Bible Study By Bill Goff
August 26, 2022
This Bible Study was given to the orphans at Sengera House, to get them acquainted with God’s calendar which He put in the heavens. Their ages are from around 6 year old to17 year old. Then these same Friday night Bible studies are often given to the local High School by Nehemiah. He graduated there last year, and still often gives our Friday night Bible studies to the entire High School on Mondays. (1,050 in attendance) They like the studies so much, they call assembly on Mondays for all staff & students. They love the teachings, Why? Because there clear, simple, and most importantly clearly supported by Scripture.
(The study starts with some questions:)
- What is the significance of the Sun and the Moon?
- Is the sun only there to give us light and warmth during the day?
- And how about the Moon, is it there only to give us light during the night?
- And how about the “New Moon” the moon cannot even be seen when it is what the Bible calls “New”. Is there any significance to that “invisible” Moon?
In today’s study let us look at the Scriptures concerning the Sun and Moon, and see what we can learn about these Great Lights, and their significance from God’s Word.
(Genesis 1:14-16) “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also”.
So, the sun is there to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night. That word “rule” means dominion – dominion means sovereignty or control. So, God has given the sun and moon “authority” to rule.
So, what we see here is that the “Sun” and the “Moon” (and the stars) are there to give us God’s calendar. So we will know when each day begins and ends, when each month begins and ends, and when each year begins and ends. And most importantly when His Feasts (or Appointed times) are.
That word “seasons” in verse 14 means “appointed times” or “Festivals”. It’s talking about God’s Holy Days, or Feast days.
Now it is important to understand God’s calendar, so we will know when He (God Himself) want to meet with us.
Many men incorrectly teach that there is no calendar in the Bible, and that we are to follow the man-made Hebrew calendar. But that teaching is incorrect, and not true. More and more brethren are coming to realize that the man-made Hebrew calendar is not correct. Even the Jews themselves are aware that their calendar is man-made and not according to Scripture.
The Scripture is quite clear that we are to follow Biblical Truth. We are to go by the Bible, by the Scriptures. (John 17:17) all of our Beliefs need to be supported by Scripture, concerning any issue, and the supporting Scripture/Scriptures should pop right into mind. But sad to say with too many brethren, what pops into their mind is what Mr. “minister” said. What Mr. “minister” teaches. Let’s stop looking to falable men for truth and look to the scriptures.
Now the Hebrew calendar is not even in the Scriptures. But God’s calendar clearly is, and His calendar is quite easy to understand.
Many feel the calendar issue is too difficult to tackle, like trying to climb Mt. Evert. It’s not. It’s as simple as crossing a molehill. But let’s get started on the right foot. Let’s believe what the Scriptures say. And remember, we have a God who says what He means and means what He Says.
Let us learn how easy it is to understand by looking at the Feast of “Trumpets” (The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts.)
Leviticus 23 lists all of God’s Feasts. The Feast of Trumpets is on the first day of the 7th Month. (Leviticus 23:24)
Now in the Bible, the word “Month” and the word “New Moon” is the same exact Hebrew word. So, we can read that verse like this: “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh New Moon, in the first day of the New Moon, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation”.
So, what we need to know is “when” is the New Moon. And it’s really quite simple. We are all familiar with the “Full Moon”. The full moon is when it is big, full of light, and perfectly round, The New Moon is just the opposite. The new moon is when s is totally dark, and you cannot see it.
Now the majority of the brethren in the cog keep the Hebrew calendar. Then there are those who keep calendar according to the “new moon”. But they keep the incorrect new moon, they look to see a visible crescent. But we have to go by Scripture, not by fables taught by men. There is no Scripture to support the crescent. But the Scripture is Crystal Clear supporting the “dark” moon, when it is “invisible” or hidden.
(Psalm 81:3) “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
That word “appointed” tell when the new moon is, the Hebrew word means when it is full, fully “covered” “canceled” and “hidden”.(Look up the Hebrew, and t it’s Root word.)
So, the Month begins on the day that the moon is invisible, when you cannot see it. The Scriptures tell us that is when it is “new”. The new moon is a day that we need to recognize. It’s an important day because it’s the first day of a new Month. And we should dedicate the new month to God. (There are many Scriptures instructing this, Isaiah 66:23 is one of them.
All Astronomers agree that new moon is when the sun moon & the earth are “plumb” all in a straight line, blocking light from the sun making the moon invisible just like Scripture says.
Now in order to learn more about the importance of the moon, let us become familiar with it. The moon has 8 phases. Full moon (when it is Big, Bright, and Fully Round) is one of the phases, and New Moon (when you cannot see it) is another phase called new moon.
Now after dark new moon, when we see it getting larger each night that is called “Waxing” it waxes bigger and bigger until it becomes “full”. Then it begins to get smaller and smaller each night (that is called “waning”) until it is invisible, and that’s when it is “new” again (new month) according to Scripture.
Now all this is new to most of you children, so don’t get overwhelmed or confused. It’s really quite simple. All one has to do is become familiar with the Moon, as we are all familiar with the sun. We know when the sun is high over our head, it’s noon time, and when is going down (especially on Friday afternoon) we know the Sabbath Day is approaching. Same with the moon, just start paying attention to it, and God’s calendar becomes quite clear and simple).
Remember our biggest culprit to learning and understanding Truth, is men. We have to be taught by God, not by men. (2 Peter 2:1-2) Peter clearly and powerfully says most in God’s church are being led astray.
I found the following commentary in an old Bible of mine. It pertains to 1 Samuel 20:5 where Jonathan was talking to David about the “new moon” I will quote it here:
“At the beginning of each month, the Israelites gathered to celebrate the New Moon festival. While this was mainly a time to be enjoyed, it was also a way to dedicate the next month to God. Other nations had celebrations during the full moon, and worshiped the moon itself. The Israelites however, celebrated their festival at the time of the new moon, when the moon was not visible in the sky. This was an added precaution against false worship. Nothing in the creation is to be worshiped – only the Creator.”