12/04/13

Cry from the pit (the sign of Jonah)

Lamentation 3:55, 56
I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon [pit]. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.


Some days back some people were discussing with me about Jonah, did he die? Did he go to hell as the Jews believe and was bought out from hell on the third day? Was the sign of Jonah the proof of Jesus' resurrection from hell?

First thing we need to know that man was cursed to hell by God when man sinned. Hell is not what the Catholic Church projects and what many Believers continue to believe. Hell is an endless pit that does not mean someone tried to measure it. Hell is just a place of complete solitude, it is a prison where even though many are and one can experience their presence yet one will not see or contact another. It is not a place of fire that burns people. Hell is a spirit place, the Hell fire is not outside but within. The (unforgiven) sins that one has committed while alive (naturally) is what burns in that soul when in hell. It is not a place where Satan and his goons rule but a place where the Angels of God are in control. Man was condemned to this place are he sinned to spend the rest of his spirit life there (which is about 3 thousand years). Man who does not believe in the Lord (and His Christ) goes there to until his spirit dies. You may ask how I knew a human spirit lives for 3 thousand years; simple firstly man is not God to have life eternally. Only God the Father and Son have the ability to live eternally. To live eternally man needs access to the Tree of Life which is in Heaven. Coming to the 3 thousand years there many proofs in the Bible for this, I will take up a few here.

Firstly if Jonah had gone to hell then how did he come back?

Jesus knew some of the Jews believed that Jonah had died and gone to hell and had returned back. That is why Jesus was very clear when He said like Jonah was for 3 days in the fish痴 belly (not hell) so would the evil and adulterous man who does not repent would be. When He said 3 days and 3 nights He meant 3 complete days. This did not mean 24 hours day but was symbolic since the word means period of time like Genesis 1 days. Remember Moses and the Prophets wrote the books before and the Jews fashioned their thinking and not the other way around.

Jesus was clear the sign of Jonah was for the evil and adulterous people and not to the ones who repent. He adds there that the people of Nineveh would rise and condemn these people on Judgement Day because they repented when the Word was given unto them.

We need to understand Jesus came in to the world at the right time. He came within 3000years from the Covenant made with Noah to fulfil it, and came before 3000years when the world ends so that all the souls who believe in Him are asleep are saved.

Jesus did not need 3 earth days to come back from hell for hell does not go by time factor as we do. Jesus' resurrection on the 3rd day was symbolic (not after 3 days but on the 3rd day, before it ended). It was a promise that He would come before the world ends to judge and save His people. That is why He said to those hearing and believing Him at that time that they would see His coming again and not see death (spirit death).

In the book of Daniel it is clearly written all prophecies would be fulfilled time, time and half. Jesus also said the end would not come until all prophecies were fulfilled.

If we read Jonah's prayer accurately he speaks about parts of his body. And that in the fish痴 belly the water (liquid) was over his head. That meant there was an air gap in the belly above the water (liquid).

By the sign of Jonah Jesus was telling them (the evil and spiritually adulterous people), that He would not save them. We also see in Revelation that hell (those souls who still are in hell at that time meaning all those after Jesus came as man and rejected Him) and those judged meaning those who believed in Jesus and not abided by God's Word, would be put in the Lake of Sulphur which is actually worse than Hell.

In today's message we see Jeremiah had an experience like Jonah and said he was suffering like he was in the lowest pit meaning hell when he was put in a dungeon all chained up. People try to picture Jeremiah put in a gutter like place. One should remember the place where Jeremiah was put and the time when he lived the place did not have any gutter system.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, this evil and adulterous world does not know the suffering they will go through when they leave this world. If only they knew like You put in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man they all would repent. But Lord, You have sent your messengers and they do not abide by the words of your messengers. You gave us your Word and they reject it or have manipulated with it to fool themselves only. Lord we pray your people receive your Word and repent. That they see Christ and realize what is expected of them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Jonah 2:1-9
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish痴 belly,
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Matthew 12:38-41
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale痴 belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matthew 16:28 - Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

John 8:51 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

1 Peter 3:18-22
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)