The Sign Of Jonah

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#21
There are two schools of though about Jesus' death.

One is that the Passover mentioned is an annual Passover, so that he was crucified on a Wednesday, and hence spent three days in the tomb.

The other is that he was crucified on a Friday.

Which is correct? In which year was Our Lord actually put to death?
Does it matter?
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
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#22
decree issued
About the decree, it was 49 years. There were four decrees...

Cyrus issued a decree in 538BC (II Chron 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-4)

Darius issued a decree in 520BC (Ezra 6:1, 6-12)

Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457BC (Ezra 7:12-26)

Artaxerxes Longimanus in 444BC (Neh 2:1-8)

Four decrees, which one is the one to count from?

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks,
and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall,
even in troublous times.

There will be 7 weeks plus 62 weeks = 69 weeks. That is 483 years (Num 14:34 and Ezek 4:6).

So let's add 483 years to each decree and see what works out...


1st decree: 538BC + 483 years = 55BC. This doesn't work because Christ would
not be born for another 51 years.

2nd decree: 520BC + 483 years = 37BC. Again, no good, Christ's birth
is still 33 years in the future.

3rd decree: 457BC + 483 years = 27AD. Christ's formal, 3-1/2 year ministry
began in 27AD culminating in His crucifixion in 31AD. We have a winner.

4th decree: 444BC + 483 years = 40AD. Christ's death, burial and resurrection was
9 years in the past and the destruction of the Temple was ~30 years in the future. No dice.

So, the decree in 457BC brings us to 27AD for the beginning of the ministry of Christ,
the first 3-1/2 years exactly as the prophecy in Dan 9 predicts.

There will be 7 weeks plus 62 weeks = 69 weeks.
That is 483 years (Num 14:34 and Ezek 4:6).

Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457BC (Ezra 7:12-26)
in 457BC brings us to 27AD for the beginning of the ministry of Christ,
the first 3-1/2 years exactly as the prophecy in Dan 9 predicts.

decree: 457BC + 483 years = 27AD.

Christ's formal, 3-1/2 year ministry began in 27AD culminating in His crucifixion in 31AD.
 

prove-all

Senior Member
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#23
7 years
The second coming is in actuality a continuation of the first.

Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.
And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me
to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luk 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

He stop reading just there, close the book, and sit down?

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And here is where He stopped reading in mid sentence.
Now the passage He quoted continues...

and [the day of vengeance] of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty
for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified.

Isa 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations,
and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall
be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers
of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their
portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

He came the first time to complete Isa 61:1-2 but not all of verse 2.
When He returns, He will complete verse 2 and forward through verse 7.
 

oldhermit

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#24
I like your statement on historical time line, I've always wondered what's up with the time line, what I mean is the time between 1BC and 1AD. I assume these means Before Christ and After Death well that's what I've seen it to be meaning,, kind of complexing to me.. lol..
For some reason I think of something like 33 years or so in between those time lines.. Not sure how to look at that,, If I may ask, what are your thoughts on stuff like that..
Since this three year gap exists in the time-line, we do not know whether Jesus died in AD 30 or AD 33. There may however be a way to satisfy this time-line, at least in our own minds. We know from 1Cor 15:23 that Jesus is the first-fruit. The first fruit offering following the Passover (14th of Abib) was to be offered on the 16th of Abib, three days later. We know that Jesus rose on the first day of the week as the first fruit. This means that the 16th of Abib of that year fell on a Sunday. If we could calculate what year it would have to be for the 16th to fall on a Sunday, we could then know what year Jesus actually died. The problem with this is that we do not have a reliable point of reference since we would have to work backward in time beginning from the present.
 

oldhermit

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#25
If Jesus were in the grave only from late Friday afternoon to sometime before dawn
on Sunday morning, then the only sign He gave that He was the prophesied Messiah
was not fulfilled. The claim of His messiahship rests on the fulfillment of His words

Each of the Gospel writers gives an account of the events, but each presents different
aspects that we need to correctly synchronize and harmonize to produce a clear sequence
and understanding of what happened.

