In spite of the hiccup that has arisen in plans for a historic summit with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, let’s continue to pray that differences will be ironed out and that the meeting will go ahead at some point. There has been so much good progress in the meeting at the DMZ between President Moon and Kim as well as the release of three Korean American prisoners following U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s summit planning meetings with Kim. The latest news suggests that the meeting may still go ahead, even on June 12th.

Many thousands of Korean believers as well as many other Christians around the world have been praying for such a breakthrough for years and we believe the time has come for relations between the North and South to be normalized and even for a reunification of the two Koreas at some point. We need to keep praying with that vision in sight, trusting the Lord who is the Healer of the Nations to bring it forth!

“For decades, we have been adversaries. Now we are hopeful that we can work together to resolve this conflict,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “There’s still a lot of work to do to achieve our ultimate goal,” he acknowledged, referring to what the United States has called a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. “There are many challenges along the way.”

Praying friends in Arizona sent this information about some of the prayer events that have happened lately.:

“What most media outlets didn’t notice is that Christians in South Korea had been fasting and praying for the peace summit. In Paju, a city south of the North Korean border, pastors held an all-night vigil; and a group of Christian politicians joined together for a fasting and prayer event in the National Assembly buildings in Seoul. 

Between January 1 and 5, 2018, 2000 pastors gathered at a Christian conference in Seoul, South Korea. Among the speakers were Chuck Pierce, Lou Engle, and Bill Johnson.  Lou urged the pastors to go on a 40-day fast for the unification of the two countries and for the war to end.

At the time of this conference, the tension was high between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. However, near the end of this 40-day prayer and fasting period, a dramatic shift started to occur throughout the region.

South Koreans have been in desperate prayer for a time such as we see breaking forth in Korea. North Korea’s persecuted Christians have been praying for this moment—for years.

Before long, the churches of South Korea will freely send teams into the North with food, medicine and the message of Christ.  “Like a patient in a coma, North Korea will awaken. The world will watch a national transformation. We are witnessing the greatest display of God’s sovereign power over nations since the Berlin Wall fell.” (Charisma News).

Let’s thank God and pray:

Thank God for North Korea’s release of three American prisoners and for the successful meetings of Secretary of State Mike Pomeo with Kim Jong Un so far as well as progress made towards a summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim.

Pray that such a summit meeting will still happen though it may be postponed for a later time.  May Satan, the divider and destroyer, be bound and may peace and liberation come to the Korean peninsula.

Pray that denuclearization would be agreed to by the North and that those in that government currently bound by fear of what might happen to them or their loss of the benefits from the status quo will be kept from derailing this process.

Let’s pray for this 70 year conflict to completely come to an end and for the Gospel and humanitarian/development aid to flow freely to those millions of North Koreans living in abject poverty and starvation. May their deliverance come quickly now!

Pakistan is in dire straits and in danger of falling. Pakistan needs your prayers. This is an excerpt from a longer call to prayer by a prayer leader who is concerned about this crucial country.

Deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and U.S.

Realizing the opportunity to break the relationship between America andPakistan, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China have approached Pakistan. “Forget America.  We will stand beside you and help you.”--China is asking to open a naval base and an air force base near Gwadar and  it seems this request will be granted, perhaps even by this summer. Gwadar isone of the best deep-water ports in the world – at the head of the oilstraits.  Military equipment is now being purchased from China rather than the U.S. They are also buying military equipment from Russia and having joint exerciseswith them. Pakistan has held joint military exercises with Saudi Arabia, and istraining their military.

In this turmoil, the fanatics and terrorists have seen their opportunity to overthrow the government.  They stormed the streets in many cities.  They blocked entrances in and out of the capital and brought the country to a standstill.  Government, police, and even the military could not stop them without an all-out civil war.  The Supreme Court gave an ultimatum that the issue be resolved and the result was that much of the power of the country was given over to 19 “pirs” (holy men/witchdoctors).  Now again the fanatics’ demands of bringing in sharia law have not been met. (Most in Pakistan are terrified of sharia law knowing that their lives are at stake).  A few days ago these same fanatics began to fill the streets again.

