The Prophetic In Our Lives Today
This is an unabridged version of the Article which I originally
posted in our church Newsletter early in 2025.
In November 2024 God said this to me while I was praying:
“Study the prophecy of Smith Wigglesworth* and the vision of Jean Darnall* and allow Me to develop them into a new prophecy for All Saints today. This will have an impact much wider than just for your church!” This is what I believe is the result:
Background
The evangelist Smith Wigglesworth prophesied several things just before he died in 1947; some of these have now happened and others are yet to be fulfilled. He said we would see a Charismatic Renewal in churches and the planting of many new churches. (This happened largely in the 1960s and 1970s). The next phase would involve the coming together of the Ministries of the Word and the Spirit, which would lead to a massive worldwide Revival. This has yet to happen on a large scale, although we have seen the seeds of this unified ministry in our own churches.
My wife and I can personally bear witness to this. In the 1980s and 1990s God took us from our local Anglican church and moved us into other churches, then eventually into the New Frontiers church in our town. New Frontiers are solidly Bible-based and highly charismatic in their worship and lifestyle, regularly practising strongly the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14; their major raison d'être is worldwide Church Planting; this is sometimes done by renewing Life in former places of worship, sometimes by greenfield planting on sites which had previously been in secular use; we have seen examples of both of these in the churches we have attended. In 2022 God moved us from our previous Church, a member of the New Frontiers group and an example of the latter, and into our local Anglican Parish Church. We have twice moved to different locations across England and have attended New Frontiers churches in each case, all founded in the early 1990s. One of these has since planted three further churches in the locality, and another has planted one further church close by, as well as being involved with some plants in Europe.
I have always been a closet Anglican at heart (I am comfortable with the order of a Liturgy), and I am delighted that God has brought us back into our local Church of England, where we are again solidly Bible-based and Spirit-led, and we are slowly but surely beginning to exercise the Gifts of the Spirit. This sometimes happens in publc worship but it happens more often in the House Groups.
* * * * *
Jean Darnall was an American evangelist who was frequently given visions from God; during a visit to England in 1967 when she was in her 40s, she had a recurring vision: spiritual fires lit by God broke out across the nation from the North of Scotland to Land’s End. These fires joined together into rivers of fire that flowed from Scotland southwards to cover the whole of the British Isles and then on into Europe. These fires were groups of people who were hungry for God, who were drawn into meetings in churches and in homes. Many who were seeking would be drawn in to join them. Interestingly she said that mass communication would ensure that people far and wide would be drawn in and become involved; this was nearly 30 years before the Internet was invented and before Christian television came to the UK. She founded Fire Ministries International in Scotland, which survives her; they regularly send out prophetic words now, even though she died in 2019.
* * * * *
Over the years many people have linked these two phenomena together, and many people believe that we are now getting close to the time of their fulfilment.
* * * * *
I believe God spoke directly to our church at the beginning of the New Years of 2024 and 2025. Last year He simply said to us, “This is the Year of the Lord’s Favour” (Isaiah 61:1-2), but somehow I knew there would be more to come. This year He said rather more just as we turned off our TV at the end of the New Year celebrations, and I shared this with the church on January 5th:
"My beloved people, I am moving among you; you will see great things this year. Watch what I am doing, Listen out for My Voice, and Pray."
How’s that for a New Year's Resolution!
* * * * *
So, that’s where we’re coming from; now we have the new message:
“My people of this Fellowship, I have brought you all together over several years for such a time as this” (see Esther 4:12-14 – the timing in God’s planning is important). “I have been doing a new work among you and you are starting to see the fruit. I want you to share My love in this village to draw more people in, not necessarily initially into church but into fellowship with Me”, (emphasis mine) “whether it be in church or in secular settings in the Community with a Christian oversight. I will give you some ideas to overcome the psychological barrier which stops many people from crossing the church threshold; there have been events like your Summer Barbecue and you will see more. There are the many Outreach functions you regularly run now during the week. All of this is helping you to be a Church in the heart of the Community.
“Over time you will have to re-think some of your structures and prepare for a massive inflow of new converts over a period of several years (it will not happen overnight); all of these men and women and young people will need discipling and drawing in, to enable them to develop their relationaship with Me and to play a full and active part in the life of the church Body. I have a special plan for your church within the details of My plans for the whole of your County and the UK.
“With My Holy Spirit at the helm you will find both great joy and great challenges in fulfilling this task but I will always be there to guide and strengthen you”.
* * * * *
So where does that leave us now, and where do we go from here?
GOD IS MOVING!
