Herbert W Armstrong

Does Matthew chapter 12 concerning Jesus’s resurrection and the “sign” of Jonah have to mean exactly 72 hours? Please note in a separate Post I have addressed the Wednesday crucifixion theory. This Armstrong doctrine is used to criticize the 'world's churches' for celebrating the Friday crucifixion.  I found there are no strong grounds for Wednesday and set out the reasons.  This particular blog focusses on Matthew 12,   ‘’ For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” These words are the basis of a theory which holds that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, and resurrected exactly 72 hours later on the sabbath towards sunset. Whether it was a historical fact that Jonah did spend exactly seventy two hours inside a large fish we of course do not know. Jesus referred to this event, but He does not state explicitly that His citation affirms the historical c...

Armstrong, his Worldwide Church of God, and the many offshoots in existence today, insist on a Wednesday crucifixion. A Wednesday crucifixion idea is also held by other churches, not only Armstrong organizations.  Armstrong uses it to criticize the more commonly held belief of Friday.  It is important to address the counting method associated with this theory which requires there be a third night, based on Matthew chapter 12 (Jonah). This verse is emphasized  by the proponents of the Wednesday crucifixion, and it is critical to consider whether their counting method is supported by the scriptures/custom generally. All of the other verses concerning the timing of the crucifixion need to be considered.   I examine the theory  in this link . It takes you to a Post I have made on Quora.  There is another commentary within my Blog site wherein I examine Matthew chapter 12 in some more detail.