More embarrassing is to learn that an American known as “the most evil man in the world “,George Soros, was the one behind much of this with his support (especiallyfinancial) for these fanatics.   Early this year the government told hisorganization to leave the country, but this weak government now in charge hasnot been able to carry this out. (Pray that he and his influence will be broken over Pakistan.)

What is at stake?   Pakistan is one of the largest Muslim nations in the world-soon to surpass Indonesia in its population. The Muslim world looks to it forits religious education. It is also looked up to because it is the only Muslimnation that has nuclear bombs (probably over 200) and delivery systems.  If thefanatics and militants could take over the country, Iran and its threat would bedwarfed.   There is already a fanatical teaching structure in Pakistan to whichpeople from probably every nation in the world come for training.  This wouldgreatly increase in structure and influence very quickly. 

What is the answer? God must intervene. That happens THROUGH PRAYER.In the 1970s a communist country was about to take over Pakistan. Three daysbefore that, a military coup took place, saving the nation.  This could be oneway God could work. 

PRAY for Pakistan for the following:

1. Not fall into hands of fanatics and sharia law
2. Not fall into hands of communism
3. Restored relations between Pakistan and U.S. 
4. Honest leaders
5. Protection of nuclear weapons

New York City is one of the most influential in the world. Saturate New York involves prayer walking every street and zip code and now will include passing out Jesus Film DVDs and asking families if the prayer walker/evangelizers can pray for them.

Pray: June 2 is the day to pray for this effort which will involve many churches working together!

Pray:also for local believers who are trying to get a weekly prayer gathering going in the City Council and for the establishment of a weekly word and worship service at the United Nations.

Pray: for His favor to cover local brothers and sisters in the prayer movement and churches for these efforts and for spiritual breakthrough, with many coming to Christ throughout the city and in these important institutions.

New York City Intercessors

http://saturateny.org/

As we all know the Gold Coast was the host of the recent Commonwealth Games. What many may not know is what went on behind the scene as the Churches of the Gold Coast, together with the help of Christians from other parts of the nation, undergirded the Games with prayer and evangelism. 

This week and next we will report on what happened as the Church took the initiative providing opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work His miracles amongst those who attended the Games, and also within the community of the Gold Coast. Be encouraged and give God the Glory. This report was compiled by one of the team for Beyond Gold, the combined Churches initiative that co-ordinated all the aspects of the Christian witness provided to the Games and was supplied to us by Pastor Len Rossow, the Australian Prayer Network Coordinator in that area. 

43 churches engaged in the 24/7 prayer canopy for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Some of the hidden gems that we can now reveal were:

*  Since September 2017 prayers were prayed that the hidden gems would emerge in the City. (Specifically Artists and Musicians) We were praying for Artists that carry the Lord's heart of love and unity and whose work speaks to the heart.  We were Praying also that hearts would be open in the City to respond to the Lord's message in their works.

* We were praying that in the planning God would go ahead of our organizing team, opening the doors for live art, flash-mobs and music in the public square.

* We have been rejoicing in the way Christian Artists and Musicians have been linking together.

Teams from 16 churches were prayer-walking strategic games related locations across the city through Feb - March 2018.

Then in early March a strategic 40-hour Prayer Weekend took place with 45 intercessors from across Australia joining with 35 from the Gold Coast to form 8 teams of 10. This prayer offensive was organised by the Australian Prayer Network and covered 32 key assignments across the Gold Coast. It was a powerful weekend that brought a shift in the spiritual atmosphere in the City that prepared the way for productive outreach and operation of the games. 

The Baptism, in the lake, of our Mayor, Tom Tate, on Easter Sunday together with positive media publicity set the tone for a great witness in our city as we sought the Lord for a spiritual awakening to the Gospel across the Gold Coast.  85 local churches (3,500 people) were represented at the Easter United Celebration at the new HOTA Amphitheatre. There was a great sense of family and unity as together we lifted Jesus Christ up as Saviour and Lord over the Gold Coast and as a banner over the Commonwealth Games. Quite a number responded to the call to open their hearts to Christ as Saviour and Lord. 