See what happened in Los Angeles as people started picking up the pieces from the fire disaster in January 2025.
A woman said on TV news (prime time transmission) that she’s praying for those who have lost so much; another referred to the success individuals were having in seeking and recovering their property and she did not know whether it was divine intervention or sheer persistence – we could answer that for her! Altadena Community Church, the Pasadena Jewish Center and St. Marks Episcopal Church buildings were all lost in the Eaton fire; also many members of those church communities lost their lives. Those faith communities are now standing together in prayer for God to show them the way forward.
Many firefighters from Mexico crossed the border into California to help, despite the less than friendly historic relations between the two states; anyone remember the parable of the Good Samaritan?
These are all mustard seeds of Revival! There is a Blitz-style community spirit all over Los Angeles at present. Just as I finished writing this paragraph my Verse of the Day popped up on my phone – the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32! Thank you Lord!
See what’s happening here at home – God sometimes gives me Words for the church, sometimes for individuals, and I’m not the only one; others have shared with me that they too have had Words from God; people have even had Words from God for me personally – it’s growing, it’s exciting.
God’s Spirit is moving in power here in this village (see Psalm 68:28): the baptism of a young teenager in our church by full immersion in January (we borrowed a baptismal pool from the local New Frontiers church) was a wonderful example of what the Spirit is doing, as well as a powerful witness to other people.
How many of you are gardeners? Do you watch your Spring planting anxiously for signs of germination and new growth? This is a parable of what God is doing in the UK and worldwide at present.
May I suggest that if any of these thoughts specifically moves you, if you feel you have something which even just might be from God, please share it with one of your leaders, share it with me or someone else you trust; we can help you pray through it and evaluate it.
Smith Wigglesworth said there would be an explosion of faith in the UK; Jean Darnall said that it would spread from the North of Scotland southwards and eastwards; I believe I’m now hearing that it will also spread from the USA.
Brothers and sisters, GOD IS MOVING – HALLELUJAH!
I’m holding on to the idea that all of this shows what are so far barely germinating seeds of Revival in the Church across the world; I believe that God will bring us a genuine Revival before the Last Days – whenever these might actually take place – my 11-year-old grandson suggested it will be within the next 500 years, though I actually believe it will be sooner than that, but we must always remember that no-one knows the date of Jesus’ return except the Father; see Matthew 24:36) to gather in as many as possible in our closing hours. Let’s keep on praying, so that we may be ready to stand up and say, “Here am I, Lord, use me.”
* * * * *
There is also something more to add to the above:
On 10th January I asked God about the wildfires in the Los Angeles area; the background here is that Altadena is about 15 miles from Los Angeles and the only road connecting the two was destroyed; the final plea of an Altadena couple before evacuating their threatened home was, “God, save us”. God said:
"Watch what I will do in America, starting with Altadena; from the ashes you will see new faith rise up, and spread across the already fertile USA, just like the wildfires have done".
A footnote to this is that Altadena churches are now (April 2025) steadily rebuilding their facilities and their lives and are giving physical and spiritual support to communities as and when it is needed; Christian communities are working together and sharing worship spaces; there are also examples of public money helping with the rebuilding – God is working in the area in both sacred and secular society. This is the Gospel in action!
Lord, will it spread to the UK?
"Yes, I am breeding pockets of receptivity across the UK – see what has already started to happen among you in your church!"
Thank you Lord for speaking to us; we pray that you will give us eyes and ears to see and hear what you are doing and saying, and that you will fill each of us with your Holy Spirit to enable us to discern and to carry out our individual task in helping to build your Kingdom. Show your Power O Lord, here in our village and in your church worldwide. We ask that you will bless us all as we seek to do your Will. In Jesus’ Precious Name and in the Mighty Power of the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
Notes
* You can find the texts of these at https://ctntp.uk/smith-wigglesworths-prophesy/ and https://ctntp.uk/background/jean-darnalls-vision/ respectively.
In 1 Corinthians 14 St Paul tells us to weigh any prophecy to check if it is valid; here are some of the tests we can use; I feel within my own spirit that the above passes the tests, but I offer it to all so that you can do your own testing and tell a leader or tell me if you feel this is wrong, especially Test No. 3:
1. Does it reflect the nature and character of God?
2. Is the word fully in line with the revealed Word of God in the Bible?
3. Does it resonate in the spirit pf the person giving the prophecy, and with others in the fellowship to whom it is being offerred?
4. Is it encouraging ?
Peter Sebborn, April 2025
Christian.Footsoldier@gmail.com