It was a haunting image—21 men in orange jumpsuits, kneeling on a beach in Libya, with black-clad executioners standing behind them. The world watched in horror as ISIS broadcast their brutal execution in 2015, a chilling reminder of the relentless persecution Christians face. Yet, in the face of terror, these men did not deny Jesus. They held fast to their faith, even as they stared death in the eyes.

A new documentary film, “The 21,” tells their story with reverence, ensuring that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. But more importantly, their testimony should stir us to action.

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Among them was a man from Ghana, who wasn’t originally among the Egyptian Christians captured. When given the chance to walk away, he refused. “Their God is my God,” he said, choosing to stand with his brothers in Christ rather than save his own life.

For weeks—perhaps months—before their execution, these men were tortured. They were electrocuted, doused in freezing water and burdened with back-breaking labor. They were offered their freedom in exchange for renouncing Jesus. Not one did. And so, they met their fate, their final words a whispered declaration: “Ya Rab Yesua”—O Lord Jesus.

The Crown of Life

What kind of faith does it take to hold firm when death is certain? Jesus Himself answered this question: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it,” (Matt. 16:25, MEV).

These 21 men did not lose their lives—they gained eternity. They are now among the great cloud of witnesses, robed in white, standing before the throne of God. Revelation 7:14-15 describes them well:

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“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.”

The world saw their deaths, but heaven saw their victory.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

President Donald Trump has once again put religious freedom at the forefront of his agenda. Last week, during events surrounding the National Prayer Breakfast, he signed an executive order establishing a task force to combat anti-Christian bias within the federal government. This move comes amid rising reports of vandalism targeting conservative churches and pro-life centers, particularly after the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Leading the charge is Attorney General Pam Bondi, who will oversee efforts to identify and eliminate unlawful policies, investigate anti-Christian violence, and ensure that faith-based Americans are not unfairly targeted by federal agencies. Additionally, Trump is creating the White House Faith Office, placing it in the West Wing and appointing Pastor Paula White to lead.

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For many Christians, this is a much-needed response to growing concerns that federal agencies, such as the FBI and DOJ, have unfairly scrutinized people of faith. A 2023 House report, for example, revealed an FBI memo suggesting traditional Catholics be monitored as potential security threats. Others point to parents being labeled extremists simply for objecting to progressive policies in schools. Critics, however, argue that prioritizing Christian issues may overlook broader religious freedom concerns.

What Does the Bible Say About Persecution?

Persecution is nothing new for Christians. Jesus Himself warned believers that opposition would come: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” (2 Tim. 3:12).

The Bible consistently reminds Christians that hardship is part of following Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you,” (John 15:18). Throughout history, the church has often thrived under pressure, spreading the gospel in the face of opposition.

Impact on the Mission of the Church

The question now is: How does this task force affect the church’s mission?

On one hand, ensuring Christians can freely express their beliefs without fear of government retaliation is crucial for spreading the gospel. If pastors, faith-based organizations, and everyday believers feel silenced, the church’s ability to reach the lost is hindered.

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On the other hand, Jesus never promised political protection. In fact, the early church grew rapidly despite Roman oppression. While religious liberty is important, Christians must remember that the ultimate mission is not political power—it’s bringing people to Christ.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Ever read a Bible verse that made you do a double take? Luke 14:26 is one of them:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”

Wait… what? Didn’t Jesus tell us to love others?

Kelly K tackled this exact question, and his response is simple: “Hold on, hold on, hold on—don’t get offended yet!”

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Context Is Everything

“You can’t just zoom into one Scripture and make a whole doctrine out of it,” Kelly warns. The Bible is all about love, not hate. “Love God and love people.” And guess what? “Unless your parents are from Mars, they’re people, people!”

So, what does Jesus mean by “hate”? The New Living Translation makes it clearer:

“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else.”

Ah—that makes more sense, doesn’t it? Jesus isn’t telling us to hate our parents. He’s saying our love for Him should be so great that our love for anyone else looks small in comparison.

