Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Are We Witnessing a Miracle in North Korea?
Townhall.com ^ | May 1, 2018 | Michael Brown

Posted on 05/01/2018 1:21:30 PM PDT by Kaslin

It’s too soon to say for sure, but if things continue to develop positively between North and South Korea, it would not be farfetched to think that we are witnessing a miracle unfold before our eyes. And I say this circumspectly. 

After all, just a few months back, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was threatening nuclear war as he and President Trump rattled their sabers. The situation looked grim, and many pundits were concerned that Trump was provoking a madman with a powerful army and arsenal.

Worse still, North Korea has been one of the darkest, most closed countries on the planet for more than half a century. Whole families can be imprisoned. Christians suffer horrific abuse. Crowds are ordered to watch public executions. 

Big Brother is always watching, while the nation is fed a steady diet of propaganda and lies. It’s as if someone read Orwell’s 1984 and said, “Let’s do this in North Korea.”

As for Kim himself, an editorial column by David A. Welch posted in January on the Globe and Mail noted that, “Mr. Kim is clearly not a run-of-the-mill leader. He has assassinated his brother, executed his uncle, and had senior military officers killed by anti-aircraft fire for no more reason than failing to stand up quickly enough when he entered the room or nodding off in a meeting.”

And yet, just days ago, we were reading these words: “North Korea's Kim Jong-un and South Korea's Moon Jae-in shook hands at the border, and then held hands as they crossed the military line between the two countries.

“This is the first time a North Korean leader has set foot in the country of South Korea in 65 years.”

Go back six months in time and ask yourself who would have imagined that, in the last week of April, 2018, the leaders of North and South Korea would meet at the border in mutual embrace? Or that the president of South Korea, President Moon Jae-in, would be recommending Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize? (Honestly, I’m not sure which is more remarkable, the smiling pictures of the two Korean leaders, laughing and holding hands, or the headlines about Trump deserving the Peace Prize.)

Again, we don’t know exactly how this will turn out, and we don’t know what natural circumstances produced this amazing breakthrough. But the breakthrough is so shocking and significant that I’m not only looking for natural explanations. I’m looking for supernatural explanations.

I’ve had the privilege of ministering in S. Korea on 12 different occasions, spending many hours with the devoted Christians there. They are incredibly hardworking, incredibly passionate, incredibly visionary, and incredibly prayerful. No one prays like the Korean Christians!

One mega-church pastor told me that, for several decades, he personally led the 6:00 AM prayer meeting at his church. He also led the early morning prayer meeting that started at 4:30 AM! The 6:00 AM prayer service was the later one.

He was a very busy pastor, nationally respected and sitting on many boards. Yet for decades, he found the time to lead these two prayer meetings, beginning at 4:30 AM.

One night, I spoke at the 10:00 PM service of another mega-church. After they sang some hymns, I was asked to preach, then to walk through the building and lay hands on each of the several thousand believers gathered there, one at a time. 

As you could imagine, this took some time. But what got my attention was the fact that almost no one opened their eyes or looked around. They were all fervently praying. Even in the nursery, the mothers prayed with eyes closed, holding their little ones in their arms as they rocked back and forth.

But this was just the beginning. (Remember: We started at 10:00 PM.) The service continued for hours after I left. It was their weekly, congregational, all-night prayer meeting. 

To say it again: No one prays like the Korean Christians.

And this is why I’m wondering out loud if there has been unusual divine intervention between North and South Korea.

Before the Korean War, the majority of the nation’s Christians were in the North, and they fled South or went underground when the country was divided. Then something remarkable happened. Christianity began to spread like fire through South Korea, with many of the world’s most significant congregations based there today.

Yet these congregations are not complacent. There is a powerful enemy just miles to the north, an enemy that threatens to invade and devastate their nation. And so, for decades, they have prayed for divine protection from their hostile northern neighbor.

But they have also prayed with many tears for their oppressed northern siblings. These S. Korean Christians grieve over the deprivation suffered in the north, over the persecution, over the famines. And when they see the N. Koreans weeping when their national leader dies – they had worshiped him as if a god, just as they do today with Kim – these S. Korean Christians also weep, praying that the veil of deception would be lifted.

Back in July 2016, I participated in an open-air worship service and prayer meeting at the DMZ together with local and international Christians. It was chilling to look over the border and think that, just a few hundred yards away, a whole nation lived virtually cut off from the outside world. Yet we prayed with fervor for the reunification of Korea, adding our voices to the millions of others who have cried out to God through the decades.

And now, less than two years later, near this very same location, the leaders of North and South Korea embraced. Do you understand better why I asked if we are witnessing a miracle unfolding before our eyes?

Again, I recognize that we don’t know exactly where things are going. And even if both countries opted for reunification tomorrow, it would be a massively complex, difficult endeavor. How do you bring a closed nation into the light of day?

