Scriptural and Reasonable Model For An End Times Revival

    Imagine having two different colored, small wooden cubes: say black and white. Imagine having a board with a large circle, representing the earth. The white cubes would represent the elect, or the Christians to be saved throughout time (as understood by the foreknowledge of God). There would be a finite number of these white (elect) pieces. Now picture two people putting down the cubes on the board. One placing the black cubes and the other placing the white ones. Occasionally, as time progresses both black and white ones are added, to represent their birth into the world. Also, with time some of each are removed from the board, representing the passing of individuals. At times more white ones would be put down than normal, to show the results of say an awakening or revival.  Now because the number of the "elect" white pieces is a set number, we would of course see that the "storehouse" of white pieces would be diminishing, though the black pieces have no such limit to their value: their numbers are totally a function of physical birth. Now with time coming to a close and the diminishing numbers on the board representing the elect, is it more plausible that there would be a dramatic increase in the white pieces, to show forth say a major, end-time revival?: or is it more plausible that the number of black pieces would become more pronounced with time and the number of white pieces decreasing proportionately, if not exponentially? Which would be more consistent with a model showing a major "falling away", abandonment of the truth and a "heaping up" of false teachers: along with "doctrines of demons"?

    Now, in the New Testament we clearly see that there will be perilous times in the last days, and a picture is painted of the type of people that these times are characterized by, 2 Tim. 3:1ff. It seems that the Apostle thought it important to describe the people characterizing the last days. But, what is conspicuously missing in the New Testament is any clear, explicit mention of a major last-day population of "white pieces". You would think that if one were important to mention, that the other would, in the very least, be equally important to bring up. 

    Furthermore, it concerns me that the populace that initiated and continues to propagate the "end-time revival" concept, could be seen as somewhat "flakey" in both doctrine and past "prophecies". I would say that television evangelists and TV ministries are the backbone of this stuff. Tell me, do you think that they have a greater vested interest in one view over the other? Does propagating the notion of world-wide revival make their ministries more important and necessary in the eyes of their monetary contributors? 

    Now in the parable of the unjust judge there is a importunate widow who continues in her prayers about injustices done to her by an unjust system. Luke 18ff. In the midst of this God gives this statement in verse 7, "now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?" What delay do you think He is talking about: the delay of justice or the delay of His coming? Do you believe God is talking about your unanswered, "self-centered" prayers? Verse 8 says: "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly, However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

                ***** Will He Find Faith On Earth For His Return? *****

    "In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 2 Peter 3:3,4. These people knew of The Promise of His Coming. I think that it would be more likely that believer's who fell away knew of this promise, than an unbeliever who did not know God's Word.

"But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS." 2 Peter 3:13.

    I believe that the early Church believed that they personally would see Christ's return: "Therefore, beloved since YOU look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14.

 * If The Early Church Believed In Christ's Immanent Return In Their Lifetime *
 

    Why is there no mention of them believing for an endtime, worldwide revival? Why is there no mention of their being called to pray and fast for such a move of God. Is it because their prophets were less sanctified and less moved upon by the Holy Spirit than our TV prophets? Why are the last epistles dealing with apostasy and false teachings and not on being ready to disciple mass quantities of people who would soon be inundating their congregations?

    "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done" in part or in full? Do you believe that based upon current revival trends in America that revivals are getting larger and more powerful with time? Do you believe that with each subsequent revival in America that the downward spiritual spiral in America is reversed? Consider this, for example: Christian leaders decided on George Washington as the Presidential prospect after the Great Awakening. Today, the spiritual leadership in America is looking to Donald Trump.

    Do you really believe that there will be an outpouring of God's JUSTICE in America if Mr. Trump gets elected and/or we have a national revival? How long AFTER the Great Awakening did the abolition of slavery take place?

   Are you anxiously awaiting the return of Christ, knowing full well that His kingdom will be the only perfect and righteous reign?

 

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

     There are two identical phrases in the New Testament that are translated "covers a multitude of sins". They have the exact same Greek words, endings included. I think that these two verses when compared bring out interesting facts.

I Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

     In the above verse it says that love covers a multitude of sins. Sometimes the idea of what love would do in any given circumstance is really somewhat nebulous even in the Christian world. It even gives the appearance of the situational ethics of the world. The reason many Christians like it this way is that this viewpoint limits any sense of real accountability.

The book just prior to 1 Peter is the book of James and it has the identical phrase "covers a multitude of sins". 

James 5:19,20
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turn him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 

What we learn from this passage is:  

• This deals with brothers in Christ: "brethren" and "any among you". Initially the one considered a brother, upon straying from the truth is now called a "sinner". 
• The process of sinning can be described as an initial straying from the truth at the start to the point of "a multitude of sins". The worst case is a soul that is dead. 
• In context, we would say that the possible end of the process is a soul that is dead to the truth of God's Word.

    From this verse, we see the actual application of I Peter's "covering love". Fervent love for fellow believers will cover a multitude of sins by bringing a sinner to repentance and thereby save their soul from death. I John 5:16,17 (NIV) says: "If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life (the Greek word zoe, used for "eternal life" or "resurrection life"). I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin and there is a sin that does not lead to death." This is talking about death coming to a person's soul. The process by which a soul experiences death is delineated in James 1:14,15 - "each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown, gives birth to death." 

     Sin that is continued in, to the point that repentance is no longer desired, will result in a soul that is dead to the dealings of the Holy Spirit. This is the place of a "seared conscience". Once a heart reaches a place such as this, the Holy Spirit will not be leading people to pray for this individual, and a place of repentance can no longer be found for the person, who once believed and lived in faith. I am not saying that there will not be people praying for this individual, just that these prayers will not have the touch of God's Spirit upon them. (cf. Jeremiah was told to no longer pray for the people of God that he was sent to). This place would be the antithesis of "the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls", I Peter 1:9, and would be considered the place of the eternal destruction of one's soul. The mind of the person, at such a place, could be considered "reprobate or depraved" (Romans 1:28), a term used in a metal smelting process, whereby the dross or "reprobate" metals are skimmed off and "cast away". The Greek word here is adokimos and is used by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 9:27, where he states concerning his life: "I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be 'cast away' or 'reprobate'". Paul did not want his own life to be so much discarded "metallic dross" in God's refining process. Paul believed that repeated actions of a body not under subjection, could result in a depraved mind. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNv8UFEfBFw

This video is Dr Laura Boyd (University of British Columbia - Vancouver) on recent discoveries in brain neuroplasticity. The entire video can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznE&index=5&list=PLHSaugKkXcJtpc-xGDTCrucetWGvIOdtm
Recent finds have validated the important role of biblical repentance with regards to any individual's actions and it's impact on changing the physical structure of the brain, which in turn affects the person's character in long term.

                           
     It is interesting to note that only recent studies in brain neuroplasticity have shown that repeated actions, good and evil, result in permanent, physical changes in the brain. This entire field of study has verified that any individual can and should basically "repent of actions" so as to affect the brain and thereby the way one thinks. New advances in brain neuroplasticity have yet to find that the brain and mind can be hard coded to the point of no return. Yet this is the Biblical position. Peter in the latter of his epistles speak of false teachers who have "forsaken the right way" and "have gone astray" in following the greed of an Old Testament prophet. They are now "slaves of corruption", being overcome and enslaved by the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh and the boastful pride of life. At one time these men had escaped the defilements of the world by knowing the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, though their final state is worse than their first. Their final epitaph is that it would have been better for them to have never known the truth, (I Peter 2:12-21). Peter calls these men "creatures of instinct" or people who are now governed by the instincts of nature. This suggests a place where the decision making processes of the brain have been disabled or so ingrained as to no longer be able to override "the lusts of their heart", allowing for their bodies to be dishonored, Romans 1:24,28.

Romans 8:22,23 NASB
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive the benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome (of this sanctification), eternal life. For the wages of sin (taken as an occupation) is death (of the soul), but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     The words in parenthesis are mine. These verses read that sanctification coming from a life that is now freed from sin and enslaved to God, results in eternal life. On the other hand, the wages of sin (taken as an occupation) results in the death (of the soul), the opposite of eternal life or eternal damnation.
    
     In conclusion, the above texts seem to indicate that the way "love covers a multitude of sins" is to turn the sinner from their wanderings to the truth of scripture in repentance. The actual method to bring this about is found in I Timothy 2:25,26 - "Those who oppose him (the Lord's servant), he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." Notice it is "in hope" that God will grant them repentance and not "in faith", as only God knows the extent to which the soul has been hardened in sin. 
     
     I've been in some churches that gave me the impression that "covering a multitude of sins" was an act of love whereby we either ignored the person's sins or covered them up by concealing them from being broadcast in public. The hope being that this person would somehow "snap out of it" on his own. I certainly think that a right attitude of restoration is to prevent the individual from undue embarrassment, but I think that it can be seen that continuance in a sin leads to greater hardening of the heart with time, and brings one's soul closer to the point of death.