Question of the Week...

[HisDaughter]

Question: "Who was Cain's wife? Was Cain's wife his sister?"

Answer: The Bible does not specifically say who Cain’s wife was. The only possible answer was that Cain's wife was his sister or niece or great-niece, etc. The Bible does not say how old Cain was when he killed Abel (Genesis 4:8. Since they were both farmers, they were likely both full-grown adults, possibly with families of their own. Adam and Eve had surely had more children than just Cain and Abel at the time Abel was killed - they definitely had many more children later (Genesis 5:4). The fact that Cain was scared for his own life after he killed Abel (Genesis 4:14) indicates that there were likely many other children and perhaps even grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Adam and Eve at that time. Cain's wife (Genesis 4:17) was a daughter or granddaughter of Adam and Eve.

Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) human beings, their children would have no other choice than to intermarry. God did not forbid inter-family marriage until much later when there was enough people that intermarriage was not necessary (Leviticus 18:6-18). The reason that incest often results in genetic abnormalities in children is that when two people of similar genetics (i.e. a brother and sister) have children – genetic defects are far more likely to result because both parents had the same defects themselves. When people from different families have children – it is highly unlikely that both parents will have the same genetic defects. The human genetic code has become increasingly “polluted” over the centuries as genetic defects are multiplied, amplified, and passed down from generation to generation. Adam and Eve did not have any genetic defects, so that enabled them and the first few generations of their descendants to have a far greater quality of health than we do now. Adam and Eve’s children had few, if any, genetic defects. As a result, it was safe for them to intermarry. It may seem strange or even disgusting to think of Cain's wife being his sister. In the beginning, since God started with one man and one woman, the second generation would have no choice but to intermarry amongst themselves.

[HisDaughter]

Bible Study for Muslims
Christmas Story - Day 1

Bible Study: The Birth of Jesus

Introduction:

Christmas has become a commercial holiday in many countries, celebrated with lights and banquets and gifts. But the true Christmas story is far more exciting – worth celebrating in every home!

The Bible tells the story. As a Muslim, you may wonder if you can trust the Bible. But the Qur’an says the Bible is mankind’s guide (Surah 3:3). Read the true Christmas story:

“Now the birth of [Isa] Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:18-23).

Christmas celebrates the unique birth of Jesus. Even the meaning of His name, “God with us,” shows that He came to give us a relationship with God. The next five days, discover how the true story of Isa’s birth may give you a relationship with God !

Day 1: Who was Jesus’ father?

Jesus was unlike any other baby ever born because He had no earthly father. The passage specifically denies that Joseph was the birth father, although he did later marry the virgin Mary. So who is the father of Jesus? The Injeel [Gospel] explains that at Isa’s birth, the angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary,

“‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’

“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God’” (Luke 1:26-35).

Be assured, the Bible does not teach a parental relationship between God and Mary. That idea is as blasphemous to Christians as it is to Muslims. Rather, the concept demonstrates how Jesus is from God and shares God’s nature of deity.

When Jesus was 12 years old, He had already recognized His relationship with God. One day, His parents couldn’t find him anywhere. Finally, they found Him in the temple (the place of worship), amazing the teachers with His wisdom. When His parents chided Jesus for causing such a stir, He replied, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49b).

Therefore, God is called Isa’s Father:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

If you reject God’s Son, you will be condemned to hell. Jesus was born to save those who believe in Him. Find out tomorrow how Isa’s birthplace was predicted centuries before His birth!

[kainos_Ktisis]

Rainbows are a wonder aren't they? When I see one I remember the verse below.

Rev 4:3 says a rainbow round about the throne in sight like unto an emerald.


peace and love
kanos_ktisis

[HisDaughter]

Question: "What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?"

Answer: The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

[HisDaughter]

Bible Study for Muslims
Christmas Story - Day 2

Where was Jesus born?

Over 500 years before Isa’s life, prophets foretold His birthplace: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2). Rather than sending the Savior to a renowned city, God promised to send the Messiah to a small, agricultural village.

