In a powerful behind‑the‑scenes feature, The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins peels back the layers of the crucifixion production, exposing the staggering physical, mental, emotional and spiritual toll it took on cast and crew.

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From the painstaking process of measuring and constructing the cross to deliberately staining the set with copious amounts of blood, symbolizing the atonement of our sins, the filmmakers refuse to minimize the brutality inherent in the event. This vivid preparation goes beyond cinematic spectacle, offering viewers a raw and visceral reminder of the suffering endured during the crucifixion.

Adding emotional depth, the video captures moments when actors portraying the disciples gaze upon Jesus’s body, their faces etched with dread and grief, mirroring the anguish of the first witnesses.

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Watch the full behind‑the‑scenes look in the video above to witness the depth of commitment behind every drop of blood and every wrenching emotional beat.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

During a recent episode of Encounter Today, prophetic voice Amanda Grace issued a warning about the spiritual and civil unrest rising in the United States. With protests erupting across American cities and international tensions escalating, Grace drew a prophetic parallel to the nation’s past.

“It’s the similar temperature just in a modern-day alignment,” Grace said. “All of these people were marched over the border… by corrupt individuals that wanted to use them as pawns, as slaves… for their power and agendas.” Comparing this to pre–Civil War tensions, she added, “You had Abraham Lincoln, a God-fearing man, who wanted to liberate, and you had the war being fought over people that were brought here from another nation.”

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Grace didn’t stop at historical parallels, she dove into the deeper spiritual battle.

“The kingdom of darkness raises altars… in order to push just exactly what you see: violence, the shedding of innocent blood, everything they need to try to advance their agenda,” she said.

Pointing to the rising of these altars during Pride Month, she warned, “This is the recipe for a backdraft on the party that did this… a fire starts, a door opens, and then boom.”

She also highlighted the prophetic alignment of colors seen in Middle Eastern flags with the horses of Revelation. “The colors of that flag are green, red, white and black… in the book of Revelation, what are the colors of the horses that are sent? Green, red, white and black.”

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Her message to the church was clear and urgent: “We are in a very real spiritual war that has physical consequences to it… You were built for the battle. You were created for the conflict. Stop trying to avoid it.”

As the nation grapples with division and unrest, Amanda Grace’s words serve as a sobering call for believers to rise up in prayer and engage in spiritual warfare. Now more than ever, she said, “The fear of the Lord needs to fall on the nation.”

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Let us pray for America, that God would intervene, awaken the church and bring healing to our land before the fire breaks loose.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a powerful interview with Kirk Cameron, bestselling author and former atheist Lee Strobel discussed the growing number of testimonies from Muslims around the world who are encountering Jesus through supernatural dreams and visions. Strobel shared amazing stories, including one about a Muslim mother of eight in Cairo who dreamed of walking with Jesus along a lake. The next day, she met a man from the dream, an underground church planter, who led her to Christ.

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These dreams, Strobel emphasized, often come with external confirmation and are part of a consistent pattern God uses to reach those in closed nations where preaching the Gospel is illegal.

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Strobel also addressed other supernatural experiences, including near-death encounters and deathbed visions, citing over 900 peer-reviewed studies that align with Scripture. While he remains cautious about stories involving visitations from deceased loved ones, Strobel urged viewers to study these accounts biblically and scientifically. He stressed that God is not hindered by legal restrictions and will reveal Himself however He pleases, even through dreams. “Why would a demon lead someone to Jesus?” he asked rhetorically.

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To hear more astonishing accounts and the biblical insights behind them, watch the full interview with Lee Strobel and Kirk Cameron in the video above.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a recent video message, evangelist teacher Perry Stone warned that many Christians are unknowingly participating in Satan’s agenda, from within the church. Drawing parallels between the early church’s compromise under persecution and the present-day church’s spiritual condition, Stone said, “If there’s one thing that concerns me the most, it is the carnality that is in the body of Christ in the form of tale bearing, backbiting and gossip.”

“It’s just so entrenched, especially in the West.”

Stone cited historical accounts from the early centuries of Christianity where believers, out of fear of persecution and death, denied Christ, only to later return to the church after the danger had passed. But his main concern was how Satan still finds inroads into the modern church, not always through persecution, but through internal division, spiritual immaturity and deception.

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Satan’s Influence on Believers

Stone cited several New Testament examples of Satan’s influence on individuals who were part of the church:

• Peter: “One minute he is speaking a revelation from God… A couple verses later, Jesus says, ‘Get behind me, Satan.’”
• Judas: “Satan entered the heart of Judas… it meant that he inspired Judas, not in his head, now it’s in his heart to betray Jesus.”
• Ananias and Sapphira: “Why did Satan fill your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?”

