Mark Dunman reflects on Smith Wigglesworth's prophecy over Britain and calls for continued prayer at this volatile time.

God makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarged nations and disperses them. (Job 12:23)

I believe God has responded to the prayers of those Christians who have long felt that the EU was no place for Britain. It is indeed a momentous decision. I support 'Brexit', as it popularly came to be called, for a very specific reason. I believe that Britain cannot fulfil its destiny while spiritually shackled to a European Union which is hostile to our God, the God of the Bible.

Britain's Destiny: Mission and Revival?

What is this destiny? I believe that, in part, this destiny is to support the re-establishment of the State of Israel, but I also believe that it is to fulfil the promises made in the prophecy given by the great evangelist Smith Wigglesworth in 1947, shortly before his death. For those readers not familiar with the prophecy¹ I reproduce it here in full:

During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the Church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it and will be characterised by restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches.

In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say 'This is a great revival.' But the Lord says 'No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.' When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidenced in the churches something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit.

When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed, the world has ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and the Welsh revivals of former years. The outpouring of God's Sprit will flow over from the United Kingdom to the mainland of Europe, and from there, will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.

I believe this prophecy to be from God. It has already been partly fulfilled. I came to faith in the 1970s during what I see as the first phase of the prophecy, the restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. I lived through the second phase, the planting of new churches. We now await the third phase, a truly amazing revival which will start within our shores and radiate out to Europe and then to the world.

I believe Smith Wigglesworth's prophecy to be from God - it has already been partly fulfilled and we now await its third phase.

Other Christian leaders such as Derek Prince and Jean Darnall have prophesied a time of revival prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Derek Prince saw one great final wave of revival, while Jean Darnall saw fires of revival being lit up all over the British Isles.

Urgent Need for Continued Prayer

I did not believe that this could happen while Britain was part of an increasingly pagan/humanist Europe. To me this is the significance of the vote to leave Europe. Britain could not move forward spiritually while still in Europe; now it has the opportunity.

However, the need to pray is even more urgent. No one pretends that the moral state of this country warrants the mercy of God. The many groups that have been praying below the radar need to continue:

• We need to pray for the Church, most of which seems to view the EU solely in political terms.
• We need to pray for healing and reconciliation between the opposing sides in this referendum.
• We need to pray that we will make a good transition to being on our own – in particular that God will not allow the nation to become disillusioned with its choice.

Finally, we need to pray for a restoration of Christian values and a recognition by the nation and its government of our Judaeo-Christian heritage. We are a tolerant nation and we can live with other religions practising their faiths, but we should not tolerate other faiths (including atheism) attempting to marginalise our Christian heritage. We are a Christian nation and in my view it is perfectly reasonable to ask people of other faiths to respect this fact.

Nevertheless, this will not happen without prayer. Our spiritual enemy, satan, and his kingdom of darkness, will seek to neutralise the result of this Referendum. We have to pray and intercede for what we believe is right for this nation.

Britain could not move forward spiritually whilst in Europe. Now we have the opportunity, the need for prayer is ever more urgent.

Take Heart

I urge all Christians who have prayed for this result to continue and even to step up their prayer. The moral state of this nation is dire, but we can take heart from the fact that God can stir the fires of revival in a nation, whatever its moral and spiritual state, as the Wesleyan and Welsh revivals testify.

What God needs from those who are already his children and in his kingdom, is sustained, heartfelt prayer and intercession. Let us go to it!

Author information: Mark Dunman is the author of two books which we reviewed here at Prophecy Today earlier in the year: Has God really finished with Israel? (2013), which challenges Replacement Theology, and The Return of Jesus Christ: the end or the beginning? (2015), which examines the various millennial positions taken by the Church through history and discusses whether we are approaching the return of Christ any time soon.

Both books are available at markdunman.com, at Christian bookshops and on Amazon. Click here to read Paul Luckraft's interview with Mark from earlier this year.

Notes

1 There is some disagreement as to whether it was Smith Wigglesworth who gave this prophecy. However, he was known to have given a similar prophecy to David du Plessis in South Africa in 1936. What matters to me is that it has all the hallmarks of a genuine prophecy from God (Deut 18:21-22), not least because part of it has been fulfilled. See also Prophecy Today's feature on this prophecy as part of the 'Testing Prophecies Together' series.

A call to come out of Europe forms a significant thrust to a prophecy of a financial earthquake set to strike Britain.

The prophecy was expounded in a book first published in 1997, and was partially fulfilled by the serious recession of 2008.

But it is believed the 'big one' is yet to come and that it will shake the foundations of the City of London – the world's foremost financial centre – and probably be accompanied by a physical 'quake as judgment on a nation that has forsaken the God of the Bible.

Earthquake in the City?

The book, Earthquake in the City, published by Jesus Is Alive Ministries and co-authored by Clifford Denton and Paul Slennett, takes an in-depth look at the nature of the prophecy, along with its implications and the need for repentance.

Though given to Southend-based Christian bookseller Paul Slennett way back in 1989, it is as relevant today as ever, particularly with next week's EU referendum in mind.

The prophecy speaks of "alarm bells sounding all over Europe" and of an earthquake that will "swallow up the whole City. Whole companies and city institutions will collapse...some never to rise again."

It calls for Church-led repentance which, if taken up, will lead to revival. Then it adds: "In regard to Europe, come out of her...for she will align herself with the Beast and the False Prophet who will arise and appear for just a short while."

This echoes a biblical passage from the Book of Revelation (chapter 18) on the ultimate destruction of a great, but evil, world power – compared to ancient Babylon – that will arise in the last days before Jesus returns.

The prophecy, received in 1989, calls for Church-led repentance which, if taken up, will lead to revival.

Britain Built on Revival

Earthquake in the City reminds us of our Christian heritage, and especially of the Coronation Oath of 1688 through which we have vowed allegiance to the Protestant faith. We are reminded that it was the 18^th Century evangelical revivals that paved the way for 19^th Century social reform including the building of hospitals, the abolition of slavery and child labour, and the introduction of schools for all.

But now we are in the process of throwing away our freedoms, for which we have fought at great cost. Key among these is the undermining of our sovereignty by Europe on an ever-increasing scale. Laws based on the Ten Commandments have now been supplanted by others reflecting secular values and moral relativism.

In addition, Britain – and the Church, which ought to be influencing the nation – should repent of passing godless laws allowing abortion, easy divorce, homosexuality and general promiscuity. And the City will be in the eye of the storm of a coming crash because we have made an idol of the economy. Much of the debate on next week's Referendum has centred on this factor, whereas few have raised the issue of the undemocratic values represented by the EU, or of its disturbing resemblance to the evil world system described in the last book of the Bible (Revelation).

The book warns us of throwing away our hard-won freedoms, including via the EU.

Revival to Come – If There is Repentance

Earthquake in the City also calls on Britain to repent over its betrayal of the Jews, for whom she was given the inestimable privilege of guiding them to statehood. It didn't prevent Israel's re-birth, but we could have done so much more to help them at a time when they were threatened with extinction.

We have allowed godlessness to come in like a flood, and we haven't raised a standard. But, as already mentioned, the prophecy adds a promise of revival if the nation repents.

Clifford Hill asks: could Britain be revived to follow God once more?

What will happen next week if Britain votes to leave the European Union? We hear so much about the dire economic consequences of leaving, but very little about the benefits and the prosperity that could follow - if there were a Christian initiative.

Could Britain become a nation under God - and what would this look like?

There is still a statistically significant number of active Christians in Britain and many prayer meetings have been planned over the next week, drawing together thousands of believers fervently calling upon God for his blessing upon the nation. Will their prayers be effective?

What is God Seeking in His People?

God does not rely upon numbers in making his decisions for judgment or blessings. God told Abraham that if he could find just ten righteous persons in Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities would be spared. So what are the things God looks for in his people before pouring out his blessings? It is certainly not large numbers, nor even moral righteousness, although his people are certainly expected to become righteous.

Moses reported to Israel:

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh King of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deut 7:7-9) [emphasis added]

God looks for a particular quality: he primarily looks for people of faith whom he can use in working out his purposes in the world.

Need for Faith

The definitive statement of this mission for Israel is in Isaiah 42:5-9:

This is what the Lord says – he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the Earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

God is a covenant-keeping God who never breaks his promises, but human beings are prone to faithlessness and falling into sin. When this happened with Israel and they cried out to God for forgiveness and help, he willingly forgave them and restored prosperity and blessings to them with a fresh command to do his work in the world – to open eyes that are blind by reflecting God's presence with them.

God is never unfaithful to his people – but when his people are unfaithful to him, he willingly forgives and restores if they return and cry out to him.

That promise was given to Solomon at the dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

A similar promise was given to all nations through the Prophet Jeremiah, "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned" (18:7-8).

Need for Repentance

What God also looks for is sincere repentance among people who are determined to do something about the moral and spiritual state of the nation; who are prepared to pray in accordance with Isaiah 59:12: "Our offences are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on God...Truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey".

That prayer was offered by the people who were captives in Babylon – they prayed on behalf of the whole nation. God's response was "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord" (Isa 59:21).

This promise could be available for Britain if even a small number of righteous individuals pray in line with the will of God and are determined to put their lives under the direction of his Holy Spirit for transforming the nation.

God is looking for repentant people who are prepared to pray about the moral and spiritual state of their nation.

Need for Action

What is required is not just faith and repentance - we also need to do something about the state of our nation, where the proportion of the population professing a Christian faith continues to decline year on year. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17).

We are meant to be Christ's ambassadors, through whom God can reveal his nature and purposes and through whom the Holy Spirit can be poured out, as in the days of revival described in this week's article by Clifford Denton, when people's lives were transformed by the Spirit of God.

The result could be a nation under God.

A Radiant Future?

What would such a nation look like? Isaiah 35 gives a picture of such a transformation, when the land blossoms with the glory of the Lord through the presence of his people who are filled with his Spirit and radiating his presence to all around them!

Of course, in taking great steps of faith there are hardships and anxieties, and it does require each believer to be involved. But the Lord urges his people to "strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, be strong, do not fear; your God will come" (Isa 35:3-4).

The details of the blessings that can be expected when a nation puts their trust in the Lord are set out in Deuteronomy 28:3-8:

• "You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country." - Peace and security will cover the whole land.
• "The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock – the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks." - The health of the population and the land will be guaranteed.
• "Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed." - The economy will prosper.
• "You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out." - Borders will be secure.
• "The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated." - There will be protection from terrorism and war.
• "The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to" - The nation will experience great prosperity and blessing in all its endeavours.

Surely this scenario is far better than anything being promised by our political leaders!

The Feast of Pentecost (or Shavuot) is the perfect time to celebrate the miraculous birth of the Church – and a reminder that all further growth is equally supernatural.

The original outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place on what is also known as the Feast of Weeks – seven weeks or 50 days after Passover, when Jesus was crucified. It's a celebration of the first fruits of the harvest, and it's interesting to note that the number of disciples increased sevenfold on the Day of Pentecost. For 3,000 souls were added to the 500 already following Jesus Messiah (Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 15:6).

Shavuot is also traditionally (as encouraged by the rabbis) the anniversary of the giving of the Law (Ten Commandments) to Moses on Mt Sinai and, on this level, is also fulfilled in Jesus who came, not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them, as he stated so clearly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:17).

In fact, he now writes the law on our hearts and minds (Jer 31:33; Ezek 36:26f), not on tablets of stone, to enable us the more easily to follow its precepts. And he spelt it out 'on the Mount', as his Father had done through Moses.

Power from On High

Even though the 'established' congregation of Jesus's first disciples had clearly been born again as, through Divine revelation, they recognised Jesus as their Messiah, they still needed "power from on high" (Luke 24:49) for any significant missionary success. If they wished to get beyond what was humanly possible through persuasion, supernatural help was necessary.

