Dark Moon

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Edification Articles"><U><B>Up Level</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A>   |   Dark Moon   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <div>    |   <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Moon</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Dark Moon</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Sermon</B></div> <bR> <div> Thus saith the LORD to his anointed,----I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. </div> <div> Isa 45:1,3.</div> <div> James Russell, Elder</div> <div> King Solomon, who was known for his wisdom was inspired to write: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Thinking on this verse, ask yourself, Can I accept change? Change comes when we are willing to grow in grace and knowledge; this means we are not stagnating, but are willing to repent when error is found, becoming better educated? Now let me ask, Do you believe God has a calendar in the Bible? Many who have been called and have been encouraged to study God’s Word , don't believe there is enough evidence in the Bible to establish a calendar. If that were the case, then why would God give us specific dates to keep His appointed times on ? </div> <div> Starting in Leviticus 23, I think we will find that it will tell us what we are doing here today. “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein: but you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord” (Lev. 23:23-25). The Feast of Trumpets establishes a picture and a warning of the future events that are going to take place. This day looks ahead, when Jesus Christ will return to earth to rule with His first fruits for one thousand years. </div> <div> I would like for you to drink in these words, because that is exactly what the Feast of Tabernacles will picture for us. At that time, He will be putting down all opposition to His Father's government and begin re-establishing it. The very thing we are told from Scripture to pray first for. The scriptures we just read in Leviticus 23, are quite clear that a calendar is used by God in His Word, because we notice that there is a seventh new moon, a day we are commanded to keep. In Psalms, David tells us, “He (God) appointed the moon for seasons (appointed times): the sun knoweth his going down” (Psa 104:19). God would not give us instructions to keep this day of Trumpets and not show us how to establish that specific day. </div> <div> Moses was instructed to “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; you shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” (Lev 23:1-3). Again, we find a calendar being used. We find God giving us some instructions! We are to be doing something on this particular set of feast days. </div> <div> The whole chapter of Leviticus 23, where all the Holy Days are mentioned, you will find it does not say anywhere that God’s Holy Day’s are to be postponed. These are set days on which we are commanded to assemble. They are holy convocations. The words, 'Holy convocations' is # 4744, identified from Strong’s Concordance: a sacred assembly, a religious gathering on the sabbath, and certain sacred days. It is called a rehearsal assembly, a day of convocational reading, a day of reading from God's Word, and a day to expound on God's Word, a day to help us understand God's Word. </div> <div> When we read Leviticus 23:23-24, it is spelled out very clear that the Feast of Trumpets is not to be postponed, as witnessed being practiced by most of the Churches of God today. These churches take their practice and their authority from a statement that Mr. Herbert Armstrong made in a newsletter he wrote in 1940. This letter is being quoted in an article titled, “The Hebrew Calendar Authority For God's Church Today,”-- “In conclusion, unless God has preserved His sacred calendar through the Jews, then we do not know how to figure passover or any of the holy days this year. For there is no authority for any other way. There is no Bible authority whatsoever for figuring the first day of the first month from the new moon nearest the spring equinox.” </div> <div> This letter, as you heard me say, was written back in 1940. Going forward twelve years, let me read to you what is written in the booklet titled, “How Often Should You Partake In The Lord’s Supper” written by Herbert W. Armstrong copyright 1952 . Mr. Armstrong wrote on page 12 “Let us return to the faith once delivered. The first day of the new year begins near the spring equinox, when the new moon usually is first visible to the naked eye in Jerusalem, not in the United States.” The reason I wanted to bring this to our attention is, for us to see there was a change in Mr. Armstrong thinking over twelve years. He had made a statement in that letter which he was not going to back up any longer, He came to see that it was wrong . </div> <div> If any of you had been in the Worldwide Church Of God for very long, you know Mr. Armstrong did not keep the Jews 15th Passover; he kept the scriptural 14th . Therefore he did not keep fully the Hebrew calendar, but followed a calendar he named God’s sacred calendar. Many of you might have been in the church when Pentecost was changed. Mr. Armstrong changed Pentecost, from keeping it on a Monday, to keeping it on a Sunday. I can remember hearing a sermon in Pasadena, about a year before this change came about. The Church said that there was no way God would use Sunday for a day of Pentecost. A year later, the Church came to see they were keeping it on the wrong day; so they change Pentecost to a Sunday worship. </div> <div> So changes in God’s church should be quite familiar to all of us who have been connected with the Worldwide Church of God. We know that error and mistakes are made, but when found they must be repented of. We have to change and want to support and back up God in whatever He shows us. </div> <div> We are told from the book of Deuteronomy “To hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deu 4:1-2). No man has the authority to cancel a Sabbath day, which the Holy Days are. God has set a seal on the Holy Days, and His seventh day Sabbath; those are days that cannot be changed -even when they are back to back Sabbaths! </div> <div> Those who make the postponement rules for keeping the Hebrew Calendar say they are simple to understand . It has been about six years since this has been brought to our attention. Most churches that go by the name Church Of God are teaching and practicing these Postponements rules. Arthur Spires in his book, “The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar,” which is the authority for the Hebrew calendar, states on pages 14-15, “Rosh Hashanah (Trumpets) the first day of Tishri, (Tishri is the seventh month) should be on the day of the Molad, except for the so called dehioths. The dehioths are the postponement rules which take place in four specific cases. These are the four dehioth (postponement rules): 1.) When the Molad Tishri occurs on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday, Rosh Hashanah is postponed to the following day. (Back to back sabbaths, which shows us they do not want to keep). 2.) When the Molad Tishri occurs at noon, eighteen hours or later, Trumpets is postponed till the next day. Or if this day is a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday, to Monday, Thursday or sabbath, because of dehioth A. 3.) When the molad Tishri of a common year falls on Tuesday, 204 parts after 3 A.M. ie, the third day the ninth hour, the 204th part or later, Trumpets is postponed until Wednesday. And because the dehioths, a further postponement to Thursday. 4.) When in a common year, succeeding a leap year, the Molad Tishri occurs on a Monday morning 589 parts after 9 A.M. ie, the second day, the fifteenth hour, the 589th part or later, Trumpets is postponed till the next day.” These are the four rules that are being practiced in most of the major Churches of God today. </div> <div> Arthur Spires continues to say, “In more than 60% of all years, Trumpets does not occur on the day of the Molad, but is postponed according to one of the dehioths (One of the rules). Therefore the dehioths are actually not the exception to the rule, but the rule. It is obviously not the intentions of the calendar calculations to establish Trumpets and the beginning of the month, on the day of the conjunctions. It would rather appear that the beginning of the year and the months, are generally adjusted to the days on which the Sanhedrin would have sanctified them, on the basis of observation of the new crescent. In order to understand how the dehioths A and B affect this adjustment, it is necessary to study the astronomical exact hours, when the new moon becomes visible in Jerusalem after the conjunction.” Turning back to page X in this same book, it says: “These calendar tables are presented in the hope that their simplicity, will encourage many to use the Jewish calendar regularly.” Are you now ready and prepared to take a test on explaining how the rules for the Hebrew calendar work? You can see how ridiculous these rules are; and how un-simple they are. God says, His ways are simple, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor 11:3). We need to continually keep God’s ways in our thoughts. </div> <div> “The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar” also said, “God has left it to them, (meaning Judaism) to keep it simple.” Well, my friends, is it simple? When the Church of God, in Truth started looking into the Hebrew Calendar we found it was not simple at all to understand. It takes time to understand what they are explaining. You will find as you read other sources, all have their own yes's and no's, do’s and don'ts. </div> <div> As we have already said in our “Postponement, Another Mystery of the Ages” booklet, no man has the authority to cancel a sabbath for a preparation day or their own convenience That is exactly what these postponement rules do. They cancel God's Sabbath for their preparation day!! </div> <div> In the book of Nehemiah we read where Ezra took responsibility to read God's laws. Especially to those who returned from the captivity of Babylon. These were the children that came out of captivity that needed to be re-taught God's ways. “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; (I didn't realize that they had water gate problems back then, but it sounds like they did.) and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month” (Neh 8:1-2). </div> <div> This first day of the seventh month was distinguished above the other months; the other new moons of the year. The word 'month' and 'new moon' are interchangeable. Both use Strong’s # 2320 with the root from # 2318. Cause to rebuild, renew, new moon by implication of a month. Some Churches of God are now teaching and practicing that the new moon day is as holy as the Sabbath. When reading