Stone emphasized that “Satan is an accuser,” and when Christians act in similar ways, they are not operating under the Spirit of God. “He uses accusations to attack other people.”

Three Church Sins That Mirror Satan’s Devices

Stone laid out three behaviors prevalent in the church today that he says align with Satan’s plan:

1. Double Talk

   • “I love you, brother… and you walk right outside the car door… and you’re talking bad about them.”
   • “A double-minded person is unstable in all their ways.”

2. Secret Conspiracies

   • “When somebody hates somebody, you find the other people who hate the same person. Then you’ve got your little conspiracy going on.”

3. Sacred Lies

   • “We kill people’s reputation without blinking because we’re going to do the right thing. I call it sacred lies.”

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Citing Psalm 64, Stone warned that those who engage in such behavior may face judgment:

“God shall shoot at them with an arrow. Suddenly they shall be wounded.”

Understanding the Real Agenda of Satan

Stone explained that Satan’s three-fold mission in John 10:10 is often misunderstood. He offered a more spiritually focused interpretation:

• Kill: “To kill their reputation. And once a person’s reputation is damaged… people say, ‘I’m not listening and I’m not supporting.’”
• Steal: “He steals your joy, he steals your peace, and he tries to affect your righteousness.”
• Destroy: “He’s destroying families, he’s destroying homes and he’s destroying churches.”

Stone added, “You’re going to have to learn to discern the voices in your head,” emphasizing the importance of spiritual maturity and self-control. “You are never required to give your opinion on everything that you’re hearing.”

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Despite the warnings, Stone ended with a call to unity and love within the body of Christ.

“If you love somebody, you will stand with them through thick and thin. It doesn’t mean they did right, but you’ll still love them.”

His message was a clear exhortation to avoid division, recognize the voice of the enemy and uphold the righteousness and unity of the church.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

At The Encounter conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, evangelist Brian Barcelona delivered a deeply moving message about salvation, redemption and the power of persistence.

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Reflecting on his own testimony, he shared, “I got saved at 16. It’s crazy, I was a 16-year-old boy. I sat in the back of a room and I went in for a Jamba Juice smoothie and I came out with eternal life.” That moment was the result of one man’s relentless faith, Albert, a bread truck driver, who invited Brian to church week after week, finally saying, “Come to church and I’ll buy you a smoothie.”

Barcelona centered his message on the man at the gate called Beautiful in Acts 3, pointing to how many believers can be surrounded by church culture and still miss an encounter with God. “This man watched other people walk in to meet God, but he himself was stuck outside never being able to go in.” He warned that “many of you sit outside of not a physical gate… Most people you meet that come to church actually still sit outside of him.”

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Encouraging those bound by shame and disappointment, he declared, “God does not want to give you a second chance, He wants to give you your first chance back.”

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If you want to hear the full message and experience the powerful moment that unfolded, be sure to watch the video above.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

As the dust settles from the U.S. strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, attention is turning to the name of the military operation that carried it out: Midnight Hammer. President Donald Trump, who announced the strike via social media and later during a televised address, is once again stirring comparisons between himself and the ancient Persian king Cyrus.

In Scripture, Cyrus was God’s appointed vessel, a battle-axe of divine reckoning. In Jeremiah 51:20, God declares: “You are My battle-ax and weapon of war: for with you I will break in pieces the nations, and with you I will destroy kingdoms,” (MEV). Cyrus not only crushed Israel’s enemies, but issued the edict to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

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Could history be repeating itself? Could Trump, like Cyrus, be used to break the grip of hostile nations and clear the path toward restoring what once was?

The operation’s name, “Midnight Hammer,” feels steeped in biblical imagery. Midnight speaks of darkness just before dawn, a time when the world still sleeps but heaven prepares to act. Could this strike mark a turning point, a prophetic shift into a new day when Israel and the United States rise together to fulfill their historic purposes?

On the ground in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a bold spiritual stance. Before Israel’s missions against Iran, he visited the Western Wall and placed a handwritten note quoting Numbers 23:24: “A people rises up as a great lion, and lifts itself up like a lion; it shall not lie down until it eats the prey and drinks the blood of the slain.”

The note and prayer send a clear signal: Israel will not relent. The operation’s name, “Rising Lion,” confirms that resolve and aligns closely with the prophetic picture of Israel’s spiritual and military awakening.

But there is another layer, one rooted deep in the history of the Temple Mount. Babylon destroyed the First Temple, and in time, God brought that empire to total ruin. Centuries later, the Roman Empire tore down the Second Temple, and ruin eventually came for them as well.

So we must ask: Will God bring ruin once again to those who desecrate His holy mountain today? Is divine justice already stirring against those who trample the sacred grounds?