The Bible does not contradict itself (Psalm:119:160; John:10:35), that not one
of the Gospel accounts contradicts what the other Gospels reveal.
Or it could simply mean that you are not understanding Jesus' own use of language.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#26
If Jesus were in the grave only from late Friday afternoon to sometime before dawn
on Sunday morning, then the only sign He gave that He was the prophesied Messiah
was not fulfilled. The claim of His messiahship rests on the fulfillment of His words

Each of the Gospel writers gives an account of the events, but each presents different
aspects that we need to correctly synchronize and harmonize to produce a clear sequence
and understanding of what happened.

The Bible does not contradict itself (Psalm:119:160; John:10:35), that not one
of the Gospel accounts contradicts what the other Gospels reveal.
In your opinion would these verses give any insight of a time frame

. Jesus was probably crucified on a Friday (Mark 15:42). According to the standard reckoning, Jesus died at about 3:00 PM (Matthew 27:46) on Friday (day 1). He remained dead for all of Saturday (day 2) and rose from the dead early on Sunday morning (day 3). once we take into account the Hebrew method of reckoning of each day as beginning at sundown. So it seems that the expression “three days and three nights” was used as a figure of speech meant to signify any part of three days.

The phrase “sign of Jonah” was used by Jesus as a typological metaphor for His future crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Jesus answered with this expression when asked by the Pharisees for miraculous proof the He was indeed the Messiah. The Pharisees remained unconvinced of Jesus’ claims about Himself, despite His having just cured a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. Shortly after the Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Satan, they said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:38–41).

To fully appreciate the answer that Jesus gave, the Old Testament book of Jonah. In its first chapter, reads that God commanded the prophet Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and warn its people that He was going to destroy it for its wickedness. Jonah disobediently ran from the Lord and headed for the city of Tarshish by boat. The Lord then sent a severe storm that caused the crew of the ship to fear for their lives. Jonah was soon thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish where he remained for “three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:15–17). After the three-day period, the Lord caused the great fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land (Jonah 2:10).
IMO It is this three days that Jesus was referring to when He spoke of the sign of Jonah. Jesus had already been producing miracles that were witnessed by many. Jesus had just performed a great sign in the Pharisees’ presence by healing a deaf man who was possessed of a demon. Rather than believe, they accused Jesus of doing this by the power of Satan. Jesus recognized their hardness of heart and refused to give them further proof of His identity. However, He did say that there would be one further sign forthcoming, His resurrection from the dead. would this be their final opportunity to be convinced??
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#28
Since this three year gap exists in the time-line, we do not know whether Jesus died in AD 30 or AD 33. There may however be a way to satisfy this time-line, at least in our own minds. We know from 1Cor 15:23 that Jesus is the first-fruit. The first fruit offering following the Passover (14th of Abib) was to be offered on the 16th of Abib, three days later. We know that Jesus rose on the first day of the week as the first fruit. This means that the 16th of Abib of that year fell on a Sunday. If we could calculate what year it would have to be for the 16th to fall on a Sunday, we could then know what year Jesus actually died. The problem with this is that we do not have a reliable point of reference since we would have to work backward in time beginning from the present.
Yea not doubt not a easy thing to say for sure 100% it was on this day or that day or years etc..
How today's calander is made and all could that even be done using a modern calander marching backwards to a time past.

It seems logical the reliablity of working it backwards probably would be flawed do to changes of dates and methods used from that time in the past to present..
 
Dec 13, 2016
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#29
The Gospel accounts indicate that Jesus was crucified on the Friday, died near sundown, was buried on the Sabbath, and rose sometime near dawn as Sabbath rolled over into Sunday.

I've heard arguments about an annual Passover - but they look a bit lame to me. If someone has a really convincing argument, let's see it....
 

oldhermit

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Jul 28, 2012
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#30
Yea not doubt not a easy thing to say for sure 100% it was on this day or that day or years etc..
How today's calander is made and all could that even be done using a modern calander marching backwards to a time past.