The unity of the Churches was outworked in the way in which the ministry provided by the Street Chaplains, Red Frogs, Gideons, YWAM and many church groups worked in tandem to see the gospel lived out in word and deed during the Games. Some of the answers to prayer that happened during the games were:

* 380 Bibles and 400 testaments were distributed through the Multi-Faith Centre at the Athletes Village.

* Chaplains reported never having seen such hunger or such engagement during a Games previously.

* Reports of friendly, peaceful atmosphere in the village itself.

* 57,070 individual wrist band prayers were given out amounting to 5.14 kilometres of prayer chain

* 30 different groups and 5000 people directly involved in the effort from around the globe.

Traffic and Transport

* Traffic Flow was brilliant. (Seemingly many coast residents heeded the warning extensively publicised through the media to stay at home or use public transport. Many left the coast for the duration of the Games.)
* Public Transport Networks operated efficiently …no breakdowns 

* Gideons- 10,180 scriptures were given away
* Several hundred given away also in Townsville and Cairns where some of the events for the Games were also held.
* 98 Gideon members from every mainland State participated.
* There were 8 known salvations on the streets.
* Distribution covered people from all walks of life
* 20,000 Gospels of Luke were supplied to churches and organisations for distribution by the Bible Society. 

YWAM street teams & Outreach Tent: 

* 368 YWAMmers releasing 16 ministry teams on the ground through community events, games and sport, street evangelism, street chaplaincy, FLASH Mobs, worship and performance.
* 7000 Gospels of Luke and 6,500 flyers handed out
* 10,000 estimated meaningful conversations and 1 baptism
* 4 churches &organisations partnered with them throughout the Games.

Street Chaplains: 

* 100 trained for street chaplaincy by Sports Chaplaincy Aust and Chaplain Watch QLD.

* 43 street chaplains from GC churches, Chaplain Watch Qld, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Qld regional areas,

YWAM.

* Southport, Broadbeach and Surfers covered throughout the Games with Street Chaplains.

Indigenous:

* While there were indigenous protests at the Games which attempted to disrupt venues and transport, they were quickly dispersed.
* The Indigenous art and festival at the Ganggalah Ministry Training centre went well and with positive impact.

Homeless:

Praise God for the ways in which the hubs sponsored during the Games where the homeless of the Gold Coast were encouraged to find shelter during the Games operated virtually incident free and for the new possibilities opened up through their success. 

Give thanks to the Lord for the way He answered prayer for our Aussie brothers and sisters in Christ and pray for His continuing transformation of their nation!

Source: Beyond Gold 

WILL PULLING OUT OF IRAN DEAL LEAD TO THE NEXT GREAT WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

by S DOUGLAS WOODWARD on May 8, 2018

Today, May 8, 2018, might become an infamous day in American foreign policy and in fulfillment of Bible prophecy.  Or it may not.  But it is likely to be seen as a very significant move toward the next great war in the Middle East.  It is unlikely to send the entire region into a state of war.  

However, it will increase tensions in the longer-term, even while it reduces tensions in the immediate future.

The JCPOA is Now History

There is no doubt that terminating America’s participation in the JCPOA (Joint cooperative plan of action) alienates the U.S. from Russia, China, and even our European allies.  At the same time, our most important ally in the Middle East, Israel, is praising Trump’s decision.  

And yet, the final word on the ‘pull out’ of the treaty is still subject to further discussion over the next two weeks according to some sources.  America could terminate its involvement but not reinstate sanctions against Iran.  Additionally, by supporting the Iranian agreement, the U.S. could elect to bring sanctions against those nations that continue to support the agreement. This could lead to strained relations in all directions between the U.S. and everyone else except Israel.

Is Military Action Imminent?

At this moment, Israel and Iran are repositioning troops.  Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border will probably draw fire from Israel at the drop of a hat.  Hezbollah boasts over 150,000 troops supported by Iran and they are prepared for war.  But, given Iran is over 500 miles away from Israel, most experts believe that Iran and Israel can’t go into “hand-to-hand” combat, but can only exchange airstrikes and conduct a proxy war in southwest Syria along the Golan Heights. Still, the possibility of a nuclear exchange looms if one believes the rhetoric of the respective sides.  

