True Biblical Passover 2026?

Jew's Babylonian calendar calculations are off. We can suspect this by their corrupt fruit.  For example, most Jews use Babylonian names for the name of the month, and the days of the week.  They also start their day at sundown, just like the Babylonians did, and the Muslims still do.  All of this conflicts with the Bible.

Roman Catholic calculations, based on Jew's errors, are also off.  Most Protestant denominations blindly follow the Roman Catholics

After careful study of the alternatives, I agree with Dr. Barry Awe's recommendations for God's likely Biblical calendar:

It is suggest that the fully correct definition for the start of the Biblical year is the earliest date that meets all of the following 6 criteria:

1. Day of Equilux (ie. 12 hr. day, 12 hour night) has occurred (always on  March 17th).

2.  Spring Equinox has occurred (ie. also called the Vernal Equinox or "first point of Aries".  This occurs when the Sun is positioned directly above Earth's equator, which causes the Sun to rise directly East, and sets directly West; usually occurs on March 19, 20, or 21).

3.  The Waxing New Moon crescent becomes visible just after sunset.   The first visible sign of the new moon is the "young moon" or waxing crescent, which appears very low on the western horizon just after sunset, typically 18–30 hours after the official astronomical new moon.

4.  The New Moon is in the constellation Aries.

5.  The Sun is in the constellation Pisces.

6.  At or shortly after sunset, the constellations Orion, Great Bear ( ie. Ursa Major), Arcturus (in Bootes), and Spica (in Virgo) are above the horizon & visible in Jerusalem, Israel (see Job 38:31-33).

Application of Rules to 2026

In 2026, all of these conditions are true for the start of the Biblical New Year on April 18, 2026 at sundown.

According to Stellarium, New Moon begins at 2026-4-17 1:25:20, as phase goes from 0.1 to 0.0

At 2026-4-18 3:14:36, Moon phase goes from 0 to 0.1

New Moon Duration= 22:34:40 + 3:14:36= 25:48:76= 1d:1h:49m:16s

Mid-point= 0.5d:0.5h:24.5 m:8 s= 0d:12h:54m:38s

Astronomical New Moon Centre Point= 2026-4-17 13:79:58= 2026-4-17 14:19:58

Thin crescent is first visible at 18 to 30 hours after this centre point.

First likely visibility of sliver of Moon at 2026-4-17 32:19:58= 2026-4-18 8:19:58, with 1% phase illumination.

Add 15 days for full Moon on Preparation Day= 2026-4-33 8:19:58= 2026-5-3 8:19:58

Passover begins at Sundown (ie. 7:22 pm in Jerusalem Israel), after Preparation Day= 2026-5-3 19:22:00 pm.

Comments?

Jesus' 3 Days & 3 Nights

Most Christians believe that Jesus died on Friday at 3 pm and resurrected before sunrise Sunday (~ 6:00 AM Standard Time), which is elapsed time of 40 hours, less than 2 days; but Bible repeatedly says "3 days & 3 nights"

[Mat 12:40 KJV] "40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Is "3 days & 3 nights" merely an idiom, a shorthand expression, that we mis-interpret, as it wasn't meant to be literal?

If Jesus died Friday at 3 PM, that might count for a part of a day for day #1, Friday night is night #1, Saturday day is day #2, Saturday night is night #2, Sunday morning is some part of day #3, but we are still missing a third night in this cockeyed accounting.  From Friday afternoon to Sunday sunrise, there is no reasonable interpretation to get 3 days & 3 nights.

In the Old Testament, Esther calls a fast for 3 days and three nights in Esther 4:16, so as to prepare for Esther going before the King.  In Esther 5:1, Esther goes before the King on the 3rd day (ie. not after the 3rd day is over).  Therefore to count properly, as defined by the Bible, we must have at least a part of the day or night to count it.

This same counting as Esther used is also used for the 8 days after birth for the male baby circumcision (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3; Philippians 3:5); even if just a minute of a day remains, it counts as a full day.

This is similar to parking garage fees of today: $4 per hour, or any part thereof.  If you overstay by 1 minute, you pay for a full additional hour.

Even here, Friday 3 PM to Sunday sunrise cannot be stretched by any means, into 3 days and 3 nights.

Erroneous Explanation #1

Some people try to propose that the new day starts at sundown, and so then you have a part day on Friday, full 24 hrs for Saturday, and then assumes that Sunday starts at sundown Saturday, so that is allegedly "3 days". 

[Luk 23:54 KJV] 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

The phrase "...and the sabbath drew on." (same Greek word, epiphōskō G2020 as Mat. 28:1 used) means that the night feast of Passover was coming to an end, and it was just before Saturday sunrise for the high sabbath of Unleavened Bread.  Therefore when Jesus was placed in his tomb "in the heart of the earth", Friday was well passed away, therefore we can't count any of Friday.

Therefore we only have part of Saturday to count, even worse than most realize.

Therefore, this is still not "3 days and 3 nights", so it also requires the misleading and erroneous explaining away of this biblical text as an idiom, so as to enshrine the customs of the Church Fathers.  This is strongly reject.

However, this mediocre explanation also creates numerous conflicts in the Bible, as I will show below.

Erroneous Explanation # 2

Others try to be creative with the definition of "heart of the earth", by conveniently re-defining it to mean "incarceration, judgement, crucifixion, death, burial) where he remained until his resurrection on Sunday morning".

Everybody agrees that Jesus was already risen before the dawn Sunday morning (Mat. 28:1).

Counting backwards, Sat. night is Night #3, Sat. day is Day #3, Friday night is Night #2, Friday day is Day #2, Thurs. night is Night #1, Wed. day is Day #1.  Therefore Jesus would have to be in His tomb on or before sunrise Wednesday morning.

Therefore the Last Supper was Monday evening.  Jesus was arrested on Monday evening.  Preparation Day (before Passover starting at sundown) would be Tuesday.  Jesus was crucified on Tuesday Preparation Day, and died at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, and was in His tomb just before sunrise on Wednesday morning.

That's certainly different from a standard Good Friday dogma.

Erroneous Explanation #3

Many suggest that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, so as to create 3 full days and 3 full nights, then resurrection on Sunday morning at or before sunrise Sunday morning.  I know, I used to be in this camp.

This assumption is defeated by the actions of the women.  They were highly motivated to do everything possible to honor Jesus.

