The Metonic cycle is a period of 19 years, after which the lunar phases recur at the same time of the year. The recurrence is not perfect, and by precise observation, the Metonic cycle defined as 235 synodic months is just 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 58 seconds longer than 19 tropical years. The lunar month is when the Moon completes one cycle of phases, from the New Moon to the New Moon. This cycle was found to be a nearly exact match for 19 solar years (19 years x 365.2422 days = 6939.6 days). It will drift by one day over time (approximately 200-300 years).

In my article, The Passage of Time (rev310.net), I wrote, “Mathematical calculations played a crucial role in developing and implementing the Metonic Cycle. These mathematical calculations determined the accuracy and duration of the Metonic Cycle. By aligning the solar and lunar calendars, the Metonic Cycle ensured that the phases of the moon and the seasons of the year remained synchronized. This synchronization was achieved by adding seven intercalary months (30 days) to the 19-year cycle, compensating for the fractional difference between the lunar and solar years. The mathematical genius behind the Metonic Cycle allowed for an accurate and practical calendar system.”

An embolismic year has 13 new moons (likewise 13 months) between two spring (meteorological) seasons, so instead of having the regular 353-355 days per year, it has 383-385 days per year. This occurs seven out of the 19 years of the Metonic cycle, approximately every two to three years. Regarding the Hebrew calendar, the rule to determine the first month of the new year should be the new moon that establishes Passover (Nisan 14-15) on or after the Vernal Equinox. The first month (Nisan) is the new moon closest to the Vernal Equinox, whether the new moon is before or after the Vernal Equinox (March 19-21).

In Deuteronomy 16:6, the LORD reiterated, “You shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt.” At the original Passover, in 1446 BC, God changed the Hebrew calendar’s start to be permanently anchored to the Passover when the children of Israel came out of Egypt.

“Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, you shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall you keep it” (Numbers 9:2-3). In my article, The Flaw in the Calculated Jewish Calendar (rev310.net), I wrote, “The appointed season was the beginning of spring. The sun still determined the season, as the calendar’s first month would always occur around the vernal equinox (the first day of the astronomical spring) when the early barley crops were abib or aviv. The new moon would still begin the months, and approximately 14-15 days later, when the moon was completely full, the Passover would begin. Thus, Passover is tied to the vernal equinox and the full moon.”

Most of the time (16 out of 19 years), the first new moon of meteorological spring (March 1 – May 31) is used for the year’s first month. Even when a lunar year is between two first new moons of spring, it can still be an embolismic (or intercalary) year. Let’s look at a recent example. The first new moon (conjunction) of spring in 2019 was on March 6 (the second one was on April 5). March 6 was the first month because the Passover (which comes on a full moon) falls after the Vernal Equinox (barely). The following year’s new moon was on March 24, 2020. March 24 is the first new moon of the meteorological spring season of 2020 (the second one was on April 23). From March 6, 2019, to March 24, 2020, is 384 days, an embolismic year.

It will always be an embolismic year when you go from the first new moon of spring to the following year’s second new moon of spring. However, it will always be a regular year when you go from the second new moon of spring to the following year’s first new moon of spring.

An interesting pattern emerges when you reckon the start of the new year by whether it begins on the first new moon of spring (must be on or after the start of meteorological spring – March 1) or if it begins on the second new moon of spring.

The pattern (which is consistent for hundreds of years) for the new moons of spring (whether the first or second new moon of spring) is seven (first new moons), one (second new moon), seven (first new moons), one (second new moon), two (first new moons), and one (second new moon) and then repeats continuously. After hundreds of years, the pattern of 7, 1, 7, 1, 2, 1 remains within the Metonic cycle, but the order within the pattern changes. See below.

The tables below contain two consecutive 19-year Metonic cycles. The sub-headings show the new moon conjunction dates (from Jerusalem) for the specified years and whether the new moon that starts the year is the first or second new moon of spring (meteorological), as reckoned by our “golden rule.” The table also shows the dates for the full moon of Passover and the Vernal Equinox dates for the specified years. Passover must be on or after the Vernal Equinox.

20-21ST CENTURY LUNAR MONTHS (Order of Pattern – 7, 1, 7, 1, 2, 1)

NEW MOON             FIRST OR SEC.           FULL MOON OF              VERNAL EQUINOX

DATE                          NEW MOON             THE PASSOVER                        DATE

19) Mar 19, 1996               First                       April  4, 1996                       Mar 20, 1996

1) ​  Mar   9, 1997                First                       Mar 24, 1997                       Mar 20, 1997

2)   Mar 28, 1998                First                       Apr  12, 1998                       Mar 21, 1998

3)   Mar 17, 1999                First                       April 1, 1999                       Mar 21, 1999

4)   Mar   6, 2000                First                       Mar 20, 2000                       Mar 20, 2000

5)   Mar 25, 2001                First                       April  8, 2001                       Mar 20, 2001

6)   Mar 14, 2002                First                       Mar 28, 2002                       Mar 21, 2002

7)   April  2, 2003                Second                  Apr 17, 2003                       Mar 21, 2003

8)   Mar 21, 2004                First                       April  5, 2004                       Mar 20, 2004

9)   Mar 10, 2005                First                       Mar 26, 2005                       Mar 20, 2005

10) Mar 29, 2006                First                      Apr  13, 2006                       Mar 21, 2006

11) Mar 19, 2007                First                      April  2, 2007                        Mar 21, 2007

12) Mar 7, 2008                  First                      May 22, 2008                        Mar 20, 2008

13) Mar 26, 2009                First                       April  9, 2009                       Mar 20, 2009

14) Mar 16, 2010                First                       Mar 30, 2010                       Mar 20, 2010

15) April  3, 2011                Second               Apr  18, 2011                       Mar 21, 2011

16) Mar 22, 2012                First                       April  7, 2012                       Mar 20, 2012

17) Mar 12, 2013                First                       Mar 27, 2013                       Mar 20, 2013

18) April  1, 2014                Second                 Apr  15, 2014                       Mar 20. 2014

19) Mar 20, 2015                First                       April  4, 2015                       Mar 21, 2015

1)   Mar   9, 2016                First                       Mar 23, 2016                       Mar 20, 2016

2)   Mar 28, 2017                First                       Apr  11, 2017                       Mar 20, 2017

3)   Mar 17, 2018                First                       Mar 31, 2018                       Mar 20, 2018

4)   Mar   6, 2019                First                       Mar 21, 2019                       Mar 21, 2019

5)   Mar 24, 2020                First                       April  8, 2020                       Mar 20, 2020

6)   Mar 13, 2021                First                       Mar 28, 2021                       Mar 20, 2021

7)   April  1, 2022                Second                 Apr  17, 2022                       Mar 20, 2022

8)   Mar 21, 2023                First                       April  6, 2023                       Mar 21, 2023

9)   Mar 10, 2024                First                       Mar 25, 2024                       Mar 20, 2024

10) Mar 29, 2025                First                       Apr  13, 2025                       Mar 20, 2025

11) Mar 19, 2026                First                       April  2, 2026                       Mar 20, 2026

12) Mar   8, 2027                First                       Mar 22, 2027                       Mar 21, 2027

13) Mar 26, 2028                First                       April  9, 2028                       Mar 20, 2028

14) Mar 15, 2029                First                       Mar 30, 2029                       Mar 20, 2029

15) April  3, 2030                Second                  Apr  18, 2030                       Mar 20, 2030

16) Mar 23, 2031                First                       April  7, 2031                       Mar 21, 2031

17) Mar 11, 2032                First                       Mar 27, 2032                       Mar 20, 2032

18) Mar 30, 2033                Second                 Apr  15, 2033                       Mar 20, 2033

19) Mar 20, 2034                First                      April  4, 2034                       Mar 20, 2034

1)   Mar 10, 2035                 First                     Mar 24, 2035                       Mar 21, 2035

25TH CENTURY LUNAR MONTHS (Order of Pattern – 7, 1, 2, 1, 7, 1)

19) Mar 22, 2433               First                        April  5, 2433                       Mar 20, 2433

1)   Mar 11, 2434                First                       Mar 25, 2434                       Mar 20, 2434

2)   Mar 30, 2435                First                       Apr  13, 2435                       Mar 21, 2435

3)   Mar 18, 2436                First                       April  2, 2436                       Mar 20, 2436

4)   Mar   7, 2437                First                       Mar 22, 2437                       Mar 20, 2437

5)   Mar 26, 2438                First                       Apr  10, 2438                       Mar 20, 2438

6)   Mar 15, 2439                First                       Mar 31, 2439                       Mar 21, 2439

7)   April  2, 2440                Second                  Apr 18, 2440                       Mar 20, 2440

8)   Mar 23, 2441                First                       April  7, 2441                       Mar 20, 2441

9)   Mar 13, 2442                First                       Mar 27, 2442                       Mar 20, 2442

10) April  1, 2443                Second                  Apr 15, 2443                       Mar 21, 2443

11) Mar 20, 2444                First                       April  3, 2444                       Mar 20, 2444

12) Mar   9, 2445                First                       Mar 24, 2445                       Mar 20, 2445

13) Mar 28, 2446                First                       Apr  12, 2446                       Mar 20, 2446

14) Mar 17, 2447                First                       April  1, 2447                       Mar 20, 2447

15) Mar   5, 2448                First                       Mar 21, 2448                       Mar 20, 2448

16) Mar 24, 2449                First                       April  8, 2449                       Mar 20, 2449

17) Mar 14, 2450                First                       Mar 28, 2450                      Mar 20, 2450

18) April  2, 2451                Second                  Apr  16, 2451                      Mar 20, 2451

19) Mar 21, 2452                First                       April  4, 2452                       Mar 20, 2452

1)   Mar 10, 2453                First                       Mar 25, 2453                       Mar 20, 2453

2)   Mar 29, 2454                First                       Apr  13, 2454                       Mar 20, 2454

3)   Mar 18, 2455                First                       April  3, 2455                       Mar 20, 2455

4)   Mar   7, 2456                First                       Mar 22, 2456                       Mar 20, 2456

5)   Mar 26, 2457                First                       Apr  10, 2457                       Mar 20, 2457

6)   Mar 15, 2458                First                       Mar 30, 2458                       Mar 20, 2458

7)   April  3, 2459                Second                  Apr 18, 2459                       Mar 20, 2459

8)   Mar 23, 2460                First                       April  6, 2460                       Mar 20, 2460

9)   Mar 12, 2461                First                       Mar 26, 2461                       Mar 20, 2461

10) Mar 31, 2462               Second                  Apr  14, 2462                       Mar 20, 2462

11) Mar 20, 2463                First                       April  4, 2463                       Mar 20, 2463

12) Mar   8, 2464                First                       Mar 24, 2464                       Mar 20, 2464

13) Mar 27, 2465                First                       Apr 12, 2465                        Mar 20, 2465

14) Mar 17, 2466                First                       April  1, 2466                       Mar 20, 2466

15) Mar   6, 2467                First                       Mar 21, 2467                       Mar 20, 2467

16) Mar 24, 2468                First                       April  8, 2468                       Mar 20, 2468

17) Mar 14, 2469                First                       Mar 28, 2469                       Mar 20, 2469

18) April  2, 2470                Second                  Apr 16, 2470                       Mar 20, 2470

19) Mar 22, 2471                First                       April  5, 2471                       Mar 20, 2471

1)   Mar 10, 2472                 First                      Mar 25, 2472                       Mar 20, 2472

In the 25th century Metonic cycle, the pattern remains the same for the new moons of spring (whether the first or second new moon of spring), but the order has changed. The change occurs in the 10th and 15th years of the Metonic cycle. The order of the pattern is now 7, 1, 2, 1, 7, 1 or seven (first new moons), one (second new moon), two (first new moons), one (second new moon), seven (first new moons), one (second new moon), and then repeats continuously. After hundreds of years, this pattern persists, but the order within the Metonic cycles will change eventually.

The seven embolismic years (with 383-385 days) for the first Metonic cycle of the Hebrew calendar (with our rules in place) are #1 (2434-2435), #4 (2437-2438), #6 (2439-2340), #9 (2442-2443), #12 (2445-2446), #14 (2447-2448), and #17 (2450-2451). The same embolismic pattern of 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17 are found in the second Metonic cycle: #1 (2453-2454), #4 (2456-2457), #6 (2458-2459), #9 (2461-2462), #12 (2464-2465), #14 (2466-2467), and #17 (2469-2470).

The current (and original) embolismic pattern for the calculated (Metonic) Jewish calendar is 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19. It was reasonably accurate back when it was created in the fourth century AD, but with time, it has gotten off track. As you can see, their embolismic years are only correct four out of seven times currently. That means there are four times in the Metonic cycle that the Jewish calendar uses the second new moon of spring for the beginning of the new year when it should have used the first new moon of spring. The “golden rule” for determining the first month of the year (the first month of the new year is the new moon that establishes Passover on or after the Vernal Equinox) is no longer accurate 100% of the time. The result of this inaccuracy in the Jewish calendar for these particular years is the Feast of the Lord convocations will occur one month late.

When (not if) the Jews build their third temple in Jerusalem, will they be worshipping the LORD and offering sacrifices on the correct Feast of the Lord days as specified in Leviticus 23? Scripture clearly indicates there will be a third temple for the Jews in the end times. “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

Yom Kippur in Israel took place on the twelfth of October this year. This is a day of repentance for Israel. Yet the fighting continues with no signs of abeyance in Lebanon. In fact, on Sunday, Israeli forces broke into a NATO compound, making demands that angered the so-called peacekeeping entity made up of many Arabic tribes and entities.

These actions make the very real possibility of war happening – just before our presidential election – and in time for Joe Biden to declare a state of emergency and even declare martial law. He and most of the Democrats hate Israel, so it’s a good bet Joe Biden might use it as an excuse to halt the election process. (All the while, Joe’s feeble, trembling finger is on the red button of the nuclear “football.”) But who would Joe nuke: Iran, North Korea, Russia, or China? They all hate us for one reason or another, and our allies have lost confidence in us – the once most powerful country in the world that has become weakened by the actions of our criminal leaders.