It seems logical the reliablity of working it backwards probably would be flawed do to changes of dates and methods used from that time in the past to present..
Yes, it could easilly be done. I know this type of thing has been done before for other reasons. Since there is only a three year gap we could certainly narrow down the playing field.
 

prove-all

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May 16, 2014
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#31
God accepts the lambs blood

Leviticus 23 explains all of God’s festivals proclaimed holy convocations,
Beginning verse 9, we find instructions for the wave-sheaf offering.

The Israelites were not allowed to harvest any of the early grain crop until this day.
Then, on the day following the weekly Sabbath, in a solemn ceremony of
the Levitical priesthood,The sheaf was then brought to the priest.

The priest solemnly waved it before the Eternal to be accepted for them.
This event always occurred during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

This pictures the resurrected Christ ascending to heaven to be accepted by
His Father as the very first human to be actually born of God

-the firstfruit of the first harvest of souls!

By comparing John 20:17 with Matthew 28:9, you will see that Christ presented
Himself before the Father on the morning after His resurrection the previous evening
(1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18).

This fulfillment of the wavesheaf offering actually occurred on Sunday,
the morrow after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
this does not mean we are to worship on sundays.


-

The word Pentecost is a Greek word, used in the New Testament, but not in the Old.
It signifies “fiftieth (day). Old Testament this feast is called “feast of firstfruits,”
and “feast of weeks.”

Pentecost pictures the first part of the spiritual harvest— the calling out of the Church
the called-out ones—which, for the New Testament dispensation, began on Pentecost,

On that day the Holy Spirit came to dwell within flesh, as prophesied by Joel.

On the 50th day (Pentecost) in Old Testament times, two “wave loaves” (Leviticus 23:17, 20)
were brought out of the habitations of the congregation as the firstfruits unto the Lord.
 
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oldhermit

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#32
The Gospel accounts indicate that Jesus was crucified on the Friday, died near sundown, was buried on the Sabbath, and rose sometime near dawn as Sabbath rolled over into Sunday.

I've heard arguments about an annual Passover - but they look a bit lame to me. If someone has a really convincing argument, let's see it....
It was imperative that Jesus die on the Passover Day since he is our Passover sacrifice. He died on Friday at Passover and rose on Sunday.
 

prove-all

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#33
In the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel, the 25th verse of this prophecy,
it is stated that this hierarchy shall “think to change times and laws.”
Students of prophecy recognize this “little horn” as a great religious hierarchy.

Out of the original Roman Empire, symbolized by 10 “horns” growing out of the head
of a “beast,” are pictured the 10 resurrections of the Roman Empire that have continued
since its fall to the present, and are scheduled to continue until the coming of Christ.

How Time Was Changed

This same power is mentioned again in the 17th chapter of Revelation, here pictured
as ruling over the kings and kingdoms of the Earth, persecuting the true saints.

In every possible manner, this power has changed time!

God begins the days at sunset, but “the little horn” has changed it so the world
now begins the day in the middle of the night by a man-made watch.

God begins the week with the ending of the true Sabbath, the seventh day of the week,
but the world begins the working week in the middle of the night, the second day of the week.

God begins the months with the new moons, but this “little horn” has induced the world
to begin the months according to a clumsy man-made calendar of heathen origin.

God begins the year in the early spring, when new life is budding in nature everywhere,
but ancient heathen Rome caused the world to begin the year in the middle of dead winter.

God gave His children a true rest day, designed to keep them continually in the knowledge
and true worship of the true God—a memorial of God’s creation—the seventh day of the week.

But the “little horn” has fastened upon a deluded world the observance of the days
on which the pagans worshipped the sun, the first day of the week, called Sunday.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#34
Yes, it could easilly be done. I know this type of thing has been done before for other reasons. Since there is only a three year gap we could certainly narrow down the playing field.
That would be interesting to see someone compile such a time line backward, as for me personally I wouldn't be a good candidate to lead such a charge...I'm not that all good with calculating such things lol..
 

oldhermit

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Jul 28, 2012
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#35
That would be interesting to see someone compile such a time line backward, as for me personally I wouldn't be a good candidate to lead such a charge...I'm not that all good with calculating such things lol..
LOL. Me either.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#36
In the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel, the 25th verse of this prophecy,
it is stated that this hierarchy shall “think to change times and laws.”
Students of prophecy recognize this “little horn” as a great religious hierarchy.

