The Middle East: Shaking and Transformation

by Nathan Shaw

God has a profound love for the nations of the Middle East. Recently He spoke to me: “Something profound and unexpected will happen in the Middle East. I am shaking the grip of blinding mindsets off nations given to terror. I have not destined these nations for terror—that is the work of the enemy. Governments and organizations will be shaken. Nations will be transformed by My glory.”

Two Prophetic Witnesses

God showed me two historic Middle Eastern rulers whose lives are a prophetic witness to this and future generations. The first was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Although Babylon was situated in modern day Iraq, Nebuchadnezzar’s rule extended over a much greater territory. At the height of his kingdom his pride was shattered when he lost his sanity. For seven years Nebuchadnezzar behaved like a beast of the field. When he came to this senses two profound miracles happened: firstly, he was fully restored as king, and secondly, he acknowledged Yahweh as the Most High. “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35). Nebuchadnezzar was the king who conquered Jerusalem and took Israel captive. Israel’s captor now acknowledged Israel’s God!

The second prophetic witness God showed me was Cyrus, king of Medo-Persia. Although Persia is modern day Iran, Cyrus ruled over an empire even larger than Nebuchadnezzar’s (his empire extended all the way from modern Afghanistan to modern Turkey). God moved on the heart of Cyrus causing him to release a decree for Israel to return to their land. His decree also included the releasing of resources for the rebuilding of a house of worship in Jerusalem. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). There is a reason why the combined witness of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus is so powerful: Nebuchadnezzar was the key player in Israel’s captivity; Cyrus was the key player in Israel’s return from captivity. Of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus God says, “I knew them” and “They were My witnesses.”

“Speak My Destiny Over These Nations”

Jeremiah and Daniel were prophets who understood God’s heart. Jeremiah told captive Israel to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon (Jeremiah 29:7). Even although Daniel was an Israelite captive, his intercession impacted both the Babylonian and Persian empires in profound ways. Today many are talking about Iran and other nations forming an axis of evil. That is the enemies plan. We should also be aware that God’s plan is to establish an axis that will stand for His purposes. Some of the key nations in this godly axis will be surprising. So surprising, in fact, that many would say, “How could this be?”

Just as God moved on the hearts of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, He is about to move on the hearts of many Middle Easterners. This will happen not only among kings and rulers, but also among men and women, and even boys and girls on the streets of these nations. The authority of the gospel will awaken destiny and hope within many Middle Eastern nations. Satan has strategically harnessed religious zeal that God intends for His glory. Unrighteous zeal will give way to righteous zeal. In fact, the witness from these nations is a strategic part of the Gentile witness that will provoke Israel to jealousy and even stir up and awaken many other nations (Romans 10:19, 11:11). God’s testimony of these Middle Eastern nations will be “I know them” and “They are My witnesses.”

The spiritual battlefield of the Middle East is an ancient one, but it is also a strategic one. The battle is fierce because the destiny of many nations and peoples is at stake. Just as Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus played key roles for God’s purposes in ancient times, Middle Eastern nations will play key roles for God’s purposes in modern times. God says, “Speak My destiny over these nations.”

© 2023 Nathan Shaw.

Related Articles:
Middle East Winds, Holy Spirit Winds – Nathan Shaw

Back to Words for Nations