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent presentation on “Iran’s Big Lie” concerning its actual nuclear bomb project (conducted over a decade ago despite denials to the contrary), was timed to demonstrate to world leaders that Iran can’t be trusted and Trump is justified in pulling out of the JCPOA. His PowerPoint may not have convinced European leaders, but it no doubt wasn’t meant for them. It was targeted to Donald Trump’s base in the U.S.  

From the standpoint of keeping his promise, Trump benefitted from Mr. Netayahu’s timely polemics.  A “casus belli” was well articulated and a majority of Americans buy it.  So we must wait to see what the next action will be – but we won’t be waiting very long.

May 8, Iran and Israel Prepare for War, Geopolitical Futures

The U.S. has an aircraft carrier group present in the eastern Mediterranean and stands ready to protect American interests in the Levant (which generally means the U.S. will defend Israel in the event of its being attacked).

This event, coupled with the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in the next week, provides a double dose of pro-Israel medicine that Islamic leaders (and the Palestinians) opposing the Israel/U.S. alliance must accept.  Will they just swallow hard and move on?  This seems improbable.  These two actions by Trump and the recent Israeli bombing of a missile cache in Syria seem sure to precipitate a major reaction to the conflict.

But what might Iran do in response?  It is predictable that Hezbollah will soon fire Iranian-made missiles at Israel – those not destroyed in the aforementioned attack.  This will likely lead to a significant military response on the part of Israel. And even if Hezbollah doesn’t initiate a war, Israel will.  Israel has a consistent pattern of preemptive strikes. There is no reason it will hold back now. However, as long as Iran, Russia, Turkey and other states in the northern Islamic confederacy don’t strike Israel directly, it is unlikely the U.S. will get directly involved at this time. Just being in the neighborhood with our allegiances clear is enough. Our military strength and presence create a dampening effect on major military action, but it has little effect on the conflict between Israel, Hezbollah (and indirectly Iran). This means that it is doubtful that Russia or China will engage in a regional war at this time. And if Israel decides to go all out in its military efforts against Hezbollah (which is likely in my opinion), expect Israel not only to aggressively strike Hezbollah with massive bombing runs but to also direct the IDF to cross the provisional border between Israel and Syria. That is, the IDF will engage Hezbollah on the battlefield, attempt to destroy its missile cache, and likely weaken Hezbollah’s position in a meaningful way. I expect a ground war in southern Syria this summer.

What Does Trump Want?

Trump’s gambit appears to be seeking regime change in Iran. The Iranian leader, Rouhani, is not in a strong position after years of sanctions.  According to Jacob Shapiro of Geopolitical Futures (May 8, 2018):

… the biggest impact of ending the deal will be felt within Iran itself. The Rouhani administration, which represents a political faction that wants to reduce state control of the economy and curtail the wide-ranging power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, banked its future on the JCPOA. Rouhani believed the influx of foreign capital and the attendant economic benefits would legitimize his ambitious political reforms. Rouhani’s administration even moved to arrest key IRGC figures last September. Now, Rouhani’s grip appears to be loosening. Rouhani took to the airwaves over the weekend to criticize an Iranian ban on the messaging app Telegram, alluding to decisions made at the “highest level of the system” to which he had no recourse. Hard-liners in Iran suspected the U.S. would pull out of the deal as soon as it was no longer consistent with U.S. interests and will be vindicated at home if the deal fails.

David Sanger (New York Times, May 8, 2018) summarizes the situation this way:

For President Trump and two of the allies he values most — Israel and Saudi Arabia — the problem of the Iranian nuclear accord was not, primarily, about nuclear weapons. It was that the deal legitimized and normalized the clerical Iranian government, reopening it to the world economy with oil revenue that financed its adventures in Syria and Iraq and its support of terror groups.

Now, with his announcement Tuesday that he is exiting the Iran deal and will reimpose economic sanctions on the country and firms around the world that do business with it, Mr. Trump is engaged in a grand, highly risky experiment.

