In the story of Hannah, tucked into the first chapter of 1 Samuel, we find a powerful reminder: God’s favor often begins in the most unfavorable circumstances.

“Hannah’s name means favor,” said Apostle John Eckhardt in a recent message. “Very interesting that her name is favor, but she seems to be in an unfavorable situation.”

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Barren, mocked and misunderstood, Hannah still clung to faith. In a time when Israel’s priesthood was corrupt and spiritually dim, she dared to cry out to God.

“She makes a promise to God, she makes a vow to God that if He would open her womb and give her a child, that she would dedicate the child to the Lord,” Eckhardt said. God answered her with Samuel, whose name means “answered by God.”

That one child, born from one woman’s persistent prayer, would go on to shift the destiny of a nation. “There would have been no Samuel without a Hannah,” Eckhardt said. “Because of Hannah, we look at Samuel, but there’ll be no Samuel without his mother.”

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This isn’t just a story from ancient times, it’s a prophetic picture for today.

Eckhardt encouraged, “So mothers, believe God for favor upon your life, believe God for favor to come upon your children, upon your children’s children. Let the favor of God, let me say this, generational favor.”

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Every mother, every woman of God, carries the potential to release world-changing purpose. “You are not just another person on the planet,” Eckhardt said. “You are valuable, you are precious, you are favored by God.”

Favor doesn’t come because circumstances are perfect. It comes because God is faithful. So to every mother holding onto a promise, don’t give up. What you’re carrying might just be the answer that transforms generations.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

For many Christians, the question of cremation isn’t just practical, it’s deeply theological. If Scripture teaches that our physical bodies will be raised from the dead, then what happens if that body has been reduced to ashes?

In a recent video, Bible teacher and content creator Kap Chatfield addressed this question head-on: “What does the Bible actually say about cremation? If Christians are promised resurrection, what happens if you’re cremated or you cremate a loved one?”

It’s a topic that causes concern for many believers, especially those who take Jesus’ words in John 6:40 seriously: “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day,” (MEV).

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Chatfield was clear that the Resurrection promise isn’t poetic—it’s literal. “He’s saying, ‘If you belong to me, I will raise your body from the dead.’”

The question then arises—what if that body no longer exists in its original form? According to Chatfield, Scripture doesn’t place any restrictions on how a body must return to the earth. “The Bible never actually says that cremation is a sin. There’s no command in Scripture that forbids it.”

While burial was practiced in ancient Israel, Chatfield emphasized that it was a cultural norm, not a divine mandate. “God never says, ‘You must be buried to be raised.’”

In fact, Scripture offers a broader view of human origin and destiny. “Genesis 3:19, ‘For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’ Psalm 103:14 says, ‘He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust.’”

The God who created life from dust can also resurrect it from ashes. “God made Adam from the dust. Literal dirt. No bones, no ashes, no organs, no flesh, no blood, just raw earth and his God’s spirit,” Chatfield said. “So the idea that cremation could stop God from raising someone is just not consistent with who he is and what he’s done in the past.”

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Referencing Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones, Chatfield noted, “If he can do that with dry scattered bones, he can handle cremated remains.”

And when it comes to what truly matters, Chatfield reminds viewers: “What matters most is who holds your spirit, not what condition your body is in when you die. Because the same God who formed you the first time knows exactly how to raise you the second time.”

So should Christians avoid cremation? Chatfield turned to Romans 14:5: “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” He added, “This is a conscience issue, not a salvation issue.”

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For those still unsure, he brought the discussion back to the most critical point. “The real question isn’t will God raise someone who was cremated. The real question is, are you in Christ?”

As Chatfield declared, quoting John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Whether buried or cremated, those who belong to Jesus will rise. That’s a promise written in eternal stone, not scattered in ashes.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a prophetic deep-dive sermon, Jonathan Cahn unveiled the profound parallels between the books of Ezekiel and Revelation—highlighting a divine blueprint that threads together restoration, judgment and ultimate glory.

