The Bible verse that relates to “sunset to sunset Sabbath” is Leviticus 23:32.
It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Leviticus 23:32 KJV
When God created the Earth, He decided for the day to start at sunset and end at next sunset.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:5 KJV
As we can see from the above verse it first mentions evening and then morning for the first day. The same goes for the other days: Genesis 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31.
This concept of the day starting at sunset and ending at sunset is present throughout the Bible and has been kept all along. (Nehemiah 13:19, Mark 1:32, Luke 23:54).
Today though the world is using a different concept – midnight marks the beginning of the next day.
Where in the Bible does it say the Sabbath is from sundown to sundown?
The Bible mentions in Leviticus 23:32 that the Sabbath is and should be kept from sundown to sundown.
It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Leviticus 23:32 KJV
Not only in this verse but there are others too.
And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
Nehemiah 13:19 KJV
Nehemiah and many servants of God kept and preserved this method of observing the Sabbath as God told us.
This practice we find even in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ when He was on this Earth.
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
Mark 1:32 KJV
We know our Lord Jesus Christ created the Sabbath for man and healed many on this holy day. (Mark 2:27-28)
But the religious authority of those times accused Him that He was breaking the Sabbath, even though God made the Sabbath to be a blessing for man. (Luke 13:10-14)
Jesus rebuked them and explained that the Sabbath was created to help those in need. Luke 13:15-17)
What religion has a Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset?
The Seven-Day Adventist Church observe the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset each week as the Bible teaches. (Exodus 20:8-11)
The Seven-Day Adventist Church also base all its doctrines on the Bible, and the Bible only.
Many other churches also keep the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
We recommend always checking with the Bible the doctrines of every Church. This is to make sure you are following the real Church of God and not a man-made tradition church.
Biblical Definition of a Day (Sunset to Sunset)
When God created this world, He numbered the days, and the day starts with the evening and then the morning. Or in other words at sunset.
Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Genesis 1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
Genesis 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Genesis 1:23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Preparation for the Sabbath (Friday Sundown)
The New Testament also reminds us that the Sabbath starts at Friday sundown.This day is known as the Preparation Day.
Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
KJV Bible
Conclusion
The Bible is clear about the Sabbath. It is from sunset Friday to Saturday sunset. We find it in Leviticus 23:32, later on in the book of Nehemiah too.
Not only that, but in the New Testament we also find this concept of the Sabbath starting from sunset Friday and ending on sunset Saturday.
Jesus, the apostles, and the Jewish people of that time were keeping the Sabbath this way.
Today, the followers of Christ are to do the same as Jesus Christ Himself, and His true followers did.
The midnight counting is not from the Bible, and God wants us to obey Him, and His teachings.
The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments of God, His holy day which He blessed and sanctified. (Exodus 20:8-11, Genesis 2:2-3)
The Sabbath is also a sign between God and His true followers. (Ekeziel 20:12, 20)
My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary
The Days of Noah – Powerful Documentary (Video Format)
Bible Studies – Written Format
