__________________________________________________ AN EXAMINATION OF SOME CLAIMS IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE silentmessengers@mm.st __________________________________________________ Table of Contents _________________ Introduction .. Understanding Truth .. Methods of Bible Study .. Truth is Non-Transferrable .. Purpose of this Document Genesis 6:1-7 .. The claims .. Who are the sons of God? ..... The Old Testament ..... The New Testament ..... Jesus, the Son of God ..... Final thoughts .. Marriage and Intermarriage ..... What is marriage? ..... Marrying unbelievers ..... Do angels marry? .. Product, or parallel? .. The cause of the flood The Sabbath: Sunset to Sunset .. The claims .. Some texts from the Old Testament ..... Genesis 1 ..... Leviticus 22:6-7 ..... Leviticus 23:32 ..... Nehemiah 13:19 ..... Ezekiel 46:1-2 .. Calvary ..... The Lord's Supper ..... Gethsemene ..... Christ crucified ..... The Preparation day ..... Christ's resurrection ..... In summation .. Concluding remarks Introduction ============ In the Christian world today, there are winds of doctrine blowing in every direction. Head down to the nearest church, and you will get one sort of doctrine. Wander up the street to another, and you will receive something completely different. There are men who take to the streets, shouting an even more distinct doctrine, some disseminating literature, while others take to media and broadcast strange things by audio, video, and text for all to see. We are admonished by the apostle Paul that "we should no longer be children, tossed to and from with every wind of doctrine." Eph 4:14. The apostle Peter testifies that "scripture is of no private interpretation," for there is only one truth, and truth is not subjective. Further he tells us that "we have a more sure word of prophecy," the holy scriptures, being more sure than God's own voice booming from the heaven. Isaiah tells us to look to "the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, there is no light in them." Understanding Truth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “We cannot attain to the understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat the Lord to grant you, of His great mercy, the true understanding of His word. There is no other interpreter of the word of God than the Author of this word, as He Himself has said, ‘They shall be all taught of God.’ Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has had experience.” -- Martin Luther If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. -- Jesus, John 7:17 Here are the two most vital principles for understanding scripture aright: asking God for understanding, and a willingness to obey God. Jesus tells us "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33. The apostle Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 that the things of the Spirit are taught by the Spirit, and the carnal mind cannot discern spiritual truths. Except we be taught by the Spirit of the Lord, all our intellect and study will avail us nothing. And except we be willing to obey the Lord, we can receive nothing of His Spirit, for the Lord has given the Holy Spirit to them that obey Him. Acts 5:32. It is for this reason that we should never open the word to study without confession and forsaking of sin, nor without an earnest prayer for the Lord to grant us understanding and teach us according to His way. Approaching the word of God in this manner, seeking the will of God so that we may do it, and humbling ourselves to hear Him,-- not to exalt our own ideas,-- is the only sure way to know the truth. Methods of Bible Study ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is a rule that scripture interprets scripture. As Isiaah 28:10 teaches us, "precept must be upon precept; precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little." The Holy Scriptures were penned over the course of thousands of years by over forty different men comprising now sixty-six books, but there is an internal consistency throughout all of scripture due to the fact that scripture "never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21. We do not pull from the culture around us in order to interpret prophetic symbols. We cannot trust in commentaries, clergy, logic, or seemingly wise men to find a true understanding. The Bible is its own expositor; it is self-explanatory. The Lord does not employ a symbol in one place through one prophet, and then drastically alter its meaning in another place. In both Daniel and Revelation, a beast represents a kingdom, and this does not change. So then, for any doctrine, we may expect and require that it be "established by the mouth of two or three witnesses," according to the principle laid out in scripture. If, in order to establish any teaching, we must ignore the testimonies of other portions of scripture, or cling to a single text of scripture and wrestle it into the framework we desire it to fit in, we may be sure that we do not have the truth. God has made sure that anything which we need to know has been repeated at various times and in various ways by various prophets throughout scripture. If it is truth, we will find it on the lips of Isaiah, and also the lips of John, as well as the lips of Paul. If it is not so, or there is another explanation, the scripture will make this plain by searching prayerfully. Truth is Non-Transferrable ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The parable of Matthew 25:1-12 tells us of five foolish and five wise virgins. The lamps in their hands are explained by Psalm 119:10: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The oil, as we learn is texts such as 1 Samuel 16:13 and Zechariah 4, represents the Spirit of the Lord. Each was to have their own measure of God's Spirit, and when the testing time came, those who did not have were not able to purchase from those that did. This is a lesson that we must have oil within ourselves. When the Lord comes, when the darkness of midnight is upon us, we must stand alone. When we have no one to counsel us, we must have might to stand by the strength and power of our God, having received "with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls." James 1:21-22. Jesus teaches us again, in Matthew 7:24-27, that we are to build our characters on the Rock, that is, the Word of God. If we will hear and do His sayings, we shall be able to stand in that great day. However; if we will not, then we shall fall, and great will be that fall. A personal knowledge of God's Word, to know God, is not something which one can impart to another. Just as much as we must eat for ourselves, and cannot eat food for another, each of us must know and understand, believe and follow, study and do, for ourselves. Each of us needs to receive the law of God written on our hearts individually. We must be able to stand for ourselves against the tempest of false doctrine, knowing for ourselves why we believe what we believe, and searching the scriptures ourselves to see whether anything is so. Acts 17:11. Purpose of this Document ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We come then to this document and what it is intended for. There are certain teachings which are blowing around and, having coming to my attention, need to be addressed. It is the prayer of the author that this work will help to clarify, by the word of the Lord, some of the cloudiness that has been cast into the well of truth for those who struggle to see clearly on these issues. If there are any other issues which you would be interested in seeing here, please send an email to silentmessengers@mm.st Genesis 6:1-7 ============= Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” The claims ~~~~~~~~~~ It is claimed by some that this text speaks of an interbreeding between heavenly and earthly creatures. According to this narrative, the "sons of God" here refers to fallen angels who then proceeded to come and mate with women on the earth. Through this interbreeding, a race of giants was created, /Nephilim/ in the Hebrew, which according to some extra-Biblical texts are purported to have been perhaps even 400 feet tall. The book of Enoch is one particular text which is relied upon heavily to promote this view. Who are the sons of God? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The notion that the phrase "sons of God" used in this passage denotes fallen angels is a grand assumption which is not warranted by the text. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, presents us a consistent testimony as to who the sons of God are, which we shall have a look at. The Old Testament ----------------- There are few texts in the Old Testament which use the phrase "sons of God." Genesis 6 is the first passage we find them mentioned. Let us have a look at those texts and see what we can learn from them: * Genesis 6:1-7 Seeing that this text is quoted above, it will not be quoted here. By using the term "sons of God" without any qualifying statements or definition given, it is assumed that the reader already has sufficient context in Genesis 1-5 to understand who is being referred to as the sons of God. The immediate context of the passage points directly to Genesis chapter 5, which immediately precedes these verses, where we find a geneaology of the line coming down through Adam and his son Seth. In Genesis 4, we see the story of Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam. Abel was counted righteous, in that he worshiped and obeyed God, while Cain offered the works of his hands to make up for his unrepentant sinfulness. When Abel, and not Cain, was accepted by God, Cain in fury slew Abel. Cain went on to establish a city, for he could no longer till the soil. Lamech, following in Cain's footsteps, exercises a tyrannical oppression over the people. It was the work of the sons of Cain to establish cities and reign over people in order that the people might supply their wants. They became utter tyrants, compelling others by force for their own personal benefit. In contrast to this, we find another group who does not live according to the same manner. Genesis 4:25-26 gives an interesting bit of history that is easy to overlook: And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Ēnosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. The phrase here to "call on the name of the LORD" means to cry aloud, or to preach. We learn from Exodus 33:18-19 and Exodus 34:5-8 that the glory of the Lord is His name, and His name is His character. Hence, it was the work of Seth's descendents to preach concerning the righteousness of God. While the descendents of Cain were populating the earth with oppression and wickedness, the lineage of Seth was preaching to them the glory of God and calling them to repentance. Enoch himself preached about the coming judgment of God, as we read in Jude 9. Enoch was so close to God that God did not even permit him to die, but translated him without seeing death. We trace this line through Genesis 5 all the way down to Noah, who also was "a preacher of righteousness." 2 Peter 2:5. This lineage of men is what immediately precedes the statement "the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose." Given this context alone, we may conclude that the church of God, that righteous line of holy men, began to take unto themselves wives from the nations around them. They began to mingle themselves with the seed of men, so to speak, in that they were intermarrying with the heathen children of Cain. For more on this, see the section "Marriage and Intermarriage." * Job 1:6; 2:1 For greater context, let's look at Job 1:6-8: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Here, we have presented before us a meeting taking place before the LORD. The location of this meeting is not here on the earth, as is evidenced by the fact that, when asked where he came from to attend the meeting, Satan says he came from the earth. Such a scene is also presented to us in Isaiah 6 as well as Revelation 4 and 5. In Isaiah 6, we see Isaiah and the angels present. In Revelation 4 and 5, we see the 24 elders and the angels present. In this instance, Satan comes forward, saying that he has been "walking to and fro on the earth." This is not idle wandering, but a claim of authority and dominion. In essence, Satan is claiming for himself that "the world is mine and the fullness thereof." Psalm 50:12. He made the same claim before Christ in the wilderness, as shown in Matthew 