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Considerations on WHEN a Day Begins?

January 7, 2023July 9, 2025 by Laura Lee

(Copyright) by Rich Traver (Clifton, Colorado)
l Morning & evening: both are parts of a “full day” [Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31] The ‘evening (mentioned first) is an integral part of the whole “day”. l Three meanings of “Day”: 24-hours / daylight portion / era of time l Which part of the day does the night portion fall within? Before or after? If it’s the second part of the 24-hour “day” interval, that creates numerous problems. l Entombment completion: rushed to finish before sundown. [Lk.23:54; Mk.15:42] Their burial efforts were hastened on account of the approaching Sabbath. That wouldn’t be the end of the night, but the end of the daylight portion of that day. l Sabbaths draw on (are about to begin) as the daylight part of the day was ending: [Lk.23:54] In this case, Jesus was hastily placed in the tomb. 24-hour “days” begin at the onset of “evenings”. l Entombment interval (3 Days & 3 Nights): Entombment is the stated interval. You can’t count Friday daylight or Sunday daylight. That then means: Saturday night + Saturday day + Sunday night (He was raised before Sunday morning) leaving Two Nights and One Day! (That’s if using the Friday crucifixion approach.) Note: the 3 Days +3 Nights idea counts from entombment, not from His death, not including time on the cross. l When was the watch set? [Mt.27:62] For the verse to mean during the next daylight hours, then that would be a High Sabbath (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and/or a weekly Sabbath. Either these two Sabbaths coincided or were separated by another “Preparation Day” in between. Question is, did they approach Pilate on an annual Sabbath or a weekly Sabbath? He gave the WORK of sealing the tomb to them, he only supplied the watch-soldiers. So, did the Jews do the physical labor of sealing the tomb on a High Sabbath (which it had to be) or possibly even a ‘double Sabbath’, which was in fact Their Passover Day! How likely would they have done this on their High Sabbath considering John 18:28. [see Mt.27:62-66] l Women buy spices, but not on a Sabbath day: The latter is well demonstrated by the women’s experience of buying spices on ‘the Preparation Day’, preparing them, and then resting on the weekly Sabbath. THAT Sabbath on which they rested could only have been the weekly Sabbath. [cp. Mk.16:1 with Lk.23:56] The ‘preparation day’ mentioned [Lk.23:56] was the Friday of that week. Fridays were often referred to as the preparation for the (weekly) Sabbath: The Sabbath ‘according to the commandment’ (the 4^thCommandment). Now, we’re faced with a question. Did they purchase such aromatics and oils BEFORE His death or after? The text indicates AFTER! They had no awareness of His pending death before it happened, which is another important consideration. So, the purchase and preparation of said items (having seen the burial situation the previous evening [Lk.23:55]), was with realization that more was needed. This explains their actions. What this detail establishes is that there were TWO Sabbaths in that week. In either event, there HAD TO BE, as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover. So, either there were TWO occurring concurrently, or TWO in succession. The spice buying occasion establishes that there was another ‘preparation day’ between these TWO! That’s why that little detail was included, to ‘clue-in’ those attending to detail. l Start of a Sabbath: traditionally at sunset: This was known from Creation, faithfully preserved by the Jewish religion to the present day. No one takes serious issue with Jewish Tradition on this. Even the secular world identifies the start of a new day being during the night portion of the day, but at midnight rather than at sunset. l Passover sacrifice: slain just as the sun had set: [Deut.16:6] That would be the onset of the fourteenth, not ‘at even’ as the daylight portion of the fourteenth was just ending. l Passover occurred at midnight of which day? [Ex.12:29] l Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was. It was during the night portion of the fourteenth, illustrated by what is erroneously (unbiblically) called “The Lord’s Supper” (to obscure the fact) that they used the term “Passover” for their observance exclusively ten times! Many Sadducees kept it as they did, but the Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover. The “passing over” occurred at midnight during the fourteenth, with preparations for the first day of Unleavened Bread during the daylight part of the fourteenth. That was the ‘preparation’ referred to in Mark 15:42. This was the preparation day for the first annual Holy Day which always followed next after the Passover. The ‘Sabbath’ referred to in this verse was the annual Sabbath! The daylight portion of the fourteenth HAD TO BE followed by a High Holy Day, as John points out. [Jn.19:31] l Atonement Day interval (like any Sabbath) is from sunset to sunset: [Lev.23:32] l Unleavened Bread interval: ‘even to even’ [Ex.12:18] evening of the 14^th thru the evening of the 21^st. The fourteenth at even is the beginning of the fifteenth: which is day one of the seven days thru to the end “even” of the seventh day, the twenty-first. l Legal death: Three full days (Lazarus’ example). This was by Roman Law. Same with Lazarus [Jn.11:17] to remove any doubt that he was dead. He’d been dead long enough to stink. [Jn.11:39] l Wave sheaf bound at sunset / presented in the morning: Traditional practice had this being done. The ceremony is explained in great detail in Edersheim’s Book: “The Temple, Its Ministry and its Services”, 4^th Edition, 1998, Hendrickson Publishing. They would never have considered doing so IF they thought a 24-hour day began with dawn. But the next item is an even greater proof of their persuasion on this. l The New Moons: An observation practice essential to the religious calendar was the monthly sighting of the first visible crescent to confirm the beginning of the new lunar month. This was essential to their calendar and to determine the dates for the annual Holy Days. As the current month was winding down, calendar priests would convene and await the appearance of the first sighting of the emerging crescent just above the western horizon a few minutes after sunset. Upon a confirmed sighting, the beginning of the new month would be declared. This event marked not only the day which began that new month but was at the start of the new day. This further establishes that days began in the evenings as the sun had just set. The lunar calendar is not all predetermined, as we’re used to. It required numerous judgment calls and verifications by confirmed sightings to establish accuracy. The first month (influenced by the Abib (first ripened barley)) was an added factor in establishing the first month. The seventh month was also important as it established the dates for the fall Holy Day season, which are all within the seventh month. Nothing would better verify that days were considered to begin at sunset than this, from the time of the Exodus and well before. [Ex.12:2]. l Why, “if inspired” would believers be in full agreement with the daughters of the Great Whore system? They, nearly all, hold to a Friday crucifixion belief. (Though few if any advocate sunrise as the beginning of a 24-hour day.) ———————————————————————– Reprinted with permission from: Golden Sheaves https://www.goldensheaves.org/ ———————————————————————–

(Copyright) by Rich Traver (Clifton, Colorado)

l Morning & evening: both are parts of a “full day” [Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31] The ‘evening (mentioned first) is an integral part of the whole “day”.

l Three meanings of “Day”: 24-hours / daylight portion / era of time

l Which part of the day does the night portion fall within? Before or after? If it’s the second part of the 24-hour “day” interval, that creates numerous problems.

l Entombment completion: rushed to finish before sundown. [Lk.23:54; Mk.15:42] Their burial efforts were hastened on account of the approaching Sabbath. That wouldn’t be the end of the night, but the end of the daylight portion of that day.

l Sabbaths draw on (are about to begin) as the daylight part of the day was ending: [Lk.23:54] In this case, Jesus was hastily placed in the tomb. 24-hour “days” begin at the onset of “evenings”.

l Entombment interval (3 Days & 3 Nights): Entombment is the stated interval. You can’t count Friday daylight or Sunday daylight. That then means: Saturday night + Saturday day + Sunday night (He was raised before Sunday morning) leaving Two Nights and One Day! (That’s if using the Friday crucifixion approach.) Note: the 3 Days +3 Nights idea counts from entombment, not from His death, not including time on the cross.

