October 22, 1844
and the Crescent New Moon
This article is written specifically for the consideration of our Seventh-day Adventist friends. It contains lunar evidence that ties their most honored date of October 22, 1844, to the lunar calendar alone and exposes lunar Sabbath-keeping evidence long hidden from its members.
Prophecies Fulfilled on a Consistent Lunar Calendar Model
If the precise day for worship and set-apart days matter to YAHUAH (H#3068 – YHUH – replaced with Lord) Alahim, our Creator; if time prophecies must be satisfied at the pre-appointed TIME to fulfill a prophecy, then the correct TIME-measuring model must be utilized consistently on the east-west perpetual time-continuum from their inception to their completion.
This was the sentiment raised by William Miller in 1844 at a pivotal time when He was calculating the end of the 2,300-day prophecy and the return of the Messiah, which resulted in the Great Disappointment in the early 19th century A.D. Here is what he said:
“The year 1843 was, however, regarded as extending to the spring of 1844. The reason for this, briefly stated, is as follows: Anciently the year did not commence in mid-winter, as now, but at the first New Moon after the Vernal Equinox. Therefore, as the period of 2,300 days was begun in a year reckoned by the ancient method, it was considered necessary to conform to that method to its close. Hence, 1843 was counted as ending in the spring, and not in the winter.” 1888 Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan, Ellen G. White, (Appendix Note 3 – Narrative of William Miller. This was omitted by Ellen White and Willie White from the 1911 version of the same book and onward. Also published in the Advent Herald, Boston, March 1850.)
October 22, 1844, Established by the Crescent New Moon
To his credit, he ultimately came to believe that the Messiah’s return would occur according to the Biblical lunar calendar model. However, He erringly believed it would occur on the Karaite Jew’s Day of Atonement in 1844.
That year, the Karaite Jew’s crescent New Moon, the start of their lunar month, occurred on October 12. By extension, this placed Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) ten days later, on October 22, 1844 (Ethanim 10). This became Miller’s final declared day for the Second Coming of the Messiah. Ironically, this date for the Day of Atonement was out of harmony with the Rabbinical Pharisee Jews who celebrated their calculated dark conjunction, New Moon, a whole month earlier, on September 13, making September 23, 1844, their Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Not only was William Miller’s prediction incorrect with regard to the Messiah’s return that year, but both of his options for locating what he thought reflected the Biblical lunar calendar and its New Moon were also inaccurate. This is because neither the dark conjunction nor the first visible crescent in recent traditional Jewish New Moon practices reflects Genesis 1:16 or any Biblical criteria identifying which lunar phase constitutes the start of lunar months. Refer to the article, Treasury of Evidence the Full Moon Announces Lunar Months.
The Original New Moon Taken Hostage
Our Creator’s signal for the start of years and months has been taken hostage by way of rebellious Babylonian, Jewish, and Roman dogma. Scripture teaches that the lesser LIGHT (the moon) in opposition to the greater LIGHT (of the sun) was to rule together with the stars BY NIGHT from EAST TO WEST, the whole night when the sun was not present. The full moon is the only visible lunar phase that begins a night rule in the east and terminates in the west, ruling together with the visible stars all night. It also meets the criteria on the following morning when it greets the sun at sunrise before it sets in the west. Refer to the article, Step by Step Guide for Locating the New Moon Day.
For this reason and many more, it is to everyone’s surprise that the full moon is discovered to be the original and authentic announcer for the start of years and the lunar months. The Full Moon is the only lunar phase that meets all the criteria from Genesis to Revelation with 100% accuracy. Refer to the article, Treasury of Evidence the Full Moon Announces Lunar Months.
If the Most High had intended that the autumn of 1844 was to mark the significant and final event of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the close of the prophetic 2,300 days, as declared by William Miller, it (the Day of Atonement) would have had to occur on October 7 instead of October 22 to be synchronized to the Biblical full moon and its start of lunar months.
2,300 Evenings and Mornings
The 2,300-day prophecy, studied in depth by Sir Isaac Newton and others, gained popularity and momentum in the early 19th century through the conviction of William Miller and his growing flock of believers. He held the view that it marked the specific year of the Messiah’s return. Together with other markers, such as Artaxerxes’ decree and the Hebrew Day of Atonement occurring on the tenth day of the Seventh Lunar Month, he and Samuel Snow believed the prophecy spoke of the day of the Messiah’s return on October 22, 1844. When, for the third time, the Messiah did not return, all those present on Ascension Rock were greatly disappointed. These had sold all their earthly belongings in preparation for their Messiah’s return on that fateful night. October 22, 1844, came to mark a point in history called The Great Disappointment.
Reexamining Daniel 8:14
Let’s apply fresh eyes to this well-memorized verse in Daniel 8:14.
“And he said unto me, ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings (H6153 – ereb) and mornings (H1242 – boker) then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.'” Daniel 8:14
Note that this verse speaks of evenings (H6153 – ereb) and mornings (H1242 – boker) and not mere days(H3117 – yom) as we have been taught. While Scripture utilizes days (H3117 – yom) in prophecy to represent a year or even 1,000 years, it never utilizes specific evenings (H6153 – ereb) and mornings (H1242 – boker) for this same purpose.
We are not living in the 19th century or without marvelous Hebrew Dictionaries, but with brilliant source materials at our disposal. Therefore, we must do our own research to see if these previously held doctrines actually align with Scripture. I recommend a free online program called eSword.
Daniel was familiar with and utilized all three terms according to Yahuah’s guidance. He utilized the Hebrew word day (H3117 – yom) a total of 21 times. And he utilized evening (H6153 – ereb) a total of 3 times and morning (H1242 – boker) a total of 2 times. Interestingly, he only utilized the combination of evening and morning (ereb and broker) one time. We can see from this comparison that he was fully knowledgeable of each of the terms and utilized them in their appropriate ways. Simply said, evenings and mornings speak of literal days, while we know the term day in prophetic context refers to years or even 1,000 years. Evenings and mornings and days are not the same terms and cannot be assumed to be utilized in the same way.
Next, Daniel 8:17 identifies that the vision is for the time of the end.
“So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, ‘Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.'” Daniel 8:17
This means that at the time of the end, it will be revealed. The mere fact that October 22, 1844, has long since passed away 180 years ago identifies that it could not represent the time of the end, even if those living at that time believed it was. We can see in hindsight their error in this regard, as well as the errors stacked against all other parts of this long-honored date of October 22, 1844. We can also see that the lunar foundation of this date has been entirely withheld from the Seventh-day Adventist Church members. Wouldn’t you call this a cover-up or deception?
Feast Days on a Day for a Day Basis
It is important to note that the Feast Days, as ordained in Scripture, have NEVER, in history or in their prophetic future application, been ordained to represent long periods of time as Seventh-day Adventists would have you believe. These well-meaning folks teach that on October 22, 1844, the Day of Atonement began and will endure to the end as the fulfillment of all past Yom Kippurs (Days of Atonement) and also as the time of Yahuah’s (YHUH) Investigative Judgment until the Messiah returns. All the while, these same folks teach that the Torah Law, with its lunar calendar and lunar Feast Days, ended at the cross. Do you perceive the conflict here?
To carry, as a foundational belief, that the date of October 22, 1844, is connected in any way to the Biblical Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) illustrates a clash in Scriptural and astronomical standards. Can the believers in the 1844 date have it both ways?
1) On one hand, they believe the perceived lunar Feast Day of Atonement began on October 22, 1844, as a lengthy period of over 180 years and counting.
2) And on the other, they teach that the Torah’s (first five books of Moses) lunar calendar and Feast Days ended at the cross? No doubt you are getting the picture, as the Day of Atonement is one of the Torah’s lunar calendar Feast Days. How can they utilize something as a foundational doctrine, that they also declare ended at the cross?
In contrast, Scripture teaches that each sacred and prophetic Feast Day (#4150 – mo’edim – specific lunar appointed date) as a Rehearsal Assembly Event (H#4744 miqra) was only to last the duration of the dates provided in Scripture, whether a one-day Feast Day Event or a week-long Feast Day Event.
A perfect example of this is Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This covered an eight-day period that was divided into specific highlighted days. Each day was fulfilled by our Messiah in real-time, a day for a day, beginning with the cross on Passover, the 14th day counted from the New Moon Day. Then came the Sabbath rest in the tomb on the 15th lunar day, and the third-day resurrection at the end of the night that followed the 16th lunar day (providing three days and three full nights), along with the following five days. Each was fulfilled on a day-for-a-day basis.
