March 20, 2026
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
Harvest in the Middle East
I am quite certain that God is intent on reaping a great spiritual harvest in many nations over the next few years. This has already begun, but will increase exponentially.
I am also quite certain that satan is determined to stop this harvest, in part, through ungodly governments. Leaders in China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and other nations throughout the earth are influenced by principalities and powers. As well as wanting to stop the coming harvest, satan‘s kingdom has profound hatred for Israel and America. This hatred is likely because these two nations have played such significant roles in redeeming the world from satan’s control: Israel gave the world Yeshua, the Savior; and America was raised up to preach the good news of Christ’s salvation and Kingdom.
Satan’s Goals
In an attempt to oppose God’s great outpouring and harvest, satan is, among other things, attempting to do the following:
Distract the church from seeing and working toward this harvest season, and
Create such chaos on earth that it becomes difficult to reach people and nations with the gospel. (We, the church, must make certain that we do NOT fall prey to the distraction; if we stay focused, God will deal with number two, making sure the chaos is unsuccessful.)
The third goal of the enemy, and one which often goes undetected, is to foster hatred and animosity between nationalities/people groups, including in the hearts of Christians. This, too, is designed to fight the great ingathering of souls. We must not fall into this trap.
It is appropriate, of course, to hate evil (Romans 12:9). Terrorist groups around the world should be destroyed, and evil rulers should be brought to justice whenever possible. It is necessary to destroy the evil regime in Iran, just as it was necessary for the Allies to destroy the Nazis in World War II. The perpetrators of evil throughout the world must always be dealt with ruthlessly, depriving them of their ability to harm others. The only deterrent to their evil is to demonstrate that we are more powerful than them; peace comes through strength.
However, in this season, we must be very careful to direct our anger and rage at the perpetrators, not the people of Russia, China, North Korea, and predominantly Muslim nations throughout the world. Specifically, we must not make Iranians, Syrians, the Lebanese, and Palestinians the objects of our anger and disdain. This is very important. Many people in these nations only want peace and freedom; some are actually our brothers and sisters in the faith. Millions of them who do not yet know the Lord will become part of our spiritual family one day. I’m confident that the Middle East will be a large part of the coming great harvest; perhaps the largest. Iran is currently experiencing the greatest harvest of any nation on earth. We must be careful not to allow satan, through terrorists and evil leaders, to turn our hearts against the people there.
I don’t need to remind you that Jesus loves the people of these nations as much as He does you and me. Christ said, “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only son…” (John 3:16). Yahweh loves the entire world - all of it - and Jesus died to save them all.
Ishmael
Most people in the Middle East are descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar. I become concerned when I hear Christians speak evil and condescendingly of Ishmael, including and especially in sermons. I feel that many Christians have a subconscious, if not conscious, disdain for Ishmael and his descendants. However, God did not hate Ishmael; He loved him! Ishmael’s name actually means “God hears.”(1) Yahweh cared for him and his mother, Hagar, rescuing them when they became outcasts (Genesis 21:19). He also gave them promises regarding their future (Genesis 21:17-21). Remember, it was not Hagar’s idea to have a child through Abraham; it was Sarah’s, and Abraham agreed to it (Genesis 16:1-4). Yes, Isaac was the son through whom Yahweh had determined to bring the Messiah, and He refused to renege on that decision. However, God did not - and does not - hate Ishmael or his descendants. He loves them.
Though I support destroying the evil regime in Iran, I know it is inevitable in a war such as this that innocents will suffer and die. My heart breaks over this. Some of the absolute best humans I have ever known are from the Middle East. And I know them well, having even pastored some of them for a season. These believers are lovers of Yahweh, followers of Yeshua, and minister for Him selflessly throughout the Middle East. They feed the poor, clothe the naked, provide for the homeless, educate children, care for the sick and diseased, and frankly, live a more pure expression of Christ than most American-born Christians I know.
I have preached in the churches of Jordanian believers who pay a great price for their love of Christ, far more than any American Christian I know. At the risk of imprisonment, they are reaching other Jordanian Muslims for Christ, as well as Muslims from other nations.
Thousands of Syrian, Afghan, Iranian, and other Middle Eastern believers, as well as African Christians in Muslim nations, are martyred for their faith every year. And remember, many of them were once Muslims - Muslims that Jesus loved enough to die for, just as He did you and me.
I abhor terrorism, antisemitism, and all racism. I want justice administered to those who rape, kill, torture, and oppress, regardless of where they are. But I do not hate the nations they come from, and certainly not their nationality. I love the people in all the Middle Eastern nations, and want to reach them with the gospel. I refuse to allow satan and his cohorts to succeed in causing hatred and delaying God’s great harvest.
In Conclusion
Pray not only for Israel, but for the salvation of Muslims in the Middle East! Pray that the prince of Persia does not succeed in turning the region into a river of blood. Pray that China and Russia do not succeed in creating further unrest around the world. Pray that innocent lives are protected during the current violence and war. Pray that God uses the evil in Iran to open the eyes of millions of people. Pray that many visions and dreams revealing Christ would occur. Pray for the believers there - for strength, protection, and that great signs and wonders will take place through them, confirming the gospel. Pray that many laborers are sent into those harvest fields, and pray for their protection. Pray that the Prince of Peace, the Giver of life and blessing, pours out His Spirit in full measure.
In fact, let’s pray these very things now.
Pray with me:
Father, we ask for the salvation of a billion souls in the Middle East. We ask for the salvation of Jews…and of Muslims. We pray that China, Russia, Iran, and evil principalities such as the prince of Persia do not succeed in turning the region into a river of blood. We ask that innocent lives be protected during the current violence and war. We ask that You open the eyes of millions of people to the gospel. Give many visions and dreams, release great signs and wonders to confirm the gospel. We ask that many anointed laborers be sent into the harvest fields of the Middle East, and we pray for their protection. We pray that the Prince of Peace, the Giver of life and blessing, pours out His Spirit in unprecedented measure.
And we pray for the body of Christ here in America. We ask that the church be alert and protected from the demonic strategy to harden our hearts toward people in other nations. Cause this to fail. We ask You to awaken in us Your love and compassion for all people, from every nation. And do what You do so well, Yahweh - turn evil back on the head of the serpent. Make him pay! In Yeshua’s name we pray, amen.
Our decree:
The Scriptures state that God will make known His wisdom to principalities and powers through the Ekklesia (Ephesians 3:10). We agree with this declaration and call forth the fulfillment in the world today.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.
James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3458.