A Florida-based ministry is racing to end human trafficking.

Run for Freedom will host a 5K race in Cocoa Beach Saturday to raise money and awareness about what the United Nations calls one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world.

“Our main purpose is to raise awareness about human trafficking,” said Rachel Manzo, whose parents founded Run for Freedom. “Most people think that it only happens overseas … but [it’s] right here in our own back yard.”

Listen to Rachel Manzo discuss human trafficking
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Every year 1.2 million children and teenagers worldwide are abducted or coerced into prostitution, pornography or forced labor. This year the average victim is 13 years old.

Roughly100 people are expected to walk or run just over three miles Saturday. The event is Run for Freedom’s fifth 5K since September.

“[Sex trafficking is] nothing new,” said Mary Ann Manzo, who co-founded Run for Freedom with her husband, Pat. “It’s been around a long time, but in the day and age we live in, it is one of the fastest growing criminal activities happening in our world.”

The Manzos, who launched the ministry earlier this year, plan to use donations from the 5K to open a home for rescued trafficking victims. The ministry seeks to house 14 young women in the Dream Home, which is expected to open on Jan.1.

“It’s not the same as a drug rehab or an abused domestic violence situation,” Mary Ann Manzo told Charisma. “It’s very unique and different.”

Listen to Mary Ann Manzon discuss Run for Freedom
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The women, rescued by Florida law-enforcement during brothel raids, will be given spiritual rehabilitation through counseling and chapel services, and will be taught a trade. Upon leaving the one-year program, the women will be assisted with job placement.

Mary Ann Manzo says Christians who can’t run for freedom can help victims of sex trafficking through donations and prayer. She notes that some churchgoers also may be unwittingly contributing to the problem by secretly viewing pornography online.

“Unfortunately, statics are high in Christians being involved in pornography privately online,” Mary Ann Manzo said. “We need to know that anytime we visit a site and click on something to view, whether it’s paid for or unpaid for, we are becoming part of the demand. And the supply will need to be met. As we cut that demand back and become more holy in our style of living before God, we are able to help the problem that way as well.”

Christians across the globe will gather on Sunday to pray for the millions of Christians who are beaten, tortured and imprisoned for their faith in Christ.

On Sunday roughly a half-million congregations will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church by dedicating at least a portion of their worship services to prayer and remembrance.

The prayer day is co-organized by Open Doors USA, which advocates for persecuted Christians worldwide.

“The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church presents a tremendous opportunity for millions of people to make a difference in the lives of those being persecuted for their faith in countries like North Korea, Iran, Iraq, China, India and many more,” Moeller said. “Persecuted believers have asked us who live in freedom to pray for them. [It’s] always their No. 1 request.”

On Sunday, Moeller will participate in a civil forum about persecuted Christians hosted at Saddleback Church by pastor Rick Warren.

Listen to Carl Moeller discuss more about the persecuted church.{audio source_mp3=””}
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In the run up to Sunday, Open Doors is encouraging churchgoers to find practical ways to help persecuted believers. The group is challenging Christians to sacrifice luxuries, such as visits to Starbucks, to help buy Bibles. Churches may want to lead prayer walks, hold candlelight vigils or sing accapella to remember the millions of Christians forced to meet underground and worship with only their voices as instruments.

Open Doors is encouraging Christians to also advocate for persecuted believers by opposing a proposed United Nations resolution that is expected to be voted on by the end of the year. The cleverly worded resolution, which is strongly backed by Islamic nations, would lend U.N. support to local and national laws that prohibit the “defamation of religions.” Many Muslim nations consider converting from Islam to be defamation of religion, and it is sometimes punishable by death.

“This resolution would effectively put the moral authority of the United Nations on the side of those countries like Saudi Arabia, like Iran that say it is illegal to convert from Islam to any other religious belief,” Moeller said.

He is asking that Christians sign a petition, dubbed Say No to the U.N. Resolution That Suppresses Religious Freedom, at .

Open Doors estimates that 100 million Christians are being unjustly interrogated, arrested and discriminated against for their belief in Christ. Some are even killed.

As recently as August two Iranian women were given an extended prison sentence because they would not deny their faith, according to Compass Direct News. The women are still in prison on charges of “apostasy” and “propagation of the Christian faith.”

In China, 90 percent of Christians worship underground due to strict government laws.

