Was Jonah a false prophet?

[Guest]

When confronted with his many prophecies that have failed to come to pass, Benny Hinn supporters often hit back by saying that Jonah also made a prophecy which didn't come to pass (i.e. Ninevah would be overthrown in 40 days). "Thus", so the reasoning goes, "if Hinn is a false prophet, then so was Jonah."

Any thoughts anyone?

[Guest]

Jonah's prohecy was conditional, if I'm not mistaken. The people of Ninevah actually listened to his warning and repented, thus God spared them punishment. But let me address their defense of Hinn for a moment. What can we conclude from their argument? The only logical thing we can assume is that God's prophets are right sometimes and wrong sometimes. So what sets them apart from other "prophets" and psychics who are correct sometimes and wrong sometimes?

Call me crazy but I'm of the opinion that God doesn't make mistakes or get confused. If someone claims to be speaking a word from God and is later proven wrong then he is, by any definition, a false prophet. If Hinn predits something that doesn't happen then either God gave a false prophecy or Benny Hinn gave a false prophecy. The reason a true prophet of God can never be wrong is because it proves he's actually speaking from God. If Hinn is occasionaly wrong then who is he getting his information from?

Hinn made statements that all homosexuals would be killed by 1995 (I think it was that year). It seems to me that his prophecy is different from Jonah's because as near as I can tell, the homosexual population has not repented and obviously are still here. So if God planned to wipe them off the face of the planet, then what prevented him from doing so? Guys like Benny Hinn may be genuine Christians but I have serious concerns.

[Guest]

"if Hinn is a false prophet, then so was Jonah."

That's a comforting thought.

I would ask them this question. Why ever believe Benny Hinn if you don't know if what he says will come to pass or not? I mean, why not just ignore him? Pointing to someone else who you think is a false prophet doesn't make it ok for you to be one.

So about Jonah. What makes him a false prophet?
I think people need to familiarize themselves with the nature of God in His revealed word and then they would understand Jonah's prophecy.

Jeremiah 18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 18:7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,
Jer 18:8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
Jer 18:9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
Jer 18:10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.

[Guest]

So about Jonah. What makes him a false prophet?
I think people need to familiarize themselves with the nature of God in His revealed word and then they would understand Jonah's prophecy.

Jeremiah 18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 18:7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,
Jer 18:8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
Jer 18:9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
Jer 18:10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.

Excellent - thanks for that Scripture Sean

On the same night as the prophecy about homosexuals http://biblelight.net/BENNY-HINN-HOMOSEXUALS.ram , Hinn also gave the following:

"An earthquake will hit the east coast of America and destroy much in the 90's" and "The Spirit tells me, Fidel Castro will die in the 90's. (Ooh my.) Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power." http://biblelight.net/BENNY-HINN-ON-CASTRO-DYING.ram

read the whole transcript: http://www.christianresearchservice.com/BHinn1.htm

Thanks again

[Guest]

Jonah was not a false prophet. God changed His mind when the people of Ninevah repented, and He chose not to destroy the city.

It is not the only time that God changed His mind. He also "repented" that He had made man, when He saw how wicked people had become, prior to His sending the flood.

God also responds to people's choices, and often gives commands which are not in accord with His primary will. An example is the matter of Israel having demanded a king like the other nations. God said, "You would not have me to rule over you!" And God told them about the unhappy results of having a king. Nevertheless, they insisted. So God then commanded them to chose Saul.

[Guest]

If you want to get a better idea of who Benny Hinn really is, watch the documentary at the link http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html

His abuse of the gospel for personal profit will make your stomach turn.

Hopefully he will repent before he meets Christ at the judgement. Either way I wouldn't want to be in his shoes!

[Guest]

When confronted with his many prophecies that have failed to come to pass, Benny Hinn supporters often hit back by saying that Jonah also made a prophecy which didn't come to pass (i.e. Ninevah would be overthrown in 40 days). "Thus", so the reasoning goes, "if Hinn is a false prophet, then so was Jonah."

Any thoughts anyone?

Jonah's prophecy was very much conditional. If the people didn't repent then the prophecy would happen, if they did repent which they did, the prophecy would not happen.

[Guest]

Jonah was not a false prophet. God changed His mind when the people of Ninevah repented, and He chose not to destroy the city.

It is not the only time that God changed His mind. He also "repented" that He had made man, when He saw how wicked people had become, prior to His sending the flood.

God also responds to people's choices, and often gives commands which are not in accord with His primary will. An example is the matter of Israel having demanded a king like the other nations. God said, "You would not have me to rule over you!" And God told them about the unhappy results of having a king. Nevertheless, they insisted. So God then commanded them to chose Saul.

Paidion is right, Jonah was a true prophet of God. To understand more about Benny Hinn and the false statements he has made involves a lot of years of deceit and falsehood. You cannot hang it on one thing that he has said or done. Years ago I used to openly rebuke and exspose him, but through wisdom and knowledge I have learned that God has exsposed him and will continue to make his foley known, especially His elect.

[Guest]

Two persons in this thread have stated that Jonah's prophecy was conditional. There is no scriptural evidence that this was the case.
I think this idea has been set forth to save Jonah from disrepute.
He needs no such saving.

As I see it, when God looked on the hearts of the Ninevites, all indications were that they would not repent. So God, through Jonah, gave them the unconditional statement: "Yet forty days, and Ninevah will be destroyed."

However, no one can know in advance what a free will agent will choose ---not even God. A statement about the choices of free will agents, such as, "The Ninevites will repent" has no truth value NOW. If it were true now, then the Ninevites would have had no choice. They would have of necessity repented. On the other hand, if it were false now, then the Ninevites would have had no choice. They could not have repented. So this statement (and all other statements) about what free will agents will choose, is neither true nor false NOW. It becomes true or false after the choice is made.

When God saw that the Ninevites repented, He changed His mind about what He had intended to do to the Ninevites. This is not the only time He did this. I can give you other examples.

[Guest]

However, no one can know in advance what a free will agent will choose ---not even God

So Paidion, how did Jesus know Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed?