Page 81 - BV7

WORKING SALVATION IN THE MIDST [HEART] OF THE EARTH" (Psalm 74:12; Ezekiel
38:12). "THIS IS JERUSALEM: I HAVE SET IT IN THE MIDST [HEART] of the nations and
countries that are round about her" (Ezekiel 5:5).

As Jonah was thrown into the sea, so Yeshua was "betrayed," "delivered into the hands of
sinful men" (Luke 24:7), "delivered unto the Gentiles" (Luke 18:32), rejected, abandoned, forsaken
of YEHOVAH (Luke 17:20; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). AS JO-
NAH WAS SWALLOWED BY THE GREAT FISH, SO YESHUA WAS SWALLOWED BY THE
EVIL WHICH SURROUNDED HIM. He was left to battle with Satan and all the demons -- and
with men under their control.

Verses which specify "the third day" include those things which Yeshua must suffer -- not
simply his death. The whole process of humiliation was included in this "belly of the fish" experi-
ence (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:12; Luke 9:22 and Luke 17:25). To the mob near the
garden, Yeshua said, "THIS IS YOUR HOUR, AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS" (Luke
22:53). "BEHOLD THE HOUR IS AT HAND, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners" (Matthew 26:46). "THE HOUR" begins with the kiss of Judas. From the kiss of Judas on
the evening portion of the Preparation Day, to the earthquake just before dawn on the first day of
the week -- "three days AND three nights" without the protection of YEHOVAH his Father -- he
was left in the HEART OF THE EARTH.

Night 1: Evening portion of the Preparation Day: Taken and tried.

Day 1: Preparation Day: Scourged and crucified.

Night 2: Evening portion of the Sabbath/Passover day: Sleeping in death.

Day 2: Sabbath/Passover Day: Sleeping in death.

Night 3: Evening portion of the first day of the week: Sleeping in death.

Day 3: First day of the week at dawn: Raised from the dead.

At the conclusion of this article it should be mentioned that at the time of Yeshua, and for
several centuries thereafter, the Jews did not name their days -- this was a custom later introduced
by Roman influence. The Jews simply called the days "the first day of the week," "the second day
of the week"... "the Preparation Day," and "the Sabbath." We really have no way of knowing on
what days of the week in our Gregorian calendar of today that the "Preparation Day," "the Sab-
bath" or "the first day of the week" fell on during Yeshua's last days on earth. For more information
read our article, Have We Been Observing the Sabbath At the Wrong Time All These Years?

81