Open Doors reports that in North Korea there are believed to be 40,000 to 60,000 Christians in prison on religious and political charges.

“North Korea has been suffering just the most horrendous abuse for the last 60 years,” Moeller told Charisma. “Yet despite that we continue to have reports from our friends and networks on the ground that the church continues to grow.

“On Nov. 8 we have the opportunity to collectively lift our petitions to the Lord on their behalf.”

Saddleback’s Civil Forum for the Persecuted Church will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. Pacific. For more information, click here.

Even with the box office success of Passion of the Christ and Fireproof, Christian films still conjure thoughts of bad acting, flat storylines and syrupy Sunday school lessons. But the producers of a new Christian horror film say they have created an atypical thriller that is genuinely scary.

Dangerous Calling will be screened in churches this weekend as an alternative to traditional Halloween events.

The film centers on a new pastor who faces dire opposition from his leadership as he attempts to make changes to their small-town church. Although it lacks the gory scenes often seen in films of this genre, the movie is sure to hold the attention of young people, the film’s distributor says.

“Because there are so many occultish or dangerous films we wanted to provide churches an alternate,” said Andre van Heerdan, CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures, the film’s distribution house. “Dangerous Calling delivers in a big way and is genuinely watch-through-your-fingers scary in a number of spots.”

Van Heerdan, whose company is best known for producing the Left Behind series, says the film is not overtly Christian but that it will minister to young people through it’s subtle messages of faith situated in everyday circumstances.

“[Faith] is part of the story,” van Heerdan told Charisma. “You have elements of faith, but it’s really everyday people dealing with everyday things.”

The movie’s writer/director duo, Josh and Jeremiah Daws, say they pulled from their father’s experience as a pastor and from their time in youth groups to create the film. They believe the movie’s realness will cause it to minister beyond the four walls of the church.

“I believe there’s a market for this type of movie within the body of Christ and beyond,” Josh Daws said.

Recently Dangerous Calling sparked an online debate about whether Christians should produce or even watch faith-based thrillers.

“A film like this would encourage negative thought patterns, paranoia and fear,” one poster stated. “These are the tools of Satan to rob us of our God given joy.”

But another blogger, referring to Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill in Acts, said Christians should be willing to use nontraditional tools to reach people with the gospel.

“Some folks who would never watch a typical Christian movie will watch a film like Dangerous Calling,” the poster wrote. “I personally believe that we need to stop preaching to the choir with our films and use the ‘unknown god’ of filmmaking to our advantage to reach the lost world for Christ.”

The PG-13 rated flick will not be played on the silver screen but will be released on DVD in 2010. Churches that want to show the film this weekend can purchase a public license on the film’s Web site.

Have you ever read the book of Acts with longing to be back in that time so you could experience the miracles and the move of the Holy Spirit? Don’t worry; right now, today, God is turning that water into wine. In fact, He has saved the best wine for last, and the glory of the latter house is going to be greater than the glory of the first (see Hag. 2:9). We are going to walk in such miracles that there will be no comparison. I would rather be in this move of God than to be in the book of Acts, because this wine tastes better.

In the book of John we read that miracles are manifestations of the glory of God: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11, KJV). You may say, “Well, Brother John, why do you need miracles?” The answer is simple: We need the glory.

“Well, Brother John, why do we need the glory?” The answer is because it is only the glory that will change us into the image of Jesus Christ. Prophecy comes, miracles come, the glory comes and then change comes. We are changed into His likeness.

It is the glory of God that will change us into the image of Jesus Christ. There is no way we can come into contact with the glory of God and not be affected with a positive change.

I am sure that most people have not yet truly come into contact with the glory of God. How do I know? Because people can regularly attend church year after year, hear the Word, and go through all the religious motions, yet they never seem to change into the image of Jesus Christ. They stay the same. They are stuck.

People can pray, read their Bibles, and still never experience the change that God desires—until they come into contact with the glory of God. But the glory of God has not been manifested in a lot of churches; they have neither the unction nor the anointing of God.

It doesn’t matter how much people may want to change. They need something more so they can reach the fulfillment of their desires. And that something more is the glory of God. Scripture says that we are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18).

We must have the glory of God in our services in order to experience change. What is the glory of God? It is the tangible, manifest presence of God. What do I mean by that?

