ReadMe File on 2nd Temple Calendar by Wayne Atchison

This Calendar Presentation contains a great deal of study material.  The problem is that none of us were living during the time periods in question, and therefore no one can actually “prove” which calendar system the priests of the Temple of YHWH were actually using.  Since the calendar question cannot be “proven”, our only other option is to investigate, and thereby amass an overwhelming preponderance of objective historical evidence.  That is exactly what this Calendar Presentation has accomplished.

The phrase:  “overwhelming preponderance of objective historical evidence” is purposefully chosen.  This Calendar Presentation makes every effort to adhere to the following criteria:

            “OVERWHELMING”:  The goal is amass so much evidence demonstrating that the author’s calendar conclusions are historically valid, that the reader is literally overwhelmed.  This achievement is necessary just in case an opponent may find one or two pieces of evidence that may claim to demonstrate against the author’s conclusions.

            “PERPONDERANCE”:  Even if some conflicting evidence by an opponent is presented, the reasonable person will still conclude the author’s calendar conclusions, based upon the overwhelming evidence amassed.  The calendar question should not be answered by emotion, but by logical evaluation of the evidence.

            “OBJECTIVE”:  The evidence comes from a neutral source, and/or, the author of the evidence, his own bias, does not influence the claims that are derived from using the evidence.

            “HISTORICAL”:  The evidence was written during the contemporary time period being studied.

            “EVIDENCE”:  The evidence being cited is valid, even in a court of law.  Absolutely rejected is “hearsay”;  articles, commentaries, and encyclopedias that make claims about the ancient calendar, but then fail to cite any supporting references to physically verifiable historical documents.  Anyone can say anything, as long as they do not have to provide any real evidence to support what they say.

It is hoped that the reader will agree that this Calendar Presentation succeeds in amassing an “overwhelming preponderance of objective historical evidence”.

The reader should begin by reading file “Enc202.rtf”, and then branch out to the other RTF files as their study progresses.

In Service To The Brethren,

Wayne L. Atchison,

An Elder in the Body of the Messiah