Can we experience a world wide Revivial in the last days:

Today and In following sessions, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will be talking about Revivial, first what does the Bible say about this important subject, and then what some of God’s servants such as Smith Wigglesworth have prophesied or what God has revealed to them in visions or dreams We will also be sharing examples of Heaven sent revivials in the past and how God sent Revivial in most unlikely places! In the session today I would like to continue to answer the question, “What does the Bible say about Revivial in the last days. In our last session among other things we quoted Is. 60:1-3,

““Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

We see in the above verses that in spite of great darkness coming over the face of the earth God’s light will shine and His glory will come over His people causing nations and kings to be saved. Dear Christian friend in these days as great darkness is covering the earth, in an age where society has departed far from God’s righteous laws, where many in the professing church have departed from the basic and fundamental truths of God’s Word let us not lose heart or become discouraged for it is in the midst of the darkness God’s light will shine and His glory will appear over us! The greatest revivial the world has ever experienced is in the near future!

As I begin my sermon today I want to read again the sermon of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost after that first great outpouring of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2:14-22:

“Peter stood up with the eleven apostles and shouted to the crowd. “Listen carefully, my fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem. You need to clearly understand what’s happening here. These people are not drunk like you think they are, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. This is the fulfillment of what was prophesied through the prophet Joel, for God says: ‘This is what I will do in the last days—I will pour out my Spirit on everybody and cause your sons and daughters to prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will experience dreams from God. The Holy Spirit will come upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy. I will reveal startling signs and wonders in the sky above and mighty miracles on the earth below. Blood and fire and pillars of clouds will appear. For the sun will be turned dark and the moon blood-red before that great and awesome appearance of the day of the Lord. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ””

Acts 2:14-21 TPT

The above verses speaks of a great Revivial coming in the last days where God will pour out His Spirit open all mankind. It was poured out initially on the day of Pentecost and sporadically throughout the church age but Peter here is speaking of a mighty outpouring that will affect all people before the return of Christ!

We have not yet seen the wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below and God’s Spirit poured out on the whole World.

In the last days which we read about in the book of Revelation we have glimpses of a great harvest of souls! We read this first in Revelation Ch. 6:1-4

“As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory. When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.”

Revelation 6:1-4 NLT

we read about the white horse and the red horse and in the proceeding other verses we read about the other horses. The red horse and the other proceeding horses depict God’s judgment coming upon the Earth. The white horse and its rider wearing a crown is depicting the Lord Jesus Christ. We see how He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory! This would indicate to us that in the midst of God’s judgments we will see great victories won for Christ or in the midst of great darkness upon the nations God’s light and glory will rest upon His people and many souls will be rescued from the god of this world and won for Jesus Christ.

In Rev. 7:9-14 we read of a great multitude so large that no one could count coming out of the great tribulation. Who was this great multitude that was so very great that it could not be numbered? Let us read John’s account of this found in Rev. 7:9-14 and I am reading from “The Passion Translation”

“After this I looked, and behold, right in front of me I saw a vast multitude of people—an enormous multitude so huge that no one could count—made up of victorious ones from every nation, tribe, people group, and language. They were all in glistening white robes, standing before the throne and before the Lamb with palm branches in their hands. And they shouted out with a passionate voice: “Salvation belongs to our God seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” All the angels were standing in a circle around the throne with the elders and the four living creatures, and they all fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing: “Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these in glistening white robes, and where have they come from?” I answered, “My lord—you must know.” Then he said to me, “They are ones who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and have emerged from the midst of great pressure and ordeal. For this reason they are before the throne of God, ministering to him as priests day and night, within his cloud-filled sanctuary. And the enthroned One spreads over them his tabernacle-shelter. Their souls will be completely satisfied. And neither the sun nor any scorching heat will affect them. For the Lamb at the center of the throne continuously shepherds them unto life—guiding them to the everlasting fountains of the water of life. And God will wipe from their eyes every last tear!””

