In this episode the Watchman discusses the general concepts of the Ecclesiastical Calendar that God established in the Bible as well as the Jewish Civil Calendar. He also briefly discusses the Month of Adar and the historical significance of a major event in history that is a repeating pattern even into modern times.
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In this episode the Watchman discusses the general concepts of the Ecclesiastical Calendar that God established in the Bible as well as the Jewish Civil Calendar. He also briefly discusses the Month of Adar and the historical significance of a major event in history that is a repeating pattern even into modern times.
The Old Watchman Website
The Old Watchman - Facebook
The Watchman Speaks - Facebook
The Old Watchman - Twitter
Episode 10 Going Deeper Into God’s Time
Welcome to the Watchman Speaks! I’m your host, Lonnie Richardson.
This is the tenth episode of “The Watchman Speaks”. Are you impressed? I am pleasantly surpised. I may celebrate. When I started this podcast, I admit that I was somewhat apprehensive about my abilities to make it this far. The fact is that there are a lot of others who never thought that I’d make it this far. Yet, here I am, with you. Just goes to show that God can sustain anyone to do anything that He has for them to do. Even an old man like me.
Today, I want to go back and revisit time. If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear “Episode 6: The Essence of Time” that I discussed on February 6th of this year, I would appreciate that you take my suggestion and listen to that episode. It plays an important part in what I’ll be sharing with you over the next several weeks.
What I would like to discuss with you today is the aspect of God’s time from a historical and biblical perspective. The best way to do that is to just dive in and get on with it. But I want to break time down into its basic elements so that anyone can understand. It can and does get deep at times.
Let me start off by saying that there are basically three calendars. There is the Gregorian calendar that most of the world goes by with twelve months out of the year ranging from January through December. The Gregorian Calendar is a solunar calendar and is dictated by the earth circumventing the sun. There is the Jewish Civil Calendar that Orthodox Jews follow. Then, there is the Ecclesiastical Calendar that is in God’s Word, the Bible. These calendars are lunar calendars that are dictated by the moon phases as it circles the earth. It is a more complex calendar that requires either dedicated observation or some pretty serious acrobatic mathematical calculations to keep up with.
We are all familiar with the Gregorian Calendar that was established in the Christian World by Pope Gregory XIII on February 24, 1582. What? Yep, that’s when the Calendar that we follow today was established, in 1582. Great Britain and all the British Colonies did not begin using the Gregorian Calendar until 1752. The Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar that was established by Julius Ceasar in 45 B.C., establishing a twelve month year based on a solar year instead of a lunar year.
The Ecclesiastical Calendar and The Jewish Civil Calendars are twelve or thirteen months and function on Lunar years. That means that instead of having a leap year, as in the Gregorian Calendar every fourth year, these Calendars have leap months. Namely the twelfth and thirteenth months of Adar and Adar II. Every three or so years. Hold tight and listen carefully. I told you that it gets deep and can become rather confusing.
When did God’s Ecclesiastical Calendar begin?
We have to go back to Exodus 12 to find that. Exodus 12:1-2 reads:
1. Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
2. “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.
What God was saying was, “Listen up boys! Today is the first day of the month of the first day of the year. Write that down.” Now was that the first mentioning of months and dates in the Bible?
Nope. To find the first date mentioned in the Bible we have to go all the way back to Genesis 7:11:
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of he great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.”
So, what Calendar would have been in use and referenced then? I don’t know. I do know that Abraham was a descendant of Noah’s son, Shem as it is referenced in Genesis 11:10-31. Abraham who was first known as Abram was from UR of the Chaldean region. Possibly, it was the Calendar that the Chaldeans used. What I am certain of is that by the time of Moses the Chaldean Calendar was in effect. Now, how could I know that?
Exodus 13:4 “On this day in the month of ABIB (Pronounced Aveev), you are about to go forth.”
Of course Moses was speaking of the fourteenth day of the first month that God had established in Chapter 12:6. ABIB or AVEEV was the first month of the Chaldean Calendar.
Again, in Exodus 23:15 the first month is identified as the month of ABIB or AVEEV as it is in Exodus 34:18 and Deuteronomy 16:1 as well.
Okay. We’ve established that the first month of God’s Ecclesiastical Calendar was the month of Aveev. Were there any other months mentioned?
Yes, there were several months mentioned and very many specific dates. Some specific dates were mentioned many times and I’ll be getting into that in later episodes. But here’s where things get kinda hinkey.
You see, the names of the months changed in the Bible after a certain event. What event might that be? I’ll explain that in a few moments but let’s investigate what was changed before we look into when they were changed. Then, we’ll better understand why they were changed.
In the Old Testament, prior to the destruction of Solomon’s temple (and there is a date mentioned for that destruction) and the destruction of Jerusalem when the kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon, there are only four months named. Those months are as follows:
1. Abib (Aveev) = the first month of the year
2. Ziv (Zif) = the second month of the year
3. Ethanim = the seventh month of the year
4. Bul (Bool) = the eighth month of the year
Every other date mentioned in the Old Testament prior to the Babylonian Exile were merely identified as the certain numbered day of a certain numbered month. Sometimes the year of a king’s reign was included to provide an exact time.
However, these months by these names are not mentioned again after Babylon destroyed Solomon’s temple and Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
The event that changed everything and brought about the changes in the names of the months on the current Jewish Civil Calendar was when the kingdom of Judah went into exile under Babylonian captivity. Why?
First, let’s define Jews in the proper context of the historical timeline. Jews being the inhabitants of the kingdom of Judah when the Kingdom of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah in approximately 975 B.C. The Jews, at that time were the tribes of Judah, Levi, and part of the tribe of Benjamin. Those were Jews. The remainder of the tribes were of the kingdom of Israel and were known as Sons of Israel.
While in Babylonian captivity for seventy years, a new generation had been born as the older generation died out. It was only natural for the younger generation to pick up on some of the language of their captors. Hence, the months of the Jewish Civil Calendar are as follows:
1. Nisan – The first month (Replacing Aveev) – From Babylonian “Nisanu” Head of the year.
2. Iyar – The second month – Is not mentioned by name in the Bible.
3. Sivan (Sewan) – The third month – Mentioned in Ester 8:9
4. Tammuz – The fourth month - Not mentioned as a name of a month in the Bible. Only mention of Tammuz is in Ezekiel 8:14 mentioning women weeping for Tammuz a Babylonian god who was the lover of Ishtar (Ashtoreth) and Tammuz is associated with Easter by association with Ishtar. By the way Tammuz usually falls, for the most part, in the month of June, which is Gay Pride month. Are you beginning to see the bigger picture?
5. Av (Ab) – The fifth month – Is not mentioned by name in the Bible.
6. Elul – The sixth month – Mentioned by name in Nehemiah 6:15
7. Tishri – The seventh month – Not mentioned by name in the Bible.
8. Chesvan (Heswan) – The eighth month – Not mentioned by name in the Bible.
9. Kislev (Kishlew) – The ninth month - Mentioned in Nehemiah 1:1
10. Tevet (Tebet) – The tenth month – Mentioned in Ester 2:16
11. Shevat (Shebat) – The eleventh month – Mentioned in Zechariah 1:7
12. Adar – Mentioned in Ezra 6:15, Esther 3:7, 3:13, 8:12, 9:1, 9:15, 9:17, 9:19, and 9:21.
There you have the months of the Jewish Civil Calendar. Most carry the names of the Jewish Civil Calendar and apply those names to the Ecclesiastical Calendar. They carry the same timelines and acknowledge the same dates. However, on the Jewish Civil Calendar recognizes the first day of the seventh month of Tishri as the beginning of the new year.
How did they come up with that?
Well, without diving off into the deep end of some serious mathematical calculations and to make a long story short, there was an eleventh century philosopher named Maimonides. He took the complex computations of a second or third century philosopher named Hillel II and the lineages and events of the Old Testament and calculated backwards until he reached the first day of the seventh month 5783 years ago now and found that he had reached the day of creation! Sounds far-fetched, I know. That, according to orthodox Judaism, as far as I understand it, is how old the earth is. Therefore, since sometime in the eleventh century the Years of the Jewish Civil Calendar have been numbered. This year is 5783.
Have I thoroughly confused you yet?
For the time being, however, none of that is important to our discussion. What is important is where we are right now on God’s Ecclesiastical calendar. Remember? The one God started in Exodus chapter 12?
As of today, March 6, 2023, the event known as Purim has begun and will be be celebrated through tomorrow March 7, 2023. What is purim? Purim is the event in which Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, saved the Jewish race from destruction at the hands of Hamon. Go read the Book of Esther. It’s an easy, one sitting reading. It’s a beautiful example of God acting in supernatural favor towards His people who were marked to be annihilated from the face of the earth. Hamon was furious with Mordecai because Mordecai would not bow to him as an important person in Babylonian government.
You see, Purim means to “cast lots”. Hamon cast lots to determine when he would put his devious plans into action. Esther had favor with God and gained favor with her husband the king and foiled Hamon’s plans. Purim, if you’ll look out your windows the next few nights, occurred during the full moon on the 13th and 14th of the month of Adar. At the full moon, God delivered the Jews from being wiped of the face of the earth. Had He not done so, the Lamb of God who will be known as the Lion of Judah would never been born to the tribe of Judah as it had been prophesied. The Lamb of God would never have lived to die on a cross for our sin, on the full moon.
You may say, “Lonnie, Purim is a Jewish holiday. That means nothing to us!”
I beg to differ. You see, the Jews were delivered from total annihilation on that full moon during the twelfth month of Adar. Now, count forward the days of the plaques on Egypt and you arrive at the fourteenth day of Aveev when the sons of Israel had been delivered from Egypt, on the full moon. Jesus would deliver us from our bondage of sin the fourteenth day of Nisan, on the full moon. Purim is also the time that God promised Moses that He would sanctify Israel, deliver Israel, redeem Israel, and become their God in Exodus 6. Jesus did all those things for us on the full moon, the 14th day of the first month of Nisan.
