides forever is created.
72:2 This is the first commandment of the luminaries: The sun is a luminary whose egress is an opening of heaven, which is located in the direction of the east, and whose ingress is another opening of heaven, located in the west.
72:3 I saw six openings through which the sun rises and six openings through which it sets. The moon also rises and sets through the same openings, and they are guided by the stars; together with those whom they lead, they are six in the east and six; in the west heaven. All of them, are arranged one after another in a constant order. There are many windows both to the left and the right of these openings.
72:4 First, there goes out the great light whose name is the sun; its roundness is like the roundness of the sky; and it is totally filled with light and heat.
72:5 The chariot on which it ascends is driven by the blowing wind. The sun sets in the sky in the west and returns by the northeast in order to go to the east; it is guided so that it shall reach the eastern gate and shine in the face of the sky.
72:6 In this manner it rises in the first month through the major gate; it proceeds through this gate which is the fourth among those six openings which are located in the direction of the east.
72:7 By this fourth gate through which the sun rises during the first month there are twelve open windows from which a flame flows, when they are opened at the appropriate time.
72:8 When the sun rises in the east in the sky, it goes out through this fourth gate for thirty mornings and descends faithfully through the fourth gate in the western sky.
72:9 During those thirty days the day daily becomes longer and the night nightly shorter, for thirty days.
72:10 On that day, the day is longer than the night by one ninth; so the day turns out to be exactly ten parts and the night to be eight parts.
72:11 The sun rises from that fourth eastern gate and sets in the fourth western one, and then it turns and comes into the fifth gate of the east for thirty days, through which it rises, and sets in the fifth gate.
72:12 At that time the day further becomes longer and becomes eleven parts and the night shortens and becomes seven parts on account of the sun.
72:13 It then returns to the east and comes into the sixth gate, rising and setting through that sixth gate for thirty one days, according to the principle of the gate.
72:14 On that day the day becomes longer than the night still further; so the day becomes twelve parts and the night shortens and becomes six parts.
72:15 Then the sun is raised in such a way that its duration shortens and night occurs; the sun returns to the east and enters the sixth gate, rising and setting through it for thirty days.
72:16 When thirty days are completed, the day decreases exactly by one part, and becomes eleven parts, and the night seven.
72:17 Then the sun, leaving the west by that sixth gate and going to the east, rises through the fifth gate for thirty mornings and sets again in the fifth gate in the west.
72:18 On that day the day decreases by two parts; so the day becomes ten parts and the night eight parts.
72:19 Then the sun, departing from that fifth gate and setting in the fifth gate, in the west, rises in the fourth gate for thirty one days according to the principle of the gate, and sets in the west.
72:20 On that day the day is aligned with the night, so that they become equal; so the night becomes nine parts and the day nine parts.
72:21 Then the sun, departing from that gate and setting in the west, returns to the east and comes out through the third gate for thirty days, and sets in the third gate in the west.
72:22 On that day the night becomes longer than the day; it becomes longer than the previous night and the day becomes shorter than the previous day, for thirty days; so the night turns out to be exactly ten parts and the day to be eight parts.
72:23 Then the sun, departing from that third gate in the west and returning to the east, comes out through the second gate in the east for thirty days, and in the same manner it sets through the second gate in the western sky.
72:24 On that day the night becomes eleven parts and the day seven parts.
72:25 Then the sun, departing on that day from that second gate and setting in the west in the second gate, returns to the east and rises in the first gate for thirty one days, and sets on that day in the western sky.
72:26 On that day the night lengthens and becomes twelve parts, whereas the day shortens and becomes six parts.
72:27 Thus the sun completes its appearances, and goes through those same cycles of appearances a second time, coming out through all the openings for thirty days and setting also in the west opposite to it.
72:28 On that night the length of the night decreases by one ninth; so the night becomes eleven parts and the day seven parts.
72:29 Then the sun, returning and entering the second gate which is in the east, resumes its appearances for thirty mornings, rising and setting as usual.
72:30 On that day the night becomes shorter, so the night becomes ten parts and the day eight parts.
72:31 On that day the sun, departing from this second gate and setting in the west, returns to the east and rises through the third gate for thirty one days, and sets in the western sky.
72:32 On that day the night shortens and becomes nine parts and the day nine parts. Then the night becomes equal with the day, and the days of the year add up to exactly three hundred sixty four days.
72:33 The lengths of the day and the night as well as the shortness of the day and the night, are determined by the course of the circuit of the sun, and distinguished by it.
72:34 The circuit becomes longer or shorter day by day and night by night respectively.
72:35 Thus this is the order for the course of the movement and the settlement of the sun -that great luminary which is called the sun, for the duration of the years of the universe -in respect to its going in and coming out.
72:36 It is that very luminary which manifests itself in its appearance as YAHWEH has commanded that it shall come out and go in, in this manner.
72:37 And neither does it diminish in respect to its brightness nor take rest but continue to run day and night. As for the intensity of its light, it is sevenfold brighter than that of the moon; nevertheless, the sun and the moon are equal in regard to their respective sizes.
We see in verse 6 that the first month enters through the fourth gate. Now, when is that? The following chart summarizes the information contained in the previous verses to give a clearer understanding of what was said.
So we can see without much difficulty that the end of the year is marked by a time when the day and night are equal in time. The vernal or spring equinox marks the end of the year, and beginning of the new. Now, we know that it must be springtime in the new year as we see from reading Exodus 9:31, the barley was in the ear during the plague of hail. Also, Enoch 82:16 shows us how the first season of the year comes after the winter.
