—–Original Message—–
From: Howard Bass
To: James Dwyer
Date: Monday, March 29, 1999 10:32 AM
Subject: Eclipses and other Things

Hello Jim,

Thanks again for your patient answers to my questions.

Regarding the crucifixion, I wouldn’t think that it’s occurrence was “one day in advance of a possible New Moon” since from the New Testament eyewitness account, Jesus was sacrificed on the 14th or 15th of Nisan (the first Hebrew month), and therefore the day after the mid-lunar Full Moon, being Passover.

The other question regarding the solar movements is more simply to ask if whether from your findings –standing on earth–can it be ascertained if the earth revolves around the sun or vice-versa, or a combination of both (like the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe deduced from his observations).

Thanks again for your indulgence and your most interesting research.

Respectfully,
Howard

At 10:32 31/03/99 -0600, you wrote:
Greetings Howard,

In reference to your correspondence, I need to ask you a question in return, but first let me try to clear up your question concerning the motions.

About the motions, I think you might be questioning whether the current project has more to do with Cosmology rather than Astronomy. This distinction is something I have been thinking about as of late, but it seems that because the motions of the Sun and Moon are transliterated on (or over) the Earth then from the vantage point of an observer on Earth the transliterated motions reflect the actual motions. (The transliterated motions are significant because they indicate an intelligently interrelated Earth/Moon/Sun system… just as the biblical texts seem to explain).

My first question to you concerns your statement concerning the crucifixion.  You stated: “… it seems from the New Testament eyewitness account that Jesus was sacrificed on the 15th of Nisan (the first Hebrew month), and therefore the day after the mid-lunar full moon”. Is this statement what you really wanted to say? Could you please more fully elaborate? (I would be very interested in learning more).

I have an additional question which comes from a study of ancient Celtic History in Ireland, and I will first need to fill in a few historical details in order to frame up my question.

According the the Irish historian, MacManus, Christian congregations formed in Ireland before Palladius and Patrick came in the firth century. This hypothesis seems somewhat plausible based upon very sketchy history. For example, Eusebius and Nicephorus recorded that some of the apostles visited the western Islands, and Usher also quotes Nicephorus’s Ecclesiastical History where Simon Zelotus brought the Gospel to these [Irish] islands (and he later was crucified in Britian].  Julian of Toledo says that James addressed a canonical letter from Ireland to the Jews in Spain. Vincentius of Bauvais says that James the Son of Zebedee preached in Ireland and that when he returned to Jerulalem he was martyred.

This interesting hypothesis of early Christians in Ireland leads to some very surprising details recorded in Irish history. It seems that Irish history straightforwardly makes a claim of descendency or lineage from the House of Israel.

This then is my question, do you have any knowledge of this interesting topic, and if so could you please furnish any opinions, ideas, details, references, etc

Sincerely,
James

Greetings,

If I understand you answer rightly, then the apparent motions of the moon and the sun from our vantage point are the actual motions. i.e. the sun moves in relation to the earth, as does the moon.  Is that accurate?

My statement regarding the date of Jesus’ crucifixion being on the day following the mid-lunar month full moon in the first Hebrew month (Nisan or Aviv)[Exodus 12:2,6; Matt. 26:2; Lk 22:7; John 13:1] is what I meant to say.  That day — which is today this year — is the first full day of Passover, beginning the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days, thus representing all time (history):  Jesus’s sacrificial atoning death and His burial and resurrection deal with redemption and salvation from sin past, present, and future –covering all historic time.  The full moon disallows a natural solar eclipse as an explanation for the heavy darkness which occurred over a three-hour period from noon till 3:00 p.m., not to mention that a solar eclipse does not leave darkness for such a long time.  Dating-wise, including from unbelieving Jewish sources like the Talmud, it seems that Jesus died in the year 30 at about the age of 33 years and some months.

Regarding Irish history, with which I am not too familiar, I have read accounts of how disciples, even perhaps apostles of Yeshua, went throughout the then known world, especially of the Roman Empire though not exclusive to it (as even recorded in the Book of Acts), proclaiming God’s good news of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God granting forgiveness of sins by the grace of God to all who belive in HIM.  That being so, it is quite possible that Irish history was impacted by one or other of the Jewish Israeli apostles of the Lord who preached salvation to the Gentiles in what is today Ireland.  You could say that Ireland was “gospelized” at an early date if their historic tradition is correct.

I hope that these brief answers help clarify what you are dealing with.  There are times when interpretation of facts, or even sufficient data, is an imperative in order for knowledge to become information leading to understanding allowing for wisdom.  Otherwise there is no meaning or purpose permissible for the design by the originator or Creator.

Regards,
Howard