WEBVTT 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:12.000 Welcome to the Preaching the Cross Radio Podcast, featuring the radio ministry of Pastor James W. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.800 Knox of the Bible Baptist Church of Duana, Florida. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:25.039 Our prayer is that these half-hour Bible study programs bring the lost to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and enable the saved to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.359 Now here's your host, Pastor James W. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.079 Knox. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:40.479 All right, thank you for that kind word of introduction. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:45.359 Thanks to each and every one of you for tuning in today to the Preaching of the Cross Radio Broadcast. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.159 I'm Brother James. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:53.200 I greet you as always in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:01:04.079 You know, one of the greatest blessings that I enjoy in the ministry is seeing the fruit of our giving, seeing the fruit of our giving. 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:12.079 If you've listened to this broadcast for any length of time, you know that we never make any appeal or solicitation for funds. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:12.719 You know that. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:17.040 You've never heard us ask anyone at any time to send us any money. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:18.319 We've never done that. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.280 You have heard letters from time to time. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:22.560 We've read letters of testimony. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:34.719 Those of you that have uh have listened for any length of time, you you are aware of the fact that we send out hundreds of thousands of cassette recorded sermons and Bible studies. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:41.120 We send out thousands of Bibles to people all around the world, absolutely free of charge. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:48.159 In our church services at the Bible Baptist Church of the land, we do not even pass an offering plate or take up a collection. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:56.719 All that we do is set a box in the back of the auditorium, and those who want to give are free to do so. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.519 Those who do not wish to give are never embarrassed to put on the spot. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:01.840 We don't jangle the plate in front of the nose or anything like that. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:09.680 And it is just a blessing to see God provide our every need in answer to prayer. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:27.599 Just on my way into the studio to record this particular program, as I came to the door, there was a box sitting in front of the door that was mailed from the state of Illinois, and in that box were Bibles. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.759 I don't know how many, I haven't even counted them. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:34.240 There are uh two stacks of uh of testaments here, New Testaments. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:43.280 There are some giant print Bibles in here, there's some gift award Bibles, and just the note inside, dear pastor, use these as you see fit. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.120 Now, you know what that is? 00:02:45.280 --> 00:03:00.240 That is that is someone who loves God, that is someone who desires to serve God, and their heart has been touched by a spirit of giving, not a spirit of getting. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:12.800 They have been ministered to, they have been blessed by a ministry that gives, gives, gives, and and everything that that is of God reproduces and bears fruit after its own kind. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:20.560 And what a blessing, my friend, what a blessing to encourage you to give for its own sake. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:29.280 Don't give to get, don't desire to get, don't minister or preach or serve or labor to get. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:34.879 Follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ and give, give, give, give. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:42.240 And oh, how great will be your joy when you see others inspired to do likewise. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.319 Amen and amen. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:59.039 Now, we are in the midst of a series of broadcasts in which we are dealing with the Bible as science, and we started in the last program talking about the criticisms that are raised against the book of Jonah. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:08.479 There is probably no portion of the Bible that it that comes under greater and more constant attack from critics of the Word of God than the book of Jonah. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:21.199 And the critics state that Jonah believed that God was just a local tribal deity that he could run away from, and we refuted those ridiculous claims on the last broadcast. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:32.240 But the critics also attack the scientific accuracy of the Bible by claiming that it is impossible for a whale to swallow a man. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:35.920 That's what we're going to deal with on the program today. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:46.240 Is it possible that Jonah was indeed swallowed by a whale as the Lord Jesus Christ said he was? 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.160 Now the book of Jonas is a great fish. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:56.959 The Lord Jesus Christ who made that great fish called a whale in the book of Matthew. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.160 So that's what we want to discuss on the broadcast today. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.959 Was Jonah swallowed by a whale? 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:14.399 Now without a doubt, the element of the supernatural entered into the account of Jonah's experience before the introduction of the fish that swallowed him. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.560 God followed Jonah from the time of the prophet's defection until he returned in submission and humility. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:28.240 First of all, he followed Jonah with a storm, for Jonah testified that the storm came upon the ship because of him. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:44.560 So little did Jonah fear the effects of that storm, reposing as he did in the confidence of the keeping care of God, or perhaps in his own callous indifference by this time, that God followed Jonah again in the call of the captain of the vessel. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:51.600 The prophet was further pursued by the intention of God when, as the men cast their lots, the lot fell upon Jonah. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:06:04.879 When he was cast over the side of the ship, the supernatural element of the story continues with a very simple statement that God had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:16.160 Now, all the argument about a whale being able to do this or a fish being able to do that is ruled out in that key word in Scripture. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:32.480 This is a special-made, special order, custom job by God Himself, especially for Jonah. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:35.839 This brings us to the account of this fish. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:43.279 Now I suppose it's only natural that every man will investigate any question case from the viewpoint of his own preconceived prejudice. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:51.199 It might be argued that we were not able to make a fair examination of the story of Jonah because we came to the study of the account with a strong belief that it was true. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:07:02.639 But if this is so, it's because of having previously read the testimony of Jesus Christ, whose word we unhesitatingly accept upon any question of which he speaks. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:12.079 But even without the testimony of Jesus, we would be inclined to believe the story of Jonah is true because the infidel and the atheist are united in denying it. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.399 How's that for reasoning? 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:22.480 I confess I've got a mental revulsion against infidels and atheists. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:26.240 And I'll almost automatically accept what they reject. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.079 They feel the same way about Christians. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:34.879 They all reject automatically, or almost automatically, what you believe is a Christian just because you're a Christian, it's a because it's Christian belief. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.920 There's a uh an eternal enmity there. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:53.680 But I've noticed over the years that atheism and infidelity never investigate or conduct research except under the prejudice of unbelief. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:03.600 Whenever an atheist starts out to investigate or study a matter with an absolutely closed mind, the whole attempt revolves itself into an effort to disprove the subject he's investigating. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.959 The infidel is almost as bad. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:19.600 But there is no counterexplanation to this account of the strange experience of Jonah that will satisfy the inquiring mind if we rule out the supernatural. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:26.160 One critic says that Jonah had a bad nightmare, and that when he awakened, he wrote his dream. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:33.759 Another doubter says that the entire book of Jonah is a simple fabrication, that none of the incidents are historical. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:46.399 One weird so-called thinker states that when Jonah was cast overboard from the ship, he was picked up by a vessel that was following, and the second ship had as a figurehead the image of a fish. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:54.480 So when the men in the first ship saw the rescue of Jonah by this following ship, they said he had been swallowed up by a monster of the deep in the form of a fish. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:59.039 To which we say, Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:10.159 Now, the Bible simply and literally states that God had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:12.879 And we believe what the Bible says. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:18.080 Now, again, let me call your attention to that phrase, God prepared. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.679 The whole argument must turn upon these words. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:31.200 The question is raised: is God able to prepare a fish that would accommodate a man and keep him alive for as long as 72 hours? 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.799 Well, let's stop for just a minute. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:44.320 Was Jesus Christ alive for 72 hours in the heart of the earth? 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.559 You say, Well, sure he was. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:53.120 His body, his soul, or his spirit. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.200 Now wait a minute. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:56.879 Wait a minute. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.919 Jesus said on the cross, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:09.600 They took his body down off the cross and laid it in the grave. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:14.399 He said, I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:20.960 That's a resurrection, a re-entry of the soul into the body. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:23.679 Jesus' body was dead. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:29.279 His spirit had returned to God, his soul was in the heart of the earth. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:33.519 Jesus said that is the exact experience of Jonah. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:52.639 You see, what happens, the Bible believer hears the objections of science, then tries to make the Bible fit scientific theory or scientific premise, and by so doing, he destroys the accuracy of the Bible. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:11:00.000 Nowhere in the Word of God does the Bible say that Jonah survived three days and three nights in the whale's belly. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:06.000 The Bible tells you Jonah was in the belly of the whale just as Jesus was in the heart of the earth. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.919 His body was dead in a tomb. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:13.279 Jesus, a tomb of rock, Jonah, a tomb of flesh. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.559 His soul was in the lower parts of the earth. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.159 You say, how do you know that? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.759 Jonah chapter 2. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:26.399 Verse 5, the waters compassed me about, even to the soul. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.399 The depth closed me around about. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.039 The weeds were wrapped about my head. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.600 Matching Jesus crying on the cross, all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:39.360 Matching Jesus on the cross with the crown of thorns wrapped about his head. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:44.639 Verse 6, I went down to the bottoms of the mountains. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:54.080 The earth with her bars was about me forever, yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.720 From corruption. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:00.960 That's the body rotting and decaying after death. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:05.279 His soul is in the heart of the earth below the bottoms of the mountains. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:12.240 When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came into thee into thy holy temple. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:17.039 Now, Jonah, his body was dead. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:22.159 His soul was in hell, according to the word of God. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.480 Cried I, and thou heardst my voice. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.600 You say, Brother James, uh, you think Jonah was in the fish? 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.879 I think his body was in the fish. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:38.559 You say, where do you think his soul was? 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.120 The Bible says his soul was in hell. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:47.200 Exactly what it says of Jesus Christ in Psalm 16 in Acts 2. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:53.679 You say you really believe that was hell and not a term for the fish's belly? 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.399 Where do you think Lazarus went when he died? 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:58.879 Rich man and Lazarus, you remember the story? 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.399 Where do you think the rich man went? 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.840 To a whale's belly? 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.000 You think inside this whale there was burning fire? 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.200 Conscious torment men crying for a drop of water? 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.879 Absolutely not. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:13.759 The body of Jonah was in the whale. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:15.600 The soul of Jonah was in the heart of the earth. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:19.519 The body of Jesus was in the tomb, the soul of Jesus was in the heart of the earth. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:32.240 You don't have to apologize to science, learn your Bible, then you may stand against the arguments of the Bible's critics. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:45.919 Now let's suppose, let's just suppose, for the sake of argument, that we did have to prove that Jonah lived three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, like Pinocchio. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.879 A blasphemous perversion of the Word of God to make money. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:53.759 I just threw that in there because I'm mean. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.720 There's no edification value to that. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.440 There is no blessing to be derived from what I just said. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:05.679 I just thought I'd take one more shot at the world that professing Christians love more than they love the Word of God. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.799 I just can't resist that. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.240 I'm sorry, that's my nature. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.279 Uh pray for me. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.960 If I'm wrong, God will straighten me out. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.240 If I'm right, He'll straighten you out. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.279 Pray for me. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.159 Now, God has no problem. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.519 He's prepared a great fish. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:26.960 I believe he's able to prepare a fish that would accommodate a man, keep him alive as long as 72 hours if he wanted to. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:31.440 If God can't do this, then he is indeed tremendously inferior to man. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.919 Really? 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:53.360 Do you know that men, finite men, take their little brains and build an iron fish, and they can enter into that iron fish and live underwater for weeks at a time. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:04.799 At the end of that time, they can come to the surface again, replenish their supplies of food and oxygen, and the iron fish can set them forth on dry land for a period of relaxation. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.799 You say, What are you talking about? 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.200 Well, you don't want to talk about talking about a submarine. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.879 Man built that. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:21.120 Man prepared an iron fish that he can live in underwater for many, many days, and when he's through traveling around underwater in the belly of that iron fish, it'll cast him up on dry land. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.039 Man can do that. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:27.120 You don't think you don't think God could make something like that? 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:32.799 You don't think God could prepare a great fish that a man can live in for three days? 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:41.360 If man can make something he can live in for weeks, you've got a very uh very poor view of God, don't you? 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:55.200 Now how weird it seems to those of us who think things through that men see the evidences of man's power to work these so-called miracles, and will yet deny the same degree of power to God. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.720 Again, we see that God prepared other things beside the fish. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:01.360 In the story of Jonah, there was a vine that was prepared. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.759 There was a worm that was specifically sent. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:08.480 There was a strong east wind that blew at an untimely season. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:13.200 The God who made the heavens and the earth prepared a fish, a worm, and a vine. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.480 One scientist wrote this. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:25.840 Some years ago I was excavating some of those famous shell mounds of the southern area, and I had the pleasure of fellowship with an unusually brilliant man of science. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:30.720 This man was a keen, intelligent thinker, not related in any sense to the household of faith. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:41.120 During the steamy heat of the midday, when it was impossible for men to work with any comfort whatever, we lolled around in the shade of the semitropical verdure and took what ease the weather would permit. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:46.080 In those times of friendly converse, we discussed almost everything in which we had a mutual interest. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.799 One day the conversation turned upon the Bible. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:58.559 In some curiosity, this scientist said to his fellow archaeologist, How is it that a man of your mental attainments has never become a Christian? 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:04.960 Very earnestly he replied, It seems to me that Christianity must stand or fall with the Bible. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:14.960 I have never become a Christian, beautiful and attractive as Christianity is to me, because I cannot accept the Bible as the infallibly inspired word of God that you Christians claim it to be. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:25.920 Well, finding that they had the same sense of value as to the foundational need of the Scripture, the Christian scientist, or the scientist who is a Christian, you've got to be careful using that term, said, I agree with you, Bob. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:35.920 Jesus Christ and the Bible must stand or fall together, but upon the basis of evidence, and after long years of study and thought, I do receive the Bible as the inspired word of God. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.839 Why don't you? 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:44.640 Because I cannot accept any of the Bible if I cannot take it all. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.960 Well, he's right again. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.119 What part of the Bible don't you believe? 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.480 said his friend. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:55.359 Well, for one thing, I can't believe that old fish story about Jonah and the whale. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:10.559 The Christian, who was a scientist in the conversation, looked at him surprised for a moment and said, Is it possible that a man who knows as much about marine biology as you know does not appreciate how credible and probable that entire account may be? 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.920 The man sat up as though he had been stabbed with a thorn. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:19.920 Gripping the arm of his friend, he said, Now listen, I don't say to you, prove that that thing happened. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.000 I know that would be practically impossible. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:29.519 It's also unnecessary, but I say to you, if you can prove it's reasonably and scientifically probable, that's all I ask. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:37.599 If you demonstrate to me that this thing could have happened, I'll accept the story as truth on the basis that it is in the Bible. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.960 Now, how about that? 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:42.960 There's an honest man looking for an honest answer. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.559 I believe, I believe we can give you an honest answer. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:54.960 For one, I believe we've already done it in carefully reading the account of Jonah's death and Jesus' death. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:01.359 But I know you're wanting me to prove that a man can live in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.039 I know that's what you're requiring. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:09.200 And I think we can do it on the time remaining today, and then into the next broadcast, I think we can do that. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:18.799 Now, this is the limit of the mental cooperation that is required. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.799 You've just got to be willing. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:29.680 You've got to be willing to accept the Bible record if it can be reasonably shown to be scientifically probable. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:34.400 Now I can't demonstrate today the experience of Jonah exactly as it was written in this book. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.440 Jonah's not here. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.400 I wasn't there. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.839 The great fish isn't here. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.039 You weren't there. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:49.440 But we can show from the records of science that it is highly probable that the thing could have happened exactly as Jonah recounted his experience, and that's all you can demand of us. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:57.119 When we bring to light the evidence of modern scientific research upon the record of Jonah, that record is shown as being reasonable in the light of present evidence. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:06.160 The only objection of the infidel that I've ever read is that there is no whale that has a throat large enough to swallow a man. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:12.400 Well, the trouble is the Bible told you this was a specially prepared whale. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:17.920 I know most people don't understand this whale concept anyway. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:26.960 If you went to the Hebrew language, and there's no sense in doing it, but if you did, I know that's what some of you are thinking, well, what does the Hebrew say? 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.160 What does the Hebrew say? 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:36.799 Alright, not because it's necessary, but just to satisfy your curious mind and to head off those arguments at the pass. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:43.759 The word here translated fish is the Hebrew word dag, D-A-G, as found in Dagon, the fish god. 