It's at the picture of the time bomb. Please read through until he says,
"Having no other response..."
RESPONSE
I will show a considerable amount of evidence that this is merely an unfounded speculation. I will also show absolute conclusive evidence that this is impossible using their own method of calendation.
These Events in Yahshua’s Life Disprove Lunar Sabbaths
In John 7:37 it is recorded that on the "last great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles (a high Sabbath that always falls on the 22nd day of the month) Yahshua cried out, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink!" In chronological sequence, John 8:1-2 says, "Yahshua went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them." So now it’s the 23rd day of the month.”
At this point we are in agreement.
Chapter 9 is a continuation of the events of that same day when he heals a man of blindness. We are told that this was the weekly Sabbath, the 23rd of the month, verse 14. But lunar sabbatarians say the lunar sabbath falls on either the 21st or 22nd. Either scheme violates this provable 23rd day Sabbath. (See John 7:37-38; 8:1-2, and John 9:1-3, 14, 16.)
Did anybody go back and read these? Now remember we have to read the whole sequence of events to understand what is taking place. We will follow up with this in a moment.
Continuing:
Another math meltdown for the lunar sabbath scheme comes with Passover, which falls on the 14th of the month of Abib. Yahshua was laid in the tomb at the end of Passover day the 14th, just before sunset when the 15th started. He rose three days later (Matt. 12:40), making it the end of the 17th of Abib. He came out of the tomb just before sunset the weekly Sabbath because the two Marys found the tomb already empty at “the end of the Sabbath,” Matthew 28:1. Lunar sabbatarians say that the Sabbath must fall either on the 14th or 15th, but here on the most important week in all of human history the weekly Sabbath falls on the 17th.
At this point YRM has made the claim that Yahusha died on the 14th and rose on the 17th which would make the day Yahusha was impaled the 4th day of the week – commonly referred to as ‘Wednesday’. I believe this is the popular understanding for most of those who keep the 7-day continual cycle that we find on the Gregorian calendar.
Continuing:
The scriptural (Jewish) day begins and ends at sundown.
However, the year Yahshua died Passover occurred on a Wednesday. Counting three days and three nights from His entombment Wednesday just before sundown takes you to the weekly Sabbath just prior to sundown. This being the case there is absolutely no justification for moving the Sabbath to Sunday.
http://www.yrm.org/sabbath_glory_to_yahweh.htm
Here we see that YRM makes the claim Yahusha died in a year when the Passover occurred on what is commonly referred to as “wednesday”. This claim is very important when later we will discuss the years in question that Messiah could have died on this 4th day in the middle of the week.
Here below we will find YRM’s understanding for how to begin the months so we can apply this to the calendar of the years in question.
Historically, new moon spotters in Israel watched for the thin crescent to establish the beginning of each month. Once seen they reported their sighting to the calendar court authorities of the Sanhedrin. Note what one authority says, “Originally, the New Moon was not fixed by astronomical calculation, but was solemnly proclaimed after witnesses had testified to the reappearance of the crescent of the moon,” Encyclopaedia Judaica, Vol. 12, p. 1039.
Looking for the new moon crescent each month is, above all, an act of worship. It is axiomatic that we cannot let our worship be done by someone else. James tells us, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only...” 1:22. Do we have the dedication to go out and search the evening sky for a sliver of moon that is often very difficult to locate? Or do we just rely on others in our area or in some other part of the world to do it for us?
As we learn through hundreds of lessons in the Scriptures, True Worship takes effort and self-sacrifice to search out Yahweh’s ways in order to honor Him. It takes no effort or sacrifice to see a full moon or follow computer calculations. http://www.yrm.org/whatisbiblicalnewmoon.htm
Very clear that YRM begins the beginning of the month with the sighting of the first crescent. As we know they begin the day in the evening means that the next calendar date is new moon. This will be important when we discuss the years in question later.
What year did Yahusha die according to the ground work laid above with Yahweh's Restoration Ministries parameters?
We will use Mike Abbaduska's study for these parameters above. For the sake of time we will just say that this is a common understanding for those who believe in the 7-day continual cycle.
There are several major studies that you need to study.