l When was the watch set? [Mt.27:62] For the verse to mean during the next daylight hours, then that would be a High Sabbath (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and/or a weekly Sabbath. Either these two Sabbaths coincided or were separated by another “Preparation Day” in between. Question is, did they approach Pilate on an annual Sabbath or a weekly Sabbath? He gave the WORK of sealing the tomb to them, he only supplied the watch-soldiers. So, did the Jews do the physical labor of sealing the tomb on a High Sabbath (which it had to be) or possibly even a ‘double Sabbath’, which was in fact Their Passover Day! How likely would they have done this on their High Sabbath considering John 18:28. [see Mt.27:62-66]

l Women buy spices, but not on a Sabbath day: The latter is well demonstrated by the women’s experience of buying spices on ‘the Preparation Day’, preparing them, and then resting on the weekly Sabbath. THAT Sabbath on which they rested could only have been the weekly Sabbath. [cp. Mk.16:1 with Lk.23:56] The ‘preparation day’ mentioned [Lk.23:56] was the Friday of that week. Fridays were often referred to as the preparation for the (weekly) Sabbath: The Sabbath ‘according to the commandment’ (the 4^thCommandment). Now, we’re faced with a question. Did they purchase such aromatics and oils BEFORE His death or after? The text indicates AFTER! They had no awareness of His pending death before it happened, which is another important consideration. So, the purchase and preparation of said items (having seen the burial situation the previous evening [Lk.23:55]), was with realization that more was needed. This explains their actions. What this detail establishes is that there were TWO Sabbaths in that week. In either event, there HAD TO BE, as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover. So, either there were TWO occurring concurrently, or TWO in succession. The spice buying occasion establishes that there was another ‘preparation day’ between these TWO! That’s why that little detail was included, to ‘clue-in’ those attending to detail.

l Start of a Sabbath: traditionally at sunset: This was known from Creation, faithfully preserved by the Jewish religion to the present day. No one takes serious issue with Jewish Tradition on this. Even the secular world identifies the start of a new day being during the night portion of the day, but at midnight rather than at sunset.

l Passover sacrifice: slain just as the sun had set: [Deut.16:6] That would be the onset of the fourteenth, not ‘at even’ as the daylight portion of the fourteenth was just ending.

l Passover occurred at midnight of which day? [Ex.12:29]

l Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was. It was during the night portion of the fourteenth, illustrated by what is erroneously (unbiblically) called “The Lord’s Supper” (to obscure the fact) that they used the term “Passover” for their observance exclusively ten times! Many Sadducees kept it as they did, but the Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover. The “passing over” occurred at midnight during the fourteenth, with preparations for the first day of Unleavened Bread during the daylight part of the fourteenth. That was the ‘preparation’ referred to in Mark 15:42. This was the preparation day for the first annual Holy Day which always followed next after the Passover. The ‘Sabbath’ referred to in this verse was the annual Sabbath! The daylight portion of the fourteenth HAD TO BE followed by a High Holy Day, as John points out. [Jn.19:31]

l Atonement Day interval (like any Sabbath) is from sunset to sunset: [Lev.23:32]

l Unleavened Bread interval: ‘even to even’ [Ex.12:18] evening of the 14^th thru the evening of the 21^st. The fourteenth at even is the beginning of the fifteenth: which is day one of the seven days thru to the end “even” of the seventh day, the twenty-first.

l Legal death: Three full days (Lazarus’ example). This was by Roman Law. Same with Lazarus [Jn.11:17] to remove any doubt that he was dead. He’d been dead long enough to stink. [Jn.11:39]

l Wave sheaf bound at sunset / presented in the morning: Traditional practice had this being done. The ceremony is explained in great detail in Edersheim’s Book: “The Temple, Its Ministry and its Services”, 4^th Edition, 1998, Hendrickson Publishing. They would never have considered doing so IF they thought a 24-hour day began with dawn. But the next item is an even greater proof of their persuasion on this.

l The New Moons: An observation practice essential to the religious calendar was the monthly sighting of the first visible crescent to confirm the beginning of the new lunar month. This was essential to their calendar and to determine the dates for the annual Holy Days. As the current month was winding down, calendar priests would convene and await the appearance of the first sighting of the emerging crescent just above the western horizon a few minutes after sunset. Upon a confirmed sighting, the beginning of the new month would be declared. This event marked not only the day which began that new month but was at the start of the new day. This further establishes that days began in the evenings as the sun had just set. The lunar calendar is not all predetermined, as we’re used to. It required numerous judgment calls and verifications by confirmed sightings to establish accuracy. The first month (influenced by the Abib (first ripened barley)) was an added factor in establishing the first month. The seventh month was also important as it established the dates for the fall Holy Day season, which are all within the seventh month. Nothing would better verify that days were considered to begin at sunset than this, from the time of the Exodus and well before. [Ex.12:2].

l Why, “if inspired” would believers be in full agreement with the daughters of the Great Whore system? They, nearly all, hold to a Friday crucifixion belief. (Though few if any advocate sunrise as the beginning of a 24-hour day.)

———————————————————————–
Reprinted with permission from: Golden Sheaves
https://www.goldensheaves.org/
———————————————————————–

Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Considerations on WHEN a Day Begins? Article by Rich Traver Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Laura Lee writes: I believe that what Rich is trying to prove here is that a day is 24 hours long and starts at even and that Christ was three days and three nights in the grave. The reason he is trying to prove this is because there are people within the Church of God that believe a day starts in the morning and that Christ was crucified on a Friday and resurrected on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, these and other false beliefs do run rampant in the Church of God. Even with Rich’s intent to prove that certain doctrines are false, which is what we should all be doing, so people are directed to the truth of what scripture says, we feel there is much error in this article so for that reason we will go through all of the points Rich brings in and you can decide for yourself. Just remember you need to be able to prove what you believe through scripture and not through some lone historical document that was written in the 1980’s which no one ever heard of before. Rich Traver’s Article: l Morning & evening: both are parts of a “full day” [Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31] The ‘evening (mentioned first) is an integral part of the whole “day”. Laura Lee writes: We are in agreement that days begin with the evening part of the day and go from even to even. The reason God set it up this way may be because the earth started with darkness. Gen 1:2 … and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (KJV) Another consideration for a day to start at even is because life starts with darkness also. Babies are in their mother’s dark womb for nine months before finally being born and seeing the light of day. New birth always starts in the dark and ends with seeing light. To me there is a symbolic reason why God chose to start His days at even. Rich Traver’s Article: l Three meanings of “Day”: 24-hours / daylight portion / era of time Laura Lee writes: What Rich is saying here is similar to the definition of Passover. Day in scripture is referred to as 24-hours, daylight and even eras of time, so too is the Passover referred to as the day of Passover, the Passover meal, and also the Passover sacrifice. These definitions are not hard to see but some people mistakenly put the wrong definition to both of these at times while reading the scriptures. For example, if you are reading scripture talking about the Passover meal and you mistakenly believe it is referring to the Passover sacrifice it will throw the meaning of the scriptures you are reading off and cause you to believe something which is perhaps not even true. This is why all scripture needs to be read in context of what it says. You cannot take one scripture and build an entire doctrine out of it. Rich Traver’s Article: l Which part of the day does the night portion fall within? Before or after? If it’s the second part of the 24-hour “day” interval, that creates numerous problems. Laura Lee writes: Rich is right on here. For one thing, if you are not answering this question correctly and you actually believe that the night portion of the day is at the end of the day instead of at the beginning of the day then you will have problems with the timing of the Holy Days. For example, Atonement is to be kept from even to even and the Passover meal is to be eaten at even. Rich Traver’s Article: l Entombment completion: rushed to finish before sundown. [Lk.23:54; Mk.15:42] Their burial efforts were hastened on account of the approaching Sabbath. That wouldn’t be the end of the night, but the end of the daylight portion of that day. Laura Lee writes: Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. (KJV) Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, (KJV) If you read both scriptures in context you will find they are both referring to the point of time that Jesus was taken off the stake and about to be placed in the grave. We know that Christ was crucified with the Passover lambs on the daylight portion of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib. The day Christ was crucified was also the preparation for the high Holy Day of Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread, so after they removed Christ from the stake, they had to rush to get Him in the grave before the Holy Day began at even on the fourteenth going into the fifteenth of Nisan/Abib. Rich Traver’s Article: l Sabbaths draw on (are about to begin) as the daylight part of the day was ending: [Lk.23:54] In this case, Jesus was hastily placed in the tomb. 24-hour “days” begin at the onset of “evenings”. Laura Lee writes: We are in agreement with this statement. See the previous point. Rich Traver’s Article: l Entombment interval (3 Days & 3 Nights): Entombment is the stated interval. You can’t count Friday daylight or Sunday daylight. That then means: Saturday night + Saturday day + Sunday night (He was raised before Sunday morning) leaving Two Nights and One Day! (That’s if using the Friday crucifixion approach.) Note: the 3 Days +3 Nights idea counts from entombment, not from His death, not including time on the cross. Laura Lee writes: Many people believe that Christ was crucified on a Friday (Good Friday) and was resurrected on Sunday morning (Easter/Resurrection Sunday). That would mean Christ was only in the grave for 1.5 Days and not the total three days which scripture speaks of. Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Mat 12:40 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. The conclusion here is that a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday resurrection is a false doctrine according to scripture. Rich Traver’s Article: l When was the watch set? [Mt.27:62] For the verse to mean during the next daylight hours, then that would be a High Sabbath (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and/or a weekly Sabbath. Either these two Sabbaths coincided or were separated by another “Preparation Day” in between. Question is, did they approach Pilate on an annual Sabbath or a weekly Sabbath? He gave the WORK of sealing the tomb to them, he only supplied the watch-soldiers. So, did the Jews do the physical labor of sealing the tomb on a High Sabbath (which it had to be) or possibly even a ‘double Sabbath’, which was in fact Their Passover Day! How likely would they have done this on their High Sabbath considering John 18:28. [see Mt.27:62-66] Laura Lee writes: Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Mat 27:64 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. Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (KJV) Joh 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (KJV) To answer the questions Rich brings in. The watch (guards) was set to guard the tomb on Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread. See Mat. 27:62 above. Setting the watch and sealing the stone were all done on the daylight portion of the Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread. How likely were the Jewish Priests and Pharisees to seal the stone and set the guard on a high (annual) Holy Day? According to my research it would be highly likely and probably would not have broken any of their rules and regulations. Pilate gave them the guards to set up the watch. Once they had the guards, all they had to do was walk to the sepulchre. See Mat. 27:65 above. None of them had to do any rock lifting, pushing, or rolling because the stone was already in front of the opening to the sepulchre. See Mark 15:46 below. Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. (KJV) When they were finished laying Christ in the sepulchre, they rolled a stone unto the door. In other words, they closed the entrance of the sepulchre with a stone. And according to Matthew it was a large stone. See Mat. 27:59-60 below. Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (KJV) Carefully read the following verse: Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (KJV) Many people believe that the stone itself was the seal, but that is not what scripture says. The watch is set, and the stone is in place, so all the Priests and Pharisees had to do was seal the stone in front of the door to the sepulchre. So, what was the seal? Some commentaries cover what the seal on the stone was. Vincent’s word studies Sealing the stone and setting a watch (σφραγίσαντες τὸν λίθον, μετὰ τῆς κουστωδίας) Lit., having sealed the stone with the watch. Rev., Sealing the stone, the guard being with them. This is rather awkward, but the rendering rightly corrects the A. V. The idea is that they sealed the stone in the presence of the guard, and then left them to keep watch. It would be important that the guard should witness the sealing. The sealing was performed by stretching a cord across the stone and fastening it to the rock at either end by means of sealing clay. Or, if the stone at the door happened to be fastened with a cross beam, this latter was sealed to the rock. Robertson’s word pictures Sealing the stone, the guard being with them (sphragisantēs ton lithon meta tēs koustōdias). Probably by a cord stretched across the stone and sealed at each end as in Dan_6:17. The sealing was done in the presence of the Roman guard who were left in charge to protect this stamp of Roman authority and power. They did their best to prevent theft and the resurrection (Bruce), but they overreached themselves and provided additional witness to the fact of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus (Plummer). B. W. Johnson Sealing the stone. A cord was stretched across the stone door and sealed at each end with wax. The seal would have to be broken to remove the stone. John Gill So they went,…. From Pilate’s palace, to the garden of Joseph, and to the sepulchre there; which whether more than a sabbath day’s journey, or two thousand cubits, may be inquired; and if so, then they broke one of their own traditions, which allowed a person to go no further on a sabbath day; See Gill on Act_1:12. And made the sepulchre sure; in the following manner, sealing the stone; that was rolled to the door of it, it may be with some public seal, with Pilate’s, or with the Sanhedrin’s; as the stone at the mouth of the lions’ den, in which Daniel was put, was sealed with the king’s signet, and with the signet of his lords, Dan_6:17, that there might be no change of the sentence upon him, and by which it appeared, that his deliverance was by no human assistance: so the stone at Christ’s sepulchre was sealed, that it could not be removed without breaking it; which would show, whether any fraudulent methods were taken to remove the body: and setting a watch; a guard of soldiers, to observe and prevent any person coming near it; or “with the watch”: they made sure the sepulchre with the watch; or sealed the stone, the watch being present; all which was overruled by the providence of God, for the greater confirmation of the truth of Christ’s resurrection: by the methods taken, it clearly appears, there could be no fraud in the case; the body was laid in a tomb, where no corpse had ever been before; in a tomb hewed out of a rock, to which there was no access, but at the door; where a great stone was rolled; and this had a seal upon it, and a guard of soldiers about it; and hereby there were more witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, than otherwise would have been; as the soldiers, though they were afterwards bribed to tell another story; and even the chief priests and Pharisees were convicted that he was risen, or they would never have taken such a method with the soldiers, as they did. George Haydock They departing. See how beyond the possibility of contradiction these precautions prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection, and how the inveterate enemies of Christ become unwilling witnesses of it; for, since the sepulchre was guarded, there was an impossibility of any deceit on the part of the disciples. Now, if the least deceit was utterly impracticable, then indeed Christ our Lord was infallibly risen; and to remove every, the least possibility of deceit, Pilate would not permit the soldiers alone to seal up the monument. (St. Thomas Aquinas) — The high priests made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone at the entrance of the monument with the public seal, Greek: sphragisantes ton lithon, proof against all fraud, either of corrupt guards or of designing followers, as Darius did, (Dan_6:17) that no violence might be offered him. All this diligence, on the part of the enemies of the Christian faith, was permitted by divine Providence, that our faith in Christ’s resurrection might be more certain, his glory greater, and the minds of the people better disposed to believe. (Jansenius) Albert Barnes Sealing the stone – The sepulchre was made sure by affixing the large stone to the entrance in such a way that it could not be removed without detection. It was sealed. In what way this was done cannot now be certainly told. The cave in which Daniel was cast was fastened in the same manner, and sealed with the king’s signet Dan_6:17, perhaps by fastening the stone in its place with cords, and bringing them together and uniting them with wax, and impressing on that the seal of the king. In this way, letters and books were anciently sealed. Possibly on the sepulchre of Jesus was impressed in this manner the seal of Pilate – the seal of office – making it doubly sure; or it may be that the stone was fitted into the tomb with clay or cement, and on that was impressed the seal of Pilate. Setting a watch – That is, as large a number of soldiers as they judged necessary to secure the tomb. We cannot but be struck with the wisdom of God in ordering the circumstances of the Saviour’s burial in such a manner as to avoid the possibility of deception. Had all this been done by his “friends,” it might have been said that they only pretended to secure the tomb, and only pretended that he was dead. But he was adjudged to be dead “by the Jews themselves;” Pilate was satisfied that that was the fact; they had their own way about his burial; he was buried alone; the place of his sepulchre was made sure, “expressly to prevent his being removed;” and they placed around him a guard, in their own judgment large enough to prevent his being taken away by force or strength. His very enemies, therefore, took every possible precaution to place his resurrection beyond the possibility of suspicion of fraud and imposture, and those precautions were the very means of furnishing the most striking proof that his death, burial, and resurrection were not impositions, but most affecting, awful, and yet cheering realities. Rich Traver’s Article: l Women buy spices, but not on a Sabbath day: The latter is well demonstrated by the women’s experience of buying spices on ‘the Preparation Day’, preparing them, and then resting on the weekly Sabbath. THAT Sabbath on which they rested could only have been the weekly Sabbath. [cp. Mk.16:1 with Lk.23:56] The ‘preparation day’ mentioned [Lk.23:56] was the Friday of that week. Fridays were often referred to as the preparation for the (weekly) Sabbath: The Sabbath ‘according to the commandment’ (the 4^thCommandment). Now, we’re faced with a question. Did they purchase such aromatics and oils BEFORE His death or after? The text indicates AFTER! They had no awareness of His pending death before it happened, which is another important consideration. So, the purchase and preparation of said items (having seen the burial situation the previous evening [Lk.23:55]), was with realization that more was needed. This explains their actions. What this detail establishes is that there were TWO Sabbaths in that week. In either event, there HAD TO BE, as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover. So, either there were TWO occurring concurrently, or TWO in succession. The spice buying occasion establishes that there was another ‘preparation day’ between these TWO! That’s why that little detail was included, to ‘clue-in’ those attending to detail. Laura Lee writes: Mar 16:1 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. (KJV) Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (KJV) I was in agreement with you until I got to this statement “as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover”. Passover is a High Holy Day. In the year that Christ was crucified it happened this way: Wednesday Afternoon Nisan/Abib (14^th in the afternoon) = Christ was crucified with the Passover Lambs between the two evenings. The first evening was noon and the second evening was sunset. Christ died about 3:00 PM which was between the two evenings. Christ was buried just before sunset. (This was the preparation day for Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread) Wednesday at Even (Sunset) Nisan/Abib (15^th at even “sundown”) = Passover and the 1^st Day of Unleavened Bread started at even “sundown”. The Passover meal was eaten. In Old Testament times the death angel Passed over at midnight. Thursday Day Time In Old Testament times the Israelites left Rameses on the morrow (archaic for tomorrow) after the Passover. Num 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (KJV) At the time of Christ = The stone at the tomb was sealed and the guard was set. Friday Nisan/Abib (16^th) = The women bought and prepared spices. This was the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath. The wave sheaf was also done on this day. Saturday Nisan/Abib (17^th) = This was the weekly Sabbath. Christ was resurrected just before sunset. This would make 3 Days and 3 Nights in the grave as scripture says. For more details see “The Spices and the Visits to Christ’s Tomb” in Issue #69 or go to the web page: https://church-of-god-bismarck.org/newsletter/the-spices-and-the-visits-to-christs-tomb-ezp-147?chapter=879 It is not just Sunday keeping Christians keeping and promoting a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection, some in the Church of God are doing it also. Shame on you if you are one of them. You should know better. Rich Traver’s Article: l Start of a Sabbath: traditionally at sunset: This was known from Creation, faithfully preserved by the Jewish religion to the present day. No one takes serious issue with Jewish Tradition on this. Even the secular world identifies the start of a new day being during the night portion of the day, but at midnight rather than at sunset. Laura Lee writes: We are in agreement with Rich here. Rich Traver’s Article: l Passover sacrifice: slain just as the sun had set: [Deut.16:6] That would be the onset of the fourteenth, not ‘at even’ as the daylight portion of the fourteenth was just ending. Laura Lee writes: Deu 16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. (KJV) We part ways here again. This verse is not talking about the early part of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib as Rich is claiming here. Notice it says “…at even, at the going down of the sun,” When does the sun start to go down? It starts to go down at “NOON”. Noon is the first evening (even) and sunset is the 2^nd evening (even). You can still find this written in some old or older dictionaries by looking up definitions for “evening”. This verse is talking about the Passover sacrifice which was killed between noon and sunset on the latter part of Nisan/Abib 14. Rich Traver’s Article: l Passover occurred at midnight of which day? [Ex.12:29] Laura Lee writes: Exo 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. (KJV) In case you didn’t notice, there is no date given in this verse, however I did state it above. The death angel passed over at midnight on Nisan/Abib 15 and the Israelites were high tailing it out of Rameses only a few hours later on the morrow after the Passover. Num 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (KJV) Rich Traver’s Article: l Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was. It was during the night portion of the fourteenth, illustrated by what is erroneously (unbiblically) called “The Lord’s Supper” (to obscure the fact) that they used the term “Passover” for their observance exclusively ten times! Many Sadducees kept it as they did, but the Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover. The “passing over” occurred at midnight during the fourteenth, with preparations for the first day of Unleavened Bread during the daylight part of the fourteenth. That was the ‘preparation’ referred to in Mark 15:42. This was the preparation day for the first annual Holy Day which always followed next after the Passover. The ‘Sabbath’ referred to in this verse was the annual Sabbath! The daylight portion of the fourteenth HAD TO BE followed by a High Holy Day, as John points out. [Jn.19:31] Laura Lee writes: Most of what Rich says in this point we are not in agreement with. You are absolutely correct, Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was, and they clearly did not keep it on the fourteenth of Nisan as the Sadducees did. Again, the Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread was the first annual High Holy Day of the year. Why do you think that Christ died with the Pharisean Passover Lambs if He actually believed Passover should be kept on the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib with the Sadducees? You and everyone else should know better. Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (KJV) There it is right there in scripture. Why would Jesus be doing anything according to the Pagan Sadducees who bought their way into the places of power in the Temple? The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in angels and the verse adds that they did not believe in spirit. One could conclude from that that they did not believe in God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit as all are spirit. Why would anyone follow their practices, especially Christ? Just as Pentecost is known as Feast of Weeks, Feast of First Fruits and as Pentecost, so too is the week of Unleavened Bread also referred to as the Feast of Passover. Luk 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. (KJV) Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (KJV) Rich tells us “…Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover.” Apparently, God was totally wrong in what He caused to be inspired in the Bible according to Rich Traver who claims the Pharisees erroneously called the whole week of unleavened bread Passover. The book of Ezekiel was inspired to be written they believe in the 6^th Century before Christ. So, there were no Pharisees at that time and yet God inspired this to be written: Eze 45:21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. Everyone knows that the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts at even as the 14^th of Nisan turns into the 15^th of Nisan, so we have the time frame of this verse and look what it says, “…the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month…” “in” is probably the clue that it is talking about the latter part of the day. Then it goes on “…ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days…” The verse is clearly saying it is a Feast of seven days (not eight which it would have to be if you started with the early part of the 14^th). And it ends with “unleavened bread shall be eaten.” This verse does not even mention the Feast of Unleavened Bread instead it says to keep Passover a Feast of seven days where you will eat unleavened bread. Again, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Passover is the same week. Passover is referred to as a Feast in several scriptures. The words of the Bible were inspired to be written by God so you can’t just throw these scriptures out because you don’t believe them or because you don’t like them or because they don’t fit into your pet doctrines. If you truly love God and He presents new information to you, you need to study it through scripture and if you find you have been wrong in what you believed even if you believed it for fifty years you need to change your belief system understanding that it was you who were wrong and not God. Rich Traver’s Article: l Atonement Day interval (like any Sabbath) is from sunset to sunset: [Lev.23:32] Laura Lee writes: We agree that all Sabbaths and Annual Holy Days are kept from sunset to sunset. Rich Traver’s Article: l Unleavened Bread interval: ‘even to even’ [Ex.12:18] evening of the 14^th thru the evening of the 21^st. The fourteenth at even is the beginning of the fifteenth: which is day one of the seven days thru to the end “even” of the seventh day, the twenty-first. Laura Lee writes: Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (KJV) Yes, Unleavened Bread starts at even as the 14^th of Nisan/Abib changes to the 15^th of Nisan/Abib. So, the fourteenth here means the end of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib. Rich Traver’s Article: l Legal death: Three full days (Lazarus’ example). This was by Roman Law. Same with Lazarus [Jn.11:17] to remove any doubt that he was dead. He’d been dead long enough to stink. [Jn.11:39] Laura Lee writes: I am not sure this is relevant to this discussion, because since Christ was sealed in the tomb and rose on the third day who would even be close enough to know if Christ stunk or not. Everyone already knew he was dead so there was no reason to prove he was dead. This is the example Christ gave to us: Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Mat 12:40 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. Rich Traver’s Article: l Wave sheaf bound at sunset/presented in the morning: Traditional practice had this being done. The ceremony is explained in great detail in Edersheim’s Book: “The Temple, Its Ministry and its Services”, 4^th Edition, 1998, Hendrickson Publishing. They would never have considered doing so IF they thought a 24-hour day began with dawn. But the next item is an even greater proof of their persuasion on this. l The New Moons: An observation practice essential to the religious calendar was the monthly sighting of the first visible crescent to confirm the beginning of the new lunar month. This was essential to their calendar and to determine the dates for the annual Holy Days. As the current month was winding down, calendar priests would convene and await the appearance of the first sighting of the emerging crescent just above the western horizon a few minutes after sunset. Upon a confirmed sighting, the beginning of the new month would be declared. This event marked not only the day which began that new month but was at the start of the new day. This further establishes that days began in the evenings as the sun had just set. The lunar calendar is not all predetermined, as we’re used to. It required numerous judgment calls and verifications by confirmed sightings to establish accuracy. The first month (influenced by the Abib (first ripened barley)) was an added factor in establishing the first month. The seventh month was also important as it established the dates for the fall Holy Day season, which are all within the seventh month. Nothing would better verify that days were considered to begin at sunset than this, from the time of the Exodus and well before. [Ex.12:2]. Laura Lee writes: Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (KJV) I actually don’t know of any Sabbath Keepers that would disagree that Nisan/Abib is the first month of the year, however I would strongly disagree with many of your above statements. For example, the new moons are not essential to the calendar. Years ago, someone sent us a document called Maimonides and told us that this document would prove we were wrong for using a set calendar instead of moon sightings. This document proved just the opposite. It proved that the only reason they took witness observation of the moon sightings at the Temple was to make sure their mathematical calculations were correct. From Maimonides page 3 4. The court used to employ methods of calculation of the kind employed by astronomers in order to ascertain whether the new moon of the coming month would be seen to the north or to the south of the sun, whether its latitude would be wide or narrow, and in which direction the tips of its horns would point. And when witnesses appeared in order to testify, the court used to examine them as follows: Where did you see the new moon, to the north or to the south? In which direction did its horns point? How great was its altitude, in the estimate of your eyes, and how wide its latitude? If their testimony was found to conform with the results of astronomical calculation, it was accepted; but if it was found not to conform, it was rejected. From: Maimonides-P.pdf (church-of-god-bismarck.org) If you do not study the Hebrew Calendar, you will not understand it. There is nothing wrong with the Hebrew Calendar as preserved by the Pharisees (Now Orthodox Jews). Even in Temple times the moon sightings were secondary to the calculated calendar. All they used the moon sightings for was to make sure that their calculations were correct. I can clearly see that you have not studied the Hebrew calendar, or you wouldn’t make statements like the barley influenced the first part of the calendar and feast of Trumpets influenced the last part of the calendar. What are you using, two different calendars to determine Holy Days? Here is the problem, many people lack understanding of what scripture actually says and how the Hebrew Calendar is put together. The chief month on the Hebrew Calendar is the 1^st Day of Tishri or Feast of Trumpets. Many seem to get all bent out of shape because many see the sliding of Tishri one as something that should not be done. Tishri One is how the Hebrew Calendar is set. Some years it has postponements and other years it does not. The reason for postponements and sliding days is to make sure that there is always a Full moon on the first day of the Feast of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread and then again on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Hebrew Calendar now based solely on sanctified calculations since the fourth century is the most accurate calendar ever made. There are also people who believe the calendar was always set by the sighting of the first barley in Israel. Perhaps the Sadducees did it that way anciently, I don’t know but the recent movement to do this comes from the Karaite Jews with such people as Nehemiah Gordon and Brian Convery pushing it into the belief systems of some. Just because the first month of the year is named Abib does not mean you get your Holy Day Calendar from going to Israel and looking for a certain kind of barley. We need common sense in the church, and this is not common sense. There is a lot more that goes into a really great calendar than hopping on a plane and crawling around on the ground looking for barley and a lot more than looking in the sky once a month for a moon you can’t even see on cloudy days. Do you honestly believe that God did not leave us a calendar with which to keep the Holy Days. I have been looking in scripture and presenting these studies publicly for over 20 years now and I still don’t know why people want to follow all these false doctrines. Every Holy Day Date can be found in scripture and everyone of those dates found in scripture backs up the calculated Hebrew Calendar. Do any of you realize that in order to make it into the first fruits resurrection and the Kingdom of God we all have to be on the exact same page with God? Look at the root of where it was you got your calendar from. I know some of you are claiming that Christ followed the Sadducees in the count to Pentecost and in keeping Passover on the early 14^th. Think about that. Why would Christ be following the Sadducees in anything? I will repeat this again: Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (KJV) There it is right there in scripture. Why would Jesus be doing anything according to the Pagan Sadducees who bought their way into the places of power in the Temple? The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in angels and the verse adds that they did not believe in spirit. One could conclude from that that they did not believe in God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit as all are spirit. Why would anyone follow their practices, especially Christ? I will leave you with that thought. All I want you to do is look at the root of your beliefs and do a deeper study of your Bibles. Everything God wants you to know is in your Bible, so you need to look there first. Rich Traver’s Article: l Why, “if inspired” would believers be in full agreement with the daughters of the Great Whore system? They, nearly all, hold to a Friday crucifixion belief. (Though few if any advocate sunrise as the beginning of a 24-hour day.) Laura Lee writes: Why would any of you be in full agreement with the Sadducees in regard to anything? We do believe that all days start at even and end at even. We also believe that Christ was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights just like scripture says. We also believe that God left us the Hebrew Calendar as preserved by the Pharisees (Now Orthodox Jews). If you can prove what I say in this or anywhere in this newsletter is wrong by using scripture, please do not be afraid to show your proof to me. I will always look at it no matter how many times and ways you present it to me.

