In Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting, Derek Prince devotes an entire chapter to “The Glorious Church” and gives Isaiah a prophetic picture of the end-time Bride. This vision is vital today—not as a distant dream, but as a reality we are called to believe in and walk toward. Is it possible that the Church will become the Ephesians 5:25-27 Bride in our time, before our very eyes?

This is the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ: A glorious church and a bride without spot or blemish. 

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“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25–27)

Individually and corporately, Jesus has reconciled us through His body and death, to present us “holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:22).

God’s Pattern: Positioning People for Prophetic Fulfillment

Throughout history, God has placed individuals in specific times and places to open the door to prophecy’s fulfillment. 

• The Sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32) understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
• Moses prophesied about Israel’s future and led them out of Egypt.
• Daniel discerned the time for Israel’s return after seventy years in exile (Daniel 9:24–27).
• Cyrus the Great, though not a prophet, was foretold by Isaiah and released God’s people to return (Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23).
• Joseph prepared for famine to preserve both Egypt and Israel (Genesis 41).
• Hannah received Samuel by faith, birthing a prophetic voice in Israel (1 Samuel 1).
• Mary received and believed the angel’s message (Luke 1:26–38).
• Anna the Prophetess and Simeon waited and prayed to witness the Messiah’s arrival (Luke 2:36-38). They were at the temple when Jesus was presented.

In modern times, intercessors like Derek and Lydia Prince prayed into the prophetic rebirth of Israel (see Shaping History, Chapter 5). Rees Howells and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, unknown to one another, were positioned to intercede for the fall of the Third Reich—paving the way for Israel’s restoration.

Rees Howells was positioned to receive the prophetic word that God was going to intervene during the time of the Second World War, and Hitler would be defeated. He prayed through with his intercessors. Today, I believe God is raising leaders and intercessors to prophetically position the entire Ecclesia to usher in the promise of Ephesians 5:25-27.

Lessons from Israel’s Land: Seeing Beyond the Natural

Excerpts from Mark Twain’s description of the Holy Land in 1867 from the book, “The Innocents Abroad”. This became a way of revealing what was happening in that land to the world. He documented his journey to Europe, Asia Minor, and the Middle East: The land was undeveloped, and Mark Twain described the landscape. “Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery, I think Palestine must be the prince. The hills are barren, they are dull of color, and they are unpicturesque in shape. The valleys are unsightly deserts fringed with a feeble vegetation that has an expression about it of being sorrowful and despondent. … It is a hopeless, dreary, heart-broken land…”His words echoed the curses of Deuteronomy 28:23-24—heavens like brass, earth like iron.

Yet centuries earlier, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Nachmanides) saw the desolation as good news: the land would not accept foreign nations, preserving it for Israel’s return. The Church, however, often missed the prophetic picture—embracing replacement theology, which taught that God had rejected Israel and replaced her with the Church. The return of the Jews to their land shattered this misconception, fulfilling Isaiah 43:5-7, Jeremiah 31:7-11, Ezekiel 36:24, and Isaiah 11:11.

The question for us today is sobering: Are we making the same mistake with the Church? Are we judging her by the chaos we see—scandals, division, and compromise—or by the promises God has given?

Sleeper Cells in the Church

Recently, the Lord impressed on me the phrase “Sleeper Cells in the Church.” The parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) reveals this reality. The foolish virgins looked like they were part of the wedding party but had no oil. They were unprepared, spiritually asleep, and unaware of the Bridegroom’s nearness.

Many in today’s Church are in spiritual sleeper cells—drowsy, disengaged, lacking oil, and unaware of the prophetic hour. They need to awaken, fill their lamps, and tune their ears to the Bridegroom’s call.

In every generation, God preserves a remnant that acts as a catalyst for awakening.

 Ezra, for example, restored God’s Word after the Babylonian captivity.  The remnant today must:

• Bring sound teaching back to the Body.
• Walk in unity under Christ’s headship.
• Pray and intercede for those still in spiritual exile.
• Press into the promises of the Glorious Church.
• Return to our first love 

As Derek Prince taught, the mature Church will be:

• United in faith.
• Acknowledging Christ as Head in every way.
• Full-grown and complete in Him.
• Permeated with God’s glory.
• Holy and without blemish.

A Call to Action and Prayer

We refuse to be like King Hezekiah—content with our own generation’s safety while neglecting the future (2 Kings 20). Instead, we choose to stay awake, watch, and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Jeremiah 8:7 says that even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtle dove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year, but not my people! They do not know the Lord’s laws. 

We declare that we will walk in the Lord’s laws by His Spirit.

We repent for spiritual complacency, for tolerating anti-Semitism, and for failing to walk fully in Christ’s victory. We declare our commitment to hold to His teaching so we will know the truth—and the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32).

Prayer:

Sovereign King of the Universe, Our Lord Jesus Christ, unite Jew and Gentile into one new man in Christ. Knit us together as Your Body. Remove what is not upheld by Your Spirit. Cause the manifold wisdom of God to be revealed through the Church to principalities and powers. Bring forth the mature Bride, holy and radiant, ready for the Bridegroom. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

What is your prayer for the church?

(Elizabeth Ojutiku leads IFA’s Georgia State Prayer group. Photo Credit: Max Ravier/Pexels via Canva Teams)