Matt.4:14-16 – This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:
“THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”

Matt.4:25 – Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

The Lord has brought seasons of awakening as long as there has been people on earth. The most amazing one began at the appearance of Jesus the Messiah. His preaching accompanied by the power of signs and wonders began an awakening in Israel that spread through the world. The word in Isaiah said that in a time of darkness the light of God would break through for an incredible awakening. We saw it begin with the ministry of Jesus and followed for a generation by his disciples.
Today that darkness has settled in our land and is trying to extinguish the light. That cannot happen. The Lord is again raising up a generation of light carriers to push back the darkness. Here is something Jonathan Edwards said about this in 1735, the light carried by revival effected the emerging nation we know as America.

“and the last thing I shall mention that makes a professing people to be as a city set on an hill, is a remarkable influence that they, or anything in them, has had upon others; when either their extraordinary profession, or any extraordinary work of God among them, has had a great and remarkable influence on others round about, to make a great alteration among them, to awaken them and reform them, and to cause religion to flourish among them. This does remarkably tend to draw the eyes of the world on such a people or society. So it was with respect to the disciples and primitive Christians. God wonderfully poured out his Spirit on them, which was of great influence on others through all parts of the then-known world. They were made the means of others in vast multitudes being awakened and converted.”

So that is still the plan of God, to awaken those in darkness to be the vessels He shines His light through. Our nation is dark, many of this generation have moved away from the claims of Christ. The good news is that it is not finished yet, the light always prevails and the Lord will have the final word.