Something is happening in Iran. People are coming to Jesus in droves. Praise God!
I am not always an easy person to get along with, but I pray more and more people would come. Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone (or even the Ayatollah had a vision and converted)? I am concerned how the government will treat these converts. Many Christians who convert from Islam are murdered by their own family members.
In my own country, I have prayed things I did not expect. When God took a good portion of our prosperity, I didn’t pray for it back. I prayed for people to have enough money and resources and food for their families.
I don’t hate Muslims. Because they are so close to the gospel if they will reach out. They believe in one God (okay, that’s a start), they believe in the importance of family (great), and they are a religious people.
When God starts a revival, he might send missionaries. But often he reveals himself through visions and dreams, in ways that are inexplicable, whispers to those He calls. Christians that convert from Islam are often those who risk their lives to share the gospel and witness to their friends and family (or if that’s not possible, to Muslims in areas where they are not known as ‘murtadd’).
Every tribe, nation, and tongue will be standing around the throne of God and the Lamb, singing and praising Him (as is depicted in Revelation).
Let’s talk about Ishmael for a minute. Ishmael was the first born of Abraham, although the son of a slave, and not Sarah his wife. According to the inheritance, wouldn’t he be accounted as first-born? I don’t know all the Middle-Eastern customs, but Sarah had Abraham send Ishmael and Hagar into the desert. She was actually sent away twice. Let’s admit that the way Sarah treated Hagar and Ishmael was harsh.
But according to the narrative in Genesis (Bereshit), Isaac is the son of promise. Now that conflicts with Arab tradition and the Quran. But I live by the Bible as best I can. That’s the choice that I have made, and strive to make every day.
I’m concerned about my culture and nation being under the thumb of Islam. Lord forbid. But if it is? It doesn’t change how I live my life. I’ll still pray, and share the gospel as I’m able. I’ll still read the good Book. It will break my heart, particularly as my countrymen submit to a yoke of slavery after being sons of freedom. But it’s okay. Because this world is not my home. My citizenship is from another place (Heaven). And Messiah Yeshua (Isa/Jesus) will return and reign from Jerusalem. If I’m tortured or martyred, or in any way mistreated, I’m in good company. I pray everyone reading my blog, moreover every life I touch as I go about my day would come to know Jesus, and that those who already know would be sanctified.
I can hear the whisper, feel a sliver of the Glory waiting for me and all of Jesus’ followers. As I sit and listen to praise music I can almost imagine it, several doors away, perhaps across a long hallway. One day I will cross the Gates of Lore which men pass but once. And I will kneel at my Savior’s feet. at the feet of God, who didn’t just send us prophets and a book, but sent His Son Jesus to die in our place and restore us to fellowship with the One Eternal God. Yahweh doesn’t expect us to ascend up to him through our own righteousness (human righteousness through works is like filthy rags), but slew His own Son and then affirmed his life and witness by raising Him from the dead.
Perhaps this whole world will submit to Islam. But only for a season. And only under the threat of force.
Now yes, Jesus will reign with a rod of iron during the thousand years. But He is righteous. It is His right, as Son of God and also Son of David. But then He will burn up the universe with heat that will ‘melt the elements.’ And then a New Heavens and New Earth. With no sin nor death nor crying nor sorrow nor pain.
Would not the Mahdi die and be buried as any other ‘prophet’? My Savior and Prophet lives, and everyone will see Him in person.