First: He started His ministry in 27 AD** most of the Assemblies of Yahweh accept this date.
Second: He ministered three and one half years.
Third: He was about thirty when He began His public work.(Luke 3:23)
Fourth: He was cut off in the middle of the week, Wednesday.
Fifth: He died on Passover according to scripture on Abib 14. He was the Lamb of Yahweh, John the Immerser said this several times. We know we have a prophecy for the lamb in Torah. He is the Lamb that was prophesied to come.
C. Timing: Plus
Add 69 weeks=(69 x 7)=…… 483 years
Add one year for no zero between BC to AD
…………= 27 AD Yahshua appears
D. Yahshua ministered for 3 1/2 years: equals...31 AD
E. Many people knew when Yahshua was going to manifest.
PART IV. Years of possible death of Yahshua VS Wednesday impalement.
A. Timing: Yahshua died on a Wednesday.
Now we will look at the new moon years for Abib 1, on the previous chart.
You can see that the years of 28 and 34 are the only envelope of time that Yahshua could have died based on previous information and prophecies.
In the far right hand column, we must look for a Wednesday impalement date. He died in the middle of the week. The years 28, 31 and 34 are the only years with a Wednesday on the 14th of Abib. (Passover Day) He died on Passover!
Year 28 and 34 can be eliminated because they are too early and too late respectively. Year 28 also shows that the moon was too young to be seen as it was only two hours from the conjunction. (Normal time to observe is 12-18 hours past.)
The previous chart shows, with the evidence presented, year 31 AD is the only possible year that He could have died. He dies on Wednesday, April 25th, 3 PM in the afternoon.
He came out of the tomb late Sabbath afternoon, and rose as the Wave Sheaf the next morning.
We conclude from the year Yahshua died, these additional facts of the biblical calendar.
The new visible crescent was after the equinox. (March 21)
The new visible crescent was the farthest away from the equinox, and was not the closest moon to the equinox as most Assemblies choose.
The start of His ministry and the year He died was not a coincidence of time. He controls time and events, He is the law give. He had to die at the proper time or He would violate His own Torah.
PART V. The calendar month page of April 31 AD.
The conjunction was the 10th of April.
The new moon was the 12th of April
The Passover was on the 14th of Abib, (April 25). The Passover was on a Wednesday.
*The new moon used was after and the furthest!
http://www.assemblyofyah.com/pdfs/Life%20and%20Death%20of%20Yahshua.pdf
Here is a calendar based on the above article. According to this site the dark moon circle is representative of the conjunction and not the first visible crescent; which normally takes place two days after conjunction. There are also times when it can be as little as one day after the dark moon. However, we will note this will be of no consequence when reviewing the calendar years.
Phase
The "Phase" column will be displayed only on days when a certain Moon phase event occurs. The local time will be displayed after one of these Moon phases:
New: New Moon (dark moon)
1Q: First quarter
Full: Full Moon
3Q: Third quarter
The calendars used here were from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/aboutmoonrise.html
Note the highlighted dates used to establish the information provided by Mike Abbaduska:
Conjunction; aka dark moon: Represented by light yellow
First Visible Crescent: Represented by light orange
Feast Day: Represented by light blue
Original calendar link
The above calendar is the most accepted calendar year for their proposed impalement year. With that established, let's look again at the claim of a 23rd Sabbath:
Quoting Yahweh's Restoration Ministries again:
“In John 7:37 it is recorded that on the "last great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles (a high Sabbath that always falls on the 22nd day of the month) Yahshua cried out, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink!" In chronological sequence, John 8:1-2 says, "Yahshua went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them." So now it’s the 23rd day of the month.
At this point we agree. It is the day after the Last Great Day, the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles which takes place on the 22nd day of the 7th month; which is the 23rd day of the month.
As I said earlier, we need to go through these Scriptures to get a complete and full understanding of what is taking place to begin with. Let's take a little time to go through these Scriptures before getting back to the main point.
Joh 7:37 And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yahusha stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.
Joh 7:38 “As the Scripture said, out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water.”
Joh 7:39 And this He said concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yahusha was not yet esteemed.
Joh 7:40 Many from the crowd, when they heard the word, then said, “This truly is the Prophet.”
