I don't always spiritualize the weather.  I am usually grateful for snow because it adds nitrogen to the soil.  I love the gentle rains of Spring because they water my young plants and fruit trees.  However, there are some times when I become keenly aware that weather is a prophetic sign that something significant is happening in the Spirit realm.

This is a Biblical concept.  In the scriptures, the storm that came when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal was a storm of blessing from the Lord which broke a terrible drought.  We know both the drought and the storm were rooted in spiritual realities because they both came through Elijah's prophetic words and actions (See 1 Kings 17-18).  Likewise, when a terrible storm arose over the Sea of Galilee, Jesus rebuked it and said, "Peace!  Be still!" because this storm was demonic in nature (see Mark 4:35-41). 

Usually, weather is unremarkable.  Jesus said that the Father, "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)  For this reason, we don't have to be bothered with trying to find a "prophetic" purpose behind normal weather patterns.  However, extreme and unprecedented weather should activate us to pray and seek the Lord for clear prophetic insight.

Christ gave us some basic keys for discerning extreme weather and having a Biblical response to it:

Key #1: We need to discern when extreme weather is a sign from the Lord.

Jesus clearly rebuked the Pharisees for being able to forecast the weather but not knowing the signs of the times.  Jesus told them: 

“When it is evening you 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 threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." (Matthew 16:2-3 NIV)

Today, we have the best forecasting technology imaginable.  However, it's not enough to know when a tornado threat exists or a category five hurricane is coming.  We need to have prophetic discernment so that we'll know how to pray.  Sometimes the weather actually is a sign of the times.  In these cases, we need to discern what's happening, why it's happening, and how we should respond in prayer or prophetic declaration.  

Sometimes, the names of storms, the shape of storms, the location they target, and the date that they arrive can be spiritually significant.  However, true spiritual discernment is developed only through practice, discipleship, and experience.  For this reason, it is a good idea for intercessors to communicate with each other, form teams, and actually talk about how they are interpreting extreme weather events.  This helps prayer groups to develop a prophetic consensus and disciple new intercessors at the same time.  

Key #2: Jesus rebuked a destructive storm as an example for us.

Extremely destructive storms are usually demonic in nature.  The Bible makes it clear that "God takes no pleasure" in evil (Psalm 5:4).  Jesus rebuked a destructive storm as an example for us, so that we would learn to do the same thing.  This is why as soon as he finished calming the storm, he turned to his disciples and said:

"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Jesus was frustrated because his disciples were cowering with fear from the storm when they should have been rebuking it.  When we see terrifying weather events unfolding, it's tempting to simply cower in fear.  However, the most Biblical response that we can have is to speak peace and calm to the weather.  Anyone can pray a simple prayer of petition and we need more people who will commit to petition the Father when turbulent weather comes.  However, we will have more authority to command the weather when we begin to walk in a higher level of prophetic revelation and wisdom, just as Jesus and Elijah did.

Key #3: Be on the lookout for "signs in the heavens"

The Father will often bring "signs in the heavens" to confirm prophetic words.  I have often seen rainbows appear when God was about to reveal himself in a new way.  A few times, I have even heard thunder crash right over my head when I was in deep intercession.  My mother has seen recurring images of "holes in the clouds" or "glory portals," which signify heaven opening near the house of prayer that my parents recently built. In these kinds of cases, extreme weather, unique weather events, and cloud formations can give us important confirmation that we're on the right track. Even color can be important.  For example, If the heavens look like they are on fire, then you might be seeing an indication that God's about to move in a "fiery way."

It is no accident that Joel prophesied that we'll see more "signs in the heavens" in the very same chapter that he prophesied that the Holy Spirit would be "poured out upon all flesh" (see Joel chapter 2).  The Father will often confirm what he is saying with signs in nature.  We simply need to remember to look up.  


Most people miss what God is saying through the heavens because they spend too much time watching television.  It's time to re-discover nature so that we can re-discover what the Father is saying through it.  

I have included some pictures in the margin to illustrate my own journey with understanding extreme weather and signs in the heavens.  

John Paul Jackson went to be with the Lord on February 18, 2015.  I was led to look up Isaiah 21:8 because it corresponds to the date of 2/18. Here's what I found:

"Then he cried "A lion, my Lord!  I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night." (Isaiah 21:8 NKJV)

John Paul Jackson was a holy lion that God gave to the Body of Christ.  He moved in power, authority, signs, and wonders.  He also carried a remarkable prophetic and teaching gift.  The best way that we can honor his life is by walking with God in the same way that he did.  The truth is that every one of us can also become a lion or lioness who moves in power if we learn to hear from God clearly and become friends of God, which were the core messages of John Paul's life and ministry.

Whenever a significant leader in the Body of Christ is taken home, it serves as a prophetic sign that God is doing something new.  However, it also leads us to re-examine the message that they carried with renewed interest.

John Paul's ministry was primarily dedicated to restoring the prophetic gift to the Body of Christ.  However, his teaching was always carefully grounded in the scriptures and in loving friendship with God.  As we move forward into the future, we will need these foundations firmly established in our own lives.

Some of John Paul's most important messages were his teachings on "the Perfect Storm" and his "prophetic headlines." I consider these warnings of coming judgement from the throne of God to be the high mark of his calling as a prophetic watchman.  His passing should remind us to dig more deeply into what the Lord spoke through Him so that we can dedicate our own lives as prophetic and intercessory watchmen in the days ahead.

One watchman has left his post on earth and has found a higher watchman's post in heaven.  Now it is time for us to "sit at our post" in the night hours and declare what the Lord is saying.  

John Paul's teachings and prophecies can be viewed and/or purchased at: http://www.streamsministries.com/  


I strongly recommend the "Perfect Storm" DVD: