How long did Jesus truly spend in the grave? What seems like a simple question has led many Christians into confusion, controversy, and even division. Matthew 12:40 speaks of “three days and three nights,” yet the gospel accounts place the crucifixion late Friday afternoon and the resurrection early Sunday morning. How do these details fit together?
In Jesus in the Heart of the Earth, Louis R. Torres takes readers step-by-step through every relevant biblical passage to uncover a simple, harmonious explanation. Rather than building doctrine on a single verse, he compares all of Scripture—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and the Old Testament types—to reveal exactly what Jesus meant.
You’ll learn:
• Why a literal 72-hour timeline cannot fit the gospel chronology
• How Luke’s writings provide the key to solving the dilemma
• Why the Bible writers emphasized “the third day” rather than a precise hour count
• How ancient Hebrew inclusive reckoning explains the expression “three days and three nights”
• Why the resurrection itself—not the duration—is the true focus of the prophecy
Dr. Torres even walks through alternative theories and carefully shows, using Scripture alone, why they fail to align with the inspired record. His conclusion is clear: the Bible teaches an inclusive reckoning of time — meaning Jesus rose “on the third day,” exactly as foretold.
Most importantly, this sharing book ends with a beautiful appeal: the One who conquered the grave offers that same resurrection hope to every person today. If you’ve wrestled with this question, or know someone who has, you’ll find clear answers and a stronger confidence in the reliability of God’s Word.
ISBN: 978-1-629130-03-3
Pages: 32, paperback
Dimensions: 3.5 x 5.5 inches