Most people understand that God is omnipresent; people realize that God is everywhere. People therefore know that God is present whether you feel Him or not. The Bible says the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, beholding the evil and the good. And yet, chances are you are not going to feel the presence of God in a bar. Instead, you are going to feel the presence of demons, sin and darkness.

The glory of God is something you can feel, sense and see. In the Old Testament, the glory of God was manifested in a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. It was also manifested sometimes by smoke, although it was not literal smoke but rather the palpable strength of His presence.

When the glory of God comes, when the tangible anointing and presence of God are in a building or in a person, a person cannot help but be changed. When this happens, you are able to sense the presence of God beyond the faith realm. The influence of God is very heavy because He is manifesting Himself. His manifest presence brings a change.

People cannot come into contact with the glory and presence of God and not be changed.

I want you to notice that the best is yet to come. The Lord has kept back the good wine until the end of the age. You talk about miracles, signs and wonders—you haven’t seen anything yet!

We need to pursue the glory and the presence of God. Let’s decide today to pursue Him and His glory so that He can change us into His image and experience the best that is to come.

Adapted from God Still Speaks by John Eckhardt, copyright 2009, published by Charisma House. This book combines instructive, narrative teaching with powerful truths that helps bring moving in the prophetic easily achievable, while sparking your zeal to pursue the presence and glory of God and be forever changed. To order a copy click on this link:

It had been a week since my dear mother passed away at the age of 89. As a minister and follower of Jesus Christ, I knew Mother had gone home to be with the Lord. God’s Word had promised heaven for all believers in Jesus (see Rom. 10:9,13). Hours before her death, I had even witnessed the miracle of my blind mother waking up from her coma, to see again—and to see a glimpse of heaven.

However, a week later, as I walked through the rooms of her house, I was sorrowful.

Would this sadness ever lift? As Mother’s unofficial caregivers, my husband, Terry, and I, had come to stay with her—personally and painfully witnessing Mother, the picture of “spit and spunk”—her term for “full of life”—decline to the picture of a jaundiced corpse. Whenever I thought of Mother, it was this picture of death that would come to mind. It was so sad a picture, so unlike Mother, that it overpowered me, making me sorrowful.

On this day of visiting Mother’s house, I finally cried out to the Lord: “Lord, give me a new picture of Mother I can live with—one that assures me You have restored her to joy again!”

My brief prayer request was cut short by the ringing of the front doorbell. It was Pat, a neighbor who had known Mother for years.

Pat offered her condolences about Mother’s illness and death. Then, without skipping a beat, she looked me squarely in the eye and announced: “I must tell you something about your mom—or Florence, as all the kids on the block called her. Did you know that the young kids, my son included, liked to knock on her door and say, ‘We’re here by special invitation—can Florence come out and play?’ And she always did!”

A new picture was forming in my mind—Florence, just one of the kids, full of life stepping out to play. By special invitation, mind you!

Then a curious thing happened. My jaw suddenly began to drop and quiver, not from fighting off any more tears of mourning—but from fighting a good belly laugh that was greater than the tears. I could just see it now! “Can Florence come out and play?”

Like a dam bursting, I gushed out a laugh that took me to the ground. I grabbed Pat’s shoulders for support, but ended up taking her with me. Picture two mature ladies in white polyester leisure pants rolling around in raucous holy laughter on the wet green grass—in broad daylight. I’m sure this wasn’t a pretty sight. But something beautiful was happening. The Lord was showing a daughter in mourning a new picture. Her mother, Florence, stepping joyously into eternity—by special invitation.

God understands our sorrow, and He can give us joy in the midst of it. He also wants to lift the burden of sadness. When we simply ask, He will turn our mourning into joy—and sometimes even laughter in a white leisure suit.

Although many people might believe angels exist, that’s where the consensus ends on this controversial topic. Do angels come and talk with humans? Can anyone see an angel? Watch and read testimonies of angelic manifestations on earth.

Is the fight against same-sex marriage primarily one fought between religious groups and the gay community? Are there any issues that a secular society should consider in this fight? We have found at least eight negative sociological outcomes that could occur if same-sex marriage is legalized.

