There are about 40 calendars operating in today's world. Some of the more known ones are the Gregorian, the Bible/Jewish, the Islamic, the Hindu, the Ethiopian, and the Chinese calendars.

However, the calendar in universal usage in today's world is the Roman calendar. It is also known as the Gregorian calendar. But how did its usage come about, knowing as we do that it is Elohim himself who ordained time at Creation (Genesis 1:5, 14 - 15) and actually embedded a calendar within the Bible for human use? Furthermore, all the different calendars cannot ALL be accurate in so far as God's purposes for man here on earth are concerned. That is why King David prayed, "...teach us to number our days ARIGHT, that we may gain a heart of wisdom..." (Psalm 90:12, NIV, paraphrased and emphasis added). The underlining subtext here is that if we allow ourselves to be taught to number our days by someone else other than our Creator, the possibility of being misled cannot be discounted. The Bible also makes it clear that God will always remain true but human beings are prone to lying (Romans 4:3).

The claim of the Roman calendar for a celebration of a "new year" in the middle of the northern hemisphere's winter must therefore be investigated. Is this claim valid? What is the celebration all about?! Does it honour the Maker of TIME and the SEASONS? And if not, to whose honour does the world labour in these festivities? 

First, the origins. The Romans, under the military genius of Julius Caesar brought the whole Mediterranean world to subjugation about 168 BC. These conquests also brought ancient Egypt under Roman rule. It was from the Egyptians that Julius Caesar adopted the solar calendar, which the Romans renamed the Julian Calendar (no doubt in keeping with Caucasian Eurocentrism)! Later, Pope Gregory the Great modified it into the current 12 month Roman calendar. So when it comes down to brass tacks, it is clear that this is a calendar that originates from a people that Elohim warned Israel about: 

"... I am the LORD your Elohim, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage..." (Exodus 20:1-2)

The underlying message here is that the child of Elohim should be wary of practices emanating from Mizraim. 

Secondly, is the calendar honouring Elohim? No sir, almost all the months therein are named for heathen Roman deities. For example, January is named for Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doors, beginnings and inceptions. It is Janus (in Roman liturgical thinking) who closes the door on 2020 and opens the door to 2021! The wild festivities slated for midnight December 31st are therefore in honour of Janus and not the Almighty God of Israel. Should a child of the one true Creator participate in such celebrations?  The Apostle Paul wrote that the sacrifices of Gentiles are offered to devils and not to God (1 Corinthians 10:19-20).

February is named for Februrus, a Roman deity of purification, March for Mars, the Roman god of war etc. 

So given the above facts, a true child of Elohim cannot, in all good conscience, participate in the revelries associated with Rome's so-called "New Year". I put New Year in quotation marks because, the real new year comes in the Spring (late March, or early April) with the passing of Winter. The thawing ground "springs" into life with fresh vegetative growth, animals coming out of hibernation etc. Everything is new or renewed! Rome's "new year", on the contrary, comes at a time when the ground is frozen, times are hard for all life forms and the spectre of death looms for all who cannot withstand the vagaries of that cruel season. In short, there is nothing in the natural order to indicate the beginning of a year. 

Furthermore, the ancient prophet Daniel foresaw this unfortunate turn of events. Daniel warned of a political power that would seek to change the set times as ordained by Elohim (Daniel 7:25). The only such power that has accurately responded to this call of prophecy is the Roman Empire. Beginning with the Age of Discovery and later the Industrial Revolution, European powers (a mutated form of the Roman Empire) set out to conquer the entire world (Daniel 7:23-24). Rome trampled on the entire planet destroying kingdoms, civilizations, religions, cultures, carving up huge colonies etc. In their stead, they set up their own version of civilization (which included the papal version of Christianity). Rome's religion was taught in Missionary and later government schools. It was also forced down the throats of conquered peoples in churches (not necessarily the Bible truth). Rome was not been content just to substitute Sunday for Saturday as a day of rest but went ahead to institute many other unscriptural festivals of precept such as Christmas, Easter, Good Friday etc. In fact, they actually shunted aside the entire Bible Calendar (with all it festivals as outlined in Leviticus 23), in favour of a wholly pagan calendar! 

So as 2020 comes to an end, one would do well to be cautious and avoid all such activities as may pollute oneself from Rome's idols. Shalom.

By Elder Chang'andu.