When does a day begin?
When does the Sabbath begin?

That the 24 hour period we call a day begins at sunset is clear from the Bible account of creation. After each of the first six day's creation activities, the phrase is repeated, "And the evening and the morning were the [1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th] day."  (Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31) In most circumstances we may conclude that it is a harmless human convention to begin each day at 12:00 midnight, but in matters of religious faith we ought to be more careful.  A Bible day begins at sunset, when the sun disappears below the horizon.

Everyone knows that sunset times vary throughout the year.  There are, of course, several factors behind this daily phenomenon, but it all boils down to the observer's geographical and astronomical reference point with relation to the sun. So we have the earth's seasons,  latitude, longitude, even atmospheric refraction and elevation above sea level all playing a part. With so many variables, it might be easy to conclude that only an astronomer could identify the onset of God's day! Fortunately, the only instrument we really need access to is the sun, itself.

We are told in the Bible that the sun, moon, and stars are the original clock provided for us. This is one instrument that is universally available in every culture on earth throughout all of history. In matters of the Sabbath, it is not necessary to choose an artificial 24 hour period, but rather to remember the day that God designated and actually instructed us to remember. It is notable, that in all of the ten commandments, the only one that some misinformed theologians have forgotten, is the very one God said to remember. The very word, "remember", seems to have been deliberately incorporated in the original language, anticipating a global apostasy with regard to the Sabbath commandment. Notably, the word only appears in the one commandment that most reputable, church-going people have forgotten.

Among all the reference materials one can find, there is no dispute whatsoever that the seventh day is the day we commonly refer to as Saturday. According to what we have studied, this day actually begins with Friday at sunset, a fact recognized by more than ten million Christian Sabbath-keepers throughout the world. You can easily find out when the Lord's day begins at your location by clicking on this sunset calculator. Keeping God's day holy is a matter of obedience and faith. Obedience, because God says so, but faith also, because of three unique characteristics the Bible says are inherent in the Sabbath. God rested on the Sabbath day, he blessed the day, and he made that day holy. No other day can claim these.   For further study on this subject please click here.

I know that, whatsoever
God doeth, it shall be for ever:
nothing can be put to it, nor any
thing taken from it: and God
doeth [it], that [men] should
fear before him.
Ecclesiastes. 3:14

"From evening to evening you shall celebrate your Sabbath" Lev. 23:32

Sabbath times in Chester PA for the year 2005

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