For months, we’ve been hearing all the details of the antisemitic, pro-Palestinian protests being held on college campuses from coast to coast—replete not only with calls for the genocide of the Israeli people, but with acts of vandalism and violence, not to mention chaotic clashes with the police. It has been depressing.

But on the flip side — even though mainstream media outlets have ignored them — we have been seeing the following events taking place simultaneously. Revival is breaking out on college campuses around our nation.

On February 16, thousands of Florida State University students gathered, confessed their sins, and turned to the Lord. The next day, hundreds stepped forward, publicly declared their faith, and were baptized in the school water fountain.

But this was not an isolated event. On March 28, thousands of students gathered at the University of Alabama, hungry and thirsty for the Lord, and hundreds surrendered their lives to Him. They were immediately baptized in a fountain on campus.

Darkness and Light Are Rising Simultaneously

Look back at the seeds sown through the Asbury Revival last year that are now bearing fruit. What started as a 50-minute prayer session blossomed into a 16-day prayer meeting that drew people from all over the nation and has stirred young people everywhere to go deeper in God.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Auburn University also began tasting the goodness of the Lord around that time. Their students — our rising generation — are being ignited by the fire of the Lord. I believe there are many more pockets of renewal that will never make even our Christian press reports.

As we look at these two conflicting themes – riots and revival on our American campuses — we could get confused. How can such chaos and such beauty coexist in one short season?

I would say they are actually connected. God is moving in this hour. Even as wickedness and destruction are rearing their ugly heads in a greater way — specifically as it relates to antisemitism — God is pouring out His Spirit on the next generation of Christian leaders, teaching them to bold and courageous in the midst of antichrist spirits that will get even louder in the future.

“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.” (Joel 2:28–29)

What’s Next?

Jesus told His disciples what to expect before the end of the age.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24: 9-14)

It is no coincidence that these revivals are happening at the same time that Israel and the Jewish people are experiencing great warfare and tribulation. The prophetic clock is ticking, and we are seeing more pressure being released on the earth. I believe God is preparing the Church to fight for and stand with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel — so He is rekindling the fire in the Church, specifically within our young people, preparing their hearts for what is to come.

Two spirits. One generation. One country. Darkness versus light. Riots versus revival.

Investing to See Jesus Get His Full Reward

Ultimately, we are in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

This is the current state of our college campuses. But we do not lose hope, because as the darkness is getting darker, the light is shining more brightly. Just as Jesus promised in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Over the last few years, I’ve had a growing burden to see the young generation rise up to be the leaders we need in the next season of our nation. Christians Engaged has started an initiative to equip people between the ages of 16 and 30, challenging them to pray for our nation, to vote in every election, and to educate themselves as they get involved in the fight. For example, we are taking 26 young adults to Washington, D.C. We’ll also have at least 100 of them come to our national Christians Engaged conference and we have hired a new young adult outreach director to mentor them through our on-demand video classes on civic engagement, justice, and economics, and even how to run for office.

God is on the move, and we in the Body of Christ need to invest in young leaders. It is time for us to stand in the gap for revival to see Gen Z rise to overcome the darkness that is seeking to prevail in their generation.

Bunni Pounds is president and founder of Christians Engaged, a ministry activating the Body of Christ to pray, vote, and engage regularly. Formerly a congressional candidate and 16-year political consultant, she is a motivational speaker and Bible teacher. Her book, Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession, was released in February 2024. Order it now. She also is the host of “Conversations With Christians Engaged,” seen here on The Stream each week. Connect with her on Facebook @bunnipoundsTX, X @bunnipounds, or Instagram @bunnipounds.