SIGHTED MOON ORIGINS
HEBREW ROOTS RESEARCH BY LEW WHITE
Why Many Teachers Use Moon Crescents
The sliver (crescent) of light on the Moon indicates the fully-built first day
of the month, and confirms the second day is building.
The Islamic method and the Karaite method both use a sighted-Moon crescent. Anan, the founder of the Karaites, adopted the sighted-Moon crescent in the year 767 while he was under arrest for rebellion. The Islamic Caliph in Babylon spared his life after Anan explained this was the basis of his rebellion, and this division between the Orthodox and Karaite sects has persisted to this day. The confusion among our teachers over many things has caused bitterness and raging hatred over petty misunderstandings.
Crescent Moon Symbols - Saharonim
The Word of Yahuah never mentions "crescent" or "sliver" in regard to sighting the Moon in the sky, but there are "ornaments" called saharonim that are still in common use on camels.
They are mentioned at Judges 8:21 in this translation:
"Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, 'Rise you, and fall on us: for as the man
is, so is his strength.' And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took
away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks."
The word Saharonim (Judges 8:21, Is. 3:18) describes the
ornaments on the camels of foreigners, not Yahuah's people.
The first fully-built day of a moon appears in the western sky as a crescent of
light. Many are guided by teachers to identify this sliver of light as the
beginning of the first day of a moon, or New Moon.
Scripture never says the New Moon is "sighted," but certain sects did develop a procedure that involved the sighting by two witnesses, and this is believed to be correct by many today.
The source of this is from the Mishnah, not the Torah.
Is there a word for "crescent" or "sliver" found in the Hebrew text?
The ornaments on the camels owned by heathens are the only mention.
When is the New Moon?
The
"older brother" has thousands of years' experience with this, yet newcomers
think they know better.
The new moon is 15 days before the full moon,
and is a planet-wide occurrence. Because there are 24 time zones, individual
locations experience the beginning of the first day of the moon at 24 different
times, adding to the confusion about what to look for. Add to this the
Karaite "sighted moon" rebellion that started in 767 CE,
and we have an enormous job of explaining to do.
SKIP TO KARAITE INFLUENCE ON THE CRESCENT SIGHTING
TRADITION
We are Yahusha’s body. Tradition is like an infection in the body.
Once established and untreated, it spreads to infect the whole body. If you
research every word of Scripture, you will not find the term “crescent”.
Scripture mentions the new moon, and the full
moon. It is assumed the new moon is “sighted” by some means in the western sky
at sunset, and was used to mark the beginning of each month. Is this really
true?
Rather than following tradition, we need Truth.
Truth is the mortal enemy of tradition. Traditions are defended with great
enthusiasm and are hotly defended when challenged, or exposed as originating in
pagan customs. Traditions have origins, and it is important to track those
origins to their source.
If a teaching is not found in Scripture, why should it be practiced as
if it were there?
The pre-Islamic moon deity called Allah is symbolized by a crescent moon and
star. The origin comes from the Hindu culture, and the worship of Shiva. It
reached the Middle East in the 2nd century BCE by the "SILK ROAD" trade route
from India.
The crescent moon was also venerated in the Egyptian culture with the moon below
a solar disc. Because Christianity sprang from Alexandria Egypt, these objects
in the sky were also adopted for veneration.
In the photo above, the monstrance held by a pope shows a crescent moon below
the circular sun-disc .
The sighted-moon became important to a new sect that split-away from
Rabbinical Judaism in the 7th century.
Today they are called Karaites, and many Natsarim are being influenced by what
they teach, propelled by Natsarim teachers.
Yahusha guides us into all Truth, opening our minds to the way He sees
teachings. He purifies our minds from outside sources, most especially the
worship of anything in the heavens above, on the arets, or in the waters under
the arets.
How do these things sneak up on us so easily? The sheep listen to voices other than their own Shepherd.
He is coming, we must be awake and ready for Him.
INTOLERANCE TO THE POINT OF DEATH
Variations from established beliefs or customs within Christianity, Rabbinic Yahudaism,
Islam, and Marxism have been punished with excommunication or death.
Islam is divided between Sunni and Shia, and their differences have inflamed a deadly conflict that’s lasted over 1300 years.
Christianity is split six ways to Sunday (thousands of sects).
The first main schism was in 1054 when the Eastern and Western Catholic bishops excommunicated one another,
resulting in a pope and a patriarch. Both
titles mean father. Each considers the other a heretic,
In 1517, a Catholic priest & professor of theology nailed 95 theses to the door of “All Saint’s Church” in Wittenburg, Germany.
Luther’s call for reformation quickly caused the pope’s headship to become wounded to death.
