Unraveling the Celebrations
As the year draws to a close, a season of feasts descends upon cultures worldwide. This annual occurrence, an undeniable highlight for many, arrives with predictable regularity. Yet, surprisingly, few pause to consider the origins or birthplaces of these celebrations. In our increasingly confused world, it begs the question: what, precisely, are we celebrating?
Consider the diverse array of feasts: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Muharram, Dasara, Mawlid an Nabi, Christmas, Diwali, Ashura, and Rohatsu, among others. Each commemorates a specific event or figure. To truly celebrate with understanding, participants must delve into the facts behind the rituals and customs they observe, and understand its origins.
Despite their varied subjects of celebration, these feasts share a common thread: none of them center on Jesus Christ, not even Christmas. Even devout Christians, who may believe they are celebrating His birth, are often mistaken. This warrants a deeper investigation.
The origins
The origins of these feasts are easily accessible through online research. However, let us ponder some observations regarding the Christmas day celebration and what influenced the date. For instance, the traditional date of December 25th, originally a Babylonian observance, marked the birth of Tammuz, the evil god-son of Baal, not Jesus Christ. This date was imposed upon Christians by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 3rd century AD. Seeking to integrate Christianity into Roman society and to prevent public unrest, he adopted “Christianity” into the already established Roman Baal-worshipping tradition.
It is also important to note that the celebration of birthdays is a Western cultural phenomenon. While there is no inherent wrong in this practice, it is crucial to note that Jesus never instructed His followers to commemorate His birth.
In light of these various feasts and celebrations, and given the importance of truth (or rather Truth), what is our role?
Does the specific day even hold significance?
Jesus did not emphasize it. He instructed us to celebrate His death, and He suggested only one feast to observe regularly: Himself, the Giver of life through His sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Perhaps the focus on birthday celebrations serves as a distraction.
How do we know?
Well, the actual date of Christ's birth can be determined from Scripture through diligent research. We’ll look at that against the knowledge that Jesus did not command the celebration of His birthday.
Some may argue that this perspective is extreme. Yet, establishing the precise date of Jesus's birth is not an academic exercise, but should shed some light on how pagan traditions and the origins of man-made feasts influenced Christianity. In fact, it reveals that our so-called Christian celebrations are more often rooted in pagan rituals and traditions, adorned with worldly decorations, superficial displays of generosity, and mere church attendance—a façade.
The religious holidays Christians observe and celebrate are driven by religious indoctrination, political force and the desire of man to achieve his own piety. In the process of religious amalgamation the truth was severely compromised and distorted by religious and political leadership alike. So-called Christian holidays, like Christmas, are nothing less than concoctions, the melting pot of pagan (Babylonian) worship and Christian elements, tailored to suit power-hungry rulers like Constantine the Great. His aim was to appease the Roman populace thereby maintaining his popularity, whilst legalising Christianity in his endeavour to rule the world. The result that lives on until today, is a severely distorted Christian view of Christ, a chaotic worldview and a total misunderstanding of the goodness of God.
Christmas day, Easter and other so called Christian feast days were spawned and embraced by the institutional church.
But …
Instead of adhering to specific days, laws, and rituals, Jesus calls us to intimate fellowship with Him.
So, what about these feasts?
In the Old Covenant, God expresses His disdain for man's feasts: "Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they are a trouble to me; I am weary to bear them" (Isaiah 1:14). Man made feasts are hated by God. Throughout Isaiah, it is revealed that Jesus Himself is the appointed feast.
Jesus is the true feast, and His desire is for us to celebrate Him continually.
The date?
For those still seeking an accurate date for the birth of Christ, a step-by-step calculation can be easily researched in the Bible. However, it requires some careful attention to the scriptures.
The key to do so is found in 1 Chronicles, where King David established the temple duties of the priests. These duties, alongside New Testament Scripture, allow us to determine Christ's birth date.
Let us proceed.
Step 1: The Temple Duty Cycles
In the 10th century BCE, King David instituted the temple duty cycle (1 Chronicles 24-28). These cycle dates serve as a constant, which ultimately helps us understand the role of Zechariah's, the father of John the Baptist. As a Levite priest, Zechariah's service preceded John's conception. The duty cycle remained unchanged over the ages, providing an exact appointed date for Zechariah, which we can use to calculate Christ's birth.
Curiously, the Bible meticulously details the Levite priestly service dates leading up to the day when Christ was born. Well, these dates serve a purpose.
Under God's instruction, King David established 24 priestly courses for temple duties by the Levite priests. They occur on fixed dates (1 Chronicles 28:11-13; 24:1-4). These courses, listed in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18, included the course of Abijah, which is of particular interest to us.