articles and finding groups of people following these people who practice and make the new moon as important as the Sabbath, and make a statements to the effect that the new moon is actually more important then the sabbath, I think we all need to have our ears perked up. Should we be keeping the new moon as a sabbath? Or making it more important then the Sabbath? NO!! We should not! </div> <div> Let's go through some Scriptures that we have looked at before, this is being a bit redundant, but it has been awhile since we have looked at them. So let us re-examine them by going, back to where the laws are written, where Numbers 28 and 29 compliments Leviticus 23, they go hand in hand together, because they are both talking about the same Holy Days. We want to remember that Leviticus 23 points us to when the Holy Days and weekly Sabbaths are and Numbers 28 and 29 points us to the sacrifices. </div> <div> Turning to Numbers 28:1-3 we read, “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and My bread for My sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto Me, shall you observe to offer unto Me in their due season. And you shall say unto them. This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.” The verses we will be looking at in Numbers 28 and 29, are actually talking to the priests; the ones doing the sacrificing for various Holy Days and Sabbath Days throughout the year. These instructions were given by Moses to the priests. </div> <div> In verse 9 we find the sacrifices for the weekly Sabbath. Verses 11 and 14, we find the sacrifices for the first day of each month; It says in verse 14, “It is to be done every month throughout the months of the year.” Very clear what he is telling the priests, that these sacrifices are what God want’s sacrificed on these particular days, on these new moon days. Verse 16 mentions Passover is to be kept on the fourteenth day. Verses 17 and 18 speak of Days of Unleavened Bread. Moses adds here to that, “It is a holy convocation and no work is to be done.” Verse 26, it says the same thing about Pentecost; “no work is to be done, and its a holy convocation.” </div> <div> In chapter 29 it starts off in the first verse: “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have an holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets unto you.” Verse 7, Atonement has the same analogy as Trumpets, where it says, “There is a holy convocation, and no work is to be done.” Verse 12, the Feast of Tabernacles, the same thing; “Holy convocations, no work is to be done.” Verse 35, “The Last Great Day, a solemn assembly and no work is to be done.” These are things you have known before and have read them many times. </div> <div> The point in looking at all this is, why don't we find in Numbers 28: 11 and 14, something mentioned in there about holy convocations and that no work is to be done? They are new moons, they are just like the seventh month, except God says, the seventh month we are to have a holy convocation, and no work is to be done. We have to be aware again, why it is not mentioned verses 11--14? All the Holy Days say, if you notice, we are to have a holy convocation and no work is to be done!! I want us to examine Numbers 29:1 because today is the Feast of Trumpets. Numbers and Leviticus tells us specifically to have a holy convocation, and that no work is to be done on the seventh new moon. If all new moons are to be observed like a sabbath, like the Feast of Trumpets, the seventh new moon would not be singled out with the other Holy Convocation. </div> <div> In the book of Samuel, we see where it talks about David going to the kings house for a meal, and this happened to be on a new moon. Which one, I'm not certain, it doesn't spell out which one it is. “David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I shall not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the new moon: and you shall be missed, because your seat will be empty” (I Sam 20:5,18). New moons are not called sabbath’s or holy days. </div> <div> We find, David did go to the Kings house to have a meal, he did not go to a synagogue, or a temple. He just went over to the kings house, obviously they were close, and had a meal together once a month choosing the first day of the month. It was not a commanded meal. The new moon day is not a Sabbath, except for the seventh new moon! Unless the new moon day would fall on a weekly Sabbath. We should try to do something to remember the new moon day’s. Eating a meal is something we all love to do. It helps us to remember what month it is in God’s calendar. But those new moons do not have priority over God’s appointed Sabbaths!! </div> <div> The Lord said “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, in the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a Sabbath,...”Lev 23:24 It says, very clearly, that it is a Sabbath. Sabbath, in Strong’s is # 7677. Looking up Strong’s number, you will find: It's a special Sabbath, it's a Sabbath of Sabbaths. It is not a regular weekly Sabbath. These definitions can be found by going back into a Concordance, searching them out and you will see that these Holy Days are a Special Sabbath; they are not something to be Postponed, set aside like they were not a Sabbath. They are what God says in the fourth commandment; to remember-- His Sabbaths. </div> <div> Up to this point we have looked at what the commandment of a holy convocation is. We have seen that the word month and new moon is