When Does A Scriptural Day Start?
Understanding that the ordinary Scriptural calendar day was reckoned from daybreak to daybreak (or dawn to dawn) is essential for understanding Genesis 1, Exodus 12, Deut. 16, and many other scriptural passages, including Hosea 6:1-3, and passages concerning the timing Messiahs death and resurrection. When a day begins is a foundational truth to understanding the Torah and the Prophets, and Messiahs exact fulfillment of the third day prophecies.
This focuses on Scripture verses that prove that a day starts in the morning.
Putting theology aside for a minute, ask yourself:
The Scriptural new year begins in spring when the sun shines longer during a day and nature comes back to life. Does the concept of a day starting when the sun goes down align with nature?
Does it make logical sense for a day to begin at sunset, at a time when man has finished from his daily labor?
The nighttime is a time for sleep: does it make sense for a fresh, new day to begin when humankind, and creation as a whole, goes to sleep?
Absolutely not!
On the other hand, does it not make much more sense that a day begins at sunrise, a time of daily new beginnings?
Does it not make more sense for a day to begin at sunrise when most life forms on this earth awake for a fresh start to a bright, new day?
Absolutely!
There is no Scripture proof that a day begins when the sun sets and there is ample proof that it starts when the sun begins to dominate the sky.
Post AD 70 Judaism typically claims that a day always begins at sunset, and has forgotten the Temple Era definition of the day. This post Temple dogma is 180 degrees wrong, and diametrically opposed to the Chronology of Messiah. A day always begins at the daybreak and only the twenty-four hour period for a Sabbath is an exception! Messianic Jews and Messianic Israelites, along with most other Christians have followed Judaism headlong into this error, despite the fact that a minority of top Jewish and Christian scholars have pointed out the error, including Hebrew Scholars Franz Delitzsch (Commentary on Genesis) and Jacob Milgrom (JPS Torah Commentary on Genesis). The logic and language of Scripture refutes the sunset tradition as does applied historical chronology.
We do not share the presupposition of the traditionalists that the sunset day is correct, but require historical proofs based only on accurate translation of the original Hebrew, the scientific method, and sound linguistics, and not circular reasoning from the tradition or authorities. We require historical proof to be based on mutually accepted sources without the contamination of the erring tradition, which would render proof circular or invalid. We require and present the proof based on the facts alone.
I. A literal day is defined from dawn to dusk.
II. The ordinary twenty-four hour period, as defined in scripture, is a day and a night. One period is a cycle of day and night timed from the dawn of one day to the dawn of the next day.
III. The twenty-four hour period of all Sabbaths are defined as a night and a day. The twenty-four hour period of the weekly Sabbath is defined to start with the sunset after the sixth literal day, and ends with the sunset (or dusk) at the end of the seventh literal day. There are therefore two types of twenty-four hour periods, one for the ordinary calendar period, and another for Sabbaths.
IV. A regular twenty-four hour period is called a calendar day, and it is understood that day in this context means a period of time, and not a literal day.
Lucifer, The Most High God's enemy, has stolen the worship due the Creator by changing the calendar used to find the seventh-day Sabbath. But that is not all he has changed. He has even changed when a day begins!
Daniel 7:25
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The Sabbath day is the only law that has both a time and a commandment.
The modern 24-hour "day" begins at midnight. Jews and Saturday-Sabbatarians begin their Sabbaths Friday evening at sunset. However, Scripture reveals when the day begins and it is neither midnight nor sunset.
Day begins at dawn and ends at dusk. The night is ruled by the moon and stars, therefore, day begins when the stars disappear - before actual sunrise and ends when they appear after sunset.
Psalms 136:9
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The night begins at dusk and ends at dawn.
A calendar date is not synonymous with a day. In contrast a calendar date includes both the day and the night, but also begins at dawn. A day is only the first half of the calendar date, while the night is the second half.
Creation week began when the Creator said, "Let there be light!" The first day of the first week of this world began with the creation of light.
And AHAYAH divided the light from the darkness. . .. The Most High called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So, the evening and the morning were the first day. (See Genesis 1:4-5)
When AHAYAH separated the light from the darkness, He called the light "Day" and then He defined that "day" as being made up of both the evening and the morning:
Genesis 1:5
"So, the evening and the morning were the first day."
When Moses wrote the book of Genesis, he did not lack the word "night." In Genesis, he defined the day to include both of the transition times, evening, and morning. If the day began at midnight or at sunset, Moses would not have written that the evening and the morning were all part of the day.
Leviticus 23:32 is the main Bible text that is used to support the "day" beginning at sunset, let's have a look:
Leviticus 23:32
It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
When the text is read in context, however, it becomes clear that it cannot be applied to every day or even the seventh-day Sabbath. Leviticus 23:26-32 contains AHAYAH’S directions regarding Day of Atonement. If every day began at evening, He would not have needed to tell the Israelites to begin their observance of Day of Atonement the evening before.
"Day of Atonement" spans two calendar dates: the ninth and the tenth.
Leviticus 23:27 and 32
27 "On the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: . . . It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."