Joseph and Mary, however, lived in Nazareth. Find out in this next Scripture passage if the prophecy was fulfilled:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:1-20).

Wouldn’t God send this promised King into a royal family? His parents were peasants, His birth town insignificant, His bed a manger. God was pleased to give His Son to the humble who recognized their need for a Savior.

Do you recognize your need for a Savior? Tomorrow, find out what Jesus can do for you!

[HisDaughter]

Bible Study for Muslims

3. Why was Jesus born?

Jesus Christ’s birth is unique among mankind because He was sent from God. His name means “God saves” and “God with us.” The angel announcing His birth foretold His purpose: “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21b).

Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, sin has reigned, bringing hardship and death. Sin separates us from the holy God, keeping us from fellowship with Him and paradise. But even when God punished Adam and Eve, He promised to send a Savior to reconcile us to Him.

This Savior was prophesied hundreds of times throughout history. Reading the prophecies, many people eagerly expected Him. Surprisingly, some of the first to discover the Messiah after His birth were not from Israel. They were from the East (probably Persians from the area that is now Iran):

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

“They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”’

“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’

“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

”Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’

“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.’

“But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:1-23).

Did you notice how Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies? Jesus is the promised Savior! He came to save from sin those who trust in Him. If you keep the Five Pillars, though, do you need a Savior from sin?

[HisDaughter]

Bible Study for Muslims
Christmas Story - Day 4

4. Do Christians worship Mary?

Just as Muslims honor Muhammad, Christians honor Mary as the mother of the Savior. But worshipping mere humans or praying to them is forbidden in the Bible. Jesus said, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). Those who worship Mary or pray to her disobey God’s commands. Mary herself sang praises to God:

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.’" (Luke 1:46-53).

While the virgin birth doesn’t mean Mary was perfect, it does point to Jesus’ perfection. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed, every person has inherited a sin nature (a natural inclination to choose wrong). Because each of us has sinned, each of us is under death’s curse: “. . . sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Jesus, however, was born of a virgin. Since Jesus didn’t have an earthly father, He didn’t inherit the sin nature. Instead, he inherited God His Father’s righteousness: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

Just as Adam’s sin affected all after him, Jesus’ righteousness affects those who trust in Him as Savior from sin: “For as by the one man's [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's [Isa’s] obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

How can we be made righteous? First, we must turn from our sin and own efforts to be good. Then, turning to Jesus as Savior and Master, we trust His life of perfection, death on the cross, and resurrection from death as payment for our sin. Christ takes away our old nature, replacing it with His own righteousness: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree [cross], that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

[HisDaughter]

Bible Study for Muslims
Christmas Story - Day 5

5. Did Jesus, the Messiah, come to save the Jews only?

Muslims often experience the family conflict between the families of Ishmael (Ismail) and Isaac. Since God gave the Torah and Savior to the Jews, is the Good News only for them? Or, is Jesus for Western Christians alone? The following Bible passage clearly answers the question:

“And at the end of eight days [after Jesus’ birth], when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. . . .

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’

“And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God. . . .

“And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:21-40).

So is the Christmas story for the Jews only? God did send Jesus to a Jewish family and nation, but the Christ is also “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” and God’s way of salvation is for “all peoples” (vs. 31-32). God sent Jesus not merely to a specific people group but to believers from across the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Although the world was separated from God due to sin, God provided Jesus to reconcile believers to Himself. Believers are those who turn from sin and turn to Jesus who paid the punishment for sin on the cross. God proved His sacrifice was effective by raising Jesus from the dead.

Believers realize that they cannot earn a home in heaven by good works. They must be purified by Jesus’ perfect righteousness and atoning death. After saving believers, Jesus gives them the strength to do good works:

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people” (Titus 3:3-8).

Jesus came to save us from sin, empowering us to glorify God: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now you understand why Jesus was born! After discovering the Christmas story, you probably have more questions to ponder. Diligently keep reading the Bible and praying to find the truth. To learn more about how Jesus accomplished God’s plan of salvation, you may want to begin the Bible study “Who is Jesus?”