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New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Cahn previously alluded to this in his book The Oracle, in which he quoted Netanyahu as saying:

I want to tell you that the Jewish people have a long memory. So we remember the proclamation of King Cyrus the Great—Persian King. Twenty-five hundred years ago, he proclaimed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon can come back and rebuild our temple in Jerusalem.

Such questions become even more timely as the Jewish observance of Tisha B’Av approaches, a day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, both falling on the very same date in history. Could God use this solemn moment to shift attention back to the Temple Mount, this time in the presence of a leader many view as modern-day Cyrus?

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If Israel were to reassert control over the Temple Mount, would it ignite global outrage? Could this move finally set in motion the end-times opposition prophesied in Scripture, where “all nations” turn against Jerusalem?

Only God knows how these events will unfold. But as America wields the hammer in midnight hours and Israel rises like a lion, the shadows of Babylon, Cyrus and Rome seem closer than ever.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

As tensions erupt in the Middle East following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Watchman River podcast host Tom Cote is warning that the world is witnessing Bible prophecy unfold in real time.

“Everything is ready for the seven-year tribulation to take place,” Cote said. “All the technology is there for the mark of the beast. All of the technology is there for a one world monetary system. AI has blown our minds at how fast it’s come out and how fast it’s improving, and they are throwing it at us without our consent quickly.”

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Referencing the prophesied end-times covenant in Daniel 9:27, Cote said, “The seven-year tribulation begins when the Antichrist confirms or strengthens a covenant. It might be the Abraham Accords… but when that is signed, the seven-year tribulation begins. I believe we are raptured before that seven-year tribulation begins.”

In his latest episode, Cote compared the unfolding global chaos to “puzzle pieces” forming a clear picture of what is to come. “When you have a puzzle… you can’t grab one piece and say, ‘Well, this whole puzzle is a cheeseburger’ by looking at one piece,” he said. “It’s not until you start clicking everything into place and the picture is forming.”

Cote believes the timeline of redemptive history is nearing its final chapter. “Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, rose again 2,000 years ago approximately… and we believe that there will be 1,000 years coming up which is the 7,000th year, which was the Sabbath millennium, when Jesus will rule and reign from a throne in Jerusalem after His Second Coming.”

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The recent escalation between the U.S., Israel and Iran may mark a major prophetic shift, Cote noted. “What went on last night was major and we’ve turned another corner,” he said, referring to the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “Events are going to snowball to the signing of the covenant and the rapture that happens before then, snowball quickly.”

He also warned of the rising hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people, saying, “You’re about to see the world turn against Israel like you’ve never seen it in your life… it’s prophesied. When you’re seeing it within the church, that’s where you’re in scary waters right there.”

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While many look to diplomacy or military strategy for solutions, Cote offered a different lens: “It’s a spiritual thing. Satan knows his time is short.”

Cote urged viewers to take the signs seriously and be spiritually alert. “Look up. Keep your eyes on Jesus. It’s so important. There’s so many traps to fall into. There’s so much deception to fall into.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In 2014, the late prophetic voice Kim Clement delivered a word that is proving to be more relevant now than ever. On Dec. 12, of that year, he urged believers to pray for America, Israel and the ecclesia, declaring that “God has not finished with this nation yet.”

At the time, President Barack Obama occupied the White House. Clement issued a warning likening Obama to King Saul, accusing him of sparing the enemies of God and warning that if the king would not deal with them, then God would raise up a prophet. Clement’s words were piercing: “You cannot spare them, Obama. They are not spareable.”

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Fast-forward to today, and the United States, under President Donald Trump, appears to be in a completely different posture. Just last weekend, the U.S. military, under Trump’s command, launched strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. B-2 stealth bombers released multiple bunker buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear site, while Tomahawk missiles targeted facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. The message to Iran, and the world, was unmistakable: America is no longer willing to tolerate threats of nuclear escalation.

As reported earlier, Clement foresaw a clash involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and even Russia. He told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “forget Iran for a minute” and “look to other countries,” implying a larger, more complex web of threats. Yet he declared confidently: “While these cats and dogs are fighting, America shall begin to bloom.”

And bloom it may. In his prophecy, Clement predicted a “seven-year period of prosperity” and a surge of creativity, innovation and oil production in the United States. He proclaimed: “A new energy is coming and it’s coming soon.”

Could this weekend’s bold military action, this decisive stand against the enemies of God, be the very kind of obedience Clement said would unlock revival and national restoration?

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We’re seeing a stark contrast between the hesitation of the previous administration and the assertiveness of today’s leadership. Trump has long been compared to Cyrus, the Persian king who, despite not being an Israelite, was chosen by God to bless His people and restore Jerusalem. Like Cyrus, Trump is acting decisively, defending Israel and positioning America as a global protector rather than an appeaser of evil.

