Rochester, New York: The I-90 Prophecy – A Word by Steve Porter

In the summer of 2011, I heard the Lord say that there would be hot spots of His glory ablaze in America. I sensed that special cities would have open heavens where His manifest presence would dwell. I sensed that for those who are ready and eager for it, a holy visitation is coming to special cities across both America and Canada.

I had never heard the term, “Hot spots of My glory,” until that morning, so I asked the Lord for further clarification and revelation on the subject. As a result, He gave me a vision of a map/grid with several lights on it. Then He said, “In the end-times, entire cities will be lighthouses that will reflect My glory.” I could plainly see towns and cities that were represented by a light on the grid.

I live in the great city of Rochester, New York, and for some time, I have sensed a very special presence building within my city. In other words, I anticipate a “hot spot” or a “resting place” for the King of all glory to call His home. I also sensed that the Lord was eager to set whole churches free from the intellectual spirit that runs rampant in places where the Spirit of God is bound, hindered and has been replaced.

“There will be outpourings popping up in unexpected places, a divine visitation on the college campuses, for even in the bowels of the city, there will be signs and wonders that will shake entire communities to the core.”

Darren Canning and I recently were headed to a conference at The Salvation of God Church in East Rochester with Pastors Patrick & Susan G. O’Marra. All at once, the tangible presence of God filled the car as Darren saw a vision of two young lions hovering in the clouds over Rochester.

Sure enough, there they were in plain view. Two lions prophetically declaring Rochester as a City of fire crowned with the very glory of God! As Darren shared this powerful word at the meeting, there was a strong witness in the Spirit that indeed Rochester was a city targeted by the radar of the Lord. He was up to something and we were excited!

God, in His Rightful Place

At the conference, I released a short word about the Lord moving toward Rochester asking if He could find a place to rest. He was cautiously approaching the region, and as He arrived at the door of the city, He gently knocked, asking if He could take His rightful place if He could come in and rest awhile.

In particular, He asked for permission to come to the meeting at The Salvation of God Church of East Rochester where He might come and rest for an extended period of time. He didn’t request a quick visitation but a long-term habitation for His glory. Little did I know that years earlier, Bob Jones had released a similar word, saying that the Lord wanted to come and rest within the city and that beautiful church in particular.

The Lord has just begun His mighty work in Rochester, intending that it would be a city on a hill shaken like a tree by a mighty wind. In fact, He would shake all that could be shaken and that would lead to a powerful move of the Spirit that would forever change many lives.

I sensed the Lord saying that the Spirit of God once again wanted to hover over the face of the deep as He did in Genesis this time over the Great Lakes and they would ultimately reflect His glory, like dawn rising over clear, glistening water. I can still see the Lord hovering over a map of special cities that surrounded the Great Lakes in both the US and Canada, including Rochester.

The Spirit of God Hovering Over the Great Lakes

To my Canadian friends, this word is for you as well, as I believe the Spirit of God is hovering over the face of the Great Lakes making His way to special cities. I have much intercession invested in Canada. For over 30 years, I walked the beaches of Lake Erie when I lived in Ohio extending my hands toward Ontario declaring, “REVIVAL come!”

I have prayed, fasted and wept for more hours than I could count for revival to come to Canada. London and Saint Thomas, Ontario in particular has been on my heart. In September of 2017, we plan to travel to Canada to take part in revival meetings in Ontario 30 years’ worth of prayers being answered.

When Holy Spirit comes, the Lord will hover over the darkness of cities and the Son will shine with the light of glory so bright that it will make some people cover their eyes. He also wants to use Rochester as a City on a Hill to be a light to the world. Would Rochester become that “resting place” of His presence where He would overwhelm the masses with the tangible love of God?

Would they humble themselves, walking softly before Him and giving Him all the glory? Would they yield to the Spirit and lay down their pre-conceived ideas and agendas, thus enabling the Lord to do His work in unconventional ways using whoever He chooses? Would there be a city set aflame with God’s glory and signs and wonders following?

