When Was Christ
Jesus Resurrected?
The words of the Gospel narratives differ greatly from popular "Religious" myths:
The words of the Gospels also differ greatly from many other unscriptural "Religious" traditions, customs, practices, and fanciful beliefs in fables or folklore that have been built up around the original, God-given Bible stories.
There are vast differences between what people have heard (or think) the Bible says and what the Bible actually says.
You should not assign perfection to human interpretations of God's Word. Human customs and traditions are not infallible because they are based on human interpretations. Read the Bible, instead!
There are vast differences between what people have heard (or think) the Bible says and what the Bible actually says.
You should not assign perfection to human interpretations of God's Word. Human customs and traditions are not infallible because they are based on human interpretations. Read the Bible, instead!
Matthew's Gospel is the ONLY place that the actual time of day is recorded for the Resurrection event.
The three other Gospels all record various people arriving at the grave site at some much LATER time, whether before or after sunrise the following morning, twelve hours AFTER the Resurrection.
Since the Passover Crucifixion, death and burial had been on a Wednesday, and since Christ Jesus spent 3 full days AND 3 full nights in the grave...
72 HOURS: The Sign Of Jonah, Matt. 12:38-40
Three nights and three days, exactly!
Buried AT! sundown (dusk) and resurrected AT! sundown (dusk).
A Sunday morning sunrise resurrection would be 4-nights-&-3-days!
.... we learn from Matthew 28:1 that Christ Jesus was Resurrected from the dead at - or less than a minute after - SUNDOWN (dusk), at the very beginning of a Hebrew's Sunday, as a Hebrew's routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath had just officially expired.
This was the routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath following the Passover Crucifixion. (See: John 18:39)
This routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath, however, was NOT the High Holy Day Sabbath which followed the day of Crucifixion and burial. (See: John 19:31)
This was the routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath following the Passover Crucifixion. (See: John 18:39)
This routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath, however, was NOT the High Holy Day Sabbath which followed the day of Crucifixion and burial. (See: John 19:31)
The women referred to in the passage were followers of Christ Jesus, and were waiting to leave the gates of the city as soon as the Sabbath travel restrictions were lifted at sundown (dusk).
For Hebrews, even today, Saturday Sabbath begins at sundown (dusk) on Friday, and ends at sundown (dusk) on Saturday. And, for Hebrews, sundown (dusk) Saturday not only begins a Sunday, but it also begins a whole new week too.
The original Greek texts of the New Testament (The "Autograph" Texts!) do not have the word "day" where we see it in the many, modern, English language, Bible translations.
That is why, in Matthew 28:1, the meaning of the verse is: "that as a routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath was just about to end, a whole new week was approaching and just about to begin;"
(i.e. "....as it began to dawn toward first of week...", -or- "....as time began to draw-on toward the very first moment of a new week...").
In verse 1, the word "dawn" ("epiphosko" [ep-ee-foce'-ko] - Strong's #G2020) means to DRAW-ON toward something, especially in terms of time.
For Hebrews, even today, Saturday Sabbath begins at sundown (dusk) on Friday, and ends at sundown (dusk) on Saturday. And, for Hebrews, sundown (dusk) Saturday not only begins a Sunday, but it also begins a whole new week too.
The original Greek texts of the New Testament (The "Autograph" Texts!) do not have the word "day" where we see it in the many, modern, English language, Bible translations.
That is why, in Matthew 28:1, the meaning of the verse is: "that as a routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath was just about to end, a whole new week was approaching and just about to begin;"
(i.e. "....as it began to dawn toward first of week...", -or- "....as time began to draw-on toward the very first moment of a new week...").
In verse 1, the word "dawn" ("epiphosko" [ep-ee-foce'-ko] - Strong's #G2020) means to DRAW-ON toward something, especially in terms of time.
Check your dictionary and observe the
possible usages of the word "Dawn"
You will note: 1 - Sunrise - Grow bright;
2 - Beginning - Start - Onset;
3 - To realize something; i.e. "Did it Dawn on you yet?" -or- "It finally Dawned on me!";
4 - The arrival of something - in terms of time; i.e. "At the Dawn of a new era..." -or- "The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius...".
