Peace119 – Do you think Jesus was born on December 25?

Most Christians in the western world celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25 called Christmas Day.  The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrate His birth on January 7 for they still use the Julian Calendar.

 

As the story goes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem located just south of Jerusalem.  The account of Luke (Chapter 2) says that there were some shepherds who were spending the night in the fields, keeping watch of their flocks, when an angel appeared to them.  The angel announced to them the birth of Christ the Lord in David’s town (Bethlehem) which they found to be true.

 

We know that December in Israel is cold and wintry.  There may not even be grass in the field for the flocks to feed on.  Is it likely that shepherds would be in the fields at night at this time of the year just to look after their flocks? 

 

If you think that Jesus was not born on December 25, when could He possibly have been born?

Who is telling the truth: Angel Raziel or the Holy Spirit?

My Dear Fellowmen,

 

Below is my reply under the topic “The Angels in the Bible” which now disappeared from “7 most recent interaction” and “Top Posts”.

 

I am re-posting it under this topic “The 7 Angels before the throne of God” hoping that it will appear on your radar screen.

 

With love, your brother in Jesus,

Aristeo Canlas Fernando

 

 

 

Dear Zoti’el and my Fellowmen,

 

Zoti-el wrote on August 13, 2008 at 3:30 pm:

2.  When was Jesus was Born: He [Angel Raziel] says, on the 3rd day after the 3rd week of the 12th month of the Hebrew Calendar (Adar).

3.  When was Jesus crucified: He [Angel Raziel] says on the 6th day after the 1st week of the 1st month of the Hebrew Calendar (Nisan).

 

My reply on August 14, 2008 at 1:14 pm

On number 2:

I know that the 12th month of the Hebrew Calendar is Adar if using it as the religious calendar. The first month of the religious year is Nisan. If using the Hebrew Calendar as the civil calendar, the 12th month is Elul in an ordinary year and Av in a leap year. The first month of the civil year is Tishri.

When Raziel said that Jesus was born “on the 3rd day after the 3rd week of the 12th month of the Hebrew Calendar (Adar)”, this means that there is the first day of the week. Which is the first day of the week? The seventh day is Sabbath day, isn’t it? Why did he not just give a date, e.g. Adar 16?

A month in the Hebrew Calendar may either be 29 or 30 days long. Why “after the 3rd week”? Should it be the 3rd day OF the 3rd week of Adar? When you said “after the 3rd week”, you were referring to the 4th week, weren’t you?

 

In which year was Jesus born?

 

On number 3:

Again, the date that you gave is using the Hebrew Calendar as the religious calendar for its first month is Nisan. My questions are similar to my previous reply.

 

In which year was Jesus crucified and died?

 

Zoti’el wrote on August 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm in reply to the year when Jesus was born and when He was crucified and died:

 

1.  Peacecrusader: Let’s meet halfway, Angel Raziel obviously used the religious calendar. As to what year the Lord Jesus was born, he said it was at the end of 5 B.C (using our adjusted calendar), which is almost 4 B.C. As to what year the Lord Jesus was crucified and died, he says it was weeks after the transition of 29 and 30 A.D.

 

My reply:

Angel Raziel says that Jesus was born “on the 3rd day after the 3rd week of the 12th month of the Hebrew Calendar (Adar)” in the year “at the end of 5 B.C (using our adjusted calendar), which is almost 4 B.C.”  In the Julian or Gregorian calendar, Adar is sometime in February and March.

 

Angel Raziel also says that Jesus was crucified and died “on the 6th day after the 1st week of the 1st month of the Hebrew Calendar (Nisan)” in the year “weeks after the transition of 29 and 30 A.D”.  In the Julian or Gregorian calendar, Nisan is sometime in March and April.

 

Could Angel Raziel explain how he came out with those dates?  Those dates are so far away from the dates I got which I honestly say I did not get from thin air.  The dates were revealed by no other than the Holy Spirit Himself who we (plural) talk to. 

 

In 1983, I learned that Jesus was born on May 23 and died on August 17.  In my curiosity and to prove to myself whether the revelations are true and correct or not, in 1999, 16 years after I first heard the dates, I embarked on a study to check them out.

 

In 2003, four years after I started my study, I proved that the revelation of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was crucified and died on August 17 is correct.  The year was 1 BC. 