There were to be long periods of time between the fulfillment of those Feast days that represented the Messiah’s Death on the Cross at His first coming and those in the fall representing His Second Coming. NEVER were any of these mo’edim (#4150 – mo’edim – specific lunar appointed date) designed to convert into anything other than their specific lunar appointed Feast dates to be celebrated by the faithful on a day for a day basis each year. Yet, Seventh-day Adventists continue to honor October 22, 1844, as the commencement of something they call the Anti-typical Day of Atonement and The Investigative Judgment, a period of 180 years and counting since October 22, 1844.
All the while, in Leviticus 23, each lunar-appointed Feast Day Event is DATE STAMPED. But it is not stamped with a solar date, as this imprisoned planet would propose, but with a lunar date of their Creator’s preordained designation. Oh, and did I mention that each lunar Feast Day EVENT is synchronized to both its count from the New Moon and its relation to the seventh-day Sabbath? Every aspect of the Sanctuary/Temple ceremonial services was dually synchronized in an unbreakable bond to LUNAR TIME and EVENT and its relation to the lunar Sabbath on specific lunar appointed dates!
Lunar Appointed Time and Event
Each lunar appointed TIME & EVENT was preordained to highlight with precision the exact day on which the Messiah alone was to fulfill that portion of the PLAN OF SALVATION, the REMEDY for sin. Those Feast Days that are already fulfilled are to be continually celebrated each year as memorials by the faithful and obedient followers according to lunar time until all are fulfilled and then beyond. And those lunar appointed Feast Days that have not yet occurred were designed to be celebrated by faith until they come to pass.
But that is not the end, as all the saved of the earth will celebrate these sacred Feast Day Events throughout eternity, as they symbolize their Savior’s LOVE manifest to save them. These time-centric Feast Day Events are the pathway by which sinners are reconciled to the Messiah. They represent the promise from the beginning of the saving love the Father and Son have for us, otherwise hopeless sinners. And they manifest the tie that binds the saved sinner to their Savior for all eternity.
This participation and synchronization of the sinner with the Savior in celebrating His Feast Day Events is the REMEDY & RESTORATION (plan or program) provided by our Creator to enable mankind to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes.” This is the ordained method of action of the will to receive the covering of His spilled blood on Passover, His ordained “Seal of Protection.” Any other arrangement proposed disregards and annuls the Kadosh (sacred, Holy, set-apart) Feast Days, as found in the Torah Law, and is nothing more than rebellious mankind seeking to get to heaven according to their own rules, arrogant FRAUD, and THIEVERY.
The Lunar Foundation for the Day of Atonement
The final point regarding the event of October 22, 1844, as honored by Seventh-day Adventists, is that the date for the Day of Atonement that year and every year is entirely based upon the foundation of the lunar calendar. And because Scripture teaches the holy seventh-day Sabbaths are also lunar, counted from each Full New Moon Day, and consistently fall on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th days of each lunar month, the Saturday Sabbath doctrine crafted on a Roman replacement calendar remains at odds with their honored Day of Atonement of October 22, 1844. Like oil and water, they cannot be harmonized.
All Sabbaths of the Bible are counted from each full New Moon, illustrating that they are created on the same time-measuring system by the Creator of the heavens and the earth and not crafted by rebellious mankind with no rhyme or reason to synchronize them with solar years or months.
So, let me explain it in more detail with the following points:
1. October 22, 1844, is the Roman equivalent of Leviticus 23:26-32 layout of the Feast Day of Atonement.
2. The Day of Atonement occurs on the 10th day of the Seventh lunar month every year.
3. This means that 10 days are counted from the New Moon, the start of lunar months to arrive at the Day of Atonement.
4. The Biblical Sabbath would occur five days later on the 15th, which assures that neither the Sabbaths or Day of Atonement will land on each other.
5. So, when utilizing the Roman planetary calendar in which the weeks cycle without end, Saturday will land on the Day of Atonement, the 10th day of the lunar month every few years.
Yet, Leviticus 23 clarifies where the New Moons are as Day 1, and the Sabbaths consistently occur on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, ensuring that all units of time integrate into the others perfectly.
Four Rules of Postponement
When in Roman captivity and forced to utilize both a lunar and solar calendar, the Jews resolved this same paradox and calendar conflict of two opposing calendars by creating the Four Rules of Postponement in A.D. 358. This new interface was necessary to bring an appearance of harmony between a lunar Feast Day calendar and the newly adopted continuous weekly cycle of the Roman solar calendar and its Saturday Sabbath. This document utilized by the Jews to this day is confirmation that the Roman calendar they currently utilize, along with their Saturday Sabbath, is fraudulent. Not even one single unit of time remains as it was in the Torah Law, as recorded by Moses.