interchangeable. We have read in Numbers and Leviticus what days are holy, special Sabbaths. We have read where David, a man after God's own heart, went to a meal on the day of a new moon day. </div> <div> Now I would like to focus the rest of this sermon on the New Moon question. For the records. I would like this recorded on tape, because some of you are new with the Church of God, In Truth. Some of you have never heard me say this before, but for those of you that have, have patience. Most of you that have been with us awhile, understand already. </div> <div> There are three places in God's Word that the word 'crescent' is expressed in the Hebrew language. Using Strong’s Concordance and the New Brown Driver Briggs Genesis Hebrew-English Lexicon, # 7720 identifies “ornament” in the King James Version as crescent moon. We find these idols being worn by women in Isaiah 3:18 and camels and women wore them in Judges 8:21, 26. Let me read these verses to you out of the old King James Bible. Isaiah 3:18, “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their crescents like the moon.” Judges 8:21 last part. “ .....and took away the ornaments (crescents) that were on their camels necks.” Verse 26 “And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides ornaments, (crescents like the moons) and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.” These are things that were worn to scare away evil spirits, they were very superstitious. </div> <div> Going to Arthur Spires again, we read a brief note that he has on page 1. “In the early times of our History, the solution was found by following practical procedure, the beginning of the months were determined by direct observation of the new moon crescent.” Realizing what a crescent is, we need to focus on this for a moment. </div> <div> Looking at Judaism's history from God’s Word, we find what God's thoughts were of their solutions and observations when finding Judaism’s new moons. Isaiah the forerunner of all writers; quoted more in the New Testament than other writers, wrote in Isaiah 1:1, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” Isaiah's messages that we will read, addresses primarily to Judah and Jerusalem, and it was probably spoken to them in a form of a sermon, in some kind of a gathering together. Verse 2, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.” Remember we are going back into Judah's History just as Arthur Spires did. But this time, we will read out of the true History from God's Word. Isaiah is calling upon the inhabitants of heaven and earth, to witness what he is going to say to Judah, who have hardened their hearts against God's laws. Verse 4, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupter’s: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” God continues to tell them in verses 13-14. "Bring no more vain ablations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot bear with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.” </div> <div> We can see by reading, God instead of being delighted with their feasts and their new moons; we find that He is highly, highly displeased in what He was seeing. That is why He said He was not pleased with their feasts, nor was He pleased with their new moons. Their formalities of religion, means nothing, when God's Spirit is missing. We need to understand that. It means absolutely nothing! If you don't have God's Spirit working within you, you are not going to understand the true meaning of what is meant when you read Scriptures like that. God was really upset with them. There are many, many other verses that could be read in context to those Scriptures. God has made clear that where obedience is lacking, even prayer is an abomination to Him. “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Pro 28:9). Breaking God's law is an abomination to God, He will not hear your prayers. He will not hear what you would like Him to hear. Those practicing Judaism, were defying God, by refusing to walk in His ways; His laws, and His commandments. They did not believe what God had told Moses. “For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if you believed not his writings, how shall you believe My Words” (John 5:46-47). </div> <div> We still find this going on today; syncretism being practiced!! God's church is being polluted by canceling out a Sabbath for a preparation day. Canceling out a Sabbath because of a back to back Sabbaths. All these practices are going on in the Churches of God today. </div> <div> We cannot start the first day of a month on a wrong day and be in harmony with God's Word. That needs to be clearly understood. If we are going to be in harmony with God, and if we are going to actually utilize the tools in the heavens that He has given us; we need to pay attention to what those tools are silently telling us. </div> <div> God's months begin when the moon first goes dark. A statement that we have made very clear in the June “Prove All Things” Page 13, The article “True Conjunction Verses Molad” -- “The true conjunction occurs the instant the sun and the moon, not the earth, come into conjunction, and when the sun's light strikes the face of the moon at an angle which makes it not visible to us on earth. The true conjunction of the moon is the instant when the sun and the moon come into conjunction. This instant happens every where on earth at the same time.” The Church of God, In Truth calculates that instant of conjunction to Jerusalem time zone, to see what date this occurs, using sunset to sunset, 24 hours time as the time for the new moon day. This is the way we have said for the past six years, and it has been written that way many, many times. </div> <div> I have recently found out that a true conjunction as we believe, is not what astronomy calls an astronomical conjunction! The sources I have looked at, read, talked to people, etc., has never ever brought that to my attention, because that is one of the questions I have asked, many, many times before we ever came out with the postponement booklet. Otherwise it would not have been written in the Postponement booklet that way. But an astronomical conjunction is what we have been keeping our Holy Days by. We do in our own words, say, that we do go by the true astronomical conjunction, A true conjunction of a dark moon went dark about five hours before an astronomical conjunction on the Feast of Trumpets this year. An astronomical conjunction does not occur at the same time as a true conjunction. A true conjunction of the new moon is about 3 to 5 hours before an astronomical conjunction of the moon. We have been saying and writing the meaning right, but we have been practicing it wrong. </div> <div> The Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, England said, “The dark moon happens before the astronomical new moon! The only reason they use the astronomical new moon is to keep time uniformly regulated around the world. The new moon is defined as the time at which the sun and moon have the same celestial longitude. The celestial sphere on which this measurement is based is a theoretical sphere, centered on the earth which we look through when we observe astronomical objects. The time of all lunar phases quoted by the astronomical community are therefore what an imaginary observer at the center of the earth would see.” </div> <div> The true conjunction occurred on September 20th at 1:12 or 1:11 PM Jerusalem time depending on your source. Sunset on September 20th was at 5:54. The instant of the new moon was 4 hours and 42 minutes before sunset in Jerusalem (See following charts). </div> <div> Why does the Church of God, In Truth go by a dark moon, instead of an illuminated crescent moon? The dark moon that’s within God’s creation harmonizes with the rest of God’s architectural creation. The illuminated crescent does not!! To find evidence of this let’s look into God’s Word, starting in Genesis 1. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen 1:1-2). </div> <div> It was out of darkness God reformed the earth. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Gen 1:3). What is light? Light is a visible form of energy. Without light there could be no life. Physical light is essential for physical life. Light also is a symbol of God’s Devine presence. Devine light brings spiritual life. The Apostle John knew this! “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). We find next in Genesis where, “God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Gen 1:4-5). Here is where we find names given to light. “Day” that starts at sunset, and “Darkness” was called night. Each 24 hour day begins with darkness as stated in verses 8,13,19,23, 31. A lunar month follows the same pattern as a day---it sets the precedent for a waning crescent. When the waning crescent moon is no longer visible a new moon (month) begins! God knows that nations could not make an image (idol)out of a dark moon!! “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven” (Deu. 4:15-19). Vegetation also follows the harmony of darkness that God has set in motion in His creation. “God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so” (Gen 1:11). Here we find God has created seeds within itself, darkness within its own shell and darkness when planted. When cared for, it will reach out of its imprisonment of darkness for light! There is a saying, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Following God’s architectural pattern the answer is obvious. The seed to create a bird is stored within a shell, when that shell is incubated, kept warm by a parent or artificial means for a short period of time, a chicken or bird will hatch out of darkness into light. The same is true when a female is impregnated, for nine months the mother feels a baby forming in her womb. It moves and is in darkness before being born and sees light! </div> <div> What about our baptism? “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him (in a watery grave) by baptism into death (darkness): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (light)” (Rom. 6:3-4). Something being in darkness does not mean its dead, it is waiting to be changed and brought to life and light!! </div> <div> Who are we to thank for this marvelous truth? “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col 1:12-13). </div> <div> Can you see the harmony and God’s architectural design that has been laid out for us? We are reminded daily, and monthly by God’s silent gospel in the heavens to come out of darkness!! “Thus saith the LORD to His anointed......And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” (Isa 45:1,3). </div> <div> Can you think of anything that God has not created out of darkness? “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart” (Psa. 97:6,11) . God in His inspired Word reminds us, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecc. 3:1). </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>