The East-West Time Continuum

Introduction

In a world where all maps are oriented to the north and calendars and clocks are set to commence at midnight or sundown, Scripture quietly and consistently reveals a different divine compass and clock. From Genesis to Revelation, the consistent theme of orientation toward the east emerges as a foundational key to understanding the sacred time system of our Creator, Yahuah Alahim.

Discover what the orientation to the East has to do with the ruling SUN by DAY and the MOON and STARS by NIGHT. How might this orientation define the original and authentic start of years, lunar months (H#2320 – chodesh – new moon, lunar month), days, and the specific first day of the lunar month? 

Hebrew Definition of East

The Hebrew word “EAST” is “kedem/qedem.”  From both Strong’s and Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Lexicons, we discover that the Hebrew word (H6924 -kedem) is a direct reference to EAST, as a point on the compass. But simultaneously and intrinsically, it relates to a point in TIME, not just any point. “EAST” is specifically tied to the “front, beginning, and before.” None of the other compass points identify as “the beginning, the front, or that which is before.” (See the Hebrew definition below.)

 

From Eden to the Sanctuary: The East Gate of Redemption

The Garden of Eden was planted eastward, and after Adam and Eve were driven out because of sin, cherubim with flaming swords were stationed at the east of the Garden to guard the way to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24). In like manner, approximately 2,500 years later, the wilderness Sanctuary and later the Temple were oriented toward the east, with their principal entrance on the eastern side. This sacred entrance symbolically represents the pathway of redemption through Yahusha the Messiah.

By entering through the East Gate and following the east-to-west progression of the Sanctuary services, we discover a prophetic illustration of the Messiah’s restorative work on our behalf. Through its types and shadows, the Sanctuary reveals the divine Blueprint of the Plan of Salvation, inviting all who seek redemption to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” (Revelation 14:4). Its sacred arrangement and ceremonies provide a visual testimony to the restoration of all that was lost through sin.

The East Gate also provides a remarkable witness to the Creator’s appointed calendar. Ezekiel 46:1–3 reveals that this gate remained closed throughout the six working days but was opened on New Moon Days and seventh-day Sabbaths. This distinction supports the understanding of three kinds of days within Yahuah’s original calendar: New Moon Days, six working days, and lunar seventh-day Sabbaths. Together with Genesis 1:14–16, Psalms 104:19, and Isaiah 66:23, this passage challenges the traditional separation of lunar-appointed Feast Days from a weekly Sabbath cycle entirely independent of the New Moon. According to Scripture and within the restored calendar understanding, both Feast Days and Sabbaths belong to the same divinely ordained lunar calendar system of sacred time.

 

The Front and What Comes Before

EAST is the most vital point on a compass as it marks the “beginning and the front” of the east-west time continuum. The daily and perpetual sacrifices for confessed sin occurred in the easternmost end of the Temple. The Kadosh Kadoshim (Holy of Holies) and the ark of the covenant were located at its farthest, western end. Therefore, the sinner needed an advocate, a high Kohen priest, to take the blood from the sacrifice and carry it all the way to the farthest west end and sprinkle it upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for it once a year on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  And then return the blessing of forgiveness from the West to the East. If this were not accomplished, the sinner would have no hope and remain without forgiveness.  

From the Book of Mysteries

In his book, “Book of Mysteries,” Jonathan Cahn relates wisdom from his teacher as follows:

     “The earth is a sphere . . . and it turns on its axis on an east-west continuum. Therefore, the earth has a north pole and a south pole, but no east or west pole.”

     “There is a measurable distance from the south pole to the north pole.  Since there are two poles, the distance is limited.  All north comes to an end at the North Pole.  And all south ends at the South Pole.

If the Temple had been built on a north-south continuum, then sin would have been removed a few thousand miles from the sinner, in a limited distance. But how far is the east from the west? East and West have no poles. Therefore, they never end. East and west are infinite. They go on forever. In fact, the Hebrew word for the EAST, kedem, also means everlasting.”

     “But back then no one knew the earth was a SPHERE.”

     “Alahim (God) did.  And all this is a shadow of the atonement of Messiah, our salvation. So in Messiah, how far does Alahim (God) remove your sins from you? An infinity away . . . an eternity away.  And if you had all eternity, you could never find them again.  As it is written, ‘So far has He removed our sins away from us . . . AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST.’”

     The temple and its ceremonies performed on earth were to provide a word picture and story-line in types and shadows to illustrate the real work of salvation provided by our Messiah on the east-west time continuum.  He alone was to be the Lamb sacrifice, the atoning High Kohen Priest, and the Eternal Father the Judge. 

