I would not be surprised at such a revival. Where sin abounds grace abounds even more.
God Owes You Nothing
- Thread starter Major
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Now, allow me to make an important fact.
In its truest form, a revival can only happen among believers, since it is a restoration to life.
Many people assume In common usage, that the word revival often refers to any large-scale response to evangelism in which new converts are made. The Bible does predict times of turning to the Lord, but probably not in the sense that many people expect.
During the times we live today which is the Church Age, there has been a great revival—that is, a great influx of people into the kingdom of God, far more than there ever were in Old Testament times. If you lived in the time of the Old Testament and could see what we have today—Christians in every nation actively evangelizing and translating Scripture with the intent of reaching every tribe and language, you would probably call it an incredible revival far beyond anything you could have imagined.
The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, did not seem to think there would be a worldwide revival, either: .......
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. "
2 Tim. 3:2-5.........says that Rather than repenting in a worldwide revival,----
“people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power”.
In another epistle, 2 Thess. 2:3.........Paul again says that the last days will be characterized by apostasy, not revival: ....
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction”.
I read about a great coming to Jesus movement in Muslim countries, and in Africa and India. Some believe that we are in the midst of, or building up to, the greatest revival in the history of the Church. I would like nothing better than for God to do a great work and bring multitudes of people into the kingdom, and I pray toward that end daily. A wholesale turning to God on a global scale would change this world. But Scripture seems to say that, in the days leading up to the rapture, a worldwide revival is unlikely.
I see your point. Perhaps it might be worth distinguishing between revival (which you correctly say applies to church members) and an awakening, such as the Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th centuries (which involve evangelizing to the unsaved). One thing we can count on: every Church Age Elect Saint will be ready for the rapture when it occurs.
God bless ya brother.
owe us nothing but offers grace he told paul my grace is sufficient, the Bible also says where sin abound Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: some times His grace is on the Lost ..we could have been took out of this world in our lost condition ..but he extended grace gave us another chance ,, while its not saving grace its still grace . the divine favor
Thanks for the reply.
A "revival" is a spiritual reawakening in which a church is brought out of a state of dormancy or stagnation, resulting in changed lives and a renewed pursuit of personal righteousness. In one sense, revival can only happen among believers, since it is a restoration to life.
In common usage, however, the word revival often refers to any large-scale response to evangelism in which new converts are made.
I agree completely in your post of the 18th and 19th centuries of awakenings. Think how many have been saved since Jesus ascended.
The "Last Days" began when Jesus went back to heaven and now we live in the church age.
Just in my opinion, the only prophetic thing that needs to happen and fulfill Bible prophecy is the Rapture. That event will remove all born again believers who make up the church.
There will be NO born again believers on the earth at that time, only then there will be a great coming to Jesus movement around the world as billions realize that we (Christians) were right all along.
However, those that do come to Christ after the Rapture will NOT BE those who have heard the gospel and rejected Christ. (2 Thess. 2:10-12).
The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, did not seem to think there would be a worldwide revival, either.
In 1 Timothy 4:1-2 he wrote......
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron”.
Then in 2 Timothy 3:13, Rather than repenting in a worldwide revival Paul said......
“people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power”.
Then, something to consider is that If the Battle of Gog and Magog in Ez. 38-39 takes place during the Church Age, then we could see a revival of sorts in the aftermath of that conflict. The nations of the world will see God’s greatness and holiness demonstrated (Ezekiel 38:23). And, for Israel, specifically, there will be revival in Ez. 39:22 & 29........
“From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. . . . I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel”.
Hello Major;
My wife and I experienced a revival in the SF Bay Area back in 1997. There were those who attended that we prayed over, those who gave their life to Jesus.
But at the same time the believers were also ministered to including my wife and me. We haven't been to a revival since and it will always be an event we will never forget.
God bless you.
we call a great Church service a revival . the revival i was saved in went on for 4 weeks . great things happened besides me being saved . after it was over the church soon went in to decline . revived is the spirit of God quickening us how soon we forget paul wrote 2 Timothy 1:6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 peter 3 revival comes from with in i also think of the word refresh
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 peter 3 revival comes from with in i also think of the word refresh
Good to here!
I have experienced two such events.
Many years ago, .....I was invited to preach a revival in Taft Fl. at the 1st Baptist church. The pastor there was a friend of mine and I had known him for 30 years.
I had no advance knowledge of any problems in the church. I focused my sermons on "The Renewing of the Mind" from Romans 12.
I had no idea of a problem within the church but as time went on, I became aware that there was an older deacon there who thought his calling was to run the church and there had been an ongoing concern between him and the Pastor.
Well.....all was normal and there was no concern until Saturday nights service. When I gave the alter call, that old deacon was the 1st in line and every single person came forward to confess and repent. There was about 200 church members on their knees praying and crying and hugging each other. THAT is one revival I will never forget.
The 2nd time was on a Sunday morning service and I had really pounded the gospel. We had a rather large young peoples crowd then and again, unaware as I was, the young peoples teacher had been doing the same thing and on that day the Holy spirit moved and at the invitation......21 teenagers walked the isle. The whole church was shouting "Amen" and "Glory".
Those are events that are sealed in my memory.