As God reveals His truth to you, may you respond like the villagers who encountered Jesus: “They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world’" (John 4:42).

[nChrist]

AMEN GRAMMYLUV!

This is a beautiful Bible Study and one for all of us. I never tire of reading about the Birth, Life, Ministry, purpose, and meaning of the life and death of JESUS CHRIST! HE did die by crucifixion, but HE arose from the dead on the third day. As Christians, our greatest reality is that CHRIST IS OUR LIFE and we LIVE IN HIM! HE IS VERY GOD, and this is true for Eternity Past - long before HE humbled HIMSELF and took the form of a man in the flesh. HE was fully man, but HE was also fully GOD. HE was the only one HOLY enough for the PERFECT SACRIFICE, and only HIS BLOOD can rescue us from the Curse of Sin and Death. HE died for the whole of mankind and was no respecter of persons. Race, nationality, and wealth meant NOTHING. Anyone can come to HIM, pray for forgiveness, and ask HIM to be their LORD and SAVIOUR forever! The LAW OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST is the only way to be SAVED. I GIVE THANKS THAT WE CAN BELIEVE AND BECOME HIS PURCHASED POSSESSIONS FOREVER!

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Corinthians 4:1-18  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

[HisDaughter]

Question: "Was Jonah truly swallowed by a whale?"

Answer: The story of Jonah is the incredible tale of a disobedient prophet who, upon being swallowed by a whale (or a “great fish” - see below) and vomited upon the shore, reluctantly led the reprobate city of Nineveh to repentance. The biblical account is often criticized by skeptics because of its miraculous content. These miracles include:

• A Mediterranean storm, both summoned and dissipated by God (1:4-16).

• A massive fish, appointed by God to swallow the prophet after he was thrown into the sea by his ship’s crew (1:17).

• Jonah’s survival in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, or his resurrection from the dead after being vomited upon the shore, depending on how you interpret the text (1:17).

• The fish vomiting Jonah upon shore at God’s command (2:10).

• A gourd, appointed by God to grow rapidly in order to provide Jonah with shade (4:6).

• A worm, appointed by God to attack and whither the shady gourd (4:7).

• A scorching wind, summoned by God to discomfort Jonah (4: 8.

Critics also find Nineveh’s repentance (3:4-9) hard to believe, though it isn’t technically a miracle. In actual fact, Nineveh’s repentance makes perfect sense given Jonah’s extraordinary arrival upon the shores of the Mediterranean and the prominence of Dagon worship in that particular area of the ancient world. Dagon was a fish-god who enjoyed popularity among the pantheons of Mesopotamia and the eastern Mediterranean coast. He is mentioned several times in the Bible in relation to the Philistines (Judges 16:23-24; 1 Samuel 5:1-7; 1 Chronicles 10:8-12). Images of Dagon have been found in palaces and temples in Nineveh and throughout the region. In some cases he was represented as a man wearing a fish. In others he was part man part fish—a merman of sorts.

As for Jonah’s success in Nineveh, Orientalist Henry Clay Trumbull made a valid point when he wrote, “What better heralding, as a divinely sent messenger to Nineveh, could Jonah have had, than to be thrown up out of the mouth of a great fish, in the presence of witnesses, say on the coast of Phoenicia, where the fish-god was a favorite object of worship? Such an incident would have inevitably aroused the mercurial nature of Oriental observers, so that a multitude would be ready to follow the seemingly new avatar of the fish-god, proclaiming the story of his uprising from the sea, as he went on his mission to the city where the fish-god had its very centre of worship.” (H. Clay Trumbull, “Jonah in Nineveh.” Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 2, No.1, 1892, p. 56)

Some scholars have speculated that Jonah’s appearance, no doubt bleached white from the action of the fish’s digestive acids, would have been of great help to his cause. If such were the case, the Ninevites would have been greeted by a man whose skin, hair and clothes were bleached ghostly white—a man accompanied by a crowd of frenetic followers, many of who claimed to have witnessed him having been vomited upon the shore by a great fish (plus any colorful exaggerations they might have added).

