Revival

Revival

There are two kinds of revival: one is from heaven and the other is from hell. They are the result of two widely different and powerful spirit powers. The devil is waging this spiritual battle in these days as never before, and he has never had such opportunities to lead the masses astray. Through television, films, books, and magazines the sinful lusts are awakened in all kinds of areas. He begins as early as possible, sowing his deadly poison into children and young people. He is an enemy of life and leads people into death, darkness, and perdition. He has come to murder, to steal, and to destroy. Everything he does has a provocative and exciting spirit about it; this also applies to music and song. He uses mostly noise and commotion to deafen the voice of the conscience. But God says, “Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Amos 5:23-24.

God is going to silence all this noise and commotion forever, while the heavenly song and music will be heard for all eternity.

Dean Wetterlund in Sweden wrote that in the beginning the devil raged against the Christians and had them burned at the stake and thrown to wild animals. However, seeing that Christianity by these acts only became more genuine and even more widespread, he changed his tactics and became religious. He was baptized and became a priest and preacher. Since then he has been far more successful in leading people astray. He has met with good success down through the years, but he has never been as successful as now. Now the radio, television, books and magazines are also being used, and preachers and priests lull the people to sleep by telling them that it is not that dangerous to sin because, after all, we have grace and the blood. They speak fervently and emotionally about the cross of Calvary, but they are enemies of the daily cross over their “I” and the carnal lusts. They proclaim a gospel without commandments and without power, and they do not believe in victory over sin and transformation into Jesus’ image.

The following words were written in a Norwegian Christian magazine: “All those who believe in the atonement—from the days of the apostles until Jesus’ return—will be in the Bride.” It is impossible to propagate a worse form of harlotry than that. Then all of us could just as well sit and sleep in the Catholic Church and live in all kinds of sins as long as we had time to sigh for the forgiveness of sins just before we died, and then (they say) we would be like Paul and the apostles for all eternity. However, the Scriptures say something totally different.

Throughout the years there also has been a true and genuine revival from heaven. The prophets have faithfully, out of love for God, proclaimed the blessings that are a result of keeping God’s commandments and the punishment and curse that are a result of not keeping them. This message has not been weakened but rather strengthened by Christ and the apostles. There is a strong spirit of revival in all of Jesus’ and the apostles’ words. Jesus said to be on guard, to be watchful, and to be awake! You cannot find a more powerful and radical revival message than the Sermon on the Mount. Everything that is not in harmony with obedience to this message will end up in ruins.

Paul writes in Romans 6:14-15: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” This is a message of grace that is just as foreign to the religious world of our days as it was foreign for Paul to sin. In 1 Corinthians 15:34 he calls out, “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.” We are asleep as long as we sin and are in Satan’s clutches. The gospel is the good news that we can be set free from sin and not, as almost all preachers proclaim these days, that we cannot but live in it. Through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit it is possible to live an overcoming life over all conscious sin. Paul lists a few of the most difficult situations a person could encounter, and then he says: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37.

We can presume that in all the seven churches in Revelation they believed in the atonement, but Jesus woke them up, because their daily works had to be in harmony with that first love, so that they could be found perfect before God. Rev. 2:4; 3:2. Otherwise they would be rejected because He could not have any fellowship with them since they had left their first love. Only in this love can we truly have fellowship with Christ and with each other. Therefore we should come together all the more as we see the Day approaching, and stir up love and good works in each other. Heb. 10:24-25. “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord . . . .” Rom. 12:11.

Jesus gave His life for us and redeemed us with His precious blood in order to set us free from sin, so that we can be free indeed. Jesus says that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. It is only right that we should love Him and serve Him with fervent hearts. Whether we love Christ more than our lusts is made evident in our temptations and trials. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” John 14:23.

In these days an intense battle is being waged in the spirit world. The devil is raging, because he knows that his time is short. Rev. 12:12. There is no middle room. Jesus says, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Let us be wholeheartedly on His side and gather with Him to that perfect oneness in everything that is pure, true, and good.

The called, elect, and faithful fought wholeheartedly together with the Lamb and overcame the beast and its spirit. Our victory is assured in the Spirit of faith and love. All the promises pertain to this overcoming host, which is Jesus’ bride.