BY ELD. A. A. JOHN.
THE word “day” as used in the Scriptures denotes various periods of time of unequal duration. Some of the more important examples of its use will be noticed in this connection. And, simple as the subject may appear at first, there are weighty reasons for considering it.
We live in an age, (1) when science falsely so called is endeavoring to undermine the inspired record of the creation of the world, by teaching that the days of Genesis, chapter one, were vast, indefinite periods, amounting in the aggregate to many millions of years; (2) when loose, modern orthodoxy offers a compromise to the above by saying that those days were periods of one thousand years each; (3) when important prophecies are having a fulfillment, which to be comprehended necessitate an understanding of this subject; (4) when untiring efforts are being made to so pervert the Sabbatic institution that the day which God blessed and sanctified is set aside as unimportant by a large number, or only partially observed by some who adhere to the original institution; (5) and when a reformation is taking place on the observance of the Sabbath, so it becomes necessary to know when to commence and close the day in harmony with the teachings of God’s word.
While the greater part of the Bible is written in plain, simple language, which is to be understood literally, there are portions which are symbolical or figurative. There are but few books that do not contain such examples of the use of words. And the only safe rule of interpretation, in all cases, is to consider a word in connection with the context. The Scriptures are noted for clearness in defining and explaining the figures and symbols which are found in them. In many cases, this fact alone has been the charm which has led many persons to ponder the word of God and thus become truly wise.
It has been intimated that the word “day” has various meanings, therefore some of its definitions are given from Webster as follows: “1. The interval between one night and the next, etc.; 2. The period of the earth’s revolution on its axis,—ordinarily divided into twenty-four hours, etc.; 3. A specified time or period, etc.”
The word is first used in Genesis, chapters one and two, in connection with the work of creation. There is nothing in the text or context from which an inference even can be drawn that these days were periods of millions of years. “The evening and the morning were the first day,” etc., is the simple statement in the record, and it is repeated after each day’s work. On the fourth day, the sun, moon, and stars appeared, the sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night, “and the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” By this, we see that the days of the week of creation were periods of darkness and light caused by the revolution of the earth, and, as the sun and moon were their rulers, the days must have been periods of simply twenty-four hours’ duration. The connection will admit of no other interpretation. This is in harmony with the fourth commandment. Ex. 20:8-11. It will be seen that this position is equally opposed to the theory which would have the days of creation’s week each one thousand years. We offer one more argument to show the unreasonableness of making these days longer than twenty-four hours. Adam was created on the sixth day, and lived over the seventh, and many years more. Now if the days of creation were periods of one thousand years each, as Adam was created on the sixth day, and lived over and beyond the seventh day, he would have been considerably more than a thousand years old,—perhaps fifteen hundred years old,—yet the sacred writer shows the weakness and error of those who try to demonstrate such a theory by saying, “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.” Gen. 5:5. By this, we see that these days were not thousand-year periods, but, as they were made up of evening (darkness) and morning (light), caused by the revolution of the earth, the conclusion is inevitable that they were twenty-four hour periods the same as our natural day.
OTHER EXAMPLES.
In dividing the natural day, we call the darkness night and the light day. Gen. 1:5. It was to this division that the Saviour had reference when He said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day ?” John 11:9.
It is used figuratively in 1 Thess. 5:5-8, etc., to represent the condition of the people of God who are living up to all the light which the Lord permits to shine upon their pathway, and who are looking for the personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are preparing for that glorious event. In Ps. 90:4, and 2 Pet. 3:8, 10, it is used to show that time is as nothing with the great Creator, and also to represent the “day of the Lord,” the period when God’s judgments are being visited upon a sin-cursed world.
The word is used symbolically in Num. 14:34, and Eze. 4:6. When so used, as the texts declare, examples of which might be given from different prophecies, it means a year. In all the examples given, the context makes clear the meaning of the text, and restricts it to that meaning alone. How unfair, then, for men to say that the days of creation were millions or thousands of years, or years, just because a day when used symbolically signifies a year, etc.
THE TIME TO BEGIN THE NATURAL DAY. Most all of the nations begin the day at midnight. The Babylonians began the day at sun-rising; the Jews, God’s ancient people, and the ones to whom and through whom he revealed His will, “and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever,” began the day at sun-setting. This is in harmony with the plain teaching of the Scriptures. The following, from “Scripture References,” is worthy of careful examination.
“Every twenty-four hour day begins with the evening. Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; Lev. 23: 32; Neh. 13:19.
“The evening begins with the setting of the sun. Lev. 22:6, 7; Judg. 14:12, 18; Josh. 8:29; 10:26, 27.
“Christ healed the sick at even, or sun-set. Matt. 8:16, with Luke 4:40; Mark 1:32.
“The days of creation were natural days. God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, and commands us to keep it Holy as a memorial of His creative power. It is folly for any one to try to set it aside. The Saviour said it was made for man.” (Mark 2:27), i. e., for mankind. Nothing could be more becoming to Protestants, and Catholics also, than to turn from the traditions of the church of Rome and observe God’s commandments, and the holy rest day of His appointing—the Sabbath or Lord’s day, Saturday.
The Present Truth Vol. 1 Num. 4 August 1884