As it happened, Jews from throughout the known world were in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast, the disciples having waited in the city in obedience to Jesus's command to wait until they were endued with heaven-sent boldness.

Even though Jesus's first disciples were born again, they still needed 'power from on high'.

They weren't told how it would be manifested, so they would have been profoundly shocked to witness tongues of fire resting on each one of them. But it was a sign of how their message would be conveyed. For they suddenly found themselves speaking in languages they had never learnt – and thus it was that the gospel spread like wildfire.
It was a reversal of the Tower of Babel, when men failed in their rebellious efforts to reach the heavens as God confused their language. But now, in these last days, the gospel preached in every tongue unites all who follow Christ, creating "one new man" born of his Spirit (Eph 2:15).

'Pentecostal' Outpouring

The Apostle Peter saw it as the fulfilment of Joel's prophecy of when God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, which surely also speaks of the time approaching Jesus's return – the last of the last days – when another great revival would circle the globe.

There can be little doubt that a 'Pentecostal' outpouring has been gaining pace over the past 100 years. I have studied the worldwide Pentecostal movement myself – and written a book about it, Tongues of Fire (Sable Publishing) – and I implore readers to wholeheartedly embrace the kind of empowering we really cannot do without if we are to maximise our impact on the world (though I am not saying you must necessarily accept everything 'charismatic' as kosher).

We need to get away from doing things 'in the flesh', restricted by our human intuition and emotions, when God wants to fill us with power from on high. One of my favourite stories from Pentecostal history is of Henry Garlock, an American sent as a missionary to West Africa in 1920.

His denomination didn't believe in 'tongue-speaking' but, when he faced the prospect of ending up in the cooking pot of a tribe of cannibals he had inadvertently upset, he suddenly found himself speaking a language he had never learnt and it got him and his colleague out of very hot water! Although he had no idea what he was saying at the time, it turned out that he had been persuading them to kill a rooster in their place! And the incident set the ball rolling for the conversion of the entire tribe.

We need to get away from doing things 'in the flesh', restricted by our human intuition and emotions.

Pentecost Comes with Persecution

Some Pentecostals have gained a reputation for over-the-top methods and much excitement, which may seem out of place. But there's a balance to all this exuberance. For Pentecost comes with persecution, which is what happened to those first believers: Stephen, empowered by the Spirit, was stoned to death! Others were crucified, or thrown into arenas to be torn apart by wild animals.

Today it's happening all over again in Syria and elsewhere, where true Christians are being beheaded for their faith. Even in the UK Christians are losing their jobs and landing up in court for refusing to compromise.

Indeed, Joel prophesied that a latter-day heavenly outpouring would be accompanied by "blood and fire and billows of smoke" on earth (Joel 2:30). Israel's fortunes would be restored, but its enemies judged (Joel 3:1f); and like a wounded snake, evildoers will lash out at those who stand with God.

So although we are witnessing a global revival – with massive church growth in Asia, Africa and South America – the pressure to conform to ungodly ways remains severe. The Bible speaks much of a "remnant" (e.g. Acts 15:17) holding onto God's Word, and Jesus asked: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). When things got tough, when his teaching seemed too hard, "many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him" (John 6:66).

By all means allow yourself to be caught up in the excitement of God's blessings; but at the same time make up your mind that you're going to follow Jesus no matter what. There will be tears, but you will triumph in the end. And Jesus will wipe your tears away (Rev 7:17).

So seek God with all your heart and allow yourself to be baptised¹ in the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost comes with persecution - by all means allow yourself to be caught up in the excitement of God's blessings, but also make up your mind to follow Jesus no matter what.

Revival for Israel?

A very significant revival took place in Pensacola, Florida, in the mid-1990s and I'm sure it was no coincidence that Messianic Jew Dr Michael Brown played a key role there with his profound teaching ministry.