Iron Sharpening Iron
In regard to: Considerations on WHEN a Day Begins?
Article by Rich Traver
Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota)

Laura Lee writes:
I believe that what Rich is trying to prove here is that a day is 24 hours long and starts at even and that Christ was three days and three nights in the grave. The reason he is trying to prove this is because there are people within the Church of God that believe a day starts in the morning and that Christ was crucified on a Friday and resurrected on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, these and other false beliefs do run rampant in the Church of God.

Even with Rich’s intent to prove that certain doctrines are false, which is what we should all be doing, so people are directed to the truth of what scripture says, we feel there is much error in this article so for that reason we will go through all of the points Rich brings in and you can decide for yourself. Just remember you need to be able to prove what you believe through scripture and not through some lone historical document that was written in the 1980’s which no one ever heard of before.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Morning & evening: both are parts of a “full day” [Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31] The ‘evening (mentioned first) is an integral part of the whole “day”.

Laura Lee writes:
We are in agreement that days begin with the evening part of the day and go from even to even. The reason God set it up this way may be because the earth started with darkness.

Gen 1:2 … and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (KJV)

Another consideration for a day to start at even is because life starts with darkness also. Babies are in their mother’s dark womb for nine months before finally being born and seeing the light of day.

New birth always starts in the dark and ends with seeing light.

To me there is a symbolic reason why God chose to start His days at even.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Three meanings of “Day”: 24-hours / daylight portion / era of time

Laura Lee writes:
What Rich is saying here is similar to the definition of Passover. Day in scripture is referred to as 24-hours, daylight and even eras of time, so too is the Passover referred to as the day of Passover, the Passover meal, and also the Passover sacrifice. These definitions are not hard to see but some people mistakenly put the wrong definition to both of these at times while reading the scriptures. For example, if you are reading scripture talking about the Passover meal and you mistakenly believe it is referring to the Passover sacrifice it will throw the meaning of the scriptures you are reading off and cause you to believe something which is perhaps not even true. This is why all scripture needs to be read in context of what it says. You cannot take one scripture and build an entire doctrine out of it.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Which part of the day does the night portion fall within? Before or after? If it’s the second part of the 24-hour “day” interval, that creates numerous problems.