 

In 2006, I proved that His revelation that Jesus was born on May 23 is also correct.  The year was 33 BC.  Jesus was 32 solar years old when He died.  This is equivalent to 33 lunar years.

 

The results of these extensive studies are in my website.  You may check them out.

 

I therefore find that what Angel Raziel said are in conflict with what were revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.  Who do you think is telling the truth?

 

With love, your brother in Jesus,

Aristeo Canlas Fernando, Peace Crusader and Echo

Motto:  pro aris et focis

“The Internet is mightier than the sword.”

 

 8-8-8

 

Please note:  I cannot enter the Weblog “Depths of the Living God” anymore.  It seems that the owner of the Weblog deleted me and my postings.  Why?  Who is telling the truth: Angel Raziel or the Holy Spirit who we talk to?  The truth will shine through.

One original apostle replaced

ONE ORIGINAL APOSTLE REPLACED

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

 

The names of the apostles of Jesus Christ are stated in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16, and Acts 1:13.  The lists are similar for eleven of the apostles:  Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John who are sons of Zebedee and surnamed Boanerges, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the publican, James who is the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanites also called Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot. 

Name of Apostle	Matthew	Mark	Luke	Acts
Simon surnamed Peter	Y	Y	Y	Y
Andrew, brother of Simon	Y	Y	Y	Y
James, son of Zebedee, surnamed Boanerges	Y	Y	Y	Y
John, son of Zebedee, surnamed Boanerges	Y	Y	Y	Y
Philip	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bartholomew	Y	Y	Y	Y
Thomas	Y	Y	Y	Y
Matthew the publican	Y	Y	Y	Y
James, son of Alphaeus	Y	Y	Y	Y
Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus	Y	Y	N	N
Simon the Canaanite, also called Zelotes	Y	Y	Y	Y
Judas Iscariot	Y	Y	Y	N
Judas the brother of James	N	N	Y	Y

 

Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus, was in Matthew and Mark but not in Luke and Acts.  Instead, Judas the brother of James seemed to have replaced him unless he and Lebbaeus are one and the same person.  It was unlikely though that the name of Lebbaeus would be changed drastically.  In John 14:22, at the Passover meal, Judas, not Iscariot, was mentioned.  The Passover meal or the Last Supper was conducted with Jesus and His circle of apostles and disciples present just before He was arrested and crucified.  Judas the brother of James was present as John recorded. 

The apostles were chosen early in the ministry of Jesus.  After more than three years, ten stuck to Jesus and were present in the house in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended to Heaven.  Lebbaeus might have been one of the original twelve but was not mentioned anymore in Acts.  In his place was Judas the brother of James.  Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus was replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26).

File:  049-apostles.htm                                                  First uploaded:  2010-01-03    
URL:  http://aristean.org/049-apostles.htm              Last updated:  2010-01-03        Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2010 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

The Holy Spirit revealed the birth of Jesus on May 23

THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED THE BIRTH OF JESUS ON MAY 23

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

I would like to share with you about the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit revealed to us (plural) that Jesus was born on May 23. No year. Just the date May 23. I first heard the date in 1983 from older listeners, and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Himself. You may hear Him announced the date in http://aristean.org/a04a-pah1.mp3 entitled “May 5 at May 23 na mga kapanganakan” (“May 5 and May 23 births”).

In 2004, a little more than 20 years since I first heard the date, I embarked on a study to check if there is any ring of truth in the revelation. In 2006, I finished my study and uploaded the results on the Internet in http://aristean.org/birthmay23.htm. I found the date to be true and correct.

The following are the notable findings of the study including the revelations of the Holy Spirit and exposition from the ”Awit at salaysay ng Pasiong Mahal” or “The Holy Passion” :