Joh 7:41 Others said, “This is the Messiah,” but others said, “Does the Messiah then come out of Galil?
Joh 7:42 “Did not the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from the seed of Dawid and from the village of Beyth Lehem, where Dawid was?”
Joh 7:43 So a division came about among the people because of Him.
Joh 7:44 And some of them wished to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
Joh 7:45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees. And they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?”
Joh 7:46 The officers answered, “Never has any man spoken like this Man!”
Joh 7:47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, “Have you also been led astray?
Joh 7:48 “Has anyone of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him?
Joh 7:49 “But this crowd that does not know the Torah is accursed.”
Joh 7:50 Nakdimon – he who came to Yahusha by night, being one of them – said to them,
Joh 7:51 “Does our Torah judge the man unless it hears first from him and knows what he is doing?”
Joh 7:52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galil? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galil.”
Joh 7:53 And each one went to his own house.
This is the end of the 22nd day of the month. Continuing on in chapter 8 where we see at dawn the next morning He came again to the Set-Apart place which is the 23rd day of the month. Now remember, YRM’s claim is that this day spoken of here is a Sabbath.
Joh 8:1 And Yahusha went to the Mount of Olives.
Joh 8:2 And at dawn He came again into the Set-apart Place, and all the people were coming to Him. And having sat down, He was teaching them.
Joh 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And having set her in the midst,
Joh 8:4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
Joh 8:5 “And in the Torah Mosheh commanded us that such should be stoned. What then do You say?”
Within this examination we might consider some of the things that are taking place. Obviously YRM is referring to this as a Sabbath so we must pay attention – such as the woman caught in the act of adultery. This was the day after the Last Great Day. Kind of an odd thing to be taking place. Not to mention she’s caught in the act. Whatever the situation was it seems like an odd thing to be happening on a Sabbath to begin with. Also, that a stoning would even occur. Here’s a little note from the Jewish Encyclopedia. I’m sure Talmud has something to say but we couldn’t find it.
NOTE:
Work on the Sabbath, in order to be punishable, must be performed with the intention of doing this particular work (Intentional stoning ?). If one threw a stone, intending to strike a man or an animal, and the stone struck a tree and broke one of its branches, or if one intended to gather grapes and gathered dates, or vice versa, there was no punishment.( (image) (image) ; Ker. 19a; "Yad," l.c. i. 8-13).
In other words, if one picked up a stone to throw it on the Sabbath at a man with intentions of killing him it would be considered punishable but if he missed and broke a branch it would be okay…
The Rabbis forbid also the handling on the Sabbath-day of objects that are "set aside" ("mucheh") for work prohibited on that day. For instance, it is forbidden to handle money, stones, boards, and objects not regarded as vessels (e.g., a candlestick in which candles have burned, although they are now extinguished, or a purse in which money has been held, although now empty), since these objects were "set aside" for service such as is not permitted on the Sabbath. (emphasis mine)
Here we can get an idea from the Jewish Encyclopedia on what would not be allowed or forbidden to handle on the Sabbath. Such as stones. Already a question remains – the Pharisees threw a fit about the man who picked up his mat and walked on the Sabbath but yet they would be inciting the people to pick up stones and stone a woman on the Sabbath? You might argue about the man who was picking up sticks on the Sabbath, if you read the story you might notice:
Num 15:34 And they put him in under guard, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
This verse alone brings in the question whether or not they did stone him on the Sabbath. To insist that Yahuah declared what should be done on the Sabbath and that it was carried out on the Sabbath amounts to nothing but speculation. We’re not here to speculate. Think about it – Yahuah is going to have him stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (assuming to keep warm) but yet He will have the children of Yisra’el pick up stones to stone him to death on the Sabbath?
Information provided above; although not conclusive by any means, does at least question whether the 23rd was really a 7th day Sabbath as claimed.
Joh 8:6 And this they said, trying Him, so that they might accuse Him. But Yahusha, bending down, wrote on the ground with the finger, as though He did not hear.
Joh 8:7 But as they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Joh 8:8 And bending down again, He wrote on the ground.
Joh 8:9 And when they heard it, being reproved by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the older ones until the last. And Yahusha was left alone, and the woman standing in the middle.