But to answer this, I go to the Scriptures: With man, it’s impossible. With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Let’s continue, then, to pray and watch and wait. We might be eyewitnesses to a 21st century act of God.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: christianity; northkorea; southkorea
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

1 posted on 05/01/2018 1:21:30 PM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Thanks to o’bamski and hildabeast laying the ground work. That’ll be the spin.


2 posted on 05/01/2018 1:23:40 PM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

No. We are witnessing Kim buying time, and trying to gain some cash and advantages by sweet-talking the West, after threatening them. Blowing hot and cold is a time-honored tradition for the Kims, and all dictators.


3 posted on 05/01/2018 1:25:24 PM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

If you say the Lord blew up his nuclear mountain, your right !


4 posted on 05/01/2018 1:26:12 PM PDT by Dr. Ursus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

That would be my take.

Trust a commie at your own risk.


5 posted on 05/01/2018 1:27:24 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: PGR88
We must proceed with caution, but I don't think that NK has been this forthcoming in the past. We may be seeing a new era.

Don't forget the choo-choo ride that Kim took to Beijing in March. He got his orders, and he is now following them.

6 posted on 05/01/2018 1:29:02 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rktman

“o’bamski” ROFL that’s a good one


7 posted on 05/01/2018 1:31:59 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Bump


8 posted on 05/01/2018 1:34:15 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo
Just dawned on Kim that we MIGHT win in a showdown?

Ran out of money. Country on verge of revolt.

Wait till they see what life is like in South Korea.

9 posted on 05/01/2018 1:34:38 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Black Irish


10 posted on 05/01/2018 1:34:51 PM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Q; All
...we don’t know what natural circumstances produced this amazing breakthrough.

Of course you don't, idiot. You don't read the Q threads.

This article = Just more drivel shat out to deprive The Donald of credit.

*Ptooey*

11 posted on 05/01/2018 1:34:53 PM PDT by bagster (Even pompous jackals love their mama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Not likely, pilgrim!
GunnyG@PlanetWTF?
TRUMP.45IF?WeCanKeepHim???
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++


12 posted on 05/01/2018 1:35:48 PM PDT by gunnyg ("A Constitution changed from Freedom, can never be restored; Liberty, once lost, is lost forever...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo
Not so much Kim got his orders as much as he got really bad news.

China would not side with NK. The US is too much of an economic cash cow to lose on stupidity.

We will stand by the side and watch him destroy you and what is left of your rule.

The Russians are waiting to invade also.

Knock your war rhetoric off or get wrecked.

13 posted on 05/01/2018 1:35:49 PM PDT by Wizdum (Buckle up! It's going to be one hell of a ride.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Kim jung un is definitely following the orders of china... but he might have suffered a massive nuclear failure and china may ordered him to be less confrontational so the trade war goes better...

i hope our foreign intelligence is better than what we have had in the past.


14 posted on 05/01/2018 1:36:38 PM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Don’t forget this guy shoots people with anti-aircraft guns


15 posted on 05/01/2018 1:38:18 PM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Compared to negotiating with the Mob, As Trump had to do for decades to get his buildings built, Kim is going to be a cakewalk.

Much higher profile to be sure, but probably one of the easiest negotiations Trump has had in his life.


16 posted on 05/01/2018 1:41:47 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle ( The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Ursus

Rods from God?....................

http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-rods-from-god-kinetic-weapon-hit-with-nuclear-weapon-force-2017-9


17 posted on 05/01/2018 1:43:02 PM PDT by Red Badger (Remember all the great work Obama did for the black community?.............. Me neither.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

“choo-choo ride that Kim took to Beijing in March. He got his orders, and he is now following them.”

That’s exactly why I think this is real ... and I think Trump’s airplane ride there before Kim’s choo-choo ride (sorry, I found that funny :-) ) laid the groundwork for said choo-choo ride.

What I think we will see is NK turn into a China-like economy. Kim will remain in power. The North will be open for business. With work and food on the table, the South won’t have to house a massive influx of northern defectors. China will have its buffer zone from South Korea, and there won’t be a threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of the Kim regime.

I doubt reunification will happen. China isn’t going to want a nation allied with the USA right on its border. I’m *not* saying that we should bend to China’s whims, but I think seeing NK at least embrace a “somewhat” capitalist economy like China, ending the war with the South, and losing its nuclear weapons is a pretty good deal for all parties involved.


18 posted on 05/01/2018 1:45:08 PM PDT by edh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

WIth the clowns are removed, all things are possible.


19 posted on 05/01/2018 1:45:19 PM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

When the gates open, and Norks can go freely to the south, then, I might trust it more...meanwhile, it may just be a “means to an end” by Rocket boy.

The proof is in the pudding...


20 posted on 05/01/2018 1:53:08 PM PDT by FrankR (If it wasn't for stupid ideas, the left would have no ideas at all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson