FAINT CRESCENT ?
TRUE NEW MOON ?
OR PAGAN SYMBOL?
IS THE CRESCENT MOON WHICH OCCURS AFTER THE TRUE NEW MOON, A PAGAN
SYMBOL? IF IT IS, SHOULD IT BE USED TO DETERMINE THE BEGINNINGS OF THE
MONTHS FOR GOD'S DIVINE CALENDAR? DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO USE IT?
Church Of God, In Truth
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The following will show you that the crescent is a pagan, unrighteous symbol which likely originated in
Babylonia as a result of the worship of various moon gods.
The crescent which is called Hilal in Arabic, is a political, military and religious emblem of the Byzantine
and Turkish Empires. Today, over a dozen Islamic countries use it as their emblem. The crescent has been a
religious symbol for many centuries. It is also, a symbol of the Masonic Shriners, Islam, and the Russian Red Cross.
The Mesopotamians started the month with the first crescent in the early evening sky and counted days until
they sighted another, a month later.
The priests of ancient Egypt also counted the days by the crescent moon and celebrated monthly feasts and
rituals according to the phases of the moon.
The Hebrews used the young crescent to mark the commencement of a new period. For the first four
centuries [A.D.], the official announcement came from Jerusalem of the coming of the "new moon" after the
Sanhedrin had seen the young crescent. The Sanhedrin were a group of lay people and priests who took authority
upon themselves to interpret the law, one hundred years after the Sopherim [the rightful teachers of the law], was
taken away by the Syrians. The last rightful teacher was Simon the Just in 270 B.C.
The day of the young crescent sighting was the first day of the month. This method of determining the new
moon continued even after scholars in Israel had astronomical calculations of the new moon, which they received
from Babylonia while in captivity. As a consequence of this, the re-appearance of the young crescent was eagerly
looked for, and trumpets were blown and sacrifices offered on the day of it's appearance. And so the Jews, were also
drawn with other nations to the worship of this crescent moon that filled their horizon. Is this the reason God gave
Israel a new calendar understanding? "This month [new moon] shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first
month of the year to you (Ex 12:2).
The prophets called Nineveh, the sorceress city. There seemed to be no escape from her enchantments. Many
fell to her sorcery [magic] and idolatry.
God cautions against worship of the crescent moon and punishment by death for the convicted worshipers.
Note Deut 4:19; and Deut 17:3-5. “Take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the
moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your
God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. Chapter 17, Who has gone and served other
gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, and
it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an
abomination has been committed in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has
committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones.
[NKJV]
The superstitious salutation of the moon by kissing the hand is mentioned by Job. “If I beheld the sun when
it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my
hand” (Job 31:26-27).
Moon worship by the burning of incense was offered in Jerusalem, and put down by King Josiah. “And he
put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities
of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the
moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven” (2 Kings 23:5).
In the Old Testament, crescent shaped ornaments (Judges 8:21,26; Isa 3:18)... were used to defend the wearer from
evil influences. The Hebrews especially the women shared this same need for ornaments / jewels as denoted in Gen
24:53; Exo 3:22; Exo 33:4-8; Eze 16:11; Exo 35:22; Num 31:50 and Isa 3:18.
The custom of wearing amulets as charms, to protect one against evil spirits and in particular against the evil
eye is still, to this day, very wide-spread. In this regard, the Jews were like the rest of the world, and in the Talmud
it is said that 99 deaths occur from the evil eye to 1 from natural causes.
A popular form of jewel-amulet was the moon-shaped crescent in gold and silver, similar to the ones worn
by the Jerusalem ladies (Isa 3:18 RV). However, the ladies were not alone, the Midianite chiefs wore the crescent
and pendants and also hung them around their camel's necks (Jgs.8:26).
Arabic children and animals are supposed to be especially subject to such influences from evil spirits,
[according to their beliefs] and right now today, their is hardly a child or animal in the Arabic border lands which
is not defended by a charm.
Hebrew magic came to a considerable extent from Assyria and Babylonia where this kind of sorcery was
extensively practiced. Egyptian sorcerers are also noted in Ex 7:11. Professional Astrologers were very prominent
in Assyria and Babylonia as early as the 16th century B.C.
The religion of Babylonia was polytheistic [many gods]. They worshiped Shamash the sun god; Istar, Venus;
Marduk, god of Babylon; Nannar/Sin the moon gods; Nusku, the new moon crescent; and others. Nannar was the
guardian of the world at night. Marduk in certain of his aspects was associated [identified] with Nannar, and his
symbol was the crescent-worn in the horned crowns of the kings of Assyria.
Ur, home of Abraham, was one of the most influential centers of moon-god worship (Gen 11:26-31). The
temple of Nannar was located here... Nebuchadnezzar renovated the area for congregational worship as late as the
6th century B.C. Artifacts pertaining to Ur's moon-god worship are on display in the University Museum at
Philadelphia. In Haran, where Abraham also lived, the moon-god, Sin, had many temples in his [questionable] honor.
Archeological excavations have revealed that Nannar/Sin [moon god] was also worshipped on the Sinai
peninsula as early as the 15th century B.C. Moon worship is also attested to by a small alabaster stele of Rim-Sin
[King of Chaldea] in the old Sumerian language of this King supporting [endowing] the moon temple at Ur. This
stele can be seen in the British Museum.
The ancient Romans called their moon-goddess, Luna and Diana. Diana, a goddess of the hunt, used a moon
crescent for a bow [archery]. The Greeks moon-goddesses were Selene and Artemis. The Babylonians knew the
moon as Nannar/Sin...most powerful of sky gods.
Nannar/Sin was regarded as the lord of the calendar, his sacred number is 30 and his emblem is a crescent.
The phases of the moon were important in the early Arabian cults. The period of dark phase had the name Bubbules,
it was thought to be a time when evil spirits were dangerous.
Men in ancient and modern times have deduced a whole code of rules to be used in the conduct of their affairs.
These codes are based on the superstitious beliefs of the moon's influence on living matter.
Today, in Germany the phases of the moon are observed by superstitious people and their life's decisions are
based on whether the moon is waning or waxing. This belief has been handed down from ancient time. The new
young crescent and full moon are considered a great time for business in Germany. The Germans also despaired
of victory if they went to battle before the new moon crescent!
The Spartans also used the phases of the moon...they would not go out to battle except when the moon was
full. The Athenians also used the moon as a sign for battle.. This caused a great loss of armies at Syracruse, and
Athens has never recovered. If the moon was in it's last quarter, the Greeks would not take an army out before the
appearance of the crescent.
The Canaanites observed the young crescent and full moon with festivities. The Nabataeans also at one
time worshipped the moon in Petra and decorated their door posts with crescents.
In Syria the moon was represented by one of the many forms of Ashtaroth, surnamed Karnaim, from the horns
of the crescent moon, her symbol.
The Israelites worship of the moon idol, was probably introduced from Syria. In 2Kings 23:5, Joshiah did
away with idol worship to Baal, the sun and moon, etc. From the reign of Manasseh until the captivity, moon worship
prevailed among the Jews with the brief exception under Joshiah. Jeremiah refers to this worship...(Jer 7:18; 8:2 and
44:17).
It is believed by most researchers that Egyptians observed Osiris as the moon. It was one of the only two
deities which commanded the reverence of most all the Egyptians. (1.) Evidence pointing this direction was that Osiris
was to have lived 28 years [Lunar month]. His body was cut up into 14 pieces-waning moon [14 days]. At the new
moon, Egyptians celebrated "entry of Osiris into the moon." (2.) At the ceremony "The burial of Osiris", a crescent
shaped chest is used "because the moon, when it approaches the sun, assumes the form of a crescent and vanishes."
(3.) Osiris is artistically represented as a human-headed mummy with a full moon with a crescent placed on his head.
Today, many occult’s are deep into astrology [foretelling future actions], necromancy [communicating with
the dead; also referred to as channeling] and onirocriticism [dreams] as were the Babylonians in ancient times.
Among the signs and symbols of occult/devil worship...two are of particular interest, that is the moon crescent and
the stars called the star of Lucifer and the Lucifer-morning star. These are carry-overs from ancient times, worship
to Baal (2Kgs 23:4).
The Hebrew nation was infected with paganism from the earliest times and had constantly struggled for
ascendent of idolatry since Solomon's reign. Hezekiah's son Manasseh, turned to polytheism, naming his son "Amon,"
the only name of an Egyptian divinity we find in Jewish annals. He got involved in necromancy, auguries and
sorcery. He undertook the sacrifice of his own children and restored the worship of heavenly bodies, begun by Ahaz,
which was eagerly followed everywhere. [Note: Manasseh did repent later]. They worshipped the heavens from their
roof tops...baked cakes as offerings to Astarte. So bold was this infiltration of paganism into every day life...it had
to cause displacement of the true religion of the Jews (2 Chron 33:6; Jer 8:2; 19:3; Jer 7:17-18).
