I was not surprised when the Maute-ISIS terror group attacked Marawi City because I have dreamed about Islamic terrorism in the country since early 2010 or 2011. It will take time for me to go through all of my notes on these but I can remember that there is not a year that I didn’t have at least one dream of this sort that I can tell a few without the help of my journal. In most of my dreams, I was either hunted down or held captive by terrorists. The latest which was sometime last year was that I was one of the hostages as the whole place was invaded by the Islamic jihadists.
The most unusual of all was my encounter with a man in full black garb just like these terrorists in this photo.
Clarion Project: End of Times Prophecies Justify Beheading of Copts
It was around 8:00 o’clock in the evening of July 1, 2015, while I was walking home from the supermarket that I met a man in this black outfit. That part of the road was empty except for the two of us and the cars passing by. The lights were dim but I could see clearly as we were just a few steps away from each other when I noticed his unusual appearance. He probably saw me staring at him so he pulled down his big black umbrella to hide his face. That was also very unusual for him to have an umbrella at night since there was no rain, not even a drizzle. He turned to the side towards the perimeter fence pretending to fix something, but I knew he just avoided bumping on me. I also saw the black backpack on his back as I followed him with my eyes. I could not get my eyes off the unusual sight and so I kept turning back as I walked on until I reached the subdivision’s gate. I reported the incident to the guard on duty. For the last time I turned to look at the man but I could no longer see him.
I could not imagine where the man could be going as the direction he was taking was towards the commercial area which was about a hundred meters away. If he went there he would certainly attract everybody’s attention. But where could have he gone?
I called up my Father-in-law to report what I saw and asked if ISIS were already in Metro Manila. He brushed the story aside, telling me it was impossible and somehow lectured me why it was so. He was with the intelligence and so I supposed he would know. But like most of the leaders said in those days and until the incident in Marawi, there is no ISIS in the country.
I did not talk much about the things I saw because I thought, except for my kids and my Mom-in-law who was so concerned that she might be a target because of her Israel connection, nobody would believe me. However, deep in my heart I knew it was only a matter of time that violent jihad would rise its ugly head in this country.
I followed the news on this extremely violent and barbaric jihadists since they started attacking in 2014. I heard how our leaders dismissed the idea that the Abu Sayyaf had pledged allegiance to the terror group which prides itself as the new Islamic caliphate. I believed they had good reason to downplay the possibility- they didn’t want to raise an alarm and cause panic.
The article that bears the above image was in my inbox for the past two years. I marked it because of its relevance to what I have seen in the spirit, and, the above encounter which probably was a vision. Whether the man was for real or not, I believe the Lord made me see him to confirm what I have been dreaming and sensing for the past four or five years.
The article captured ISIS’ tweet that says, “Until Andalusia to Philippines returns to the hands of Muslims, defensive will go on. Only after that can it be labelled offensive.”
As one who grew up in Mindanao, the idea that the Philippines must one day return to the hands of Muslims is not unusual to me, although I used to think that the Muslims only claim Mindanao as originally belonging to them, and so the government’s never-ending negotiation with one Muslim militant group to another. Who could have thought that ISIS would come in the picture and vow to get the Philippines?
In my time with the Father earlier today, I asked Him how He wanted me and other believers to pray about the situation especially with the on-going conflict in Marawi. Our human tendency is to pray for the immediate end of the war; for the terrorists to be finished off with no one left as much as possible. Our sympathy is for the displaced innocent civilians and for the soldiers who fight with their lives these misguided and lost individuals. And most likely, that is how the Christians are praying which I am not saying is wrong. But the question is, how does Yahweh really want us to pray?
We see only the problem as they are and our praying is responsive to our natural instincts, but if we seek Him who knows everything, we will see that there is more to just praying for the end of a conflict.
As I prayed earlier today, the Holy Spirit showed me what is in His heart. He wants to see us, the believers, on our knees, praying for the lost. Many are dying in Marawi and they are dying without hope. While we weep for the innocent and the soldiers, the Lord weeps even for the terrorists. We hail the heroes of Marawi but we forgot that the soldiers and civilians who died along with the terrorists have the same fate in eternity without Christ. And this is true in every nation fighting with terrorism and all kinds of conflicts.
Our nation and the nations of the world are crumbling yet the people of God are unconcerned. We need to start praying earnestly for the lost. When need to get serious with our call to be the light and salt of the world. Most importantly, we, His people, need individually and corporately to humble ourselves, seek His face, pray and turn from our wicked ways so that He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land. If we will do this, how quickly can He put an end to the conflict and stop the spread of terrorism.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, but can we truly say that our nation’s God is He? The task of praying for the nation and the world sounds overwhelming but it actually just begins with us humbling before Him and seeking His face. The prayer of a righteous man avails much; and we know that when we pray according to His will we will have what we ask for.
The Messiah is coming soon. May He find us faithful. May He find us praying and watching.
Love in Yeshua,
Cynthia
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2 Chronicles 7:14
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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
The Trumpet Sound 