Jonah needed only to cause enough of a stir to gain himself admittance to the king who, upon believing Jonah’s message of imminent doom for himself would have the power to proclaim a citywide day of fasting and penance. According to the biblical narrative that’s exactly what happened (Jonah 3:6-9). So we see that, given the caveat that Jonah was spewed upon the shore by a great fish, Nineveh’s repentance follows from a very logical progression.

As for Jonah’s aquatic experience (which is the crux of the story), while there is no conclusive historical proof that Jonah was ever swallowed by a fish and lived to tell about it, there is some provocative corroboratory evidence. In the 3rd Century B.C., a Babylonian priest/historian named Berosus wrote of a mythical creature named Oannes who, according to Berosus, emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to men. Scholars generally identify this mysterious fish-man as an avatar of the Babylonian water-god Ea (also known as Enki). The curious thing about Berosus’ account is the name that he used: Oannes.

Berosus wrote in Greek during the Hellenistic Period. Oannes is just a single letter removed from the Greek name Ioannes. Ioannes happens to be one of the two Greek names used interchangeably throughout the Greek New Testament to represent the Hebrew name Yonah (Jonah), which in turn appears to be a moniker for Yohanan (from which we get the English name John). (See John 1:42, 21:15 and Matthew 16:17.) Conversely, both Ioannes and Ionas (the other Greek word for Jonah used in the New Testament) are used interchangeably to represent the Hebrew name Yohanan in the Greek Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. Compare 2 Kings 25:23 and 1 Chronicles 3:24 in the Septuagint with the same passages from the Hebrew Old Testament.

As for the missing “I” in Ioannes, according to Professor Trumbull who claims to have confirmed his information with renowned Assyriologist Dr. Herman V. Hilprecht before writing his own article on the subject, “in the Assyrian inscriptions the J of foreign words becomes I, or disappears altogether; hence Joannes, as the Greek representative of Jona, would appear in Assyrian either as Ioannes or as Oannes.” (Trumbull, ibid., p. 58)

Nineveh was Assyrian. What this essentially means is that Berosus wrote of a fish-man named Jonah who emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to man – a remarkable corroboration of the Hebrew account.

Berosus claimed to have relied upon official Babylonian sources for his information. Nineveh was conquered by the Babylonians under King Nabopolassar in 612 BC, more than 300 years before Berosus. It is quite conceivable though speculative that record of Jonah’s success in Nineveh was preserved in the writings Berosus. If so, it appears that Jonah was deified and mythologized over a period of three centuries, first by the Assyrians who no doubt associated him with their fish-god Dagon, and then by the Babylonians who appear to have hybridized him with their own water-god, Ea.

cont....

[HisDaughter]

cont....


In addition to Berosus’ account, Jonah appears elsewhere in the chronicles of Israel as the prophet who predicted Jeroboam II’s military successes against Syria in the 8th Century before Christ (2 Kings 14:25). He is said to be the son of Amittai (cf. Jonah 1:1) from the town of Gath-hepher in lower Galilee. Flavius Josephus reiterates these details in his Antiquities of the Jews (chapter 10, paragraph 2). Jonah was not an imaginary figure invented to play the part of a disobedient prophet, swallowed by a fish. He was part of Israel’s prophetic history.

As for the city of Nineveh, it was rediscovered in the 19th Century after more than 2500 years of obscurity. It is now believed to have been the largest city in the world at the time of its demise (see Tertius Chandler's Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census). According to Sir Austen Henry Layard who chronicled the rediscovery of Nineveh in his classic Discoveries At Nineveh, the circumference of Greater Nineveh was “exactly three days' journey,” as recorded in Jonah 3:3 (Austen Henry Layard. A Popular Account of Discoveries at Nineveh, J. C. Derby: New York, 1854, p. 314). Prior to its rediscovery, skeptics scoffed at the possibility that so large a city could have existed in the ancient world. In fact, skeptics denied the existence of Nineveh altogether. Its rediscovery in the mid 1800’s proved to be a remarkable vindication for the Bible which mentions Nineveh by name 18 times and dedicates two entire books (Jonah and Nahum) to its fate.

