Sunday, November 5, 2017

The Biblical Weekly Cycle of Seven

Overview


According to the laws of Moses the Israelites were to track time using a week of seven days and years grouped in a seven year cycle.  I believe our Father in Heaven asked that this be done so that the weekly cycle of seven would never be broken and there is proof that this cycle was never broken.  Even though the names of the days of the week were changed and our calendar did change, the cycle of seven was not interrupted.  I will explain how this is possible below.


Jesus’ Resurrection is Celebrated on Sunday

It is tradition to celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Sunday and that tradition was started right after Jesus was crucified.  Based on my research I have found that the Sabbath day is a ‘day of rest’ and was never intended to be a church day.  I wrote more about the Sabbath day of rest here.  Sunday was the day that congregation met and they named that day ‘the Lord’s day’ because that was the day that Mary discovered that Jesus’ tomb was empty and that Jesus had risen.

And in the end of the sabbath [Abib 18], when it began to dawn towards the first day [Abib 19] of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men. And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid.”  DR Matthew 28:1-6

And on the first day [Abib 19] of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.” DR Luke 24:1-2

And on the first day [Abib 19] of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” DR John 20:1-2

Today Jesus’ resurrection is always celebrated on Sunday since that is the first day of the week when Mary found the tomb empty and Jesus appeared to them.  This day is traditionally called ‘Easter Sunday’ for this reason.  Church’s today do not celebration Christ’s resurrection on the correct date but they do hold to the tradition of celebrating his resurrection on Sunday.  On a proper calendar, such as Enoch’s or the Jubilee calendars, Abib 19 must be on the first day of the week now called Sunday.  The seven day weekly cycle has not been broken since the time of Christ’s resurrection and probably has not been broken since creation.  When the current Gregorian calendar, also called New Style, was implemented this seven day cycle was not broken since Wednesday, 2 September 1752, was followed by Thursday, 14 September 1752. America adopted the New Style calendar while a colony of the British Empire.  The dates on a proper calendar should always be, as follows:

  • Abib 13 – Monday - The Last Supper
  • Abib 14 – Tuesday - Passover and Christ’s crucifixion (He was placed in the tomb just before the dawn of the 15th which was Unleavened Bread)
  • Abib 18 – Sabbath or Saturday - Christ’s Resurrection (after 3 days and 3 nights in tomb Luke 24:46)
  • Abib 19 – Sunday, the 1st day of the week - Mary finds the tomb empty and later that day Christ appears and shows that he was resurrected.


Here is how the events are shown on the Enoch and Jubilees calendar:


Kyriaki is the Lord’s Day in the Bible

In this article I refer to Sunday as ‘the Lord’s day’ since this is the wording in our bibles; however the words used in the original ancient Greek was ‘Kyriakí day’ and I do not think this word is being properly translated.  The word Kyriaki is derived from  κύριος - kurios which was translated to the word ‘Lord’ 626 times in the New Testament.  Κύριος was also translated to Lord in the Septuagint version of the bible that was written 400 years earlier than the New Testament. Kyriaki or kyriakós is an adjective meaning ‘belonging to the Lord’.  Kyriakós is used in reference to ‘the Lord’s Supper’ and ‘the Lord’s day’ being Sunday. 

In this verse the word Kyriakós is used in reference to eating Jesus’ supper that was done on Sundays when they met together:

When you come therefore together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord's supper.” 1 Cor 11:20

Συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν [belonging to the Lord] δεῖπνον φαγεῖν.”  1 Cor 11:20

The Latin Vulgate has a Latin version of the word Kyriakós which is Dominicam and that was used in their language of the bible:

“convenientibus ergo vobis in unum iam non est dominicam [belonging to the Lord] cenam manducare” 1 Cor 11:20

In this verse the words ‘Lord’s day’ or Kyriakós are used and confirm that Jesus came to John with the revelation on a Sunday:

I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet” DR Rev 1:10

Ἐγενόμην ἐν πνεύματι ἐν τῇ κυριακῇ (Lord’s) ἡμέρᾳ·(day) καὶ ἤκουσα φωνὴν ὀπίσω μου μεγάλην ὡς σάλπιγγος” Rev 1:10 Also see Strong’s interlineal http://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/1-10.htm

fui in spiritu in dominica (Lord’s) die (day) et audivi post me vocem magnam tamquam tubae” Rev 1:10

John did know the difference between the Sabbath and Kyriakós since here he uses the word Sabbath.  The English, Greek and Latin versions all reflect the word Sabbath.

“Now it was the sabbath, when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.” DR John 9:14

Ἦν δὲ σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. BR John 9:14 Also see Strong’s interlineal http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/9-14.htm

“autem sabbatum quando lutum fecit Iesus et aperuit oculos eius” LV John 9:14

1st Century Use of the Lord’s Day

In the Teachings of the Twelve Apostles written in the first century and is called the Didache, it confirms that the ‘Lord’s day’ was when the early congregations assembled:

But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.”  Didache 14:1

The Didache also confirms the use of the word ‘preparation’ as a named day of the week:

But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week; but do ye fast on the fourth day and the Preparation [Friday].” Didache 8:1

Greek & Latin Week Days

The table below reflects the ancient names for the week days.  In about 321 AD, Constantine instituted that the days be named as they are today; the days were named after planets and prior to this only some places used planet names.  Notice that both Greek and Latin have a word for ‘the day of the Lord’ and a different word that is used for the Sabbath day.  The Greeks reflects that called Friday preparation day since that is the day you would prepare for the Sabbath day.


English
Ancient Greek
Latin
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
1
Sunday
Κυριακή -Kyriakí
Lord’s day  κύριος (kýrios, Lord)
Sun
2
Monday
Δευτέρα -Deftéra
second
Moon
3
Tuesday
Τρίτη - Tríti
third

4
Wednesday
Τετάρτη -Tetárti
forth

dīēs Mercuriī
Mercury
5
Thursday
Πέμπτη -Pémpti
fifth
6
Friday
Παρασκευή –Paraskeví
preparation day
‘day before Sabbath or Feast Day’
Venus
7
Saturday
Σάββατο -Sávvato
sábbaton – Sabbath
Sabbath
Saturn 'to sow'

So even though the names of the weeks were changed the cycle was not broken.

Also see:

The Biblical Week

Our bible does reflect that the week has always been seven days and that the seventh day is a ‘day of rest’.   Here are the definitions of the word day and week:

English
Ancient Greek
Latin
Block Hebrew
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
Day
μέρα - méra
ημέρα - iméra
Solar or sidereal day, daylight
Hot or warm hours
Week
εβδομάδα - evdomáda
From ἕβδομος - hébdomos, seventh,
A group of 7 days or years
ebdomadarum
Change, turn, week, group of seven
Group of 7 days or years


Genesis

Our Father in Heaven used a seven day week to create our world and then rested on the seventh day that day was later named the Sabbath day.

And God blessed the seventh [εβδόμη – évdomos, seventh] day [ημέρα –iméra - daylight] and sanctified it, because in it he ceased from all his works which God began to do.” Gen 2:3  


The Latin and block Hebrew versions of the bible also a confirm seven day week with the seventh day being a holy day:

“et benedixit diei [daytime] septimo [seventh] et sanctificavit illum quia in ipso cessaverat ab omni opere suo quod creavit Deus [God] ut faceret” LV Gen 2:3

“And he blessed the seventh [shebii or shebiith, seventh] day [yom, day] and sanctified it: because in it he had rested from all his work which God [Elohim]created and made.” DR Gen 2:3

Exodus Confirms the Seven Day Week Cycle

 The laws of Moses confirm a seven day week with the seventh day being a day of rest:

“Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh [εβδόμη – évdomos, seventh] day thou shalt rest: there shall be rest in seed-time and harvest [αμητώ-amén, form of amen, to fulfill]. And thou shalt keep to me the feast [εορτήν-giortí, celebration] of weeks [εβδομάδων, evdomáda, week], the beginning of wheat [πυρών-purôn,  watchfires or puron corn or wheat] –harvest [θερισμού-therízo, reap, cut] and the feast of ingathering in the middle of the year [ενιαυτού - eniautós, year].” Exo 34:21-22


The Latin and block Hebrew versions of the same verses confirm the seven day week cycle:

“sex diebus operaberis die septimo cessabis arare et metere sollemnitatem ebdomadarum [hebdomada, seven or week] facies tibi in primitiis frugum [crop or produce] messis [harvest] tuae triticeae [wheat root word grind] et sollemnitatem [solemnity or ceremony] quando redeunte anni [year] tempore cuncta conduntur” LV Exo 34:21-22

“Six days shalt thou work, the seventh [shebiith: seventh] day thou shalt cease to plough, and to reap. Thou shalt keep the feast of weeks [shabua: a period of seven] with the firstfruits of the corn of thy wheat [uncertain, grain or the plant] harvest, and the feast when the time of the year returneth that all things are laid in.” DR Exo 34:21-22

Feast of Weeks Confirms Seven Day Week Cycle

The countdown to the Feast of Weeks that is also called Pentecost confirms a seven day cycle of seven weeks is used to count the number of day from the Wave Sheaf feast that is also called First Fruits. Therefore they had to keep track of the week days to ensure that the Feast of Weeks is celebrated the correct day.  The picture of the calendar above does show seven weeks between First Fruits and the Feast of Weeks.

 “And ye shall number to yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day on which ye shall offer the sheaf of the heave-offering, seven full weeks: until the morrow after the last week ye shall number fifty days, and shall bring a new meat-offering to the Lord.” Lev 23:15-16

Seven weeks shalt thou number to thyself; when thou hast begun to put the sickle to the corn, thou shalt begin to number seven weeks. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks to the Lord thy God, accordingly as thy hand has power in as many things as the Lord thy God shall give thee.” Deu 16:9-10

The Year of Jubilee Confirms Seven Day and Year Cycle

The laws of Moses reflect that the Israelites were to keep track of years in increments of seven so that the Year of Jubilee could be proclaimed:

And thou shalt reckon to thyself seven sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and they shall be to thee seven weeks of years, nine and forty years.  In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall make a proclamation with the sound of a trumpet in all your land; on the day of atonement ye shall make a proclamation with a trumpet in all your land. And ye shall sanctify the year, the fiftieth year, and ye shall proclaim a release upon the land to all that inhabit it; it shall be given a year of release, a jubilee for you; and each one shall depart to his possession, and ye shall go each to his family.” Lev 25:8-10 

More information about the Jubilee Cycle is posted here https://kingdomhereamerica.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-jubilees.html

The Priestly Courses Tracked by Weeks

The priestly divisions, of the year, were created by King David and they are also known as courses.  These courses were tracked by the week.  King David’s priestly courses are described in 1 Chronicles chapter 24. The priestly courses were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls showing that the priestly courses rotated the weeks.  At the time Mary conceived Jesus the courses were still being followed as shown here in Luke:

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.”  DR Luke 1:5

The Book of Jubilees

The book of Jubilees does track time using a seven day week and a seven year cycle.  Here are a couple of examples from the book of Jubilees:

And in the third week in the second jubilee she gave birth to Cain, and in the fourth she gave birth to Abel, and in the fifth she gave birth to her daughter Awan. And in the first (year) of the third jubilee, Cain slew Abel because (God) accepted the sacrifice of Abel, and did not accept the offering of Cain.” Jubilees 4:1-3

And in the fifth year of the fourth week of this jubilee, in the third month, in the middle of the month, Abram celebrated the feast of the first-fruits of the grain harvest.” Jubilees 15:1-2

Daniel

During the time of Daniel they were tracking weeks:

 “Seventy weeks have been determined upon thy people, and upon the holy city, for sin to be ended, and to seal up transgressions, and to blot out the iniquities, and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy. And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; and then the time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted. And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations. And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.” Dan 9:24-27

Week Days for Offerings, Feast Days, & Fasts

Our Father in Heaven’s offering, feasts, fasts and work days were all organized for us from the beginning of time.  From week to week and year to year this organization must not be altered.

