On a recent hike, I looked up and saw vultures circling above the canyon where I was hiking. I sensed that I was watching something with a spiritual message. I paused my hike and watched the vultures.

Vultures have a highly developed sense of smell. Vultures circle overhead because they are searching for the scent of something that has died or will soon die and become their food. Their sense of smell is so sensitive that they can detect the scent of decaying flesh from as far as 8 miles away.

Jesus instructed His disciples to be observant of the signs of the times. He said, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather” (Matthew 24:28). The Lord wanted us to see where death is at work.

The smell of death is emanating in places like Ukraine and Gaza, along with other less notable places around the globe where the scent of death from wars and rumors of war are swirling upwards. Death is drawing spiritual vultures who will feed on the prey of those impacted by these conflicts.

Being prophetically sensitive requires that we look for goodness and peace, but the Lord also told us to look for spiritual vultures. These are people and companies that profit from death. They are always looking for another war. They come from various political affiliations and institutions and see death as a way to make a profit from war and the implements of war.

Seeing cultural vultures circling overhead is a sign for the Church, not something to be depressed about or confused. The Lord is revealing through the flight of vultures where He wants to bring resurrection life to what has died, either spiritually or physically.

Only the power of Jesus Christ can resurrect these fields of death into places where the Church will prosper in remarkable ways while ministering to people and nations who are living in dire and painful situations.