Still Waiting

Christians in our Israel Nations have been praying for a revival for fifty years and are still waiting. However, this does not mean God is not working in our world. There were significant actions of God in the last few years and especially in 2022.

In 2020 a Christian organization called Operation World reported that the fastest growing Christian community in the world was in Iran. At the time Open Doors USA reported that there were probably about 800,000 Christians in Iran. Most of them meet in home churches and receive the Gospel by internet or satellite television. Going back to 2016, articles in The Daily Beast and CBN News reported that Muslims were pouring into European countries from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and thousands of them were converting to Christianity, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. In 2022 Voice of the Martyrs was still reporting increasing Christian converts in Iran and Jordan. The government of Iran targeted the leaders of Christian cell groups, but they have not been able to stop the spread of the Gospel. However, heavy persecution in Turkey, Syria, and Saudi Arabia has led to a reduction in the number of Christians in those countries, and many Christians have fled. Miracles and visions are frequently reported in the Middle East, as the Holy Spirit does his work there. I believe God is preparing them for the great war that is coming to the area. As wonderful as this news is, there was something much greater that happened in 2022 in the spread of the Gospel.

The event was the funeral for Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey. There were billions of people throughout the world watching the church service and they heard the Gospel twice, a double witness to the world. The first scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 and 53-58. This scripture was used by the apostolic church of the first century as their creed, according to Christian historian Dr. Robert Godfrey of Legonier Ministries. Within those verses is this statement: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-22. The second scripture reading was John 14:1-9. Within these verses Jesus spoke to the apostle Thomas: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Later in those verses Jesus asserted his deity to the apostle Philip. “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” John 14:9. Anyone hearing the two scripture readings cannot say they never heard the Gospel. Also, we cannot know how many people worldwide turned to Christ after hearing those two scripture readings. As well, the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ in his sermon. So perhaps there was a triple witness to the world of the Gospel. Take heart, God’s work in this world is proceeding as planned.

In 2022 there was a book written by Johnathan Cahn, a Christian of Jewish descent, entitled The Return Of The Gods. He describes how the Christian western world has been besieged by the old god’s Baal, Ashtoreth, and Molech that besieged Israel in the Old Testament. His solution is we need to individually turn to Christ. It is good reading for Christians and helps people recognize the strategy of the evil spirits. Some Christians do not recognize evil in the beliefs of our society and some churches. Reading the book helps Christians discern those evil beliefs. However, I believe there is an evil spirit that he has missed reporting in the book. It is the spirit of Antichrist. The apostle John said the antichrist is a spirit, and anyone who follows that spirit is an antichrist. “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:3. Also, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22.

I believe Christians need to pull away from all religions that do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. We should not be glorifying Judaism or Islam and we should not call them Abrahamic religions. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:56-58. We believe that Abraham worshiped Jesus in Genesis chapter 18. This was before Jesus became a human being. There is only one Abrahamic religion, the worship of Jesus Christ.

If Christians in the Israel nations want a revival, I believe they need to pull away from all evil spirits, whether they are Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, or Antichrist, and I am sure there are others. We can have discernment of evil if we read and study the Bible and pray for revelation from God the Father by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, God has a plan for us that will not fail, and we also need to discern the work of the Holy Spirit in our world.