Revival? Then What? :: By Gary W. Ritter

Published on: January 12, 2021 by RR7

As the darkness closes in and Bible prophecy takes clearer shape every day, there are many Christians who continue to yearn and pray for revival. They remind the Lord of His promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14, a verse we’re all familiar with:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

As Christians we appropriate this prayer for ourselves, although the original context was for Israel. Perhaps God in His mercy does indeed extend this grace He speaks of in this verse to us.

However, in quoting this verse, we forget the if-then nature of so many declarations God has made. When God’s people didn’t obey Him and do as He commanded, there were consequences. If they did as He said, blessings resulted; if they didn’t obey, they received His curses.

Look at what God told the Israelites in the next breath in 2 Chronicles 14:19-22:

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.'”

In other words, if Israel worshiped other gods by turning away from Yahweh, the One true God, He would uproot them and cast them out of the land. This, of course, is exactly what occurred.

The question then becomes: If verse 7 applies to us, shouldn’t verses 19-22 also pertain to Christians and/or America today? The promise God made to Israel was for the nation, i.e., for at least a majority of the people. Obviously, the circumstances in America are different from those of Israel. The nation of Israel was a theocracy. America was never intended as that. Thus, another question: If the church is the supplicant to God for His mercy on this nation, which it must be, how many believers must be truly faithful to God for Him to hear and relent from His judgment upon us? Five people? Five hundred? Five thousand? Fifty thousand? Is there a tipping point of believers for God to act to save an entire nation of 330 Million people?

Is revival in this nation even possible when an entire branch of our government has given itself over to the worship and admonition of other gods? In the recent opening of the 117th Session of the House of Representatives, two astounding events happened.

The House passed an order regarding their Code of Conduct that every Member MUST use inclusive language. No longer can anyone in that august chamber use the terms father, mother, son, daughter, etc. Those in the chamber are required to use gender-neutral language or be censored, or worse. In other words, God’s design for humanity has been thrown into the trash by the House of Representatives.
Even worse, if that’s possible, when Representative Emmanuel Cleaver, a former pastor with a Master of Divinity degree, opened the Session with a prayer, he made it known exactly where God stands in this so-called representative body. Here is what he said:

“We ask in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and god known by many names by many different faiths. [Are you ready…?] Amen and awoman.”

In one breath, this apostate minister declared that the House of Representatives is at best syncretistic, i.e., they have merged various faiths into whatever they follow, or at worst, they simply revere any god but God Most High. Then there’s his closing of the prayer. What was that?

I wonder how this sits with God in His oversight of this nation, especially in light of a passage like 2 Chronicles 14:19-22 quoted above?

Beyond this, I think there’s another issue at play in our praying for revival, one that I’ve never heard anyone else voice.

In God’s Word, we have His declaration that Tribulation will come upon this earth. It will happen, whether sooner or later. I happen to believe it will be sooner – not all that long after Jesus Christ returns in the clouds and removes His Bride, i.e., true believers in the church – soon! With us gone, the Restrainer – the Holy Spirit – will restrain no more. God’s hammer will descend, even as greater lawlessness and chaos arise.

In the lead-up to the Rapture and the Tribulation, it is necessary for all systems and hardened hearts to be ready when the time arrives. What we’re currently seeing and experiencing with mask mandates, lockdowns, vaccinations necessary to fly or even gather in public, technological developments that astound us every day, the soon to come persecution of Christians in America, etc – these are necessary for when the Man with a Plan comes on the scene. He’ll be able to operate immediately from Day 1 and do what he desires. Each day that goes by between now and the Rapture will get progressively worse.

Now, let’s think about what our praying for revival at this time really does.

What if God does a Nineveh for America, and somehow there’s a four-year or a forty-year reprieve? Good for us. In that case, we’ve dodged the bullet. God would have to slow down the progression of lawlessness. Things might be bad, but they certainly couldn’t be as bad if the Tribulation was right around the corner.

So, our generation wipes the sweat from its collective brow, and the world doesn’t devolve into chaos as quickly as it might. Perhaps rather than being Raptured, we pass on relatively quietly.

All is well, right?

Not exactly. Remember that God will bring the Tribulation.

As a result, what does this mean for our children and grandchildren? With the Tribulation delayed, that means they get to face the worst of the development of all that will go bad as the time for that awful event nears. Revival for us delays the inevitable that will come upon our descendants.

If you think about it that way, our prayer for revival may seem a tad bit selfish, don’t you think? Rather than our having to buckle down and truly seek God by strengthening our faith, we can relax with the reprieve. We can leave that arduous task of seeking God at a deeper level for our kids. Let them deal with it and all the consequences that’ll arise by the delay we prayed for.

Maybe we ought to rethink the revival narrative. Perhaps we should ask God instead to simply strengthen us, to soften our hearts against the bitterness that’s a natural outgrowth of what’s happening in this nation, to enable us to brace ourselves against the tsunami of hate that is coming our way. Maybe we should ask the Lord to keep our hearts from being troubled by this world, to enable us to hold loosely to everything around us, and to help us keep our eyes on Him regardless of our circumstances.

I wonder if simply prayers that lift up the Name of Jesus might glorify Him more than our seeking something that He may have no intention of providing?

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Gary W. Ritter is a lay pastor and Bible teacher. He is also a prolific author. His Whirlwind Series comprises three books: Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, and There Is A Time. These books are contained in the collected volume of the Whirlwind Omnibus. Gary has been given the Christian Redemptive Fiction award for two novels: The Tattooed Cat and Alien Revelation. He has collaborated with Terry James on a soon-to-be-released third book, The Minion Protocols, in James’ Second Coming Chronicles series. Gary has also recently released a four-volume set of Awaken Bible Study Notes that comment verse-by-verse through Scripture from a Biblical prophetic lens. Gary’s intent in all his writings is to bring a strong Christian witness to what people read.