Trump also wants to demonstrate toughness to Kim Jong-un (North Korea’s dictator) to make doubly sure that the negotiations on the future of the Korean peninsula move forward in a favorable way.  And, if Trump can force Iran back to the table (which seems unlikely for a number of months), it is certainly conceivable that Trump will win big in dealing with the other half of the modern day “axis of evil” (Iran, North Korea being its ally).  This may well result.  Trump could conceivably accomplish his goals for peace between North and South Korea while at the same time, fail miserably in the Middle East.

However, I assert that this course of action ultimately will only harden the resolve of the Islamic nations to conspire against Israel to find a “final solution.”  If so, then what happens during the month of May 2018, promises to be a primary driver pushing the region toward its next great war involving Russia, Iran, Turkey, and also Islamic nations to the south, all confederating against Israel.  Note:  this doesn’t confirm the Psalm 83 war looked for by so many.  Instead, it points to the war at the outset of the so-called Tribulation period.  It has been my view (as outlined in my book, The Next Great War in the Middle East) that the Psalm 83 war is not what comes next.  Rather, the “big one” is what we should expect. It is what the ancient prophets of Israel saw as the Messianic War concluding the age.

In conclusion, this sparring between Israel and Iran may trigger World War III. So it is that what happens in 2018 could lead us to the war of Ezekiel 38-39.  In other words, what prophecy scholars call the war of Gog and Magog now becomes even more likely as a result of Trump’s gamble.

http://faith-happens.com/trumps-biggest-gamble-yet-will-pulling-out-of-iran-deal-lead-to-the-next-great-war-in-the-middle-east/

Please pray that God’s peace to reign in this potentially very dangerous situation between Iran, the USA and other nations of the Middle East like Israel and Saudi Arabia. Pray that Iran will be set free from the control of Islamic radicals and will agree to end their nuclear and missile programs.

In Malaysia's national election, a stunning victory for the opposition led by former PM Mahathir Mohamad was achieved May 9th. At age 93, Mahathir came out of a long retirement to take on the current PM NajibRazak and the Barisan National party, who are widely considered to have become terribly corrupted and self-serving.

After some Christian leaders were kidnapped and still are missing, and laws threatening their religious freedom increasingly being enacted, the churches decided to join together in an all-out initiative of desperate prayer called “Light up Malaysia”. It looks as if their prayers are now being answered, thanks be to the Lord! 

Let us continue to pray with them that the results of the election will be effectively implemented and widely accepted and for the new government as it consolidates its power. Pray for God's peace to rule and for a new, reformed government that serves the nation's people justly and honestly, upholding human rights and religious freedom for all. Pray also that the Gospel can freely be shared with all of the nation’s people groups.

Written by Dr Peter Carruthers, from the UK

Europe is a mission field that is “white for harvest”
(John 4: 35). I believe that the Lord is calling
believers from across the world to play a part in praying and working to bring in this harvest. Many have already responded to this call, but ‘the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are still few’.

Friday 1^stJune 2018, marks the beginning of a 24-7 Prayer for France initiative. Please read on to find out why and how to share in this.

Taking responsibility

Two years ago, in an article in Prophecy Today, written in the aftermath of the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks, I urged believers to recognise Europe’s deep and urgent spiritual needs and prioritise intercession and mission for the nations of Europe. This imperative remains and is even more urgent now.

Streams across the Channel

My particular concern here is for France. Many are expecting a significant move of the Holy Spirit in France - perhaps that foreseen in Jean Darnall’s 1967 vision of ‘streams across the Channel’. Some from other European nations and beyond have even relocated to France as missionaries.

Evangelical growth

The evangelical church in France has, in fact, seen remarkable growth in the last decades, from very small beginnings. Between 1970 and 2017, the number of evangelical churches in France went from 840 to 2440, equivalent to one new church every ten days. According to Evangelical Focus, the number of evangelical Christians has increased by 1000% since 1970, and that there are now some 650,000 evangelical Christians in France, about 1% of the population.

David Brown, Chairman of the Evangelism Commission of the French ‘National Council of Evangelicals’, speaking to the Forum of Christian Leaders in 2017, sees this growth as an act of God’s sovereignty, aided by the work of AoG missionaries (1930 - 1960), the charismatic movement (1970 - 1990), immigration of Christians from Africa (1990 - 2010) and the work of French church planters (especially since the mid-90s).