2 - Beginning - Start - Onset;
3 - To realize something; i.e. "Did it Dawn on you yet?" -or- "It finally Dawned on me!";
4 - The arrival of something - in terms of time; i.e. "At the Dawn of a new era..." -or- "The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius...".
Another location where that same Greek word, "epiphosko" (ep-ee-foce'-ko), is used to mean DRAW-ON toward something in terms of time - but NOT in reference to sunrise (dawn) - is:
Luke 23:54 "And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath DREW-ON." (Strong's #G2020)
So, the Scriptural passage is telling us that:
"As the sun was about to set, ending a Saturday Sabbath, the women were at the city gate and prepared to exit as soon as the new week dawned, which is when the Sabbath travel restrictions ended".
Then, in Matthew 28:2, we see that, immediately, as the new week had just begun and before the women could reach the tomb, an earthquake occurred when an Angel Of The LORD rolled back the tombstone covering the entrance.
And, when the women arrived the grave was empty. VERY shortly after SUNDOWN (dusk) on a Hebrew's Sunday, but still a Gentile's Saturday night. Just like today !
The Resurrection of Christ Jesus certainly did NOT occur on a Sunday morning near, at, or after sunrise.
Matthew 28:1-2 clearly indicate that He rose from the dead VERY shortly after SUNDOWN (dusk) on a Hebrew's Sunday.
Then, in Matthew 28:2, we see that, immediately, as the new week had just begun and before the women could reach the tomb, an earthquake occurred when an Angel Of The LORD rolled back the tombstone covering the entrance.
And, when the women arrived the grave was empty. VERY shortly after SUNDOWN (dusk) on a Hebrew's Sunday, but still a Gentile's Saturday night. Just like today !
The Resurrection of Christ Jesus certainly did NOT occur on a Sunday morning near, at, or after sunrise.
Matthew 28:1-2 clearly indicate that He rose from the dead VERY shortly after SUNDOWN (dusk) on a Hebrew's Sunday.
Therefore, you can forget about Easter Sunday sunrise services.
Since, in THAT year, Easter had already occurred 25 days BEFORE His Crucifixion...
Since, in THAT year, Easter had already occurred 25 days BEFORE His Crucifixion...
...and since Christ Jesus was Resurrected at SUNDOWN (dusk) on what the gentiles still call Saturday evening, at the very beginning of what HEBREWS call Sunday.
At the "dawn" of a Hebrew's new week.
The Hebrews of Christ Jesus' day kept time by counting their calendar days and dates from sunset -to- sunset (from dusk -to- dusk), but Middle Eastern, pagan, heathen Gentiles (who had originated and still celebrated Easter) kept time by counting their calendar days and dates from sunrise -to- sunrise (from dawn -to- dawn).
The Middle Eastern, pagan, heathen Gentiles began this sunrise (dawn) timekeeping practice in ancient Babylon, c. 3,000 BCE, as a central feature of their sun-worship-based religion. And that explains the supreme importance of Easter Sunday sunrise religious and worship services, which have been in existence since Easter was first instituted more than 5,000 years ago.
The Hebrews do not celebrate pagan Easter, and... Easter does not begin when a Hebrew's Sunday begins, and...
Since a Hebrew's Sunday begins at a time that we (today) call 6pm -or- 7pm, on what we call Saturday night, and...
Since Christ Jesus was resurrected very early on a Hebrew's Sunday, at a time-of-day the pagan, heathen Gentiles (of His day) referred-to as Saturday night, then...
The Middle Eastern, pagan, heathen Gentiles began this sunrise (dawn) timekeeping practice in ancient Babylon, c. 3,000 BCE, as a central feature of their sun-worship-based religion. And that explains the supreme importance of Easter Sunday sunrise religious and worship services, which have been in existence since Easter was first instituted more than 5,000 years ago.
The Hebrews do not celebrate pagan Easter, and... Easter does not begin when a Hebrew's Sunday begins, and...
Since a Hebrew's Sunday begins at a time that we (today) call 6pm -or- 7pm, on what we call Saturday night, and...