Sunday is the 1st Day of the Week isKyriakí day’ meaning ‘belonging to the Lord’.  This is the day that many today still bring their offers (or tithes) to their congregation with them.  Our congregations and churches are open for business collecting offerings.  It is a work day; however our work should be focused on our Father in Heaven, our congregation and family. These are the historical offerings and events that take place on this day of the week:
  • Feast of First Fruit (Wave Sheaf) offering (Lev 7:30)
  • Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) offering (Deu 16:10)
  • New Wine Offering (Dead  Sea Scrolls)
  • New Oil Offering (Dead  Sea Scrolls)
  • Wood Offering (Dead  Sea Scrolls)
  • Feast of Purim food offering & offerings left at the graves of their ancestors
  • The ‘Lord Super’, the breaking of bread together and giving thanks after confessing our sins. Each family would have contributed an offering of food for the meal.  (Didache see above)  It is the traditional family Sunday dinner.
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 


Monday is the 2nd day of the week and is considered a work day.  It is a day for the following:
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 
  • Jesus’ ‘Last Super’ was on this day.  Jesus and the apostles did perform their required responsibilities in preparation for Passover to be the following day. (Luke 22:9)


Tuesday is the 3rd day of the week and it is considered a work day.  It is for the following:
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 
  • The Passover feast is on a work day since it is a day of work preparing for Passover dinner and to prepare for the feast of Unleavened bread to be held the following day.   The Passover feast is not a feast of joy; therefore is not held on a Wednesday.  The Passover feast is to be eaten with bitter herbs so that we remember our bitter experience as slaves in Egypt. (Exo 12:8)  Now it is a day to remember that Christ was killed on Passover which was also a bitter experience when he became the Passover lamb.

Wednesday is the 4th day of the week and it is considered a work day.  This is the day the sun, moon, and stars were created.  This is the day that time began when the earth started rotating around the sun.  The quarterly seasons are celebrated on this day as the celebration of creating the solar system and time.  This is a work day however festivals of joy and gladness also occur on this day.  Festivals (feast days) are held on a work day since lots of work goes into cooking a big meal and other activities of celebration.  Offerings for feast day are also performed on this day.  Many congregations and churches still have an evening service on this day.

  • First day of Spring Festival where food offerings would be required (Jubilees)
  • The Feast of Unleavened bread begins and food offerings were required (Deu 16:16-17)
  • First day of Summer Festival where food offerings would be required (Jubilees)
  • First day of Fall Festival and the Feast of Trumpets where food offerings would be required (Jubilees)
  • The Feast of Tabernacles begins and food offerings were required (Deu 16:16-17)
  • The ‘Last Great Day’ of the Feast of Tabernacles where food offerings will be required
  • First day of Winter Festival where food offerings would be required (Jubilees)
  • The Feast of the Dedication where food offerings would be required
  • Fasting day (Didache, see above) They probably did not fast on feast day or they only fasted until late in the day when the meal was served.
  • Jesus’ ascension to heaven occurred this day
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 


Thursday is the 5th day of the week and it is considered a work day.  It is for the following:
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 


Friday is the 6th day of the week and it is also called ‘Preparation Day’.  It is for the following:
  • Tasks required in preparation for the Sabbath day.
  • The Day of Atonement fasting, resting and repenting
  • Fasting day (Didache, see above)
  • Work, chores and other responsibilities for the day. 


Saturday is the 7th day of the week called the Sabbath day and it is the day of rest.  Do nothing but rest during the day light hours.  During the evening you are to cook a meal. (Num 28:9-10)

For more information on the calendar, feast days and Sabbath see these pages:


Conclusion

Our Father in Heaven used the seven day week documented in Genesis chapter one over 7500 years before present.   The book of Jubilees tracks time all the way back to Adam using the week and year in cycles of seven.

The process of tracking the seven day week and years were given to Moses about 3450 years before present.  We can see proof that they tracked weeks for Feast of Weeks, the priestly courses and time in the book of Jubilees.

The Christian tradition of Kyriakí or the Lord ’s Day dates back to almost 2000 years ago when Mary found the Jesus’ tomb empty.  Therefore, this is a long established tradition to track weekly cycles of seven.  So it is very possible that the seven day week cycle was never broken.

This is why I believe that when using an Enoch or Jubilees calendar to track feast days it is very important the first day of the first Month of Abib must be a Wednesday.  The sun was created on the fourth day which is Wednesday on our current calendar.  When you put the first day of Abib on a Wednesday all of your calendar dates will be correctly placed and you will not have any conflicts with scripture.  This will ensure that Jesus’ resurrection celebration always falls on a Sunday which is the first day of the week. Both the book of Jubilees and Enoch concur that a year has 52 weeks. 
 

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