In Biblical times there was an important international highway, called Via Maris, which originated
in Egypt and ran up the Mediterranean Coast in Israel, before crossing the Mount Carmel range
and entering the Jezreel Valley at Megiddo. From Megiddo it continued to Damascus in Syria.
Israel was the central point of this highway, and it was at a mountain pass just north of Megiddo
where commerce could be either stopped or permitted. Kings and kingdoms fought over
Megiddo because they wanted to govern this pass and control traffic and trade along the
highway. Such was Megiddo’s imposing command, Pharaoh Thutmose III claimed, “Taking
Megiddo is like capturing a thousand cities.” In fact, 34 battles have been fought at or near
Megiddo over the past 4000 years. The most recent battle at Megiddo was in September 1918,
when British, Australian and New Zealand forces liberated the Holy Land from 400 years of
dominion by the Muslim Ottoman Empire.

Isaiah refers to this ancient highway when he prophesies of a day when Egypt, Israel and Assyria
will worship together and be a blessing in the midst of the earth. This is a vast area of the Middle
East, because the Assyrian Empire encompasses the modern nations of Iran, Iraq, Turkey,
Lebanon and Syria. Let’s turn to Isaiah’s prophecy:

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and
Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the
third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has
blessed, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my
inheritance.’” (Isaiah 19:23-25 ESV).

Despite the rage and turmoil in the Middle East, Isaiah’s prophecy assures us that there will be
redemption in the future. This redemption will not be the result of political manoeuvrings or so-called “peace processes.” It will be a sovereign work of God changing history through a
revelation of His Son to human hearts. Abraham’s descendants, both Jew and Gentile, will
become “one new man” (Eph. 2:15), united in their worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. Many prayer houses in the Middle East, including Elohim House of Prayer, are
passionately committed to seeing this vision fulfilled.

An Ancient Prayer House at Megiddo

In 2004 an ancient prayer house dating back to 230 AD was discovered underneath a top-security
prison at Megiddo. It is the oldest prayer house in the world and the oldest known place in Israel
which mentions Jesus as God. The main feature of the prayer house is a mosaic which bears an
inscription in Ancient Greek, “To the God Jesus Christ.” It is remarkable that 1,800 years ago
Jesus was worshipped as God at a prayer house at Megiddo. We believe this speaks not only of
what was, but also of what is to come.

It is also remarkable that the prayer house was situated in Kfar Othnai, an ancient Jewish village
at Megiddo where Jews and Samaritans, Christians and pagans lived together. Officers from a
nearby Roman encampment worshipped at the prayer house and one of the officers donated
money to have the mosaic built. Once again, this is a picture of Jew and Gentile coming together,
as “one new man” (Eph. 2:15). I only heard about the ancient prayer house and mosaic in 2022,
but when I was told about it, I was reminded of a vision of a mosaic which I received whilst
praying for the Jezreel Valley in December 2019.

In the vision I saw multitudes of smashed clay jars over the floor of the Jezreel Valley. Each jar
had its own distinctive pattern, but as the pieces lay over the Valley, they formed one large
mosaic. The willingness to be broken had brought about unity, but the unity was made up of
diverse and unique parts coming together as one. In other words, individuality had not been
destroyed; it was part of the picture.

The mosaic at Megiddo is made up of stones which testify that Jesus is God. We, Jew and
Gentile, are the living stones (1 Peter 2:5) who bear the same testimony. The Lord is breaking us
so that we might be “joined and knit together” (Ephesians 4:16). We are being fitted and built
together for a dwelling place of God, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Chief Cornerstone (Eph.
2:19-22).

Many pagan altars have been built at ancient Megiddo since the Early Bronze Age (3,300 BC). A
famous circular altar remains to this day, which was the focal point for generations of idolatry. It
was here that the Canaanites worshipped Baal, practiced fortune-telling and made animal
sacrifices. Today Megiddo attracts those who are involved in New Age and occult practices. In
contrast to this, we believe that the Lord is gathering an end-time army of worshippers and
intercessors from the nations to raise up a pure altar of prayer and worship at Megiddo. In this
way, we are preparing a spiritual highway for the return of the Lord and the revelation of His glory
to all people (Isaiah 40:3-5).