“Ezekiel is seeing a vision of the temple of the millennial kingdom,” Cahn began. “The millennial kingdom is a shadow of the eternal kingdom that is shown in Revelation. What John is seeing is the eternal.”

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At the center of both prophetic books lies the Resurrection and restoration of God’s people. “Ezekiel is the book of the Hebrew Scripture that has the Resurrection and of God’s people,” Cahn noted. He then pointed to the vivid connection between Ezekiel’s gathering of Israel and Revelation’s depiction of eternal comfort: “God is saying in the last days I’m going to gather Israel from the ends of the earth as a shepherd gathers his flock… For the lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of water and God will wipe away their tears.”

But it doesn’t end there. The ancient war of Gog and Magog, long mysterious to many, takes center stage in both books. “You will come against my people like a cloud,” Cahn quoted from Ezekiel, then tied it to Revelation 20: “They came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints… and fire came down from heaven and consumed them.”

Following this divine intervention, both prophets are given visions of an extraordinary city. “He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain… something like the structure of a city,” Ezekiel saw. Revelation echoes: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… and I saw the holy city… prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

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Even the measurements align. “The city is laid out four square. Its length is as great as its width,” Cahn read from Revelation, connecting it to Ezekiel’s temple, “four square… the altar was in front of the temple.”

In a poignant moment, Cahn described the return of God’s glory to the temple, a reversal of its earlier departure. “The glory of the Lord came and entered the house by the way of the gate facing the east… and the glory of the Lord filled the house.” This return is not only historical but messianic. “The Lord God of Israel has entered through it. Therefore, it shall be shut.”

Cahn emphasized how the Eastern Gate was sealed in Jerusalem to prevent Messiah’s return, yet this act, ironically, mirrors prophecy. “By trying to stop the prophecy, they fulfill the prophecy,” he said.

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Bringing it full circle, Cahn turned to the river of life flowing from the temple in Ezekiel and from the throne in Revelation. “These waters go out… to the Dead Sea… the sea of death will become a sea of life.” Revelation seals the message: “He showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God.”

The vision ends where heaven begins. “The name of the city from that day on shall be ‘Adonai Shamah’—The Lord is there,” Cahn declared. “Heaven is Adonai Shamah. Where the Lord is, there will be heaven.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

A recent declaration by Pope Leo XIV has stirred renewed interest in the centuries-old Prophecy of the Popes, a controversial and mysterious list of papal predictions attributed to 12th-century Irish bishop St. Malachy.

The final entry of the prophecy reads, “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations. And when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.”

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Until now, skeptics like Josh Peck of Daily Renegade expressed doubts that Pope Leo XIV had any notable connection to this final line. “Besides the fact that he’s pope… you could say Peter about any pope,” Peck noted. “So what about Peter the Roman specifically ties to this pope? Why this pope and no other pope?”

But that skepticism may be shifting.

According to a report from Catholic News Agency, during a ceremonial visit with Rome’s mayor, Pope Leo declared, “Today I can say that through you and with you I am Roman.” That statement has ignited speculation that Leo may fit the final prophetic description more closely than any of his predecessors.

Peck emphasized the significance: “He’s calling himself Roman. The mayor is saying that the city of Rome is his… This kind of meeting hasn’t even happened since 1978.”

During his remarks, Pope Leo also stated, “Shortly after the election, I told the brothers and sisters gathered in St. Peter’s Square, that I am with them a Christian, and for them a bishop. Today, in a special way, I can say that through you and with you, I am Roman.”

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In addition to that striking declaration, Pope Leo emphasized his role as a shepherd and his commitment to service: “I feel the serious yet passionate responsibility to serve all its members with the faith of the people of God and the common good of society foremost in my heart.”

That language bears a resemblance to the prophecy’s reference to Peter the Roman pasturing his sheep in tribulation.

Still, Peck remains cautious. “I’m waiting and seeing what happens with it… this is very, very, very interesting with the whole prophecy.” While the pope’s name is not Peter—something some say is essential—Peck notes others argue all popes are successors of Peter and thus spiritually bear the name.

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Whether this marks the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy—or simply another papal formality—remains to be seen. But the symbolism and timing are hard to ignore.

“Could this be enough that makes Pope Leo a good candidate for Peter the Roman… or is this just too flimsy?” Peck asked his viewers.

Only time will tell whether this moment marks the start of a prophetic fulfillment, or just another chapter in the long and often mysterious history of the Catholic Church.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

A worship event in Seattle erupted into chaos last weekend as protesters clashed with Christians gathered for a revival at Cal Anderson Park.

Revivalist Ross Johnston, one of the event’s co-leaders, described it as “the wildest three days of my entire life in ministry.”

Johnston told CBN News’ Raj Nair that while they had anticipated possible protests, “we found out very quickly that the protesters weren’t going to be peaceful and had another agenda in mind.”

🚨NOW: CHRISTIANS TARGETED BY VIOLENCE WORSHIP AT SEATTLE CITY HALL

Days after these Christians were assaulted by leftists and maligned and lied about by @MayorofSeattle, they gathered on the steps of Seattle City Hall and sings “Holy Forever.”

Here are the full lyrics:
– –
A… pic.twitter.com/hzXXOuIs9i

— Pastor Travis Johnson (@BasedPastorTrav) May 28, 2025

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According to Johnston, a protester rushed the stage and was intercepted by a member of the worship team. “Otherwise, the headline… might be ‘revivalist preacher Ross punches a protester on stage to defend himself,’” he said.

The confrontation escalated into what Johnston called “a riot in Seattle.” He reported, “There was 23 arrests made, all on the protester side. One police officer ended up in the hospital.” He also revealed disturbing incidents: “One of them actually pulled a knife and threatened a 17-year-old on our side… while the kids were getting haircuts, there was actually sexually, you know, explicit lewd acts being done directly in front of the children.”

Far-left extremist groups including Antifa, Trantifa and the Communist Party of America were among the protestors. Johnston said some clergy members who “affirmed same-sex attraction [and] same-sex marriage” also showed up in opposition. “We had the entire gauntlet, so to speak,” he said.

While some accused Johnston’s team of choosing Cal Anderson Park to provoke controversy, he clarified that they initially requested a permit for Pike Place but were redirected by the city. “The city refused and said, ‘Hey, we recommend Cal Anderson Park.’”

Seattle’s mayor responded just one hour after the incident, claiming the Christian group was “attacking his community.” Johnston pushed back, saying, “Are you talking about the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution? I mean, what are we talking about here?” He added, “He was ultimately, without saying it, choosing a side. He was choosing the protester side.”

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Johnston’s personal testimony added an unexpected layer to the controversy. “I grew up in a lesbian household with two moms… I became a born-again Christian [at age 15]… I have a lesbian mom till this day who I love, who I have a great relationship with… She’s a financial donor in my ministry.”

To those who accused him of hate, Johnston said, “There was 23 arrests. All of them were on the protesters’ side… There was water balloons with urine being thrown. There was two people who rushed the stage. I mean, those are just the facts.”

He closed the interview by declaring what he believes God is doing in Seattle: “We are in revival and reformation… to reach every major sphere of society in hopes that the greatest harvest in recorded history would take place in our generation.”

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Events like this provide a sobering glimpse into a possible future, where cities like Seattle may increasingly attempt to outlaw Christianity in the public square. From banning public prayer and worship to silencing the name of Jesus itself, the tide is turning. The mayor’s statement — effectively labeling Christian beliefs as hate — is a chilling sign of what may lie ahead.

As Christians, we must prepare for a time when proclaiming the gospel may lead to violent threats, imprisonment or even death. But we are called to stand firm. Now more than ever, we must be bold enough to speak the name of Jesus, no matter the cost.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Evangelist Perry Stone is warning believers that the United States is under an unprecedented level of spiritual warfare, with specific cities being targeted by high-ranking demonic entities known as “prince spirits.”