It’s in keeping the Feast Days that we discover the problem with the Saturday Sabbath doctrine as it floats throughout each of them, landing on Passover and Day of Atonement alike. From this encounter, we discover why the Jews had to formulate the Four Rules of Postponement. It is impossible to keep the Sabbaths and Feast Days in their appointed places when the Sabbath follows the path of a rogue elephant, rambling through the month, showing up at the wrong place and time.
It is not by chance that the Four Rules of Postponement were designed to postpone the annual Feast Days and not the Saturday Sabbaths. This is because, at the time, they were pressured to give up their original lunar calendar time-measuring method, so as a result, they protected the newly installed Roman Saturday Sabbath while destroying the Feast Day layout.
Calendar Paradox Unnoticed
The Seventh-day Adventists have not even noticed this calendar paradox. This is because they have long ago eliminated the celebration of the Torah Law’s prescribed lunar Feast Days except for the Day of Atonement. They call it the anti-typical Day of Atonement of October 22, 1844, believing it to be the last one. In the early years following that day, they taught the Shut Door doctrine. Teaching that if all your sins were not forgiven on that very day, there was no hope for you. For nearly 20 years, they held to that view but ultimately gave it up. But this misguided teaching morphed into what is now called the Investigative Judgment. Which essentially is the Day of Atonement extending from 1844 until the Messiah’s physical return. As mentioned earlier, it has now been 180 years and counting.
While the Day of Atonement remains at the foundation of their church beliefs, most are entirely unaware that October 22, 1844, is a solar designation for a lunar date (the 10th day of the Seventh ancient Hebrew lunar month of Ethanim), which paradoxically cannot be harmonized with a Saturday Sabbath doctrine, ever.
The New Moon and October 22, 1844
In days of yore, a cry was heard,
A herald of hope, from holy word.
William Miller stood bold and true,
Proclaiming prophecies ancient and new.
October’s date, the twenty-two,
A fateful time, the saints held true.
With eyes uplifted, hearts ablaze,
They sought the end of Earth’s dark maze.
Yet the day came, the skies were still,
The Messiah’s return was not His will.
A disappointment, great and vast,
Shaped a movement that would last.
But what of the time, the sacred sign?
Was it measured by Yah’s design?
The crescent moon or shadowed phase,
Could not fulfill His ancient ways.
For Scripture speaks of a brilliant light,
The full moon ruled the silent night.
From east to west, with stars, it reigns,
A beacon clear, its truth remains.
The tenth day of the seventh lunation,
Was counted this way since creation.
Not bound by Rome’s calendar creed,
But by the rhythm, the heavens heed.
Atonement’s call, so wrongly timed,
October’s claim was misaligned.
For Yahuah’s time is not our own,
His timing carved with the lunar stone.
The feasts were marked, each date decreed,
On Messiah’s path to meet our need.
Day by day, they foretell His plan,
The remedy for wayward man.
Passover’s cross, the tomb’s repose,
But three days later, He arose.
Each Feast fulfilled with perfect care,
On lunar time beyond compare.
Yet doctrines formed, traditions swayed,
And Torah’s truths were cast away.
A paradox within the creed,
To follow truth or with church concede.
October’s day, a lunar date,
Yet Saturday doesn’t correlate.
How can the truth of moon and sun,
Align with doctrines man has spun?
Day of Atonement, our lives to weigh,
Speaks not of years but a single day.
Its shadow points to a day to come,
When sins are cleansed and justice done.
O Saturday flock, arise, awake!
The ancient paths you must retake.
The full moon’s light, the sacred sign,
Reveals the truth by Yah’s design.
For feasts endure, their purpose clear,
To guide the faithful, year by year.
Until the final trumpet sounds,
And heaven’s joy eternal abounds.
Reject the fraud, the cunning snare,
Return to Yahuah’s loving care.
The moon, the stars, and sun’s embrace,
Declare His TIME, His saving grace.
So let the rhythms of heaven’s span,
Shape the walk of every man.
The Lamb leads on, His truth prevails,
In lunar light, His love unveils.
by Kerrie French
(with AI assist)