At this point they are left alone. All the others who gathered had left the scene.
Joh 8:10 And Yahusha, straightening up and seeing no one but the woman, said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Did no one condemn you?”
Joh 8:11 And she said, “No one, Master.” And Yahusha said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
Joh 8:12 Therefore (G3767) Yahusha spoke to them again (G3825), saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.”
At this point Yahusha spoke to them again, as we saw in the previous verses they had all left. This is referring to a different time and a different place. Now let’s focus on the words ‘therefore’ and ‘again’.
G3767
oun
oon
Apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjugationally) accordingly: - and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
G3825
palin
pal'-in
Probably from the same as G3823 (through the idea of oscillatory repetition); (adverbially) anew, that is, (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjugationally) furthermore or on the other hand: - again
The word again could be taken two ways as if a continuation of what He was saying before but it can also mean ‘anew’, even “of place’ or ‘of time’, ‘once more’. Not even exacting that it was a continuation of the previous event. Obviously as we’re reading in the story that this is not the same time nor place where the woman was brought to Him.
By looking at the definition of these words it would only remain an assumption that Yahusha went and spoke to them on that very same day. There are definitely other words that could have been used to associate these things to have taken place on the same day.
Such as:
Mat 11:24 “But I say to you that it shall be more bearable for the land of Sedom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Mat 11:25 At that time Yahusha responding, said, “I thank You, Father, Master of the heavens and earth, because You have hidden these matters from clever and learned ones and have revealed them to babes.
There is also another word that could have been used to give us the assumption that these events actually took place on the same day. That word is ‘and’ which is used in Yahuchanon 9:1:
Joh 9:1 And (G2532) passing by, He saw a man, blind from birth.
G2532
kai
kahee
Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.
As we can see this word gives the ‘copulative’ and also ‘cumulative’ force. And, also, so, then, too, etc. And we will examine this in verse 9 in a bit.
Here are two more words that would have directly associated these events to take place on the same day:
Mar 4:35 And on the same (G1565) day (G2250), when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us pass over to the other side.”
G1565
ekeinos
ek-i'-nos
From G1563; that one (or [neuter] thing); often intensified by the article prefixed: - he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those. See also G3778.
G2250
he¯mera
hay-mer'-ah
Feminine (with G5610 implied) of a derivative of ???µa? he¯mai (to sit; akin to the base of G1476) meaning tame, that is, gentle; day, that is, (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context): - age, + alway, (mid-) day (by day, [-ly]), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.
So far we have another logical reasoning to show an assumption made on the part of YRM to insist that all these events have taken place on the same day. Continuing on:
Joh 8:13 The Pharisees, therefore, said to Him, “You bear witness about Yourself, Your witness is not true.”
Joh 8:14 Yahusha answered and said to them, “Even if I witness concerning Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know from where I come, or where I go.
Joh 8:15 “You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one.
Joh 8:16 “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.
Joh 8:17 “And in your Torah also, it has been written that the witness of two men is true.
Joh 8:18 “I am One who witnesses concerning Myself, and the Father who sent Me witnesses concerning Me.”
Joh 8:19 Therefore they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Yahusha answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would have known My Father also.”
Joh 8:20 These words Yahusha spoke in the treasury, teaching in the Set-apart Place. And no one laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
At this point we know they are no longer in the area where they brought the woman in adultery to stone her. With no indication of it being the same day, we know at this point Yahusha spoke these words in the treasury. No one laid hands on Him because His hour had not yet come; which seems to indicate an end to this particular incident.
Regarding the temple:
The inner area of the Temple contained three courts. The easternmost court was the Court of the Women, and it contained the Temple treasury where people donated their money (Mk 12:41-44). Three gates led into this court, one on the north, one on the south, and a third on the east. This third gate on the east side is almost certainly the "Beautiful Gate" that was mention in Acts 3. A fourth gate, which was much larger and ornate led from the Court of the Women west into the Court of Israel (women could proceed no further), which was elevated 15 steps higher than the Court of Women.
According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women's Court was was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square. The colonnade ran around the court, and within it, against the wall, the thirteen chests, or 'trumpets,' for charitable contributions were placed.