It is interesting to note where the lost city of Nineveh was rediscovered. It was found buried beneath a pair of tells in the vicinity of Mosul in modern day Iraq. These mounds are known by their local names, Kuyunjik and Nabi Yunus. Nabi Yunus happens to be Arabic for “the Prophet Jonah.” The lost city of Nineveh was found buried beneath an ancient tell named after the Prophet Jonah.

As for the whale, the Bible doesn’t actually specify what sort of marine animal swallowed Jonah. Most people assume that it was a cachalot (also known as the sperm whale). It may very well have been a white shark. The Hebrew phrase used in the Old Testament, gadowl dag, literally means “great fish.” The Greek used in the New Testament is këtos which simply means “sea creature.” There are at least two species of Mediterranean marine life that are known to be able to swallow a man whole. These are the cachalot and the white shark. Both creatures are known to prowl the Mediterranean and have been known to Mediterranean sailors since antiquity. Aristotle described both species in his 4th Century B.C. Historia Animalium.

So we now have three of the four major players: Jonah, Nineveh and the man-eating fish. All that remains is the fourth major player: God. Skeptics scoff at the miracles described in the book of Jonah as if there were no mechanism by which such events could ever occur. That is their bias. We are inclined, however, to believe that there is One who is capable of manipulating natural phenomena in such supernatural ways. We believe that He is the Creator of the natural realm and is not therefore circumscribed by it. We call Him God and we believe that He sent Jonah to Nineveh to bring about their repentance.

God has made Himself known throughout history in many diverse ways, not the least of which was His incarnation in the Person of Jesus Christ. Not only does Jesus give us reason to believe that there exists One who is able to perform miracles, He gives us every confidence that such events have in fact occurred.

Jesus spoke of Jonah’s ordeal as a real historical event. He used it as a typological metaphor for His own crucifixion and resurrection, itself a miraculous event. Matthew quoted Jesus as saying, “for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea creature, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, Someone greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:40-41; cf. Luke 11:29-30, 32).

The evidence is such that any Christian should have confidence to believe and any skeptic should think twice before dismissing Jonah as a fairy tale

[HisDaughter]

Question: "Why do Jews and Arabs / Muslims hate each other?"

Answer: First, it is important to understand that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. While a majority of Arabs are Muslims, there are many non-Muslim Arabs. Further, there are significantly more non-Arab Muslims (in areas such as Indonesia and Malaysia) than Arab Muslims.

Second, it is important to remember that not all Arabs hate Jews, that not all Muslims hate Jews, and that not all Jews hate Arabs and Muslims. We must be careful to avoid stereotyping people. However, generally speaking, Arabs and Muslims have a dislike and distrust for Jews and vice-versa.

If there is an explicit biblical explanation for this animosity, it goes all the way back to Abraham. The Jews are descendants of Abraham’s son Isaac. The Arabs are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. With Ishmael being the son of a slave woman (Genesis 16:1-16) and Isaac being the promised son who would inherit the promises to Abraham (Genesis 21:1-3), animosity between the two sons was almost inevitable. As a result of Ishmael mocking Isaac (Genesis 21:9), Sarah talked Abraham into sending Hagar and Ishmael away (Genesis 21:11-21). Likely this caused even more contempt in Ishmael’s heart toward Isaac. An angel even prophesied to Hagar that Ishmael would “live in hostility toward all his brothers” (Genesis 16:11-12).

The religion of Islam, of which a majority of Arabs are adherents, has made this hostility more profound. The Qur'an contains conflicting instructions for Muslims regarding Jews. At one point it instructs Muslims to treat Jews as brothers, but at another point it commands Muslims to attack Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. The Qur’an also introduces a conflict as to which son of Abraham was truly the son of promise. The Hebrew Scriptures say it was Isaac. The Qur’an says it was Ishmael. The Qur’an teaches that it was Ishmael that Abraham almost sacrificed to the Lord, not Isaac (in contradiction to Genesis chapter 22). This debate over who was the son of promise contributes to the hostility today.