The 24 groups (courses) were determined to perform temple duty on fixed dates and in a fixed sequence. According to 1 Chronicles 24:7-18 these were: 1 Jehoiakim; 2 Jedaiah; 3 Harim; 4 Seorim; 5 Malchijah; 6 Mijamin; 7 Hakkoz; 8 Abijah (note that this course is in bold); 9 Jeshuah; 10 Shecaniah; 11 Eliashib; 12 Jakim; 13 Huppah; 14 Jeshebeab; 15 Bilgah; 16 Immer; 17 Hezir; 18 Aphses; 19 Pethahiah; 20 Jehezekel; 21 Jachim; 22 Gamul; 23 Delaiah; and 24 Maaziah.
Confirmation for these temple duty cycle dates comes from historians such as Josephus, who confirms that these courses were assigned by lot in the presence of King David, along with Zadok, Abiathar and many of the other priests and prophets (Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews, Book 7, Chapter 14, Paragraph 7 says “the distribution of the course were determined by lot, in the presence of David, Zadok and Abiathar, the high priest. The course which came up first was written down as the first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the twenty-fourth. This partition hath remained to this day.”
Each of the 24 priestly courses began and ended their week-long service on the Sabbath (2 Chronicles 23:8; 1 Chronicles 9:25). After the 24th course, the cycle repeated.
However, during the three major Jewish feasts—Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles—all priests served simultaneously.
Step 2: The issue about calendars
These events followed the Hebrew lunisolar calendar, which begins in spring. The first course, Jehoiarib, served from Sabbath to Sabbath. The cycle repeated throughout the 51-week, 354-day year.
Let us also remind ourselves that these events and temple duties took place in accordance with the Hebrew (Jewish) lunisolar calendar (see here for the Hebrew calendar).
We should also note that the Jewish calendar begins in Spring (northern hemisphere), during the month of Nisan. The first group scheduled for temple duty would be that of the Jehoiarib family serving for one week, Sabbath to Sabbath. The courses of temple duty repeat throughout the Jewish calendar year, which runs for 51 weeks or 354 days.
A Jewish calendar year features twelve lunar months of twenty-nine, or thirty days, depending on the month. An extra lunar month is added every two or three years to fix the difference between the twelve lunar months and the longer solar year. The beginning of each Jewish lunar month is based on the appearance of the new moon in the sky. The appearance had to be called out and confirmed by more than one witness (priests). Confirmation came at the very moment the new moon appeared and was spotted. Let us keep in mind that the western Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, a Babylonian inheritance imposed by Constantine and the Roman empire and later refined and renamed after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1582.
In the course of one year each group of priests would perform temple duty twice in addition to the 3 major festivals. This brings the tally of temple duty courses per group to five weeks each.
Coupled with the temple duty cycle introduced by King David, we now have our constant that can be used to calculate the date of birth of Christ.
The temple cycle system remained in place until the birth of Christ.
Step 3: Zechariah's Turn and Christ's Birth
Luke meticulously records Zechariah's temple duties, enabling us to calculate Christ's date of birth. Let’s read:
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.” (Luke 1:5)
“And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, …” (Luke 1:8)
Jumping to verse 23 now.
“And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.” (Luke 1:23)
And the words “As soon …”, which in the Hebrew means “the very moment” … and what did Zechariah immediately do?
You've got it right!
“And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived.” (Luke 1:24)
The date of conception and the date of birth of John the Baptist is precisely known.
As our focus is also turned to Luke 1:5, 8, and 23 where the completion of Zechariah's service leads to the conception of John the Baptist, we should be curious about how meticulously the Bible reveals this event … albeit, for a reason.
Step 4: Calculating the Date
Zachariah's temple duty, according to the Levite courses, had to be in the Spring (March-April) and during the 10th week of that year. Why? Because he was a member of the course of Abijah, the 8th course.
Both the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan) and Pentecost (6 Sivan) would did occur before his scheduled duty. So, the date of Zacharias' temple duty is easily determined to have commenced on the second Sabbath of the third month, Sivan (May-June). He would have completed his temple service on the third Sabbath of Sivan and returned home.
What did he do as soon as he arrived back home having abstained from intercorse for so long? (Remember they also had to abstain before reporting for duty in order to be fully clean)
He and Elizabeth had physical relations, procreating his son, John. Scripture tells us that John the Baptist was conceived shortly (immediately) after the third Sabbath of the month of Sivan.
Also, John the Baptist could not have been conceived any time before the temple duties of Zachariah because of the priestly abstinence before their temple duties.
Step 5: Connecting to Jesus
We continue with the algorithm.
And we have another date to work from!
This date is equally important for our calculation.
The reason why the information about John is so critical, is because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary in exactly the sixth month of pregnancy of her cousin, Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist.
Let's continue in Luke 1 again and see …
“And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.” (Luke 1:24-27)
We have to note here that verse 26 emphasises the sixth month of Elizabeth's conception (not Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, but six months after the conception of John as clarified by the context of verse 24 as well as verse 36).
“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” (Luke 1:36)
So, six months after Elizabeth, Mary conceived.
Step 6: Counting Months
Then, as we discover from scripture, Mary stayed with Elizabeth for the last 3 months of her (Elizabeth's) pregnancy, until John the Baptist was born.