If we assume Jesus died at 3 PM Wednesday, then the gaining of permission to collect His body, arranging for the tomb, it all took precious time.  As we see above, Luke 23:54 says they got Jesus into the tomb before sunrise the next day after His crucifixion.  There was insufficient time to properly care for His body.  Passover started at sundown Wednesday, the day Jesus died, and continued till sunrise the next day, when the high sabbath Unleavened Bread began.  If the men barely got Jesus in the tomb before sunrise Thursday, and no work is allowed on the high sabbath Thursday, the women were barred from doing their duty immediately, they had to wait.  On Friday, they could have washed and properly buried Jesus, but the didn't, they waited till Sunday sunrise.

Why wouldn't the women due their loving duty for Jesus' body on Friday, rather than Sunday?

It is suggested that the crucifixion did not occur on a Wednesday.

 

What is the truth?

I suggest Jesus was crucified on Preparation Day, dying at 3 pm (ie. the 9th hour, by ancient Biblical reckoning), with Passover beginning at sundown on that same Preparation Day.

Based solely on the Bible, I suggest Jesus died on Nisan 14, Preparation Day, which is likely equivalent  to Thursday April 15, 32 AD, according to today's Gregorian calendar system.

We assume 32 AD, as there was a Blood Moon Triad on the high Jewish holidays that year, and the Sun and Moon are in Aries in that year.

We assume Nisan 14 as that is the biblical date for Passover, and April 15th would be the Full Moon in that year according to NASA astrological model calculations.

The sequence of events, according to the Bible is:

• Jesus asks the disciples to make preparations for Passover, as a group in the Upper Room, in Jerusalem.
• Disciples prepare the Upper Room.
• On Wednesday evening, Jesus & disciples gather in the Upper Room for the Last Supper, communion, exposure of a traitor, footwashing.
• Judas leaves early so as to betray Jesus
• Jesus and 3 disciples retire to the garden to pray and watch.
• Judas returns late Wednesday night with soldiers, so as to betray Jesus, then arrest him.
• Jesus taken to the Chief Priest's residence, Peter follows.
• Jesus is questioned, accused, mocked, & assaulted.  Peter denies Jesus 3 times, then the cock crows as the sunrise approaches Thursday morning.
• Jesus is taken to Pontius Pilot, then Harrod, then back to Pilot, then sentenced to death by crucifixion at noon Thursday, which is Preparation Day, before Passover begins at sundown.
• Jesus is beaten, flogged, and mocked.
• Jesus dies at about 3 PM Thursday, Preparation Day, prior to Passover at sundown.
• Jesus' followers seek permission to receive Jesus' dead body.
• Passover begins at sundown Thursday.
• During Thursday night (Passover night), Jesus' body is eventually taken down off the cross, then transported to the tomb.  
• Jesus is in His tomb, the heart of the Earth, on or just before Friday sunrise, as Passover is coming to an end, and the High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread is about to begin, in accordance with Luke 23:54.
• Roman guards arrive and seal the tomb door Friday morning, during the High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread.
• Jesus' body rests in His tomb for 2 full days and a few moments of a third day, so as to meet the same Biblical definition of  3 days & 3 nights, as used by Esther, and for circumcision.
• Jesus is resurrected on or before sunrise on Sunday morning.

Jesus died at 3 PM (ie. Biblical 9th hour), at exactly the correct time, with all of the Passover lambs.

Josephus tells us that 256,500 animal were typically sacrificed at the Jerusalem Temple between the 9th and 11th hour on Preparation Day (Bellum Jud., Book VI, Chapter 9, Verse 3), https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/war-6.html ) so Jesus died  right on-time as a Sacrificial Lamb of God.

Jesus' gave up the Ghost while on the cross at 3:00 PM.  

Psalm 68:18; Zechariah 9:11;1 Pet 3:18-19, 1 Pet. 4:6, and a few other verses allude to Jesus entering the underworld (ie. "Harrowing of Hades") so as to preach His Gospel to those who died before He did, and those that accept the Gospel and believe in Him, He raised to Heaven with Himself.  This may count for time served in the "heart of the Earth".

Therefore, counting from the moment of Jesus' death, Thursday afternoon is a part day, counting as Day #1 per Esther's counting method.  Thurs. night is Night #1.  Friday day is Day #2, Friday night in Night #2.  Sat. day is Day #3.  Sat. night is Night #3.  Therefore we have 3 days and 3 nights, fully meeting Jesus' self-prophecy of Mat. 12:40, if counted by Esther's count method.

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:21 gives the sole Biblical account of Jesus speaking to a group of men on their way to Emmaus, shortly after Jesus rose from the dead. 

[Luk 24:21 KJV] "21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done."

What is all included in "... these things..."?

Verse 14 says: "...all these things which had happened."

Verse 19 adds: "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:"

Verse 20 adds: "...And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him."

Not expressly mentioned in Luke, the Bible described also:

• Mat 27:51 the ripping of the Temple veil, the darkness, & the earthquake.
  
  
• Mat 62:62-66 going to Pilot on the High Holy Day of Unleavened Bread (ie. after Passover was over), and the securing of permission for the Roman guard and seal on the stone door for Jesus' tomb.

 It is clearly stated in Luke 24:21 that today (Sunday, First day of the week) is the third day since "these things".

Jesus resurrected slightly before sunrise on Sunday morning.  This road to Emmaus conversation with Jesus was likely sometime Sunday morning, shortly after Jesus had risen.

In other words, today (Sunday) is the 3rd. day since, yesterday (Saturday) was the 2nd day since, day before yesterday (Friday) was the 1st day since, and Thursday is the "day of these things".  

Therefore again, the crucifixion, death, & burial of Jesus Christ must have occurred on Thursday.

God's Day Starts at Sunrise

Luke 23:53-54 tells us that Jesus was placed in His tomb just before sunrise of the High Sabbath Unleavened Bread, which most likely occurred as of sunrise Friday morning, at first light.  Multiples proofs provided above.

[Luk 23:53-54 KJV] 53 And he 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. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

Here are the same verses with Strong's Numbers turned on:

[Luk 23:53-54 KJV] 53 And[G2532] he took[G2507][G0] it[G846] down,[G2507] and wrapped[G1794] it[G846] in linen,[G4616] and[G2532] laid[G5087] it[G846] in[G1722] a sepulchre[G3418] that was hewn in stone,[G2991] wherein[G3757] never[G3756] man[G3764] before[G3762] was[G2258] laid.[G2749] 54 And[G2532] that day[G2250] was[G2258] the preparation,[G3904] and[G2532] the sabbath[G4521] drew on.[G2020]

As you can see, "drew on" in KJV is the English translation for Strong's G2020.

