According to divine teaching, time is not measured according to human chronology. The Holy Bible, the rule of faith for believers, teaches what is necessary for us to walk in righteousness and live in holiness. For without holiness, no one will see God.

When God made the heavenly bodies, He said: “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them serve as signs for appointed times, days, and years. And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And so it was. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night—and He made the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Gen. 1:14–18.

Also, when He created the universe and all that is in it, He marked the intervals of time as follows: “And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day”; “And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day,” and so on, until the sixth day. Gen. 1.

Evening: The period of time preceding morning. It normally lasts 12 hours and is referred to as twilight, the evening, darkness, and the darkness of night. Prov. 7:9. It extends from sunset one day until sunrise the next morning.

Day: A period of time between two sunsets, normally corresponding to 24 hours. Lev. 23:32.

Morning: A 12-hour period of time between two nights, two afternoons, or sunrise and sunset. Also called a day. John 11:9.
Before there was light, there was darkness. Thus, night comes before day in the 24-hour cycle.

The way the day is counted today—from midnight to midnight—is incorrect. And this was prophesied by Daniel. He said: “He will speak words against the Most High, oppress the saints of the Most High, and seek to change the times and the law.” Dan. 7:25, first and second parts.

If the day began at midnight, then night would have only six hours, and the day would have eighteen, whereas Jesus said it has twelve. John 11:9.

How can the day begin at midnight? Whoever does not know the time correctly cannot properly sanctify the Lord’s Day. According to the instruction given to God’s people, the Sabbath must be observed from sunset to sunset. The day, the light part of the 24-hour cycle according to modern human chronology, runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. But the correct way is to count from sunrise to sunset.

When Nehemiah sought to correct the transgression the people were committing in his day, as soon as the shadow of evening fell upon the gates of Jerusalem, he ordered the city gates to be closed. Let us quote the text to better understand how we, too, should proceed.

In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in sheaves carried on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of loads, which they were bringing into Jerusalem on the Sabbath; and I rebuked them on the day they were selling provisions. There were also Tyrians living within the city, who brought in fish and all kinds of merchandise, which they sold on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem. So I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, desecrating the Sabbath?” Did not your fathers do the same, and did not our God bring all this calamity upon us and upon this city? And you are adding to the intensity of his wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.” It came to pass that, as the shadows lengthened at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, at my command the gates were shut; and I ordered that they not be opened until after the Sabbath; and I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that no cargo might enter on the Sabbath. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem, once or twice. So I rebuked them and said to them, “Why are you spending the night outside the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.” From that day on, they did not come on the Sabbath. Neh. 13:15–21.

The things written earlier were written for our instruction.

If a Christian does not know the time and the way—for there is a time and a way for all things—he cannot attain perfection in charity, nor will he be a perfect man as God requires. Matt. 5:48, 2 Tim. 3:17, and Col. 3:14. And he will receive the rebuke of the Lord, who says: “I have not found your works perfect before God.” Rev. 3:2. And these works are the works of righteousness, of the love spoken of by John. 1 John 3:18.

In European countries, such as England, there are days, during a certain season of the year, when daylight lasts until nine o’clock at night according to the current calendar.

According to what the Spirit revealed to Isaiah, we must not concern ourselves with anything material on the Lord’s Sabbath; see:

If you keep your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing your own will on my holy day, and if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the Lord, worthy of honor, and if you honor it by not following your own ways, nor seeking to do your own will, nor speaking your own words, then you will delight in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and I will sustain you with the inheritance of your father Jacob; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” Isa. 58:13–14.

And just as in the past, we must not cook on that day either. For thus says Scripture:

“Six days you shall labor, but the seventh day shall be holy to you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” Ex. 35:2–3.
Some argue that this applied only to the Israel of the past, when the task of kindling a fire required physical effort. However, God does not change. Even before His law was ratified at Sinai, God spoke thus:

“How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?” Ex. 16:28. And before that, Moses had instructed the people as follows:

“This is what the Lord has said: Tomorrow is a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; whatever you wish to bake in the oven, bake it, and whatever you wish to boil in water, boil it in water; and whatever is left over, set it aside for yourselves, keeping it for tomorrow.” Ex. 16:23.

Note that they were to bake or boil their food, and whatever was left over was to be set aside for the Sabbath. Therefore, the food was to be stored already prepared.