At the same time, the Roman Catholic Church declined markedly. According to Brown, in 1980, 71% of babies born were baptised in the RC church; this declined to 32% in 2017. Over the same years, the number of priests fell from 38,000 to 13,000. Currently, the average age of a Roman Catholic priest in France is 72 years.

Nevertheless, as the New York Times reported, the RC Church has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, driven especially by issues of culture and identity (as is true for many other countries of Europe). There is also a thriving Roman Catholic Charismatic movement.

As well as a vacuum created by the decline in Roman Catholicism, Brown believes that a rising feeling of social despair, mistrust of political leaders and high unemployment (currently 10%) combined with a cultural disposition towards discussion and debate have created conditions conducive for evangelical church growth. Evangelicals are no longer seen as an obscure sect, but are better known and more accepted than previously.

Recent surveys suggest that French people are looking for authenticity and information and are especially open to evangelism centred around approaches that inform and explain (whether ‘lectures’ or one-to-one conversations over coffee) and least receptive to tracts and open-air rallies.

Sharing in the harvest

The above statistics are encouraging, but France still remains among the most secular countries of Europe. The fields may indeed be white for harvest, but much of the harvest is still to be brought in.

How can believers share in this work? Some will be called to ‘go’. But all can pray. As the Lord Jesus enjoins us, “the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9: 37).

24-7

One immediate opportunity to join others in prayer for France is provided by Jesus2Europe’s 24-7 ‘Prayer for France’ initiative, starting this Friday 1 June 2018. Jesus2Europe, a new ministry based in Paris, invites intercessors from all over the world to pray for France from 1 to 7 June and, ideally, to sign up for a prayer slot (via contact form on the website or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - please mention IPC; if you are not able to book a slot, then please just let us know you are praying).  It would be wonderful if many of us from all around the world could show our concern for France’s spiritual well-being by taking part.

Seeds of prayer

The above, I hope, provides some seeds of prayer. Some more prayer pointers below.

Pray for French believers to be “kept from the evil one”, “sanctified in truth” and united as one (John 17: 15,17,21), to abound in love, knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1: 9) and to share their faith effectively (Philemon 1: 6). Remember, especially, believers within the Roman Catholic church.

Pray that President Macron and all in authority will create conditions for the advancement of the Gospel (1 Timothy 2: 1-4). Remember the police, who face many hard challenges; last year 87 police officers committed suicide.

Pray for Paris, that it will become truly a ‘city of love and light’, where the love of Jesus is known and His light shines. And pray for the many refugees in Paris and other French cities and for those working to share the love of Christ with them in deed and word.

Rural France also needs much prayer. I know of several working in rural areas, seeking to share the Gospel and to plant and nurture churches. As one concerned with rural mission, I am especially aware of the challenges they face (far greater than those we face in the UK).

Thy Kingdom come

Above all, it is our prayer that the Lord of the harvest will send out labourers into His harvest all across France (Matthew 9: 37) and that God’s Kingdom will come and His will be done in France as it is in heaven (Matthew 6: 10).

Dr Peter Carruthers.

May 2018

The young Turks rejecting Islam - BBC News 5/9/18 (Excerpted)

Losing their religion: How some young Turks are turning their backs on Islam

"This is the only thing left that connects me to Islam," says Merve, showing me her bright red headscarf.

Merve teaches religion to elementary school children in Turkey. She used to be a radical believer of Islam. "Until recently, I would not even shake hands with men," she tells me in an Istanbul cafe. "But now I do not know whether there is a God or not, and I really do not care."

In the 16 years that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party has been in power, the number of religious high schools across Turkey has increased. The young Turks rejecting Islam more than tenfold.He has repeatedly talked of bringing up a pious generation. But over the past few weeks, politicians and religious clerics here have been discussing whether pious young people have started to move away from religion.

One day, Merve's life changed when, after waking up very depressed, she cried for hours and decided to pray. As she prayed, she realised to her shock that she doubted God's existence. "I thought I would either go crazy or kill myself," she says. "The next day I realised I had lost my faith."