4:8-9: "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'" Thus, Satan sought to come in among the sons of God, as if he were one of them, having dominion over the earth which he usurped from Adam, "the son of God." Luke 3:38. It makes sense, then, that these sons of God who are assembled also have dominion of some sort, in a similar sense to that of Adam, seeing that Satan here stands claiming the dominion and seat that Adam once held as one of these sons of God. That said, the LORD immediately rejects and challenges Satan's claim to authority. He points to Job, and then lays out the qualifications that Job has: blamess, upright, fears God, and shuns evil. The LORD is saying to Satan, "Is he not more worthy to be called the son of God, and to have dominion, than you?" Just as Satan did with Christ in the wilderness, so Satan sought to do with Job. It was his aim to prove that Job was not a son of God, and to get Job to reject the LORD or forsake his faithfulness to God. Likewise, he sought to convince Christ that he was not the son of God, saying "If you are the Son of God..." As interesting as the story here presented is, and those truths which are linked with these events, we come back to our main point: the text does not support the identity of the sons of God as being angels. In fact, the only being we know to be an angel in this scene the LORD rejects from being counted among the sons of God. The others, we don't exactly know just yet what manner of being they are, but we have a clue from God later in the book of Job. * Job 38:4-7 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Seeing that we have not left the book of Job, it stands to reason that the sons of God here mentioned are the same mentioned at the beginning of the book. From this text, we learn that, at the creation of this world, these sons of God already existed somewhere else. We have the statement that the morning stars sang (joyously) and the sons of God shouted for joy seeing God create this world. Notice that we have two distinct groups mentioned here: the morning stars and the sons of God. Who or what are stars in scripture? Compare Revelation 1:20 and Revelation 12:3-4 and 12:7-9, which draws from Daniel 8:10. Stars are employed to represent angels or messengers of God. In Jude 13 we also see false teachers, false lights, being portrayed as wandering stars. So then, we have two distinct camps: angels/messengers and the sons of God. To this, Hebrews 1:5 also testifies: For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? In these, we have direct evidence against the idea that the sons of God would be angels. The angellic host are not called sons. As Hebrews 1 tells us, they are ministering spirits. The sons of God are something else, which will become more clear as we continue to examine the texts that mention sons of God. * Hosea 1:10-11 “Yet the number of the children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel Shall be gathered together, And appoint for themselves one head; And they shall come up out of the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel! In this passage, the sons of the living God are none other than God's chosen people, including those Gentiles who receive Christ, and are thus gathered together into one body of believers. In fact, the more the New Testament takes this truth and makes it the defining meaning of the "sons of God:" those who are in Christ. That this is the right understanding of the text we may see by comparing it with Romans 9:24-28, where it is quoted directly: ...even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” So then, it is all those who are in Christ through faith that are called sons of the living God. Galatians 3:16,26-29 elaborates upon this well: Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. * Concluding remarks on the Old Testament "sons of God" As has been stated previously, we find that the Old Testament does not support the idea that the sons of God are angels. In the few texts we have concerning the phrase "sons of God", we find that when Satan sought to claim this title, he was rejected from having it. We also find that angels are distinguished from the sons of God, and that God's chosen people,- those who are in Christ,- are directly called sons of God in the book of Hosea. This conclusion sits well with the context of Genesis 4-5 leading up to chapter 6. The New Testament takes this theme and magnifies it to a whole new level. The New Testament ----------------- For sake of maintaining brevity as is possible, those texts which have been quoted already in looking at the Old Testament will be omitted from this list. * Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This isn't your average sort of peacemaker, nor is it a police officer. Jesus speaks here of making peace with God, and this comes through repentance and faith. It is those who are reconciled to God, who are right with Him, that are blessed, and /they/ shall be called sons of God. This necessarily excludes from being sons of God those who are separated from Him, cast out, and who devise war against heaven. Those who scheme wickedness and perverseness, unfaithful and rebellious, are not counted among this group. * Luke 20:34-36 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. We will come back to the subject of marriage, but let's highlight two important principles we learn from this text: First, the sons of God are sons of the resurrection. Paul, in discussing the text from Psalm 2 when the Father says to Jesus, "You are my Son, this day have I begotten thee," reveals to us that this text refers to Jesus' resurrection. It is the same for the sons of God: they are born of the resurrection, having been born again. Second, the text teaches us that those who are the sons of God, who are born of the resurrection, become equal to the angels in the new world. They are, however, a distinct class from the angels. * John 1:10-13; John 11:52 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become sons of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. This text lays out the truth which we have seen growing brighter and brighter, that it is those who are in Christ who are the sons of God. Jesus gives power to those who receive Him to become the sons of God, being born of His Spirit and baptized in His blood. Now this he (Caiphas) did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. This reflects the previous verse well, that Christ, through His death, would gather together the children of God into one; referring to those who would be redeemed by His atoning blood. It is the same truth reflected in the text from Hosea 1 that we read earlier. * Romans 8:14-21; Romans 9:8 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. It is those who are led by the Spirit of God that are the sons of God. If there were any such text which summarized the entire study of the sons of God, it is Romans 8:14. It succinctly states what everything else merely elaborates. Moreover, it eliminates the possibility that any entity which is in direct rebellion against God can rightly be called a son of God. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Colossians 1:21 clarifies that glory which is to be revealed in us. It is Christ's character reproduced in His people. The sons of God are those who reflect the image of *the* Son of God. These have liberty, just as the new creation will have liberty, because they are free from sin, and therefore no longer subject to death. There is no law against righteousness. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Romans 9 makes an important point, as previously seen in Galatians 3, that not only is it is those who have received Christ who are the children of God, but this has always been so since the beginning. For instance, both Cain and Seth descended from Adam, but Seth inherited the blessing while Cain received a curse. God promised Abraham that his seed should inherit the earth, and yet even though both Isaac and Ishmael proceeded forth from Abraham according to the flesh, Ishmael will not receive the inheritance while Isaac will. This is because of what's mentioned in Galatians 3:16, in that the promise was made to Abraham and to his Seed, which is Christ. Only those who receive Christ, the One to whom the promise was made, can receive the promise made to Abraham with Abraham; even if they are blood relatives of Abraham. For more on this, we look at the words of John the Baptist, and also the words of Jesus Himself: * Luke 3:8; John 8:31-47 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. It was not enough to receive the promise by being born of the line of Abraham, to whom the promise of eternal life was made. God is able to raise up children to Abraham from the stones, says John the Baptist, and that is because a son, according to scripture, is not a son by birth but by faith. It is those who are of the faith of Abraham that are counted as sons of Abraham, and it is those who are of the faith of Jesus that are counted as sons of God, as Jesus Himself makes clear in John 8:31-47: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” ... The Jews counted themselves as Abraham's seed, because they could trace their bloodline back to Abraham. However; Jesus rejects and challenges this claim: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Here, Jesus lays down the criteria for being counted as a child of Abraham: Doing the works of Abraham; manifesting the faith of Abraham. He says to them, though they are the bloodline of Abraham, "You are not the children of Abraham." He says they have a different father... Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ... You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. ... He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Now the Jews lay claim to being the sons of God, and this Jesus also rejects. He says clearly their father is not Abraham, nor is it God, but rather, it is the devil. Those who follow after unrighteousness, though they be the offspring of Abraham, and though they trace their lineage all the way back to Adam, are not counted as sons of God. A son of God is not a son by birth or by creation, but by character alone. If it were true that one need only be able to trace their birth back to the creating hand of God to be counted as a son of God, all would be sons of God, for all created beings trace their creation back to the hand of God... But it is not so. * Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:4-7 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. * Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, * 1 John 3:1-2,10 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. Jesus, the Son of God --------------------- We cannot go without mentioning that Christ is the foremost "Son of God" according to the New Testament, as well as in Daniel 3:15. Christ came to reclaim the dominion of Adam; to take back this world from the wicked one wielding a usurped authority. It is by virtue of His righteousness that He has the right to rule. Hebrews 1:8-9. Christ is our example. 1 Peter 2:21. In that He is the Son of God, He became a man and died on our behalf that we, too, might reflect the same image, being called "sons of God." It was to redeem us and this world from sin, and to undo the damage done by the rebellion of Lucifer, that Jesus took on flesh and lived a perfect life. Like Job, the Father could point to Jesus and answer the claims of Lucifer, deposing Lucifer of His usurped authority. "Does not Christ have more claim to being the Son of God than yourself? Behold, he is upright, fears God, and shuns evil." Final thoughts -------------- Those who are in rebellion against heaven, who keep not the commandments of the Lord, who on the side of Satan and doing according to the workings of Satan, can never lay hold of the title sons of God. There isn't one verse in the Bible which applies the term son of God to any angel, let alone to a rebel. Instead, the consistent testimony of scripture is that those who "are led by the Spirit of God, /these/ are the sons of God." The claim that the sons of God in Genesis 6, contrary to the whole of scripture, must be a reference to fallen angels, is not a Biblical position to take. There is no support for it from the word of God. Instead, we find a unanimous affirmation in one direction which makes perfect sense in the context of the chapter. The sons of God are those who are in Christ, which, at the time of