Since Christ Jesus was resurrected very early on a Hebrew's Sunday, at a time-of-day the pagan, heathen Gentiles (of His day) referred-to as Saturday night, then...
Christ Jesus was NOT resurrected on any Easter at all, no matter which year is the correct year for His Crucifixion and Resurrection.
THE ORIGINAL
Greek source manuscripts of the Christian Bible do NOT! say that Christ Jesus was resurrected at sunrise on a Sunday morning. A Sunday morning (sunrise) resurrection is a Roman Catholic concept which first appeared 300+ years after Christ Jesus' resurrection.
Any modern translation or paraphrase of the Bible which says Christ Jesus was resurrected at sunrise on a Sunday morning is a mis-translation and is in error.
If YOUR copy of the Bible says Christ Jesus was resurrected at sunrise on a Sunday morning, you need to dispose of that untrustworthy, misleading mis-translation and obtain for yourself a "New American Standard" (NASB) Bible version.
Any modern translation or paraphrase of the Bible which says Christ Jesus was resurrected at sunrise on a Sunday morning is a mis-translation and is in error.
If YOUR copy of the Bible says Christ Jesus was resurrected at sunrise on a Sunday morning, you need to dispose of that untrustworthy, misleading mis-translation and obtain for yourself a "New American Standard" (NASB) Bible version.
An Exposition Of The Bible
Matthew, Chapter 28, Verse 1; 'In the end of the Sabbath...
Verse 1 - Inside the tail-end of a Saturday Sabbath, at the going down (dusk) of the sun, as time changed from the final moment of an old week, onward to the first moment of an entirely new week, at sunset, came Mary of Magdala and the other Mary walking toward the tomb to look at the sepulchre at the very beginning of a Hebrew's Sunday, Literal Expanded Version (LEV)
Verse 1 - Inside the tail-end of a Saturday Sabbath, at the going down (dusk) of the sun, as time changed from the final moment of an old week, onward to the first moment of an entirely new week, at sunset, came Mary of Magdala and the other Mary walking toward the tomb to look at the sepulchre at the very beginning of a Hebrew's Sunday, Literal Expanded Version (LEV)
This means: "INside the tail-END of a Hebrew's Saturday, Sabbath,
at the going down of the sun".
In the original Greek, it is: "In end of Sabbaths...".
It was still the Hebrew Sabbath, in the last waning minutes!
This clause intends what the Hebrews call...
"TBV YAUWM",
"the goings out of the Hebrew Sabbath", the final moments at the very ending of a Hebrew's Sabbath daytime period, as the sun has almost (but NOT yet) completely set.
In the original Greek, it is: "In end of Sabbaths...".
It was still the Hebrew Sabbath, in the last waning minutes!
This clause intends what the Hebrews call...
"TBV YAUWM",
"the goings out of the Hebrew Sabbath", the final moments at the very ending of a Hebrew's Sabbath daytime period, as the sun has almost (but NOT yet) completely set.
....as it began to dawn toward the first (day) of the week...
This means:
"....as time moved, at the ending of a Hebrew's Sabbath day, into the first instance of a new week".
In the original Greek, it is: "...as it began to DRAW-ON toward first of week".
This portion of the verse should read: "....as the Hebrew's Saturday Sabbath day was about to change from the last moment of the last day of an old week, onward to the first moment of the first day of an entirely new week, at sunset (dusk)".
Since, in Matthew 28:1, the word "day" is not found in the original Greek New Testament manuscripts, it does not belong in any translation of the Bible.
The word "day" leads to confusion as to the actual meaning of this verse.
You must remove the word "day" from your thinking, for it does not belong in Matthew 28:1.
While, for the Hebrews, a new "day" WAS about to begin - a new "day" for the Hebrews begins...
In the original Greek, it is: "...as it began to DRAW-ON toward first of week".
This portion of the verse should read: "....as the Hebrew's Saturday Sabbath day was about to change from the last moment of the last day of an old week, onward to the first moment of the first day of an entirely new week, at sunset (dusk)".
Since, in Matthew 28:1, the word "day" is not found in the original Greek New Testament manuscripts, it does not belong in any translation of the Bible.
The word "day" leads to confusion as to the actual meaning of this verse.
You must remove the word "day" from your thinking, for it does not belong in Matthew 28:1.
While, for the Hebrews, a new "day" WAS about to begin - a new "day" for the Hebrews begins...
While, for the Hebrews, a new "day"
WAS about to begin - a new "day"
for the Hebrews begins...
WAS about to begin - a new "day"
for the Hebrews begins...
AT SUNSET (dusk)!
Always has! Always will!
Were you aware that it can DAWN at DUSK?
What a concept. Huh?
That since the Hebrew's days and dates begin and end at sundown (dusk), whenever a new day DAWNS for a Hebrew, were you aware that it happens at DUSK? Duh!
What a concept. Huh?
That since the Hebrew's days and dates begin and end at sundown (dusk), whenever a new day DAWNS for a Hebrew, were you aware that it happens at DUSK? Duh!
The modern, western world thinks of a new calendar day as beginning at midnight, or a new daytime period as beginning at "dawn" (sunrise).
But, the inference in Matthew 28:1 is the "dawning" (at DUSK) of a new week... the start... the very first minute. But NOT the (sunrise) "dawning" of a new daytime period.
The Hebrews of Jesus' day referred to the first part of a Sunday (the first minute), at sunset (dusk), as the first (the beginning) of a new week.
In the very beginning of Matthew 28:1 the sun had not yet set, while in the next portion of this verse the sun is actually setting and the day is changing from a Hebrew's Saturday to a Hebrew's Sunday, right AT sunset (dusk), as a new week had just begun to "dawn" (at DUSK).
In Jerusalem, by the sixth word of this verse, the time is established as 5:59 PM on a Hebrew's Saturday, and by the eighteenth word of this verse the time is established as 6:01 PM on a Hebrew's Sunday; assuming a 6:00 PM sunset (dusk). (Middle-Eastern Sundial Time)
Enough cannot be said about this matter of "dawn" meaning the start of a Hebrew's new week, at sunset (dusk), and the fact that the word "day" does not belong in this passage at all.
But, the inference in Matthew 28:1 is the "dawning" (at DUSK) of a new week... the start... the very first minute. But NOT the (sunrise) "dawning" of a new daytime period.
The Hebrews of Jesus' day referred to the first part of a Sunday (the first minute), at sunset (dusk), as the first (the beginning) of a new week.
In the very beginning of Matthew 28:1 the sun had not yet set, while in the next portion of this verse the sun is actually setting and the day is changing from a Hebrew's Saturday to a Hebrew's Sunday, right AT sunset (dusk), as a new week had just begun to "dawn" (at DUSK).
In Jerusalem, by the sixth word of this verse, the time is established as 5:59 PM on a Hebrew's Saturday, and by the eighteenth word of this verse the time is established as 6:01 PM on a Hebrew's Sunday; assuming a 6:00 PM sunset (dusk). (Middle-Eastern Sundial Time)
Enough cannot be said about this matter of "dawn" meaning the start of a Hebrew's new week, at sunset (dusk), and the fact that the word "day" does not belong in this passage at all.
Most people, including most Hebrews, know very little about the Hebrew's Holy Scriptures. Also, too many people know very little about the Christian Bible and, so, know nothing of the information about the resurrection of Christ Jesus detailed above.
Even many (most) genuine Christian believers do not fully understand the Hebrew orientation of the Holy Scriptures and never make the theological connection between the Judaism of Christ Jesus and its Christian applications.
Mankind's customs and traditions, even if pious and heartfelt, are not recognized by God as true worship: In Mark 7:6-7 and Matthew 15:7-9, Christ Jesus stated: "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites... in vain do they worship me... teaching as doctrines the traditions of men... thus making the word of God of none effect."
In the minds of those whom believe-in and practice the traditions of men, those man-made traditions and customs destroy the Authority of the Word Of God.
Even many (most) genuine Christian believers do not fully understand the Hebrew orientation of the Holy Scriptures and never make the theological connection between the Judaism of Christ Jesus and its Christian applications.