Note in the Bible's Greek source text, Luke used the word "epiphosko", Strong's G2020, meaning "to dawn, begin, shine forth; used of the reckoned commencement of the day, to be near commencing, to dawn on.  G2020 is only used twice in the Bible: Mat 28:1, Lk. 23:54; 

Both of these verses also help prove that God's day begins at sunrise, not at sunset as practiced by Jews & Muslims today.

It is suggested that the Jewish & Muslim custom of starting a day at sundown is a relic adopted from Babylon, thus becoming a "custom of the elders", rather that being compliant with the Bible.

Ref.:  R.A. Parker & W.H. Dubberstein, Babylonian Chronology, Providence, R.I., 1956, 
https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/babylon/downloads/babylonian_chronology_pd_1956.pdf 

If God's day truly began at sunset, then it could not still be Preparation Day as it dawned towards the sabbath (ie. the High Sabbath of Unleavened Bread), as declared in Luke 23:54.  

Similarly, if God's day truly began at sunset, it could not still be Sabbath as it dawned towards the first day of the week, as described in Mat. 28:1.

In the alternative, both Mat. 28:1 and Luke 23:53-54 are exactly true and fully correct if God's day begins at sunrise.

I believe the Bible is God-breathed, written by men as inspired by God.  God promised to protect His word from corruption, or passing away.  Therefore, the Bible is one of our few sources of truth; most everything else is frail human opinions, often biased, coloured, or deceived.  

For 13 additional proofs that God's day begins at sunrise, see:
https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start.html?m=1

Mat. 28:1 tells us that the women came to wrap the body of Jesus early on Sunday morning, just before sunrise, but Jesus' body was already gone, as He had risen.

From Friday sunrise to Sunday sunrise is exactly 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth, exactly as Jesus said He would.

Please explain the above to every Christian you can find, so that they know the truth.

***   Updated 2025-04-04, 2025-4-22   ***

Index:   God's Day:  When does it Start?

Part 1 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start.html   
2019-5-17

Part 2 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-2.html   
2019-5-27

Part 3 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-part-3-of-3.html   2019-5-27

Part 4 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/09/start-of-gods-day-at-sunrise-part-4.html   
2019-9-28

Part 5 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2022/08/start-of-gods-day-part-5.html 
2022-08-22

Part 6:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2024/04/jesus-3-days-3-nights.html   
2024-4-21

Lunar Eclipses on Purim

In 2008, Pastor Biltz discovered a link between a Four Blood Moon Tetrad that coincided with the Biblical Festivals of Passover and Tabernacles which was a sign in the Heavens associated with critical events for the Jewish nation.

Many Christians already know about Blood Moons on Biblical Convocation Dates (eg. Passover, Tabernacles, in two successive years). 

Now, get ready to add to your Blood Moon Tetrad knowledge.  

Lunar eclipses on Purim, as defined in the Book of Esther are a recently discovered integral part of the Blood Moon Tetrad sign.  

Based on this new knowledge, get ready for what soon comes on or about Mar. 23, 2023, the rise of the Anti-Christ.

This is a video by two other Watchmen, who describe this new understanding:

https://youtu.be/zVtYnINQfqI

The Moon's orbit has an 18 year cycle for eclipses, when the Moon, Earth, and Sun are in varying alignments for partial to total eclipses.  This is called the Saros Cycle.  See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saros_(astronomy)

What is this Purim linkage to lunar eclipses?

In 483 BC, Haman was an evil Prince in  Persia that wanted to do genocidal ethnic cleansing to all Jews in Persia, as described in the Book of Esther.  Purim is celebrated each year by Jews for the collapse of Haman's evil plans.  When a Blood Moon Tetrad on Passover-Tabernacles in Saros Cycles 122, 127, 132, and 137 are then followed by lunar eclipses falling on Purim in Saros Cycles 121, 126, 131, and 136 then this is a signal from God that one or more major event for Jews is about to occur.

This new understanding of the Purim-Lunar Eclipse adds to the partial prior understanding by Pastor Biltz.

The same 4 Blood Moon Tetrad, followed by the same Saros Cycle-Purim conjunction was in play for:

• 1914 World War 1, and the 1917 Balfour Declaration for the creation of a Jewish nation around  Jerusalem; and
• 1932 rise of Hitler in Germany and the beginning of the Holocaust
• 1948-1950 beginning of the modern Jewish state of Israel.
• 1967 capturing of Jerusalem by Israel; 

The Blood Moon Tetrad of 2021-2022 starts another Blood Moon Tetrad-Saros-Purim cycle, ending in 2032.

If we now fully understand God's signals in the Heavens, then the rise of the Anti-Christ is scheduled on or about March 25, 2023.  

I previously posted (See:   https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2022/11/high-watch-dec-14-16-2022.html ) that Genesis 8:6-9 described Noah releasing the raven (ie. Satan) from the Ark.  Using the Enoch calendar, the raven release had a corresponding anniversary on the 10th day of the 11th Month, or  Jan. 27, 2023 on the Gregorian calendar.  Using the Chabad Jewish calendar, this corresponds to 10 Shevat, or Feb. 1, 2023.

Depending on what calendar you use, and what event you use (ie. Noah & raven, or Tetrad-Purim-lunar eclipses), the rise of the Anti-Christ will likely be some time between Jan. 27, 2023 and March 25, 2023. 

While Hitler just grabbed power by quasi-legal means in 1932, I suspect another World War (or Psalm 83 War for Israel) will be necessary to unite the entire world into adopting a new leader (ie. AntiChrist) for a One World Government.  

This war will likely soon occur, sometime between Dec. 14, 2022 to March 2023, it will likely include limited use of nuclear weapons, with direct & indirect deaths of a million to 2 Billion people.

The shock from this war will be so great as to cause many people to readily accept (or beg) for the rise of a strong leader to "save" them from the out of control world events of war, crime, food shortages, famine, disease, & death.

This additional puzzle piece adds to the likelihood of the High Watch Period of Dec. 14-21, 2022 declared in the previous posting.

God's Great Move (perhaps 3 Days of Darkness, followed by a 40 day window to repent through the help of sealed & annointed Overcomers, then KA-BOOM ?) will likely preceed this war and the rise of the AntiChrist.  This may be God's excellent plan, so as to give everybody one last, clear choice:  choose God or Satan.

Those who refuse to choose, or choose Satan may be marked for immediate destruction in the nuclear war, famine, &/or disease that immediately follows God's Great Move.

Choose wisely.  Choose quickly.  To help you choose, read God's 26 Commandments for Christians:

https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/12/gods-26-commandments-for-christians.html

Crucifixion & Resurrection Timeline

At our Sabbath Bible study, we tried to make sense of the timeline for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This has been debated and studied for almost 2,000 years.  Have we got it figured out yet?