Perhaps we are about to witness a great outpouring in Israel itself. It's 49 years since Jerusalem's Old City was restored to the Jews for the first time in nearly 2,000 years. That year – 1967 – also marked the beginning of the 'Charismatic' wave of the Holy Spirit (a second stage of the modern-day Pentecostal movement) in the old established churches. And it was the very same year that saw the birth of Messianic Jewish congregations in the Land.

Will Israel experience Pentecost in the 50^th year since restoration?

References

1 From the Greek baptizo meaning 'to immerse, plunge or dip'.

Clifford Denton discusses Jean Darnall's visions of revival in Britain and Europe.

Jean Darnall's visions of revival in Britain and Europe, originally seen in 1967, may well still be relevant today. They were published more recently in 1993.¹ Information concerning these visions has circulated widely and they have long been accepted as authentic prophecy to our nation. It is fitting, therefore, to include them in this short series leading up to the EU Referendum, as we consider the nation's future from a prophetic perspective.

Conditions on Prophecy

Before reviewing these visions let us first consider the matter of conditions on prophecy. Many visions and spoken words circulating today promise particular events or developments, but seem to lack conditions. It is as if they herald what is inevitably going to happen, irrespective of our response. I would, however, propose that conditions are almost always applicable to prophecies that promise future events.

Consider, for example, God's covenant with Israel. Deuteronomy 28 is a clear statement of blessings that will follow obedience and curses that will follow disobedience. This was summed up in Deuteronomy 11:26-28:

Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God...The curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God... [emphases added]

The principle of conditions applying to God's vision for the future is instilled into the Hebraic mindset - a paradox of two futures simultaneously being set before a people. Which future unfolded for Israel was conditional on the way the people behaved.

The principle of conditions applying to God's vision for the future is instilled into the Hebraic mindset.

I would suggest that this Hebraic mindset should be implicit in our own testing of all prophecy. I am not saying that there are not times when the Lord acts unconditionally, but that we would be wise to accept that most predictive prophecy we receive today has conditions, even if they are not explicitly stated.

To verify this point let us read again the conditions that are stated in Jeremiah 18:7-10:

The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in my sight so that it does not obey my voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. [emphases added]

When we see a vision from the Lord or hear a word of prophecy concerning our nation, what lies ahead is conditional on our response to the word. If we have been given a promise of blessing, it is conditional on our continuing in God's ways. If we have been given a warning of woe, its withholding is conditional on our heeding the warning and turning from our wrongdoing.

Let us have this in mind as we continue to assess the situation of the UK before God in terms of the prophecies we are testing. We must also make sure to distinguish between what the Lord is saying about our nation as a whole, and what he is saying about the community of believers within the nation. Depending on what the focus is, the requirement for response may well vary.

Jean Darnall

Now let us turn to the visions for Britain given to Jean Darnall, which were expressly to the British Church. Jean Darnall was one of the influential leaders in the charismatic movement and considered to be a reliable prophetic voice in the nation. She ministered in many other countries too. The background to her ministry is on her website. I quote here the first paragraph of her testimony:

Converted as a teenager, following a miraculous healing, Jean Darnall began her preaching and healing ministry at the age of sixteen. Later, she and her husband, Elmer, went to Panama as ordained missionaries for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Following their missionary service, they planted Foursquare churches in Canada and the eastern United States.

The visions that she had for Britain are published in the book referenced below.² A useful summary can also be found here.

The visions were seen in 1967 and were possibly fulfilled in the charismatic movement, which was soon to break forth. However, by revisiting the visions we can test whether they have been totally fulfilled or whether there are valid aspects of them that are still relevant for the future, especially concerning Europe.

When we receive a vision or prophecy from the Lord, what lies ahead is conditional on our response to the word.

Visions of Revival

At the time in 1967, Jean Darnall was planning to go from the USA to Hong Kong via England, where she had the third experience of a vision she had seen twice before. On account of the visions, she remained for ministry in the UK.

In the vision, the British Isles were covered in green mist and there were pinpoints of light breaking through in various places which, on closer examination, were seen to be fires breaking out all over the nation, from Scotland to Lands End.