However, the ancient root of bitterness between Isaac and Ishmael does not explain all of the hostility between Jews and Arabs today. In fact, for thousands of years of Middle Eastern history, Jews and Arabs lived in relative peace and indifference toward each other. The primary cause of the hostility has a modern origin. After World War II, when the United Nations gave a portion of the land of Israel to the Jewish people, the land was at that time primarily inhabited by Arabs (the Palestinians). Most Arabs protested against the nation of Israel occupying that land. Arab nations united and attacked Israel in an attempt to wipe them out of the land, but they were defeated by Israel.

Ever since, there has been great hostility between Israel and its Arab neighbors. If you look on a map, Israel has one tiny little sliver of land and is surrounded by much larger Arab nations, i.e. Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt. It is our viewpoint that, biblically speaking, Israel has a right to exist as a nation with its own land because God gave the land of Israel to the descendants of Jacob, grandson of Abraham. At the same time, we strongly believe that Israel should seek peace and display respect for its Arab neighbors. Psalms 122:6 declares, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure."

[nChrist]

Hello Grammyluv,

AMEN! - Excellent!

This short article puts many things into perspective and speaks volumes. YES, we should pray for peace in Jerusalem. Sadly, we will have to wait until the end of the Tribulation Period, but JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF will establish a REAL PEACE ON EARTH at HIS SECOND COMING! It will be a PEACE like the world has never known - a LASTING PEACE - one that ONLY GOD can make and preserve.

I was just thinking about a FALSE peace that Bible Prophecy tells us will be made. It's not ironic that a FALSE peace treaty will be made, and the period of time involved will be 7 years. This is one of the clearest signs that the Tribulation Period is about to be ushered in. The world won't recognize this as Bible Prophecy, and even Israel will be deceived by the peace established by the antichrist. The peace will appear to be real, but it won't last. Instead, the antichrist will be ushering in times of horror and bloodshed like the world has never known. Things will TRULY be SO BAD that ONLY JESUS CHRIST will be able to RESTORE PEACE AT HIS SECOND COMING!

Brothers and Sisters, I find it amazing that the entire world has been able to read about this in GOD'S WORD for about 2,000 years, but the world didn't pay any attention to it. Things are progressing toward the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy most perfectly. YES, the world can read about what's getting ready to happen in GOD'S WORD, and every detail will be fulfilled perfectly at GOD'S Appointed Time. As Christians, we should give thanks that our HOPES aren't in or of this world - rather our CITIZENSHIP is in HEAVEN.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[HisDaughter]

Question: "If Jesus was God, how could He pray to God? Was Jesus praying to Himself?"

Answer: To understand Jesus as God on earth praying to His Father who was God in heaven, we need to realize that the eternal Father and the eternal Son had an eternal relationship before Jesus took upon Himself humanity. Please read John 5:19-27, particularly 5:23 where Jesus teaches that the Father sent the Son (also read John 15:10). Jesus did not become the Son of God when He was born in Bethlehem many years ago. He has always been the Son of God from eternity past, still is, and always will be.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us that the Son was given and the child was born. Jesus was always a part of the Tri-unity relationship along with the Holy Spirit. The Tri-unity always existed, the Father God, the Son God, and the Spirit God. Not three Gods, but one God existing as three persons. Jesus taught that He and His Father were one (John 10:30). Jesus meant that He and His Father, and of course the Holy Spirit, were of the same substance, the same essence, God or deity. Three co-equal persons existing as God. These three had and continue to have an eternal relationship.

