Leap Year Calendar: Solar Science vs Biblical Blueprints

Since the Leap Year calendar began, timekeeping has evolved into a highly calculated process. However, long before supercomputers, the Bible provided the blueprints for monitoring times and seasons. This post also shares a dream which brings light to this topic.

Whereas the West uses a solar calendar, other nations or religions observe a lunar or dual lunar-solar calendar. For example, the Chinese, Jewish, Buddhists, Persians, and Hindus observe different days or months.

According to timeanddate.com, the Persian calendar is the most accurate, off only by one second every 110,000 years. Impressive.

Some calendars are more famous and sophisticated than others, for example, the Mayan. However, the most influential calendar may have come from Rome.

Finding Rome, Losing Time

“All roads lead to Rome” is a common saying, and indicators are that calendars do, too.

According to Britannica, Rome amended their annual 10-month lunar calendar to 12 months, but it still fell ten and ¼ days short of the solar year (the time it takes the earth to orbit the sun). So, their leaders added an intercalation month to resolve the gap.

Next, Emperor Julius Caesar (around 46 BC) sought to improve the calendar. His Julian calendar maintained the 12 months but added an extra day every four years to account for a 0.25 difference to the solar year.

Later, in 1582, a Roman senator turned Pope (Gregory) authorized a Leap Day every four years to correct a more accurate 0.24 difference per year. Skip all century years, unless divisible by 400 (e.g., leap year in 2000, but not 2100).

Leap Year Calendar Conversions

The British were a little late to adopt the Gregorian calendar and only after political pressure. In 1752, to prepare for the new calendar, their Julian calendar changed the start of their year from March 25, 1751, to January 1, 1752. That year, September 14, 1752, followed September 2, 1752. Quite a Leap that year.

As my Leap Day Countdown post mentioned, the Swedish government updated its calendar even later. In 1753, their citizens went to bed on February 17 and woke up on March 1, eleven (11) days older. That’s a lot of missed birthdays.

Leap Day Song 🎵

Timekeeping has become increasingly complicated because the earth is speeding up, causing discrepancies in Leap Seconds. According to timeanddate.com, 2020 had the 28 shortest days since the 1960s. Also, June 29, 2022 set a new record.

Indeed, if the Leap Year calendar were a song, the choir would be out of sync with the orchestra for each performance. While scientists continue to investigate and tweak their “solar metronome,” a proposal exists to end Leap Seconds for 100 years.

Perhaps it would be helpful to look at the original design of time.

God’s Celestial Clock

The God who created the celestial bodies, times and seasons, with excellence and precision also created days, weeks, months and years which are mentioned in the Scriptures.

• Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; (Genesis 1:14)
• Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also (Genesis 1:16)

No Divine Leap Year Calendar

According to Scripture, the fixed order of the moon is to govern worship and the observance of feast days. (I found no mention of a “fixed solar” year.)

• Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name): (Jeremiah 31:35, NKJV). Note, the ESV version states “fixed order of the moon.”
• And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 66:23)
• The Gentiles: “the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, …(Revelation 11:2-3)
• Elijah prayed three years 6 months (42 months or 1260 days) (James 5:17)
• The Scriptures imply a lunar month is 30 days. Forty-two months x 30 days is 1260 days.

• And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:21)
• While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

Leap Year Calendar Shifting Time

Egypt possibly influenced the Julian calendar’s shift from the lunar to the 365-day solar calendar. (Cesar conquered Egypt and was impressed by their mathematicians. Also, Ancient Egypt worshipped the sun god, Ra, and conveniently, the Romans had their sun god named Sol). In turn, Rome influenced large regions, except for a handful of Eastern or Middle Eastern countries.

Curiosity led me to look at when the Hebrew calendar shifted from lunar to lunar- solar. In the 4th century AD, the Hebrew calendar introduced an intercalary month, Veadar (also called Second Adar or Adar I), for the Hebrew leap year (calculated as seven times in 19 years). Prior to this change, the calendar was lunar and observational.

Veadar intended to keep Mosaic-established feasts in their required seasons (for example, the Passover in Spring). However, God set an ordinance for the moon to mark appointed feasts and seasons, and He specified Nisan (or Abib) to be first month, which was confirmed by observing the new moon and the barley.

Today, Rosh Hashana is recognized as the civil New Year. History reveals that evolving culture often creates changes over time.

Interestingly, the Book of Daniel prophesies that a leader will attempt to change the times and laws of God.

• He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.  ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. (Daniel 7:25-26)

Dream: The Source of True Light

Last week, while writing this post, I saw this dream. A next-door neighbor, whose house was angled next to mine, installed blue-tinted window film to filter the bright white light from my house. Then, she visited my home to help me to prepare a formal dining room table for expected guests. I planned to eat in the family room with my family. (End)

(Watch the VIDEO reenactment on YouTube)

My neighbor (unknown identity) received blue light (revelation) from my house (me). Then, she helped me to prepare to teach others. I preferred to eat with my family (heavenly), the Source of my revelation. The Light, of course, is God’s.

I suddenly realized that very little of this post is about Leap Day calendars or timekeeping. It’s really about trusting in God as our Source instead of looking to other sources.

• Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)
• To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20)
• Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Science and culture can be influential authorities regarding how we should think, what we should do, how to manage our health, and how to spend our time and money.

Further, the changing of dates serves to blur or confuse the timelines or prophecy. (Prophecy testifies of Jesus Christ, Revelation 19:10). However, the Word of God, interpreted by the Holy Spirit, should be and remain our primary Source.

The Celestial Song-set

How will this celestial song and shift (I mean bait-and-switch) end? Wouldn’t we all love to know? But Lord Jesus said:

• “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7)

Still, the Bible tells us what we can expect at the End. There will be no day and night, and possibly, no need to track time.

• “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. (Isaiah 60:19)

Leap Day calendar aside, it seems that humanity will eventually understand that God’s ways and wisdom are above all others. Happy Birthday to Leapers everywhere!