As these fires were joined together they burned brighter. Then rivers of fire flowed from North to South; from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales into England, some crossing the channel into Europe.

The fires were interpreted to be groups of people who were intensely hungry for the word of God and for authentic New Testament Christianity, showing discontent with the Church as it was and coming together in Prayer and Bible study groups in church buildings and in homes.

Jean Darnall asked the Lord about the vision and had the distinct impression that there would be two moves of God. The first would be the renewal of Christian faith and fullness of the Holy Spirit within the Church.

This would be followed by renewal of life in the church through a fresh awakening which would move into every aspect of the nation's life, including universities, colleges, schools, and into the media and the government.

Jean Darnall saw visions of successive moves of God – renewing the Church, the nation and beyond into Europe.

The character of the nation of Britain would be transformed and be followed by a move of God in Europe. Every part of the nation's life would feel the impact of the spiritual awakening and God would move in signs and wonders. Gifted communicators would address the nation through the media, including the arts, journalism, radio and television. Actors, singers, teachers and other powerful communicators would be called to this ministry and the Lord would also call many of the younger generation to it.

Weighing and Testing

This is a very brief summary of the visions, which in 1967 were received by many as prophetic. This was a prophecy to the Church at the time, but with a vision for the nation as well.

No conditions were stated so, in the light of what was said at the beginning of this study, we must consider what the conditions might be.

• How were/are the fellowships represented by the lights to come about? Was/is it conditional on prayer, and were/are the praying groups those whom the Lord would first awaken to be those lights?
• What are the conditions that would lead to the great move of the Lord across Britain and Europe also mentioned in the prophecy?
  • Reviewing the history of the Church over the decades since 1967, the charismatic movement could be seen as a fulfilment of this prophecy, but we have not yet seen a greater awakening in our nation and across Europe. Indeed, some would say, on overall reflection, that the charismatic movement has borne considerable good fruit, but also some bad fruit.
• This prophecy does not stand alone - perhaps it is part of the fulfilment of the Mother Barbara prophecy, which we highlighted two weeks ago. Also consider how it overlaps with the prophecy given by Smith Wigglesworth, which we highlighted last week. Perhaps the move of God's Spirit did not (or has not yet) merged with a thirst to study the Scriptures. Is that a condition that has to be fulfilled, and will it be fulfilled?

As we prayerfully test each of these prophecies and put them alongside others, does an overall picture emerge - of both vision and conditions for fulfilment? This is a sensitive issue and will not be resolved unless we turn to the Lord in prayer, so that is what we must do. This is a key moment in the history of the Church and of our nation.

Next time: Paul Slennett's vision concerning a coming financial earthquake.

References

¹ Black, H. Revival, Including the Prophetic Vision of Jean Darnall, New Dawn Books.

² See note 1.

Join with us this week to test Smith Wigglesworth's 1947 prophecy of revival.

Smith Wigglesworth was a well-known evangelist. He had humble beginnings in life, took up the trade of a plumber and was then powerfully used in a world-wide ministry of evangelism with miraculous healings and miracles accompanying the ministry of the word. He lived from 8 June 1859 to 12 March 1947.¹

Shortly before he died in 1947, he delivered the following prophecy:

During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it, and will be characterised by the restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches. In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say, 'This is a great revival.' But the Lord says, 'No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.'

When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidence in the churches of something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit.

When the word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest move of the Holy Spirit that the nations, and indeed, the world have ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and Welsh revivals of former years.

The outpouring of God's Spirit will flow over from the United Kingdom to mainland Europe, and from there, will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.

Our purpose in highlighting these prophecies in Prophecy Today is to ask our readers to test them afresh, especially with the upcoming EU Referendum in mind. What is God doing in the world in these crucial days? What is he saying to our nation as a whole and to the Church in particular?

God uses the ministry of prophecy in our day but rather differently from Old Testament time. Since the special Day of Pentecost when God began to pour out his Spirit on all believers, the New Covenant brought about a new way when all believers would know God personally. Prophecy comes in whatever way God chooses and it then becomes a matter for our local communities to test together.

