DAY
(A) Ordinarily the period of time that passes between two sunrises is called a day. But the Hebrews counted from one evening to the next (Gen. 1; Lev. 23:32; Ex. 12:18; Josephus, Wars 4:9, 12).
There are those who have thought that this custom perhaps came from the division of the year into lunar months that began with the appearance of the new moon. Consequently, the “civil” day was designated by the expression “evening and morning” or “a night and a day” (Dan. 8:14; 2 Cor. 11:25).
But, although the afternoon was the beginning of the new day, it was often counted with the day that preceded it. Thus, the evening beginning on the 15th day of Nisan is called “the fourteenth day… in the evening” (Ex. 12:18; cp. 2 Chron. 35:1).
The days of the week were numbered (cf. Mt. 28:1; Acts 20:7), but they lacked names, except for the 7th, which was called Saturday; The day before the Sabbath was called “the preparation” (Mark 15:42).
(B) The period of time from dawn to night (Gen. 1:5; 8:22). It was divided into morning, noon, and evening (Ps. 55:17; cp. Dan. 6:10). To designate the moments of the day, the expressions “sunrise, the heat of the day, the cool of the day, sunset”, and other similar terms were also used.
After the Exile, they began to use hours and divide the day, from sunrise to sunset, into 12 hours (Mt. 20:1-12; Jn. 11:9); the 6th hour corresponded to noon (John 4:6; Acts 10:9), and the 9th hour was that of prayer (Antiquities 14:4, 3; Acts 3:1).
(C) Any period in which an action or manner of being takes place (Zech. 12:3ff.), p. ex.:
“the day of conflict” (Ps. 20:2),
“the day of his wrath” (Jb. 20:20),
“the day of the Lord” (Isa. 2:12; 13:6);
In the NT, the “day of the Lord” means the second coming of Christ (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).
In the proper context it means an indefinite period, as Gen. 2:4; cp. No. 7:84, encompassing “twelve” literal days (Num. 7:12-83; etc.). (See TIME).
In relation to this, a division of times can also be made as follows:
(I) The days of the Law and the Prophets, which extend from the promulgation of the Law until the coming of the Messiah. “At the end of these days (God) has spoken to us in (His) Son of Him,” as Heb. should be read. 1:2; cp. margin Revision 1977. This introduced the Day of the Messiah. But he was rejected and his reign postponed. Meanwhile
(II) Intervenes the Day of Grace, during which the church is being called to Him. The Lord Jesus wrought redemption, ascended to heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit.
Of this time He stated: “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” (John 14:20; cp. also John 16:23, 26). The current period is designated as the “day of man” (1 Cor. 4:3, literal, rendered “human court”).
These are also the “last days” in which the sarcastic scoffers would come (2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18).
(III) The Day of the Messiah, when he returns in judgment and then to reign. “The day is coming” (Rom. 13:12; Heb. 10:25).
Among other names, it is also called “the great and terrible day” (Mal. 4:5). The kings of the earth will be gathered for the battle of the great day of Almighty God (Rev. 16:14). It is also called “the day of Jesus Christ” and “the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16; cp. 1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Cor. 1:14).