1. Jesus Christ was not born on December 25 but on May 23.
2. Jesus was not born in winter but in spring.
3. Jesus was not born in 1 BC but in 33 BC.
4. The lunar eclipse that Josephus mentioned in Antiquities, Book XVII, Chapter 6, Section 4; and Wars, Book 1, Chapter 33, Section 4 happened on March 29, 33 BC, equivalent to Nisan 15, 3728.
5. It took Joseph and Mary four days to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, some eight km south of Jerusalem.
6. When they arrived in Bethlehem, no one took them in because they were poor even though Mary was in her final stage of pregnancy.
7. Jesus was born in a cave used as shed for farm animals in Bethlehem past midnight.
8. The bright star shone when Jesus was born that called the attention of the three kings who hurriedly followed it.
9. Since there was abundant grass on the field, the cave was empty of animals. The farm animals were being pastured out and looked after by their shepherds.
10. As devout Jewish parents, they had him circumcised and named Jesus on his eighth day, May 30, 33 BC.
11. The three kings were really kings from three kingdoms in the east of Jerusalem, namely, Persia, Arabia and Saba (maybe Sheba). Their names are Melchor, Gaspar at Balthazar.
12. The three kings just met on the way to Jerusalem.
13. They dropped in at King Herod’s palace in Jerusalem to give respect to him and invite him in searching for the newborn King of the Jews. King Herod declined the invitation but asked the three kings to report back to him when they find him so that he, too, can worship Him.
14. The three kings arrived June 6, 33 BC at the place where Jesus was, fourteen days after He was born. They knelt down and laid down their scepters and crowns at the feet of Jesus.
15. King Balthazar gave gold because Jesus is truly king and owner and holder of gold and the whole world. King Gaspar gave frankincense because Jesus is really merciful God and Savior to those who pray. King Melchor gave bitter myrrh because He will truly save mankind from sins.
16. In their sleep, the angel of the Lord told the three kings not to see King Herod anymore and take a different route on their way home.
17. The Holy Family stayed in Bethlehem until Mary’s purification rite and Jesus’ presentation in the temple at Jerusalem on the 41st day. This happened on July 3, 33 BC. After the rites, they headed for home to Nazareth. During their first night of travel, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph who told him to take refuge in Egypt. That night was their plight to Egypt.
18. King Herod ordered the arrest of the three kings or bring over the Christ child on July 4, 33 BC. Failing to find the three kings or Jesus, King Herod ordered his soldiers on July 5, 33 BC to slaughter the innocent children from newly born to three years of age.
19. King Herod died on July 13, 33 BC or Av 2, 3728.
20. The Passover Festival was held from July 25 to August 1, 33 BC or Av 14-21, 3728.

There may be slight differences in the accounts in the Holy Bible and this account. Remember that there was no Bible before. It was the descendants of the disciples who compiled the accounts of the disciples to make the story. The revelations herewith came from the Holy Spirit Himself or supplemented by accounts in the “Holy Passion”.

Although the Bible does not tell us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it does not tell us not to either. We have to rejoice in His birth because the promised Messiah in the Old Testament has been born to save mankind from sin.

Please save this post for your reference.

File: 048-birth.htm                                                  First uploaded: 2009-12-15
URL: http://aristean.org/048-birth.htm       Last updated: 2009-12-15              Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

Is there Purgatory?

IS THERE PURGATORY?

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

The Holy Spirit who we (plural) talk to (tape recorded) said that there is NO Purgatory.  What is in the Holy Bible are Heaven and Hell only.

In the Pilipino language, He said: “Bakit kailangan pa kayong PURGAhin kung kayo ay patay na, at kailangan pa kayong lagyan ng suposiTORYO?”

English translation: “Why do you need to be PURGed when you are already dead, and a supposiTORY to be placed?”

Purgatory is a wrong concept.  If it exists, people will just sin while alive and ask for forgiveness when they are brought to this place.  But it will be too late.  One cannot repent anymore once he is already dead.  Repentance can only be done while the soul is still in the physical body.  So be good, confess the sins committed, and avoid sinning again.

File:  047-purgatory.htm                                                  First uploaded:  2009-11-18    
URL:  http://aristean.org/047-purgatory.htm         Last updated:  2009-11-10        Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

Jesus died at exactly 12 noon

JESUS DIED AT EXACTLY 12 NOON

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

Tradition has it that Jesus Christ died at about 3pm.  The Holy Bible, King James Version, gives the following accounts:

Matthew 27:45-54
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elijah.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark 15:33-39
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.
36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Luke 23:44-47
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

The Holy Spirit revealed that Jesus died at exactly 12 noon.  This is in http://aristean.org/e03a-pah5.mp3 which is in the Pilipino language.  If you don’t understand the language, you may ask a Filipino to translate it for you.  Basically, the Holy Spirit said that it was not about 3pm when Jesus died but at exactly 12 noon.  At exactly at 12 noon!  I found this out on 2009-10-31 while playing the tapes of our sessions with the Holy Spirit.  This must be the reason why He told us before that if anyone dies at 12 noon, He goes straight to Heaven.