In the Biblical sequence under analysis in this Blog posting, there are  5 main steps:

• Crucifixion
• Death
• Burial
• Resurrection
• Jesus' conversation on the Road to Emmaus

I think we made excellent progress during the Bible study, and will add some new datapoints and viewpoints through this Blog posting.  However  you will have to judge for yourself.

A Roman Catholic friend sent me two links for the RC viewpoint on this matter.  I have never understood how they figured that Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday, yet claim He was in the heart of the Earth for 3 days and 3 nights.

There are a number of Bible verses we must consider (searched Bible for "third day" and "three days", then selected those that prophesied about Jesus, &/or His crucifixion &/or His resurrection, producing the following 22 references:

[Jon 1:17 KJV] 17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 

[Mat 12:40 KJV] 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

[Mat 16:21 KJV] 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

[Mat 17:23 KJV] 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. 

[Mat 20:19 KJV] 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Mat 26:61 KJV] 61 And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 

[Mat 27:40 KJV] 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 

[Mat 27:63-64 KJV] 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 

[Mar 8:31 KJV] 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

[Mar 9:31 KJV] 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 

[Mar 10:34 KJV] 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Mar 14:58 KJV] 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 

[Mar 15:29 KJV] 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, 

[Luk 9:22 KJV] 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 

[Luk 13:32 KJV] 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be perfected. 

[Luk 18:33 KJV] 33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Luk 24:7 KJV] 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 

[Luk 24:21 KJV] 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 

[Luk 24:46 KJV] 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

[Jhn 2:19-20 KJV] 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 

[Act 10:40 KJV] 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 

[1Co 15:4 KJV] 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Categorizing all the 22 verses above, we have:

• 13 verses of "... the third day..."
   
• 4 verses of "... in three days..." 

• 2 verses of "... three days and three nights ..."
  
  
• 2 verses of "... after three days..."
   
• 1 verse of "... until the third day..."
   
• 1 verse of "... within three days ..."

Counting of days between two events has been an age-old problem.  Should you count the day on which the first event occurred, or start counting the day after the first event?  Similarly, should you count the day on which the 2nd event occurred, or just the full days BETWEEN the two events, and EXCLUDING the days of both the first and second events?

Growing tired of these endless arguments, most courts and contracts clearly specify how the counting of days is to be done.  Usually the day of the first event is not counted, and the day of the second event is not counted, so we generally count exclusive of the beginning and exclusive of the end.

God and His Bible has not specifically stated, as far as I can find.

What was Jewish custom at the time of writing the Bible?  I don't think that is important.  Would God allow the misguided and sinful viewpoints of the Pharisees to be referenced and used in the Bible?  God's Bible is God breathed, so is God's Word, and truth.  Therefore I am not impressed, nor guided by what the contemporary pagan customs might have been at that time.  If a Pharisee told me I should zig, then likely zagging is the correct answer.

If we were reading Flavius Josephus, or a Greek or Roman historian, then yes, local context and customs would be important so as to correctly understand the text.

In the 2 verses that say "...after three days...", we should remember that the next day, as well as "100 days after" are both "after" the first event.

Some of these verses do not directly relate to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.  Removing false testimony and secondary issues, keeping only the prophecies and eye witness accounts about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, we have the following verses:

[Mat 12:40 KJV] 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

[Mat 16:21 KJV] 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

[Mat 17:23 KJV] 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. 

[Mat 20:19 KJV] 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Mar 8:31 KJV] 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

[Mar 9:31 KJV] 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 

[Mar 10:34 KJV] 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Luk 9:22 KJV] 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 

[Luk 18:33 KJV] 33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

[Luk 24:7 KJV] 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 

[Luk 24:46 KJV] 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

[Jhn 2:19-20 KJV] 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 

[Act 10:40 KJV] 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 

[1Co 15:4 KJV] 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Now when we categorize and count the frequency for these relevant verses, we have:

• 11 verses of "... the third day..."
   
• 1 verses of "... in three days..." 

• 1 verses of "... three days and three nights ..."
  
  
• 1 verses of "... after three days..."

Mark 8:31 is the verse where we find "... after three days ...".  Is it just an anomaly in the KJV and/or English translations?  The KJV Greek uses G3326 meta which means next, after, or following, so the English seems correct.  What do other Biblical versions say?

Courtesy of Bible Hub we have the 28 most common versions of the Bible for Mark 8:31 as follows:

New International Version:
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 

New Living Translation:
Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. 

English Standard Version:
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Berean Study Bible:
Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. 

Berean Literal Bible:
And He began to teach them that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise again. 

New American Standard Bible:
And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

New King James Version:
And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

King James Bible:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Christian Standard Bible:
Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. 

Contemporary English Version:
Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, "The nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life." 

Good News Translation:
Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life." 

Holman Christian Standard Bible:
Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. 

International Standard Version:
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but after three days he would rise again.

NET Bible:  Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

New Heart English Bible:
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English:
And he began to teach them: “The Son of Man is going to suffer many things and to be rejected by the Elders and by the Chief Priests and by the Scribes and he shall be killed, and in three days he shall rise.” 

GOD'S WORD® Translation:
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life. 

New American Standard 1977:
And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Jubilee Bible 2000:
And he began to teach them that it was convenient that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the princes of the priests and of the scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again. 

King James 2000 Bible:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

American King James Version:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

American Standard Version:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Douay-Rheims Bible:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed: and after three days rise again. 

Darby Bible Translation:
And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and of the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise [again]. 

English Revised Version:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Webster's Bible Translation:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Weymouth New Testament:
And now for the first time He told them, "The Son of Man must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two days rise to life." 

World English Bible:
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Young's Literal Translation:
and began to teach them, that it behoveth the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise again;

Doing a frequency analysis, we summarize these 28 Bibles as follows:

• 23 Bible say "... after three days..."
   
• 3 Bibles say "...three days later..."
   
• 1 Bible says "... in three days..."
   
• 1 Bible says "... after  2 days ..." (yes, after 2 days, that's not a typo by me, it's Weymouth New Testament, see above, strange, I'll admit.)

So it appears that it isn't just the KJV, it's most English Bibles.  It also appears in the Greek.

I therefore conclude that the best translation of Mark 8:31 likely includes "...after 3 days...".

