'I AM THE TRUTH YOU ARE SEEKING'
A very unusual revival in Damascus in the 1860's started without a single Christian being directly involved!
Abd el Karim was a leader of one particular sect within the Islamic population of Damascus. He had a longing to know God more, and so did several others from the mosque. In 1860 they began holding special times of prayer and reading the Qur'an. As time passed and no new move of God came, they began to grow uneasy, dissatisfied with their faith and its apparent lack of answers.
Their dissatisfaction turned to desperation. Then one night one of their number had a dream. In it he saw their group at prayer, and a glorious shining figure appearing to them. They were all terrified and cried out: "Who are you, Lord?" "I am the truth you are seeking," the figure replied, "I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
When the dream was shared with the rest of the group they were greatly afraid. They knew only too well that any Muslim converting to Christ would be killed. And yet they all agreed thatto know God was their heart's desire and so they continued the prayer meetings, asking God to confirm His word.
One night they all had the same dream of Jesus. They awoke with joyful cries of "I have seen Him!" and with one accord they all gave their hearts to Jesus Christ and felt the Holy Spirit fill them. Great was the joy in those meetings, and soon word got round that God was doing a new thing. In a short time their number had grown to 250 men.
The Muslim authorities realised that something had to be done, so they arrested fourteen of the leaders. Abd el Karim, as the main leader, was found guilty of blaspheming the prophet Mohammed and was martyred. The rest were banished to Libya, their wives and children left destitute on the streets of Damascus.
Yet the love of Christ had taken root in many hearts in the city through the witness of these men and women, so the wives and children were taken in and cared for by new converts. Some sold what possessions they had and shared the proceeds with their destitute fellow believers.
The Lord raised up new leaders, too. Ahmed el Sahhar was a soldier, but also a man of deep prayer. One day he, too, saw a vision of Jesus Christ in glory and was converted onthe spot. He ran into the barracks dying: "Jesus Christ is my God!"
Appalled at such blasphemy, the Muslim soldiers seized Ahmed, filled his mouth with dirt, bound him with a chain and began to beat him.
Then Jesus spoke to him: "Break your chains!" He flexed his muscles and the iron chain broke. So they brought stronger chains, but the same thing happened - and twice more! At such a show of Christ's power the soldiers fled in fear.
Ahmed was given a speedy discharge from the army and returned to Damascus a free man. He strengthened the new flock there and witnessed fearlessly to Christ. The numbers of converts grew steadily, and by the end of 1870 there were over 4,000 men (as well as women and children) meeting together for prayer and worship as a church of Jesus Christ, frequently attended by signs and wonders.
This article has been extracted from Revival Fires, available online from the Jesus People Shop.
Source: The Revival of Christianity in Syria, Anon, (London, 1872).
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