The Sign of Jonah

A Call to 40 Days of Repentance and Consecration

Silas Titus

 

The solar eclipse-a celestial ballet orchestrated by the divine, where the sun and the moon pirouette across the heavens, casting their ethereal glow upon the earth below, passes through seven places, bearing the biblical name Nineveh, and a locale known simply as Jonah, find themselves in the path of totality on April 8^th,2024. It’s as if the cosmic stage is set, with these biblical names woven into the fabric of the eclipse’s journey. We can argue that it is just another celestial phenomenon or a dire warning of a catastrophe or impending judgment. Or is there something more it it?

 

As the solar eclipse draws near, millions will gather to witness this celestial spectacle, each carrying their own interpretation of its significance. Some may see it as a reminder of humanity’s place in the cosmos, while others may view it as a portent of things to come.

 

The eclipse is not the sign of Jonah. The sign is something more than the eclipse. Jesus talked about the sign of Jonah and it can be activated today. This is the reality in every generation until His return.

 

In the book of Genesis, God placed the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. (Genesis 1:14) The sun and moon are not only for seasons, days and years but also for signs. Centuries later, through prophet Haggai He also said “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth”(Haggai 2:21).

 

As I sat down to pen this call for repentance and prayer, the earth itself seemed to echo the urgency of the message. The ground beneath quivered with the force of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that rippled across the northeast of the USA. Was it mere coincidence that this seismic event coincided with the approaching April 8th solar eclipse?

 

As Jesus hung upon the cross, darkness descended upon the land, shrouding the world in an eerie twilight. Some speculate that this darkness was caused by a solar eclipse, adding a celestial dimension to the biblical narrative. And as if the heavens themselves were mourning, the earth trembled with an earthquake, as recounted in Matthew 27:51.

 

Now, fast forward to the present day. The world just celebrated Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. April 8th also heralds the commencement of Nisan, the first month in the Hebrew calendar—a symbolic fresh start, a new beginning. From this celestial alignment to the coming of Pentecost spans exactly 40 days. As we bid farewell to one season and embrace the dawn of a prophetic new year, the call resounds clear: it’s time to separate ourselves in repentance and consecration.

 

Prophet Jonah was sent to preach repentance to the inhabitants of Nineveh. He issued a warning of impending judgment—a mere 40 days for the city to repent and turn from its wicked ways. The message was to become right with God or be overthrown. It literally meant that if you don’t return you will be overturned. God gave Nineveh a warning window time in advance not because he was eager to destroy them rather that they will consider repentance and avoid judgment.  It’s crucial to recall that the Lord’s desire is for all to find salvation, regardless of their background—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor. And lo and behold, the people heeded the call, donning sackcloth and ashes, seeking forgiveness in earnest prayer.

 

Let us set aside 40 days— from April 8th to May 19th, Pentecost Day—as a sacred season of introspection, repentance, and consecration. Just as the people of Nineveh humbled themselves before the divine, let us humble ourselves before our Creator, seeking reconciliation and renewal.

 

The earth may shake, the heavens may darken, but amidst the tumult, there is an invitation—a call to turn back, to realign our hearts with the divine purpose. Let us seize this moment, this sacred window of opportunity, to embark on a journey of spiritual awakening and transformation. The time is now. The choice is ours. Will you heed the call?

 

The Celestial Call

 

As the shadows lengthen and the date April 8th looms, it’s not about predicting darkness or sensationalism; it’s about a fundamental call to action – repentance.

 

One of the first words Jesus spoke when he started His ministry was preaching repentance (Mar 1:15). As the biblical narrative draws to a close, one of His last words in the Bible is to the last church—the church of of Laodecia. The message is to “be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19). Jesus Himself emphasized the need for repentance and to believe the gospel. It’s a common misconception among believers that repentance is solely meant for unbelievers and has no relevance to the body of Christ. In His final messages to the seven churches in Revelation, nearly all were urged to repent. So, let’s not underestimate the importance of repentance within the church. It’s not just for those who are not saved; it’s a vital call to action for each one of us.

 

Over the span of two millennia, the church has become ensnared in an ever-increasing array of distractions, leading to a dilution of the fervent devotion witnessed in its infancy. It is also common in our individual walk with the Lord. We desperately need the zeal that was lost from our first love. His love for us has not been more passionate. However, if this ardor is not reciprocated by His bride, the church, it suggests a crucial element is absent.

 

Repentance comes from wanting to go back to that first love. Hence, His instruction to be zealous to fervently return to the initial love and repent. Repentance, at its core, stems from a desire to return to that initial fervor.