You can reach him at his website: www.GaryRitter.com or his Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/gritter3390. You can also see his video Bible teachings on his Gary Ritter YouTube channel – look for the fish symbol.

Take Up Thy Sword :: By Grant Phillips

Published on: January 12, 2021 by RR7

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

In January 2020 the American Bible Society and the Barna Group conducted a survey related to Bible reading. According to their survey, only 9% of the respondents read their Bible on a daily basis. Also, only 24% of their respondents believe the Bible is the actual word of God and should be taken literally. Is it any wonder this country is in such a mess?

I understand that the world, unbelievers, cannot understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:14) unless it speaks to them about their need to be saved, but those who make up the Church are filled with the Holy Spirit. The world has no interest in the things of God, but every true Christian should have a desire in their heart to feed upon the precious Word of God … the Bible.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

How can we call ourselves a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and have little to no interest in what He has to say? Also, according to the survey, 34% NEVER read the Bible. No wonder we are so gullible!

Satan is on overdrive in these last days, and his minions are working 24/7 to deceive mankind, especially the Church (1 Peter 5:8). Why? The sand is nearly gone from Satan’s hourglass. His time is about up, and we are asleep.

I vividly recall smelling my parents’ coffee they would have brewing on the stove each morning when I was a young fellow. My goodness, it smelled so good. Well, folks, the coffee is brewing, and it’s time to get up and get on with the day.

The seven churches of Revelation 2–3 can be seen in various parts of the world today, but right now I am reminded of the church at Ephesus. Jesus had this to say to this church:

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:2-5, emphasis mine).

The Church today has failed in the same respect that the church of Ephesus failed in the first century. Our lampstand has been removed because we have taken our eyes off Jesus. Oh, we may be doing all those nice works, but why are we doing them? We may know the Gospel, but are we sharing it? What do we believe? Why do we believe it? Who do we serve? Who or what do we think about on a daily basis? When did we last speak to our Savior, the one we supposedly follow? Do we even care about what He has to say?

If only 9% of true Christians read their Bibles daily, we’re in sad shape. Even if this number were doubled or tripled to 18% and 27% respectively, we really have a problem. We need to get in the Word!

Maybe we should ask ourselves, “Why should I read the Bible?” Now, I didn’t say, “why read the Bible,” but “why should I read the Bible?” Years ago, I asked myself that same question. I really wanted to know what is the most important reason for me to read the Bible? There are many good reasons to read the Bible, but there is one that stands out ahead of all the rest. The answer, of course, is right in our face and is so simple. Why don’t we let the apostle Paul answer this question, “Why should I read the Bible?”

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2, emphasis mine).

The Corinthian church was the most immature group of Christians of that day. Paul really had his hands full. Because of their immaturity, he didn’t start out teaching advanced doctrines to them, so what did he do? He went back to the basics about our Savior. He showed them Jesus. He reintroduced them to the Savior. They had to take the 101 class over again because they certainly were not ready for advanced lessons.

This is where we all should be every time we open our Bible, regardless of our understanding of Scripture. We should seek to know our Lord. We should seek to look upon Him as Moses longed to. Our main goal is to know Him better and better as His Spirit guides us through the pages of His Word.

I am convinced that this is the path we should take, and these following verses confirm it:

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27, emphasis mine).

We know the New Testament portrays Jesus, but He is also throughout ALL of the Bible, Old and New Testaments.

“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me‘” (Luke 24:44, emphasis mine).

The Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms cover the entire Old Testament. It is hard to find anywhere in the entire Bible that does not picture Jesus.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

Again, the New Testament wasn’t written at that time, so Jesus is referring to the Old Testament specifically. However, being omniscient, He knows the remainder of the Bible, the New Testament, will do the same.

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46-47).

And again, so many don’t realize that Jesus is pictured throughout the Old Testament. Just a few examples: Joshua, Joseph and Boaz, and also the feasts, the tabernacle and the offerings. These six examples are just a drop in the proverbial bucket. All of God’s Word … the Bible … is about Jesus.

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:7).

I included this last verse for a different reason. Do you really want to know God? I am referring to God the Father. Would you like to know what He is like? Well … Jesus makes it so clear. If we know Him (Jesus), we know the Father. So, doesn’t that make it even more a necessity to read the Bible?

So many immature Corinthian-type Christians today brag about their love for Jesus, but they don’t read their Bible. They live on emotions instead of the Word of life. How can that be?

And then there are those who read their Bible but treat others as second-class citizens. Don’t think so? Ask any restaurant server. They obviously are not reading the Bible with any intention of knowing Jesus. These people need a good dose of 1 Corinthians, chapter 13.

Whether we read our Bible to seek salvation, guide others to salvation, learn how to live as a Christian should, avoid sinfulness in our lives, learn how to raise a family, search prophecy, or anything else … getting to know our Bridegroom Jesus should be our most important and ongoing goal. (By the way, Jesus is core to all of these.)

The bottom line, though, is … first we must take up the Sword. From there, we grow more intimate with Jesus and do as He did. When Satan tempted Jesus, what did Jesus do? He quoted Scripture. The same can be said for Paul and Peter. Their Sword was the Word of God … the Bible. Don’t be one of the 91% who doesn’t take up your Sword on a daily basis. Without it, we are weak and immature. Also, don’t abuse it. Use it as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html