The Greater the War, The Greater the Awakening

Tikkun Global

Jerusalem, Israel

After exactly 40 days of war with Iran, we have entered into a period of a two week cease-fire. Will it hold? Will Trump and the US succeed in securing a real “deal” with Iran that will last?  Here in Israel, for 40 days missiles, threats, and uncertainty became routine. Different from the 12 day war in June of 2025, this time Arab nations across the region—especially in the area of the Persian Gulf -- were increasingly drawn into the tension, many experiencing direct attacks and instability. What was in June 2025 an Israel–Iran conflict has now expanded into a regional conflict and beyond. As the war intensified, the question became not only geopolitical, but spiritual. What happens to people’s hearts when the shaking increases?

One recent testimony reflects the human reality behind these headlines. A resident whose building was struck by a missile described covering his baby with his body moments before the explosion. The apartment filled with shattered glass, and though his family was lightly injured, they survived. The three lower floors of the building were completely destroyed, killing four people, and his family lived just one floor above the area of impact. Later he said, “I am not a believing person, but there is a strong feeling here of a great miracle. There was divine protection.” Even in the midst of destruction, language of providence and miracle emerges. Moments like these often lead people to reconsider questions of faith.

Israel has lived in a state of war and conflict since its establishment in 1948. There have been periods of relative quiet, but never complete peace. Even in military training, soldiers are taught that Israel is always in a state of war — sometimes active, sometimes less visible, but never fully at rest. Yet history shows that in moments when conflict intensifies, something shifts spiritually. During the Six Day War in 1967 and again in the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the nation experienced deep shaking. Fear, uncertainty, and loss touched nearly every family. Yet in the years that followed, many Israelis began searching spiritually. Jewish people read the New Testament, asked questions about Yeshua, and explored faith in ways that had been far less common before. The modern Messianic Jewish movement in Israel grew significantly during that period.

We have seen similar patterns even in recent events. During the Iranian attack in April 2025, when hundreds of missiles and drones were launched toward Israel in a single night, data later showed that the number one internet search in Israel that night was “Psalms.” This is significant. In Judaism, it is customary to read Psalms in a devotional posture towards God.  Faithful Orthodox Jews (at least those who use a smartphone!) already had them open in their homes or on their devices.  But this sudden spike on that night suggests something different — people who do not normally pray turning instinctively toward God and His word. In moments of fear, something deep within awakens. Hearts that may have been spiritually distant begin searching for words of comfort, protection, and hope.  As it came to be said during WWI: “there are no atheists in the trenches.” 

This pattern is not limited to Israel. In recent years, reports from Iran have described a surprising development. Despite severe restrictions and persecution, underground fellowships, personal encounters, and digital outreach have contributed to a growing number of Iranians turning to faith in Yeshua. Much of this growth is difficult to measure and largely hidden, yet multiple studies and ministries describe an expanding network of house churches and seekers across the country. In a region marked by political tension and religious pressure, Iran has become an unexpected place of spiritual curiosity.

Both Scripture and modern history reflect this same dynamic. The prophet Haggai records the Lord saying, “I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come” (Haggai 2:7). Yeshua spoke of wars, turmoil, and instability, and in the same context described the gospel being preached to all nations (Matthew 24:6–14). In the book of Acts, persecution in Jerusalem scattered the believers, and “those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The shaking accelerated the spread of the message.

Over centuries, the gospel moved outward from Jerusalem through the nations and eventually spread widely across Asia. Over the last century, significant movements have emerged in places like Korea, China, and Indonesia. If the message went from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, we may now be approaching a turning point. As awakening spreads across regions like Iran and parts of the Middle East, could we be nearing the time when a great awakening begins to reach Jerusalem once again? We cannot claim to know the timing, nor can we assume this will fully unfold in our generation. Yet the early signs of spiritual hunger across the region may be preparing the way for a future movement that ultimately returns to the place where the gospel first began.

Scripture points toward such a turning. Paul writes that the “fullness of the Gentiles” will affect salvation in Israel. (Romans 11:25–26). Isaiah speaks of nations coming to the light of Zion (Isaiah 60:3). Zechariah describes many peoples seeking the Lord in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:22). Yeshua Himself declared that Jerusalem would one day welcome Him, saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39).

As the recent war with Iran has ebbed and flowed, this becomes not only an observation but a call to prayer. We do not pray for war. We pray for protection, for wisdom for leaders, victory for the Kingdom of God, for peace, and for the salvation of many. (1 Tim 2:1-8) When war comes, history suggests that the greater the shaking, the greater the openness. In such moments, we should also pray for awakening. What is already taking place in Iran may not remain isolated. Spiritual curiosity could grow beyond Iran into neighboring Arab nations, and ultimately reach Israel itself. Much of this would likely unfold gradually and largely unseen at first. Yet awakening often begins quietly before becoming visible. As conflict continues, according to the Lord’s will, we can pray that He would use this season to awaken hearts — in Israel, in Iran, and across the entire region!