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:47.440 This word appears in the Old Testament nineteen times. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:52.640 On each occasion is translated fish, just like we have it here in the book of Jonah. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:55.519 Now we know, of course, that a whale is not a fish. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:02.720 So if the scripture in the Hebrew text says that a fish swallowed Jonah, you're going to jump up and down and say a whale is ruled out at once. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.480 The whale's a mammal. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.160 It follows the order of a live birth. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.119 It suckles its young. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.319 It's a warm-blooded animal. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.680 It would be scientifically incorrect to speak of a whale as a fish. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:21.119 But this whale was not made for reproduction. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:24.400 This whale was not made to suckle its young. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:27.119 This whale was not made to give birth. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:31.440 This whale was made for one purpose and one purpose only. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:38.559 To swallow, to swallow flesh in the ocean. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.640 That's what a fish does. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:47.680 So what we have what we have is a creature formed and made by God for a special purpose. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:54.240 The size, the shape, the appearance of a whale, the capabilities of a fish. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.759 Now that's the Bible. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.200 That's what the Bible says. 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.839 In the King James Version of the New Testament. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.359 The critics argue that the translation is incorrect. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.359 Makes the fish appear as a whale. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:15.680 They say Jesus didn't say Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, and that the original Greek used the word whale because it was the only sea creature they knew that was big enough to suit them. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:23.119 They'll demand that you go to the Hebrew word for fish and stand on it. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:32.160 And then if you go to the Greek word for whale, these same people will demand that you not use that word and say that you cannot stand on it. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.000 You know what this is? 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.759 This is satanically inspired raving. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.519 That's all it is. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:47.440 Now you can't insist, you can't say, Brother James, give me the Hebrew word, and I tell you it's fish, and you say, okay, see, it's a fish. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:56.079 Now, give me the Greek word where Jesus said whale, and the Greek word is whale, and then you begin to say, oh, well, but you can't stand on that because what? 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:27.839 Because it doesn't support your infidelity, because it destroys your argument, because if we go to the Greek and Hebrew, it will say just exactly what the English says and prove once again that you can't duck out under that fence, and a man that knows and believes the English Bible is perfectly capable of dealing with every problem and situation just as much so as the man that messes around with the Greek and the Hebrew, Amen and Amen, because God accurately translated the Bible into the English language in the King James Version. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:33.200 Now, you can argue all you want about a monster of the deep. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.119 Don't go to the Hebrew word for whale. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:40.720 We're not dealing with the Hebrew in the New Testament, we're dealing with the Greek. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:44.480 The Old Testament scripture says Jonah was swallowed by a great dag of fish. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:47.839 The New Testament says he was picked up by a whale. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:24:00.160 The Old and New Testament both agree that this creature of the deep received Jonah into its spacious mouth, swallowed him down, and there he was for three days and three nights. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:06.240 Now let's suppose this creature of the deep was in very fact a whale, and that Jesus Christ isn't lying. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.240 Let's suppose Jesus told the truth. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:16.880 It would still be reasonable and scientifically demonstrable that a whale could have swallowed Jonah. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.400 You say, prove it. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:21.119 I won't prove it on this program. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.279 You say, why, you can't do it? 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.960 No, I don't have time. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.160 If I had the time, I'd prove it to you today. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:36.880 But since I don't have the time, you will have to tune in next time and we'll finish our study. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.640 We'll pick up right here where we left off. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.319 I won't change the subject. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.079 I won't run away and hide. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:55.839 We'll pick up right here where we left off on the next broadcast with our discussion of the Bible as science, proving the biblical account of Jonah and the whale, to be absolutely factual. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.359 Thanks for tuning in today. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:06.000 Join us every weekday for another episode of the Preaching of the Cross Radio Podcast. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:11.759 For hundreds of hours of in-depth expository Bible teaching, please visit our YouTube channel, James W. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:19.119 Knox Sermons, our sermon audio page, Bible Baptistland, or our website, Bible Baptistoland.com. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:23.839 Until next time and throughout eternity, may Jesus Christ be praised.