Over the weeks leading up to the Referendum of 23 June it is wise for our local Christian communities to seek the Lord for what he has said historically and what he is saying now.

Testing Smith's Prophecy

Last week we considered Mother Barbara's prophecy and sought to discover if it contained an accurate word for the UK. If so, the call to prayer, especially among our women-folk, would be critical in the saving of our nation.

Nevertheless, we have to admit that there were some questions relating to the prophecy that were hard to untangle, such as what it meant for a nation to be saved, especially when no conditions were given except the response to engage in faithful prayer.

Smith Wigglesworth's prophecy is of equal magnitude, but also provokes some questions:

• What of the timing and the validity? Next year the prophecy will be 70 years old. Would that fit with the "During the next few decades" of the first sentence?
• Was Smith Wigglesworth foreseeing the charismatic revival which some would say now needs the stability of a revival in the study of the Bible?
• Is a new thirst for Bible study occurring in our day, and is the dissatisfaction with traditional denominations in our day a manifestation of what was prophesied?
• Finally, will we really witness such an outpouring of God's Spirit as was prophesied? If so, does this have a bearing on our position in or out of the EU?

We encourage you to pray through these and other questions communally, using the 12 tests of prophecy featured in our last issue of Prophecy Today. See what God says and how the prophetic word for our nation is emerging over the coming weeks. Please share any useful insights below.

Next Week: Jean Darnall's visions

References

1 A brief introduction to his life and ministry can be found here.

Ian Farley reviews 'Grace' by Michele Guinness (2016, Hodder & Stoughton, 380 pages, hardback, available from Amazon for £15.90)

It is often commented today that we are in a world which is changing rapidly and dramatically, especially in the field of technology. But Grace Grattan Guinness, born in the first rush of railways but when the horse was still the main form of transport, and yet dying after international flight had arrived, surely saw unimaginable change throughout her life.

Grace lived through the struggles of the Suffragettes and witnessed great changes to women's education and birth control. Also living through the height of the British Empire, she died in 1969, in the throes of its dismantling.

So how did a child raised in the revival of the mid-Victorian era, who lived through two world wars and on into the swinging sixties, actually think? What of faith when you are widowed after only seven years of marriage to a great evangelist and have two little boys to bring up alone? What of life when you need to do a day job and a night job in order to survive, especially in an era when well-bred women did not go out to work?

This is a marvellous book. Michele Guinness writes in the words of Grace herself and very successfully brings her to life. One can but weep with her as she struggles in her loss and laugh with her in older age as she surveys the antics of the modern world.

Depressed by the climate of Scotland and wondering how anyone can thrive in Leeds, Grace is not some pie-in-the-sky Victorian hero - she is a real woman, who faces real life in both joy and hardship and through it all finds God at her side. Her life is worth knowing. It can only cheer you on the way.

You can read more about Grace's story in our interview with her granddaughter-in-law, Michele Guinness.

"Thank God for ISIS!" This extraordinary statement by an Egyptian leader shocked delegates at a recent international Christian conference...

He went on to explain that thousands of Muslims are turning to Christianity in reaction to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State.

All over the Middle East similar things are happening among Muslims as they see the chaos created by militant Islam and the turmoil that has spread across the whole region. It is not only Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and Shia Muslims who are suffering, but also members of the Sunni Arab community.

In Iraq, the militant Sunni jihadis led by al-Baghdadi regard all who oppose them as enemies - including fellow Sunnis. They especially hate Shia Muslims, whom they view as infidels. They see them as a fifth column at the heart of Islam that must be wiped out. The deepening Sunni-Shia rift in Iraq and the similar sectarian civil war in Syria has enabled the Islamic State to attract rebellious Sunnis from around the world.

Russian Fighters

Putin himself estimates that some 5,000-7,000 people from Russia and former Soviet countries have joined the Islamic State,¹ which is one of the major reasons why Russia has decided to join the Baghdad-based 'Intelligence Alliance', in partnership with Iran/Iraq and Syria. Their objective is to share information about the Islamic State so that a co-ordinated attack can be launched.