Nobility protested his office being the head of the Catholic Church.
Since 1541,
Jesuits have pursued the healing of this “head-wound” by all means, and their
latest efforts are through “ecumenism.”
Authorizing violence against those holding close beliefs seems unthinkable.
Knowing the division is caused by the dragon, we can unite against our common
enemy,
and love one another in spite of our differences.
Anan Ben Daud is widely believed to be the founder of the Karaite Sect.
In the mid-8th century CE under Islamic rule, he started a movement which broke away from Rabbinical Judaism.
It was Anan’s hope to become the head Rabbi, but he was passed-over by his younger brother who held more closely to the Torah and “oral law,” the traditions of the fathers.
Still, Anan’s followers installed him in the position of “exilarch.”
The Caliph Al-Mansur viewed this argument as rebellion, and arrested Anan in 767, and set his execution date.
While in prison, Anan met an Islamic teacher who
gave him advice that saved his life.
Anan was to establish a new religious sect.
ANAN’S DOCTRINAL ARGUMENTS
Rabbinical “Yahudaism” is not perfect by a long-shot. Anan did not agree with the oral law, but held only to Torah.
He was also correct about the count to Shabuoth (Pentecost) falling on the 1st day of the week each year.
To save his life, Anan had to have radically different ideas to prove to the Caliph that his religion was “different” from Rabbinical Yahudaism.
With his life hanging in the balance, a seminal moment came to him that made the Caliph very pleased with him: he announced that he differed from the Rabbinical religion’s views concerning the new moon day to set the festivals by.
Anan
stated that the “sighting” of the new moon was the only way to establish a new
moon day, and this was the pivotal issue that changed the mind of the Caliph.
Islam’s most prominent symbol is the crescent moon, Shiva's symbol.
They begin their moons
according to the
sighting
of the crescent moon at sunset,
but Rabbinical Yahudaism
has never done this.
WHICH IS CORRECT, AND WHY?
Neither Anan or the Rabbinical Yahudim understood the festivals symbolize Yahusha’s redemption plan.
To determine when the new moon begins, we look to when things changed.
Yahusha observed
the festivals the same as the rest of His nation all around Him, so we can be
sure that any departure from His pattern occurred later. That departure came
when Anan introduced the
sighted-moon
rather than the dark moon as the new moon.
Anan and the Karaite sect after him considered Rabbinical Yahudaim to be their doctrinal enemy as much as Luther’s reformation considered the pope to be “anti-Christ.”
We know our enemy is not flesh and blood, and when we hate we do the will of the dragon.
The dragon knows false teachings are only a means to an end. The dragon is not too concerned about which side is right, as long as there is division and strife that produces the desired outcome: hate.
The one who can love another person rather than hating them is resisting the
dragon.
Yahusha looks upon the heart, and knows the motives behind our words and actions.
He looks beyond the details, and sees into the heart of every person. We are responsible for the Truth when we hear it, so how we behave based on what we know is open to Yahusha’s full gaze.
If we are wrong, we can be forgiven.
When we hate, cause division and strife, or judge others we only do the will of the dragon.
The goal is love, and Yahusha told us to
forgive
one another as we have been forgiven.
Throughout history, the CRESCENT MOON symbol was of utmost importance to every rebellious form of worship, going back to represent the Hindu deity Shiva, the destroyer.
See book: Who Is Allah? The Hindu Connection
“Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the new moon, At the full moon, on our
festival yom.”
Ps 81:3 BYNV
Beginning in the 1st century CE, Gnostic teachings
from the east invaded “the Levant” - the eastern Mediterranean
area, or Middle East.
Those who are familiar with witchcraft know about the popular image of the “goddess” with upward-lifting arms depicting the crescent moon.
Pre-Islamic Arabs embraced this crescent symbol.
SIGHTED-MOON, OR CALCULATED?
One of the Karaites’ arguments with Rabbinical
observance is how the new moon must not be
calculated,
but rather should be
observed.
Waiting until the light builds on the face of the moon so a sliver is seen,
and then counting 15 days to a festival, a sliver of light is missing from the full moon’s face. The full moon occurs on the 14th day for those beginning with the sighted moon.
The Karaites claim they hold only to the Torah (inspired Word),
yet there is no trace found
in Torah of anyone being told to “see” a crescent
phase on the moon,
nor anyone ever doing it.
Scripture tells us the
full moon
coincides with the
arrival of the festival of Sukkoth, Ps 81:3:
“Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the new
moon, At the full moon, on our festival yom.”