Rochester, a Land Ripe With Revival

Revival is not new to this area. In fact, a series of powerful revivals began to blow through the Northeast in what eventually came to be known as Charles Finney’s “Nine Mighty Years” of evangelism. Like a wild, uncontrollable fire, it spread to Evans Mill, Antwerp, Rome, Utica, Auburn, Troy, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City. But it was in 1830 that a most mighty move of God eclipsed all others in the city of Rochester, New York.

When Charles Finney arrived in Rochester, it was a bustling commercial hub, located near the newly finished Erie Canal. The anointing on Finney’s meetings was such that often the entire business district closed down to attend his meetings. In fact, huge crowds followed him from church to church to hear him preach.

From Finney’s memoirs we read:

“It was soon seen that the Lord was aiming at the conversion of the highest classes of society. My meetings soon became thronged with that class…As the revival swept through the town, and converted the great mass of the most influential people, both men and women, the change in the order, sobriety, and morality of the city was wonderful.”

A Rochester native and a convert during the Finney revival, Charles P. Bush later commented:

“The whole community was stirred. Religion was the topic of conversation in the house, in the shop, in the office and on the street…Grog shops were closed, the Sabbath was honored, the sanctuaries were thronged with happy worshippers…There was a wonderful falling off of crime. The courts had little to do, and the jail was nearly empty for years afterward.”

“I also sensed that the Lord was eager to set whole churches free from the intellectual spirit that runs rampant in places where the Spirit of God is bound, hindered and has been replaced.”

History records that at the Rochester revival, “the place was shaken to its foundations.” As a result of that event, over forty of Finney’s new converts entered the ministry and at least 1,500 other revivals broke out in the surrounding area. When Finney heard that, he humbly gave all the glory to God.

Charles Finney was not the only one God raised up to make a mark on the region over the years. Those who operated under different but equally-powerful anointing included: George Whitefield, Ivan Q. Spencer, Wade Taylor, and John Wright Follette who all impacted the surrounding region with the Holy Spirit.

Stirring Up Revival Again

Could it be that the Lord is once again up to something in Rochester? I see this city as a light on the map, one of the cities in the Great Lakes area that God will use during the next powerful Great Lakes revival. He is moving into New York state, slowly walking up Route 90 and yearning to visit His city once again, desiring to shake communities with the raw power of God; to bring the lost home, heal the sick, cast out demons, and shake the Church.

He desires to stop at Buffalo, NY to breathe on the Church afresh, to make Buffalo “a city of light” reflecting His glory with signs and wonders. There will be outpourings popping up in unexpected places, a divine visitation on the college campuses, for even in the bowels of the city, there will be signs and wonders that will shake entire communities to the core.

Right now, He’s moving east toward Rochester searching for a place where He can “rest awhile” where He can linger and feel welcome to stay for an extended time. But will the welcome mat be out and ready when He comes? Will Rochester be eager for His arrival, setting aside all else to make Him feel at home?

I see Jesus searching for those who will once again humble themselves and prepare for revival. This revival will even be carried into Syracuse, Utica, and Albany. Syracuse, you shall have a prophetic flow that will abound with great words of knowledge and wisdom that will astound even the unsaved.

Utica will see a healing revival with many healings and miracles, creative miracles being poured out. Albany will see a revival focusing on the creative arts, dance, as well as prophetic art, and film and drama. Powerful worship is coming forth and it will touch nations with the very atmosphere of Heaven.

This liberal state will be shaken to the core and those who spoke words of death declaring that God couldn’t move here will stand in awe at the mighty hand of God blowing once again on this beautiful state.

Every revival recorded in the Word reveals a mighty and intentional return of the lost and the backslidden to God, who said that if we will turn back to Him, He will once again light the fire. Fire desires to come to New York state! Will we welcome it?

In Malachi 3:7, we read: “‘Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

May revival blow on Rochester once again to awaken our churches. The Lord wants revival more than we do! Will we return to Him whom our souls loves? Let there be a movement and not just a quick meeting that ends just as swiftly. The Lord is making His way toward Rochester, right now! He is headed toward the gates of the city. Will we let the King of Glory in? Let it be so! Amen and amen! here.

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