Calendar Debate — Map vs Territory

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There is a well known “Mental Model” that self-aware critical thinkers must always remember. The Map is not the Territory. A map is an abstraction of a reality which is far more complicated.

Imagine being given a map from 1587 and being told to locate a specific city listed on that map today.

Except instead of going out and looking in the real world, you only use a modern map. We “know” modern maps are higher resolution and are easier to map to physical locations using latitude and longitude, but they are still maps. But we only “know” modern maps are more accurate because we can directly compare them to the real world.

If you really want to use a map to find a specific city, you must make reference to the real world. Given only the two maps we have no way of knowing which map is a better fit for the real world.

Calendars are Maps of Time

There are many theories about the true biblical calendar and every theory can be viewed as a map that may or may not map to the actual reality of time. Here is a sample of 9 different calendars, each of which may have several variations in how the start of the year is determined, when the day starts, and when the month starts.

1. Zadok Way
2. Dead Sea Scrolls
3. The Creators Calendar (starting when sun in Aries)
4. The Creators Calendar (starting first full moon after equinox)
5. Lunar Sabbath Calendar
6. Fixed Hebrew Calendar
7. Enoch Solar Calendar 364 days
8. Enoch Lunar Calendar ( starting with crescent )
9. Lunar Calendar (starting with conjunction)

All of the calendars are supported by people who believe their calendar reflects scripture; however, there is one major mistake that almost everyone makes when evaluating historical evidence and signs in the sun, moon, and stars: everyone assumes their calendar is correct and adjusts their understanding of history to match their calendar.

It is as if everyone picked a map of the world they like, and when confronted with evidence that the real world doesn’t match their map; they discard the evidence of the real world and assume it must be mistaken. The real world doesn’t care about your cognitive dissidence when you are trying to arrive at a particular location. Likewise, YHVH doesn’t care about our dissidence when trying to align with His appointed times.

Understanding The Historical Real World

Unlike land maps, which we can cross-check by taking a walk outside. Time maps can only be cross checked by looking at historical narratives. One of the most critical narratives in history is the Biblical narrative, particularly the week of the cross.

When attempting to determine what year Yeshua died, many people immediately rule out 31 AD because their “map” says Passover would have been on a Tuesday or Wednesday that year. This causes them to interpret all evidence through the lens of confirming their calendar, when instead we should interpret historical evidence without respect to any particular calendar and then see which calendar best fits with the best map we can construct from other non-calendar evidence.

In my last post I made my case for 31 AD using as many verifiable points of reference as possible and ensuring consistency with the rest of scripture. I specifically avoided the issues associated with the calendar in proving or disproving the year.

Predictably many people immediately rejected it because 31 AD is incompatible with their favorite map. In this post, I am going to assume 31 AD is correct and then compare several of the available maps to see which one best aligns with the best supported historical reality we can produce.

Even prophecy watchers must admit that 30 AD is looking less and less compatible with their theory of 2000 years from the cross minus7 years for the start of the tribulation. So either their 2000 year theory is incorrect, or their map was incorrect. I think it is their map.

Reconstructing History

I am assuming the following facts when reconstructing this history.

1. Yeshua was arrested late at night before passover on the 13th

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” — Mat 26:45–46

2. Yeshua died as the Passover Lamb on the Afternoon on the 14th of the Month

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. — Mat 26:45

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened. — Luke 23:44–45

3. He was buried before sunset

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But [first?] they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. — Luke 23:55–56

So there, because of the Jewish day of Preparation [and] since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus. — John 19:42

4. On the first day of Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th, a guard was posted.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. — Matthew 28:57–64

5. Yeshua was dead 3 days and 3 nights

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. — Matthew 12:40

6. Before Sunrise on the First Day of the Week, He Rose

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. — Matthew 28

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. — John 20:1–3

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. — Luke 24:1

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the tomb at the rising of the sun. — Mark 16:1

7. Guards Report

While the women were on their way (to the disciples), some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. — Matt 28:11

8. Emmaus was 3 days later

And, behold, two of them went that same day (that tomb was found empty) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about 7 miles… And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. — Luke 23:13

And they drew nigh unto the village (Emmaus), whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further… But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight… And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem (7 miles, 2 hours), and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them..And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. — Luke 23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” — John 20:19

Some details about the road to Emmaus is that it was about a 7 mile walk from Jerusalem, which, if you are speed walking would take at least 2 hours to cover. The arrive at Emmaus around dinner time (for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent). After taking time to prepare dinner and break bread, they realize it was Yeshua and then he disappears. They immediately start a 2+ hour walk back to Jerusalem and arrive to meet the other disciples and Yeshua shows up shortly after they arrive.