Jesus Comes First

Kelly puts it this way: “Jesus should consume your entire heart.” But too often, when we need help, we run to family first instead of Him.

“What Jesus is trying to tell you is He is number one. Not your mom, not your dad, not your spouse, not your brother or sister.”

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What About the Man Who Wanted to Bury His Father?

In Matthew 8:21-23, a man asks Jesus if he can bury his father before following Him. Jesus responds, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You follow me.”

Sounds harsh, right?

Not really. Back then, the son who buried his father received a bigger inheritance. Jesus knew the man’s true motive—money, not mourning.

“God doesn’t care about your actions. He cares about your heart.”

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Have you ever felt like you were standing in front of a locked door, waiting for something to change? Maybe it’s a breakthrough in your family, your finances or your faith. If so, take heart—because according to prophet Charlie Shamp, the door is already open.

In a recent prophetic vision during prayer, Shamp saw a fierce and majestic lion approach him, holding a key in its mouth. When he asked who he was, the answer was clear: “I am the angel of the church of Philadelphia.” That’s a direct reference to Revelation 3:7, where Jesus declares, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, says these thing,” (MEV).

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Then, something incredible happened. The lion roared.

As Shamp described, “There was a significant shift in the atmosphere, and I felt like the spirit of doubt and despair just broke off.” This was more than just a vision—it was a prophetic call for all of us to step into a new season of opportunity.

And it’s not just a spiritual shift—it’s happening across the U.S., too. After years of turmoil, a fresh wave of patriotism and faith is rising across the nation. Just like in Shamp’s vision, the atmosphere has changed.

What does this mean for us? It means that the limitations that held us back no longer have power over us. The key represents authority and access, and God is extending it to us right now.

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“This is your time,” the lion said. “Take the key. Unlock that which has been dormant and let a new sound emerge.”

The fear that held you back? It’s time to leave it behind.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

If there’s one thing former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is confident about, it’s that a second Trump presidency would bring a “change of biblical proportion” to the Middle East. And if history is any indication, he’s absolutely right.

The Trump administration stood by Israel without hesitation, forging historic peace deals and ensuring America’s strongest ally in the region had the support it needed. Contrast that with the Biden administration, which often left Israel out in the cold, dragging its feet on diplomacy and failing to back the Jewish state with the same conviction.

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“What the Israelis want is something simple: They want peace. They want their people home,” Huckabee said on Fox News. But peace isn’t possible as long as Hamas is still in play. “They have said even as recent as two weeks ago that they would try to do another October the 7th. So, let’s not be in any way fooled that they want peace. They don’t. They want the destruction of the Jewish state.”

Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has been weak at best, with indecision and wavering support. Meanwhile, under Trump, the Middle East saw “real significant peace,” as Huckabee pointed out. The Abraham Accords, brokered under Trump, were a game-changer—something the Biden White House has done little to build upon.

Huckabee also dismissed the idea of a two-state solution, a concept often pushed by European and Arab nations. “They militarily marched 10,000 Jewish people out of Gaza, turned it into a complete Palestinian state, and the result we saw [on] Oct. 7,” he reminded viewers.

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As Huckabee awaits Senate confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, he knows the stakes couldn’t be higher.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Imagine waking up in your own country and wondering if it’s still home.

That’s the unsettling reality for many British Jews today, as antisemitism surges to levels not seen since before World War II. From hateful slurs in the streets to physical threats and open hostility in universities, the Jewish community in the U.K. is grappling with a rising tide of hatred.

Recent polls reveal a grim truth: most British Jews no longer believe they have a future in the UK. Nearly 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in just the first half of 2024—the highest ever recorded in a six-month period. Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, points out that while the Jewish community may not vanish overnight, a growing number are seriously considering leaving the country.

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But this isn’t just a U.K. issue. We’ve seen Jewish communities throughout Europe facing similar challenges, and many have fled to Israel or other safer havens. The escalation of antisemitism worldwide raises a question that’s hard to ignore: could this be part of a larger, prophetic picture?

Biblical prophecy has long spoken of a time when nations would turn against Israel and the Jewish people. Zechariah 12:3 warns of a day when “all the nations of the earth” will gather against Jerusalem. What we’re witnessing today—the isolation of Jews, the growing hostility toward Israel and even the silence of governments in the face of blatant antisemitism—seems eerily aligned with these ancient predictions.

David Collier, a Jewish investigative journalist, speaks of daily death threats and growing fear among Jews in professional and academic spaces. Universities like Oxford have become hotbeds of anti-Semitic rhetoric, where Jews are accused of “weaponizing” antisemitism and being unwelcome in their own institutions.

Surveys show that Islamist extremism poses the most serious threat to British Jews, followed closely by far-left radicalism. The internet has become a breeding ground for this hate, indoctrinating younger generations with bigotries their parents may not even share.

So, how does this all tie back to biblical prophecy?

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The Bible says the Jewish people will face global persecution before a dramatic turning point. Ezekiel 37’s vision of the dry bones refers to Israel’s regathering, a process many believe began in 1948 with the founding of the modern state of Israel. But the road ahead isn’t smooth. According to Scripture, Israel will endure intense tribulations, and the hostility we’re seeing today could be the beginning of those birth pains.

Zechariah 12:2 describes Jerusalem as a “cup of trembling” for the nations, and that’s exactly what Israel represents today—a focal point of global tension. The growing antisemitism isn’t just about politics or societal shifts; it’s part of a larger spiritual narrative that has been unfolding for centuries.

But there’s hope.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Nearly a decade ago, on Sept. 5, 2015, Kim Clement delivered a powerful prophecy that spoke directly to the burden of debt. Today, as President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency focus on cutting wasteful spending and rooting out fraud within government agencies, many are asking: Was this prophecy meant for the United States, her people, and her government?

Clement’s words were clear and stirring: “God says today you have the power to break the power of debt, for there shall surely be a death to debt, says the Lord.” As the U.S. faces mounting fiscal challenges, the relevance of this message seems undeniable. Clement spoke of a time reminiscent of the days of Moses, when the Israelites “didn’t have to get new shoes or new clothes” because they “were in a state of renewal where they had no need whatsoever.”

Could this be a vision for America’s future?

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The prophecy emphasized a coming “time of Jubilee,” a biblical period symbolizing freedom and the cancellation of debts.

“This nation shall enter into a period of time where they shall hear those words coming from the holy generation, from the chosen generation, from the royal priesthood: Death to debt! Death to debt! Death to debt!” Clement said.

With initiatives like DOGE’s crackdown on government inefficiency and fraud, and with influential figures like Trump and Musk pushing for financial reforms, the parallels to Clement’s vision are striking. He described a future where offerings were so abundant that “Moses had to stop them from giving” because “he had so much.”

Could America be on the brink of such abundance?

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Clement also spoke of a broader reformation, urging a return to “the basics of the early church” and a recovery of “apostolic Christianity.” He believed that this spiritual renewal was key to overcoming challenges, both in faith and in practical matters like debt.

As America moves forward, many are left to ponder:

Are we witnessing the fulfillment of Clement’s prophecy?

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Pastor Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, believes many Christians misunderstand and neglect the Holy Spirit, to their spiritual detriment.

“Some of us think that the Holy Spirit is a force or a box of magical powers … others believe the Holy Spirit was that, and now we’re beyond the need for that today,” Staton told The Christian Post.

But Jesus describes the Holy Spirit in John chapters 14 through 16 as “the One who will not teach anyone anything new, but remind them of the things that He has been teaching them.” Staton sees the Spirit as a translator, bridging head knowledge and heart transformation.

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Staton argues Western culture’s focus on cognitive learning has shaped a church that values theology over lived experience.

“If the primary way the Holy Spirit teaches is not cognitive learning, but through experience in relationship, then … we have been culturally set up with bias against the Holy Spirit and bias toward the Holy Bible,” he says.

Staton also critiques modern discipleship, often reduced to Bible studies or small groups.

