My position is that I believe it's essential to know when the day starts and ends—there you go, I said it. I know many people hold different views, but today, I will show, as usual, using the scriptures that the day begins at sunrise.

Why is this a debate in the first place?

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:5

Genesis has many verses that state the "evening and the morning were the day, " which has led many to stop searching and take it for granted that the order is evening first and then morning when it comes to our physical days.

Since this post is not to dissect morning and evening, I will just say it. Morning refers to daytime and evening nighttime. It would help if you also threw out of your head the gregorian calendar's clock with regards to noon and midnight: just daytime (morning) and nighttime (evening).

Let's correct using the scriptures the understanding that many Christian institutions hold.

Day starts evidence

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.

Mathew 28:1

This verse states that at the end of the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week, at dawn (the greek word ἐπιφώσκω meaning to grow light, begin or shine forth) which is approaching the first day of the week, both Marys' came to the tomb of Jesus.

Therefore at dawn, when it's getting brighter, the current day is coming to a close and the new day is about to start. The Sabbath was ending as the first day of the week was about to begin.

Some will say this is not enough evidence, albeit Genesis 1 has many verses stating the evening and the morning were the day, so taking that on board, I will present another vital piece of evidence.

^21. And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

^29. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

^32. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

^35. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 1:21-35

The passage in the book of Mark, chapter 1, describes a whole day when Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, then straight after (forthwith) went to the house of Simon and Andrew. In the evening, after the sun set, indicating that he taught in the synagogue in the morning (daytime), the sick and possessed were brought to Jesus to be healed. He rose before dawn, towards morning, and went into a solitary place to pray.

The above is an amazingly written passage in Mark covering the sequence of a day, from the early morning where Jesus taught in the synagogue, going to the house in the afternoon for a meal, healing the sick in the evening, and praying before dawn. From the first piece of evidence, we understand that dawn approaches the start of a new day, and therefore when the pieces of evidence are combined, there is no disputing the daytime vs nighttime order.

Wrapping up

Although Genesis worded the evening first before the morning, it doesn't determine the order they occur during a whole day. In fact, it may have a deeper meaning with the kingdom on earth being the evening (moon) and the kingdom of God being the morning (sun), where the evening, our time in the earthly dominion, comes before the morning, our time in the kingdom of God.

The moon is lower than the sun and pales in comparison to the light of God.

As the heaven is higher than the earth, so is the priesthood of God higher than the kingdom upon the earth.

The testament of Judah 21

The priests from the tribe of Levi were the ones who belonged to God and did the will of God on earth.

A shining light of knowledge shall you shine in Jacob, and as the sun shall you be to all the seed of Israel.

The testament of Levi 4

The Levites were the conveyance of the word of God to those who were on earth.

For in the fortieth year of my life, I saw in a vision that the sun and the moon were standing still on the Mount of Olives, at the east of Jerusalem. And behold Isaac, the father of my father, says to us, Run and lay hold of them, each one according to his strength; and he that seizes them, his shall be the sun and the moon. And we all of us ran together, and Levi laid hold of the sun, and Judah outstripped the others and seized the moon, and they were both of them lifted up with them. And when Levi became as a sun, a certain young man gave to him twelve branches of palm; and Judah was bright as the moon, and under his feet were twelve rays. And Levi and Judah ran, and laid hold each of the other. And, lo, a bull upon the earth, having two great horns, and an eagle's wings upon his back; and we wished to seize him, but could not. For Joseph outstripped us, and took him, and ascended up with him on high. And I saw, for I was there, and behold a holy writing appeared to us saying: Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Elamites, Gelachæans, Chaldeans, Syrians, shall possess in captivity the twelve tribes of Israel.

The testament of Naphtali 5

While this tangent is fascinating and inspiring, staying focused on the point of the post concludes that, without a doubt, the day starts at sunrise.

The question I have for you is, do you believe Jesus, the Word of God?

Whose authority do you follow, and who will guide you to the truth?

Who will you listen to the world, your religion or God?

Choose today; time is short!

Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, the high priest, gave offerings to God outside of what God commanded, costing them their lives. The Most High doesn't sway in the wind nor compromise on his commands. The instructions and understandings tied to the calendar must be taken seriously.