In a recent episode of Manna-Fest, Stone said, “There are prince spirits that are moving into cities in the United States. They have been over areas and regions, but now they are targeting particular cities.”

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Referencing Ephesians 6:12, Stone explained that spiritual warfare operates through a hierarchy of demonic forces. “A prince spirit is a spirit that is one of the highest ranking spirits directly under Satan who is given more authority,” he said. “There’s levels of authority. There’s levels of wickedness.”

Three Reasons Cities Are Being Targeted

Stone outlined three main reasons why these principalities are focusing their efforts on U.S. cities:

1. High Spiritual Activity: “They position themselves over cities where there is spiritual activity and it’s very high,” he said, noting the presence of large churches and ministries.
2. Spiritual Threat Assessment: “The threat assessment was—we have to keep his ministry out of this area,” Stone recalled from a past attack on a fellow minister.
3. Opposition to God’s Plan: “They position in an area to hinder the movement of God’s plan… God’s heart is the harvest. Satan’s plan is to stop the harvest.”

Stone says it’s not just people falling into sin—it’s much deeper. “We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood,” he warns. “We wrestle against the spirit that’s moving or motivating the flesh and blood.”

What Can Be Done?

Prayer isn’t optional, it’s essential.

Stone credits much of his ministry’s protection to the prayers of a woman he called Aunt Bee, who organized 1,800 intercessors in the “Daughters of Rachel” prayer team. “Because of her prayers, we lost an engine in a plane and God showed her it happened. She prayed for one hour and a half… She was on it the moment the engine failed until we landed.”

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And when it comes to breaking the power of these prince spirits, Stone is clear: “Daniel, in order to break the prince spirits, he did two things. He went on a 21-day fast and he prayed continually.”

He emphasized that online speculation or public commentary is not enough.

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“If all you do is this—we get nowhere. We do nothing. Everything comes to a halt,” he said. “I’m asking some praying saints… to get together in your local churches. Ask your pastor and say, ‘We need to have prayer meetings and we’re going to be praying every day to break the back of this spirit.’”

Spiritual warfare isn’t a side issue, it’s the battlefield of our times. It’s time the church gets back to fighting where it counts: in the spirit.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a recent development that echoes a prophecy spoken years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly survived an attempted assassination on May 20, 2025, when his helicopter came under fire from Ukrainian drones during a surprise visit to the war-torn Kursk region.

Russian military commander Yury Dashkin claimed the aircraft was “at the epicenter” of a major drone strike. While the Kremlin has not released footage or physical evidence, it has acknowledged the incident occurred, prompting Russia’s largest retaliatory drone and missile barrage to date.

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The attack has stirred fresh interest in a prophetic word delivered by the late Kim Clement, who in 2014 spoke directly to the issue of Putin’s rise and future downfall. Clement declared, “Putin, I speak to you now—King Putin, you call yourself… do you really believe that I raised up a king in the ’80s by the name of Ronald Reagan to pull down a curtain and to destroy a war that divided for nothing?”

Clement continued, stating with bold clarity: “Get out of My way, says the Lord… I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips and I will turn your back by the way you came… I have sent, says the Lord, a spirit upon you that shall cause you to return to your land… and I will cause you to fall by the sword in your own land.”

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The headlines seem to align with Clement’s powerful warnings. And yet, skepticism remains.

Some observers suggest the Kremlin may be manipulating the narrative to bolster domestic support or portray Putin as a wartime hero under divine-level pressure. As with past incidents, like the 2023 drone strike blamed on Ukraine but never verified, doubt lingers.

Still, the parallels are hard to ignore. Could the prophet’s words be unfolding before our eyes?

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As with all prophecy, Scripture exhorts us to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and to discern the times, just as the sons of Issachar did (1 Chron. 12:32).

Whether this moment is a fulfillment or a foreshadowing of things to come in Putin’s future, one thing is clear: the spiritual battle behind global headlines is real, and the need for discernment has never been greater.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

L.A. Marzulli sat down with Charisma Media for an electrifying in-studio interview about what he calls “the coming great deception.”

