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Y
So many interesting replies, but yes, I do have a witness in mind. Allow me to start with; In the New Testament, the first fish Jesus spoke/speaks of, is the fulfillment of the words of Old Testament prophets. This is personally about what takes place on both ends of a fishing pole. Generally, it is acceptable to christians to say the words; "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Without considering what takes place below (in the sea), on the other end of the fishing pole, what is spoken remains hidden. In the Old Testament there are several references like, "Ask a fish" "I will teach men to fish them out" "God, why do You make men like fish of the sea; like creatures who wander as if they have no ruler over them?" If a person desires to understand who he is or why he is that way on God's sight, that person will examine these things on a personal level. Yes, there is more. I'm looking for someone who is interested.
D
Heres a few that could be shown I suppose.
He says in Jeremiah...
Jerm 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jerm 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
So after the fleeing the commission of the word of the LORD the first time the word of the Lord came again to Jonah
Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jona 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
And again...
Jerm 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
As the LORD hath said, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
Ezek 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Ezek 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Luke 11:29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
Luke 11:30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Ezek 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
Paul had said, "Woe to me, if I preach not the gospel"
And likewise said in accord with the watchman
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Like when his blood is required at the watchman's hand (in not warning) Paul being pure from the blood of all men is comparable to his warning them.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Its almost as if not being able to believe in the resurrection even given the sign (and only sign) would be in the fish (or earth) or as dead and buried but not raised up again. Since the they preached the Christs death (burial) and resurrection, and Christ also would be a sign that would be spoken against.
There was a couple of things that strike me with Jonah but also with Simon the son of Jonah too though, I cant shake the two incidents although seemingly unrelated. The men on the ship cast Jonah into the sea and elsewhere Simon son of Jonah cast himself in the sea, there are a couple of others and I haven't found anything significant linking the two, these all being the sons of the prophets (so to speak) I was just always curious about why that is in there like that. Looking at the first time with Jonah (who was cast into the sea) come forth again, then coming a second time to Jonah (who preached to Nineveh) and Jesus appearing a third time (when Simon) son of Jonah cast himself into the sea. Yet it was by Simons mouth that the Gentiles would hear the gospel. I was curious about these and a couple of things, which all sort of tie in moreso.
I didnt think you were serious, is why I didnt start posting, I thought you were looking for jokes.
He says in Jeremiah...
Jerm 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jerm 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
So after the fleeing the commission of the word of the LORD the first time the word of the Lord came again to Jonah
Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jona 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
And again...
Jerm 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
As the LORD hath said, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
Ezek 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Ezek 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Luke 11:29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
Luke 11:30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Ezek 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
Paul had said, "Woe to me, if I preach not the gospel"
And likewise said in accord with the watchman
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Like when his blood is required at the watchman's hand (in not warning) Paul being pure from the blood of all men is comparable to his warning them.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Its almost as if not being able to believe in the resurrection even given the sign (and only sign) would be in the fish (or earth) or as dead and buried but not raised up again. Since the they preached the Christs death (burial) and resurrection, and Christ also would be a sign that would be spoken against.
There was a couple of things that strike me with Jonah but also with Simon the son of Jonah too though, I cant shake the two incidents although seemingly unrelated. The men on the ship cast Jonah into the sea and elsewhere Simon son of Jonah cast himself in the sea, there are a couple of others and I haven't found anything significant linking the two, these all being the sons of the prophets (so to speak) I was just always curious about why that is in there like that. Looking at the first time with Jonah (who was cast into the sea) come forth again, then coming a second time to Jonah (who preached to Nineveh) and Jesus appearing a third time (when Simon) son of Jonah cast himself into the sea. Yet it was by Simons mouth that the Gentiles would hear the gospel. I was curious about these and a couple of things, which all sort of tie in moreso.
I didnt think you were serious, is why I didnt start posting, I thought you were looking for jokes.
