There have been various explanations of the mysterious phrase "Sign of Jonah"
Some links are:
http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/what-is-the-sign-of-jonah-and-has-it-come-upon-us/
https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/75/t/the-sign-of-jonah
https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2009/march-april/the-sign-of-jonah
https://bible.org/seriespage/19-sign-jonah-matthew-1238-45
https://www.gotquestions.org/sign-of-Jonah.html
Recently however, with the news of the Eclipse of Aug 2017, there are other interpretations that the sign of Jonah could be the Eclipse that happened around 763BC (fact check please). During that period there were wars and disease outbreak in Nineveh. So these events plus the eclipse may cause the Ninevites to have a repentant heart just before Jonah arrived. So the sign here is pointing to the eclipse as the sign of Jonah. This seems a very plausible explanation.
However, the Word of God (ie the Bible), can stand alone, although it can be verified by external facts. So using the Bible to explain itself, here is the original passage:
Luke 11:29-32 The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:39-42
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
Some links are:
http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/what-is-the-sign-of-jonah-and-has-it-come-upon-us/
https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/75/t/the-sign-of-jonah
https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2009/march-april/the-sign-of-jonah
https://bible.org/seriespage/19-sign-jonah-matthew-1238-45
https://www.gotquestions.org/sign-of-Jonah.html
Recently however, with the news of the Eclipse of Aug 2017, there are other interpretations that the sign of Jonah could be the Eclipse that happened around 763BC (fact check please). During that period there were wars and disease outbreak in Nineveh. So these events plus the eclipse may cause the Ninevites to have a repentant heart just before Jonah arrived. So the sign here is pointing to the eclipse as the sign of Jonah. This seems a very plausible explanation.
However, the Word of God (ie the Bible), can stand alone, although it can be verified by external facts. So using the Bible to explain itself, here is the original passage:
Luke 11:29-32 The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:39-42
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