The sixth hour is equivalent to 12 noon, and the ninth hour, 3pm in the afternoon.  Logically, a 12 noon death of Jesus is more believable than about 3pm death because would darkness precede His death, or darkness succeed after He died?  Also, if Jesus died at 3pm, would three hours (3pm to 6pm) be enough for Joseph of Arimathea to beg Pontius Pilate to give him the body of Jesus, Pilate inquiring from the centurion if He was already dead, the breaking of bones of the crucified people, the removal of Jesus from the cross, the taking of the body of Jesus to the sepulcher?

Jesus was crucified on preparation day of the high day sabbath (John 19:31).  His body should not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, especially, the next day sabbath day was a high day.  Hence, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pontius Pilate and begged him to give to him the body of Jesus.

Not only did the sky darken when Jesus died.  The earth quaked, the veil of the temple was split into two from the top to the bottom, rocks split apart, and graves were opened, as related in the Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible that we are using now was not directly written by the disciples but by their descendants.  These descendants pieced together the notes of the disciples and came up with the stories.  The descendants were not eyewitnesses to the crucifixion that is why there are inaccuracies in the accounts.  Hence, the Holy Spirit is here with us now correcting these errors.  He recommended that we use the King James Version because He said that it is nearer the truth.

File:  041-12noon.htm                                                  First uploaded:  2009-11-10    
URL:  http://aristean.org/041-12noon.htm         Last updated:  2009-11-10        Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

When did King Herod the Great die?

WHEN DID KING HEROD THE GREAT DIE?©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

 

The first century AD historian, Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVII, chapter 6, Section 4 and Wars of the Jews, Book I, Chapter 33, Section 4, wrote that Herod died not long after a lunar eclipse and before a Passover.

The lunar eclipse happened on Nisan 15, 3728 (March 30, 33 BC) which was visible in Jerusalem. In that year, the first month of the religious year fell in the month of Av. Hence, the Passover Festival was held from Av 14 to Av 21, 3728 (July 25-August 1, 33 BC).

The Jews used two types of calendars—a purely lunar religious calendar which had twelve months in one year and a lunisolar civil calendar in which a month is inserted or intercalated seven times in the 19-year Metonic Cycle to keep the months aligned with the seasons. The religious calendar regressed through the seasons – summer, spring, winter, autumn and back to summer again. Its first month where the Passover Festival was held, for example, shifts by one season about every nine years. The civil calendar starts from the month of Tishri in which the year counting starts.

When the Jewish calendar was reformed to what it is today in 358/359 AD, the wandering Passover Festival was fixed in the month of Nisan. The eleventh month of this reformed calendar from Nisan is Shevat. Traditionally, the death of Herod is held on Shevat 2. But when Herod actually died, it was on Av 2, 3728 (July 13, 33 BC). Av is the eleventh month from Tishri.

Herod’s relation to the birth of Jesus

The Holy Spirit revealed that Jesus was born on May 23. This has been proven to be true and correct. The year, 33 BC. The results of the study conducted from 2004 to 2006 are found in http://aristean.org/birthmay23.htm. From the birth of Jesus until His presentation and the purification rite of Mary at the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days later (Tammuz 21, 3728 = July 3, 33 BC), the Holy Family was in the Bethlehem-Jerusalem area. After these rites, they proceeded on their way back to Nazareth, but during the night, an angel told Joseph to flee and take his family to Egypt. King Herod ordered first the arrest of the three kings or bring over the Christ child on Tammuz 22, 3728 (July 4, 33 BC). When his soldiers failed to find them, he ordered the slaughter of all innocent children onTammuz 23, 3728 (July 5, 33 BC).

File: 008-herod.htm                                                            First uploaded: 2009-10-04
URL: http://aristean.org/008-herod.htm                Last updated: 2009-10-04          Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

Words of Jesus on the cross

WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

 

The following are the words of Jesus Christ on the cross taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version:

1. Matthew 27:46 – “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”) 
   Mark 15:34 also stated this, to wit: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Its translation is the same.
2. Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
3. Luke 24:43 – (To the trusting thief): “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
4. Luke 24:46 – “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:”
5. John 19:26 – (To His mother): “Woman, behold thy son!”
6. John 19:27 – (To the disciple): “Behold thy mother!”
7. John 19:28 – “I thirst.”
8. John 19:30 – “It is finished:”

The Holy Spirit expressed to us (plural) the meaning of these words in sermons and messages.  They have been transcribed and are found in various web pages.