^1. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

^2. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 10:1-2

A brief history of the roman & gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar was first introduced in 1582, and it took more than 300 years for all the countries worldwide, give or take, to adopt it. This calendar, also known as the Western or Christian Calendar, replaced the Julian Calendar because it did not satisfy the "science" in reflecting the time it takes the earth to circle the sun—known as the tropical year. The Julian calendar reformed the Roman republican calendar but was later replaced because the formula used to calculate leap years was inaccurate.

By the 40s BCE, the Roman civic calendar was three months ahead of the solar calendar. Caesar, advised by the Alexandrian astronomer Sosigenes, introduced the Egyptian solar calendar, taking the solar year's length as 365¼ days. The year was divided into 12 months, all of which had either 30 or 31 days, except February, which contained 28 days in common years and 29 in every fourth year. In the Julian calendar, leap years repeated February 23^rd, and there was no February 29^th. Therefore, to align the civic with the Julian calendar, Caesar added days to the civic calendar in 46 BCE extending it to 445 days.

The Julian calendar was not established in smooth operation until 8 CE, but eventually, Rome moved away from the Julian calendar in favour of the Gregorian Calendar. In the transition to the Gregorian calendar, some days were dropped to synchronise with astronomical events such as the vernal equinox and the winter solstice. The papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 decreed that ten days be dropped unless the switch occurred later, which would result in more days being dropped.

The move to the Gregorian Calendar

The list includes only a small selection of countries. In some cases, it shows a simplified version of events. Countries are listed by their current names although their official name may have changed since the calendar reform.

Disqualifying the Gregorian Calendar as the Bible Calendar

Surprisingly the disqualification of the Gregorian calendar as the Bible calendar is easy as long as one is willing to do some investigation. The following proof shows why the Gregorian calendar does not and could not match the biblical calendar.

Proof #1: Days removed from the Gregorian calendar

Several days were removed from the Gregorian calendar, enabling the transition from the Julian calendar. Let's consider the weekly seven-day cycle with the seventh day as a Sabbath and assume the Julian and biblical calendar are the same. The new calendar will be out of sync with the weekly rotation as the seven-day rule has been compromised. The Sabbath falls on the seventh day of the week, so unless the number of days removed is a multiple of seven, it's impossible to maintain equilibrium.

It is unlikely that the Julian calendar is the Hebrew calendar, and the argument could be put forward that the Gregorian calendar was being synchronised with the Hebrew Calendar, but this is not the reason put forward by Rome. Israel as a subordinate state commanded no say in how the Roman empire was run.

^47. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

^48. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

John 11:47-48

Proof #2: Gregorian = Egyptian solar calendar

The Gregorian calendar transitioned from the Julian calendar (based on the Egyptian calendar) to the Roman Civic/Republic calendar (possibly based on the Greek lunar calendar). Nowhere in this equation is the Hebrew calendar reckoned. To start, a politically manipulated Roman Civic calendar and then a solar-cycle Egyptian calendar (Julian and Gregorian calendars). The scriptural evidence suggests that the biblical calendar uses both the sun and the moon to determine the time and date, which neither lunar nor solar calendars satisfy.

^14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

^15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:14-15 (KJV)

Proof #3: Rulers vs Subjects

The Roman kingdom directly conquered the Grecian kingdom—not the Hebrew kingdom. This conquest of the Hebrew nation resulted from Israel's existing subjection to the Grecian rule. There would be no reason to support a Hebrew calendar for a subordinate nation, one of many nations under Grecian dominance. Before Grecian power, the Persian and Babylonian kingdoms had dominion over Israel. These rulerships can be seen in the four kingdoms of the book of Daniel, which played out exactly as written.

Proof #4: Different start of the year

The start of the Gregorian calendar year is January 1^st, with a repeating twelve-monthly cycle and seven-day weekly cycle. While the monthly and weekly cycle lengths match with the Hebrew calendar, the start of the year, the length of the months, and the year-to-year rolling week do not. These aspects of the Hebrew calendar are all explored in the scriptural calendar series.

