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The Bible Confirms the Sunset Theory

1. Sunset Theory in the Creation Account

Genesis 1 demonstrates that the earth was covered in darkness (night) before light was created. This implies that a day begins with the evening (night) and transitions to the morning (day).

Common Translation of Genesis 1:2–5
"The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness He called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."

2. God Established Lunar-Based Dates

Biblically, God set the Jewish calendar based on the moon, not the sun. The moon revolves on a 29.5-day cycle, with the "New Moon" marking the start of the month. Thus, the beginning of a day aligns with the evening when the moon becomes visible.

Exodus 12:2
"This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year."

Numbers 28:11
"On the first day of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect."

3. Scriptural References to "Night and Day"

In the Bible, a day is often referred to as "night and day," not "day and night," affirming the sunset-based reckoning.

1 Samuel 30:12
"He had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights."

Job 2:13
"They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights."

4. Sunset Theory and the Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement, observed on the 10th day of the 7th month, begins at sunset on the 9th day and ends at sunset on the 10th day, confirming the biblical view of a day.

Leviticus 23:27, 32
"The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement... It is a day of Sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath."

5. Messianic Perspective

The Bible foretells the Messiah as light emerging from darkness to save Israel, illustrating a transition from darkness to light. This symbolism further supports the evening-to-evening understanding of a day.

6. Primitive Time Concepts

3,500 years ago, ancient Jewish concepts of time were less precise than today. They used simple terms such as "last night" (אמש), "tonight" (הַלַּיְלָה), and "evening" (עֶרֶב) to express temporal ideas. These terms reflect a sunset-based time reckoning rather than a sunrise-based system.

7. The Passover Lamb and Sunset Timing

Critics argue that "the evening of the 14th day" in Exodus 12 refers to the 15th day under a sunset reckoning. However, the Hebrew term ben ha’arbayim (בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם), meaning "between the evenings," refers to the period between 3 PM and sunset (approximately 6 PM). Thus, slaughtering the lamb during daylight hours still aligns with the 14th day under a sunset-based day.

8. The Sunset Theory and Jesus’ Resurrection

The Jewish sunset-based day spans from evening to evening, while the sunrise-based theory spans from morning to morning. Jesus died on Friday at 3 PM and rose early Sunday morning. Using the sunset-based reckoning, His resurrection aligns with the prophesied "three days." In contrast, the sunrise theory reduces this to "two days," discrediting the significance of the third day in the resurrection account.

Conclusion
The sunset theory aligns with biblical teaching and the timing of Jesus' death and resurrection. The sunrise theory contradicts these timelines, misrepresenting biblical truth.