1Sam 20 verses 5 & 6 inform us there was a
yearly slaughtering for the clan on the day of the
new moon,
most likely the 7th moon, and Daud
knew when the new moon was
before
seeing a
“sliver” or a sighted-moon:
“And Daud said to Yahunathan, ‘See, tomorrow is the New Moon,
and I ought to sit with the sovereign to eat.
But let me go, and I shall hide in the field until the third yom at evening.
If your father misses me at all, then you shall say,
‘Daud earnestly
asked my permission to run over to Beyth Lekem,
his city, for a yearly slaughtering is made there for all the clan.’”
From this evidence, we know
the sighted-moon came from outside Scripture.
From the Sumerians, the pagan worship of the host of heaven (zodiac, zoo animal forms in constellations) spread its infection to the far east. Hinduism reflects the pattern, taught through Gurus - spiritual guides who taught "4-levels" of interpretation, inherited into KABBALAH.
The dragon deceived all the people
of the planet; Persians, Tyrians, Kananites, Egyptians,
Greeks, Romans,
Aztecs, etc., and continues to spread
poisoned teachings (and human sacrifices) all around
the Earth.
WORSHIP OF THE HOST OF HEAVEN
The host of heaven were worshipped by means of sex.
Sexual compatibility is well-preserved even today as it expresses itself in Astrology.
The “signs” of the zodiac at the time of one’s birth are used to predict
and evaluate
a
person’s future according to the position of the sun,
moon, and constellations.
The whole Earth is infected with traditions from Babel, being drunk from the cup of the Mother of Harlots.
The pre-Islamic Arabs worshipped 360 sky-deities, one of which was the “greatest” called “Allah.”
Allah is represented by the crescent moon, and was the most favored of all deities by Muhammad’s clan. The 360 deities means the Kaaba was originally a Hindu shrine dedicated to the worship of the host of heaven.
Many Hindu shrines use the crescent and star as symbols of Shiva, the destroyer.
SYMBOLS OF ALLAH AND HIS DAUGHTERS
The symbol for Allah and Islam is the crescent moon and star.
The three daughters of Allah are symbolized with other aspects involving the moon.
The moon and star symbol has sexual significance to those who
have
studied their sensual meaning within Hinduism.
The crescent & star are components of the AUM symbol.
In the Quran, the three daughters of Allah were Al-Uzza, Al-Lat, & Manat. They were mentioned in the “satanic verses” which later were expunged.
Ever since, Islamic teachers have worked to explain how the pre-Islamic Allah is different from the Allah who has no daughters. Whenever a deity is depicted by any object in in the skies, it’s a big clue there’s a connection to Babel. Wicca uses the symbol for Allah’s daughters (shown above).
Yahuah, the Maker of heaven and Earth, never told us to represent Him
with a crescent moon and star. That much is a striking difference.
As Christians come out of Babel’s rebellious system of adopted fertility feasts and learn Torah observance, many come under the teachings of Messianic leaders who coach them in how the moon works.
The majority of these teachers inherited their understanding of the sighted-moon from men who taught them to observe the festivals.
Just like the Karaites, they believe their understanding of the moon is a more accurate method than the Rabbinical pattern. We have to concede that not all things we have inherited from Rabbinical Yahudaism are flawed, but only certain things. The week, the Shabath, the new moon, the Ten Commandments, and the Living Words of Scripture have been faithfully preserved for us.
We are not responsible for the Talmud, the clothing, the kipa, and any other signs of membership not ordered by Yahuah’s inspired Word.
Rabbinical Yahudaism was Paul’s “former way of life” (Gal 1:13),
which added traditions of men. In spite of this fact, Stephen told the Sanhedrin (at Acts 7:38) they received the “Living Words” to give to us.
Some sighted-moon teachers have been heralding the omen of the “4
blood moons.”
That’s very interesting, because they cannot tell (calculate) when the next new
moon is until they
SEE it’s sliver, so how could they possibly know when a lunar eclipse will occur
years away?
If
calculating
the new moon is so wrong to them,
why do they publish
printed calendars
in advance of their
sighted-moon slivers
every year?
They criticize others for what they also do, but we have to love them.
Yahusha told us to not be like the world, seeking positions of authority over
others,
or to imitate the heathens’ methods in the worship of Him (Dt. 18:9, YirmeYahu
10, Dt. 12).
Dt. 12:30-32:
“Guard yourself that you are not
ensnared to follow them, after they are
destroyed from before you, and that you do not
inquire about their mighty ones, saying,
‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones?
And let me do so too.’ Do not do so to Yahuah
your Alahim, for every abomination which
Yahuah hates they have done to their mighty
ones, for they even burn their sons and
daughters in the fire to their mighty ones.
