This winter is the second anniversary of the single biggest snowstorm on record for at least six locations in the East including BWI Airport. The official snow depth was 29.2 inches.
The name "Winter Storm Jonas" of Jan. 21-23, 2016, was created by the Weather Channel at the beginning of the winter season and assigned when it was forecast a week in advance. The spectacular accuracy of predicting weather conditions over 3,000 miles away is a testimony to the modern science of meteorology, yet the Bible compares it to spiritual blindness.
The Jewish leaders in Jesus' day could forecast the weather, yet could not see the "Signs of the times" in which they were living. In Matthew 12:38 it is recorded, "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from thee." But he answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Matthew 16:1 - The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them. "When it is evening, ye say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.' O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky: but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas." And he left them and departed.
The apostle Paul writes, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which ye are saved...." First Corinthians 15:1. "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." I Corinthians 15:3,4
Therefore, Jonah is a remarkable type of Christ in that He willingly sacrificed Himself in order to save the ship and then miraculously rose again to bring salvation to the Gentile, pagan city of Ninava.
It would be a shame for us to miss the message so well timed for our modern day. This record-breaking storm was a three day event and captured every news outlet around the world, yet few see the significance.