Based on when the calendar started, that would establish the first day of the week. Since the two calendars begin on different dates, their weekly cycles would have to be synced unless they coincidentally matched at the start.

Proof #5: Rolling week Gregorian calendar

The premise that for anyone to start keeping the Sabbaths, feast days, new moons, etc., without having to be a scholar in calendar history is at the heart of scriptural timekeeping. The sun, moon and stars are visible for signs and seasons. God has pinned the holy days, Sabbaths and feast days to the start of the year and the beginning of the months.

The Passover is pinned to the fourteenth day and consequently must be a Sabbath since it is on a day which is a multiple of seven counting from day one. By using numbered days instead of named days, the Bible calendar ensures the named-day method doesn't interfere with its system; the fourteenth day cannot be confused with any other. The Gregorian calendar starts every week on Sunday; therefore, Saturday is the seventh day, but since the start of the year is not guaranteed to be a Sunday, the fourteenth day in the Gregorian Calendar cannot be the Passover since the Passover also must be a Sabbath, which is Saturday in the Gregorian calendar.

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s passover.

Leviticus 23:5 (KJV)

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

Deuteronomy 16:1 (KJV)

Conclusion

The evidence shows that the Gregorian calendar falls short in many places and does not even come close to the scriptural calendar. The idea of using a solar or lunar calendar has also been eliminated, with the Greeks using a lunar and the Egyptians using a solar one. The scriptures advocate that all the luminaries power the calendar; therefore, the biblical calendar must include all the luminaries (sun, moon & stars).

The question of where to find the correct calendar since it is not outlined plainly in the Bible no doubt arises. The Bible provides a lot of information, but another scriptural reference that gives a complete account is the Book of Enoch c72-82, The book of the heavenly luminaries.

^14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

^15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:14-15 (KJV)

Timekeeping

As simple as it sounds, using the sun, moon, and stars is the scriptures' fundamental and definitive method of time-keeping. Using other means to determine events in the scriptures will lead to the wrong conclusion. When choosing the time of day, the year's divisions, and when specific events occur, these use cases require the sun, moon, and stars.

It is also essential to know that the biblical calendar must be in a position to be worked out by any generation, despite all the annals of calendar history being lost. Knowing the dates in the past is unnecessary to work out the current and future dates. Consequently, this structure enables anyone who puts effort into the right source to work it out.

Timekeeping is essential throughout the scriptures, and the hour is part of that equation. The gregorian calendar, used by the Romans, does not accurately portray God's calendar. Its full day is split into 24 hours of equal lengths but does not address all scriptural requirements.

This post aims to understand the scriptural hour and how to calculate it using scriptural timekeeping.

The Gregorian hour

Today we live under the Roman banner. Evidence of this is seen through:

• the instigation of the gregorian calendar by the Papacy throughout the world

• the Latin-based languages such as English and those using Latin characters

Although Rome (Papacy) does not rule the world, its remnants are seen everywhere.

The hour in use today has a fixed timespan, measured in 1⁄24 of a day. The day is divided into 24 hours equally, with 1 hour representing 60 minutes of equal divisions.

the biblical hour

The basis of timekeeping is based on the sun, moon and stars; each is playing their part in the biblical calendar. In the next passage, Jesus gives us insight into the basis for the hour.

^8. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

^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.

John 11:8-9 KJV

Jesus states the day (daytime) contains twelve hours. However, this statement conflicts with the Gregorian calendar idea of the hour. The simple fact highlighted by the day (daylight) being shorter or longer than 12 gregorian hours. The season and location change the day's length, creating mutual exclusivity between the Bible and the gregorian calendar.

If the diaspora of Israel used the exact biblical timekeeping, there must be a consistent way of determining the hour. In the following passage, the sundial is used for daytime time-keeping. Using the sun, one fundamental unit of timekeeping, keeps this approach in line with the scriptural basis of timekeeping.

^8. And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

^9. And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

^10. And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

^11. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

2 Kings 20:8-11 KJV

If we use the sundial to calculate time, how do we address the issue of the varying length of the day (daylight) around the world? To solve the mystery of longer and shorter days when using the sundial, you must arrive at the realisation that the length of the hour for longer days is longer and for shorter days is shorter.

The scriptural hour is the day (daytime) divided by twelve, irrespective of whether the hour is longer or shorter than 60 minutes. The sundial's shadow will continually adapt to a longer or shorter hour since this is fundamentally how it works.

Sundial

A sundial is a device that tells the time of day when there is sunlight by the sun's apparent position in the sky. In the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat plate (the dial) and a gnomon, which casts a shadow onto the dial. As the Sun appears to move across the sky, the shadow aligns with different hour-lines marked on the dial to indicate the time of day.

Conclusion

The main element at the core of misunderstanding the hour is the concept of a fixed 60-minute timespan. Because of this firmly ingrained concept of an hour it is difficult to come to the realisation. The biblical hour is based on the sundial without a fixed timespan, but rather a consisent division of daylight.

The diaspora of Israel (Psalms 73:1), even those with clean hearts, must be able to untangle the calendar. They will remember the laws of God and come to Him.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Psalms 22:27 KJV

Modern Definition Night & Day

The common knowledge of a day is:

• a 24-hour day

• daytime (the bright portion of the 24-hour cycle)

The common understanding of a night is:

• nighttime (the dark portion of the 24-hour cycle)

We are commanded to prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to provide sufficient evidence (Deuteronomy 19:15) to establish the position, and the rest of the post meets these criteria.

Biblical Day vs Night

The biblical understanding of day and night is different from the modern definition, which can be seen in the following evidence points. There are a few differences that may seem slight but significantly impact precepts and other understandings throughout the scriptures.

Daytime vs Day

The following passages show that the lights created, the sun, moon and stars, rule the day and night. The sun rules the day, and the moon and stars the night. This information establishes the split between day and night and the light which leads each period.

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Genesis 1:16 (KJV)

^7. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
^8. The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
^9. The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 136:7-9 (KJV)

The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

Psalms 121:6 (KJV)

Again, the distinction between night and day is reaffirmed, but also, the verse establishes two meanings of the word day. The same Hebrew word, יוֹם (yôwm), is used both to signify the daytime and the whole day. The bright part is the day, and both morning (daytime) and evening (nighttime) are also considered the day.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:5 (KJV)

12-hour Daytime

Jesus now established that alongside the daytime, it is split into 12 hours. This innocent looking fact poses a significant difference to the modern-day concept of day and night.

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.

John 11:9 (KJV)

The day despite how long or short it is, always contains 12 hours and is during the bright part of the whole day. This, by contrast, would differentiate the nighttime (the night) from the day.

^38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
^39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:38-39 (KJV)

This example intertwines and solidifies the above verse, showing that the daytime is divided into numbered hours and that the understanding is 12 hours from sunrise to sunset.

Morning equals Daytime

In addition to the evidence already presented, this example shows that the morning is the day and the early morning is at the sun's rising.

^1. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
^2. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Mark 16:1-2 (KJV)

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.

Matthew 28:1 (KJV)

Here again, we see that the dawn, which comes before sunrise, is approaching the day. This fact further establishes that the day is the light part of the day-night cycle.

Battle in the Day

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Psalms 91:5 (KJV)

^12. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
^13. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
^14. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12-14 (KJV)

Battles are fought in the light and through Joshua's desire to destroy the enemy is requested of GOD to stop the sun and the moon from moving so that night would not approach the battle before the enemy was destroyed.

Night turned to Day

^6. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
^7. But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
^8. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Zechariah 14:6-8 (KJV)

This prophecy shows that at a point in time in the future where at the evening (night) it shall be light, showing the reversal of the established nighttime.

Conclusion

The evidence shows that day (daytime) is the light part of the day, and the dark part is the night. In some instances, the day reference is for the entire morning and evening; however, when the context refers to a portion of the day, the bright part is the day and the dark part is the night.

• Prophecies

• Sabbath-keeping

• Holy days

• Feast days

• Any instruction predicated on a specific time or day

The scripture is a marvel of wonders, and we must search for God the same way the world seeks money. Only then, as a result of our efforts, can we truly understand the secrets it contains.

^3. Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
^4. Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
^5. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:3-5 (NLT)