Even as we speak, the Godless criminals who run the country are determined to win at all costs, even war. I say that because, with war looming, this may be a way to halt elections (something they tried to do with Covid; yet again, bird flu – you name it. But wise Americans weren’t buying that song and dance this time around. So, by waging war on some other country, they may try to halt the voting process in the name of defensive military action. Of course, the warmongers will claim that it is unavoidable – as they rub their greedy, blood-soaked hands with glee.

If I remember rightly, it was Obama who retired and fired most of the military leaders of our country, beginning the process of purging conservative generals from our armed forces. Recently retired General Mark Milly, a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, is calling D.J. Trump a fascist while he himself appears to be a Communist. So, what’s the difference in ideology? Not much – both are bad options.

With the presidential election now only days away, the whole country is on pins and needles – who will the president-elect be: a lazy, slothful, silly person with a retinue of perverts, criminals, and Communists who hate America – or the other who lowered taxes, gas prices, and made more jobs available while trying to curb illegal immigration? While we realize that war is inevitable and must take place to fulfill biblical prophecy, it’s sad to think that our families are going to have to go through these calamities. But it seems that war, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding are the only ways for God to get people’s attention before he must do the inevitable.

Recently, an old friend of mine in Miami told me that he couldn’t sleep and felt he was close to dying. He had been a lifelong smoker, and his lungs wanted to give up and give out. He and his family had harbored me when I was in town during my travels and travails. I owed it to him to hear him out. I loved the guy even though it was difficult to drag him to church while I was there. (He had been pointed out by a preacher in front of the congregation and was told he was going to hell, so he left the church and never looked back.) This, although he was one of the most harmless and decent people I ever knew.

Book report:

Incredibly, I had just finished a book by writer Sabastian Junger, a Sephardic Jew who was experiencing fear of dying. His book is titled In My Time of Dying. The book, sad to say, entailed some of the same fears my friend was having, so I wrote to both men, saying the same thing.

Dear Sabastian/friend,

It is 2:22 in the morning, and although I prayed for you earlier in the day, I laid in bed wondering what your eventual fate might be. As for me, I couldn’t be more ready to meet my maker, although I’m a sinner as hard as I’ve tried not to be. (There are temptations that are too hard to overcome, and I most probably never will.) No, it’s nothing that outrageous – in fact, it’s something that is common to man – much like a sticker weed caught in your shoelace. Thank God for Christ Jesus, who took it upon Himself to be my scapegoat and advocate.

My wish is that you, too, might know the peace of mind that I’ve acquired over 50 years of Bible study and the casual reading of it over the years. Why go through life without the knowledge of God and His desires for us when it’s so easily available to us. The promises of God are many, and I for one have experienced most of them – yet I still have experienced life more fully than many. I encourage you to read the Bible thoroughly and prayerfully every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you after repenting of all known sins.

Like everyone else, I’ve had my disappointments and ups and downs in this journey called life. Looking back, I can see that the experiences (both good and bad) only led to a closer relationship with the Almighty. Now it dawns on me that the stories in the “good book” were inspirational and life-giving food for thought. The sages, prophets, heroes, and losers in the Bible were much like us. The Godly – like Moses and David, did superhuman and extraordinary things that can only be attributed to their walk with God – who showed His power through these extraordinary but common men. Joseph, too, is counted among them. Even though he was abused and imprisoned for years, he rose to become the leader of a great nation. Who can read about these godly men without being inspired to do the same?

The ability and thought of the common man are futile in comparison to the Creator; it’s much like Pinocchio trying to be like Geppetto, his maker. “Hey, Gep, why did you make me?” The answer would be “because I wanted to.” Here is a quote from the Bible about that in the creation story – “Let us make man in our image and in our likeness….” I suspect God was talking to Jesus – our Savior. That’s all we really need to know about that.

It’s strange that the little band of Jewish people were the ones who first introduced mankind to the One True God of the Bible, but we all know how meticulous and inquisitive they are – a peculiar people indeed. But before we make assumptions on their religiosity, let us realize that they, like the rest of us, are dependent on God’s favor for righteous living. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, soul, and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” Taking one’s mind off oneself and his or her insecurities frees a person to focus on the plights of others. This therapeutic act frees us up to be agents of the Almighty Himself.

I hope these words of encouragement made sense to you and that you would find healing for your soul and peace in your remaining life.

Your friend, Jim Towers

***

You can write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com My book Visions, Miracles, Peace, and Power can be ordered on Amazon Books and Kindle. You can also find me on my newly restructured website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com, which now features videos of worldwide events taking place in the present time, as well as proof of God’s existence and the reality of Biblical places, and Moses himself.