Y
The reason for the fishermen is to REMOVE those who live according to the things that seem natural to a person, by using the Word of God (the hook). It is said you needed to die away from that way of life. Maybe you have heard the expression; "The old man is dead, and lives anew apart from the things which seem natural (sin). When a fisherman catches a fish, what happens to that fish? Remember, you need to follow through with the being tried by fire; only then do you become food for God's people. Only then does a person find him or herself on the other end of the fishing pole...,remember Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men" That cannot take place if you remain on the other end of the fishing pole (the sea). There is purpose in knowing who we are/were. Does this help? Or do you still see yourself as one who is being sought after by one who is taught to be a fisher of men? I have a saying, I don't much care for camping in the snow, but I love fishing in the streets. Sometimes that helps a person to see that the christian fish is about people, not a trinket, or two lines drawn in the sand by those who are afraid to say His name.
Y
No, I wasn't looking for jokes. Jeremiah 16;16. You have brought to light interesting parallels. Simon, son of Jonah. Is it possible that when Jesus said, "The only sign given to this wicked generation is the sign of Jonah" that He was speaking to all of us who look for signs? Jonah was commanded to give witness to the people of Nineveh; but he saw 'those people' as being sinful and not acceptable to be saved. Does this sound familiar on a personal level when the words are spoken, "See what evil there is in the world, surely the end times are near!" Jonah became what he hated, "One who wanders as if he has no God over him."
The prophet Habakkuk spoke those words about nature of a man being like fish of the sea. That nature, which Jonah was suppose to have dominion over, consumed Jonah. No, not a play on words, this is what actually took place. Creation (according to each kind) is meant to teach us who we are and why we are that way in God's sight. Yes, I know there is more concerning the things you spoke of; but my direction is more about what would a fish say if it could speak. What I am leading up to has to do with what comes out of the mouth. It is hidden from the ways of the world. One more step; do you see a memorial as something that gives witness of things that have already taken place?
The prophet Habakkuk spoke those words about nature of a man being like fish of the sea. That nature, which Jonah was suppose to have dominion over, consumed Jonah. No, not a play on words, this is what actually took place. Creation (according to each kind) is meant to teach us who we are and why we are that way in God's sight. Yes, I know there is more concerning the things you spoke of; but my direction is more about what would a fish say if it could speak. What I am leading up to has to do with what comes out of the mouth. It is hidden from the ways of the world. One more step; do you see a memorial as something that gives witness of things that have already taken place?
Y
Those who have heard the calling, have repented and follow in the teaching of Jesus, become a witness of the things God has just done (a living memorial) by His own hand. Moses spoke this law concerning the calling of "strangers" to come and be counted in the census of God's people. Afterward, they are to give a half shekel according to the (whole) shekel of the sanctuary as a memorial (a witness) of the things God had just done by His own hand. In the New Testament Jesus asked Peter, "Simon, who pays the temple (gives tribute) tax, sons or strangers?" Peter answered correctly, "Strangers." Jesus said, then sons are free; go down to the water and lower a hook (word of God calling) and take the first fish that comes up. Take the coin from its mouth and give it (a tribute that comes from the mouth) to the temple priest for Me and for you (the coin of two parts)." The time when you heard the calling of the word of God, repented and followed in the teaching of Jesus, you gave a testimony of the things God had just done by His own hand. Jesus reveals this isn't about money that comes from the pocket; it is a memorial that speaks of what is required (a tax, a tribute). A person does not do this because law says to. A person does this because it is in his or her heart to speak of these things. Jesus uses the teaching of the fish spoken of by the prophets; Of the things a fish (a man) will say when drawn from that 'place' by the word of God. This is the answer to my question; If a fish could speak, what would it say? However, all things spiritual are revealed (spoken of) by the image of things we see and hear, so the tradition which speaks of these things must not be ignored; So Jesus also said, "Lest we offend them (temple priests who keep the law by the works of tradition), go down to the sea, lower a hook, take the first fish that comes up, take the coin form its mouth and give it to the temple priests for Me (half a coin) and you (half a coin). One cannot be seen without the other. This is the work (key) of parable language. The things we see at first, we believed to be the true; but these are merely the image of the true. All law and words of the prophets fall under the work of this key that opens understanding. The veteran's memorial is a witness, a testimony of those who gave their lives. But, I suppose a person could speculate why they gave their lives. I am a vet who has given witness of the tragic death of some of those men. I believe the law concerning strangers being called by the word of God, and the fulfillment of that law revealed by the lives of Jesus and Peter, speaks of the purpose of that law in both carnal and spiritual terms.