In the Weymouth New Testament Rev. 7:14 is translated in the following way:

“My lord, you know,” I replied. “They are those,” he said, “who have just passed through the great distress, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

In the “Good News Translation” Rev. 7:14 is translated in the following way:

“I don’t know, sir. You do,” I answered. He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.

The Greek word “thlipseos” that is translated tribulation in the King James Version can also be translated affliction, distress or persecution

Is it possible that the above account would imply that a world wide revival will occur before Jesus returns? That In response to the testimony and ministry of Spirit filled men and women of God a vast multitude from every tribe, nation, people group and language will come to faith in Christ in spite of great trials, difficulties and persecution and perhaps even martyrdom.

The following is an article written by David R Reagan-Herald of His Coming that I felt was very good and I quote:

Signs of the last days, Coming Persecution:

“… Jesus said that as lawlessness increases, “most people’s love will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). He stated that many professing Christians will “fall away” and will proceed to cooperate in the persecution of their former brothers and sisters in Christ (Matt. 24:10). Paul indicates the same thing when he says that people will be “haters of good” and that they will therefore be “brutal” and “reckless,” reviling those who stand for righteousness (2 Tim. 3:2-5).

… As our culture has secularized and paganized, Christianity, the church and Christians have come under increasing attack as “intolerant bigots.” The attacks are going to intensify, and it will become increasingly difficult for Christians to stand for righteousness. Jobs will be lost. Careers will be destroyed. Christians will even be sent to prison for speaking out against evils …” end of quote.

The following account as found in Luke 21:9-19 are some indication of trials that God’s people will have to go through before the return of Christ:

And I quote:

“And because you follow me, you will be on trial before kings and governmental leaders as an opportunity to testify to them in my name.

Yet determine in your hearts not to prepare for your own defense. Simply speak with the words of wisdom that I will give you that moment, and none of your persecutors will be able to withstand the grace and wisdom that comes from your mouths. “There will also be many wars and revolutions on every side, with rumors of more wars to come. Don’t panic or give in to your fears, for these things are bound to happen. This is still not the end yet.” Jesus continued, “ There will be upheavals of every kind. Nations will go to war against each other and kingdom against kingdom— and there will be terrible earthquakes, seismic events of epic proportion, resulting in famines in one place after another. There will be horrible plagues and epidemics, cataclysmic storms on the earth, and astonishing signs and cosmic disturbances in the heavens. But before all of this happens, you will be hunted down and arrested, persecuted by both civil and religious authorities, and thrown into prison.

“You can expect betrayal even by your parents, your brothers, your relatives and friends—and yes, some of you will die as martyrs.

“You will be hated by all because of my life in you.”

But don’t worry. My grace will never desert you or depart from your life. And by standing firm with patient endurance you will find your souls’ deliverance.””

Luke 21:9-19 TPT

In this last verse we are encouraged to stand firm in these dark days, and not to worry for God’s grace will not depart from us for as we endure it will be for our soul’s deliverance.

These extreme tests will cause the chaff to be separated from the wheat, the true believers to be separated from the false believers and they will be proved and purified. We read in Prov. 17:3 TPT (“In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire, the Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life.”

Also in Is. 48:10:

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.

Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. (Isaiah 48:10 NLT)

And in Mal.3:3:

He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. (Malachi 3:3 NLT)

Precious metals are purified when they go through great heat. In the same way we who are God’s children are prepared to be powerful witnesses for Jesus Christ when we go through the fires of persecution and suffering!

Revival will not just drop from the sky! In a sense there is a price that we must pay in order for God to send Revivial. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read of what is God’s formula for revival,

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NKJV)

Can we Experience Revivial in the Last Days:

As I begin my sermon today I want to read again the words of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost after that first great outpouring of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2:14-22:

“Peter stood up with the eleven apostles and shouted to the crowd. “Listen carefully, my fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem. You need to clearly understand what’s happening here. These people are not drunk like you think they are, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. This is the fulfillment of what was prophesied through the prophet Joel, for God says: ‘This is what I will do in the last days—I will pour out my Spirit on everybody and cause your sons and daughters to prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will experience dreams from God. The Holy Spirit will come upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy. I will reveal startling signs and wonders in the sky above and mighty miracles on the earth below. Blood and fire and pillars of clouds will appear. For the sun will be turned dark and the moon blood-red before that great and awesome appearance of the day of the Lord. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ””

Acts 2:14-21 TPT

The above verses speaks of a great Revivial coming in the last days where God will pour out His Spirit open all mankind. It was poured out initially on the day of Pentecost and sporadically throughout the church age but Peter here is speaking of a mighty outpouring that will affect all people before the return of Christ!

We have not yet seen the wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below and God’s Spirit poured out on the whole World.

In the last days which we read about in the book of Revelation we have glimpses of a great harvest of souls! We read this first in Revelation Ch. 6:1-4

“As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory. When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.”

Revelation 6:1-4 NLT

we read about the white horse and the red horse and in the proceeding other verses we read about the other horses. The red horse and the other proceeding horses depict God’s judgment coming upon the Earth. The white horse and its rider wearing a crown is depicting the Lord Jesus Christ. We see how He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory! This would indicate to us that in the midst of God’s judgments we will see great victories won for Christ or in the midst of great darkness upon the nations God’s light and glory will rest upon His people and many souls will be rescued from the god of this world and won for Jesus Christ.

In Rev. 7:9-14 we read of a great multitude so large that no one could count coming out of the great tribulation. Who was this great multitude that was so very great that it could not be numbered? Let us read John’s account of this found in Rev. 7:9-14 and I am reading from “The Passion Translation”

“After this I looked, and behold, right in front of me I saw a vast multitude of people—an enormous multitude so huge that no one could count—made up of victorious ones from every nation, tribe, people group, and language. They were all in glistening white robes, standing before the throne and before the Lamb with palm branches in their hands. And they shouted out with a passionate voice: “Salvation belongs to our God seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” All the angels were standing in a circle around the throne with the elders and the four living creatures, and they all fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing: “Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these in glistening white robes, and where have they come from?” I answered, “My lord—you must know.” Then he said to me, “They are ones who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and have emerged from the midst of great pressure and ordeal. For this reason they are before the throne of God, ministering to him as priests day and night, within his cloud-filled sanctuary. And the enthroned One spreads over them his tabernacle-shelter. Their souls will be completely satisfied. And neither the sun nor any scorching heat will affect them. For the Lamb at the center of the throne continuously shepherds them unto life—guiding them to the everlasting fountains of the water of life. And God will wipe from their eyes every last tear!””

In the Weymouth New Testament Rev. 7:14 is translated in the following way:

“My lord, you know,” I replied. “They are those,” he said, “who have just passed through the great distress, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

In the “Good News Translation” Rev. 7:14 is translated in the following way:

“I don’t know, sir. You do,” I answered. He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.

The Greek word “thlipseos” that is translated tribulation in the King James Version can also be translated affliction, distress or persecution

Is it possible that the above account would imply that a world wide revival will occur before Jesus returns? That In response to the testimony and ministry of Spirit filled men and women of God a vast multitude from every tribe, nation, people group and language will come to faith in Christ in spite of great trials, difficulties and persecution and perhaps even martyrdom.

These extreme tests will cause the chaff to be separated from the wheat, the true believers to be separated from the false believers and they will be proved and purified. We read in Prov. 17:3 TPT (“In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire, the Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life.”

Also in Is. 48:10:

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.

Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. (Isaiah 48:10 NLT)

And in Mal.3:3:

He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. (Malachi 3:3 NLT)

Precious metals are purified when they go through great heat. In the same way we who are God’s children are prepared to be powerful witnesses for Jesus Christ when we go through the fires of persecution and suffering! The following account as found in Luke 21:16-19 are some indication of trials we may have to go through:

““You can expect betrayal even by your parents, your brothers, your relatives and friends—and yes, some of you will die as martyrs. You will be hated by all because of my life in you. But don’t worry. My grace will never desert you or depart from your life. And by standing firm with patient endurance you will find your souls’ deliverance.””

