With shock and sympathy still resounding in the hearts and homes of millions worldwide following Saturday’s tragic plane crash that led to the end of a Polish political dynasty, news has emerged that the event had been earlier predicted in a land far afield – Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.

“I was in a vision and I saw where a balloon (aeroplane) was full of people,” Pastor TB Joshua of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations in Lagos, had declared on March 21st 2010 during a service that was broadcast live on his station Emmanuel TV. Joshua had earlier in January prophesied of a tragic event to come between Russia and one of her close neighbours, stating he would give further detail as the time of the incident approached. “It just lost control in the air and the balloon was looking for a place to land,” he described. “I'm seeing people that matter, government officials, they were inside the balloon,” he clarified some hours later in the second Sunday Service, a message also broadcast live. “Something happened in the air. They are innocent souls. Pray for them.” Yet another parabolic clue to the forthcoming incident was unveiled the following week on March 28th 2010. “I'm seeing a flag being brought down. Everybody should pray for this nation, for redemption.” Joshua described the flag saying that it had two colours, white being one of them.

These prophetic revelations were replayed to a sombre crowd at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations on Sunday 11th April 2010, the day following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of Poland’s president, first lady and numerous government officials. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a week of national mourning, the Polish flag being lowered to half-staff at the presidential palace, where shocked crowds gathered to lay flowers and light candles. The tragic irony of the incident lay in the fact that the 88-strong Polish state delegation including some of Poland's most important military and civilian leaders met their death as they were flying to commemorate the Katyn Massacre where 20,000 Polish soldiers were mercilessly murdered 70 years ago during the Second World War.

Explaining the prophetic ministry God had given to him, Joshua said, “Whatever message God has to send, He will send it through His servants, and give him full instructions what to say and do as a servant.” He drew the people’s attention back to the Biblical standard applied for determining whether or not a prophet’s revelations originate from above in Deuteronomy 18:20. “How shall we discover a cheat, a false prophet? If he gives any sign or foretells something to come and the event is not according to his prediction, we may be sure he is not God-sent…We should let the world know when we speak of God or when we speak for ourselves - because God is not a man.”

T.B. Joshua is well known for the consistency in accuracy of his numerous predictions, as well as his extensive charitable activities. His Christian television station Emmanuel TV is becoming somewhat of a spiritual phenomenon within many African nations.