Original source
Please keep in mind the area being spoken of in the treasury is only 200 square feet in size. This we might take into consideration when understanding where they could have been at when they tried to stone Yahusha in the next verses.
As we have read in the above according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, "The Rabbis forbid also the handling on the Sabbath-day of objects that are "set aside" ("mucheh") for work prohibited on that day. For instance, it is forbidden to handle money, stones, boards, and objects not regarded as vessels (e.g., a candlestick in which candles have burned, although they are now extinguished, or a purse in which money has been held, although now empty), since these objects were "set aside" for service such as is not permitted on the Sabbath."
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not right to put them into the treasury, seeing they are the price of blood.”
So the treasury would have been where they kept their money, but they wouldn't be carrying money on a Sabbath day or even a purse in which money had been held, although now empty. Yet here they are in the treasury doing what? Counting money that might have been brought in during the contributions from the 8-days of the Feast that had just taken place? What reason would they have for being in there in the first place especially since it's supposedly the Sabbath? So here's another quandry about that being a Sabbath.
Here below in 8:21 we see that word ‘therefore’ again. Yahusha said to them ‘again’, that word again is the same again used in verse 12. The conclusions drawn above concerning "therefore" and "again" apply here as well.
Joh 8:21 Therefore Yahusha said to them again, “I am going away, and you shall seek Me, and you shall die in your sin. Where I go you are unable to come.”
Joh 8:22 Then the Yehudim said, “Shall He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you are unable to come’?”
Joh 8:23 And He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 “Therefore I said to you that you shall die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.”
Joh 8:25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Yahusha said to them, “Altogether that which I even say to you!
Joh 8:26 “I have much to say and to judge concerning you. But He who sent Me is true, and what I heard from Him, these Words I speak to the world.”
Joh 8:27 They did not know that He spoke to them of the Father.
Joh 8:28 So Yahusha said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak.
Joh 8:29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”
Joh 8:30 As He was speaking these words, many believed in Him.
Joh 8:31 So Yahusha said to those Yehudim who believed Him, “If you stay in My Word, you are truly My taught ones,
Joh 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Joh 8:33 They answered Him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and have been servants to no one at any time. How do you say, ‘You shall become free’?”
Joh 8:34 Yahusha answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 “And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever.
Joh 8:36 “If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 “I know that you are the seed of Abraham, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
Joh 8:38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Joh 8:39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Yahusha said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from Elohim. Abraham did not do this.
Joh 8:41 “You do the works of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of whoring, we have one Father: Elohim.”
Joh 8:42 Yahusha said to them, “If Elohim were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from Elohim, and am here. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me.
Joh 8:43 “Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word.
Joh 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 “And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
Joh 8:46 “Who of you proves Me wrong concerning sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
Joh 8:47 “He who is of Elohim hears the Words of Elohim, therefore you do not hear because you are not of Elohim.”
Joh 8:48 The Yehudim answered and said to Him, “Do we not say well that You are a Shomeronite and have a demon?”
Joh 8:49 Yahusha answered, “I do not have a demon, but I value My Father, and you do not value Me.
Joh 8:50 “And I do not seek My own esteem, there is One who is seeking and is judging.
Joh 8:51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone guards My Word he shall never see death at all.”
Joh 8:52 The Yehudim said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets. And You say, ‘If anyone guards My Word he shall never taste death at all.’
Joh 8:53 “Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died. Whom do You make Yourself?”
Joh 8:54 Yahusha answered, “If I esteem Myself, My esteem is none at all. It is My Father who esteems Me, of whom you say that He is your Elohim.
Joh 8:55 “And you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be like you, a liar. But I do know Him and I guard His Word.
Joh 8:56 “Your father Abraham was glad that he should see My day, and he saw it and did rejoice.”
Joh 8:57 The Yehudim, therefore, said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
Joh 8:58 Yahusha said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I am.”
Joh 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Yahusha was hidden and went out of the Set-apart Place, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Obviously they were not in the treasury anymore, unless there were those giving alms of stones. Again, consider how big the room was to begin with. So, if this is the 23rd which they claim is a Sabbath then we can see another stoning that was going to be carried out on the Sabbath. Just the fact that they picked up stones to throw at Him should show us that they were not in the treasury.