 

Jesus initiated his message of repentance in Galilee and concluded by urging the church to repent. This call for repentance extends across various spheres of society, from places of worship to educational institutions, meeting rooms, and even governmental offices like the White House. The Ninevites’ profound act of humbling themselves, consisted of every one of them from the royal palace to all their domesticated animals refraining from eating or drinking, serves as a stark example of repentance. Today, such a radical display of contrition is rarely seen, even among believers, highlighting the departure from our fervency.

 

Embracing repentance and dedicating ourselves anew is the swiftest route to unlocking breakthroughs and blessings in our lives. Indeed, while daily devotion and prayer are essential, sometimes daringly embracing what may seem foolish for the sake of good can swiftly alleviate the burdens we tirelessly carry. Regardless of the specific outcomes of a given day, if we collectively acknowledge the need for repentance, we stand to lose nothing and gain immeasurable spiritual riches. Let’s seize this moment to recommit ourselves to a path of repentance, knowing that in doing so, we open ourselves to a flood of divine blessings and transformation.

 

Before God administers correction to others, He prioritizes the discipline of His own. Consider why a parent would discipline a neighbor’s child before addressing their own. According to 1 Peter 4:17, it’s emphasized that judgment commences within the household of God. The verse raises a pertinent question: If correction begins with us, how will those who neglect to obey God’s teachings fare? This prompts us to question the logic of waiting for calamity or judgment to strike before repenting, rather than proactively engaging in repentance and consecration.

 

Resistance to repentance is a universal phenomenon, observed among both believers and unbelievers. While repentance is beneficial for the soul, it often encounters opposition from the desires of the flesh. The final mention of the word “repent” in the Bible occurs in Revelation 16:11, depicting individuals who, despite experiencing pain and suffering, refuse to repent of their deeds. This passage alludes to the battle at Armageddon, occurring on the great day of God Almighty. In light of this, it’s unsurprising that a significant number of people persist in their refusal to repent, even amidst profound tribulation. Rather than being discouraged by this reality, it’s preferable to align oneself with those who are actively repenting and being saved.

 

Not all in the church will respond the same to the call for repentance and consecration. It is okay if it is only a few. God would rather have a few than masses. Just as we would prefer a loving family over a large one, God prioritizes those who are fully committed to Him. In the case of Gideon, God intentionally asked Gideon to downsize his people, not because God didn’t care for the rest of them but He would rather work with the ones who are hundred percent sold out to Him. In the case of Gideon, this amounted to a mere 300 individuals who became the Gideon’s army.

 

Biblical scholar Donald Wiseman has proposed a theory suggesting that an eclipse occurred when Jonah arrived in Nineveh in June of 763 BC, potentially serving as a catalyst for the people to repent to avoid the city’s destruction. Known as the Bur-Sagale eclipse, it cast its shadow over the Assyrian capital of Nineveh during the reign of Jeroboam II, coinciding with Jonah’s prophetic ministry.

 

In ancient cultures, eclipses were often interpreted as omens of impending disaster, and Nineveh was experiencing turmoil during this period, grappling with internal revolts, famine, and outbreaks of plague. This could have played a role in prompting repentance among the people of Nineveh. Despite not adhering to the beliefs of the God of Israel, their proficiency in astronomy and celestial observation likely led them to take the eclipse as a significant sign, prompting them to respond earnestly. Prophet Amos also makes reference to eclipses in Amos 5:8 and Amos 8:5,9, using it as a warning of doom and urging the Judeans to repentance.

 

A Sign Seeking Generation

 

Ultimately, Nineveh heeded the call for repentance. Even Jesus, in His ministry, emphasized the remarkable repentance of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah. In the days of Jesus, when the scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign from Him, Jesus responded with these words: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:39). Just as in Jesus’s time, today there are still those who prioritize signs over repentance. He distinguished between two groups of people: those who perpetually seek signs from God.

 

The first group encompasses what Jesus refers to as the “evil generation,” consisting of those who remain unregenerate in the world. These individuals, non-believers who exist outside the ecclesia, or the church, are akin to the Ninevites who were not part of the covenant with the God of Israel.

 

The second group seeking signs is categorized by Jesus as the “adulterous generation.” This consists of the unbelievers and backsliding both from within the church. Though they are the called ones, they struggle to fully commit to trust and intimacy with Godand intimacy with God. It is likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot.