Interpreting Three Days and Three Nights

In the Old Testament, Esther calls a fast for 3 days and three nights in Esther 4:16, so as to prepare for Esther going before the King.  In Esther 5:1, Esther goes before the King on the 3rd day (ie. not after the 3rd day is over).  Therefore to count properly, as defined by the Bible, we must have at least a part of the day or night to count it.

This same counting as Esther used is also used for the 8 days after birth for the male baby circumcision (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3; Philippians 3:5); even if just a minute of a day remains, it counts as a full day.

Assuming Jesus died at 3 PM on a Thursday, and assuming Jesus spirit was immediately in the "heart of the Earth" immediately after His spirit left His body.

We then count Thurs afternoon (partial) as Day #1, Thursday evening as Night #1, Friday in the day as Day #2, Friday night as Night #2, Saturday in the day as Day #3, and Saturday night as Night #3.

We therefore have compliance to Mat 12:40, and similar with our assumption of crucifixion on Thursday at 3 PM.

Jesus in the Tomb, in the Heart of the Earth

[Luk 23:52-54 KJV] 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he 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. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

The phrase "...and the sabbath drew on." is Strong's G2020 epiphōskō, the exact same word as used in Mat 28:1 to describe "...as it began to dawn...".

[Mat 28:1 KJV] 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.

Therefore the timing of Luke 23:54 when Jesus was left in his tomb, was just before sunrise Friday morning.  This means that Jesus died at 3 pm on Thursday, Preparation day, Passover began at sundown on Preparation Day (Thursday evening).  Passover ran from sundown on Preparation Day, through the night, and had to be all cleaned up and put away before sunrise the next day, Friday.  Feast of Unleavened Bread, the High Holy Day, ran from sunrise on Friday to sunrise on Saturday.

The weekly sabbath for the 7th day of the week is on Saturday.  This created the strange occurrence of having a high sabbath (Unleavened Bread) immediately followed by the weekly Sabbath on Saturday.

This is why the women were blocked from properly serving and caring for Jesus' body from Thursday 3 PM when He died, until Sunday morning at sunrise.  That is why the women were recorded by Mat 28:1 as coming at Sunday sunrise to wash and embalm His body, but found that He had already risen.

Luke 23:54 and Mat 28:1 are two of 14 biblical proofs that God's day begins at sunrise.  The current custom of the day starting at sundown, as practiced by most Jews and all Muslims, is a Babylonian corruption of God's calendar.  See God's Day: When does it Start (Part 1 of 5)? May 17, 2019 Blog Posting https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start.html?m=1

Jesus died at 3:00 PM on Preparation Day, Nisan 14, before Passover began that year.  According to our modern Gregorian calendar, Jesus most likely died at 3 PM on Thursday April 14, 32 AD.  Sunrise is at 07:12 AM Israeli Standard Time (06:12 AM Israel Daylight Time, +03:00 GMT).

By the time the received the approval of Pontius Pilot, got Jesus down off the cross, transported Him inside, it was just before sunrise on Friday; Passover was almost completely over.

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:21 gives the sole Biblical account of Jesus speaking to a group of men on their way to Emmaus shortly after Jesus rose from the dead. 

[Luk 24:21 KJV] "21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done."

What is all included in "... these things..."?

Verse 14 says: "...all these things which had happened."

Verse 19 adds: "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:"

Verse 20 adds: "...And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him."

Not expressly mentioned in Luke, the Bible described also:

• Mat 27:51 the ripping of the Temple veil, the darkness, & the earthquake.
  
  
• Mat 62:62-66 going to Pilot on the High Holy Day of Unleavened Bread (ie. after Passover was over), and the securing of permission for the Roman guard and seal on the stone door for Jesus' tomb.

 It is clearly stated in Luke 24:21 that today (Sunday, First day of the week) is the third day since "these things".

Jesus resurrected slightly before sunrise on Sunday morning.  This road to Emmaus conversation with Jesus was likely sometime Sunday morning, shortly after Jesus had risen.

In other words, today (Sunday) is the 3rd. day since, yesterday (Saturday) was the 2nd day since, day before yesterday (Friday) was the 1st day since, and Thursday (High Holy Day of Unleavened Bread) is the actual day of "these things".  

Therefore again, the crucifixion, death, & burial of Jesus Christ must have occurred on Thursday.

Three Days & Three Nights in the Heart of the Earth

If you handled a dead body, Jews were ceremonially unclean (according to Numbers 9:6-12, and 19:1-22) for at least 7 days, thereby preventing you from celebrating Passover and the High Sabbath for Unleavened Bread.  However, you could celebrate the 2nd Passover on the 14th day of the 2nd. Month (ie. 1 month later).

All of those involved in Jesus' burial would become unclean, so if they touched His body, there is no rush, you can't do Passover, nor Unleavened Bread.

However, there is another reason to rush. 

[Deu 21:22-23 KJV] 22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

I suggest they were expected to finish all work before sundown (approximately 6:08 pm Israeli Standard Time in Jerusalem at time of year), the starting point of Passover, if at all possible.  That gave them no more than 3 hrs. from when Jesus died at 3:00 PM Thursday.

According to Luke 23:54, the actually finished getting Jesus' body into the tomb by sunrise Friday.  Even though they couldn't celebrate the high sabbath of Unleavened Bread, they still couldn't work; neither of Friday (Unleavened Bread), nor Saturday (weekly sabbath), so they planned to return Sunday morning at sunrise to finish the necessary steps with Jesus' body (washing, wrapping, embalming with spices and ointments).  That's why they came, as described in Mat. 28:1

***   Updated 2025-04-04, 2025-4-22  ***

God's Day: When Does It Start (Part 2 of 5) ?

In the previous post (God's Day:  When Does It Start? we showed by Matthew 28:1 that God's day starts as sunrise.

However, Deuteronomy 19:15 says:

"A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed."

and this caution is confirmed by 6 other similar verses in the Bible.

Therefore we must find at least 1 more (preferably at least 2 more) Bible verses to prove when God's day starts.

As our next best witness, I propose Lot's daughter just after they escaped the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, as described in Genesis  19:30-38

Genesis 19:30-38 King James Version (KJV)

30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

In Verse 33, the daughters encouraged their father to drink way too much wine during the night.  The eldest daughter then went in and laid with her father.  Since the Bible says "that night", it is obviously after sundown when this occurred.

In Verse 34, it's the next day (...on the morrow,...).  The elder daughter says, "Behold, I lay yesternight with my father...", which doubly confirms the eldest daughter laid with her father the night before, the previous day.

In Verse 35, the daughters encouraged their father to drink much wine again "...that night also;...", and the younger daughter went in and slept with her father also.