At the time of the fall of Jerusalem, 70 A.D. the practice of polytheism, which Joshiah had eliminated
for a short time, still existed even in the temple. There was a statue of Astarte, a wailing place for Tammutz,
chambers for animal worship and then the courtyard where the high dignitaries turned their backs to
the altar and faced the east to worship (Ezek 7:3-5,14; Eze 8:8-12,16).
Is this happening today? Does the Bible tell us to observe God's appointed festivals by using the moon's
crescent or the true dark moon to establish the appointed season for this observance?
Quoting from "The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar" by Arthur Spires. Copyright 1952, "Since Biblical
times the months and years of the Jewish Calendar have been established by the cycles of the moon and the sun.
The traditional law prescribes that the months shall follow closely the course of the moon, from the molad [birth,
conjunction] to the next new moon." "This method of observation and intercalation was in use through the
period of the second temple [516 B.C.E.-70 C.E.], and about three centuries after it's destruction, as long as
there was a Sanhedrin. In the fourth century, [A.D.] however, when persecution threatened the continued
existence of the Sanhedrin, the Patriarch, Hillel II took an extraordinary step to preserve the unity of Israel. In
order to prevent the Jews scattered all over the surface of the earth from celebrating their new moon, festivals
and holidays at different times, he made public the system of calendar calculation which up to then had been a
closely guarded secret. It had been used in the past only to check the observations and testimonies of witnesses,
and to determine the beginnings of the spring season.”
Are we not in Biblical times today? Traditional law or God's law?
Who's law is this? Who do we follow? Hillel or God?”
"How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord, When actually the lying
pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed
and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?"
(Jer 8:8-9).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”(2 Tim 2:15).
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
HARPERS BIBLE DICTIONARY
PLUTARCH, ISIS ET OSIRIS, PG 43
IBID, PG 43
MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES:
T.R. GLOVER, THE CONFLICT OF RELIGIONS IN THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE, CC.1909
WM. SMITH'S TEACHING BIBLE DICTIONARY, 1884
WM. SMITH'S PRONOUNCING BIBLE DICTIONARY
PELOUBET'S BIBLE DICTIONARY, 1913
UNGER'S BIBLE DICTIONARY, 1983
AMERICAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
THE WORLDBOOK
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
S.D.A STUDENT RESOURCE BOOK
EXPOSITOR BIBLE COMMENTARY
SIR GEORGE JAMES FRAZER, ADONIS, ATTIS, OSIRIS, 1961
ANCHOR BIBLE, JEREMIAH COMMENTARY BY JOHN BRIGHT, 1965
SONCINO BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
H.W.F. SAGGS, THE GREATNESS THAT WAS BABYLON, 1962
FRANCIS LEGGE, FORERUNNERS AND RIVALS OF CHRISTIANITY, FROM 330
B.C. TO 330 A.D., 1964
DEAN STANLEY, LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH CHURCH, 1892
KENT, A HISTORY OF THE HEBREW PEOPLE, THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1897
KENT, A HISTORY OF THE HEBREW PEOPLE, THE DIVIDED KINGDOM,1897
GEORGE CONLENAU, BABYLONIA-SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS, 1877
LEANARD COTTRELL, BABYLONIA-SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS, 1962
H. SAGGS, BABYLONIA-SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS, 1965
SIR GEORGE JAMES FRAZER, THE GOLDEN BOUGH, 1950
ARTHUR COTTRELL, WORLD MYTHOLOGY, 1979
R.K. NARAYAN, GODS, DEMONS AND OTHERS, 1964
JEWISH PUB. SOC. VOL.X-XIV, A SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE JEWS, 1969
GRANT, MYTHS OF THE GREEKS AND ROMANS, 1962
WHAT IS A CULT?
A CULT IS A SYSTEM OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, A CREED OR SECT THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW MAIN STREAM
RELIGION. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DO NOT ACCEPT THE TRINITY AS PART OF THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM. WHEREAS
AN OCCULT GOES BEYOND THE RANGE OF NORMAL PERCEPTION, DEALING WITH MAGIC ALCHEMY, ASTROLOGY,
ETC. OCCULT’S ARE VERY SECRETIVE, MYSTERIOUS AND ESOTERIC. A VERY VIVID DESCRIPTION OF BABYLONIA
AND HER FOLLOWERS IN ANCIENT AND MODERN TIMES.