She is not alone. One professor has been quoted as saying that more than a dozen female students wearing headscarves have come up to him to declare they are atheists in the past year or so.

Bekir, theology student

Until recently I was a sympathiser of radical groups such as the Islamic State or Al Qaeda. Today, I am an atheist. I initially wanted to find some logic in Islam, but I could not. Then I started questioning God too. I used to support the Islamist government here. But oppression breeds revolution. They wanted to oppress us and we started to react.

But it is not just atheism that students are embracing. At a workshop in Konya, one of Turkey's most conservative cities, there have been claims that students at religious high schools are moving towards deism because of what they referred to as "the inconsistencies within Islam", according to reports in opposition newspapers. Deism has its roots back in Greek culture. Its followers believe that God exists, but they reject all religions.

While there are no statistics or polls to indicate how widespread this is, anecdotal evidence is enough to worry Turkey's leaders.

Let’s pray that Turkey’s youth will increasingly hear about Jesus Christ and turn to Him.

Pray for those seeking to make Jesus known inside the nation that God will lead them to those who are spiritually empty and are seeking after Him.

Pray also for those Christian workers that have been imprisoned that they will be released ASAP and that religious freedoms will be restored to the nation.

Received by Rick Ridings in Jerusalem 6 March, 2018

During a time of worship in SuccatHallel, I saw in a vision the eyes of the Lord roving over the earth, watching over the nations.  His eyes shone like spotlights upon the nations.

The world looked like a giant chessboard, and the government of each nation looked like a “knight” (the horse like figure) on their square of the chessboard. These “knights” (representing national governments) had their backs turned away from Jerusalem and Israel.  They were surrounded by intercessors that also had their backs turned away from Jerusalem and Israel. 

In certain nations, as the eyes of the “righteous remnant” intercessors were opened to the Scriptures and the Lord’s choice of Jerusalem, Israel as the seat of His Kingdom government upon the earth (see Psalm 2 and Ezekiel 43:1-7), those intercessors turned towards Jerusalem and Israel.

Then those intercessors turned towards their “knight” (their nation’s government) and started prophesying and proclaiming over the “knight”.

In nations where a large portion of the remnant Intercessors did this, the knight turned its face towards Jerusalem and Israel.  This indicated that they were aligning with God’s sovereign choice of Jerusalem as the footstool of His throne, of His government upon the earth.

Those “knights” (governments) that turned towards Jerusalem and Israel started morphing into sheep that got whiter and whiter. Horns of strength grew from their heads, indicating the blessing of the Lord on their governments and economies.  Those “knights” that did not turn towards Jerusalem and Israel morphed into goats, and their fur turned darker and darker. Horns of evil grew from their heads, indicating the increasing rule of evil over their nations. 

Some nations in all the continents turned towards Jerusalem and Israel. Some that turned were even in the Middle East and North Africa. Some that did not turn were also surprising, as in past history they had been more aligned towards Israel. 

Then the Lord reached forth His hand, picked up those “knights” that were becoming “sheep”, and made them jump over the goat nations, causing them to quickly move ahead economically, etc

I felt the Lord said: “I am extending a season of mercy for nations to change and no nation is hopeless. Let the righteous remnant Intercessors awaken and turn their hearts towards My choice of Jerusalem as the footstool of My government on earth, and let them cry out and prophesy to their governments. This is a time when nations can be turned around.”

Just after I received this vision, and before I shared it, one of our intercessors read from Revelation 5:9,10: “…with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 

Rick Ridings

http://www.succathallel.com

1. A SEASON OF DECISION REGARDING JERUSALEM.  A GATE HAS OPENED…UNITED STATES,  GUATEMALA,  AND PARAGUAY GO THROUGH THE GATES!

One week ago yesterday, May 14, 2018, the 70^th Anniversary of the birth of the modern nation of Israel,  the United States followed through with its promise and moved its Embassy to the city which President Donald Trump last December 6^th  memorably declared to be the Capital of that nation, Jerusalem!   

That had been a courageous declaration…shortly after it was made, 128 members of the UN General Assembly supported a resolution condemning it and admonishing other states against following its example. And it was a courageous decision to push through with the promise others had failed to keep, bringing it to fruition on this historic date.  In a taped message from Washington played at the ceremony, President Trump said:

Exactly 70 years ago the United States under Harry Truman became the first nation to recognize the State of Israel.  Today, we officially open the United States embassy in   Jerusalem.  Congratulations!  It’s been a long time coming…Almost immediately after declaring statehood in 1948, Israel designated the city of Jerusalem as its capital, the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times. 

So important…Yet for years we failed to acknowledge the obvious, the plain reality that Israel’s capital is Jerusalem…That changed last December 6, when we recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital…Today we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the historic and sacred land of Jerusalem. And we’re opening it many, many, many years ahead of schedule…We extend a hand in friendship to Israel, the Palestinians and to all of their neighbours.  May there be peace.  May God bless this embassy.  May God bless all who serve there….

We believe that in this event we have witnessed a sacred “passing through” a gateway in the purposes of God for nations during this season.  With the US taking the initiative, that gateway is clarified for other nations, and the blessings of the redemptive purposes of God within those nations may be activated.  May 14^th in Jerusalem was a blessed and sacred, as well as a joyous celebratory occasion!

Yet, even as Mr. Trump was asking God’s blessing the Embassy and those who will work within it, the enemy of nations was raising its false and deceiving banner to turn nations away from that blessing—in fact, to perceive it as a curse. 

The violent demonstrations on the Gaza/Israel border against the embassy move, driven by a murderous power which demands Jerusalem and every part of “Palestine” as its own, seized the moment and the imagination of much of the world.  By mid-morning, as the Embassy ceremony was taking place in Jerusalem, the death toll of those seeking to breach the walls of the nation already had begun quickly to rise. 

In many news broadcasts around the world (and later newspaper headlines), viewers were being presented with a split-screen—one side showing a smiling Ivanka Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu among other rejoicing, celebrating people—all seemingly oblivious to the faces presented on the other side of the screen of desperate, screaming young Palestinians presumably being gassed or mercilessly shot down by Israeli soldiers.

By the end of the day 61 were reported dead, over a thousand wounded.  It didn’t matter that these scenes and many of the people in them had been set up for this very purpose, being seen to the world as victims brutalized by the Zionist regime; or that Israel was simply attempting to defend its borders being overrun by tens of thousands who believe fervently that she has no right to exist.  Nor did it really matter that within two days a senior Hamas official would divulge that 50 of the 61 people killed had in fact been Hamas operatives. 

The images had made their mark.  Around the world Israel was accused of frightfully “disproportionate actions,” of the callous destruction of innocent children, of war crimes.  Of, as many of the pictures seemed intended to imply, enjoying a party for the moving of an Embassy which itself was the cause of the Catastrophe taking place on the border with Gaza.  

Peoples and nations are being presented with choices related to alignment with what God has said regarding His land, His people and His holy city.  One of these choices is a way of truth, the other one of deception.  The warfare over these choices is fierce, the deception is subtle.  Without the power and authority of God’s Word and the merciful light of revelation of the Holy Spirit among faithful intercessors within those nations, even believers are being deceived.

This revelation was certainly present in what occurred two days later, when President Jimmy Morales arrived in Jerusalem to oversee his nation Guatemala becoming second after the United States in opening its Embassy in Jerusalem!   Among his party were a number of believing intercessors.  Tiny Guatemala had in fact been the first country to cast its vote in the UN making way for the establishment of Israel in 1947, and second (behind the United States) to recognize the new state after it was born in 1948.  Local papers commented on the role evangelical Christians in Guatemala have had in steering it towards the blessing of Israel, recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, and moving its embassy there. And then on Monday, President Horacio Cartes arrived to officiate as Paraguay followed suit, becoming the third country to open its embassy in the capital.

Martin and Norma Sarvis, Jerusalem

Let’s us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the surrounding nations in that most volatile area of the world. Pray for Jews and Palestinians to come to faith in Messiah and so be enabled to love one another and share the land together as both children of Abraham and followers of Jesus.