Genesis 6, was that godly line of preachers of righteousness descending from the line of Seth. Marriage and Intermarriage ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When we approach Genesis 6 understanding that it is not fallen angels, but the faithful believers who are being referenced as the sons of God, the passage becomes very consistent with the testimony of scripture. Marriages between godly men and ungodly women drove morality so low that, before long, the whole world was wholly given up to unrighteousness. What is marriage? ----------------- The text in Genesis 6 tells us that the sons of God married the daughters of men. We find a definition for marriage in Genesis 2:24: Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. What the text does not say is that the sons of God merely had sexual relations with the daughters of men. Rather, they took unto themselves wives, partners in life and in death. Thus, the situation is one that the church of God began to marry unbelievers, and the text says specifically that it was because "they saw that they were beautiful." What a terrible mistake; to choose a life partner based on beauty without considering the weightier matters! Marrying unbelievers -------------------- This situation of the people of God marrying those outside of our faith is not unique to the times of Genesis 6. "These things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have come." 1 Corinthians 10:11. This mistake is being repeated today, and the same consequences result. In fact, this same mistake has been made again and again throughout the history of God's people. It is one of the most successful devices of Satan to lower the standard and lead the people of God into transgression. Note the following: - When Israel went down into Egypt, intermarriage with the Egyptians led them largely to forget God and adopt calf worship. - When Israel came to the borders of the promised land at Baal-Peor, it was through heathen women uniting with the people of God there that the enemy was able to work to lead them into idolatry. - Samson was led into all sorts of trouble through the influence of heathen women, ultimately leading to his death. - Solomon, through the influence of the heathen wives that he took, fell into idolatry and built temples all over the nation of Israel to idol gods. - Ahab, arguably the most wicked king of Israel, was driven to greater wickedness by his ungodly heathen wife, and under her influence, he led the nation into severe apostasy and sought the life of the prophets of God. - After the Babylonian captivity, under the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah, the people put away their pagan wives which they had taken in order to keep Israel from making the same mistakes as had been made in the past. Moreover, this plain commandment is given in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. And likewise, we are warned against intermarriage in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? There are no such commandments to warn us against repeating the sin of fornication with angels anywhere in the Bible, but there is a multitude of plain forbiddings to marry outside of the faith, for the explicit reason that it nearly always leads to apostasy toward God, just as it happened before the flood. It has been said, "consistency is a jewel," and if it were true that sexual relations with angels were something to be wary of, we should have such consistency of warning as we do for intermarrying with unbelievers. Do angels marry? ---------------- For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30) Christ explicitly states that angels do not marry. Marriage is between a man and a woman, not between men and spirits. Moreover, marriage is far more than sexual relations and reproduction. In fact, a marriage can exist without sex and reproduction at all! Product, or parallel? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now, let us deal with the issue of giants. Genesis 6:4 is given here for careful consideration: There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. The text states of a certainty that giants existed in those days, and scripture testifies to the existence of giants elsewhere, also. Giants existed prior to the flood, and they also existed after the flood. Numbers 13:33. It's worth noting that this statement isn't separating out a certain class of men. "There were giants in the earth in those days," not that there were giants among small men, but that the inhabitants of the earth, every one, were giants. This explains where giantism came from; not that it was a strange, abnormal thing, but that the human race was originally created much larger than we are now. We have gotten smaller over time as a people. This also helps to explain why Noah's descendants could also be giants: they inherited it from Noah and his sons, who themselves were very large people. Let's also examine the words used for giant and mighty men: - Giants: + Strongs H5303 - nphiyl (Nephilim) + A feller, i.e. a bully or a tyrant - Mighty men: + Strongs H1368 - gibbowr + warrior, tyrant These words largely convey, along with physical stature, the tyrannical nature of these men. These were oppressors, harsh dictators, trampling the poor and downtrodden under their feet. These mighty men were warriors, killers, who were not afraid of shedding the blood of men. Now we turn our attention to what the text does not say. This verse does not tell us that the giants were a product of the intermarriage between the sons of God and the daughters of men. Read it again carefully. We are told that there were giants in those days, and also afterwards. That is, there were giants back in the time before the flood when the church and the world began to mingle. Why is this mentioned? Jesus said "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the coming of the son of man." Luke 17:26. There is no question that the second coming of Christ is nigh at hand, but ask yourself - Which is is that we have more of: fornication with angels and massive giants; or the church mingling with the world, oppressive men, warriors, and dictators? So then, it is the case that, while there most certainly were men of great stature before the flood, one must twist this scripture to say what it is not saying to imply that the giants were solely the product of fornication between angels and men. Rather, the fact that they existed after this time, and particularly after the flood where no such thing took place, shows us that there is something else going on here, and a more reasonable explanation of the origin of giants. The cause of the flood ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is said by some, and not all, that at least one of the reasons that the flood was sent was to destroy these /Nephilim/. Now, the fact that there existed Nephilim after the flood shows that this must not have been the case. However; rather than enter into this territory, let's take another look at Genesis 6:5 and let the Lord explain Himself the cause of the flood: Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The world was given over to unrighteousness, and for this cause, the Lord sent the flood to cleanse the earth of wickedness. This is also a recurring them in the scripture. It was for this reason that the cities of the plain were destroyed. It is also for the same reason that the earth will be cleansed by fire when the Son of Man comes in glory: And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. -- Revelation 18:4-8 In the last days the professed Christian world, Mystery Babylon, is found committing adultery with the nations. She is found acting as an oppressive tyrant over them, full of abominations, having mixed the pagan with the pure. She is full of sins, and has caused the whole world to stumble after sin. This is precisely the scenario that we read about before the flood. Before the flood, the children of God began to mingle with the pagans, mixing the worship of God with paganism, until they forgot God and fell into grave wickedness. Men in those days stood up as oppressors over their fellow men, exacting from the poor in order to provide for their own luxury. They were wholly given over to evil, so much so that they only thought of evil things continually. So it is today, and God will not suffer it to go on this way forever. In that day when the beast shall enforce its worship, and consign all who refuse to transgress the law of God to the flames, God will arise to vindicate His people. The lesson in all of this for us is a warning against sin; and this warning appears on every page of sacred scripture. "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. Isaiah 1:16,19-20 tells us: Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. ... If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. And such is the testimony that has gone out from all the prophets in every age: “The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the LORD. -- Zechariah 1:2-4 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” -- Mark 1:14-15 Let us therefore take heed of this message, and not repeat their mistakes of mingling darkness with light, but rather seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let us by faith lay hold of the righteousness of Christ, that "holiness, without which no one shall see God." Hebrews 12:14. The Sabbath: Sunset to Sunset ============================= Surely, My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. ... It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. -- Exodus 33:13,17 The claims ~~~~~~~~~~ That the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, commonly known as Saturday, is not widely disputed. Even the Catholic church, which claims the responsibility and authority for instituting Sunday sacredness in place of Sabbath observance acknowledges that the Sabbath is the seventh day, and that Sunday is the first day of the week. Likewise, there is also no question that keeping the Sabbath holy is a requirement according to the Ten Commandments. These truths, it is not the purpose of this section to address. Claims have been made, in recent history and in the past, concerning the hours which consitute the Sabbath. Some say its observance is from sunrise to sunset. Others purport that it is from sunrise to sunrise. It is the purpose of this section to demonstrate that the Sabbath is from sunset to sunset; something which the Jewish people have been observing for millenia, and which is also agreed upon by those Christians who take up Sabbath observance according to scripture. Quoting from the [Shabbat Wikipedia article]: According to halakha (Jewish religious law), Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night. ... Most Christians do not observe Saturday Sabbath, but instead observe a weekly day of worship on Sunday, which is often called the "Lord's Day". Several Christian denominations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of God (7th Day), the Seventh Day Baptists, and many others, observe seventh-day Sabbath. This observance is celebrated from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. [Shabbat Wikipedia article] Some texts from the Old Testament ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genesis 1 --------- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ... So the evening and the morning were the first day. In the beginning, first there was darkness, and then there was light. This pattern sets the precident after which it is declared, "the evening and the morning were the first day." Thus, a day consists of first an evening, a time of darkness, and then the morning, a period of light. It is for this reason that, following God's example, days were (and ought to be) reckoned from sunset to sunset; from evening to evening. And that we may know when evening is: but at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell in it, there you shall offer the Passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, at the time you came out of Egypt. -- Deuteronomy 16:6 ESV At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. -- Mark 1:32 Leviticus 22:6-7 ---------------- the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water. And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food. Persons were considered unclean for the rest of the day until the evening according to the ceremonial law; thus demonstrating that a day begins at sunset. Leviticus 23:32 --------------- It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath. This text concerns the Day of Atonement, a solemn ceremonial Sabbath. Such ceremonial Sabbaths were patterned after the seventh day Sabbath. Accordingly, this ceremonial sabbath day was observed from evening to evening, just the same as the weekly Sabbath was to be observed, for it inherited this property from the seventh day Sabbath, which is patterned after the days of Creation. Nehemiah 13:19 -------------- So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah here shuts the gates at evening, before sunset, in preparation for the Sabbath. It was during the hours before sunset that Nehemiah considered the Sabbath to be approaching; thus, the Sabbath rest began at sunset. Ezekiel 46:1-2 -------------- ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. The prince shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway from the outside, and stand by the gatepost. The priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings. He shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. Here, in the vision of Ezekiel, the LORD instructs that the gate shall be opened for the Sabbath day. The gate was to remain open, not until the next morning, but until the evening. Thus, we see again the change of day taking place at the evening, particularly with regard to the Sabbath. Calvary ~~~~~~~ Though the Old Testament texts are quite clear on this point, and though Jewish history in in full agreement with the understanding of days bring from evening to evening, the final week of Christ's life here on the earth present an even clearer picture of the Biblical reckoning for a day, and particularly the Biblical reckoning for the Sabbath. Let us begin with a chart to plot some important events, according to their time in the day: This chart is taken from And now let us look at these events and what they have to teach us concerning the timing of the days and of the Sabbath: The Lord's Supper ----------------- The Lord's supper, as we now know it, was at the time of its institution the Passover supper. The tradition as it existed in the time of Christ was distorted from the observance which the Lord enjoined through Moses, being added to with various additional ceremonies and requirements by the oral traditions. It is still largely kept the same way today by those Jews who observe it. According to the type of the Passover, the Passover lamb was to be slain at twilight, /between the evenings./ This was roughly 3 PM on Nisan 14. This was the time that the Lord instructed that the Passover should be observed. Reading the Biblical account, however, it becomes apparent that the Lord's supper was observed the night before Christ was crucified; and we know that Christ was crucified precisely on Nisan 14 at 3PM according to the prophecy. In order to understand why this is happening, we must understand a bit about Jewish tradition. The following is taken from a book called "Practical Lessons from the Experience of Israel" by a converted Jew named F.C. Gilbert, pages 240 and 244: 1. On the night of the fourteenth day the Passover proper begins. It is then that the Passover supper is observed. Not now having any lamb, substitutes are used in the form of a roasted egg, boiled hard, and the shankbone of a lamb. ... 2. The table is always prepared /before/ the evening, so that when the people return from the synagogue service they are ready to sit down to supper. This no doubt is the reason why the disciples inquited where they should go and prepare the Passover. The author, of course, by saying the night of the fourteenth day, refers to what we commonly call Thursday night. Let us continue: 1. Instead of the people keeping the first and last days of the feast as a sabbath, they observe two days in each case. This addition was of the scribes and Pharisees. The following will explain itself: "Although the second holy day is only of the words of the scribes, everything that is forbidden on the first day is forbidden on it also. And every one who professes the second holy day, . . . but by some means violates it, is to receive the beating denounced against rebellion, or to be excommunicated, except he be a learned man." -- The Laws of the Festivals 2. Thus we see why the Savior said that they placed heavy burdens upon the multitudes, but they themselves would not lift them with their small finger. Because these men were learned, they considered themselves exempt. And so it was that it was common to have two Passover suppers. In the days of Christ, this meant having the Passover supper on Nisan 14 both at the beginning of Nisan 14, and likewise to slay the lamb at the proper time of 3 PM on Nisan 14. And so it says in the scripture. The disciples prepared the supper before Thursday night, and proceeded to sit down and eat the Lord's supper at evening, Nisan 14, to begin the Passover. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. -- Matthew 26:19-20 Gethsemene ---------- It was that very night of the Lord's Supper that Christ went to the garden of Gethsemene and prayed through the night for strength to go forward. The disciples were unable to stay awake. Jesus, however, was in such agony even then that he could hardly stand by Himself. The pressure was so great, and the temptation so sore, that He begged for strength to do the Father's will, and great drops of blood began to seep through His pores. Such a heart as this, willing to die rather than to transgress the will of God, is the very heart we need. We may learn here that regardless of the temptation, the Lord offers us strength to overcome. We need not give in. God will see us through, and He will bring us off more than conquerers. With regards to Sabbath keeping, the world will work to prevent us from obeying God's law. Employers may threaten or relieve us of our duties. Family and friends may mock and tempt us. Even so, it is better that we, as Jesus, should resist unto blood rather than disregard one of the Lord's commandments. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. -- Matthew 10:29-31 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. -- 1 Peter 4:12-13 Christ crucified ---------------- Through the night and early morning, Christ was tried and condemned. Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. -- Mark 15:25 It was at the third hour, or 9 AM, that Christ was hung on the cross. Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” . . . And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. -- Matthew 27:45-46, 50 Jesus hung on that miserable cross from 9 AM until sunset, having died at the ninth hour, or 3 PM, on Nisan 14, according to the Passover: Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. -- Exodus 12:6 This here twilight is literally /between the evenings/, meaning the time between noon and sunset. The practice, as is testified by Josephus, was to slay the Passover lamb at the ninth hour of the day; precisely the time that Christ breathed His last. The Preparation day ------------------- Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. -- John 19:31-33, 39-42 The Jews were anxious that Christ should die before sunset, in order that His body might not remain on the cross during the Sabbath day. For this reason, they came and broke their legs. However; when they found that Christ was already dead, they did not break any bone in His body. This was also according to the prophecy of the Passover: In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. -- Exodus 12:46 So then, Joseph of Arimathea, along with Nicodemus, quickly took Jesus' body down from the cross at evening and buried Him in the nearest tomb available. We are told that they laid Jesus there "because of the Jew's Preparation Day," that is, because it was close and could be accomplished before sunset when the Sabbath should begin. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. -- Luke 23:54-56; 24:1-2 That evening when Christ was laid in the tomb, the women were there, looking on. They beheld where He was, and not having time to properly prepare His body for burial before sunset, they took the spices and oil they had prepared and rested on the Sabbath. These women were followers of Jesus. They loved Him, listened to His teachings, and here we see that the example and teaching of Christ led them to honor His Sabbath even above anointing His body for burial. Such was the regard of Christ for the law of God. Likewise, it is apparent that they considered the Sabbath to begin at evening, for they would not even so much as take a little time into the evening to anoint Christ, their Lord and Master, for His own burial. This, most certainly, they learned also from Jesus. Christ's resurrection --------------------- Christ rested on the Sabbath, even in His death, from sunset to sunset. It is common knowledge that Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week. Some even argue this as sufficient reason that we should observe Sunday as sacred. Let us then examine at what time of day Christ was resurrected. On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” -- Matthew 27:62-64 A guard was set to watch the tomb and ensure that no one would disturb it through the night. However; before the sun had arisen, we read the following events occured: Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” -- Matthew 28:1-7 That it was still dark, before the sun had arisen, when these events took place, we also read the following in the gospel of John: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” -- John 20:1-2 An angel had descended in the night, rendered the guards unconscious by his glory, and rolled away the stone from the tomb that the Savior might come forth. Jesus arose, before sunrise, on Sunday, the first day of the week. This, the text tells us directly and plainly, by stating that it was both the first day of the week and that the sun had not arisen yet. Further evidence that these events took place at night is also found in this situation between the Jewish leaders and the guards who were present: Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. -- Matthew 28:11-15 The guards told the Jewish leaders what happened, that an angel had descended and when they had arisen, the tomb was open and empty. Rather than being amazed and repenting, the Jewish leadership bribed them to change the story and say that they had been sleeping. In summation ------------ From these events, we may see that Nisan 14 extends from evening to evening. We also see that the Sabbath extends from evening to evening. Lastly, we see that Christ arose on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, before the sun had arisen: showing again that the first day of the week began, not at sunrise, but at sunset the night before. Concluding remarks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The scripture presents again a consistent testimony in order that we need not err. What we lack is not evidence, but it is as the Lord says: Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! -- Deuteronomy 5:29 While we may not understand now why the Lord would reckon the days or enjoin the Sabbath from sunset to sunset, we may be assured of the motivation of His heart in giving us this precept. The Lord desires that it should be well with us. He desires our highest benefit. The Sabbath is enshrined in the Decalogue, the longest of all ten commandments, and the only one which says "Remember." We are called to remember because it points us back to God's handiwork in creation, whereby His word He created all things. That word which stretched out the heavens, established the earth upon the seas, and parted the sea for the children of Israel, we may partake of in the Holy Scriptures. That same power to create is available to us to create in us a clean heart, and speak righteousness into the very core of our being. As James tells us: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -- James 1:21-22 Let us follow the example of our Lord who rested on the Sabbath even in His death. Let us follow the example of Nehemiah who shut the gates of the city at evening, shutting out the world, making a sacred space to devote to God the entire seventh day. Let us follow the example of His disciples who, rather than anoint our Lord's body after sunset, observed the Sabbath according to the commandment, beginning in the evening. Let God's people be in unity. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. -- 1 Corinthians 1:10