Lessons

The Sign of the Prophet Jonah. The lesson on January 7, 2007 was given by Leland Maples who was visiting and shared an update from his LOOPS Ministry. He also gave a lesson on Matthew 12:38-40 (KJV) “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 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: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.“ Some Christians debate whether or not the story of Jonah is real or was it an allegory that accomplished Gods purpose through a story. Some Christians would say the story was real but argue whether or not it was a whale that swallowed Jonah or just a big fish. Isn’t it interesting the Christ gave one sign to the nation of Israel and he used the story of Jonah in that He said it was representative of the resurrection. Could it be that Jonah died in the whales belly and God raised Jonah up when he was vomited back by the whale on the third day. It is evident when you read Jonah 2:1-10 that Jonah prayed out of the fishes belly… and in verse 2 he 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.” Didn’t the Lord go and preach to the angels in hell during the time before His resurrection? (1 Peter 3:18-19 “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: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”)