The following diagram is a timeline showing Genesis 19:30-38 while assuming God's day starts at sunrise.  Each full day is colour coded so as to help show the moment when one day ends and the next day begins.  For full size, click on the image.

Figure 1:  Chart of Timeline for Genesis 19:30-38 when assuming God's day starts at sunrise

As  can be seen in Figure 1, the biblical description matches with the timeline chart.  Therefore Genesis 19:30-38 supports the assumption of the sunrise being the breakpoint from one day to the next.

In Figure 2 below, we see a similar timeline chart, but this time, we assume the day changes at sunset.  In this case, the biblical description does not match the timeline, as the elder daughters says the next day in Verse 34 that she had slept with her father in the night of the previous day, however both these events occur in the same blue coloured day.  Therefore we must conclude that this assumption (that the day begins at sunset) is in error.  Click on Figure 2 to see it full size.

Figure 2:  Chart of Timeline for Genesis 19:30-38 while assuming God's day starts at sunset

We find that Figure 1 is accurate and Figure 2 contradicts itself.  The assumption used in Figure 2 is therefore found to be flawed.

I therefore conclude that God's Day begins at sunrise

The next post will be Part 3, the final post on this issue, further proof that God's day begins at sunrise.

I am interested in your comments and feedback.  Have I missed something?  Did I make an illogical jump to an unsupported conclusion?

How does this conclusion affect your life?

Do you support my conclusion?  If not, what biblical reference supports your opinion? 

<--- Back to Part 1                                                                                                   ----> to Part 3

Index:   God's Day:  When does it Start?

Part 1 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start.html   
2019-5-17

Part 2 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-2.html   
2019-5-27

Part 3 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-part-3-of-3.html   2019-5-27

Part 4 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/09/start-of-gods-day-at-sunrise-part-4.html   
2019-9-28

Part 5 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2022/08/start-of-gods-day-part-5.html 
2022-08-22

Part 6:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2024/04/jesus-3-days-3-nights.html   
2024-4-21

God's Day: When does it Start (Part 1 of 5)?

After 6,000 years under God, you'd think we could all agree exactly when God says the day starts.

The ancient Babylonians and medieval Europeans said the day began at sundown.  The ancient Romans and Chinese said it began at midnight.  The ancient Egyptian said the day began at first light (dawn, before sunrise).  Others said it began at sunrise.

What does God say?

There are many verses in the Holy Bible that describe the start of the day.  Unfortunately, most of these can be interpreted either way (sunrise or sunset) as being the start of the day.  Fortunately, there are a few verses which provide clarity.  Since a picture is worth 10,000 years, I have made a picture, one for each of the possible assumptions (sunrise or sunset).

Row 1 (ie. the top row) describes the assumption for this chart.
Row 2 gives a gray scale representation of light levels from black (night), gray (dawn and dusk), and white (full daylight).
Row 3 describes the part of the day (ie. sunrise, noon, sunset, midnight).
Row 4 gives the time of day (eg. 6:00 AM, 6:00 PM, etc.)
Row 5 gives the names for the day of the week (eg. Saturday, Sunday, etc.).  Note that Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, the 6th day of the week.
Row 6 gives the Bible verse under study, placed in the assumed square so that the text matches up with the time scale (first 5 rows).

Click on the Figure to get a full sized view.

Figure 1:  Diagram for Matthew 28:1, assuming day starts as Sundown

Looking at Figure 1, we can see we have a conflict.  The Bible text in Matthew 28:1 says:

Matt 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.

"In the end of the Sabbath" would tell us we are still inside the Sabbath day, but we are towards the end, getting ready to jump over to the next day (ie. almost at the first day of the week, Sunday).

For clarity, the Bible adds, "as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week".  This part tells us that we are at, or it will soon be within a few moments, be at the dawn of the 1st day of the week (Sunday).  This conflicts with the previous clause, or conflicts with our assumption (ie. when the day starts).

If the Bible had said, "In the end of the sabbath, as the sun began to set toward the first day of the week...", there would have been no conflict between our assumed timeline and the Bible text.  However, this is not what the Bible says.

Therefore we have discovered one of two possibilities:

A.  The first clause in Matthew 28:1 conflicts with the second clause in Matthew 28:1;

or

B.  Our assumption that God's day begins at sunset is in error.

To find out which of these two possibilities is true, lets look at the other possible assumption, as shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2:  Diagram for Matthew 28:1, assuming day starts at Sunrise

Figure 2 has the same layout as Figure 1 above, except the assumption has changed, and the most appropriate square for the Biblical text has changed.

In Figure 2, with the assumption of God's day starting at sunrise, we see there is no conflict with the Biblical text in Matthew 28:1.

I have come to learn that the Bible is the inspired writings from God.  God has ensured His Word has survived without corruption.  We have thousands of manuscripts, all or most that agree with each other except for obvious typos, and/or obvious corruptions, additions, or deletions which are easily spotted upon comparison of the various manuscrips, so as to disregard the imposters and obvious errors.

I have consulted the Blue Letter Bible Interlinear Greek for Matt 28:1 and the KJV English seems to match up with the original Greek manuscript shown there. I have also consulted my Greek-Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible textbook, and it agrees also that KJV English matches the original Greek.  Therefore I conclude that the English in the KJV Bible is correct, and respects the original Greek manuscript.

The KJV also agrees with all or most of the modern Bible versions available (eg. NKJV, NIV, CEB, ESV, etc.).

Mark 16:1-2 says:

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.

Here, we see similar timing to Matthew 28:1.  However, due to the wording, we could assume that Sabbath ended at sundown, then the Marys go buy spices, go back home to sleep, get up early before sunrise, and arrive at the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.  This makes it insufficient for our evidential requirements.  However, Mark 16:1-2 does not conflict with Matthew 28:1, but it does collaborate Matthew 28:1.

Luke 24:1 says:

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."

Again, Luke 24:1 supports both Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:1-2.  However, Luke 24:1 does not adequately describe exactly when the day changes.

John 20:1 says:

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

Again, John 20:1 supports Luke 24:1, Matthew 28:1, and Mark 16:1-2.  However, again John 20:1 lacks the specific details needed to define when one day ends and the next day begins.

Contrary Interpretation of Matthew 28:1

Some people may choose to say, "Yes, the plain English in Matthew 28:1 KJV certainly says that, but I can't believe that plain English meaning is what the author or God intended."  In that case, you should be prepared to provide a mountain of evidence that clearly instructs us to ignore the plain English meaning, so as to justify us to adopt some whimsical, far flung interpretation of Matthew 28:1.  If so, where is your mountain of data?

