How Would Calendar Reform Affect the Church?

Calendar reform is an ongoing study, but it has gathered a great deal of momentum in recent years. Even within the church of God, one of the most strident controversies of the past decade centered around the Hebrew calendar, used by many organizations, including Church of the Great God, to determine the Sabbath and holy days, as commanded in Leviticus 23.

Secularly, the most commonly proposed new calendar is one known as the World Calendar. It portends some far-reaching effects for those who observe the Sabbath!

Notice how this calendar would change the weekly cycle, which has been constant from Creation. To make each quarter of the year contain the same number of days, it is proposed—among other things—that December 31 be made a "World Day." It would be a world holiday and would be outside the weekly cycle. It is further proposed that each quarter begin with a Sunday and end with a Saturday. Consider the effect these changes would have.

Suppose this calendar were in effect now and today was Saturday, the weekly Sabbath, and that it happened to be December 30. Tomorrow would be called "World Day." (There would no longer be a December 31.) The next day, a Monday in our present calendar, would be called "Sunday." Tuesday would be called "Monday," etc. Thus the week for the entire next year would be one day off. The weekly Sabbath would be called "Friday." It would be a normal work day to all except those who observe God's Sabbath.

Each following year would also end with a World Day and change the Sabbath still further! In addition, every four years June 30 would also be declared a World Day. In such years, the Sabbath would be changed an additional day after the end of June. The Sabbath would coincide with "Saturday" only every five or six years.

It is interesting to note that Daniel records two instances of changing "times." The first, Daniel 2:21, refers to God's administration of time as Creator; He indeed set the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens for precisely this purpose (Genesis 1:14-19). The second occurrence refers to a "horn," symbolizing a man of authority and power, who "shall intend to change times and law" (Daniel 7:25) in pompous defiance of God's authority. This prophecy seems to have its ultimate fulfillment in the actions of the Beast just before the Great Tribulation. It is likely that this changing of times affects primarily religious observances, particularly the seventh-day Sabbath, as its mention within Daniel 7:25 is sandwiched between two clauses predicting persecution for the saints.


 



 
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