Sabbath Begins In The Morning?
Our last few posts have been highlighting the fact that a biblical day began in the morning and that a biblical Sabbath also begins in the morning.
Evening And The Morning Were The First Day
Those who refuse to believe point to “and evening and the morning were the first day” as saying the day began in the evenings. We have already dealt with that in this post, which shows 3 possible interpretations for this verse. It then shows up the only one interpretation that does not contradict scripture.
From Evening To Evening You Shall Keep Your Sabbaths
Unbelievers also point to: from evening to evening you shall keep your Sabbaths (Day of Atonement). They use this as a broad , sweeping rule for all Sabbaths. We already looked at whether from even to even is a general rule for all Sabbaths, but will touch it again in this post.
What We Aim To Prove: Sabbath Begins In The Morning
Now the aim of this post is to prove without a doubt, that a biblical Sabbath began in the mornings. As such, our Sabbaths must also begin in the morning. So, we will begin with the Day of Atonement, which is a special Sabbath as it is the only full fasting moed (feast).
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto YHWH.
Lev 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.
Day of Atonement Starts On the 9th and Ends on the 10th
Now as we have looked at this before, I will look at it quickly. In verse 27, it tells us that the Sabbath is on the 10th day. However, it tells us that the Sabbath begins in the 9th day at evening.
Now if the day began at evening, and runs from evening to evening, then that 9th day would run into the next day. The 10th day would begin at evening the following day. The problem is: day of atonement is only one day!
On the 10th Day vs In the 9th Day
Now look even at the language! The Bible is extremely accurate. Every comma, period and everything else is there for a reason. So too is the difference between
- the word ON, as in on the 10th day
- the word IN, as in the 9th day
On the 10th day means it will occur for the ENTIRE DURATION/throughout the 10th day. In the 9th day means it will occur DURING the 9th day (not the entire duration)!
Therefore, it is obvious that the 9th day at evening starts the Sabbath, which runs into the 10th day, beginning the next morning and ends on the evening of the same 10th day (12-hour day). That is a unique 24 hour fasting Sabbath from evening to evening.
The purpose of this was for us to afflict ourselves and it is obvious a 12 hour complete fast cannot afflict a people who were used to a 12-hour (day) fast. It had to be doubled for us to afflict ourselves.
Evening to Evening Sabbath General Rule?
Now we must also prove that this is not a general rule for all Sabbaths. YHWH specified from evening to evening for day of atonement and not for all Sabbaths (he said from even to even ye shall keep your Sabbath (singular), not keep your SABBATHS (plural). The Bible is very specific and accurate.
So if the day of atonement evidence not enough, let us prove it further through the feast of Pentecost.
Feast of Pentecost
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
English Term: fully come
Greek: συμπληρόω
Transliteration: sumplēroō
Pronunciation: soom-play-ro’-o
Definition: From G4862 and G4137; to implenish completely that is (of space) to swamp (a boat) or (of time) to accomplish (passively be complete): – (fully) come, fill up.
KJV Usage: fill (1x), be come (1x), be fully come (1x).
Occurs: 3
In verses: 3
Now let’s look at the interpretation of Acts 2:1 from 3 different translations:
Acts 2:1 V-PNM/P
GRK: ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὴν ἡμέραν
NAS: of Pentecost had come, they were all
KJV: of Pentecost was fully come, they were
INT: during the ariving of the day
So we see that it literally means when Pentecost began. Now very importantly, let us see what time Pentecost began.
Act 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Pentecost therefore began a little before the 3rd hour. Now if we find out when is the third hour of the day, we find out approximately what time Pentecost (Sabbath) began. Did the 3rd hour refer to 3 am? Let’s see.
Hours Of The Day
The term “hour” referred to a period of time, one-twelfth of the daylight part of the day. While daylight is longer in summer than in winter, and therefore summer “hours” were longer than winter “hours,” as a general rule the first hour was equivalent to 6 to 7 am on a modern-day clock, and so on:
The first hour = 6 to 7 am
The second hour = 7 to 8 am
The third hour = 8 to 9 am
The fourth hour = 9 to 10 am
The fifth hour = 10 to 11 am
The sixth hour = 11 am to 12 pm
The seventh hour = 12 to 1 pm
The eighth hour = 1 to 2 pm
The ninth hour = 2 to 3 pm
The tenth hour = 3 to 4 pm
The eleventh hour = 4 to 5 pm
The twelfth hour = 5 to 6 pm
The term “hour” referred to a period of time, one-twelfth of the daylight part of the day. While daylight is longer in summer than in winter, and therefore summer “hours” were longer than winter “hours,” as a general rule the first hour was equivalent to 6 to 7 am on a modern-day clock, and so on:The Approximate Time Pentecost Began
Notice most importantly, the term third hour referred to daylight hours from a 12-hour day! See 12-hour Sabbath.
So we see, Pentecost was fully come a little before approximately 8 to 9 am. The Sabbath of Pentecost definitely DID NOT begin the evening before! The term “fully come” couple with the time stipulated by Peter says it all!
Proof Sabbath Begins in the Morning
This proves that Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is a unique Sabbath and that all other Sabbaths began in the morning!
The modern Sabbath is a product of the tradition of man. Historical evidence shows that Jews in Babylonian exile learning the way of the heathen. We have come to take their tradition as truth. I praise the Most High Abba YHWH Tseva’oth for bringing us this truth with overwhelming evidence from his word.
The Sabbath lasts for 12-hours on the 7th day, not 24 hours from the evening of the 6th day.
Related:
And The Evening And The Morning Were The First Day: 3 Interpretations: which is right?
Day of Atonement from Evening To Evening : is this when all days and Sabbaths begin?
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