“And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son” (Luke 1:56-57)
And John the Baptist was born.
We'll get to the simple-mathematics-part shortly … but first some biology that we need to refresh our memories on.
Human gestational averages 38 weeks (8.74 months) from conception.
However, pregnancy is customarily measured from the date of the last menstruation — about 2 weeks before conception. By this scale, pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, or 9.20 months. Therefore when we calculate a term of 10 lunar months (40 weeks) from the conception of John the Baptist shortly after the third Sabbath of the month of Sivan, we arrive at the month of Nisan for the birth of John the Baptist.
From this it should be abundantly clear that John the Baptist was born in the middle of the month of Nisan, Which coincides with the Hebrew Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread - 15 Nisan (the first month on the Jewish calendar, early Spring - April in our Gregorian calendar).
Side-track to Elijah
It is interesting to note that even today, the Jews in accordance with the prophecy in Malachi 4:5, would set out a special place at the Passover Seder meal in anticipation of the arrival of Elijah on this date in their calendar. (Remember that Elijah is one of only two people the Bible records not to have died and the old covenant prophecy states that Elijah must return before Christ is born).
So, Elijah returns.
Jesus identified John as the "Elijah" that the Jews had been expecting.
“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” Mat 17:10
And the angel that appeared to Zachariah in the temple also indicated that John would be the expected "Elias".
Wow!
“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17
Step 7: Calculating Jesus's Birth
Let's continue with our algorithm and do the simple-maths-part …
Since Jesus was conceived exactly six months after John the Baptist and we have determined the date for John's birth (15 Nisan), we need only to add six more months to arrive at the date for the birth of Jesus.
Ha!
Doing this simple math brings us to the 15th day of the 7th month (Tishri - or September/October in our western calendar). We’ll be foolish not to admit that this is far from the date imposed by the Roman Emperor Constantine as the date on which all Christians must celebrate Christmas. 25 December is more than two months away. It is not even close!
Algorithm problem solved!
The 15th day of Tishri is the beginning of the third and last major festival (festival of the Lord or Tabernacles) of the Jewish year for which all Jewish men were required to travel to Jerusalem (Lev 23:34).
On the western Gregorian-Roman calendar this date brings us to the end of September, or in some of our calendar years, the beginning of October.
The dates between the Hebrew and Greco-Roman calendars obviously don't line up, but these are the last days of Summer in Israel no matter what calendar we use. (Remember the dates on the western calendar differ every year because of the length of the Jewish lunar year being 353, 354 or 355 days, while a leap Hebrew calendar year can have a length of 383, 384 or 385 days, compared to the western fixed 365 1⁄4 days.)
Taking this important last point into account, it helps to use some simple logic without the use of algorithms. Jesus was not born in the Winter since we have proof that the Shepherds were out at night with their flocks in the open field. In Bethlehem, shepherds never do this in the cold of Winter. This would be irresponsible since they would endanger the lives of their livestock.
Prophecy fulfilled!
The birth of Jesus Christ is the brilliant fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles that starts on 15 Tishri on the Hebrew calendar (The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot - see here, here and here)
It is easy to see then that God Almighty God tabernacled amongst man!
What are we supposed to do with this information then?
In view of all the deception and efforts to corrupt the truth, let’s focus on Jesus.
Not just the baby Jesus in the crib, the way the enemy wants the world to see Him … suggesting an innocent, helpless and powerless Baby in a crib, rather let’s focus on His ultimate victory.
The true fact of the matter is that the Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, tabernacled amongst mankind to restore life, light and dominion. That is why Jesus said to celebrate His finished work. His death and resurrection openly displays His might, power and victory as an all-lovely, all-loving, resurrected and never-leaving Jesus, who resides within you and me right now and forever (whether we want to know it or not), giving us authority and power over the wiles of the enemy!
Jesus was born to enter this world. But that is only a small part of His monumental, completed work. He was born so that He could fulfil the purpose of defeating sin (if you still don't know what sin is then read here) and death and to restore life, light and dominion authority!
Rather than celebrating His birth, let’s focus on the all-victorious Jesus, our King and lover, our precious Saviour, our wonderful Redeemer and Victor by celebrating His body and His blood as often as we can!
Take Communion!
This is the feast to celebrate - His finished work!
The only feast that matters!
Why do we want to celebrate the beginning when we can celebrate the victorious outcome, the finished work of Christ and restoration that comes with it?
In retrospect …
Now that we know what is celebrated out there, the fake hype and twisted, mixed up concoction called Christmas, shouldn’t we know better?
After all, we know what Jesus said we ought to be celebrating. Ironically, by doing so, It places us in a position of power and authority with Jesus at the same time.
We are empowered to make an informed decision about what to celebrate and what not.
Let the real celebration start …
All honour, all power, all glory, all praise to Him who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb that was slain!
Forever!
From before time was.
Forever more!