Leviticus 23:32
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
If the day began at evening, Moses would have simply been told: "Day of Atonement is on the tenth day of the seventh month." Day begins with the coming of light. Evening does not begin the day of the ninth. Neither does evening begin any other day, including the seventh-day Sabbath.
The sun was given to rule over the day.
Day begins with the coming of light and is over when there is no longer enough light for the sun to be ruling. Centuries later the Saviour asked,
John 11:9
9 "Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him".
No one argued with Him! Everyone knew that the day began with the coming of light. The hours of the day were divided evenly into twelve parts, as shown on a sundial. Hours were longer in the summer, and shorter in the winter, but each day had only 12 hours.
Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Yasha reveal this timing of beginning the day.
Matthew 28:1
"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
The first day of the week did not begin until light began to grow in the Eastern sky. Likewise, the evening after the crucifixion, the Sabbath did not begin at sunset. Scripture clearly states that the priests and rulers did not want the bodies to remain on the cross over the Sabbath:
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Christ, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs. (See John 19:31-33.)
Death by crucifixion generally took several days. The whole point to hasten the death of the victims was so that they could be taken off their crosses before the Sabbath began at dawn the next day.
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Christ. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Christ. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb, and departed. (See Matthew 27:57-60.)
This took a long time!
· Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body. (Matthew 28:58)
· Pilate did not believe Christ could die so quickly from a process that typically took several days. He sent for the centurion to confirm the Messiah’s death. (Mark 15:44, 45)
· Joseph went and got burial linens, returned to Golgotha, and removed the body. (Mark 15:46)
· Nicodemus arrived bringing 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes for preparing the body for burial. (John 19:39)
· The body was likely washed before being bound in "strips of linen with the spices." (John 19:40)
· The body was then laid to rest in Joseph's own tomb which was nearby. (Matthew 27:59, 60)
A Biblical day begins at dawn, with the earliest
introduction of the sun's light (before sunrise).
This was a very lengthy process that took the entire night. The Sabbath did not begin at "even" because that was the very time Joseph of Arimathea first went to Pilate to ask for the body!
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went into Pilate and asked for the body of Christ.
(See Mark 15:42-43.)
The work of burying the Saviour finished just as the Sabbath began to dawn.
Luke 23:53, 54
"And he Joseph of Arimathea took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on."
"The phrase translated 'drew on' in this text, is the Greek word, . . . (epiphosko). The definition is startling: 'to begin to grow light: begin to dawn.' It is a form of #2017, . . . (epiphauo), which means 'to illuminate . . . give light.' Because they waited until evening to even begin the process of seeking permission to take the body, taking it down, cleaning and wrapping it, etc., it took them the night hours to do their work. They did not finish until the Sabbath began as it started to grow light."
(eLaine Vornholt and L. L. Vornholt-Jones, The Great Calendar Controversy, p. 40.)
The first thing The Most High did after creating light was to divide light from darkness. He then named the two different parts that He had separated. The light part He called "Day" and the dark part He called "Night." It is a principle of Scripture that what God Almighty has joined together, let no man separate. (See Mark 10:9.) Likewise, what AHAYAH has separated, no man should join together. Claiming the day begins at midnight or at sunset joins together what the Creator has separated.
Lucifer boasted that he would “change times and laws.” (Daniel 7:25) By changing the day of worship, the calendar used to find that day, and even when the day begins, he has stolen worship that rightfully belongs to the Creator.
The prophet Daniel had foretold a religious power would arise that would think to change
times and laws. Within the Ten Commandments, there's only one law that is also a time: the Sabbath.
Many Christians will argue that the basis for observing Sunday is found in Scripture. And they'll even argue that it does not replace the seventh-day Sabbath. But we have clearly seen that Sunday was meant to replace it. Meanwhile, there is no command found anywhere in scripture that informs us of the seventh day being replaced as a day to be set aside for rest. One thing you have to realize is that the worship of deities was of chief importance to the decision-makers of the ancient world, and many of their decisions have persisted
to this day. The many g-ds they served have crept into Christianity, science, and
even mundane issues we take for granted, such as the names of the days of the week, the names of months, the words we speak on a daily basis, among other things.
This is another subject I can Spend endless amounts of time showing you scripture on the sabbath day starting at dawn. I always try and at least drop an educational video with in depth detail about the timelines and scripture backing what I am explaining to you, although I am not affiliated with any denominations, churches, or groups/ camps. There is good content to be learned from them by writing these things as lessons backed with scripture and not just my opinions on any of these important matters. There are to many scripture backing the Sabbath starting at dawn, then there are for an evening to evening sabbath. The evening to evening Sabbath is a tradition that has been in place by the pagans for a very long time. I am never telling you what to follow, my goal has been to bring key points to your attention and You must prove everything I am telling you by studying and research (These are matters between YOU and THE MOST HIGH), nothing as far as truth will ever be handed to you. There is so much more involved with just reading the bible, you must learn what The Most High is showing you. The day dawning in your heart has to do with the key of David, the white stone and learning the parables should be on the top of your list as well. I am bringing this information to you as fast as I can get it to you, with the little amount of time that I have to work on these matters with you to save your soul.
TRUTH IS SOMETHING YOU MUST FIND, NO ONE CAN PROVE TRUTH TO YOU!
Exodus 31:13
13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