Laura Lee writes:
Rich is right on here. For one thing, if you are not answering this question correctly and you actually believe that the night portion of the day is at the end of the day instead of at the beginning of the day then you will have problems with the timing of the Holy Days. For example, Atonement is to be kept from even to even and the Passover meal is to be eaten at even.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Entombment completion: rushed to finish before sundown. [Lk.23:54; Mk.15:42] Their burial efforts were hastened on account of the approaching Sabbath. That wouldn’t be the end of the night, but the end of the daylight portion of that day.

Laura Lee writes:
Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. (KJV)

Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, (KJV)

If you read both scriptures in context you will find they are both referring to the point of time that Jesus was taken off the stake and about to be placed in the grave. We know that Christ was crucified with the Passover lambs on the daylight portion of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib. The day Christ was crucified was also the preparation for the high Holy Day of Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread, so after they removed Christ from the stake, they had to rush to get Him in the grave before the Holy Day began at even on the fourteenth going into the fifteenth of Nisan/Abib.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Sabbaths draw on (are about to begin) as the daylight part of the day was ending: [Lk.23:54] In this case, Jesus was hastily placed in the tomb. 24-hour “days” begin at the onset of “evenings”.

Laura Lee writes:
We are in agreement with this statement. See the previous point.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Entombment interval (3 Days & 3 Nights): Entombment is the stated interval. You can’t count Friday daylight or Sunday daylight. That then means: Saturday night + Saturday day + Sunday night (He was raised before Sunday morning) leaving Two Nights and One Day! (That’s if using the Friday crucifixion approach.) Note: the 3 Days +3 Nights idea counts from entombment, not from His death, not including time on the cross.

Laura Lee writes:
Many people believe that Christ was crucified on a Friday (Good Friday) and was resurrected on Sunday morning (Easter/Resurrection Sunday). That would mean Christ was only in the grave for 1.5 Days and not the total three days which scripture speaks of.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Mat 12:40 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.

The conclusion here is that a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday resurrection is a false doctrine according to scripture.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l When was the watch set? [Mt.27:62] For the verse to mean during the next daylight hours, then that would be a High Sabbath (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and/or a weekly Sabbath. Either these two Sabbaths coincided or were separated by another “Preparation Day” in between. Question is, did they approach Pilate on an annual Sabbath or a weekly Sabbath? He gave the WORK of sealing the tomb to them, he only supplied the watch-soldiers. So, did the Jews do the physical labor of sealing the tomb on a High Sabbath (which it had to be) or possibly even a ‘double Sabbath’, which was in fact Their Passover Day! How likely would they have done this on their High Sabbath considering John 18:28. [see Mt.27:62-66]

Laura Lee writes:
Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Mat 27:64 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. Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (KJV)

Joh 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (KJV)

To answer the questions Rich brings in. The watch (guards) was set to guard the tomb on Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread. See Mat. 27:62 above. Setting the watch and sealing the stone were all done on the daylight portion of the Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread.

How likely were the Jewish Priests and Pharisees to seal the stone and set the guard on a high (annual) Holy Day? According to my research it would be highly likely and probably would not have broken any of their rules and regulations.

Pilate gave them the guards to set up the watch. Once they had the guards, all they had to do was walk to the sepulchre. See Mat. 27:65 above. None of them had to do any rock lifting, pushing, or rolling because the stone was already in front of the opening to the sepulchre. See Mark 15:46 below.

Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. (KJV)

When they were finished laying Christ in the sepulchre, they rolled a stone unto the door. In other words, they closed the entrance of the sepulchre with a stone. And according to Matthew it was a large stone. See Mat. 27:59-60 below.

Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (KJV)

Carefully read the following verse:
Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (KJV)

Many people believe that the stone itself was the seal, but that is not what scripture says. The watch is set, and the stone is in place, so all the Priests and Pharisees had to do was seal the stone in front of the door to the sepulchre. So, what was the seal? Some commentaries cover what the seal on the stone was.

Vincent’s word studies
Sealing the stone and setting a watch (σφραγίσαντες τὸν λίθον, μετὰ τῆς κουστωδίας) Lit., having sealed the stone with the watch. Rev., Sealing the stone, the guard being with them. This is rather awkward, but the rendering rightly corrects the A. V. The idea is that they sealed the stone in the presence of the guard, and then left them to keep watch. It would be important that the guard should witness the sealing. The sealing was performed by stretching a cord across the stone and fastening it to the rock at either end by means of sealing clay. Or, if the stone at the door happened to be fastened with a cross beam, this latter was sealed to the rock.

Robertson’s word pictures
Sealing the stone, the guard being with them (sphragisantēs ton lithon meta tēs koustōdias). Probably by a cord stretched across the stone and sealed at each end as in Dan_6:17. The sealing was done in the presence of the Roman guard who were left in charge to protect this stamp of Roman authority and power. They did their best to prevent theft and the resurrection (Bruce), but they overreached themselves and provided additional witness to the fact of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus (Plummer).

B. W. Johnson
Sealing the stone. A cord was stretched across the stone door and sealed at each end with wax. The seal would have to be broken to remove the stone.

John Gill
So they went,…. From Pilate’s palace, to the garden of Joseph, and to the sepulchre there; which whether more than a sabbath day’s journey, or two thousand cubits, may be inquired; and if so, then they broke one of their own traditions, which allowed a person to go no further on a sabbath day; See Gill on Act_1:12.

And made the sepulchre sure; in the following manner, sealing the stone; that was rolled to the door of it, it may be with some public seal, with Pilate’s, or with the Sanhedrin’s; as the stone at the mouth of the lions’ den, in which Daniel was put, was sealed with the king’s signet, and with the signet of his lords, Dan_6:17, that there might be no change of the sentence upon him, and by which it appeared, that his deliverance was by no human assistance: so the stone at Christ’s sepulchre was sealed, that it could not be removed without breaking it; which would show, whether any fraudulent methods were taken to remove the body:

and setting a watch; a guard of soldiers, to observe and prevent any person coming near it; or “with the watch”: they made sure the sepulchre with the watch; or sealed the stone, the watch being present; all which was overruled by the providence of God, for the greater confirmation of the truth of Christ’s resurrection: by the methods taken, it clearly appears, there could be no fraud in the case; the body was laid in a tomb, where no corpse had ever been before; in a tomb hewed out of a rock, to which there was no access, but at the door; where a great stone was rolled; and this had a seal upon it, and a guard of soldiers about it; and hereby there were more witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, than otherwise would have been; as the soldiers, though they were afterwards bribed to tell another story; and even the chief priests and Pharisees were convicted that he was risen, or they would never have taken such a method with the soldiers, as they did.

George Haydock
They departing. See how beyond the possibility of contradiction these precautions prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection, and how the inveterate enemies of Christ become unwilling witnesses of it; for, since the sepulchre was guarded, there was an impossibility of any deceit on the part of the disciples. Now, if the least deceit was utterly impracticable, then indeed Christ our Lord was infallibly risen; and to remove every, the least possibility of deceit, Pilate would not permit the soldiers alone to seal up the monument. (St. Thomas Aquinas) — The high priests made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone at the entrance of the monument with the public seal, Greek: sphragisantes ton lithon, proof against all fraud, either of corrupt guards or of designing followers, as Darius did, (Dan_6:17) that no violence might be offered him. All this diligence, on the part of the enemies of the Christian faith, was permitted by divine Providence, that our faith in Christ’s resurrection might be more certain, his glory greater, and the minds of the people better disposed to believe. (Jansenius)

Albert Barnes
Sealing the stone – The sepulchre was made sure by affixing the large stone to the entrance in such a way that it could not be removed without detection. It was sealed. In what way this was done cannot now be certainly told. The cave in which Daniel was cast was fastened in the same manner, and sealed with the king’s signet Dan_6:17, perhaps by fastening the stone in its place with cords, and bringing them together and uniting them with wax, and impressing on that the seal of the king. In this way, letters and books were anciently sealed. Possibly on the sepulchre of Jesus was impressed in this manner the seal of Pilate – the seal of office – making it doubly sure; or it may be that the stone was fitted into the tomb with clay or cement, and on that was impressed the seal of Pilate.

