Sound the Alarm (Hosea 8:1)

Lord Jesus warned that a deception was coming that would deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). This has happened many times, especially during the genuine revivals in Wales and Azusa Street, both in the early 1900's. The most recent manifestation was the so-called Toronto Blessing. This was not a deception mixed in with the genuine. It was directly from the pit of hell. And many people were deceived.

How will we know if revival is real? People will be convicted of sin. There will be godly sorrow leading to repentance. There will be love and unity and people will be born again. Churchgoers will either be born again or go back into the world that they never truly forsook. Above all, Jesus will be exalted and glorified in and through His church.

For some time now, a year or two maybe, I've been hearing talk of revival. My first reaction was negative. I've seen and heard nothing that would indicate that God's people even know what revival is, let alone be ready for it.

Lord Jesus warned that a deception was coming that would deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). .

For some time now, a year or two maybe, I've been hearing talk of revival.

This has happened many times, especially during the genuine revivals in Wales and Azusa Street, both in the early 1900's.

For some time now, a year or two maybe, I've been hearing talk of revival. My first reaction was negative. I've seen and heard nothing that would indicate that God's people even know what revival is, let alone be ready for it.

Lord Jesus warned that a deception was coming that would deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). This has happened many times, especially during the genuine revivals in Wales and Azusa Street, both in the early 1900's. The most recent manifestation was the so-called Toronto Blessing. This was not a deception mixed in with the genuine. It was directly from the pit of hell. And many people were deceived.

The present "revival" has not been given a name. That makes it more difficult to identify. Many Christians have been programmed, so to speak, to accept the counterfeit as real. So I am concerned that the fake will be readily accepted. And this means Christians will be content with a fake instead of seeking God for reality and truth.

Signs of the false: (I suggest reading John 16 for confirmation )

1. Obsession with the "Holy" spirit. This is not the role of the Holy Spirit. His work is to take what is of Christ and make it known to God's people.
2. Christians glorifying the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, not Himself. If a preacher is glorifying the Holy Spirit, he is not speaking with the power and authority of the true Holy Spirit.
3. Emphasis on signs and wonders, but not on Jesus, fruit and life.
4. Lack of truth. The last "revival" was full of deceptions. Unbelievers falling over and getting up claiming to be saved, for example. That's not how it goes.
5. Misunderstanding about the fire of God. It for sure is not something to seek. Visible signs such as halos and light around the hands are occult, not of God. "Fire" in God's word is about judgement, consuming sin and shaking sinners. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:27, 31, 12:29)
6. Relegating Lord Jesus to an inferior place to the Holy Spirit. This was commonplace during the Toronto Blessing time and is happening now. One so-called prophet stated that the Holy Spirit was Lord, based on one verse in the Bible. As I've said, the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. Jesus Himself said that He is Lord, God gave Him the position of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit does not initiate anything. He takes what is of Jesus and reveals it to us.

Real revival is God's response to the genuine and heartfelt cry of believers who reject the status quo. It is always preceded by the united prayers of God's people. Often, there has been a leader of the revival, such as John Wesley and Evan Roberts. Who will God appoint to lead true revival? I don't know, but I would not be surprised if it is a nobody, an ordinary man taken hold of by our extraordinary saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

How will we know if revival is real? People will be convicted of sin. There will be godly sorrow leading to repentance. There will be love and unity and people will be born again. Churchgoers will either be born again or go back into the world that they never truly forsook. Above all, Jesus will be exalted and glorified in and through His church.

For some time now, a year or two maybe, I've been hearing talk of revival. My first reaction was negative. I've seen and heard nothing that would indicate that God's people even know what revival is, let alone be ready for it.

Is it your contention, then, that nobody present in any of those Toronto congregations ever repented?

Lord Jesus warned that a deception was coming that would deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). This has happened many times, especially during the genuine revivals in Wales and Azusa Street, both in the early 1900's. The most recent manifestation was the so-called Toronto Blessing. This was not a deception mixed in with the genuine. It was directly from the pit of hell. And many people were deceived.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


Signs of the false: (I suggest reading John 16 for confirmation )

1. Obsession with the "Holy" spirit. This is not the role of the Holy Spirit. His work is to take what is of Christ and make it known to God's people.
2. Christians glorifying the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, not Himself. If a preacher is glorifying the Holy Spirit, he is not speaking with the power and authority of the true Holy Spirit.
3. Emphasis on signs and wonders, but not on Jesus, fruit and life.
4. Lack of truth. The last "revival" was full of deceptions. Unbelievers falling over and getting up claiming to be saved, for example. That's not how it goes.
5. Misunderstanding about the fire of God. It for sure is not something to seek. Visible signs such as halos and light around the hands are occult, not of God. "Fire" in God's word is about judgement, consuming sin and shaking sinners. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:27, 31, 12:29)
6. Relegating Lord Jesus to an inferior place to the Holy Spirit. This was commonplace during the Toronto Blessing time and is happening now. One so-called prophet stated that the Holy Spirit was Lord, based on one verse in the Bible. As I've said, the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. Jesus Himself said that He is Lord, God gave Him the position of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit does not initiate anything. He takes what is of Jesus and reveals it to us.

1-6 Total Agreement

How will we know if revival is real? People will be convicted of sin. There will be godly sorrow leading to repentance. There will be love and unity and people will be born again. Churchgoers will either be born again or go back into the world that they never truly forsook. Above all, Jesus will be exalted and glorified in and through His church.

Therefore the words of Hosea chapter 4 are more suitable to the present time:

1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel [and all the inhabitants of the world]: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

"They break out and blood toucheth blood" has also been translated as "They break all restraint with bloodshed upon bloodshed" (NKJV) or "They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed" (NASV). This is speaking of murders being committed every day, and is most appropriate in the USA. For example, in Democrat-controlled Chicago 797 homicides took place in 2021 (over two murder per day on average), and it will be about the same this year since so far there have been 334. The statistics in Chicago since 1995 show murders rates between 440-900 per year. And Illinois has some of the toughest gun control regulations. So it is not "gun control" but "criminal control". The top criminals are in fact the politicians.

Who are the sources that say a revival is coming? Are they reliable or are they proven false prophets?



Why do you think Azusa was genuine but Toronto wasn't?

The days are coming—and are here already—when each person will have to make a choice: Follow the world or follow the Lord. We don't really need "revival," we need conviction. The times ahead are going to be days of separating the wheat from the chaff.

I don't know too many Christians who fit the description in Hosea 4. I do know many who are unwary and that Satan

Azusa was a mixture. There was the genuine and a lot of false as well. I read a book about Azusa. There was a picture of a church on the cover, with lightning striking the ground. Lord Jesus said that He saw Satan fall like lightning. When Lord Jesus returns, it will be like lightning flashing across the sky, not a ground strike.

Some false phenomena were recorded in some of the Welsh revival meetings also.

As I've said, conviction precedes revival.

No. It is my contention that the Toronto Blessing phenomenon was straight from the pit of hell. Not everyone fell for it. I went to many meetings to see for myself. Watch the videos and weep.