Yahweh's Restoration Ministry:
Chapter 9 is a continuation of the events of that same day when he heals a man of blindness. We are told that this was the weekly Sabbath, the 23rd of the month, verse 14. But lunar sabbatarians say the lunar sabbath falls on either the 21st or 22nd. Either scheme violates this provable 23rd day Sabbath. (See John 7:37-38; 8:1-2, and John 9:1-3, 14, 16.)”
That’s an interesting assumption and the words “and passing by” would seem to suggest this:
Joh 9:1 And (G2532) passing by (G3855), He saw a man, blind from birth.
G3855
parago¯
par-ag'-o
From G3844 and G71; to lead near, that is, (reflexively or intransitively) to go along or away: - depart, pass (away, by, forth).
The interesting thing to keep in mind is He just stirred a crowd up to blood, they chased Him to stone Him to death and then all of a sudden He’s just passing by. Even though it does appear to be directly after 8:59 where they picked up the stones, it seems kind of odd. Questionable at least.
Joh 9:2 And His taught ones asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?”
Joh 9:3 Yahusha answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of Elohim might be made manifest in him.
Joh 9:4 “It is necessary for Me to work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day – night is coming, when no one is able to work.
Joh 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Joh 9:6 Having said this, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and applied the clay to the eyes of the blind man.
Joh 9:7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Shiloah” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came seeing.
Joh 9:8 Therefore the neighbours and those who saw him before, that he was blind, said, “Is not this he who was sitting and begging?”
Joh 9:9 Others said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am.”
Joh 9:10 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
Joh 9:11 He answered and said, “A Man called Yahusha made clay and applied it to my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Shiloah and wash.’ And I went and washed, and I received sight.”
Joh 9:12 And they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
Joh 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees the one who was once blind.
Joh 9:14 Now it was a Sabbath when Yahusha made the clay and opened his eyes.
We can notice very clearly that the Scripture says it was a Sabbath when Yahusha made the clay. None of these other events say specifically that it was a Sabbath when they brought Him the adulterous, it does not say it was a Sabbath when they were in the treasury, it does not say it was a Sabbath when they tried to stone Him. But there is no doubt that Yahusha made the clay and healed the blind man on the Sabbath. As we have seen earlier there is already reasonable doubt that all of this occurred on the same day. If that is not enough to suggest that the day after the 22nd was not a Sabbath let’s get right back to the calendar. Remember – the popular conclusion is that the Messiah died in 31 AD. Now, if this is correct as they claim then we can also search the calendars to find a Sabbath that took place on the day after the Last Great Day; which is the 22nd day of the 7th month.
So they claim Yahusha’s ministry was 3.5 years, this ended 01/14/31 equivalent to the Roman calendar 04/25/31.
There is other information in the book of Yahuchanon that we can glean to get an idea exactly what years we should be looking at.
What we’re doing here is trying to figure out how far back we can go from 31 AD, since that is the claimed year of His impalement and we discover there are other Passovers that have taken place, so with this information we can figure out how many Passover/Sukkoth were talked about. We have to remember the claimed timing of Yahusha’s ministry would be 3.5 years. If it ended in 31AD it would have had to have started at Sukkoth 27AD. It would look something like this – first year of ministry
Sukkoth 27 – Sukkoth 28 = 1 complete year
Sukkoth 28 – Sukkoth 29 = 2 complete years
Sukkoth 29 – Sukkoth 30 = 3 complete years
Sukkoth 30 – Passover 31 = one half year
Obviously the Scriptures do not show us every account of Passover and Sukkoth, but what we do know is that there had to be a previous Sukkoth to the first Passover mentioned in John 2:23; which would eliminate year 27. We also know there is one Sukkoth that is not mentioned that took place before the Passover mentioned in John 6:4; which could possibly be the reference made in John 5:1. We can put this in chronological order. Obviously, if there’s a Passover taking place in 6:4 then another Sukkoth has passed between it and John 2:23. It is established that two Sukkoth have passed before we get to John 7:1-37. I would also like to make mention that from John chapter 7 until the impalement there are no other Feasts mentioned except for the celebration of Hanukkah. It would appear that from chapter 7 until the impalement is in chronological order. But this cannot be firmly proved.