 

Jonah served as a sign to the Ninevites, embodying a profound symbol. What exactly was this sign of Jonah? Consider this: Jonah spent three days and three nights within the belly of a fish, just as Jesus would later spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, entombed (Matthew 12:40). Hence, upon Jonah’s arrival in Nineveh, its inhabitants already identified him as the renowned disobedient prophet of Israel, renowned for his own miraculous survival story. Moreover, Jonah’s emergence alive from the belly of the fish was nothing short of a living miracle, and the Ninevites perceived this as far from coincidental. He was entrusted with delivering a vital message to them, further emphasizing the significance of his miraculous survival.

 

It demonstrated to the Ninevites the depth of God’s concern for them, as He redirected the path of a disobedient prophet to deliver His message. Jonah’s extraordinary experience within the belly of the fish underscored the lengths to which God would go to offer them a message of hope, contingent upon their repentance. The testimony of Jonah himself served as a compelling enough sign for the Ninevites to embrace repentance and humble themselves before God.

 

 

The term “Yhwh” signifies the God of covenant. Jonah was tasked with delivering the word of Yhwh to Nineveh, despite the fact that its people did not have a covenant relationship with the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the Bible records that the Ninevites repented and placed their faith in God.

 

Jesus applauds Nineveh’s right response despite their lack of covenant relationship with Yhwh. But Jesus came to His own covenant people and they had hard time repenting or believing. The generation in Jesus’s times who were seeking for more signs while the Ninevites believed the words of Jonah and God without any demonstration of further signs. Here is Jesus who is greater than Jonah. But people hardly recognized or believed Him. Still today that is the case. We are looking for more signs but have hard time to receive His words of repentance (Luke 11:32).

 

The parallel between Jesus and Jonah extends beyond their missions to include celestial signs. Recent astronomical calculations, aligning with biblical and historical references, have revealed lunar and solar eclipses following the Crucifixion.

 

800 years prior to Jesus, Prophet Joel foresaw a prophecy stating that “the sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes” (Joel 2:31). This prophetic event coincided with Jesus’s crucifixion, occurring just before the arrival of Pentecost, the great and awesome day mentioned by Joel. Preceding this significant day is the preaching of repentance by John the Baptist, who symbolically represented Elijah (Malachi 4:5). Furthermore, Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances over the 40 days before His ascension into the presence of God were markedly different from His earthly ministry. With the undeniable evidence of His resurrected body, Jesus continued to preach repentance to His disciples, ultimately leading them to experience the extraordinary encounter of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

Jonah came as a changed man from the belly of the fish. His famous prayer of repentance in Jonah 2 was transformational to God bringing him back to his destiny from what he was running away from. Through repentance God turned the course in his life. After Jesus ascension, as the disciples waited in repantance and consecration, they had no clue that they were only a few days away from one of the most spectacular visitation that happened to the church. Their lives were changed, that they started preaching repentance empowered by the Holy Spirit thereon. The very first day of the great and awesome day of the Lord Joel prophesied, 3000 souls were added to the church. That was the outcome of the awesome day, followed by the sign in the sky. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved (Joel 2:32).

Fruits of Repentance

 

Imagine if, in response to our call for repentance and consecration, God not only extends His mercy but also brings forth the fruits of repentance and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as promised. To achieve this, we must undergo a process akin to death, Sabbath, and resurrection, akin to what Jonah, Jesus, and the disciples experienced. Our lives, transformed through repentance, become a sign akin to Jonah for our generation. There are no greater fruits than those of repentance, manifest in changed lives through salvation which is the great harvest. This is not only God’s desired outcome but ours as well.

For those who miss the time of repentance during this sign, there awaits another sign at His next appearing. He prophesied that in Matthew 24:29 and John confirmed that it will happen during the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” This sign precedes His glorious appearing which is another great and terrible day.

At times, believers eagerly awaiting Jesus and His glory become overly focused on signs, potentially missing our true purpose. Rather than fixating solely on signs, our excitement should stem from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His presence which is the purpose of the sign. Instead of becoming entangled in peripheral matters, our primary focus should be on responding appropriately to the Lord’s call, which will ultimately lead to His manifestation through repentance.

Before we can repent we need a hunger a thirst for the righteousness. There need to be more than a desire, a deep longing for the outpouring. May be God can pour that out first on us. The picture of such longing and repentance is depicted in Amos 8:10-11, I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation;   I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head;  I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when  I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,   but of hearing the words of the LORD. Take, for example, the disciples, who experienced such a significant blow to their morale following Jesus’ death that it required the ensuing 40 days for them to cultivate a renewed sense of expectation and anticipation for the great and awesome day of the Lord they were about to see.