 

File:  007-wordscross.htm     URL:  http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/007-wordscross.htm
First uploaded:  2009-09-10     Last updated:  2009-09-10     Rev. No. 0

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
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Three Sabbaths following the crucifixion

THREE SABBATHS FOLLOWING THE CRUCIFIXION^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

In Yahoo Answers, I asked in Languages if Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:1 are singular or plural (Peace173). A genuine Greek, Kimon, answered that the first is plural and the second, singular. His answer confirms my suspicion that there was a translation error of the Holy Bible from Greek to English.

The Holy Spirit revealed to us (plural) that Jesus was crucified on August 17. I heard this date in 1983. When we connected to the Internet in 1999, I embarked on a study since no one was able to help me if there is any ring of truth in the date. After four years, in 2003, I found it to be true and correct. The year, 1 BC.

Matthew 28:1 is plural because there were really more than one Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion. The Sabbaths were: first, the high day Sabbath which I found to be the New Moon Festival on 3760 Elul 1 (1 BC August 18) (John 19:31); second, the regular weekly Saturday Sabbath on 3760 Elul 2 (1 BC August 19); and third, the Sabbath of the followers of Jesus on Sunday, 3760 Elul 3 (1 BC August 20).

Mark 16:1 is singular because it refers only to the Sabbath of the followers of Jesus on Sunday, 3760 Elul 3. It was only after their Sabbath that Mary Magdalene, et al., went to the market to buy the sweet spices that they would anoint Jesus early the following morning. Jesus was crucified in summer wherein the market is opened in the morning, closed from about noon to about 3 or 4 pm because it was hot, and opened again till about 30 minutes to one hour after the sun has set. This is the window of opportunity after their Sabbath when the women bought the sweet spices. That Sunday was a regular weekly market day and neither a high day nor the regular Saturday Sabbath.

File: 006-threesabbaths.htm      URL: http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/006-threesabbaths.htm
First uploaded: 2009-09-10      Last updated: 2009-09-10      Rev. No. 0

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Religious information about circumcision

RELIGIOUS INFORMATION ABOUT CIRCUMCISION^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

 

Why did God command Abraham and all his male descendants be circumcised?

Circumcision must be good because the commandment came from God. But is it really good? Has there been any reported deaths due to circumcision? Every Jewish male baby on his eighth day should be circumcised. Why on the eighth day? Should all males be circumcised? Why did God not command Jewish females be circumcised as well?

All quotations herein are from the Holy Bible, King James Version, unless otherwise stated.

The commandment regarding circumcision of Abraham and his male descendants is stated in Genesis 17:9-12, to wit:
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

From Webster Third New International Dictionary, here are the definition of the verb circumcise and the noun circumcision.

Circumcise – 1 a: to cut off the prepuce of (a male) or the clitoris of (a female); b : to cut around, off, or away – now used only in medicine; 2 : to purify spiritually (Deuteronomy 10:16 – “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.”)

Circumcision – the cutting off of the prepuce of males being practiced as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims and as a sanitary measure in modern surgery.

Prepuce is foreskin. So in circumcision, the foreskin is cut around (Latin circum), off, or away exposing the glans penis.

Not only was Abraham circumcised (Genesis 17:24) but also Ishmael (Genesis 17:25), Isaac (Genesis 21:4), John the Baptist (Luke 1:59) and Jesus (Luke 2:21). Abram became Abraham (Genesis 17:4). Females are not required to undergo circumcision; only the male child on his eighth day. Sarai became Sarah (Genesis 17:15).

Circumcision is required for the Jews and Muslims because it is a token of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants.  But to Christians, it is optional as stated in 1 Corinthians 7:19, to wit: “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”

Circumcision has been replaced by baptism, the naming of a child in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).  Jesus said in John 3:5, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus gave the example when He was baptized by John the Baptist at the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
Please read http://www.circinfo.net/ for other information about circumcision.

 

File:  005-circumcision.htm     URL:  http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/005-circumcision.htm
First uploaded:  2009-09-06     Last updated:  2009-09-06     Rev. No. 0

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Hanukkah – The Feast of the Dedication?

HANUKKAH – THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION?^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

Hanukkah or Chanukah or the Festival of Light or the “Feast of Dedication” commemorates the Maccabean victories but focuses of the relighting of the Temple Eternal Light.  It is observed for eight days beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev.  Is Kislev a winter month?  Kislev is an autumn month together with Tishri and Heshvan, isn’t it?  Why is it celebrated on the 25^th?  Is it because Kislev 25 occurs in about December?  To be celebrated like the Christians’ Christmas on December 25?  Was this a ploy of the Jews to minimize if not prevent conversion from Judaism to Christianity?  There were Jews who had converted and embraced Christianity.  So holding such celebration could be similar to the Christian’s appropriation of the Pagan’s festivity of Saturnalia during the winter solstice and renaming the festival as Christmas. 

What is emphasized on the celebration of Hanukkah?  Is the focus on the dedication of the Temple or the relighting of the Temple Eternal Light?  Could the Jews celebrate the “feast of the dedication” even though there is no more Temple to commemorate?  Wasn’t the Temple been destroyed and replaced by another on Mount  Moriah?

The Jewish feast of the dedication was first held when the temple that king Solomon built was dedicated.  It happened on the 15^th day of the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.  1 Kings 8:2 states: “And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.”  2 Chronicle 5:3 reaffirms this, to wit: “Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.”  The rest of the chapter and chapters 6 and 7 were details of the event.

The feast of the dedication used to be celebrated on the 15^th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar.  During the time of Jesus, it occurred on:

Adar 15, 3757 = March 11, 4 BC
Adar 15, 3758 = March 1, 3 BC
Adar 15, 3759 = February 19, 2 BC
Shevat 15, 3760 = February 8, 1 BC

The Jewish months of Shevat and Adar are winter months, so is the Gregorian month of February.

John 10:22-23 state: “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.”  So the feast occurred in winter.  Not on the seventh month of Tishri in the lunisolar calendar but in a winter month.  This must have occurred on Shevat 15, 3760 or February 15, 1 BC.  This date is a winter date, isn’t it?

As I have been asserting, the Jews were using two kinds of calendars during the time of Jesus: a lunisolar calendar for civil usage that starts in the month of Tishri and a purely lunar calendar for the Passover Festival (Pesach), the feast of the dedication, and New Moon Festival with twelve months only in a lunar year and numbered 1 to 12.  The first day of the lunar year in the religious calendar during those times occurred on:

Elul 1, 3756 = September 1, 5 BC
Elul 1, 3757 = August 21, 4 BC
Elul 1, 3758 = August 10, 3 BC
Av 1, 3759 = July 31, 2 BC
Av 1, 3760 = July 19, 1 BC

Hillel II a.k.a. Hillel ben Yehudah reformed the Hebrew calendar in 358/359 AD to its form today.  He incorporated those festivities in the lunar calendar into the lunisolar calendar.  The wandering Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were fixed on Nisan 14-21.  The Feast of the Dedication was changed to Hanukkah and celebrated on Kislev 25.  The New Moon Festival (Rosh Hodesh) held every month became a minor festival.  Why?  Because, the Jews, especially in the Diaspora, were mainly using the Julian solar calendar instead of the Hebrew lunar and lunisolar calendars.  Aren’t these logically correct?

File:  004-hanukkah.htm     URL:  http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/004-hanukkah.htm
First uploaded:  2009-09-06     Last updated:  2009-09-07     Rev. No. 1

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.

The visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

THE VISIT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TO ELIZABETH^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

 The archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would give birth to a son to be named Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).  The Annunciation must have happened on August 17, 34 BC, a Saturday.  For a birth on May 23 (revealed and proven to be correct), her first day of menstruation should be August 17 which is also the day when Jesus was crucified and died in 1 BC. 

A few days later, she left Nazareth “and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah” (Luke 1:39).   According to Pasiong Mahal, page 18a, her espoused husband Joseph accompanied her, to wit: “Nang malibang ilang araw, kay Mariang naisipan paroo’t siya’y dumalaw, sa kaniyang buong-pinsan, buntis na anim na buwan.  Lumakad kapagkaraka ang Poong Birhen Maria, si San Hosep ang kasama at ang kanilang pinunta kabundukan ng Judea.” (After a few days, Mary thought that she would visit her first cousin who was six months pregnant.  The Blessed Virgin Mary immediately left accompanied by Saint Joseph for the hill country of Judea.”).  Why did she decide with haste to see her old and barren cousin Elizabeth?

