I am trying to find the understanding of the phrase "heart of the earth" used in parables in the old testament of Jonas "belly of hell" and the Son of man Jesus "heart of the earth" Just what those phrases both mean and how it is used in relationship to one another "belly of hell" and "heart of the earth".
Heart of the earth would seem to represent the tribulations of natural man as the wickedness of men. Christ coming as that Son of man coming to offer his body as a living sacrifice pleasing to the father who worked with the Son in perfect harmony to one another..
Again "heart of the earth" (not dirt where a person could not breath) would represent the imaginations of men who have no faith needed to hear God. It was given to both Jonas and Jesus as the Son of man .Both cried, both were strengthened by the father to finish the work.
Genesis 6:5And God saw that the
wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually.
In both cases it indicates a living work of suffering. Christ a living sacrifice (Christ cannot die) and as Jonas cried out he was heard and was eased of his tribulation. The same applied to Christ in the garden the beginning of the three day threes night demonstration .
I would suggest it is the opening scene, closing the three day demonstration of the Spirit pouring out its life on Sunday, the first day of the week. The day God said let their be children of light, the new creation
Then saith he unto them,
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying,
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.And he left them, and went away again, and
prayed the third time, saying the same words.Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.Mathew 26:38-
Luke 22:43-45 King James Version (KJV) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
He continued that promised demonstration from the garden to the cross.
Jonah's tribulation as a three day demonstration began the moment Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.Therefore not mixing faith in what he did hear, he hardened his heart.
The word three is used throughout scripture to denote the end of a matter.
Jonah 2 King James Version (KJV)Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.Jonas 2:1-10
He was put in the tomb the afternoon just before the Sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The last day of the Passover week. The tomb was empty Sunday. Using his prophecy the Passover Sabbath was Thursday thus buried Wednesday late afternoon at the latest.
Too many people seem to not understand there are annual Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbath. Passover week starts and ends with annual Sabbaths.