All the words I am commanding you, guard to do
it – do not add to it nor take away from it.”
BYNV
At 1 Cor. 1, Paul explained how Yahuah chose the weak and despised ones of this world to put to shame the powerful ones in their crimes against Him.
We should all live and teach in humility as we learn what is pleasing to Yahuah.
Those teaching against the Commandments are powerful, loud, and boastful.
They repeat
maxims
(guiding principles)
not found in Scripture to program hearts with false
ideas.
Paul uses Yahuah’s words to contrast this,
“He who boasts, let him boast in Yahuah.”
In our vessels, we possess the Mind of Yahusha.
His Mind allows us to share His thoughts, and we are able to discern those
among ourselves who also possess the same Spirit of Yahusha within them.
They are not loud and filled with strife, but rather gentle and patient.
None of us have any right to boast or claim uprightness, so our lips do not
condemn one another, we build-up one another.
Whatever understanding we have was given to us, so we must not boast as if we did not receive it (1Cor. 4:7).
Our lives are our message, and our words are the words of Yahusha as He pleads through us as ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20) to call out to the lost.
RESTORATION, NOT REFORMATION:
2Co 5:18-21:
“And all matters are from Alahim,
Who has restored us to favor with Himself
through Yahusha Mashiak, and has given us the
service of restoration to favor, that is, that
Alahim was in Mashiak restoring the world to
favor unto Himself, not reckoning their trespass
es to them, and has committed to us the word of restoration to favor.
Therefore we are envoys on behalf of Mashiak, as though Alahim were pleading through us.
We beg, on behalf of Mashiak: Be restored to favor with Alahim.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Alahim.”
We don’t reform Babel, we come out of her.
For the present, all we can do is have discernment.
Being better than other people is not our objective,
but rather becoming a vessel through which Yahusha
can reach the lost, wherever they may be found.
When we compare and rank ourselves relative to
others, Yahusha knows our inner thoughts.
Either we are the Pharisee standing in the Hekal
proud of his standing above others, or we are the
broken publican in the back pleading for Yahuah’s
loving-kindness for our crimes against Him.
We live our lives being one or the other.
Behave as Yahusha would, and He will declare,
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Bear His fruits.
We can recognize the shared Mind of Yahusha in each of those belonging to Him.
LOVE IS OUR HALLMARK
1 KORINTHIANS 13 -
LOVE!
"If
I speak with the tongues of men and of
malakim, but do not have love, I have become
as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophecy, and know all secrets
and all knowledge, and if I have all belief,
so as
to remove mountains, but do not have love,
I am none at all.
And if I give out all my possessions to feed the
poor, and if I give my body to be burned,
but do
not have love, I am not profited at all.
Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked reckons not the evil, does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the Truth;
it covers all, believes all, expects
all, endures all.
Love never fails. And if there be prophecies, they shall be inactive;
or tongues, they shall
cease; or knowledge, it shall be inactive.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then
that which is in part shall be inactive.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought
as a child, I reasoned as a child.
But when I
became a man, I did away with childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as
I also have been known.
And now belief, expectation, and love remain – these three.
But the greatest of these is love.”
BYNV
If we abide (live, walk) in Yahusha’s Word, we are truly His talmidim (students).
We will be set free from strongholds (false reasonings).
If we accept everything we hear without testing all things, we can inherit false understandings.
“If
a ruler listens to lying words,
All his servants become wrong.”
Proverbs 29:12
External signs of membership reveal that we are fleshly
in our walk. Eye-service is hypocrisy.
You can take off your kipa, and put on love.
Reverence to
tradition
grows stronger with each generation.
Many
traditions
come from
eastern mysticism
expressed in Hinduism.
PLEASE DON'T USE THIS INFORMATION TO SERVE THE DRAGON
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The Hebrew was the main source used for accurately conveying word meanings, expressions, and transliterating names and other words.
No small number of former translations were consulted, but a great cloud of them for their best parts, leaving aside the unclear or out-right erroneous elements. This Besorah Of Yahusha is not based on the former one in any way; the only thing that I consulted from that version was my own preface material, which was the extent of my involvement in that effort. The Hebrew text, and to some extent the Greek RT for the Natsarim Writings, were the sources that resolved difficult passages, and settled the vocalization difficulties. For example, the word Caesar is not in the Hebrew, but is in the Greek. In this new Besorah Of Yahusha, it is transliterated "Kaisar" as it originally appears in the text. The text consulted for this included the Kohlenberger Interlinear Hebrew-English, Hendrickson's Interlinear Hebrew-English.
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WHO IS ALLAH? THE HINDU CONNECTION