End Time Revival or Falling Away

 Falling away or revival? What is coming?

The end times have come. Israel is once again in Jewish hands, but besieged by enemies, just as in the prophetic writings.

In Europe, we have long seen the fall of Christian civilisation.

The French Revolution was not just a revolt against monarchy and aristocracy. It was a furious rebellion against the Catholic Church and against God himself.

The ideology of Voltaire and the anti-Christian philosophers in France also had a profound influence in other countries, including the Enlightenment in Germany and Switzerland.

Humanist philosophy and theology appeared in Germany. The Bible was no longer understood as the word of God. Everything was questioned.

Today, many Bible-believing Christians are indignant that their children are taught to reject traditional sexual morals and to believe all religions are equally valid.

Even among supposedly Bible-believing Christians, we find many who see sex before marriage as perfectly normal and don't want to wait for marriage themselves.

Many claim that this is the fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy, and they are right.

And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. Mt 24:12 NRSV

We see this fulfilled. This is the great falling away.

But then we hear a completely different message, that a great revival is coming and is already underway in many countries and regions of the world.

But that cannot be! The Word does not speak of revival, but of apostasy, and this is confirmed before our eyes every day.

But in China, Indonesia, South Korea, South America and all over Africa, tens of millions are turning to Jesus. We hear amazing stories of miraculous healings and even corpses being called back to life.

How can this be? Some see it all as a demonic counterfeit.

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Mt 24:11 NLT

But the Bible also tells us that people from all nations, all tribes and all countries will come into God's kingdom.

And they sang a new song,  ... with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Rev 5:9 NIV

How does this massive crowd of people from every nation come to Jesus?

Let's take an example.

But how do millions of Muslims all over the world come to Jesus in our time?

Millions of faithful Christians pray earnestly and fervently from the heart.
God answers these prayers and millions of Muslims experience visitations from Jesus in dreams and visions.

I met a Christian woman in Germany. She was a Muslim from Iran. Then she experienced a visitation from Jesus in a dream. Eight years later she converted to Jesus.

Countless Muslims see or experience miraculous healings. Not only Reinhard Bonnke, but many others have preached in Africa and released God's power for miraculous healings.

There are more Muslims in Indonesia than in Iran, Pakistan or Arab nations, but there are also millions of faithful Christians in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, Christian evangelists are allowed to preach, but they are not allowed to evangelise Muslims. Many sick people experience miraculous healings and Muslims come to be healed. As a result, many Muslims are converted to Christ, in Indonesia as well as in Africa.

Without evangelism with miraculous healings, countless Muslims would never be converted.

Faithful Christians love Muslims with kindness, prayer and practical help. I know this from personal experience.

Some Muslims are challenged to read the Bible for themselves and they are converted through God's Word.

God's kingdom does not only spread through method A, B, C or D.

It is about prayer, preaching, kindness, miraculous healings, practical help, reading the Bible, dreams and visions, evangelising through the internet and satellite TV, and, and, and, and ...

We must believe, love, pray, help, and not limit God.

END TIME REVIVAL, FALSE PROPHECY OR BIBLE TRUTH?

We hear so many people prophesying and teaching about The Great End Time Harvest of souls, of the global revival which is coming. 

On the other hand, there are people who question these prophesies and for two reasons.

The first reason is the Bible prophecies that speak of terrible times and spiritual decline before Jesus comes.

Mt 24:12 (ESV)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

 

2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NKJV)  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, 

• lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

• having a form of godliness but denying its power. 

• And from such people turn away!

Mt 24:5 (NKJV)  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

This last text can have two meanings. The usual interpretation is that the false preacher claims to be Christ.

It can also mean that the preacher affirms that I (Jesus) is the Christ but then deceives many with bad doctrine and manipulative and controlling leadership. 

• There are indeed many false cult leaders who affirm that Jesus is the Christ. 

• There are also many preachers who teach correct doctrine regarding the Trinity and salvation but they behave like cult leaders, making their members into mindless slaves under the control of church leaders.

The second reason for doubting the prophecies of a Global End Time Revival is the actual experience of the negative prophecies coming true before our eyes.

All of the countries which were Christian before the 20th Century are now either Post Christian or under attack from powerful Anti-Christ culture. 

• Lukewarm Christianity has poisoned all Western societies which were once known as Christendom. Church attendance and moral standards are catastrophically low.

However, there is another side to the story.

• The number of fervently believing Christians in formerly unreached,  or non-Christian countries is hundreds of millions and growing rapidly.

• In Africa, the Christians Gospel is accompanied by signs and wonders which challenge witchcraft and Islam.

• In China, the Communist government has not been able to contain a powerful, believing, miracle working underground church with over 150 million members.

• As in China, so in North India, there are new churches planted every day, thousands of souls saved every week and miracles are a way of life.

It appears the Great End Time Revival has already begun but most of the old Christian countries have not yet realised it.

But what about Bible prophecy?

The same text that correctly warns of lukewarm Christianity in the West, also predicts a global End Time harvest reaching, reaching every nation.

Mt 24:12-13 (ESV)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

People of every NATION, every TRIBE and every TONGUE must be reached in this great End Time harvest.

Rev 5:9 (ESV)  And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Up to now, there are many millions of people in unreached people groups. 

• There are languages and dialects which have never been used to speak the name of Jesus.

Only a global revival can bridge the gap between present reality and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

What will this End Time revival look like?

Jn 17:22-23  (NKJV)  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 

• I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, 

• and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Eph 5:27 (NKJV)  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.