Monica Hill’s recent article Surveying the World Church Scene provides some insightful statistics on global church trends. If we interpret these statistics through the discernment of the Holy Spirit we have some valuable information as to the ‘big picture’ of world affairs and what God is doing.

Those statistics which are particularly eye-catching relate to areas of the world once almost closed to Christians.

The picture of Indonesia is one such area. Monica wrote that whilst it:

still has the largest Muslim population in the world…Indonesia is also home to more Christians than all 20 countries in the Middle East/North Africa region combined…Although the official records still show 88% as being nominally Muslim there has been a tremendous Spiritual Awakening since the 1990s.

For one who has worked in such areas of the world and known missionaries who have prayed for a great harvest but seen nothing tangible for their life’s labours, this is an astounding picture. The extent of the Church’s growth in these countries surprises even me, who was expecting a harvest (though was unsure of the scale and the timing), having received prophetic insight some thirty years ago.

A vision ahead of time

On 1st April 1985 I saw the following. It was a waking vision as clear, I imagine, as when Joseph saw those visions of the famine in Egypt recorded in the Book of Genesis.

I saw a large field that had just been harvested. The field was filled, as far as the eye could see, with large sheaves of ripe corn. From out of the sheaves came wave after wave of young men, serious faced with a glow as if freshly washed. They wore the traditional Middle Eastern Jilaba and on their heads a Taqiyah, the traditional Arabic prayer cap. They struck me as being very serious young men.

At the time I did not know what I had seen, only relating the imagery in a general way to a harvest for the Kingdom of God. It was only later that I realised that I had been shown a promise of a great harvest of souls from the Muslim world.

At the time such a vision and promise would not have been understood by the majority of Christians. It was before awareness had grown of the challenge of Islam and the plans of God for the Muslim world. At the time, across Africa and Asia doors were closed to missionaries. There was estimated to be one missionary to one million Muslims. Yet, ahead of time the vision was given.

Looking forward

Now I see another significance relating to the timing of the vision. Coinciding exactly with this vision, April 1985 was the time of release of the first issue of Prophecy Today in its earlier format. My vision coincided with other prophetic insights being published from the beginning of Prophecy Today. Now, as we release the new online edition, the vision seems especially relevant.

As we look back, we are confident that we heard from God. As we look forward we have a basis from which we can understand the purposes of God as he brings shaking to the world – a shaking that is redemptive for all who will heed His call.