During Christ’s resurrection, the sign of Jonah applied to the LORD and the saints of old. I am not saying that all the saints of old have already being raised, for even if only a little portion of them were raised, their resurrection is enough for the rest to wait faithfully for their turn. However, the sign of Jonah of the end times will focus on the Christian believers from the beginning of Christianity until the second coming of the LORD. (1 The 4:13-18) “[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” KJV. If the LORD raised the saints of old, HE would raise us as well for this is HIS promise. HE didn’t fail the saints of old and HE will not fail us.
Finaly, for those who are alive and remain, how would they be part of the sign of Jonah of the end times? Would they dig their own graves and wait three days inside them? No, there needs to be a worldwide three days of darkness, for there are Christian believers everywhere. During those three days the living Christians would have to remain inside their houses, anointing doors and windows, covering the windows and in complete darkness. I am not sure if having a candle is a good idea, for the LORD and the saints of old remained in their tombs in complete darkness. Why should we have to light candles? I don’t agree with that part of the catholic prophecy. The three days of darkness are an important part in the process of our sanctification. During CHRIST’S resurrection, the unbelievers were not part of it, only the saints of old; and they won’t be part of it during the end times either. As they saw the saints of old coming out of their tombs so they will see us ascending into heaven at the rapture, which will be after the three days of darkness.
There are a bunch of events during the tribulation period that occur at about the same time as the end times sign of Jonah.
(Mat 24:15-21) “[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” KJV. From these verses we know that the abomination of desolation, the escape of Israel into the wilderness, and the start of the great tribulation happen at about the same time.
These verses are parallel to these other verses:
(Rev 12:6-9) “[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” KJV. The escape of Israel into the wilderness occurs when Satan and his angels fall to earth as in (Rev 6:13).
In (Rev 11:7-8) “[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. [8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” KJV. These events will happen once the antichrist is resurrected. He will kill the two witnesses in the streets of Jerusalem, where our LORD was crucified.
Also in (Rev 11:11-14) “[11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. [12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. [14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” KJV. Three and a half days will pass until the two witnesses resurrect. Even though it is not expressly said, I believe this are the three days of darkness. And right after their resurrection, the two witnesses will be raptured into heaven, and also all those who believed in the blood of the LAMB and in the word of their testimony.
(Rev 12:10-12) “[10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” KJV. The Jews and gentiles that believed that JESUS’ sacrifice was enough for their salvation, and also in the testimony of the two witnesses will be taken to heaven before the start of Jacob’s trouble or the great tribulation. Only the Jews who still resist accepting their messiah and the unbelieving gentiles will remain on earth during the last three and a half years. This is the period of the reign of the antichrist and the imposition of the mark of the beast.
Finally, coming back to the three days of darkness connection, we have the following passages:
In (Luk 17:28-30) “[28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” KJV.
The day that the son of man is Revealed (Rev 6:14,16) is when the Jews must escape to the wilderness if they didn’t accept the LORD, or to the three days of darkness if they believed. This gets clearer with the next verses, (Luk 17: 31-33) “[31] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. [32] Remember Lot’s wife. [33] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” KJV. Those who haven’t accepted the LORD yet must escape into the wilderness without delay. Those who have accepted the LORD must go inside their households for the three days of darkness approach, but not to hide but to resurrect into eternity, for we will lose this life but obtain the promise of eternal life. If you go inside your dwellings escaping the evil spirits, you will lose your life. May be the most important part of these verses is the beginning, “In that day.” This is when you make your final choice to avoid the great tribulation.
This understanding is confirmed by the next few verses on this chapter:
(Luk 17:34-37) “[34] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. [35] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [36] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [37] And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” KJV. Here the verse starts with in that night, the escaping into the wilderness happened during the daytime, then why are there people at home, and other places that have not escaped during the nighttime? Those who did not escape might be because they still reject the LORD and are not watching the signs or accepted the LORD and remained at home for the three days of darkness. Remember that it is dark after the day the LORD was revealed (Rev 6:14,16). Those taken are not taken to heaven but to destruction by the evil spirits during the three days of darkness.
I think I have to be perfectly clear that this sign of Jonah and the three days of darkness will happen when the LORD is revealed as in (Rev 6:14,16) “[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places… ;[16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:” KJV.
All these events happen at mid-tribulation, just when the testimony of the two witnesses has ended. All these are the signs of a mid-tribulation rapture, but not the only one. Since we, the Christian believers have not been appointed unto wrath (1 The 5:9), “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” KJV. These means that the Rapture of the Church has to happen before the sounding of the first Trumpet, for the trumpets are the wrath of GOD. Please read the post the Wrath of GOD and the seven bowls to understand this concept.
GOD bless you and keep you