Failing a mountain of data to over-ride the plain English, we can recognize the accuracy of the KJV Bible, and avoid the conflict by choosing the assumption that the day begins as sunrise.

I therefore conclude that Matthew 28:1 instructs us that God's day begins at sunrise.

Three years ago, when I was awakened from my spiritual coma, I had assumed that the Jews knew what time it was, God's Word, the Bible, and all related topics.  I now come to the realization that the disruptions caused by Babylonians, Alexander the Great, Egypt, Rome, and Muslims was too much for the Hebrew nation, and they became corrupted in their timekeeping (and otherwise).  Fortunately, we have the Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls, and a few other sources to help us reconstruct God's message and God's Laws. 

Per the Bible and God's Law, we need 2 to 3 witnesses before we can render a just verdict.  We will see another witness on our next posting.  Stay tuned!

God said that Satan and Anti-Christ would change laws and time.  Do we need to hear more on how man became confused?

If you believe, or don't believe yet, please add your comments below.

---> To Part 2

Index:   God's Day:  When does it Start?

Part 1 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start.html   
2019-5-17

Part 2 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-2.html   
2019-5-27

Part 3 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-day-when-does-it-start-part-3-of-3.html   2019-5-27

Part 4 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2019/09/start-of-gods-day-at-sunrise-part-4.html   
2019-9-28

Part 5 of 5:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2022/08/start-of-gods-day-part-5.html 
2022-08-22

Part 6:  https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2024/04/jesus-3-days-3-nights.html   
2024-4-21

Sunday June 3 2018: Enoch's Pentecost

Sunday June 3, 2018 will be Pentecost according to Enoch's calendar.  This may be a day for a huge pouring out of God's Holy Spirit to the righteous and God's Elect prior to us entering into the Great Tribulation in the Fall of  2018.

John 20:1-22 tells us that after Jesus was crucified, He rose again 3 days later, ascended to Heaven, then returned to Earth and met with His Disciples that Sunday.  Jesus showed them the nail holes in His hands and side, then breathed on all of them to give them the Holy Spirit.  Jesus walked the Earth for the next 40 days helping His Apostles prepare for what was to soon come.  After 40 days, Jesus instructed His Disciples to await the helper (Holy Spirit) that Jesus would send for them.  Jesus re-ascended to Heaven through the clouds.  Ten days later, on Pentecost (ie. 50 days after the Holy day of First Fruits, when Jesus first ascended to Heaven), the Holy Spirit arrived as promised, and filled up all of Jesus' Disciples to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

Notice that filling up with the Holy Spirit was a 2 stage process. Does this relate to the Bible's allegory of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, where 5 wise and 5 foolish, where all virgins had some oil for their lamps, but the 5 foolish virgins ran out of oil (ie. Holy Spirit) for their lamps due to the unexpected delay waiting for the Bridegroom's arrival (ie. Jesus) for the wedding?

As an analogy, if you see a sign saying "Last Gas for 500 km" as you drive along a strange highway on your vacation, what should you do?  Of course, one should realize the gas tank on most cars allows us a range of around 500 km.  Even if you filled up just before this sign, it is wise to take advantage of this last opportunity to refill your tank.  If you ignore the warning, you will likely run out of gas and be stranded; ruining your vacation.

Same goes for your spiritual gas tank and your share of God's Holy Spirit.  Your tank should be overflowing.  This is especially true as we enter God's End Times process.

Calendars have been a point of contention for some time:

• Enoch's calendar comes to us from the Book of Enoch (dated at 400 BC).

• Babylonian Captivity under King Nebuchadnezzar from 597 BC till 527 BC corrupted or influenced the Jewish calendar to some unknown degree.
  
   
• the Julian Calendar of 46 BC (in place at the time of Jesus Christ).
• Jewish calendar was radically changed after the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, the outlawing of the Sanhedrin (Supreme Court of the Jewish faith), and banned rulings on the Jewish calendar.  Since then, a Babylonian-type calendar was established for the Jews.
  
   
• the declaration of Sunday as the day of rest in 321 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine,
  
   
• Outlawing of God's Sabbath (Saturday), and adoption of Sunday by the Roman Catholic Church via the Council of Laodicia  in 363 AD, and
  
   
•  the Gregorian Calendar of 1582 AD used by almost all Christian organized religions had a different definition for Pentecost, aligned to many pagan ceremonial dates since

As Enoch's Calendar is the oldest, perhaps it is the best.  Enoch was:

• the 7th generation born after Adam & Eve,
• mentioned in the Book of Genesis 5:21-24 of the Bible (ie. Enoch was a righteous man who walked with God),
  
   
• the father of Methuselah (the oldest man, and the Flood couldn't start until  Methuselah died and the 3 days of mourning had passed), and
  
   
• the the great-grandfather of Noah.
• quoted from in the Bible, Book of Jude 1:14. 

The Book of Enoch was rejected by the Jews because it contained prophecies about Jesus Christ.  The Book of Enoch is reinforced by the Book of Jubilees.  Neither the Book of Enoch, nor the Book of Jubilees are a part of the Holy Bible, as the Roman Catholic Church rejected both books around 400 AD, possibly because the manuscripts were lost or partially lost at that time.  We received better research and manuscripts for the Book of Enoch from the Ethiopian Church of Christ in 1906 AD, and the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1976 AD.

As Enoch's calendar is 364 days long, but resets its start each solar year as the day after the Spring Solstice, it is accurate and stay accurate with the sun forever, without the need for leap years, nor strange variations in the length of months as defined by the various Roman Emperors.  In other words, Enoch's calendar is simple, accurate, and se


ems to be endorsed by God.  Can we ask for more?

The Jewish calendar of today varies on a 17 year cycle, and requires someone to decide about the insertion of an extra month into the year every now and then based upon the barley harvest in Jerusalem, the phases of the moon, and many other factors.  It is obviously very complicated, and inaccurate to varying degrees during the 17 year cycle between the sun and moon.  This can result in Holy Days defined in the Bible being significantly off from God's reality.

If you celebrate a non-Holy day, and fail to celebrate a Holy Day as defined by God's Bible, all because you use the wrong calendar or don't care, you upset God, and sin.

I have done a fair amount of research on this calendar problem.  It appears that we have good reason to believe Sabbath (Saturday) is correctly defined (ie.  there is a negligible chance that Sabbath is one of the other six days of the week through some screw up in ancient history).

Of course, the Devil is glad we have confusion about God's calendar, and he wants to use this as a wedge between God and His people.  Getting the Holy Days correct is one of the ways we demonstrate we are part of God's family.