Joseph and Mary left Sunday, August 25, after the following week’s Sabbath day.  After walking for three days, they reached the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Ein Kerem, a part of Hebron (El Khalil).  The village of Ein Kerem, according to Theodosius (AD 530), is five miles from Jerusalem and is mentioned by name in the Jerusalem Calendar (dated before AD 638) as the place of a festival on August 28 in memory of Elizabeth meeting her cousin Mary.

Joseph and Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months (Luke 1:56 states: “And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.”).  Pasiong Mahal on page 19a states: “Nang ito’y maipagsulit ng Inang Birheng marikit doo’y hindi na umalis, hanggang sa hindi sumapit, dalawang buwang mahigit.” (“After the beautiful Virgin Mother had said this, she did not leave after more than two months.”)  They stayed until she had given birth, to a son, on November 18, 34 BC (Kislev 11, 3729), six months before Jesus was born on May 23, 33 BC.  The child was circumcised on his eighth day in accordance with Jewish tradition and was named John on November 25.  Only after the naming ceremony was Zechariah able to speak again (Luke 1:57-79). 

Joseph and Mary left the next day which is “about three months” (Holy Bible), and “more than two months” (Pasiong Mahal), since they arrived on August 28  .  Why did they stay this long at Hebron?  Foremost, she wanted to verify that her old and barren cousin Elizabeth would really give birth to a son and a human being as announced to her by Archangel Gabriel.  Secondly, they could be of assistance to Elizabeth’s giving birth to her only child.  And thirdly, they lived far away; it took them about three days to walk from Nazareth.

After the verification and naming, they left for their home in Nazareth because winter is about to set in and it would be rainy and cold on the way.  All this time (August 28-November 26) that Mary was in Hebron, Joseph was with her.  She would not have flirted with any of the locals since she had with her her espoused husband and she really would like to remain chaste even though she lived with Joseph.

Today, 2009-09-03, I thought that John the Baptist was circumcised and named on November 25 because it is the day the Holy Spirit told us, His listeners, to bless the children called “Blessing of the Children”.  We actually do not know why on this date.  Today, I believe I found the reason why, and consequently, when John was born—November 18, 34 BC.

 

Other information:

Hebron is a city of Judah, 30 km south of Jerusalem.  It is 930 m or 3050 ft above sea level.  Ein Kerem (also spelled as Ain Karim meaning “Spring of the Vineyard”) was a part of Hebron.  Its coordinates are 31°45′55”N 35°8′58”E.  This is where John the Baptist was born, according to Christian tradition, hence, many churches and monasteries have been built here and have attracted Christian pilgrims.

Among the churches are two by the same name, Church of St. John the Baptist.  One is by the Roman Catholic built in the second half of the 19^th and the other, by the Eastern Orthodox built in 1894.  Both are remnants of ancient churches.  The Catholic church is mentioned in the Book of the Demonstration by Eutychius of Alexandria (AD 940) which states: “The church of Bayt Zakariya in the district of Aelia bears witness to the visit of Mary to her kinswoman Elizabeth.”

 

Summary of notable findings:

1.  John the Baptist was born on November 18, 34 BC.
2.  John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus.  Jesus was born on May 23, 33 BC.  May 23 was revealed by the Holy Spirit and I was able to prove that it is true and correct in 2006.
3.  John the Baptist was circumcised and named on November 25, 34 BC.
4.  The Holy Spirit instructed us to bless the children on November 25 which is called “Blessing of the Children”.
5.  The Blessed Virgin Mary was accompanied by Joseph, her espoused husband, on this trip to the hill country of Judea.  She could not have travelled by herself. 
6.  They left Nazareth on Sunday, August 25, 34 BC, after the regular weekly Saturday Sabbath.
7.  They travelled on foot for three days and reached Elizabeth’s place on August 28, 34 BC.  The place is more than 100 km (60 miles) from Nazareth.
8.  The place where Elizabeth lived is called Ain Karim or Ein Kerem where a festival is held on August 28 dating since the seventh century AD that commemorates the meeting of Elizabeth and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
9.  Joseph and Mary stayed at Elizabeth’s place for almost three months (Luke 1:56).  In Pasiong Mahal, it is more than two months.

 

File:  036-visit.htm     URL:  http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/036-visit.htm
First uploaded:  2009-09-03     Last updated:  2009-09-05     Rev. No. 1

Copyright © 2009 Aristeo Canlas Fernando
All rights reserved.