   Together, they have promised to the confessing sinners, who received forgiveness, “So far has He removed our sins away from us . . . AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST.”  Psalms 103:12 Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn

Sun, Moon, and Stars All Rule From East-West 

The sun, moon, and stars were placed in the heavens to rule at their appointed time according to the boundary markers of the exact same east-west time continuum. 

To define the DAY, the greater light (the SUN) rules and measures time by daylight, from sunrise to sunset (east to west).  The lesser light (specifically the full New/Renewed Moon) was ordained to rule and measure time by night together with the stars, from sunset to sunrise. This was to define the parameters of the darkness of night, but also the start of the lunar month. The moon and stars rule together from east to west without the presence of the SUN, one night only per month. This demonstrates that the SUN, MOON, and STARS visual display was stunningly ordained to begin their rule on the east-west time continuum, for which the prophetic Temple system was synchronized. 

The east-west time continuum identifies the start of YEARS, lunar MONTHS, lunar WEEKS, and the rising and setting of each unique lunar phase, designed to demarcate one day from the next for 29-30 DAYS. Even the start of the DAY was permanently linked to the east with the sun’s rising. The starting points in the east set the Creator’s authentic calendar model apart from all the other calendars of the world, whether modern or from antiquity. All the pagan time-measuring systems have been removed from their eastern bearings. Add to this that most fraudulent units of time are born of darkness or a mixture of light and dark. Meanwhile, each of the three of the Creator’s ruling LIGHTS rule in their brilliant fullness.

From the EAST unto the WEST THE FULL MOON IS AUTHENTICATED as the NEW MOON (announcing the start of the lunar month). It is the only visible and light-bearing lunar phase that spans the night sky from EAST to WEST, ruling the entire night in opposition to the sun (after sunset), to fulfill Genesis 1:16, Psalms 136:7-9, Jeremiah 31:35-36, and Revelation 12:1.

Note that the night of the full moon is the last night of the month. In its brilliance during the dark of night, it announces that at sunrise, the new month will begin. It can be easily verified at the moment of sunrise when the sun and moon give a nod to each other before the full moon sets in the west. This is the announcement that the New Month has begun.

Isaiah 28 Explains How to Recognize the Authentic New Moon

     “Therefore thus says YAHUAH Alahim, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation a stone [used of the Messiah and the full New Moon], a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:     
     And you shall appoint this ordinance and divine law [of the full New Moons] for the measuring-line and righteousness [obedience] for the plummet.  And together, these [full New Moon & Messiah] shall sweep away Yahuah’s judgments, as a refuge from falsehoods and deception, and a shelter of protection.  
    Waters shall wash away and cancel your alliance with death, and your compact with hell shall not be carried out. A scourge of national judgment will rush in, then they shall cause it to cease to exist [the full New Moon Corner-stone], these [the full New Moons] will become forgotten and trodden under foot.
    From out of their abundance [the fully waxed New Moons] they shall CROSS OVER [cross over the night sky & syzygy line of opposition to the sun], and it shall be your SIGN MARKER from first to last.  For assuredly with sunrise on the morrow, they shall CROSS OVER [cross over the syzygy line of opposition to the sun] in the daylight. But by night it shall be the established beacon, yet surely, an object of controversy to understand and heed the announcement.” Isaiah (YeshiYahu) 28:16-19

Refer to – The Creator’s Calendar Restored Text

Which Light was Ordained for Sacred Assemblies?

The first chapter of Genesis provides the time stamp for all of our Creator’s time units.  The astro-luni-solar calendar mechanism in the shamayim (heavens) is the only calendar identified in Scripture. It is the perpetual motion of this trinity of LIGHTS, with their TIME-CENTRIC interlocking gear system of the sun, moon, and stars, that was established by Yahuah Alahim (Eternal Father) at Creation. Earth was marvelously placed within the center of this dynamic calendar and clock system to ensure worship synchronization between heaven and earth, the Creator and the created.

No wall calendars, wristwatches, or international datelines were needed because all were perfectly incorporated into the rhythm of the lights high above and out of the reach of man and beast. Each unit of time was ordained to fit perfectly into the next larger unit with no overlapping. This is because they were all beaconed by the same trinity of lights in a marvelous pattern and rhythm that set each apart. This reality alone provides a consistent and visual platform through which mankind may meet with the Creator for all His sacred appointed times.  

“And Alahim said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the shamayim (heavens) to divide the day from the night; and let them be for SIGNS (#226 – oth = remembrances with a distinguishing mark); SEASONS (#4150 – mo’edim = lunar appointed time of worship assemblies); DAYS (#3117 – yom = 12 hour days followed by the four night watches); and YEARS (#8141 – shanah = year as a measure of time)…” Genesis 1:14

The Psalmist provides evidence that the term translated as “seasons” (#4150-mo’ed) in Genesis 1:14 directly refers to lunar appointed times of worship assembly. This is because the Creator ordained the MOON to beacon its glorious light (as opposed to darkness) from which all the appointed times of worship assembly are counted. 