Today we are much better equipped to observe the Sabbath. We have gas stoves, refrigerators, electricity, running water, etc. And even where these things are not available, with good will it is possible to observe it, for this will be our proof of love for Jesus. John 14:15.

We can do everything that is necessary outside of the Sabbath—that is, before sunset on Friday or after sunset on Saturday. For we believe that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Rom. 8:28. And what will separate us from the love of God? Hunger, nakedness, etc.? Nothing can separate us from the love of God—not even the keeping of His commandments. Rom. 8:35.

As we have seen in the manifestation of the Lord’s will through Isaiah, we must not seek to do our own will or speak our own words on His holy day. Isa. 58:13.

But there are those who contradict this, claiming that the Lord’s Sabbath is not the Lord’s Day. And they cite spurious reasons. They do not stand firm in the truth, because there is no truth in them. They say that the Lord’s Day is now Sunday, presuming—based on their own calculations and assumptions—that Jesus rose from the dead on that day. Anyone who thinks and believes this is not properly instructed in the Word of God.

Since accepting God’s Commandments is a prerequisite for gaining wisdom, attaining the fear of the Lord, and finding “the knowledge of God,” those who do not accept the Commandments do not attain wisdom, nor the fear of the Lord, nor the knowledge of God. Prov. 2:1–6, 28:7–9, and 10:8.

Doctrinal errors abound in churches that do not have God’s Commandments, just as those who do not keep His Commandments do not understand God’s words, since keeping them is a prerequisite for such understanding. Some churches, even though they have the Commandments, do not keep them, and therefore do not love God. John 14:21 and 15:9–10.

Jesus loved the world and proved that love: He died for us. And now He demands our proof of love, saying: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. And He loves only those who love Him. Prov. 8:17. And the Holy Spirit reveals that we are fools for the sake of Christ. 1 Cor. 4:10. And: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may become wise.” 1 Cor. 3:18.

The seventh day of the week, or one out of seven in the week?

When the Lord created the heavens and the earth, He established the divisions of time: the week, the months, and the years. The seven-day week, the thirty-day month, and the twelve-month year.

When He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, He established the month of Abib as the first of the months for His people. Today, this month corresponds to the period from March to April, spanning part of one month and part of the other.
The Lord named the days of the week: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. And God called this day of the week “Sabbath,” for on that day He rested, and therefore He sanctified and blessed it.

Sanctification means separation. Thus, He set that day apart for rest and blessed it for that reason. His Sabbath is fixed: it is the seventh day of the week. The Sabbaths of the Israelites, however, were movable—that is, they varied. For the first and last days of the solemnities ordained by the Lord fell on different days of the week, being “solemn Sabbaths” or feast days. Lev. 23:32 and references.

The seventh-day Sabbath is order, whereas a Sabbath every seven days is disorder. Imagine everyone going to the congregation on a different day and seeking to observe their own day of rest.

Even on the Sabbaths instituted by God—which He called “your Sabbaths”—there was order. One need only read the texts carefully. There were specific times set aside within the year. The things instituted by God are done with wisdom. He is perfect.

Some point to what Jesus said: “My Father is working until now, and I am working also” (John 5:17), and also to what the apostle Paul said: “Work night and day so that you may not be a burden to your brothers” (2 Thess. 2:9). But they forget what the Master also said: “Work not for the bread that perishes, but for that which endures” John 6:27.
Jesus’ work was ministerial, and so too must be the work of those who are called. Thus they can work night and day like the Father.

The language used by the prophets and apostles was in accordance with the language used by God in the Holy Scriptures, since they were inspired by Him and were His spokespeople. Thus, when Scripture says that Peter and John went up to the temple to pray, it states that the hour was the ninth. And this hour is what they call three o’clock in the afternoon or fifteen hours, which they say is late in the day. But since the sun rises in the morning, and the day has twelve hours, the ninth hour is what they have conventionally come to call three o’clock in the afternoon or fifteen hours, according to the current chronology.

When John was on the island of Patmos and wrote the book of Revelation, he said: “And I was caught up in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day…” Rev. 1:10. This inspired language is none other than the same language inspired by God to Isaiah, who wrote: “If you call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord, and honor it by not following your own ways, nor seeking to do your own will, nor speaking your own words, then you will find your delight in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and I will sustain you with the inheritance of your father Jacob; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isa. 58:13–14. This is what the apostle did; he called the Sabbath the Lord’s Day.

For God, a time can be twelve hours, a day, a year, a millennium, a period of time, or an occasion. Thus, His day may also be His Sabbath, or the day of His coming, or a period of time. But His intention is clear from the context. For His Spirit within us makes this known to us, since He searches all things, even the depths of God. 1 Cor. 2:10.

Some think that because the Lord speaks of Jacob the father, He is speaking to nominal Israel in Palestine. But note what the apostle Paul says:

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren one, who does not give birth; break forth and cry aloud, you who do not travail; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the married woman.” But we, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, like Isaac. So then, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the free woman. Gal. 5:26–28 and 31.

Thus, we who have believed are the offspring promised to Abraham, from whom the patriarchs are descended, and Isaac, the father of Jacob—the son of the promise, just as we who were promised to Abraham, and who are as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea. Gen. 15:5, 22:17, and 32:12.

But there are those who say that no one can keep the Commandments, and that there is not a single righteous person. However, even before the laws were given at Sinai, the Scriptures say that Abraham kept the Lord’s Commandments. And God Himself said that Abraham would command his children to keep the way of the Lord with righteousness and justice; see:
And the Lord said: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have known that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, to act with righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring to pass for Abraham what He has spoken concerning him.” Gen. 18:17–19. And as demonstrated in the questionnaire, the ways of the Lord and the righteousness of the Lord are His Commandments. Mal. 2:8–9 and Ps. 119:172. And the righteousness of God is eternal. Ps. 119:142. And whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 1 John 3:7.

God bore witness to Abraham through Isaac, saying:

“Because Abraham obeyed My word and kept My commandments, My precepts, My statutes, and My laws.” Gen. 26:5.
Furthermore, Scripture says that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous. And they were righteous because they observed God’s righteousness and kept His commandments; see:

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, and his wife was a descendant of Aaron; her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Luke 1:5–6. Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also righteous. Matthew 1:19.

Therefore, all who practice God’s righteousness—that is, who keep His commandments—are righteous just as God is righteous; see:

Little children, let no one deceive you; whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 1 John 3:7.
Whoever does not believe in God’s commandments cannot keep them, for He is the Law of Faith. Rom. 3:27 and 31. And they are not burdensome, as John said under inspiration. 1 John 5:3. And whoever does not keep them cannot abide in God. 1 John 3:24. And, consequently, the Father’s love cannot be in him. John 14:9–10.

But there are those who use as an argument biblical passages that do not say what they want them to say. One of these is where the apostle says: “You observe days, months, and years.” Or again: “Let no one judge you regarding food or drink, or regarding Sabbaths.” Although we have already discussed this, let us focus on it to remove the veil that covers the faces of those who are justified by grace.

As we saw when we cited the laws that prescribed “solemn Sabbaths,” there were solemn days, solemn months, and solemn years. And these were observed by the Jews even in Paul’s time. These Jews wanted to compel the Gentiles who were joining “the Way” to observe these days, claiming that if they did not observe them, they were not keeping the law. They also insisted that the Gentiles must be circumcised to fulfill the law of Moses. This led Paul to write the epistle “to the Galatians,” addressing this very issue.

In all cases, as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews states, God sets aside the first covenant to establish the second. The first involved the observance of sacred ordinances, which consisted of offerings of food, drink, and sacrifices. Heb. 9. Also, precepts such as “Do not touch,” “Do not handle,” etc.—which the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews calls ordinances. Col. 2:20–21. But Christ abolished these things, which brought no perfection, by canceling the debt note that stood against us in their ordinances, and by taking it out of our midst and nailing it to the cross. Col. 2:14. Thus, since they were ordinances and had a set time for their observance, when Jesus—the high priest of the good things to come—came, He set aside the first and established the second; He annulled what was done at Horeb and ratified what was done in the land of Moab.

That is why Isaiah said: “Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who strikes a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who slits a dog’s throat; whoever offers a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever burns incense is like one who blesses an idol; these choose their own ways, and their soul takes pleasure in their abominations.” Isa. 66:3.

Thus, when the prophets received these things, they wanted to know if they were for their own time, and they were told that they were not for them, but rather for the Gentiles to whom they ministered. 1 Pet. 1:11–12.