I was somewhat disappointed that I felt no filling up of my Holy Spirit on the Pentecost defined by most Christian churches (May 20th, 2018).  Perhaps it was because this date was based upon a false calendar.  Perhaps Enoch's Pentecost on June 3rd will produce better results.

If you are interested in Enoch's Calendar, there is a free app for your Android phone, available here:   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RipCurrentInteractive.EnochCalendar&hl=en 

I am not totally convinced that Enoch's calendar is the one and only calendar of God.  I reserve the right to change my mind if further research shows it is wrong, or time & better knowledge offers a better choice.  Until then, I believe Enoch's calendar is the correct calendar.

I plan to focus my prayers in a growing crescendo between now and June 2, then adding fasting in the 3 prior days ( May 31 to June 3),  Sabbath from Friday twilight to Saturday twilight, then Pentecost celebrations starting from Twilight (sundown) on Sat. June 2 till twilight on Sunday June 3.

I look forward to having my Holy Spirit filled to overflowing on June 3rd.  Will you consider the above, ask your questions now, and come join me?


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God's Calendar

After many months of searching and research, I have discovered a unique calendar that has many features that align with the Biblical requirements.  As such, this may be God's true calendar.

Why is this important?

The Bible says that God requires all his people to respect the Sabbath, Commandment #4.  This isn't just for Jews, it's for Christians as well.

Some claim that Christians must only recognize Jesus Christ as God's son, claim grace under Jesus' crucifixion for our sins, and we're home free.  Does it make sense that Christians are relieved from responsibility under the 10 Commandments?  I doubt that this can be claimed by any serious source.

Even Jesus had troubles with all the special "laws" added by Pharisees and Sadducees, needlessly complicating the lives of ordinary Jews.  If Jesus was against these silly laws tacked on top of God's Laws, I don't see why I, as a Christian, should be held accountable for these extras.

However, God's 10 Commandments, Sabbaths, and God's Festivals are different.  I can find no consistent Biblical reference that clearly excuses Christians from obeying these eternal requirements of God.

Secondly, the Bible says that the proper celebration of God's Festivals marks us as one of God's people.  As a corollary, non-celebration of God's Sabbaths and Festivals, or doing so at the wrong times, would be clear indication that we are not one of God's chosen people.

Since membership in God's people is an optional, opt-in organization (ie. "if 'yer not with us, 'yer against us"), then a bad calendar can lead to missing the Mark of God, and taking the Mark of the Beast, whether that was your mistake, clear choice, or an unintended but inadvertent outcome.

Remember the 10 virgins at the wedding party, 5 whom were foolish, and ended up being locked out in the cold by the Groom (ie. Jesus).  That's a 50% loss rate.

Are you really, truly sure you have it right assuming that Sunday service will save you from eternal Hell Fires?

Perhaps you should read this again, and re-consider your position, to make sure you have made a wise decision.

Assuming I'm not wrong, and Christians are responsible for celebrating God's Sabbaths and Festivals, an accurate calendar is essential.

The following calendar proposal has the following features, making this calendar proposal fully compliant to all Biblical requirements, as follows:

1. God’s calendar has 12 months and 365 days per year, perfectly aligned to the sun, and independent of the Moon;
2. Everything stays permanently aligned throughout each year, and for all centuries.  There is no longer any requirement for mnemonic rhymes for school children and adults (ie. "30 days has September..."), Leap Years,  Leap Centuries, Translation Days, Metonic Cycles, trying to guess upon which day an invisible New Moon occurred, extra months added to the calendar, assessing barley harvests, nor any other witchcraft.
3. Each month is made up of 30 day.
4. Weekly Sabbaths in 1st and 7th month always fall on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th days.
5. Passover, the 14th of the first month, always falls on the 6th day of the week. This correlates with Old Testament and New Testament observance. It also confirms the understanding on the 3 days and 3 nights prophecy for Jesus' crucifixion and Resurrection.
6. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread always falls on a weekly Sabbath, on the 15th day of the first month (Lev. 23:15-16; Jn. 19:31).
7. Pentecost always falls on the morrow after a weekly Sabbath (Lev. 23:15-16).
8. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles falls on a weekly Sabbath.
9. The Eighth Day following the 7-day feast of Tabernacles falls on a weekly Sabbath.
10. Each season is 91 days long. 4 seasons total 364 days. Spring equilux day is day 365.
11. The second half of the year perfectly mirrors the first half of the year.

God is all about the day and the light.  The Moon is not a source of light, it merely reflects the light from others.  The Moon is all about the night, and isn't a constant, reliable source of light (ie. New Moon).

The Moon is a distraction from God's signs and messages.  The Apochraphy Book of Jubilies (possibly written by Moses) cautions all readers about the risk of being distracted from God's calendar by the Moon's similar yet different calendar.  Sure enough, everybody feel into this known trap, and most don't even realize they are in a trap, and fell away from God's Word; just as Satan would want.

I learned about this calendar proposal from Faithful Church of God In Laodicia.  You can read their detailed calendar proposal here:    Proposal for God's True Calendar

This calendar proposal requires an annual starting point.  FCOGL proposes the annual day in the Spring of Equilux (ie. day of equal light, where the day is as long as the night, 12 hours each).

Equilux is related to, but different from Equinox.

Equilux usually occurs on or around Mar. 17 to 24th in the Spring of each year.  Every latitude and longitude will have a different time of sunrise and sunset, but all will have the same or similar day of Equilux (within 5 days or so).

Equinox ("equal night") is the exact moment that the sun crosses the Earth's equitorial plane, from Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere, or the reverse.  There is usually about a 4 day difference between Equilux and Eqinox.

With Equinox, all of the world will be co-ordinated to a specific date and time, but would require expertise in astronomy to determine.  Equinox relies on experts, and is therefore hands-off everybody else (ie. non participatory), but is accurate, and perhaps wrong.  On the other hand, everybody can determine Equilux for themselves if they have a watch or other time measuring device.

God is Light.  Devil is darkness.  Do we get a clue from the name, Eqilux vs. Eqinox, as to which is the correct one for God's chosen people?  Light or night?  Is this a clear sign that Satan has been messing with things, setting traps, and misleading the foolish or uninformed?

Time and prayer may help us decide and learn.

Here is what the FCOFL calendar proposal looks like (the red coloured text was added by me):

Alternative View

I have been impressed with the following video.  Although it's long, it offers many important reference sources on this critical issue.

Also, be sure to review all the excellent comments and discussions on this video, available here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3aKG9seCts