During these 40 days of consecration, we pass through Passover time coinciding with the month of Nisan. It not only signifies our spiritual crossing over from bondage to salvation in the Lord. Passover also marks the Israelites’ transition from Egyptian worship practices to a new way of worship in the Promised Land. It signifies a call for the church to embrace a new form of worship and mindset, transitioning from church in the old season and struggles of our bondages to a time of refreshing. It also represents a shift in leadership, with new guards replacing the old, and a transformation in the church framework, moving towards the apostolic fivefold model. Even Jesus’s ministry rocked the status-quo religion in His days. (Matthew 21:32)

The outcome of answering the call to consecration and repentance is the key to a triumphant church. This is the church that Jesus foresaw, one that the forces of darkness cannot withstand or overcome (Matthew 16:18). It echoes the advice Jesus imparted to the seven churches in the concluding passages of Revelation, emphasizing the importance of overcoming. The 40-day prayer journey serves as a period of consecration, during which the Lord delivers us from personal struggles, ensuring that the enemy cannot obstruct the fulfillment of God’s intentions for us, just as He birthed the ecclesia.

By delaying judgment and not punishing immediately all God is doing is being patient and giving more time so that they can be saved. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). Repentance always precedes times of refreshing from His presence. Consecration and repentance cycle result in favorable times of refreshing from the Lord.

Whatever Will Be, Will Be

 

There will inevitably be a sizable contingent echoing the sentiment of “que sera, sera,” which translates to “whatever will be, will be.” They might question, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation,” as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:4-5. They intentionally overlook the reality that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. Their outlook suggests a belief that things will remain unchanged, adopting an attitude of resignation. Whether something significant occurs on April 8th or not is secondary; what truly matters is how we choose to respond to the Lord, regardless of the day or hour.

The act of repentance by the Ninevites resulted in an extension of the impending judgment upon Nineveh by 200 years, as they turned towards contrition. However, when they later reverted to their former ways, divine judgment ultimately befell them, leading to the city’s demise.

The playbook remains largely unchanged. Those who repent will be spared, while those who disregard the warning will face the consequences.

The role of the eccleisa is to lead the way in repentance, as outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14, in order to bring healing to the land and their communities. Ecclesia is the one that is identified by His name today. The land takes a brunt of unrighteous dealings from its people.

The believers’ response to the corruption and injustice surrounding them can often be one of anger and bitterness. Just like Jonah, who desired to fulfill God’s will yet struggled with the notion that Nineveh, Israel’s adversary, repented and escaped imminent judgment. As a church, when we earnestly seek God and pour out our hearts to Him, do we genuinely rejoice when our adversaries, who have caused us great difficulty, repent and return to God? At times, we may find ourselves preferring their demise and removal from our paths. This internal conflict is one that many prayer warriors grapple with in prayer.

Today is the day of salvation and favor. You see, as it says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” It’s like a wake-up call, reminding us that the moment is ripe to repent, and the kingdom of God is within reach. So, what’s the right response? It’s always about repentance, humility, and consecration, right here, right now.

We’re living in a time when every day matters. The clock is ticking, and the kingdom of God is knocking at our door. It’s crucial not to delay. As Bible reminds us, “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Every day is an opportunity to respond to His call. The right response is always to repent and humble and come in consecration today. Everyday is today.

So, here’s a challenge: Can we commit to this practice for the next 40 days? Let’s embark on a journey of softening our hearts, tuning in to hear His voice clearly, and obeying Him without hesitation. It’s a step-by-step process, but imagine the transformation that can take place if we truly open ourselves up to His guidance. Let’s start today, and let His grace guide us through each day ahead.

Sure, tomorrow might seem promising, but let’s not overlook the importance of today when it comes to listening and obeying the Lord. You see, the realm of eternity operates independently from time. It’s at its most potent in the present moment. That’s where His presence is most palpable.

When we’re fully immersed in the present, that’s when we truly experience His glory, His kabod. There’s no better time to encounter His majesty than in the here and now. Moreover, believers who walk in this covenant of repentance are also called to walk everyday in the covenant of resurrection power in Christ. Just like the sign of Jonah, the sign of the power of his resurrection was the sure sign of His power to save humanity from the power of death and hell. As we preach repentance today, the power of resurrection of Christ is the sign for people to believe the truth of God’s word.