Joh 2:23 And when He was in Yerushalayim at the Passover, at the festival, many believed in His Name when they saw the signs which He was doing.
This is the first Passover discussed.
Joh 5:1 After this there was a festival of the Yehudim, and Yahusha went up to Yerushalayim.
Here we see another festival being spoken of, don’t know exactly which one, but we know it’s after the first Passover so we might assume this is speaking of Sukkoth.
Joh 6:4 And the Passover was near, the festival of the Yehudim.
Verse 6:4 tells us that the Passover was coming near so we can only assume that this is the second Passover spoken of (John 2:23); which ultimately means because John 6:4 is speaking of another Passover we know for a fact that at least 2 Sukkoths has passed before we get to the next Passover in question. From here we’ve already eliminated year 27 and we can also eliminate year 28 for certain.
Joh 7:1 And after this Yahusha was walking in Galil, for He did not wish to walk in Yehudah, because the Yehudim were seeking to kill Him.
Joh 7:2 And the festival of the Yehudim was near, the Festival of Booths.
Joh 7:37 And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yahusha stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.
Here we are at the Feast that is in question. Next we find the celebration of Hanukkah which comes after Sukkoth.
Joh 10:22 At that time the Hanukkah came to be in Yerushalayim, and it was winter.
Joh 10:23 And Yahusha was walking in the Set-apart Place, in the porch of Shelomoh.
Now in John 11:55 we see the last Passover that took place.
Joh 11:55 Now the Passover of the Yehudim was near, and many went from the country up to Yerushalayim before the Passover, to set themselves apart.
Joh 12:1 Accordingly Yahusha, six days before the Passover, came to Beyth Anyah, where Elazar was, who had died, whom He raised from the dead.
Joh 12:33 This He said, signifying by what death He was about to die.
Joh 13:1 And before the Festival of the Passover, Yahusha knowing that His hour had come that He should move out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Joh 13:2 And supper taking place, the devil having already put it into the heart of Yehudah from Qerioth, son of Shimon, to deliver Him up,
I mention these Scriptures here to show that there are no other Passovers or Sukkoths mentioned; which gives it the flavor that the Sukkoth spoken of in 7:37 happened just previously to the last Passover.
Again, we eliminated the possibility of year 27 and year 28; which only leaves years 29 and 30 to find this weekly Sabbath that supposedly fell on the 23rd day of the 7th month.
Let’s examine the 29th year:
Conjunction; aka dark moon: Represented by light yellow
First Visible Crescent: Represented by light orange
Feast Day: Represented by light blue
23rd day of 7th month: Represented by light green
Original calendar link
As we can see when we work our way through the Gregorian calendar 10/12 was the first day of the Feast meaning the Last Great Day was on 10/19 which means the day they are claiming to be a Sabbath was on 10/20 which was a 5th day. We can see the Sabbath would not have been until 10/22. We can clearly see that this is a year that cannot be used to substiate their claim that the Sabbath was on the 23rd day of the seventh month. Remember, we gave two days for the first visible crescent to be seen after conjunction/dark moon. So even if it were one day after conjunction or three days after conjunction it could not have been on that weekly Sabbath that fell on 10/22.
Let’s examine the 30th year:
Conjunction; aka dark moon: Represented by light yellow
First Visible Crescent: Represented by light orange
Feast Day: Represented by light blue
23rd day of 7th month: Represented by light green
Original Calendar link
We have the same scenario in year 30. Feast of Tabernacles begins on the Gregorian 10/2. Which places the Last Great Day on 10/9. Which means the supposed Sabbath would have been on 10/10 which is a 3rd day. So even if it were one day after conjunction or three days after conjunction it could not have been on that weekly Sabbath that fell on 10/14.
As we can see by verified evidence that there could not have been a weekly Sabbath on the 23rd day of the seventh month in years 29 and 30. Remember, this is the only two years previous to 31AD that can be taken into consideration. Unless one would argue that the impalement took place in year 34.
