Hi friends
We established a new Prayer and Blessing House here at Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley Northern Israel just 6 months ago. Since then we have been on a fast track of finding out just how geopolitically and spiritually significant this awesome location is.
For your information Megiddo is the Hebrew word for Armageddon. Whilst Megiddo is known most famously as the site of the Armageddon battle referenced in Revelation 16:13-16 a much lesser known feature of Megiddo is its rich history of faith.
This was evidenced by an amazing discovery in 2005 of an ancient Prayer House unearthed (would you believe it) from beneath the Megiddo Prison.
Here is the You Tube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39gZcBCzdc
According to the archeologists this Megiddo Prayer House is considered to be nearly 1800 years old and is dated back to 230 AD.
It’s an awe-inspiring discovery because within this ancient Prayer House there is strong evidence of Samaritans, Jews and Romans who worshipped together there. This discovery provides one of the earliest examples in Israel of what we now call ‘ one new man’ worship.
Ephesians 2:14-15
Furthermore, the mosaic that forms the Prayer House floor was funded by a Roman officer and is dedicated to ‘the God Jesus Christ’ inscribed in the Greek language.This is the oldest reference to Jesus Christ as being God found in all of Israel. This inscription in the mosaic floor makes this ancient Megiddo prayer house one of the most significant archeological discoveries in modern times.
Sadly, this location, once a hub of ‘one new man’ worship is now the site of a prison for terrorists. Megiddo itself also a favourite site for new age and occult festivals. You get the picture!
The valley itself, like so much of Israel is spiritually dry with very few believers (estimated 30,000 believers in all of Israel) and so at Elohim House of Prayer we are contending for Gods love to be revealed here again.
Whilst in prayer for the Megiddo valley recently, I heard the Lord say ‘I am restoring the fallen altars.’ Like the restoration of David’s tent of worship that coincides with Israel’s restoration prophesied in the Book of Amos I believe the Lord is restoring the fallen altars again in our day for a unique purpose.
In that day I will raise up. the tabernacle of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,
that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the LORD who does this.
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,”
says the LORD your God.
Amos 9:11-14
We believe it will be the Lord’s special delight and to His glory to re-establish fallen altars and to spawn new prayer and worship altars in this place where once terrorists were imprisoned and the gods of the new age worshipped.
Not only in Megiddo but we see the Lord at work through His people raising up prayer houses all over the land of Israel. We must therefore ask the question why is the Lord establishing altars of worship and prayer in strategic locations throughout Israel at this time?
The answer to this question is I believe because He has an important assignment that can only be accomplished through concerted day and night prayer. That assignment is to give spiritual birth to the Jews return to the Land of Israel and importantly to their return to their Messiah.
This is what the Biblical prophets repeatedly prophesied to the nation of Israel. A twofold restoration firstly to the land of Israel and secondly, after their return to the land a spiritual restoration to the Lord Himself at which time He would replace their heart of stone and give them a new heart.
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
Ezekial 36:24-26.
Whilst we no doubt are living in times of great shaking and the battles are getting more fierce we are also living in exciting times where we are seeing the prophecies of the Bible to the Jewish nation jumping off the page in front of our eyes as more Jewish people return to Israel and an increasing number of Jewish people are finding faith in God in fulfilment of Bible prophecy.
More prayer is needed however to see these big promises of scripture and God’s destiny for Israel be revealed. As we take up the challenge to fast, worship and pray I believe we will see a major leap forward in God’s sovereign plans for this tiny covenant nation.
As we partner with the Lord in what He is doing in fulfilment of His covenant promises for Israel I believe we, the Gentile Church in the nations will also walk more fully in the blessing of Abraham and in our God given calling to bless Israel.
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Gen 12:1-3
I want to therefore invite you and challenge us as a matter of some urgency to stand apart from worldly thinking and to actively take a stand in prayer and support for God’s purposes for Israel and the Jewish people. This is a crucial time in history where global anti-semitism and Jew hatred is on the rise but over and above God is also birthing something new!
Glen R
Elohim House of Prayer
Mount Carmel & Megiddo
Israel
Web: elohimhouse.org