All this month, I've been sharing posts on Bible prophecy. And for June's final memo, I'm sharing what may be my favorite prophetic topic of all. Earth's Final Revival. It's what inspires me and keeps my hope strong day by day. May it do the same for you...



There are many important prophecies in the book of Revelation: The Beast, The False Prophet, the Mark of the Beast, and Armageddon. There are the two women, and the two witnesses. The prophecies of the seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and more. They are all fascinating and important topics. And we cover several of these in our Prophecy: Fact or Fiction class.

If your church has conducted a prophecy series recently, for your community, the speaker probably touched on many, or all of these subjects.

But there is one prophecy he likely skipped over. And it may well be the most important prophecy in the whole book. When my mind skims through the contents of Revelation--I can't help but be drawn to one specific prediction. It stands out like a mountain peak, dwarfing all those other topics:

Revelation 18:1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

It is an amazing prophecy, isn't it? These words point forward to a time of great spiritual light and power. An awakening, an enlightenment, a refreshing of God's people. It's the last great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Earth's final revival. And it's just ahead for God's people.

The next few verses, confirm the timing of it. A quick look at Revelation 19 makes it clear this revival takes place before the second coming of Jesus. And more specifically, Revelation 18:4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. suggests it will be shortly before the door of mercy closes for planet earth--while people still have the ability to come out of Babylon and choose Christ. And that this revival, in fact, is what powers the last warning call to the world, given just before the plagues begin to fall.

Anyone who believes the return of Christ is near, has to conclude this final revival is even closer!

Of course, this is not the only place this great revival is mentioned. Habakkuk points to a time when "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.). Isaiah predicts a time when God will say to his people "arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.). Ezekiel foretells a time when God promises to "put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.). Micah describes a time "in the last days" when "the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it" (Micah 4:1-21 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.). And then there's the promise in the book of Joel: "it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit" (Joel 2:28-2928 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.).

This list is hardly exhaustive. The Old Testament prophetic books are full of many similar promises. They point repeatedly to a time of spiritual blessing, and great victory for God's people. Don't you long for that day to come?



I've definitely been looking forward to this revival for a long time: studying, praying, and researching it at every opportunity, for years. Because of its vital importance in Bible prophecy, I've been both intentional and focused on understanding everything about it I can. My first book (For Such A Time), in fact, was written on this very subject.

And my longing for this revival today, is just as strong as it was then...

Something is Different

Ultimately my studies have brought me to the conclusion this revival will be unlike any of the other revivals that have come before in the history of the Christian church. Past revivals have all had one thing in common: they have come and gone. They burn brightly in some specific spot for a time, then fade away. They may spread a bit, or last a time. But inevitably they've always fizzled out.

The final revival will be different. It starts somewhere, maybe several places at once--but then it burns steadily. Rather than dissipating, it actually strengthens. Even more, it starts to spread from place to place, until little by little, the whole world is swallowed up. Like a raging fire, it will be impossible to contain or control, until every nook and cranny of this planet is consumed. A large percentage of the world's population will refuse this blessing, but no one will escape it impact.



And even then, as probation begins to close, and God's people go through the final scenes of testing described in Revelation, this revival will not dim one bit, but rather continue to grow brighter and stronger. Actually, it is this outpouring of the Spirit that prepares God's people for the impending crisis. Rather than being limited to one location, or one point in time, or one speaker, or one event--this revival will become a global movement of unthinkable power...

The Implication

The implication of all this, is that for God's people to participate in this kind of outpouring, they are going to have to understand revival more fully. They are going to need to learn how to cooperate with God more completely. To grasp the dynamics of being Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered. They will need to become more intelligent about what true revival is and how it works. On the one hand they must know how to deadbolt the door against every kind of fanaticism. But on the other, they must know how to give the Holy Spirit unfettered access to the heart. They will have to understand how to safeguard the experience, nurture it, cultivate it, deepen it, and ultimately, communicate it to others. They will need to know how to become spiritually contagious.

To experience this revival, to participate fully in this prophesied outpouring of the Spirit, they are going to have to understand more fully how the Holy Spirit works. Only then can God trust us with this kind of power...

To put it differently, earth's final revival:

Is not going to happen by accident or chance
Is not going to be mere emotionalism
Is not just some transitory spiritual high
Is not going to come and then fade away
Is not going to be tied to some speaker
Is not going to be limited to one location
Is not going to fizzle out or dissipate

Rather, it will be pursued intelligently. It will be principle-based, firmly rooted in Scripture. It is going to produce genuine repentance and life transformation. And it is going to persist. In fact, it will only grow stronger and stronger. And it is going to spread, rapidly. Ultimately, it will be given without measure (John 3:34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.).

Yes, it's going to be a different kind of revival than anything we have seen yet. But it's exactly the kind of revival we need today!

The Time is Now

Years ago, I stumbled on to a small booklet on Revival and Reformation--and it had a great impact on my life. It actually started my thinking along these lines. It makes clear this topic is important.

A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of
all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. (I SM, p 121).

It also suggests this is something God's people can, and must, learn:

The old standard bearers knew what it was to wrestle with God in
prayer, and to enjoy the outpouring of His Spirit. But these are passing
off from the stage of action; and who are coming up to fill their places?
How is it with the rising generation? (I SM, p 122).

And while the enemy may attempt to oppose us, if we master these principles at last, revival is certain:

There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation. If Satan had his way, there would never be another awakening, great or small, to the end of time. But we are not ignorant of his devices. It is possible to resist his power. When the way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come.

These quotations give me bright hope for the future.

So let's ask for this final revival. Intelligently, and in faith--knowing it is time for the Spirit of God to be poured out on His people. Let's seek to understand more clearly how the Holy Spirit works, so we can cooperate more fully with God, and give Him more complete sway in our life. Let's seek to study the dynamics of revival, how to pursue it, preserve it, and propagate it. And let's be persevering in our quest for revival, that we can be part of that group who experiences this amazing time of blessing and power promised to God's endtime people!

Comments

How excited are you about earth's final revival? Do you feel ready to receive this blessing? What areas of your life would you like to strengthen to better fit you for this outpouring? Share a thought or two in the comments below.

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