82:9 These are the orders of the stars which set in their respective places, seasons, festivals, and months.
82:10 And these are the names of those which lead the ones that come out and go down in their appointed seasons, which lead them in their respective places, orders, times, months, authorities, and locations.
82:11 The four leaders which distinguish the four seasons of the year enter first; after them enter the twelve leaders of the orders which distinguish the months; and the three hundred and sixty captains which divide the days and the four epagomenal days, and leaders which divide the four seasons of the year.
82:12 These captains over thousands are added between leader and leader, each behind a place to stand; but their leaders make the division.
82:13 And these are the names of the leaders which divide the four seasons of the years which are fixed: Malki'el, Hela'emmemelek, Milay'ul, and Narel.
82:14 The names of those who lead them are 'Adnar'ul, 'Iyasus'el, 'Elum'el -these three follow the leaders of the orders, as well as the four which follow after the three leaders of the orders, which follow after those leaders of the stations that divide the four seasons of the year.
82:15 At the very beginning, Malkiyal, whose name is called Tam'ayen -and the sun rises and rules; and all the days of his authority -during which he reigns -are ninety one days.
82:16 And these are the signs of the days which become manifest during the period of his authority: sweat, heat, and dryness; all the trees bear fruit and leaves grow on all trees; there will be good harvest, rose flowers, and all the flowers which grow in the field; but the winter tree shall wither.
The only season and time of year that trees begin to grow leaves and fruit, is in the spring. This year, 2010, we were told that the equinox was March 20. However, we can see by the information on timeanddate.com that the true equinox was around the 16th or 17th. Below are tables showing data for Wichita, Kansas and Jerusalem. (The tables were constructed with information directly from their website). Examine the Wichita data first. Notice how the length of day for the 20th is 12 hours and 8 minutes – how can that be the true equinox? Look at the data for the 16th and 17th. With each day showing nearly 12 hour long days, the equinox occurs somewhere around these two days. Compare the data from Wichita to that of Jerusalem. How amazing is it that the 16th is 11 hours and 59 minutes while the 17th is 12 hours and 1 minute. Obviously, between these two days is the true equinox. How perfect and beautiful is this?!
Now, we know from above that the new moon is the crescent and the first new moon of the year takes place after the equinox, so the new moon should be seen around the 16th or 17th. From information gathered on the internet, for this example we used www.paleotimes.org (the specific information is listed on http://www.paleotimes.org/whatsNew/2010/mar_17_2010.htm), we know when the new moon was sighted. Of course, you could have found it for yourself. Nonetheless, across North America the new moon was sighted on March 16, 2010 (around sunset, of course), thus Passover should be the 30th (beginning sundown the 29th), with the memorial observed after sundown on the 30th, which also marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread.
For additional evidence, regarding the crescent moon sighting, lets consider a few more details. Remember back to Enoch 73:7.
73:7 Then when the sun rises, the moon rises together with it, taking a portion of one half of its light; that night the moon, just beginning its monthly journey on its first lunar day, sets with the sun and becomes dark, in respect to its thirteen parts that night. On that day it rises and shines with exactly one-seventh part of its semicircle.
One seventh of fifty percent (or 1/14, whichever way you look at it) is 0.071429. With a margin for human error in our calculations, and for argument’s sake, let’s just say it’s close to 1%. Look at the table below, also compiled from information on timeanddate.com.
In Kansas on the 16th, the moon was illuminated 1.00%! In Jerusalem, it appears as though the new moon could have been seen, but faintly on the 16th, however, it’s documented to have been widely sighted on the 17th.
Realizing this is a large amount of information to digest at one time, it’s still evident that everything that was revealed to Enoch to determine the new moon and first month of the year comes together beautifully.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve reviewed this plethora of information, let’s boil it down. The new year begins at the equinox, with the new crescent moon. Which happen to fall perfectly together at the spring/vernal equinox. This marks the first day of the month, so simply count fourteen days, and you’ve found the date for Passover. (Of course, remember that the biblical day begins at sundown the evening before).
One More Thing…
Let’s remember back to Enoch 72:32 for a moment.
72:32 On that day the night shortens and becomes nine parts and the day nine parts. Then the night becomes equal with the day, and the days of the year add up to exactly three hundred sixty four days.
There is no need for a leap year or an added month every now and then. Each year is perfect in its coming and going, and thus we can figure the year with little difficulty.
A parting thought from Enoch chapter 82.
82:4 Blessed are all the righteous ones; blessed are those who walk in the street of righteousness and have no sin like the sinners in the computation of the days in which the sun goes its course in the sky. It the sun comes in through a door and rises for thirty days together with the chiefs of the thousands of the orders of the stars, together with the four which are added to determine the intervals within the year, that is, the intervals between the four seasons of the year; those that lead them along come in on four days.
82:5 On this account there are people that err; they count them the four? in the computation of the year: for the people make error and do not recognize them accurately; for they belong to the reckoning of the year.
82:6 Truly, they are recorded forever: one in the first gate, one in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth. The year is completed in three hundred and sixty four days.
82:7 True is the matter of the exact computation of that which has been recorded; for Uriel, whom YAHWEH of all the creation of the world has ordered for me in order to explain the host of heaven, has revealed to me and breathed over me concerning the luminaries, the months, the festivals, the years, and the days.
82:8 HE has the power in the heaven, both day and night so that HE may cause the light to shine over the people; sun, moon, and stars, and all the principalities of the heaven which revolve in their respective circuits.
May you find this information useful, and may YHWH bless you.
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