Remember when I said that Purim means to cast lots? Such is how decisions were made in the ancient days. Hamon cast lots to determine when he would set his plan into action to exterminate the Jews. Roman soldiers cast lots for the clothes of Christ. The apostles cast lots to see who would replace Judas when God had already determined Paul to be the replacement. God had not acted upon that decision when the apostles cast their lots. So in this season, when you make a decision, be certain that it is a decision that honors God.
In Exodus 6 God told Moses that He would give Israel the land that He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He did that. But through Jesus we have been sanctified or set apart by the deliverance of redemption under Jesus’ blood AND we have, not a land to go to, but an inheritance in His kingdom upon Hus return!
You see, Exodus Chapter 6 and Purim in Esther are repeating patterns or events. Guess what? It’s still in the process of being repeated. That means something. I can look back to the promises of God in Exodus 6, at Purim in Esther, at the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross and have exceedingly great hope and an unshakable faith. If God did all that back then, THEN I have nothing to fear if I happen to still be around when the Book of Revelation plays out. God protected His people then, and He can protect His people now. Does that mean that there will be no martyrs? No, but there will be no fear who meet the persecutions to come.
Are you beginning to see the connections? Are you beginning to see how patterns have been repeating throughout the Bible and throughout history?
First was The Passover in Exodus 12 which was preceded by the promises in Exodus 6 and the plaques upon Egypt. Several centuries later Purim would transpire in Esther and again be a reminder of the promises God made in Exodus 6. That event sets the stage for the ultimate Passover when Jesus hung on a cross in my rightful place for my benefit. Don’t tell me that God doesn’t work certain ways in certain seasons. It’s all God’s time.
Now, God can and does work any way He chooses at any time He chooses. But when specific dates are mentioned in the Bible, I start paying very close attention. Those dates are there for a reason. Those dates are there to remind us of something. They are recorded to help our understanding of God’s Word.
I get excited every time Purim comes around. Not only is it a full moon that reminds me of the death of my Lord and Savior, since Christ was crucified on the full moon the 14th day of Nisan, I’m reminded of God’s promises to the sons of Israel in Exodus, the plaques God unleashed upon Egypt, and how God protected Israel between those promises and the Passover. I’m reminded of the Supernatural intervention of God in using Esther and Mordecai saving the Jewish race and maintaining the promises in Exodus 6. The Jews did return to the land. I am reminded of how great my God is and bless my soul, if He can do it back then He can still do it today. By the way he already has.
The Jews and Israel were scattered again in 70 A.D. when Rome destroyed the second temple and Jerusalem. Israel, in case you don’t know, returned to the land and became the nation of Israel in 1948. God gathered them back into the land.
If you still don’t believe God acts in accordance to the time that He created let me open a window for you. A watch for watchman was three hours long. A watch is 3 hours. If you will look into the New Testament at the events that unfolded leading up to and during the crucifixion of Christ, you will notice that Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He left the diciples and went and prayed one hour. After the first hour Jesus woke up the disciples and told them to pray. He returned and prayed, alone for another hour. When He returned to the disciples they were asleep again. “Can you not pray for one hour?” He asked. He left them and returned to pray for another hour, a third hour. Jesus stood His watch while the disciples slept.
If you go further into the events leading up to crucifixion you will find that those events took place in three hour intervals. I’m not going to spoon feed it to you. You wouldn’t get any benefit from me telling you and it wouldn’t be any fun for me. But the point that I’m getting at is this.
Even God Himself and our Lord and Savior observed the time of the watches in the Bible or the divisions of time that God established. Does that not peak your interest or curiosity? Just a little bit? I’ve seen a lot of churches open their doors for prayer for a couple hours a day. That’s a good thing. My church does. It opens every morning from 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. which is the first day watch or the fifth watch. I get up early on those days and pray an hour before going to church to pray so that I can fulfill my watch. Not because I feel as though I have to but because I want to. If I don’t get to start my day with prayer I feel cheated. Not that I feel disobedient but because I didn’t get to meet with my Heavenly Father.
I’ll address the watches and the times of the watches at a later time in another episode. There is a lot to take in, biblically, about the watches. It is a beautiful picture of meeting with God.
But currently, on the day of this broadcast, we are at the 13th of the Month of Adar the twelfth month of God’s Ecclesiastical calendar. That’s Purim as I described earlier. It is a joyous and exciting time. It causes me to believe that there are very possibly some welcome changes coming on the horizon.
God’s time is….well…..His time. We are only given a certain amount of time in this life on this earth. Let that time be filled with joy, contentment, and a faith unshakable. Life is too short to be miserable. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, whether you realize it or not, you are too blessed to be a mess.
I am The Old Watchman, Ezekiel. You have been warned!
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