“He ordained the MOON for ‘seasons’ (#4150 – mo’edim = lunar appointed times)…” Psalms 104:19

The above verse should say in plain English:  “He ordained the MOON for lunar appointed times.” By extension, all appointed times are lunar because our Creator ordained the moon to govern them. The term “seasons” is entirely incorrect.

The following verse is not from the Bible; it is a historical reference that supports the biblical truths. 

Interestingly enough, before the fall in the Garden, the only lunar-appointed times of worship were the New Moon Day and the lunar Sabbath. After the fall, a regular lamb sacrifice was instituted on the 14th of Abib to occur each year unto perpetuity as evidence of the long-promised Messiah, the LAMB of Yahuah, to take away the sins of the world. At the time of Yasharal’s (Israel’s) Exodus from Egypt, this sacrifice was restored and given the name Passover (Pasch). But it had previously existed as the great sign and promise of the coming Messiah.

Within the next several months of Yasharal’s wilderness journey, all the other lunar-appointed times of worship assemblies (prophetic annual Feast Days) were appointed and named. 

Fifteen days before the Exodus from Egypt, Yahuah Alahim restored His sacred calendar to Moses and Aaron, synchronizing Yasharal once again to the correct use of the sun, moon, and stars.  Only upon these corrected time-centric principles could the wilderness Sanctuary be established, providing the accurate rhythm for all the Most High’s appointed and sacred days, yearly, monthly, and weekly.

All other calendars have divorced aspects of these guiding LIGHTS, favoring the modern witty calendar invention of men instead. The surest sign of an artificial unit of time is that it either is not beaconed by the LIGHTS or is not a subdivision of the next larger unit of time.

Artificial time was proactively crafted to remove the Creator from time and man from the binding claims of His Torah Laws and the promise of Salvation. This was the great assault on the worship calendar declared first by Lucifer in Isaiah 14:13 and later spoken of by the prophet Daniel in Daniel 7:25. For if the method of measuring time could be altered, at least in the people’s minds, Lucifer could successfully throw a wrench in the Creator’s plan of restoring mankind,  His remedy for sin.

But despite all the calendar chaos that was to occur, the reality is that Yahuah chose to utilize this apparent time-altered problem as part of His end-time test of faithfulness. No different than He did 14 days before the first Passover.  Most of us were taught that the first test before leaving Egypt was fulfilling the rules of Passover, but the first test was actually being willing to reconnect with the Creator’s original full moon as their New Moon, in this way disengaging with the calendar of their slave masters. 

It is this subject for which the process of restoring His authentic calendar time-keeping method will show forth His true, faithful, and obedient followers who hear His voice, in contrast to those who, under peer pressure, will continue to follow an assortment of church dogmas on a solar calendar, keeping either Saturday or Sunday as the Sabbath and utterly ignoring His sacred Full New Moon Days, and lunar appointed Feast Days. In essence, these would rather follow after the manmade systems of the world, illustrating that they utterly lack spiritual discernment.

How Did the East Orientation Change?

But how did it all change? Apparently, non-Hebrews and non-believers originally changed the orientation to the East, first in Babylon, then in Egypt, and later in Rome. Some say the change was attributed to Ptolemy of Alexandria, Egypt.

“Claudia Ptolemy (90-168 AD), a classical Greek cartographer was credited with creating the first known atlas. His collection of cartography in Geographia was an early example of orienting maps towards the north. North orientation came back into favor during the Great Age of Exploration with the need for seafaring explorers to orient themselves with their compasses.  The importance of orienting maps towards the north was a reflection of the importance of knowing where magnetic north was. Today, a north orientation is commonplace among many cartographers and almost all online mapping applications.”  Wikipedia  https://www.geographyrealm.com/map-orientation/

The Dead Sea Scrolls provide evidence that there were calendar wars among some factions long before the first and second centuries A.D. And no doubt among other nations as well.

The Romans took up the banner to utterly eliminate all things within their power and jurisdiction with any ties to the meaningful traditions of the hated Jewish captives and their Torah Law of instructions. But most predominantly, changing the calendar was the surest method of undermining the marvelous PLAN OF SALVATION, the compassionate system our Creator ordained to synchronize earthlings with His unique worship rhythm contained only in His east-west time-measuring model.

Later, in the fourth century A.D., the Rabbinical Jews succumbed to the pressure of their Roman captors to change their calendar. This change forever compromised their calendar’s orientation to the east and their ties to their original mission on earth, as the chosen people to guard and protect the sacred and set-apart oracles of Yahuah.   

