A PROPHETIC WORD TO THE ARAB NATIONSposted 5/24/06Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1).
According to the Scriptures, there are nine special gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). These special gifts are imparted according to the will of God. They are given to individual believers who are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
One of these gifts is the gift of prophecy. The meaning of the word prophecy can be “foretelling” and “forth-telling,” or preaching an inspired Word from God and predicting events that will come in the future.
Such was the case in the New Testament when Paul was warned he would be in danger if he went up to Jerusalem (Acts 21:10, 11). The same man who warned him, Agabus, also warned of a great famine that would strike the entire world (Acts 11:28).
While some churches and denominations believe that this gift has ceased operating, the full gospel church not only believes in all nine gifts of the Spirit, but they believe these gifts are active in the church today.
The Holy Spirit Knows Everything
The Holy Spirit knows everything! He can also give us revelation of things that are coming to the earth:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16:13).
My father is 73 years of age and was filled with the Holy Spirit at age 17. God has given Dad an unusual gift to see events that are coming on the world scene. He has so many spiritual experiences that it would take pages to write them all down. It is what has happened recently, however, that I wish to share with you.
Events in the Middle East
In early January, 2004, Dad was in my office praying. He was praying in the Spirit. This is the prayer language of the Holy Spirit, or what the English Bible calls, “Speaking with other tongues” (see Acts 2:4; Acts 10:45; Acts 19:1-7). The Lord spoke through him and said, “Great darkness is coming out of Lebanon.”
The nation of Lebanon had not been in the news for many years. A few weeks later, however, fanatics killed a pro-democracy leader in Lebanon, bombing an entire section of the beautiful downtown area. Thus the prediction was fulfilled.
A few weeks later, Dad was praying in the Spirit, and said, “The Lord said that the Hamas and the Hezbolla terror groups are hindering His plan for the Middle East.” Dad heard the Holy Spirit say:
God is sending Michael, the archangel, out of his place; and there will be confusion that will arise between these groups. They will engage in a power struggle and begin to turn on one another.
About a year later, Hamas was elected to power by the Palestinians, and the opposing group began to fight against them. This internal fighting is actually occurring throughout the Middle East, as some groups say they will recognize Israel’s right to exist and other refuse to do it.
There is a third thing I heard him say. About the time Hamas was elected, dad was again in deep prayer. He told me the Lord was telling him that members of Hamas would attempt to infiltrate the nation of Jordan and destabilize that country. There were people who did not like the King of Jordan and they felt if they could overthrow the king and cause confusion in the nation, they would get the upper hand.
Dad actually wanted me to attempt to contact the King of Jordan and warn him of these secret plans by certain groups. I was shocked a few months later to read a report where the King of Jordan had said Hamas had smuggled weapons into Jordan! The Holy Spirit revealed this months before the report was printed in the paper.
A Future Famine
Dad has the reputation that when the Lord speaks to him, it happens. At times, what he sees may seem “far out” and even impossible to occur, but somehow what he sees comes to pass. In recent prayer the Lord told Dad, “There is coming a great famine to areas of the Middle East.”
In this prayer the Lord was displeased with the treatment of Middle East nations toward Israel, and the fact that many of them were shedding the blood of innocent people. The Lord was provoked! He warned that if the leaders of certain countries did not set aside food in advance that there would be much suffering among their people.
I asked Dad if he felt this famine was a result of wars, certain chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or a famine resulting from a total lack of rain. I also commented, “A major earthquake in Iran, Syria, Iraq or other areas could create a famine.” He said, “I cannot add or take away from what the Spirit of the Lord has given me. I just know the Holy Spirit said a famine was coming.”
Because I have a great love for the Arab people, who are some of my dearest friends, I want to give this warning to the nations in the Middle East. This is not the opinion of some preacher, but a warning from the Holy Spirit himself.
You must begin to make progress and get along with your cousins, the Jews, who are living in Israel. They are not going anywhere. They are in the land to stay because God (not America or Britain) predicted they would return to that land (Jeremiah 29:14; Ezekiel 37:12; Zephaniah 3:20; Jeremiah 6:14-16).
For this reason, any nation or leader who attempts to root them out from the land will himself experience the harsh disfavor of the Lord. I know that some people may be difficult to get along with, and at times arrogant and stubborn. However, we must learn to make peace as the human family that God has created.
Secondly, you must cease from persecuting Christians in your nations. This includes allowing fanatical groups to kill, maim and murder innocent people. The shedding of innocent blood will bring destruction to the cities, just as ancient Jerusalem was destroyed centuries ago for shedding the blood of the prophets:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate (Matthew 23:37, 38).
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due (Revelation 16:6).
If there is not repentance and turning to God in mercy, I believe the warning of the Holy Spirit will come to pass and severe famine will occur. It is unclear HOW it will happen, but it will. It may be important for leaders to have certain reserves set aside, as Joseph did in Egypt, to assist during this time of famine.
I am sharing this, knowing that everything I have heard the Holy Spirit reveal to Dad in prayer has come to pass, especially when he would receive warnings. May those in the Middle East take heed to this and avoid it by repenting and turning to God.