Isaiah wrote what the Lord spoke through him:

“When you come to appear before me, who has required this from your hands—that you should come and trample my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me, as are the new moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies; I cannot endure iniquity, nor even the solemn assembly.” Your new moons and your appointed feasts—my soul hates them; they have become a burden; I am weary of bearing them. Isa. 1:12–14.

However, look carefully at the context, and check Leviticus 23, and you will see what the Lord is referring to: the assembly of the congregation, your solemn assemblies (see Lev. 23:1, 8, 9, 17, 21, 28, and 29). Thus, those Sabbaths were your Sabbaths.
And concerning them the Lord also says through Hosea: “I will put an end to all their joy, their festivals, their new moons, their Sabbaths, and all their appointed feasts.” Hos. 2:11. And further on the Lord says: “I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and mercy. And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.” vv. 19 and 20. And the Lord warns through Jeremiah:

“Thus says the Lord: Guard your souls, and do not carry burdens on the Sabbath day, nor bring them through the gates of Jerusalem. Nor shall you take any loads out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work; but you shall keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. If you will diligently listen to me, says the Lord, by not bringing loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and if you keep the Sabbath holy by not doing any work on it—then kings and princes, seated on the throne of David, will enter through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will be inhabited forever. But if you do not listen—if you do not keep the Sabbath holy and do not bring in any loads when you enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath—then I will kindle a fire at its gates, and it will consume the palaces of Jerusalem, and it will not be quenched.” Jer. 17:21–22, 24–25, and 27.

The Sabbath, in addition to being a memorial of creation, is also a sign between God and His people; see:

“I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between Me and them, so that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. And you shall keep my Sabbaths holy, and they shall serve as a sign between me and you, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God. But the children also rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, nor did they keep my ordinances—which, if a man does, he shall live by them— they defiled my Sabbaths; therefore I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to execute my wrath against them in the wilderness. But I held back my hand, and I did so for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose presence I had brought them out. I also raised my hand against them in the wilderness, to scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands; for they did not carry out my decrees, but rejected my statutes, defiled my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on the idols of their fathers.” Ezek. 20:12, 20–24.

When the Lord proclaimed His Law before the people in the wilderness of Sinai, He Himself spoke from the clouds and said concerning the Sabbath: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and on the seventh day He rested; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Ex. 20:8–11.

Let us note the details: At the beginning of chapter twenty it says: “Then God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God.’” And He begins to dictate His laws directly to the people. And this is unequivocally recorded in Deuteronomy, where it says: “On the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather this people to me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth, and teach them to their children’; and you drew near and stood at the foot of the mountain; and the mountain was ablaze with fire to the very midst of the heavens, and there was darkness, clouds, and deep gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of the words, but saw no form—only a voice. Then He set before you His covenant, which He commanded you—the Ten Commandments—and wrote them on two stone tablets.” Deut. 4:10–13.

Furthermore, in the verses where the commandments are cited, we can observe other important details, such as: “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” And it was not only the people of Israel who were not to work on that day, but also their animals that served them, their servants, and the foreigners sojourning among them. This is because there were servants of the people, as well as those who had joined the people of Israel, either through agreements or by intermarriage. Thus God spoke to Moses and commanded him to instruct the people: “You shall have one law; the foreigner shall be as the native-born.” Lev. 24:22.

He further said: “But if any foreigner sojourns with you and wishes to celebrate the Passover to the Lord, every male among them must be circumcised; then he may come and celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. The same law shall apply to the native and to the foreigner who sojourns among you.” Ex. 12:49; Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:16, 29.

It is important to note that when God spoke His laws to the people, Moses had not yet ascended the mountain and, consequently, had not yet received the stone tablets on which the Decalogue was inscribed. But the first covenant had already been established, which therefore contained the laws of ordinances. And at the same time that God gave Moses His Law, He also gave him the statutes, precepts, and judgments; see:

“These are the statutes, judgments, and laws that the Lord established between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai through Moses.” Lev. 26:46.

It is important to understand that, although the ceremonial laws were abolished upon the death of Jesus—who nailed them to the cross—the statutes and judgments established by God and given to Moses were not abolished. That is why God spoke through Malachi: “Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel—the statutes and judgments.” Mal. 4:4 and Lev. 12:48.

Oli Prestes
Missionary
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