A Divine Invitation to Beijing

In 2017, I received a special invitation to visit leaders of the underground church in China’s capital city. At the time, I had been diving deep into my Song of the Ages series, and something about the Song of Songs kept connecting me to the Asian church. There was a mystery brewing—something prophetic and ancient stirring beneath the surface.

I’ve written about this in other places, so I’ll keep it brief here.

A Vision 100 Years in the Making

Before I get into the Song of Songs connection, we need a quick history detour.

Back in the 1920s, a small but powerful group of Chinese believers received a vision called Back to Jerusalem. These believers felt the Holy Spirit calling them to finish the Great Commission by bringing the Gospel westward—back to where it all began. Their roadmap was the ancient Silk Road. Their aim was the unreached ethnos that this road touched (in the 10/40 window). Their belief is that this would help usher in the return of Christ.

This lined up beautifully with Jesus’s prophecy we looked at in the last installment. It also echoed a deeper message I was beginning to see in the Song of Songs.

The Bride, Her Beloved, and the Mother’s House

In the Song, the Bride (clearly a symbol of the Church) expresses a longing to bring her Beloved (Jesus) “back into the house of my mother.” In the narrative, the mother is strongly tied to the nation of Israel. What I felt in prayer and study was that this was a prophetic symbol of the Church bringing the Gospel full circle—back to Jerusalem.

This all points toward something many believe is coming: a great reconciliation between Jews and Arabs, the sons of Isaac and Ishmael, joined by the dispersed sons of Noah from Asia and Europe—a family reunion unlike any in history. And this glorious reunion will be rooted in the truth that we are all children of the Father, ransomed by the Son, and filled with the Breath of the Holy Spirit.

The Belt & Road, and the Wild Timing of it All

Now, here’s where it gets wild. Another hotel story…

When I arrived at my hotel in Beijing, security was tight. Every time I walked in, I had to take a sip of my water to prove it wasn’t poison.

Soon I found out why: delegates from all over the world were gathering for the launch of China’s massive economic project, The Belt and Road Initiative. (Quick tangent–another taxi story: one day, our driver casually explained that the unusually blue skies were due to factory shutdowns for the summit. Translation: Clear skies were the result of a nationwide industrial pause. Wow.)

Here’s where the divine choreography gave me chills: this government-led summit was about resurrecting the ancient Silk Road for economic revival! This was happening the exact same week I was meeting with underground church leaders committed to the Back to Jerusalem vision of spiritual revival throughout the same region. 

And get this—110 nations were represented at the economic summit. Meanwhile, I was there to minister to 110 underground church leaders. (Yes, 110. And yes, Psalm 110 came to mind. But I’ll save that connection for another day.)

While world powers were talking trade routes and global partnerships, God’s underground network was making plans for something far more eternal. The leaders of heaven’s economy—servants of the Gospel—were preparing to invest in hearts and nations across the 10/40 window. And somehow, I got to be there in the middle of it, carrying this unfolding revelation from the Song of Songs.

A Translator, a Podcast, and Hot Pot Theology

On my final day in China, I was sent to speak at a church on the impoverished outskirts of the city. Everything was set—except for one small thing: the translator canceled. The church had no way of understanding my message.

So they prayed.

That same morning, a pastor from another congregation felt led to come and help—leaving his own service behind. Not only did he translate, he also broadcast the message to his entire network of house churches across China through his podcast.

What felt like a closed door turned out to be an open gate to greater influence. (I love God does that.)

That morning, I spoke of the realities of our true identity and the finished work of Christ. Over a delicious hot pot meal afterward, the pastor told me something that left me humbled and undone. He said: “The Asian church is strong in prayer, fasting, miracles, and evangelism. But without this foundation—the revelation of our identity—it all crumbles.”

To hear that from someone in the persecuted Chinese church—who I admire deeply—was one of the most affirming moments of my life.

(Note: Someone at that house church took a photo that would later circulate widely. Many believed it showed an angelic presence hovering in the room. I’ll let you be the judge of that.)

The Shift Beneath the Surface

That trip marked me. It confirmed the absolute necessity of this message—the Gospel of the Father, Son, and Spirit—as the foundation for missions and revival.

There’s a shift happening. As Baxter Kruger wrote in The Great Dance, and as I’ve experienced in my own healing journey, the Church is waking up. Legalism and fear-based religion are losing their grip. Grace, joy, and the revelation of our original blessing are taking root.

And at the heart of it all is this profound truth:

The lost are lost only because they belong.

Every human being is a dream in the heart of the Trinity—born out of eternal love. And every person is invited into the Divine Family.

This is the only foundation that can carry sustained, transformative revival. Sons and daughters, not religious workers, will carry the “family business” into the future. Ministries like The Gateway Project and many others are leading the way here.

Turning the Desert Back Into a Garden

In much of the 10/40 window, a false narrative of worthlessness and despair has taken root. So many—especially children—are pulled into human trafficking and other evils because of a region filled with people who don’t know who they are or where they come from.

This is why the Gospel is about more than a prayer—it’s about healing hearts and restoring nations. It’s about turning deserts into gardens.

I hope you’ll join us in this mission. Be part of this great, global family reunion. Every tribe and tongue has a seat at the table.

A Final Word… and a Small Ask

My latest book on the Song of Songs, The Kiss of Christ, is soon to be translated into a Middle Eastern language. As doors continue to open, we’ve made the decision to offer these Elisha’s Riddle articles for free. If you’ve been blessed by these writings, would you consider subscribing to help support the translation and distribution of this message? Even a one-time gift can go a long way.

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Thank you so much for reading and walking with us.

Oh and here’s the photo taken during that house church meeting. Some say you can see an angel in it. I can be found behind the right “wing.”