Luke 21:16-19 TPT

Revival will not just drop from the sky! In a sense there is a price that we must pay in order for God to send Revivial. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read of what is God’s formula for revival,

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NKJV)

Shall we pray:

Revivial

Revivial with Smith Wigglesworth, Duncan Campbell, Evan Roberts, William J. Seymour and many others: session 2

Dear Christian friend in these days as great darkness is covering the earth in an age where society has departed far from God’s righteous laws, where many in the professing church have departed from the basic and fundamental truths of God’s Word Can we expect to see a greater move of God’s Spirit than has ever experienced before! are you earnestly seeking God for Revivial and asking Him for a mighty move of His Spirit!

God’s Word warns us of a time of great backsliding in 2Thess. 2:1-4:

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV

We read in Isaiah 24 of a great destruction coming upon the face of the Earth but in the midst of the destruction a remnant of God’ people remain and proclaim the Gospel, and God’s glory and majesty to the ends of the Earth

“The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.”

Isaiah 24:4-6 NLT

But in the midst of this destruction we hear the shouts of joy and victory and God’s people praising the Lord throughout the ends of the Earth. We read this in verses 13-16 of the same chapter and I quote:

“Throughout the earth the story is the same— only a remnant is left, like the stray olives left on the tree or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest. But all who are left shout and sing for joy. Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty. In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord. In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One!…

Isaiah 24:13-16 NLT

The following is a comment on the above verses from Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary:

“There is now a church there refined by the judgment, and rejoicing in its apostolic calling to the whole world. “They will lift up their voice, and exult; for the majesty of Jehovah they shout from the sea: therefore praise ye Jehovah in the lands of the sun, in the islands of the sea the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.” The ground and subject of the rejoicing is “the majesty of Jehovah,” i.e., the fact that Jehovah had shown Himself so majestic in judgment and mercy (Isaiah 12:5-6), and was now so manifest in His glory (Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:17).

We see in the following verses found in Is. 60:1-3 that in spite of great darkness coming over the face of the earth God’s light will shine and His glory will come over His people causing nations and kings to be saved.

And I quote:

““Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

(NIV)

The following verse found in Hab 2:14 indicates that there is coming a time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to such an extent as the waters cover the sea. This will come when mankind will turn from their sin and rebellion and honor Jesus Christ as Lord.

“For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”

Habakkuk 2:14

In Zechariah 10:1 and in James ch.5:7-8 we read about the former and latter rain.

I quote first from Zechariah 10:1:

“Ask the LORD for rain

In the time of the latter rain.

The LORD will make flashing clouds;

He will give them showers of rain,

Grass in the field for everyone

(NKJV)

And then I quote from James ch. 5:7-8

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

James 5:7-8 NKJV

In Israel there are two seasons of the year in which the rain falls abundantly. In the latter part of October and early November come the former rains.

The second downpour comes in the spring in the latter part of March and the first part of April. The October-November rains are called the former rain, and the March-April rains are called the latter rain. The former rain falls after the sowing time in order to germinate the seed. The latter rain falls toward the end of the season in order to help ripen the grain and prepare it for harvesting.

We could use the analogy of the former and latter rain in connection with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The initial outpouring on the day of Pentecost was the former rain that which we read from the prophecy of Joel and that which was repeated by the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost that there is coming in the last days even a greater outpouring that would affect all mankind, this we could call the latter rain. This would imply that in the last days great multitudes will be saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit!

In the above verse in Zech 10:1 we read that in the time of the latter rain we are to ask for rain. We see showers here and there but God wants to give us much more but we have a responsibility to meet the conditions and one of the conditions is to ask!

Dear Christian friend in these days as great darkness is covering the earth in an age where society has departed far from God’s righteous laws, where many in the professing church have departed from the basic and fundamental truths of God’s Word are you earnestly seeking God for Revivial and asking Him for a mighty move of His Spirit!