I mentioned a few posts back that Ronald Weinland would use the Jonah defense as an excuse for failed prophecy, but the book of Jonah is not a
prophetic book. Ron is doing this now in his sermons, in his new book there will be chapter devoted to this excuse.
What do I mean when I say Jonah is NOT a prophetic book?
The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book, “prophesy” (verb form) is from H5012, it means to speak with inspiration (of Holy Spirit) or to predict
(by power of Holy Spirit). It is used 36 times in this one book.
Phrases like “Eze 11:4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. ” are used throughout book. It is a prophetic book, all the
prophecies conclude with the Temple and a millennial setting.
I personally do not believe prophecies are conditional. What I mean is that there are accounts in the bible where God is making a judgment (NOT a
prophecy) against a person, and that person repents and then God relents on His judgment that He was going to execute upon this person. Not everything
God says is automatically a “prophecy”. You have to carefully read the text.
NOW NOTICE! Nowhere in Jonah, is Jonah told to prophesy against Ninevah!
Jonah is told to “cry” (announce, preach, indict, call out, cry against) Ninevah about her sins. NOT PROPHESY.
Before “fish”
Jon 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry(H7121) against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
After “fish” vomits him out
Jon 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach(H7121) unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
IT WAS A JUDGMENT AGAINST NINEVAH, which was conditional if they repented.
Nowhere is the word “prophesy”(H5012) used in Jonah at all, ONLY “cry”(H7121) is used.
Jonah is a book about a judgment that God was going to perform upon Ninevah if they didn’t repent, they did, God relented.
edit on 17-1-2016
by SirPaulMuaddib because: (no reason given)