“‘Disciple’ is a noun, not a verb. It’s an identity, not an activity,” he says. Jesus didn’t just teach; He sent disciples to live out His works. “Jesus seems profoundly concerned with His disciples having the lived experience of His life.”

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His message isn’t theoretical. Battling cancer, Staton experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence in suffering. “Talk to God like you think you’re not allowed to, and give Him the chance to surprise you,” he advises.

Leading a church in Portland, Staton sees hope in younger believers’ openness to experiential faith. As reported by The Christian Post, he notes, “There’s much more openness … a growing safety and hunger with interacting with ideas that are not a part of one’s tradition and upbringing.”

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

It’s not every day you see a Hollywood star diving deep into Scripture, but Tim Allen, the beloved actor known for the hit TV program “Home Improvement” and movie “Toy Story,” has done just that—and he’s sharing his journey with the world.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Allen revealed, “After nearly a year I have finished entire Old Testament and the experience of re-reading, dedicated focus and no drifting has made this a humbling overwhelming experience. What a treasure. Three days into New Testament.” His words resonate beyond just personal achievement; they highlight the transformative power of engaging with the Bible in a meaningful, focused way.

After nearly a year I have finished entire Old Testament and the experience of re reading, dedicated focus and no drifting has made this a humbling overwhelming experience. What a treasure.
Three days into New Testament. pic.twitter.com/un2XHROhBj

— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) February 9, 2025

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As reported by The Christian Post, Allen has been candid about the challenges and surprises in his reading. In August, he admitted, “Never took the time in all my years to ever read and really read the Bible. Currently almost through the Jerusalem Bible Old Testament and almost done with the prophets. Next up to New Testament. So far, amazing and not at all what I was expecting.”

Allen’s openness about his spiritual journey is both refreshing and inspiring. With so much distraction by fleeting trends and digital noise these days, his commitment to immersing himself in Scripture offers a simple yet profound reminder: the Bible isn’t just an ancient book, it’s a living, breathing source of wisdom, comfort and challenge.

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If someone like Tim Allen, amid his busy life and career, can find the time and dedication to read the Bible, perhaps it’s a nudge for all of us to do the same. Whether you’re revisiting familiar passages or opening its pages for the first time, the Bible has the power to surprise, challenge and transform.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

In the first episode of his series Heavenly Happenings, Pastor Troy Brewer invites believers to “keep looking up” and witness the wonders of God’s creation.

Brewer says observing celestial events is about “praising the Creator for His glory and majesty,” not worshipping the stars. He is careful to distance his teachings from astrological interpretations, focusing instead on the brilliance of God’s creation and its prophetic significance in Scripture.

Highlighting Feb. 19, as one of his “top five heavenly happenings” of the year, Brewer points to the rare brilliance of Venus on this date.

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“Right after the sun goes down, look up and you’ll go, ‘What is that? It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman, it’s a UFO, it’s got to be some kind of drone.’ No, it’s actually Venus.” He describes the planet as being “brighter than any other time the entire year.”

But Brewer’s focus isn’t merely on the celestial spectacle. “Venus is prophetic,” he says, drawing connections between the planet and Scripture. Referencing Revelation 22:16, Brewer reminds viewers, “Jesus says, ‘I am the son of David,’ which blows my mind that Jesus—we’re talking about God—calls Himself the son of David. That’s how much he loves David, which is really cool. But then He also says this: ‘I am the bright and Morning Star.'” Brewer underscores that “the morning and evening star is actually Venus,” pointing out the symbolic connection between the planet and Christ.

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For Brewer, the placement of Venus in the constellation Capricorn adds another layer of spiritual meaning. “Out of all 12 of the 88 constellations that are in the heavens, and there’s 12 that the sun passes through, the weirdest out of all of them is the seagoat. Like, there’s no such thing as a seagoat. But there is such a thing as Jesus laying down His sacrificial body and then another body coming out of that body known as the body of Christ. Whoa, that’s exactly what happens.”

Brewer continues his message with an invitation for believers to see the heavens as a testament to God’s divine plan.

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.