What You Learned in this Article

What might this East-West time continuum reveal about the original and authentic New Moon and the start of lunar months?

1. The Hebrew word for east (kedem H#6924) means front, beginning, and what comes before. 
2. The Garden of Eden was oriented to East as well as the wilderness sanctuary and later temples.
3. All biblical time units are oriented to the EAST and are manifest by the sun, moon, and stars as they arise. 
4. The SUN, STARS, and MOON only rule the heavens when they are VISIBLE, rising in the east and setting in the west.
5. The Psalmist writes in Psalms 104:19, “He ordained the MOON for SEASONS (#4150 – mo’ed = specific lunar appointed times)...” Meaning that ALL HOLY DAYS are appointed by the MOON, but so are all days of the month and year.
6. Each day of the month has its own unique lunar phase.  
7. The east and west are opposites. This is how when you are forgiven it is said that “your sins are removed as far as the east is from the west.”  
8. Any calendar that utilizes the moon but begins its lunar count either when the sun is present or when that (dark or crescent) lunar phase is in the west, is the surest sign of an unorthodox calendar system not ordained by the Father of Lights (James 1:17). 
9. Our Creator has never changed what He set forth at creation. Only rebellious mankind has done this to provide mankind with a well-groomed but faulty paradigm. 
10. Only one lunar phase meets all the criteria of rising in the east with the stars and ruling together all night long, without the presence of the sun.  
11. The Karaite Jews begin their month with a crescent moon in the western sky as it is setting. 
12. The Rabbinical Pharisee Jews begin their lunar month according to a a dark moon during the daylight instead of by night.
13. The Romans have eliminated the moon for measuring time altogether, and set up a calendar in all ways opposed to the Torah Law of Yahuah. 

Conclusion

From the opening chapters of Genesis to the prophetic restoration of all things, Scripture reveals a consistent divine pattern: Yahuah Alahim established the heavenly luminaries to govern all units of time, with their visible movements from east to west providing the foundation for His lunar-appointed calendar. This eastward orientation was neither accidental nor arbitrary, but part of the Creator’s magnificent design for synchronizing earthly worship with His heavenly appointments.

Within this divine arrangement, the full moon stands as the only brilliant nighttime witness announcing the beginning of each new lunar month and year. Rising in the east and traversing the heavens throughout the night, it signals the approaching New Moon Day, which begins the following sunrise. From this original starting point, the lunar month unfolds through its divinely appointed 29- or 30-day count, beginning with the full New Moon Day, followed by four complete cycles of six working days and a seventh-day Sabbath.

The East Gate of the Sanctuary provides a remarkable prophetic witness to this sacred order. Ezekiel 46:1–3 distinguishes New Moon Days, six working days, and seventh-day Sabbaths, challenging the traditional separation of lunar-appointed Feast Days from an independently cycling weekly Saturday Sabbath. When considered alongside Genesis 1:14–16, Psalms 104:19, and Isaiah 66:23, these passages support the understanding that Yahuah’s sacred appointments belong to one harmonious calendar, governed by the heavenly luminaries rather than the artificial divisions crafted by mankind.

Yet the east-west time continuum reveals something even greater than the correct reckoning of sacred time. From Eden’s guarded entrance to the Sanctuary’s eastward gate, and onward to the Kadosh ha Kadoshim in the west, the entire arrangement portrays the prophetic Blueprint of the Plan of Salvation. Yahusha haMashiach, our sacrificial Lamb and eternal High Priest, is the only Way through which fallen humanity may be restored to the Father. Through His atoning ministry, the promise is fulfilled: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12)

The call before us, therefore, is not merely to rediscover an ancient calendar, but to restore our worship, obedience, and very lives to the Creator’s original design. To “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” (Revelation 14:4) is to walk in harmony with His revealed instructions, recognizing that sacred time and the prophetic events of salvation were established together by the same divine authority.

May Yahuah grant us the wisdom to recognize His heavenly signs, the humility to abandon inherited error, and the courage to walk in the ancient paths of truth. For when we return to the Creator’s original starting points for all His units of time, we are called not merely to measure time correctly, but to synchronize our soul temples with the Father of Lights (James 1:17), in preparation for the eternal restoration of all things.

HALLELUYAH!

For further study, refer to The Blood-Stained Trail of Promise.

May Yahuah continue to guide you as you seek to synchronize your soul temple to that of the FATHER OF LIGHTS (James 1:17) and salvation’s prophetic time-centric revelations.

Song… While You Were Sleeping

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For more on when the day begins, refer to the following articles:

Sunrise or Sunset, When Does the Day Begin?

Three Months in a Row Part 1 – 4

Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?