Sunset Start of Day + Lunar vs Weekly Sabbath

The first two calendars I will compare are the Lunar Sabbath starting on the full moon with sunset start of day, and the continuous weekly Sabbath starting on the sighting of the sliver (4% visibility, 2 days after conjunction). Note that for the purpose of comparison, Lunar Calendars have the same structure with respect to Sabbaths regardless of which day of the moon the month starts. Starting on the full moon is useful for comparison in part because it doesn’t overlap with the Weekly Sabbath starting on the sliver.

The first piece of evidence we have is the Road to Emmaus which describes a sequence of events starting with when the chief priests delivered Yeshua to be condemned to death (morning after his arrest), and ending with the day they were on the road.

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. — Luke 23:13

Under the Lunar Sabbath model in 31 AD, there are almost 3 complete “daylights” and 3 inclusive calendar days to cover those events. Under the traditional weekly cycle there are almost 5 complete daylights and 5 inclusive calendar days in the same period.

Using the Lunar Sabbath you can get three inclusive calendar days in the grave, but must get creative if you want to count 3 inclusive nights and 3 inclusive days. One suggestion is to count the night he was in jail (likely in a cave or pit) as one of his “nights” and then count the sunrise when he rose as one of the “days”. Using inclusive calendar days is the least problematic approach.

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. — Matthew 12:40

Using the continuous weekly Sabbath there are 4 inclusive days and 4 inclusive nights where he is dead and in the grave. If you count calendar days you end up with 5 days. Some people have suggested to “only count full days and full nights” and thereby ignore the hours before he was buried and the night that he rose. Some have suggested as “secret” resurrection that occurred right at sunset on the 3rd day and the tomb was only discovered in the morning. All of this “creativity” is for nothing given the testimony on the road to Emmaus.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But [first?] they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. — Luke 23:55–56

On the continuous weekly cycle there is an entire day between the High Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath when the women could have taken the prepared spices to the body. Yet for some reason, despite the race against decay, they waited until the 5th day?

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. — John 11:39

Lastly, by this theory, the guards would have been posted 4 days, covering 5 days from his death, and yet they were only ordered to make the tomb secure until the 3rd day.

So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. — Matthew 28:64

13th Month Theory

Some people attempt to make 31 AD work by claiming a 13th month and pushing Passover all the way to May 24th, 31 AD. Doing so still has 4 days to Emmaus and has the guards keeping watch until the 4th day. It has the virtue of providing 3 inclusive nights and 3 inclusive days, but still has 4 calendar days.

Lastly, such a late Passover would completely compromise the Barley harvest and there is no indication from the sun, moon, and stars that such a late Passover is justified.

Start of Month

In the month of Xanthicus, which is by us called Nisan, and is the beginning of our year, on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, when the sun is in Aries, (for in this month it was that we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians,) the law ordained that we should every year slay that sacrifice which I before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt, and which was called the Passover
— Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.

This testimony from Josephus clearly eliminates the May theory and also eliminates the crescent moon theory because the sun is not in Aries (the lamb) on Passover. It goes from Pieces to Taurus. It is only in Aries on the 14th of the month if the month starts with a full moon.

After 2000 years, the same month should now be Pieces because of the Precession of Equinoxes.

Zadok / Dead Sea Scroll Calendar

This calendar always places Passover on a Tuesday; which only makes all of the counts a day longer than if it were on a Wednesday. So that would be 6 days to Emmaus and 5 days in the tomb. Some people suggest that Tuesday was the “last supper” and the “real Passover”, but even with that assumption, you still end up with the problematic Wednesday Passover.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that one of three things is true:

1. Lunar Sabbath best fits 31 AD
2. The 7 day cycle has shifted since the time of Messiah

In my prior videos I already addressed similar evidence of the terrain that suggests that the full moon is the true start of the month. This comes from two primary sources: Chinese records that record the darkness on a specific day (the last day of a crescent started Chinese month), and the lack of any historical reports of a solar eclipse on a full moon which would have been a major, news worthy, event.

The only question that I didn’t already address in this post is whether the calendar day starts at sunset or sunrise. The difference in outcome is too close to call, but if your map says sunrise, then 31 AD is an even worse fit for continuous weekly cycle which grows nights in grave to almost 5 full nights. Meanwhile the Lunar Sabbath calendar still has 3 inclusive calendar days in the grave while the Road to Emmaus is 72 hours from the cross, but 4 inclusive days. I would say that you would have to rely upon other evidence to support a difference between sunrise and sunset start of day.