Jesus prophesied and clarified that Jonah's experience in the belly of the great fish had similarities to what was going to happen to Him in the heart of the earth.
For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. (Matthew 12:40 NET)
The heart of the earth was none other than the center of the earth, the supposed location of hades. Jonah 2 tells us some things Jonah did in the belly of that great fish. Jonah was conscious, in torments, and he prayed for deliverance from the belly of the great fish. Note that the belly of the great fish was not the grave just like hades was not the grave. That alone should clear up all the foolishness some believe when they say that hades, like sheol (in Hebrew), only meant the grave. The belly of the great fish was no more the physical tomb for Jonah than the heart of the earth was for Jesus.
Jesus died the deaths and went to the hell of torment, agony, and fire in our place, so that all who will receive His sacrifice and live for Him will be delivered from that awful eternity. I am a believer and follower of Jesus, so when I die, I will miss hell and gain heaven! The same can be said of ALL that will trust in Jesus and in His awesome sacrifice. I hope you are one of His! If not, you can be one of His right now. How?
First acknowledge your sinful condition:
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Then repent:
“Repent {change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah} and be baptized, each of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:34 Amplified)
Then believe that God raised Jesus from the dead to justify YOU, and confess with your mouth (out loud), from your heart, that He is your Lord and Savior:
“Because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord {recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God}, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes {in Christ as Savior} resulting in his justification {that is being made righteous- being freed from guilt of sin and made acceptable to God}, resulting in and confirming {his} salvation.” (Romans 10:9, 10 Amp.)
I’ll leave the importance of baptism in water and consistent instruction for living in God to a good local church and pastor. By “good” I mean an anointed, Word-abiding, Spirit- filled, tongue-talking and praying, healing-ministering, faith-filled church. Don’t waste your time going to a dead, weak, spineless, and gutless church that preaches people out of their inheritance in Christ! Find a powerhouse in Christ Jesus! I would NEVER go to a church that does not believe in winning people to the Lord Jesus, that does not pray for the sick for healing, that does not cast out demons, that does not minister to people the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues, and that preaches sermonettes instead of the unadulterated Word of the living God!
Want more? Listen in and be blessed with this podcast.
__________________
If you have not done so, please study the previous podcasts to get a clearer understanding of this life-changing teaching. That way you get it in context.
Download the free book that was the basis for most of this study, “The Story of our Great Redemption: Beyond Human Imagination!” That's the link to get the free 194-page book. I've published five different versions on this subject since 1977. The latest 2013 version in Spanish, “Tres Días y Tres Noches en el Corazón de la Tierra” is 290 pages long. Obviously, the Lord taught me a few more things from His Word. That is the most complete version I have published. In its pages are many of the extra things I brought out in these podcasts that were not in previous versions. Get the free "Tres Días..." PDF here. Glory to God!
Comments (0)
To leave or reply to comments, please download free Podbean or
No Comments
To leave or reply to comments,
please download free Podbean App.