This has wrong-footed the USA, which has been backing so-called 'moderate' Islamic groups opposed to Assad in Syria. In a failed $500 million programme, the US had been supplying weapons and training to these groups which are now being attacked by Russian bombers. Most of the fighters with American weapons are said to have deserted to the Islamic State.²

The Wrong Weapons

But will Russia and her new allies be any more successful in combating radical Islam than the USA, NATO and others who have tried to wipe out ISIS?

The plain fact is – they are using the wrong weapons. The Islamic State will never be defeated by military power! Militant Islam is driven by a spiritual force which can only be overcome by a more powerful spirit. This moves the whole conflict into a realm of spiritual warfare of which the rulers of the nations have no understanding.

The militant Islamist fighters are driven by a spirit of hatred that is blind and unresponsive to normal rational thought processes. This spirit of blind hatred goes right back to Muhammad and the fearful atrocities he committed against his enemies, especially Jews and Christians. The historical accounts of his activities in and around Medina and Mecca are being replicated by the Islamic State in the name of the god of Islam.

Militant Islam cannot be overcome with human weapons, for it is driven by a spirit of hatred that can only be overcome by a more powerful spirit.

This is what is being increasingly recognised by those who have been brought up in the Islamic faith - such as President Sisi of Egypt, who in a New Year 2015 message called upon Muslim scholars to examine their scriptures and historical documents to determine what is happening in the Muslim world. This is something that only they can do.

Action Points for Christians

But is there anything that Christians can do? In the first place we can spread the whole situation before God in our prayers and seek to understand what God himself is doing in the Middle East and in other parts of the world (such as Indonesia, where millions of Muslims are becoming Christians).

The second thing we can do is in our Bible study groups, look at the way God has acted in the past. For example, when a united Arab army invaded Israel during the reign of King Jehoshaphat he recognised that the tiny army of Judah was no match for them and called for a time of prayer and fasting. He led the nation in prayer, "We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" (2 Chron 20:12). This prayer of faith was answered by a prophetic word: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's."

It is this kind of faith that is needed today, plus the discernment to see what God is doing so that we can pray into the situation with understanding. There is no doubt that God is at work among Muslims, opening eyes that were blind and enabling them to understand the spiritual power behind Islam that enslaves their women and drives the men to the most appalling acts of barbarism and savagery.

Christians need both faith and discernment to understand what God is doing. It can help to look at the way he has acted in similar circumstances in the past.

Heavenly Agenda

As the Egyptian Christian leader implied in his somewhat shocking statement quoted at the beginning of this article, God is actually using these atrocities to release those who are bound by spiritual evil.

Angela Merkel, who is said by those who know her to be a Bible-believing Christian, has got it right in welcoming migrants from the Middle East who are escaping war and terrorism. As a politician she has been incredibly bold in the face of considerable opposition, even from her own party. If Europeans are prepared to take the risk of Jihadi fighters being amongst the migrants and welcome them with love and generosity in the name of Jesus, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus will touch their hearts and there will be a mighty harvest for the Kingdom among the multitude coming into Europe.

It may even be that God will use this migration to turn the hearts of the European nations, who have so largely abandoned the word of God and despised the precious spiritual heritage of their forefathers.

Possible Revival

Only God can turn the tide of secular humanism that has already brought the nations of Europe to the brink of disaster. But God's purposes are always for salvation rather than judgement and in his mercy he is longing to use the tragic situation in the Middle East to trigger a mighty spiritual revival in Europe that could change the history of the world.

God is longing to use the tragic situation in the Middle East to trigger a mighty spiritual revival.

We are on the edge of a cusp which could tip either way – into disaster or into a glorious fresh spiritual awakening bringing Kingdom values into the life of the Western nations. The way we react to the migrant crisis may well determine the future history of the world.

References

1 Biryukov, A. Putin Says Thousands from Russia, CIS Joined Islamic State. Bloomberg Business, 16 October 2015.

2 Middle East Eye, 28 September 2015.