What happened when Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took upon Himself sinless humanity, is that He also took on the form of a servant, giving up His heavenly glory (cf. Philippians 2:5-11). As the God-man, He had to learn obedience (Hebrews 5: 8  to His Father as He was tempted by Satan, accused falsely by men, rejected by His people, and eventually crucified. His praying to His heavenly Father was to ask for power (John 11:41-42) and wisdom (Mark 1:35; 6:46). His praying showed His dependence upon His Father in His humanity to carry out His Father's plan of redemption (note Christ's high priestly prayer in John 17) and then to ultimately submit to His Father's will in the Garden to go to the cross to pay the penalty for our breaking God's law, which is death (Matthew 26:31-46). Of course, He rose from the grave bodily, winning for us forgiveness and eternal life right now when we accept Him as personal Savior.

There is no problem with the Son as God praying or talking to the Father as God. As mentioned, they had an eternal relationship before Christ took upon Himself humanity. In His humanity, this relationship is depicted in the Gospels so we can see how the Son of God in His humanity carried out His Father's will so redemption could be won for all (John 6:38). Christ’s continual submission to His heavenly Father was empowered and kept focused through His prayer life. Christ’s example of prayer is left for us to follow.

Jesus Christ was no less God on earth when praying to God His Father in Heaven. He was depicting how even in sinless humanity it is necessary to have a vital prayer life to do His Father’s will. Jesus' praying to the Father was a demonstration of His relationship, within the Trinity, with the Father and an example for us that we must rely on God, through prayer, for the strength and wisdom we need. Since Christ, as the God-man, needed to have a vibrant prayer life, so should the follower of Christ today!

[nChrist]

Question: "If Jesus was God, how could He pray to God? Was Jesus praying to Himself?"

Answer: To understand Jesus as God on earth praying to His Father who was God in heaven, we need to realize that the eternal Father and the eternal Son had an eternal relationship before Jesus took upon Himself humanity. Please read John 5:19-27, particularly 5:23 where Jesus teaches that the Father sent the Son (also read John 15:10). Jesus did not become the Son of God when He was born in Bethlehem many years ago. He has always been the Son of God from eternity past, still is, and always will be.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us that the Son was given and the child was born. Jesus was always a part of the Tri-unity relationship along with the Holy Spirit. The Tri-unity always existed, the Father God, the Son God, and the Spirit God. Not three Gods, but one God existing as three persons. Jesus taught that He and His Father were one (John 10:30). Jesus meant that He and His Father, and of course the Holy Spirit, were of the same substance, the same essence, God or deity. Three co-equal persons existing as God. These three had and continue to have an eternal relationship.

What happened when Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took upon Himself sinless humanity, is that He also took on the form of a servant, giving up His heavenly glory (cf. Philippians 2:5-11). As the God-man, He had to learn obedience (Hebrews 5: 8  to His Father as He was tempted by Satan, accused falsely by men, rejected by His people, and eventually crucified. His praying to His heavenly Father was to ask for power (John 11:41-42) and wisdom (Mark 1:35; 6:46). His praying showed His dependence upon His Father in His humanity to carry out His Father's plan of redemption (note Christ's high priestly prayer in John 17) and then to ultimately submit to His Father's will in the Garden to go to the cross to pay the penalty for our breaking God's law, which is death (Matthew 26:31-46). Of course, He rose from the grave bodily, winning for us forgiveness and eternal life right now when we accept Him as personal Savior.

There is no problem with the Son as God praying or talking to the Father as God. As mentioned, they had an eternal relationship before Christ took upon Himself humanity. In His humanity, this relationship is depicted in the Gospels so we can see how the Son of God in His humanity carried out His Father's will so redemption could be won for all (John 6:38). Christ’s continual submission to His heavenly Father was empowered and kept focused through His prayer life. Christ’s example of prayer is left for us to follow.

Jesus Christ was no less God on earth when praying to God His Father in Heaven. He was depicting how even in sinless humanity it is necessary to have a vital prayer life to do His Father’s will. Jesus' praying to the Father was a demonstration of His relationship, within the Trinity, with the Father and an example for us that we must rely on God, through prayer, for the strength and wisdom we need. Since Christ, as the God-man, needed to have a vibrant prayer life, so should the follower of Christ today!

AMEN! - BEAUTIFUL!