Setting a watch – That is, as large a number of soldiers as they judged necessary to secure the tomb. We cannot but be struck with the wisdom of God in ordering the circumstances of the Saviour’s burial in such a manner as to avoid the possibility of deception. Had all this been done by his “friends,” it might have been said that they only pretended to secure the tomb, and only pretended that he was dead. But he was adjudged to be dead “by the Jews themselves;” Pilate was satisfied that that was the fact; they had their own way about his burial; he was buried alone; the place of his sepulchre was made sure, “expressly to prevent his being removed;” and they placed around him a guard, in their own judgment large enough to prevent his being taken away by force or strength. His very enemies, therefore, took every possible precaution to place his resurrection beyond the possibility of suspicion of fraud and imposture, and those precautions were the very means of furnishing the most striking proof that his death, burial, and resurrection were not impositions, but most affecting, awful, and yet cheering realities.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Women buy spices, but not on a Sabbath day: The latter is well demonstrated by the women’s experience of buying spices on ‘the Preparation Day’, preparing them, and then resting on the weekly Sabbath. THAT Sabbath on which they rested could only have been the weekly Sabbath. [cp. Mk.16:1 with Lk.23:56] The ‘preparation day’ mentioned [Lk.23:56] was the Friday of that week. Fridays were often referred to as the preparation for the (weekly) Sabbath: The Sabbath ‘according to the commandment’ (the 4^thCommandment). Now, we’re faced with a question. Did they purchase such aromatics and oils BEFORE His death or after? The text indicates AFTER! They had no awareness of His pending death before it happened, which is another important consideration. So, the purchase and preparation of said items (having seen the burial situation the previous evening [Lk.23:55]), was with realization that more was needed. This explains their actions. What this detail establishes is that there were TWO Sabbaths in that week. In either event, there HAD TO BE, as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover. So, either there were TWO occurring concurrently, or TWO in succession. The spice buying occasion establishes that there was another ‘preparation day’ between these TWO! That’s why that little detail was included, to ‘clue-in’ those attending to detail.

Laura Lee writes:
Mar 16:1 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. (KJV)

Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (KJV)

I was in agreement with you until I got to this statement “as a High Holy Day always follows the Passover”. Passover is a High Holy Day. In the year that Christ was crucified it happened this way:

Wednesday Afternoon
Nisan/Abib (14^th in the afternoon) = Christ was crucified with the Passover Lambs between the two evenings. The first evening was noon and the second evening was sunset. Christ died about 3:00 PM which was between the two evenings. Christ was buried just before sunset. (This was the preparation day for Passover/1^st Day of Unleavened Bread)

Wednesday at Even (Sunset)
Nisan/Abib (15^th at even “sundown”) = Passover and the 1^st Day of Unleavened Bread started at even “sundown”. The Passover meal was eaten.

In Old Testament times the death angel Passed over at midnight.

Thursday Day Time
In Old Testament times the Israelites left Rameses on the morrow (archaic for tomorrow) after the Passover.

Num 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (KJV)

At the time of Christ = The stone at the tomb was sealed and the guard was set.

Friday
Nisan/Abib (16^th) = The women bought and prepared spices. This was the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath. The wave sheaf was also done on this day.

Saturday
Nisan/Abib (17^th) = This was the weekly Sabbath. Christ was resurrected just before sunset. This would make 3 Days and 3 Nights in the grave as scripture says.

For more details see “The Spices and the Visits to Christ’s Tomb” in Issue #69 or go to the web page:
https://church-of-god-bismarck.org/newsletter/the-spices-and-the-visits-to-christs-tomb-ezp-147?chapter=879

It is not just Sunday keeping Christians keeping and promoting a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection, some in the Church of God are doing it also. Shame on you if you are one of them. You should know better.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Start of a Sabbath: traditionally at sunset: This was known from Creation, faithfully preserved by the Jewish religion to the present day. No one takes serious issue with Jewish Tradition on this. Even the secular world identifies the start of a new day being during the night portion of the day, but at midnight rather than at sunset.

Laura Lee writes:
We are in agreement with Rich here.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Passover sacrifice: slain just as the sun had set: [Deut.16:6] That would be the onset of the fourteenth, not ‘at even’ as the daylight portion of the fourteenth was just ending.

Laura Lee writes:
Deu 16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. (KJV)

We part ways here again. This verse is not talking about the early part of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib as Rich is claiming here. Notice it says “…at even, at the going down of the sun,” When does the sun start to go down? It starts to go down at “NOON”. Noon is the first evening (even) and sunset is the 2^nd evening (even). You can still find this written in some old or older dictionaries by looking up definitions for “evening”.

This verse is talking about the Passover sacrifice which was killed between noon and sunset on the latter part of Nisan/Abib 14.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Passover occurred at midnight of which day? [Ex.12:29]

Laura Lee writes:
Exo 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. (KJV)

In case you didn’t notice, there is no date given in this verse, however I did state it above. The death angel passed over at midnight on Nisan/Abib 15 and the Israelites were high tailing it out of Rameses only a few hours later on the morrow after the Passover.

Num 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (KJV)

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was. It was during the night portion of the fourteenth, illustrated by what is erroneously (unbiblically) called “The Lord’s Supper” (to obscure the fact) that they used the term “Passover” for their observance exclusively ten times! Many Sadducees kept it as they did, but the Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover. The “passing over” occurred at midnight during the fourteenth, with preparations for the first day of Unleavened Bread during the daylight part of the fourteenth. That was the ‘preparation’ referred to in Mark 15:42. This was the preparation day for the first annual Holy Day which always followed next after the Passover. The ‘Sabbath’ referred to in this verse was the annual Sabbath! The daylight portion of the fourteenth HAD TO BE followed by a High Holy Day, as John points out. [Jn.19:31]

Laura Lee writes:
Most of what Rich says in this point we are not in agreement with.

You are absolutely correct, Jesus and His disciples KNEW when Passover was, and they clearly did not keep it on the fourteenth of Nisan as the Sadducees did. Again, the Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread was the first annual High Holy Day of the year. Why do you think that Christ died with the Pharisean Passover Lambs if He actually believed Passover should be kept on the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib with the Sadducees? You and everyone else should know better.

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (KJV)

There it is right there in scripture. Why would Jesus be doing anything according to the Pagan Sadducees who bought their way into the places of power in the Temple? The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in angels and the verse adds that they did not believe in spirit. One could conclude from that that they did not believe in God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit as all are spirit. Why would anyone follow their practices, especially
Christ?

Just as Pentecost is known as Feast of Weeks, Feast of First Fruits and as Pentecost, so too is the week of Unleavened Bread also referred to as the Feast of Passover.

Luk 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. (KJV)

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (KJV)

Rich tells us “…Pharisees advocated a fifteenth Passover, erroneously calling the whole week of unleavened bread Passover.”

Apparently, God was totally wrong in what He caused to be inspired in the Bible according to Rich Traver who claims the Pharisees erroneously called the whole week of unleavened bread Passover.

The book of Ezekiel was inspired to be written they believe in the 6^th Century before Christ. So, there were no Pharisees at that time and yet God inspired this to be written:

Eze 45:21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Everyone knows that the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts at even as the 14^th of Nisan turns into the 15^th of Nisan, so we have the time frame of this verse and look what it says, “…the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month…” “in” is probably the clue that it is talking about the latter part of the day. Then it goes on “…ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days…” The verse is clearly saying it is a Feast of seven days (not eight which it would have to be if you started with the early part of the 14^th). And it ends with “unleavened bread shall be eaten.” This verse does not even mention the Feast of Unleavened Bread instead it says to keep Passover a Feast of seven days where you will eat unleavened bread. Again, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Passover is the same week.

Passover is referred to as a Feast in several scriptures. The words of the Bible were inspired to be written by God so you can’t just throw these scriptures out because you don’t believe them or because you don’t like them or because they don’t fit into your pet doctrines.

If you truly love God and He presents new information to you, you need to study it through scripture and if you find you have been wrong in what you believed even if you believed it for fifty years you need to change your belief system understanding that it was you who were wrong and not God.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Atonement Day interval (like any Sabbath) is from sunset to sunset: [Lev.23:32]

Laura Lee writes:
We agree that all Sabbaths and Annual Holy Days are kept from sunset to sunset.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Unleavened Bread interval: ‘even to even’ [Ex.12:18] evening of the 14^th thru the evening of the 21^st. The fourteenth at even is the beginning of the fifteenth: which is day one of the seven days thru to the end “even” of the seventh day, the twenty-first.

Laura Lee writes:
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (KJV)

Yes, Unleavened Bread starts at even as the 14^th of Nisan/Abib changes to the 15^th of Nisan/Abib. So, the fourteenth here means the end of the fourteenth of Nisan/Abib.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Legal death: Three full days (Lazarus’ example). This was by Roman Law. Same with Lazarus [Jn.11:17] to remove any doubt that he was dead. He’d been dead long enough to stink. [Jn.11:39]

Laura Lee writes:
I am not sure this is relevant to this discussion, because since Christ was sealed in the tomb and rose on the third day who would even be close enough to know if Christ stunk or not. Everyone already knew he was dead so there was no reason to prove he was dead.

This is the example Christ gave to us:
Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Mat 12:40 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.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Wave sheaf bound at sunset/presented in the morning: Traditional practice had this being done. The ceremony is explained in great detail in Edersheim’s Book: “The Temple, Its Ministry and its Services”, 4^th Edition, 1998, Hendrickson Publishing. They would never have considered doing so IF they thought a 24-hour day began with dawn. But the next item is an even greater proof of their persuasion on this.

l The New Moons: An observation practice essential to the religious calendar was the monthly sighting of the first visible crescent to confirm the beginning of the new lunar month. This was essential to their calendar and to determine the dates for the annual Holy Days. As the current month was winding down, calendar priests would convene and await the appearance of the first sighting of the emerging crescent just above the western horizon a few minutes after sunset. Upon a confirmed sighting, the beginning of the new month would be declared. This event marked not only the day which began that new month but was at the start of the new day. This further establishes that days began in the evenings as the sun had just set. The lunar calendar is not all predetermined, as we’re used to. It required numerous judgment calls and verifications by confirmed sightings to establish accuracy. The first month (influenced by the Abib (first ripened barley)) was an added factor in establishing the first month. The seventh month was also important as it established the dates for the fall Holy Day season, which are all within the seventh month. Nothing would better verify that days were considered to begin at sunset than this, from the time of the Exodus and well before. [Ex.12:2].

Laura Lee writes:
Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (KJV)

I actually don’t know of any Sabbath Keepers that would disagree that Nisan/Abib is the first month of the year, however I would strongly disagree with many of your above statements. For example, the new moons are not essential to the calendar. Years ago, someone sent us a document called Maimonides and told us that this document would prove we were wrong for using a set calendar instead of moon sightings. This document proved just the opposite. It proved that the only reason they took witness observation of the moon sightings at the Temple was to make sure their mathematical calculations were correct.

From Maimonides page 3
4. The court used to employ methods of calculation of the kind employed by astronomers in order to ascertain whether the new moon of the coming month would be seen to the north or to the south of the sun, whether its latitude would be wide or narrow, and in which direction the tips of its horns would point. And when witnesses appeared in order to testify, the court used to examine them as follows: Where did you see the new moon, to the north or to the south? In which direction did its horns point? How great was its altitude, in the estimate of your eyes, and how wide its latitude? If their testimony was found to conform with the results of astronomical calculation, it was accepted; but if it was found not to conform, it was rejected. From: Maimonides-P.pdf (church-of-god-bismarck.org)

If you do not study the Hebrew Calendar, you will not understand it. There is nothing wrong with the Hebrew Calendar as preserved by the Pharisees (Now Orthodox Jews). Even in Temple times the moon sightings were secondary to the calculated calendar. All they used the moon sightings for was to make sure that their calculations were correct.

I can clearly see that you have not studied the Hebrew calendar, or you wouldn’t make statements like the barley influenced the first part of the calendar and feast of Trumpets influenced the last part of the calendar. What are you using, two different calendars to determine Holy Days?

Here is the problem, many people lack understanding of what scripture actually says and how the Hebrew Calendar is put together. The chief month on the Hebrew Calendar is the 1^st Day of Tishri or Feast of Trumpets. Many seem to get all bent out of shape because many see the sliding of Tishri one as something that should not be done. Tishri One is how the Hebrew Calendar is set. Some years it has postponements and other years it does not. The reason for postponements and sliding days is to make sure that there is always a Full moon on the first day of the Feast of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread and then again on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Hebrew Calendar now based solely on sanctified calculations since the fourth century is the most accurate calendar ever made.

There are also people who believe the calendar was always set by the sighting of the first barley in Israel. Perhaps the Sadducees did it that way anciently, I don’t know but the recent movement to do this comes from the Karaite Jews with such people as Nehemiah Gordon and Brian Convery pushing it into the belief systems of some. Just because the first month of the year is named Abib does not mean you get your Holy Day Calendar from going to Israel and looking for a certain kind of barley. We need common sense in the church, and this is not common sense.

There is a lot more that goes into a really great calendar than hopping on a plane and crawling around on the ground looking for barley and a lot more than looking in the sky once a month for a moon you can’t even see on cloudy days. Do you honestly believe that God did not leave us a calendar with which to keep the Holy Days. I have been looking in scripture and presenting these studies publicly for over 20 years now and I still don’t know why people want to follow all these false doctrines. Every Holy Day Date can be found in scripture and everyone of those dates found in scripture backs up the calculated Hebrew Calendar.

Do any of you realize that in order to make it into the first fruits resurrection and the Kingdom of God we all have to be on the exact same page with God? Look at the root of where it was you got your calendar from. I know some of you are claiming that Christ followed the Sadducees in the count to Pentecost and in keeping Passover on the early 14^th. Think about that. Why would Christ be following the Sadducees in anything?

I will repeat this again:
Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (KJV)

There it is right there in scripture. Why would Jesus be doing anything according to the Pagan Sadducees who bought their way into the places of power in the Temple? The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in angels and the verse adds that they did not believe in spirit. One could conclude from that that they did not believe in God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit as all are spirit. Why would anyone follow their practices, especially
Christ?

I will leave you with that thought. All I want you to do is look at the root of your beliefs and do a deeper study of your Bibles. Everything God wants you to know is in your Bible, so you need to look there first.

Rich Traver’s Article:
l Why, “if inspired” would believers be in full agreement with the daughters of the Great Whore system? They, nearly all, hold to a Friday crucifixion belief. (Though few if any advocate sunrise as the beginning of a 24-hour day.)

Laura Lee writes:
Why would any of you be in full agreement with the Sadducees in regard to anything?

We do believe that all days start at even and end at even. We also believe that Christ was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights just like scripture says. We also believe that God left us the Hebrew Calendar as preserved by the Pharisees (Now Orthodox Jews). If you can prove what I say in this or anywhere in this newsletter is wrong by using scripture, please do not be afraid to show your proof to me. I will always look at it no matter how many times and ways you present it to me.

Holy Days 2026
Passover (Observed at Sunset the Evening Before.)	April 2, 2026
Passover/Unleavened Bread	April 2-8, 2026
Pentecost	May 22, 2026
Trumpets	September 12, 2026
Atonement	September 21, 2026
Tabernacles	September 26 to October 2, 2026
Last Great Day	October 3, 2026

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