Marzulli warned that the rapid rise in UFO sightings, global disclosure efforts and spiritual confusion are signs that “we are in the last of the last days.” Emphasizing the biblical foundation behind his claims, he said, “The truth is that Jesus spoke everything into existence and He holds everything together,” pointing to the prophetic threads that stretch from Genesis to Revelation.

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According to Marzulli, these interdimensional entities often mistaken as extraterrestrials are actually part of a larger satanic deception, saying, “When we go up, they come down.”

Marzulli dove deep into biblical prophecy, the UFO phenomenon and DNA evidence linked to Nephilim hybrids—sharing his groundbreaking findings from Peru that may point to a “different species.” He also unpacked how demonic entities may already be laying the groundwork to explain away the rapture. “Channeled information says people will leave the planet in an afternoon because they don’t belong here anymore,” he noted, calling it a demonic counterfeit of what Scripture foretells.

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He urged pastors and believers alike to wake up to the spiritual realities manifesting across the globe: “The church needs to understand that this is manifesting. This will change everything.”

If you want to hear the full jaw-dropping interview and explore the prophetic, scientific, and supernatural evidence Marzulli presents, watch the full video above.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

During Media Day 2025 presented by Charisma Media, Pastor Chris Garcia delivered a passionate reminder that spiritual warfare is real—but so is the believer’s victory in Christ.

“Christ died for our sins… he translates us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light,” Garcia said.

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Yet many Christians, he warned, live in defeat because they don’t understand what’s already been won for them. “We are not meant to be victims. We’re meant to be more than conquerors through Christ.”

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Garcia likened the church to eagles who forget how to fly. “With a wrong mentality, we become like little clucking chickens… not realizing that we are ruling and reigning in the heavenlies,” he said.

The key, he emphasized, is intimacy with God. “The key to prayer is praying,” Garcia said. “The more time we spend time with you, the more time is enjoyed with you.” For those who feel distant from God, Garcia had a simple encouragement: “Come to the Lord… just like you come to a person, you approach that individual and you speak.”

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Watch the full interview video to learn how you can step into a lifestyle of spiritual authority and intimacy with the Lord.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In a recent prophetic message, Alwyn Uys shared a powerful and timely word for the month of June 2025, encouraging believers to step boldly into their God-given callings.

“This is a word that is for a time like this,” Uys said. “So many people have been prepared by the Lord for a time such as this.”

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Uys described a vision he received during a community prayer session: a large eagle hovering over a nest filled with baby eagles. “They were feeding from this bigger eagle,” he recalled. “And I got these words that… the Holy Spirit was saying, ‘I have fed you for a long time. I have taught you everything and you know how to fly. Now is the time to fly.’”

The message struck a deeply prophetic chord: the season of preparation is over, and the time to take action has arrived. “You already know how to fly. Even though it doesn’t feel that way, even though you’re still sitting in the nest and you’re asking the Lord, ‘When is it time to take the leap?’… now is the time to step out in faith and take flight.”

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Uys continued with a personal reflection, recalling a word given to him years ago during a prophetic meeting. “He made it so simple. He said, ‘Stop asking permission to take flight. You already have everything.’”

To reinforce the calling, Uys pointed to 1 Kings 19:19 and the moment Elijah called Elisha by placing his cloak over him. “That was a huge turning point in his life, in his ministry, in his calling,” Uys said. “It was the calling of God being affirmed—that now is the time to leave everything behind… and follow the calling of God.”

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He reminded his audience that this kind of faith can be daunting, but God is not sending anyone alone. “As you take the leap of faith… His presence will be with you,” he said. “And I just get this strong sense that so many people around you will be able to see that God is with that one. God is with her. God is with him.”

For anyone feeling unsure, Uys offered one final affirmation from the heart of the Father: “He is so proud of you for how far you’ve come, for how you’ve trusted Him, how you’ve so obediently listened to His voice… All in the name of obedience unto the Holy Spirit.”

As June unfolds, the time to rise is now.

“Take flight,” he said. “You already have everything.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.