Evangelist Mario Murillo (Charisma News)
In January of 2023, Evangelist Mario Murillo made headlines when he called out the prophetic community, specifically rebuking those he identified as false prophets. You can read Mario’s blog posts regarding this here, here, and here, and also see a video interview with Mario here.
The prophetic word appears to have exploded in recent years –at least to those of us unfamiliar with this form of gifting.
I believe a key moment occurred at ‘The Return’ national assembly that was held on September 26, 2020.
At The Return, a shattered clay jar wielded by Jonathan Cahn in our nation’s capital announced that America was facing a time of judgement. But we also saw another message preached, as Pastor Kent Christmas of Regeneration Nashville brought a word of revival. When watching Kent Christmas many—including myself—were introduced for the first time to a pastor that seemed so filled with the Spirit that he followed his words with ‘thus saith the Lord’. It was a remarkable and powerful moment.
At The Return, the global audience witnessed Pastor Kent bring a word about a movement of God and a great revival, during which the church would rise to her feet. He specifically called out the years 2021 to 2024 as the time we would see this great movement of the Holy Spirit (Paraphrased from The Return).
Pastor Kent Christmas at The Return, Sep 2020
Following this event, their appears to have been a greater revealing of many other prophetic voices as well. Since that time Dutch Sheets, Timothy Dixon, Hank Kunneman, Mario Murillo, Robin Bullock, Lance Wallnau and many others, all appear to have been elevated to a higher national awareness as prophets and evangelists. I know I was introduced to them at this time.
Timothy Dixon for example went from a truck driver posting YouTube videos, to a known prophet in just a few months. I also discovered Steve Shultz’ ‘Elijah Streams’, Gene Bailey’s ‘Flashpoint’ as well as the YouTube channel ‘Watchmen on the Wall’ at this time. Prophets and the prophetic word appear across all these platforms. And for a time, I would pay close attention.
The interest in the prophetic word and growth that occurred even spilled over to Mario Murillo, who remarked that after 50-years he felt like an overnight success.
I followed these prophets/pastors and listened to many of their messages and prophetic words in 2021, and heard many statements regarding President Trump and how the election would be overturned and he would be restored to the White House. These statements certainly received media attention, with one example shown in this article from Politico.
“People who have never heard of me are suddenly hearing about me in different places, and they say ‘man you just came out of nowhere’ – and I tell them ‘Yeah, I’m a 50-year overnight success.’” Mario Murillo(Encounter Today)
On July 4th, 2021 a capstone moment may have occurred.
Kent Christmas gathered seven ‘prophets’ at the ‘Let Freedom Ring’ event held at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville. Many of the above stood together – including evangelist Mario Murillo–on the stage in Nashville.
The July 4th gathering witnessed repeated messages regarding a new movement of God, revival, exposure of fraud and a restoration of the presidency. A couple of prophetic words that stood out regarding Trump included “What you voted for shall be restored. There will be great exposure and reversal” and “Air Force One will return with the one I have chosen” (Paraphrased from Let Freedom Ring July 4th, 2021).
I watched this entire event and noted the statements regarding the restoration of President Trump. I also know that in the build-up to this event I had some expectation—again from statements of the prophets along with court cases that were in the news (that would all fail)—that the election fraud might finally be revealed and that this gathering might also be a celebration.
Screen capture of Dutch Sheets, Robin Bullock, Hank Kunneman, Kent Christmas, Timothy Dixon, Todd Coconato, Mario Murillo on stage at ‘Let Freedom Ring’ Nashville, July 4th, 2021 (Let Freedom Ring July 4th, 2021))
But the restoration of President Trump in 2021 did not occur.
And in time, we would see Mario Marillo rebuke some of those who stood on this very same stage.
The secular media has also watched the current prophets – who are typically labeled ‘The Trump Prophets’ –and certainly enjoyed pointing out the failure of statements to come true, as illustrated in this Newsweek article from 2022. In addition—even before Mario Murillo stepped forward in 2023—Christian scholar Michael Brown weighed in on the failure of prophetic statements – first in December of 2020 in response to the election of Joe Biden, and then again in November of 2021 after Trump was not returned to office. The Newsweek article included this quote from Michael Brown regarding the Trump prophecies, when he said it “was the largest-scale deception I’ve seen in 49 years of following Jesus”.
Over time I began grow more and more uneasy about all of this, and soon began to keep prophetic statements at arm’s length and am now very wary of programs featuring prophets. I am left wondering what we are supposed to take away from this. I know I recall with trepidation the night in late in 2021 when I opened the Bible and found myself staring at this verse:
Jeremiah 23:21: “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.”
But still, I struggle with accepting that this is what we are seeing in our day. With the return of President Trump to office in 2025, there are many that claim that the prophecies made in 2020/2021 have come true. But as someone who watched a lot of that, I know the expectation that was created at the time was that the 2020 election would be overturned…and this did not happen.
Perhaps we can find more grace for all of this in the writings of Paul, when he states that “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10) and also “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).
It is also possible that many may be in error regarding dreams if they are simply reporting anything that they see occurring in the night, regardless of the strength of imagery or repetition. I know that Satan has made his presence known in my own dreams on occasion—so it is not as if he does not have the power to influence our nights.
However, in 2023 I would encounter a sobering message from Pastor Carter Conlon.
At the heart of Pastor Conlon’s sermon (that he recorded in 2014). was this statement: “The last stage before the judgement of God comes on a nation is the rise of smooth-talking prophets.” He stated that the rise of prophets, as shown in the Old Testament accounts regarding God’s judgement of Israel, is the final sign to appear prior to destruction.
Pastor Conlon’s warning regarding the rise of prophets is truly alarming—given the failed prophecies of the last few years.
Video: June 15, 2014 – Carter Conlon – The Future is Already Written
But the Bible also tells us that when God is about to act, He does nothing without first revealing his intentions to His prophets:
Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
So it is with hope that we may yet look for a word from God’s servants. Still, I wonder if our search for the prophetic has been taken advantage of by the enemy.
For now, it remains a question.
Regardless, we are living in a time when prophetic voices have arisen…and in many cases these voices have been in error. The rebuke of prophets by Mario Murillo in 2023 was an important moment that should not be forgotten; nor should the 2014 message from Carter Conlon. As we struggle to understand this current time, we should note the rise of prophets as an important milestone in the timeline of End Time events.
But one thing still stands out in the statements of the prophets—often we find the prediction of one final spiritual revival. And we are certainly seeing signs that this could be possible. Here are just a few recent headlines:
Dec 27, 2024: Bible Sales Are Skyrocketing: What’s Going On?
Nov 11, 2024: Thousands Hear the Gospel in Grande Prairie, Alberta
Sep 15, 2024: More Than 21,000 Hear the Gospel in Naples, Italy
June 10, 2024: 70,000 Gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to Hear Gospel Message : ‘The Glory of God Is Arising’
May 21,2024: ‘Surreal and extraordinary’: world’s largest mass baptism; 12,000 people immersed in California
Feb 13, 2023: Revival Underway at Asbury University in Kentucky: ‘The Holy Spirit Was Tangible in the Room’
Regardless, as believers we hold onto the promise that before the coming of the day of the Lord, we know that the Lord will pour out His spirit one final time:
Joel 2:28-29: “And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
So perhaps we are indeed starting to see a revival that will one day lead to the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit described by the Prophet Joel…only time will tell.
For now, we know that we have witnessed a rise in prophetic voices…but that is just one more of the many signs that have come to pass.
Next – Chapter 22: When These Things Come to Pass