The first impact would most likely affect the number of marriages in the United States. Fewer people would see marriage as the ultimate covenant between two people. The proof of this lies in the state of Massachusetts where only 43 percent of same-sex couples who cohabitate have utilized the state law which grants them marriage rights. Heterosexual couples in Massachusetts are more likely to marry (91 percent) but the degree to which same-sex couples marry devalues the commitment for all couples and the number is likely to decrease. In the Netherlands, only 12 percent of gay couples have chosen marriage; this low number is consistent with other countries that have legalized same-sex marriages.

A second impact that legalizing same-sex marriage would have on our society would be that monogamous and sexually faithful relationships would decrease. Fidelity among same-sex couples in countries that have legalized same-sex marriage is extremely low. Several studies in the Netherlands show shocking figures: homosexual men who have a steady partner have had an average of eight other sexual partners per year; lesbians were found to have more male partners over their lifetime than heterosexual women. This lack of fidelity affects the view of marriage by the society in general, no matter the sexual preference.

Third same-sex marriage would negatively impact the number of couples who would remain married throughout their lives. As the transient nature of homosexual relationships becomes a normative ingredient of a society, all marriages will be impacted. One of the studies mentioned above found that the average male homosexual partnership lasts only a year and a half. This is a direct result of the widespread promiscuity among the homosexual community.

Next, the effect of same-sex marriage could be felt in the area of polygamy. Once society is afforded the opportunity to choose a spouse regardless of sex, the next step is to take the limit off the number of spouses a person may have. In case you think this is an unlikely scenario, one lawsuit has been filed in the courts using the argument we have stated above.

Moving on from marriage, we can readily deduce that the next influence same-sex marriage would have would be on children. More children would grow up without both father and mother to influence their lives. The social sciences are replete with study after study that commands our attention to the positive effect married, biological parents have on their children. Children are more emotionally stable and achieve higher test scores when they are raised by a mother and a father. Creating permanent motherless or fatherless homes dares to suppress the best standards for the next generation. Allowing gay partners to adopt will deny innocent children (who are unable to choose for themselves) the benefit of a home with both a mother and a father.

Another negative impact same-sex marriage would have on our families is that schools would be required to offer information about homosexuality as a choice to students. Sex education classes would purport that homosexual relationships are identical to heterosexual ones. In Massachusetts, a lesbian sex education instructor told her 8th grade students how lesbians use a sex toy to have intercourse. Though this is shocking, more so is the fact that a kindergartener’s parent was jailed because he protested against a book that was distributed to his son describing same-sex partners.

Next the impact of same-sex marriage will have a negative impact on the economy. Once same-sex marriage is legalized, all employers, whether they are public or private, will be forced to provide a benefits package for same-sex couples. This will broadly affect every U.S. citizen as our consumer goods and services will increase due to the increase cost of benefits that companies (large or small) will have to bear.

Finally the conscience of each citizen and our religious liberties would come under attack if same-sex marriage became legalized. Once a law has been made, the interpretation of that law is managed by the court system, which has often seen opinion rise over the will of the people. Religious schools, colleges and organizations might face becoming stripped of their tax-exempt status if they do not hire and admit homosexuals. Social workers, psychologists, counselors and other professionals could have their licenses revoked because they have chosen to “discriminate” against homosexuals.

The types of issues we have stated above have already been found to be true in the countries and states in which same-sex marriage has been legalized. If you are as vexed as I am over this issue, make a stand for marriage.

What can you do to stop the legalization of same-sex marriage?

1. Call your congressmen

2. Send this article to five friends

3. Consider sending a contribution to  

4. Join us Sunday, October 25 at The People’s Rally – “Let The People Vote.”  We want to let D.C. officials know that the constituents of the district should be allowed to vote on the issue of the definition of marriage. The rally will be held at Freedom Plaza from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The quality of preparation determines the quality of your future assignment! Successful people have normally spent years preparing for their greatest accomplishments. They were willing to invest time, finances and lots of hard work into their dreams. Great athletes didn’t give up when they were tired or injured. Physicians spent lots of long, sleepless nights studying and walking the corridors of hospitals. Many successful businessmen invested and then lost the investments. Yet, these people got up and tried again.

Times of stress, tiredness and loss are merely lessons that every successful person must walk through. Learning to see the preparation process in each difficult moment helps you better understand your assignment. You are not where you will be in the future. You are in your time of preparation.

Strive for quality rather than a quick fix. Keep getting up when you feel you have fallen down and are injured. Keep walking forward; don’t retreat. Keep believing for restoration of any loss in your life. Before you know it, you will have moved into your future assignment. You were willing to prepare, and now you’ll be known for the quality of your assignment!

What God has done through the modern creation of Israel in 1948 is nothing short of a miracle of Bible prophecy.

Over the years I have accompanied thousands of people to the Holy Land. I am always thrilled to see people on these tours with their Bibles open, eagerly reading Old and New Testament passages that identify the very places they are seeing for themselves. I’ll never forget an elderly gentleman in one group who kept peppering me with questions about biblical prophecy such as: “When Jesus returns, exactly where will He appear?” and “What else must happen before the Second Coming?”

His questions reflect an understanding about Israel that is so important for us as Christians to have. It is that everything God does on this planet, He does according to His dealings with Israel.

God’s Word makes it clear that before Jesus’ return, we will see the “restoration” of Israel. The apostle Peter, prophesying of a future event, told the Jews: “That [God] may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:20-21, NKJV).

Earlier, Jesus’ disciples had asked Him to explain when these things would happen. They wanted to know: “‘What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” (Matt. 24:3).

If you look closely at this verse you notice that the followers of the Lord wanted to know the sign—singular—of Christ’s return and the end of the age. Jesus, however, began by detailing a lengthy list of what they should be looking for, including false prophets, wars, famines, earthquakes, the gospel being preached to the nations and much more (see Matt. 24:4-31).

Many of these events began to unfold immediately after Christ ascended back to the Father and have continued to this very day. But what was the one “sign” that would be unmistakable? As Jesus often did, He answered their question in the form of a simple story:

“ ‘Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place’ ” (Matt. 24:32–34).

The fig tree is Israel. And God’s Son was prophesying of the time to come when the nation was re-established—when its tender branch was putting on new leaves.

It is essential to understand that in 1948, Israel the fig tree was not newly planted—it simply was awakening and sprouting new growth once more. Israel was born when Joshua took possession of the land God promised to Abraham. Jesus didn’t say the end would come in the generation after the tree was planted or grew branches but when the tree put on fresh leaves.

Connected to the Church

The most significant aspect of this parable is that from time the leaves would begin to blossom again “ ‘this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place’ ” (Matt. 24:34). One sign! One generation! What does this mean for you and me?

It is important to note that on God’s timetable, a generation is 100 years. When God told Abraham of Israel’s captivity in Egypt, He said: “ ‘Your descendants … will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. … But in the fourth generation they shall return here’ ” (Gen. 15:13, 16).

Since this is true, and the Lord was speaking about Israel’s rebirth in 1948, the 100 years for these things to be fulfilled means they will all come to pass before 2048.

You see, we simply cannot unravel or understand what is taking place in the Middle East or on the world scene without recognizing the central role of God’s time clock—Israel.

I believe it is more than coincidence that when Israel was revived as a nation in 1948 God’s hand began moving upon the Christian church worldwide in a new fashion. He started restoring the gifts of the Spirit.

Several years ago, my dear friend and mentor, the late Derek Prince, wrote a book titled Israel and the Church: Parallel Restoration. In it he pointed out several historic events in Israel’s restoration and their correlating spiritual breakthroughs in the church. Here are a few examples:

• Just before the turn of the 20th century, the first Zionist Congress embraced Theodor Herzl’s concept that the Jewish people should be returned to their biblical homeland. Within 10 years, outpourings of God’s Spirit began in Topeka, Kansas, and Azusa Street in Los Angeles.

• In 1948, Israel declared its independence and became a sovereign nation. At the same time, the church began to experience the Latter Rain Movement and the launch of Billy Graham’s evangelistic ministry.

• In 1967, Israel experienced a mighty victory in the Six-Day War. The same year, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Roman Catholics at first Duquesne and then Notre Dame universities, beginning the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Sadly, most Christians know very little about how Israel and the church are connected. They read the Scriptures, but they don’t seem to be able to link the two together.

Today, because of misinterpretation, people are saying we—the church—are Israel. They’re wrong!

Until recently, the Jewish people have not been open to hearing the message of Christ because Christianity was identified with the Crusades, Hitler and so much more. However, I can tell you personally that in the last few years we have begun to see a dramatic turnaround.

I vividly remember a day about 15 years ago when a Jewish cab driver forced me out of his taxi in Jerusalem for mentioning the name of Jesus. But recently I was in a stadium in Israel preaching the gospel to Jews and Arabs, publicly proclaiming, “Jesus! Jesus!” And together they were singing, “Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Only a few years ago, it was the Palestinian Christians who were preaching the gospel to the Jews. Now you can find Jews who have accepted Christ preaching to the Arabs!

I recently spoke with a Messianic Jew who conducts regular services in Jerusalem. He told me, “I have never seen such a hunger in the hearts of Jewish people. Every week men and women are accepting Jesus as their Messiah.”

So, while we have seen this nation restored physically, I believe what we are about to witness will be the greatest miracle in thousands of years. According to what I see in Scripture, a mighty spiritual outpouring is on the horizon for Israel.

The prophet Zechariah wrote, “ ‘ “For behold,” … says the Lord of hosts … “I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day” ’ ” (Zech. 3:9).

In “one day” God will restore His chosen people spiritually to Himself. Jesus prophesied that the times of the gentiles would be fulfilled, or come to an end, and God would again turn His attention to His ancient people, Israel (see Luke 21:24). The apostle Paul echoed this fact when he wrote, “Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom. 11:25).

Though there are different interpretations of how this will unfold, Scripture tells us, “And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins’” (Rom. 11:26-27).

Three Significant Prophecies

I have been told that for centuries, Jewish rabbis have been waiting for the fulfillment of three Old Testament passages they believe point to the Messiah’s coming. The first two have already occurred, and the third is taking place right before our eyes.

1. Traffic in the streets of Jerusalem. Nahum wrote of a time after Israel would be scattered and persecuted, when “the emptiers have emptied them out and ruined their vine branches” (Nah. 2:2). He saw the day when “the chariots come with flaming torches in the day of His preparation … they jostle one another in the broad roads; they seem like torches, they run like the lightning” (vv. 3-4).

The prophet saw cars in Jerusalem and did not know how to properly describe them—vehicles speeding in the streets of the city that he called “broad roads.” These wide roads didn’t exist in the prophet’s day, but they certainly do now!

2. The Israeli Air Force of 1967. Isaiah spoke of a day to come: “Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; passing over, He will preserve it” (Is. 31:5).

In 1948 the Israeli Air Force was still a fledgling force. At the time they had only a hodgepodge collection of donated civilian aircraft, totally inadequate for battle against modern fighter jets.

So they used their creativity. Pilots used to throw soda bottles out of their planes to create a whistling sound. The enemy thought a bomb was approaching and would run for their lives! But in the 1967 war, the “birds” mentioned in Isaiah were dominating the skies and defending Jerusalem.

3. The desert must bloom. Isaiah prophesied: “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it” (Is. 35:1-2).

Before 1948, Israel was practically nothing but desert and desolation. During the Ottoman Empire, nearly every tree in the land was cut down. Yet every time I return to Israel I am amazed at the abundance of palms, banana trees and flowers growing profusely throughout the region.

As a boy, I remember going to southern Israel into the Negev. Most of what I saw was unproductive land that was practically uninhabitable.

But on a recent journey I returned to the same area and was astonished by what I saw—acres of crops as far as the eye could see and communities springing up everywhere. God was speaking of Israel when He declared:

“ ‘So they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited” ’” (Ezek. 36:35).

Many Christians are planting trees in Israel. Our own ministry has been involved in planting olive trees all over the country; we even have our own orchard. We as Christians are a part of fulfilling this prophecy.

What were once arid sand dunes are now rich and fertile farmlands, not only feeding Israel’s own people but also exporting fruits and vegetables to the world. Israel’s economy now surpasses that of many European countries.

It is only by a miracle of God that this nation is still alive. As Christians, we know that the Messiah came to the earth the first time 2,000 years ago, yet the Jewish people are still looking for Him. According to Scripture He will return again, and Israel will believe.

On a journey back to my homeland recently, I was near the Western Wall in Jerusalem where many people were praying. I asked a rabbi standing there, “Do you believe the Messiah is coming?”

“He has to! It is time,” he answered.

One famous song played all the time in Israel is “Where Is the Messiah?” The Jewish people are looking for the Messiah and praying now more than ever for their total deliverance.

And when Christ returns the second time, the greatest revival the world has ever seen will break out in this land that is so precious to Him.

Benny Hinn is an evangelist, Bible teacher and author of numerous books, including Blood in the Sand (FrontLine), from which this article is adapted.