The Problem with Precession and the Beginning of the Biblical Year

Vernal Equinox: Out of Place in the Heavens

The Problem with Precession and the Beginning of the Biblical Year

This is a challenge to those that begin their biblical year with the first visible crescent moon nearest the vernal equinox. Using the nearest reckoning, if the new moon is prior to the vernal equinox, it will cause celebration of Passover a month earlier than those that use the visible crescent moon following the vernal equinox. It could also cause a problem by failing to recognize that a 13^th month needs to be inserted in the luni-solar calendar. This early start to the biblical year is also problematic to those using the bowl crescent moon, or the new crescent that appears level with the horizon, with the horns of the moon being equidistant on the sides. Part of the time, the bowl crescent appears before the vernal equinox. This situation exists in the month and year this is written, March 2010. Repeated inquiries to those using the bowl crescent have failed to produce scripturally based answers.

The purpose for this paper is to address the problem of “precession of the equinoxes”, as it relates to the beginning of the biblical year. The equinox, or equinoctial line in the heavens is the point of time in the year when the days and nights are equal, and the days begin getting longer, and the nights shorter. Over the millennia, the equinox has drifted backward in time, and is no longer where it used to be. The most profound impact of this precession is that the stars do not appear in the heavens where you think they are, in relation to the equinox. Astrologers and related informational resources will not tell you any different; they simply are lying or they are deluded.

At the time of Moses, the sun, moon, and vernal equinox were in the constellation Aries. (See first image labeled April 1446BC). 1446BC is one of the suggested years of the Exodus. Notice the point of the vernal equinox at the intersection of the sun's ecliptic and equatorial meridian, indicated by the two small "v's." Notice also that they all are coincidentally in what would be April-May. In reality, the equinox was originally in Taurus, at the time of Abraham, and probably back to the time of creation. It moved from Taurus into Aries in about the year 1865BC. The use of astronomy programs will verify this information within reason.

When the calendar instructions were given to Moses just prior to the Exodus, all celestial references in the heavens were where they were supposed to be. But it is interesting to see what has happened since the time of Moses.

At the time of Christ’s crucifixion, in April 31AD, nearly 1500 years after Moses and the Exodus, the equinox had drifted backward to a point just slightly out of Aries, into Pisces. (See image No 2 April 31AD). Notice that by the time the sun and moon arrive in Aries, past the vernal equinox, it is clearly April (April-May) and not March. This data is confirmed by USNO and other sources that the Passover/crucifixion occurred in April 31AD, and not March as some Jewish sources indicate. The noted Jewish historian Josephus tells us that when Passover was observed at the time of Christ, that the sun was in Aries.

Image No 1: 1446 BC @ the Exodus 

Image No 2: April 31 AD 

Where is the vernal equinox today?

Let's move our celestial magnifying glass to the current day, and look first at March 16 2010, on the day of the sighting of the crescent, when this new year is said by some to have begun. You will notice first of all that everything is out of alignment from where we think it should be. And the sun is still 4 days short of the vernal equinox. What is most noticeable is that the vernal equinox has now drifted all the way through Pisces and nearly into Aquarius. Notice that the sun and the moon are not in Aries to begin the year, where it is said they should be. At the time of the new moon nearest the vernal equinox, they are in Pisces. (See image 3 March 16 2010).

Image No. 3 March 16 2010

Now, let's have a look at where the sun and moon are when they do enter Aries for the beginning of the upcoming biblical year. Contrary to what most astrological forecasters and related websites and other sources say, Aries doesn't begin following the day of the vernal equinox. It's simply untrue. Astrologers continue to tell you that Aries is right after the vernal equinox, and is the period of time from March 21 to April 20. Nothing could be further from the truth. The equinox has now drifted so far back that it does not enter Aries until April 18. Notice in the image that the moon has already moved beyond conjunction, indicating that conjunction is a few days earlier (April 14) than the day the sun actually enters Aries. This means that at the time of conjunction, the new moon for the beginning of the biblical year has now moved out of Aries, where it should be, and into Taurus. It has been suggested that not only should the sun be in Aries, but also the moon. I have seen this idea referenced in other documents, although not many. (See Image No. 4 April 18 2010).

Image No. 4: April 18 2010 

There are many questions that arise because of the precession of the equinoxes.

• Should we be starting the biblical new year in Pisces at the new moon nearest the vernal equinox?
• Should we be starting the new year at the sign of the level or bowl crescent, which is clearly in Pisces at the time it appears?
• Should we delay beginning the new year until the sun and moon are in the sign of Aries? (Josephus and others)
• Beginning the new year when the sun and moon are in Aries means using the new moon after the vernal equinox.
• What part does the constellation Aries have to do with the beginning of the year?
• It has been suggested that Passover should always be in Aries, as evidenced by historical references.
• Should the beginning of the year also be in Aries; meaning not only the sun is in Aries, but also the moon.
• Are we out of alignment with scripture with one or the other beginnings?

Remember that Yah said several times in His word that He would do something to make man forget all his feast days and Sabbaths! What should we do in order to "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth?"