Mankind's customs and traditions, even if pious and heartfelt, are not recognized by God as true worship: In Mark 7:6-7 and Matthew 15:7-9, Christ Jesus stated: "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites... in vain do they worship me... teaching as doctrines the traditions of men... thus making the word of God of none effect."
In the minds of those whom believe-in and practice the traditions of men, those man-made traditions and customs destroy the Authority of the Word Of God.
There is always great danger of NOT understanding the Bible stories when one knows the Easter traditions and Christmas carols (folklore based upon Roman Catholic myths and fables) BETTER than one knows the Bible itself.
Because so many fables and misconceptions have been formed over the centuries, about the true meaning of this verse, the matter must be settled once and for all.
Because so many fables and misconceptions have been formed over the centuries, about the true meaning of this verse, the matter must be settled once and for all.
Christ Jesus rose from the dead on a Hebrew's Sunday, at SUNSET (dusk), just a moment after the end of a Hebrew's weekly Saturday Sabbath, NOT at sunrise!
Christ Jesus was Resurrected early on a Hebrew's Sunday, in CE 31.
On a Gregorian calendar date that we (today) would call April 28.
On the Hebrew date: 18 Nisan, 3791.
And, since Easter was on March 31, in that year, Christ Jesus was Resurrected 28 days AFTER Easter !
On the Hebrew date: 18 Nisan, 3791.
And, since Easter was on March 31, in that year, Christ Jesus was Resurrected 28 days AFTER Easter !
SOURCES
The above exposition was compiled from elements found in the following works:
For the words: Day, Dawn, End and Sabbath.
THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Gerhard Kittle, Vol. 1
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Arndt & Gingrich
TREASURES FROM THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: Kenneth S. Wuest
VINE'S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: Marvin R. Vincent
ROBERTSON'S WORD PICTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE: Greek Lexicon
THAYER'S NEW TESTAMENT GREEK LEXICON
THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY - MATTHEW: John F. MacArthur, Jr.
MATTHEW HENRY'S COMPLETE COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE
EXPOSITORY NOTES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: H.A. Ironside
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Charles C. Ryrie
THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY: Walvoord & Zuck, Vol. II
THE GOSPELS - MATTHEW: J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 35; Chs. 14-28
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: Reuben. A. Torrey
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: Arno C. Gaebelein
JOHN GILL'S EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE
THE INTERLINEAR BIBLE: GREEK - ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT: Jay P. Green
THE INTERLINEAR GREEK - ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT: George Ricker Berry
THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE: Jerome H. Smith, ed.
EXPANDED NEW TESTAMENT: Kenneth S. Wuest
THE ANNOTATED BIBLE: Arno C. Gaebelein
DAKE'S ANNOTATED REFERENCE BIBLE
THE DARBY BIBLE TRANSLATION
SCOFIELD STUDY BIBLE
THE WYCLIFFE BIBLE
THE TYNDALE BIBLE
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Arndt & Gingrich
TREASURES FROM THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: Kenneth S. Wuest
VINE'S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: Marvin R. Vincent
ROBERTSON'S WORD PICTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE: Greek Lexicon
THAYER'S NEW TESTAMENT GREEK LEXICON
THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY - MATTHEW: John F. MacArthur, Jr.
MATTHEW HENRY'S COMPLETE COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE
EXPOSITORY NOTES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: H.A. Ironside
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Charles C. Ryrie
THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY: Walvoord & Zuck, Vol. II
THE GOSPELS - MATTHEW: J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 35; Chs. 14-28
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: Reuben. A. Torrey
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: Arno C. Gaebelein
JOHN GILL'S EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE
THE INTERLINEAR BIBLE: GREEK - ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT: Jay P. Green
THE INTERLINEAR GREEK - ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT: George Ricker Berry
THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE: Jerome H. Smith, ed.
EXPANDED NEW TESTAMENT: Kenneth S. Wuest
THE ANNOTATED BIBLE: Arno C. Gaebelein
DAKE'S ANNOTATED REFERENCE BIBLE
THE DARBY BIBLE TRANSLATION
SCOFIELD STUDY BIBLE
THE WYCLIFFE BIBLE
THE TYNDALE BIBLE
