Tens of thousands of people from around the world are giving up everything they own to fight for their religion. They turn their backs on prosperity and ease. They sacrifice their wishes, even their lives. They explain they have seen life in the wealthy West, and they find it unsatisfying and meaningless. But what they are running to, according to New York Times bestselling author Joel Richardson, is cause for alarm. It’s the Islamic State and its unspeakable acts of cruelty, torture and execution of children, beheadings, crucifixions and worse.
Richardson, whose projects including “The Islamic Antichrist,” “Mideast Beast,” and “When a Jew Rules the World,” has traveled the globe seeking to understand the roots of the present violence and revolution in the Middle East. He argues the end of the age, and Christ’s return, is near. And Richardson believes this necessitates a new spirit of emboldened Christianity, with believers willing to bravely promote Christ’s message as an alternative to Islam.
9 Responses
I think that God is stirring my heart to this new reality, because I keep finding myself listening to Joel, and Dr. Michael Brown, and others, on a constant basis at work. I find myself in the middle of the Book of Romans in my own heart. I want to die with my boots on, and yet I can’t seem to escape my current predicament: 2 small children at home, both myself and my wife stuck in jobs we can’t easily leave, and little money. God please direct my heart and my paths, because right now I feel lost, and I want to participate in the Kingdom.
O Joel, i feel like crying, for some here in the uk our biggest hindrance is Church itself, its like a slow strangulation. why would we want others to endure it.
I so agree with you, more than calling it revival, i think its Christians getting back to normal. I have a Hiedi breakdown quite often, ‘God i cant do church anymore.’ Im just praying that God will connect like impassioned saints who just desire Gods presence to come and bring his people back to his feet, and then see the book of acts lived out in our time.
Looking forward to this offering, and pray the Lord will use it to bring a stirring in the hearts of his saints to lay hold of him.
Erik,
Just be a bold evangelist right where you are. Make it your goal to lead your co-workers to the Lord and start a discipleship group. These things change the world.
Unfortunately I worry that it is going to take some major persecution to get a revival going here in America. Then people will divide and the real Christians will be known. They will find themselves making sacrifices for their religion, becoming bold and brave.
I too worry about what I can do at this time. All I do is work and take care of the kids.
Believers are tiring of the indoctrination of spineless Christianity from many American pulpits and western missiologists. Jesus told us not to fear but to believe. He sends us out as sheep among wolves. That means persecution and hardship are to be expected as the normal Christian experience. Change is only going to happen when the Church of Jesus Christ takes seriously the command to make disciples of ALL ethne, not just some.
My prayer is that the Global Jesus Revolution will be a further catalyst for the American church to follow in the footsteps of many fearless Christians and missionaries who are already living this out daily in some of the most hostile and dangerous places on earth
Joel,
Hey brother, is this already done & released? And can you purchase this on ITunes?
God Bless,
Jeff
Never mind, I found it & ordered it on Amazon last night, along with John Harrigan’s book, The Gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified, A Theology of Sufferring Before Glory (or something like that).
God Bless,
Jeff
Lisa,
Be encouraged.
As Joel says, start right where you are.
Bloom where you’re planted.
And be a witness right there to your kids.
Let them see Jesus.
Their lives matter too.
Who knows what the Lord can do in their lives one day, because you gave them a solid head start in Him.
Blessings,
Lynn.
Wow…I am glad to have read these responses. A dear friend and I talk about this all the time. Not knowing what to do next and where to start other than trying to encourage the Church and our church leaders to make the changes necessary to prepare for these times. It’s also good, yet sad, to hear we’re not alone in saying we don’t want to do church anymore as soo many churches only entertain and while bringing many to salvation, those babes in Christ are left without good spiritual direction and mentoring. We are hoping to take the bull by the horns and start picking up these people to work with them. However, we seem to be up against a church leadership who seems to be afraid of losing numbers in the congregation (people and moneys) than losing them to Hell. Quite disheartening, but Jesus is still Lord and He will prevail! I want to be part of the solution and not the problem! Many prayers for your ministry as well as for those of us striving to do what’s Right. Thank you, Joel, for your stance and commitment and allowing us to receive some of your knowledge and understanding! I count it a blessing!