Many people in the church today think that God is bringing revival to America. They point to mega-churches led by Rick Warren or Joel Osteen. Some point to large revivals such as the Toronto Blessing or the Pensacola Outpouring. Still others refer to miracle workers like Benny Hinn or Rodney Howard-Browne and point out the extraordinary anointing on these men as signs that God is bringing revival to America. But are these the types of signs we should expect to see in the Last Days? I would say, “yes” and “no.” Allow me to explain.
In the first place God does not normally bring about revival to an unrepentant, stiff-necked rebellious people. He brings judgment. It is in the midst of judgment that people finally see their sins and wake-up. It is after the wrath of God is poured out on a nation and after He purges the sin from his people that revival and repentance take place. Revival doesn’t normally take place before judgment it takes place as the result of judgment. So what are all these so-called ministers and movements actually signs of? They are signs of the very judgment of God upon our nation.
We always hear end-times preachers talk about “wars and rumors of war,” “nations rising against nations,” “earthquakes and famines” but what they often leave out are the verses that talk about the rise of false prophets. Jesus’ own words clearly warn throughout the Olivet Discourse that not only will there be great upheaval in the nations and in the earth but also that false Christ’s and false prophets will abound. As a matter of fact this is the very first sign Jesus gave to the disciples when they asked him, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Jesus answered and said,
Again in verses 10-11 Jesus says,
And once more in verse 24,
False prophets are signs of judgment not revival. You might ask, “Then why are so many people flocking to these churches and revivals if God is not in them?” The answer is found in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah says it is because the people love to have it this way. You see, Jeremiah spoke of this same problem in Israel right before the nation was judged by God. Jeremiah’s message was a message of judgment. He said,
The reason these revivals are full of people is because the false prophet always tells the wicked culture exactly what they want to hear. The false prophet never speaks of judgment they only speak of “peace and safety” (i.e. Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11, 14:13, 23:17, 28:9; Ezekiel 13:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Paul told Timothy that, “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3). The false prophet tells the culture what they want to hear. The culture wants to have their ears tickled and so they run to all the revivals and churches that speak in accordance with their own desires. This is not a sign of revival it is a sign of judgment.
A culture that has turned from God seeks health, wealth, prosperity, miracles and healings from any pulpit that will preach it. But Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign” (i.e. Matthew 12:38, 16:4). We are that wicked and adulterous generation. When Paul was speaking to the Thessalonians he warned them saying,
You see, false prophets and counterfeit revivals are signs but not of revival they are sure signs of eminent judgment. And why is this? It is because the people “refuse to love the truth,” “delight in wickedness,” “will not endure sound doctrine,” “want to have their ears tickled,” “seek after miraculous signs” and “love to have it so.” “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie…”
The full quote from Jeremiah 5:30-31 includes a question,
What will we do at the end of it? I believe the answer for us is the answer that Paul gave to Timothy when he was speaking along the same lines. He said, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). In other words, do what you are supposed to do as a Christian. Hold fast to the truth. Do not give in to the deception. Recognize the signs of the times. Keep yourself holy and free of sin. Judgment is coming…and then revival if you can endure to the end.
In the first place God does not normally bring about revival to an unrepentant, stiff-necked rebellious people. He brings judgment. It is in the midst of judgment that people finally see their sins and wake-up. It is after the wrath of God is poured out on a nation and after He purges the sin from his people that revival and repentance take place. Revival doesn’t normally take place before judgment it takes place as the result of judgment. So what are all these so-called ministers and movements actually signs of? They are signs of the very judgment of God upon our nation.
We always hear end-times preachers talk about “wars and rumors of war,” “nations rising against nations,” “earthquakes and famines” but what they often leave out are the verses that talk about the rise of false prophets. Jesus’ own words clearly warn throughout the Olivet Discourse that not only will there be great upheaval in the nations and in the earth but also that false Christ’s and false prophets will abound. As a matter of fact this is the very first sign Jesus gave to the disciples when they asked him, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Jesus answered and said,
“See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:4-5).
Again in verses 10-11 Jesus says,
“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”
And once more in verse 24,
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
False prophets are signs of judgment not revival. You might ask, “Then why are so many people flocking to these churches and revivals if God is not in them?” The answer is found in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah says it is because the people love to have it this way. You see, Jeremiah spoke of this same problem in Israel right before the nation was judged by God. Jeremiah’s message was a message of judgment. He said,
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so!” (Jeremiah 5:30-31a)
The reason these revivals are full of people is because the false prophet always tells the wicked culture exactly what they want to hear. The false prophet never speaks of judgment they only speak of “peace and safety” (i.e. Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11, 14:13, 23:17, 28:9; Ezekiel 13:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Paul told Timothy that, “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3). The false prophet tells the culture what they want to hear. The culture wants to have their ears tickled and so they run to all the revivals and churches that speak in accordance with their own desires. This is not a sign of revival it is a sign of judgment.
A culture that has turned from God seeks health, wealth, prosperity, miracles and healings from any pulpit that will preach it. But Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign” (i.e. Matthew 12:38, 16:4). We are that wicked and adulterous generation. When Paul was speaking to the Thessalonians he warned them saying,
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
You see, false prophets and counterfeit revivals are signs but not of revival they are sure signs of eminent judgment. And why is this? It is because the people “refuse to love the truth,” “delight in wickedness,” “will not endure sound doctrine,” “want to have their ears tickled,” “seek after miraculous signs” and “love to have it so.” “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie…”
The full quote from Jeremiah 5:30-31 includes a question,
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?”
What will we do at the end of it? I believe the answer for us is the answer that Paul gave to Timothy when he was speaking along the same lines. He said, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). In other words, do what you are supposed to do as a Christian. Hold fast to the truth. Do not give in to the deception. Recognize the signs of the times. Keep yourself holy and free of sin. Judgment is coming…and then revival if you can endure to the end.