Out of the original Roman Empire, symbolized by 10 “horns” growing out of the head
of a “beast,” are pictured the 10 resurrections of the Roman Empire that have continued
since its fall to the present, and are scheduled to continue until the coming of Christ.

How Time Was Changed

This same power is mentioned again in the 17th chapter of Revelation, here pictured
as ruling over the kings and kingdoms of the Earth, persecuting the true saints.

In every possible manner, this power has changed time!

God begins the days at sunset, but “the little horn” has changed it so the world
now begins the day in the middle of the night by a man-made watch.

God begins the week with the ending of the true Sabbath, the seventh day of the week,
but the world begins the working week in the middle of the night, the second day of the week.

God begins the months with the new moons, but this “little horn” has induced the world
to begin the months according to a clumsy man-made calendar of heathen origin.

God begins the year in the early spring, when new life is budding in nature everywhere,
but ancient heathen Rome caused the world to begin the year in the middle of dead winter.

God gave His children a true rest day, designed to keep them continually in the knowledge
and true worship of the true God—a memorial of God’s creation—the seventh day of the week.

But the “little horn” has fastened upon a deluded world the observance of the days
on which the pagans worshipped the sun, the first day of the week, called Sunday.
huh interesting those Romans sure did change time lines lol.. I've read where they use to go by a ten month calandar year than some astrologers of Rome basically told this to cesear about lining up the seasons with 12 months something like that...
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
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#37
The Gospel accounts indicate that Jesus was crucified on the Friday, died near sundown, was buried on the Sabbath, and rose sometime near dawn as Sabbath rolled over into Sunday.

I've heard arguments about an annual Passover - but they look a bit lame to me. If someone has a really convincing argument, let's see it....
can you tell us why

Mark 16:1 says Mary Magdalene and her companions bought spices
“when the sabbath was past.”


Yet Luke 23:56 says they prepared these spices and then rested on
the weekly Sabbath day. ?
 

oldhermit

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#38
It is as simple as this. Mark shows us that Jesus was buried on the evening just before the Sabbath. He spent the following day which was the Sabbath in the tomb and on the day after the Sabbath which was the first day of the week - Sunday, the women come to anoint the body but he is already gone. Why is the next day after this Sabbath called the first day of the week if this Sabbath was not the weekly Sabbath? I do not care how one may wish to manipulate the days or attempt to separate the Sabbath from the high Sabbath, there is simply no way one can get 72 hours in to Mark's account of Jesus death. No matter which gospel account one appeals to, there is no account that has Jesus in the grave for three days and three nights.
 
Dec 13, 2016
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#39
I have studied the 3 days and 3 nights, but not much. A plain reading of the text tells us Jesus only spent 1 day and night in the grave.

Also the Priests stuck a guard for 3 days and nights, and that also contradicts the idea of Jesus spending 72 hours in the grave.

I understand the 3 days and 3 nights to be part literal, part figurative.

1 day literal,

2 days figurative.

the 2 days figurative = 2000 years.

Luke 13:32
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.


i.e. 2000 years of the Church.

Like this, Matthew 24 is much easier to understand.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
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#40
I have studied the 3 days and 3 nights. A plain reading of the text tells us Jesus only spent 1 day and night in the grave.

Also the Priests stuck a guard for 3 days and nights, and that also contradicts the idea of Jesus spending 72 hours in the grave.

I understand the 3 days and 3 nights to be part literal, part figurative.

1 day literal,

2 days figurative.

the 2 days figurative = 2000 years.

Luke 13:32
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.


i.e. 2000 years of the Church.

Like this, Matthew 24 is much easier to understand.
No, none if it is figurative. It is all quite literal as it relates to time. The disconnect lies in our misapplication of the term "In the heart of the earth." Let me challenge you to do something. Search the scriptures and see of you can find any passage of scripture that says that Jesus would be in the tomb, or in the grave for three days and three nights.