There is one year that this works. That is year 28; which has already been found to be impossible. Just for the sake of full disclosure let’s look at year 28:
Conjunction; aka dark moon: Represented by light yellow
First Visible Crescent: Represented by light orange
Feast Day: Represented by light blue
23rd day of 7th month: Represented by light green
Original Calendar link
As we can see, this year fits their scenario of a weekly 7th day on the 23rd. But there is no way to rectify the fact that there are two pin-pointed Sukkoth that had already taken place so the only years possible for the impalement to take place on the ‘Wednesday’ would have been year 28, 31, and 34. As we know year 28 is the only year the scenario of the weekly Sabbath falling on the 23rd day of the month is possible. Obviously we can eliminate year 28 as the year of the impalement because He could not have died before Sukkoth took place that year.
1 Sukkoth 27 – Sukkoth 28 = 1 complete year
2 Sukkoth 28 – Sukkoth 29 = 2 complete years
3 Sukkoth 29 – Sukkoth 30 = 3 complete years
4 Sukkoth 30 – Passover 31 = one half year
This scenario places Passover of year 29, Passover of year 30, and Passover of year 31 afterwards. Meaning it does not line up with Scripture which shows two Passovers prior to John 7:37 and one afterwards. As there is no 4th day Passover in year 29 this is an impossibility.
1 Sukkoth 30– Sukkoth 31 = 1 complete year
2 Sukkoth 31 – Sukkoth 32 = 2 complete years
3 Sukkoth 32 – Sukkoth 33 = 3 complete years
4 Sukkoth 33 – Passover 34 = one half year
Now here we have a scenario that can work. 34AD is one of the years where this claimed impalement in the middle of the week occurred. As we know, we have eliminated two previous Sukkoth which will be equivalent to year 30 and 31. Which leaves either year 32 or 33 for this claimed Sabbath on the 23rd day of the 7th month.
Conjunction; aka dark moon: Represented by light yellow
First Visible Crescent: Represented by light orange
Feast Day: Represented by light blue
23rd day of 7th month: Represented by light green
Original Calendar link
Not to mention this one will not work according to the common understanding of prophecy as reiterated below:
C. Timing:
Prophecy given in………..457 BCE,
Plus Add one year for no zero between BC to AD
…………= 27 AD Yahshua appears
D. Yahshua ministered for 3 1/2 years: equals...31 AD
E. Many people knew when Yahshua was going to manifest.
You can see that the years of 28 and 34 are the only envelope of time that Yahshua could have died based on previous information and prophecies.
In the far right hand column, we must look for a Wednesday impalement date. He died in the middle of the week. The years 28, 31 and 34 are the only years with a Wednesday on the 14th of Abib. (Passover Day) He died on Passover!
Year 28 and 34 can be eliminated because they are too early and too late respectively. Year 28 also shows that the moon was too young to be seen as it was only two hours from the conjunction. (Normal time to observe is 12-18 hours past.)
If one would want to claim that year 34 is the impalement year and year 32 is the year that the Sabbath could have possibly happened on the 23rd day of the 7th month they would have to go against all the common understanding that the impalement took place in year 31 and they really should find a reference to a Passover and Sukkoth or any other feasts that fall in between John chapter 7 and 11. In other words – Chapter 7 Sukkoth (32) Passover (33) Sukkoth (33) and Passover (34) in chapter 11.
Here’s the thing, we went and checked out Skyview Café LINK . The conjunction took place on 09/23/32 at 11:38 a.m. so they wouldn’t have seen the crescent that evening. The next day approximate sunset time was 7:29 p.m. giving the moon’s age of approximately 31.75 hours old. They clearly would have been able to see it; thereby making 9/25/32 new moon day.
The first day of Sukkoth 10/09/32, the Last Great day of 10/17/32 – both 5th days and the 23rd falling on the sixth day of the week. If one would insist of using three days from conjunction then the moon would have been 55.75 hours old!
After further examination one would have to first of all claim a year 34 resurrection, then they would have to claim that the moon would not have been visible after being approximately 31.75 hours old in the evening at the going down of the sun.
I think that about wraps it up. We might consider this an open and shut case against Yahweh's Restoration Ministry’s assumption that the 23rd day of the 7th month was a Sabbath according to Scripture.