The church must now heed Clement’s first call: “Pray, pray, pray.” Our intercession is not finished. America may have turned a corner, but the fight, both spiritual and geopolitical, is far from over.

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If Clement was right, and America is now acting in obedience by standing with Israel and confronting evil, then we may soon see the dawn of a prophetic promise: the revival, restoration and prosperity of a nation once again aligned with the purposes of God, as well as the return of the Jewish Temple atop the Temple Mount.

Let those with ears to hear take courage, God is not finished with America.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The sudden and large-scale conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified concerns that the world may soon turn against the Jewish state, aligning with long-foretold biblical prophecy.

The war began when Israel launched a sweeping strike on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, targeting over 100 high-value locations including research facilities, generals, and radar systems. The coordinated operation involved warplanes, drones and advanced targeting systems. Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones, many of which were intercepted, but some struck residential areas in Tel Aviv and Haifa, resulting in widespread destruction and civilian casualties.

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Current reports place the death toll at more than 224 in Iran and over two dozen in Israel, with hundreds more injured. The Israeli government now claims full air superiority over Tehran, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has pledged more devastating retaliation.

Public reaction has begun to reflect a possible turning point in global opinion. A prominent online streamer, Asmongold, with no religious affiliation remarked that if Israel were to use nuclear weapons in its defense, the world would likely unite against it. Though speculative, such a scenario closely resembles descriptions found in Bible prophecy, which speaks of all nations aligning against Israel in the final days.

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Just before the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, symbolically seeking divine guidance ahead of military action. The act echoed ancient biblical traditions of Israel’s leaders turning to God before entering battle, reinforcing the religious weight behind the nation’s current position.

Biblical prophecy has long foretold of a time when the nations of the world would surround Jerusalem in hostility. Scriptural references in Zechariah and Revelation point to an era of intense global opposition to Israel, culminating in a climactic conflict before the return of Christ. These prophecies also anticipate the rise of a deceptive world leader who will establish a peace agreement with Israel, only to betray it halfway through a seven-year period marked by tribulation.

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Critical to this timeline is the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Developments in recent years indicate this goal is progressing. Ritual items have been reconstructed, red heifers necessary for purification have been bred and prepared, and Jewish presence on the Temple Mount is increasing—all signs that align with prophetic expectations.

At the same time, anti-Israel sentiment is rising, even among those who profess Christian faith. Accusations that Israel has lost divine favor or become aligned with evil are increasingly voiced online. Biblical warnings in Matthew point to a time of deception, betrayal and lawlessness in the final generation, when even believers may be misled.

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While chaos builds and prophetic signs continue to manifest, the biblical call remains unchanged: to stand firm in faith, reject fear and live in readiness. The conflict unfolding in the Middle East may be another marker on the road toward fulfillment of prophecy, as Jerusalem remains at the heart of global unrest.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a recent video message, author and prophetic minister Rick Joyner warned of a coming trial unlike any he had previously expected, one centered around immense financial blessing for a specific group of end-times believers.

“There’s a trial coming, a major trial,” Joyner said. “…We know about the one, the mark of the beast. There’s a reason for that. There’s a reason why it’s an economic mark. It’s because probably the ultimate idol of the human heart is money.”

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Joyner emphasized that idolatry involves misplaced trust. “An idol isn’t just something you love, it’s what you put your trust in, in place of God. And that’s one of the number one things. So He has fundamentally got to deal with this issue.”

According to Joyner, God is raising up people who will walk in the miraculous works of Christ and beyond. “There are people that are called in this day to walk in the works that He did, and even greater works. I know some of them, I’ve met some of them,” he said. “Enoch prophesied about them. They’re prophesied in the book of Jude, the mighty ones who are coming.”

He cited the phrase “mighty 10,000” as a literal translation from Scripture, describing a remnant who will display unprecedented supernatural power. But with that power, he said, comes a surprising test.

“You know what He said the test was that was coming to every one of them? Extraordinary wealth. Over-the-top wealth. And it is a test,” Joyner said. “How are they going to use it?”

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Joyner cautioned that such financial favor is a proving ground. “He cannot trust them with the riches of the kingdom, and that’s what we’re talking about in these unprecedented miracles and all that God is going to pour out on the earth, and the test is: what are they going to do when they’re handling mega finances?”

He pointed to biblical patriarchs as models of eternal perspective. “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it says they lived in tents. They were so wealthy, they made kings jealous,” Joyner noted. “They said, ‘No, tents are good. I’m good with this tent.’”

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Joyner urged viewers to think beyond material gain. “We want to be generous because we want our seed to be multiplied, not for raising our standard of living. It’s for raising our standard of giving.”

The minister concluded his remarks with a sober reminder: “Some of you are going to be trusted with mega wealth, and it’s a test.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.