The Asbury Revival is a spiritual movement that started at Asbury University, a non-denominational Christian institution in Wilmore, Kentucky. The revival is named after the location of the meetings but has spread rapidly in one week to other states, churches, and Christian universities. This revival is marked by intense emotional experiences, long periods of spontaneous singing and praying, including speaking in tongues, healings, so-called demonic deliverances, and a sense of unity that transcends denominational boundaries. Everyone is talking about the Asbury Revival, but the emphasis seems to be all about emotions and music.
I have had a few Christians tag me in this video. These Christians seem to think this clip proves the service at Asbury is a farce because the young man is emotional in his video. Well for starters it would be foolish to judge the whole event on a 1 minute clip. Additionally, a… pic.twitter.com/UAFLn8I7rM
— Wendell (@wendelltalks) February 15, 2023
Kentucky Today, a daily news website affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, reported on the Asbury Revival as follows:
“As revival closes in on the one-week mark at Asbury University, reports are circulating of other colleges and universities where revival fires have ignited. As of Tuesday, groups of students from at least 22 higher education institutions have visited the Asbury campus in Wilmore, Ky., fueling a work of the Lord on other campuses.” [1]
“Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons” (Great Controversy, p. 624).
”The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us” (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 302).
Speaking in tongues is a phenomenon that is part of this Asbury Revival. In the video above, you can see what is taking place in different locations across the United States. This act of speaking in tongues happens when people are in an altered state of consciousness and their normal patterns of thought and behavior are altered. Speaking in tongues appears to be a supernatural or paranormal occurrence.
What people are doing today, however, is not biblical. Even God has no idea what these people are saying. Speaking in tongues, according to God’s word, simply means that the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to communicate the gospel in a different language. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended, and the apostles began to speak in different languages, which people could understand.
“Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles. Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it has no attractions for them. A message which appeals to unimpassioned reason, awakens no response. The plain warnings of God’s Word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are unheeded” (Great Controversy, p. 463).
THE FIRE IS SPREADING. Reports say students from more than 21 colleges have now arrived at Asbury University in Kentucky for revival services. Just imagine what will happen if this spreads nationwide. pic.twitter.com/CNI81puhYT
— Lee Grady (@LeeGrady) February 12, 2023
The good news is that if the false revival is coming, God is getting ready to do His work as well. We are told that the counterfeit revival will precede the true and genuine. This means that as we see the counterfeit spreading, God is getting ready to pour out His Holy Spirit to empower His people to proclaim the Three Angels’ Message. The Latter Rain will be associated with a powerful move of God in the lives of the faithful remnant people, resulting in transformed lives, bold witnessing, and the bestowing of His spiritual gifts to advance the Loud Cry of the Third Angel.
“Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon his children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and his Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit” (Great Controversy, p. 464).
Sources
0
0
0
The title, counterfeit revival. It is a dangerous thing to conclude in our estimation all things. In the 1800 all the church denominations had a revival – That culminated in the 1844 great disappointment- the midnight cry. All but a small handful called it- a counterfeit. So as I am not God it would be wise to seek the Lord in prayer prior to watching history repeat. God bless, as we keep praying for our church, the largest musical chairs of the wheat and the chaff is about to be seen as the music comes to a stop. Preparation is key- seeking the Lord in Secret prayer – is breath for the soul. If we see anyone watching with their whole heart, we should endeavor to give guidance as Jesus teaches.
Amen
Bonjour,l’ennemi de nos âmes gagne du terrain à la vitesse grand V,et nous le peuple de DIEU,qui avons reçu la parole de vérité,nous sommes endormi,comme en l’étargie,cela devrait nous réveillé,et demander à Dieu l’esprit saint plus que jamais,afin de prêcher,le message du 3ème ange,ce que nous n’avons pas fait en tant de paix,nous serons obliger de le faire en tant de guerre,que Dieu nous donne la force et le courage,pour affronter cette triste réalité.
SOON On a SDA Church near you.
Dear Andy Roman,
I appreciate your ministry and respect your genuine effort to uphold the pillars of our distinctive faith as SDAs. I know your comments on the Asbury revival are sincere and you strive to present them from a biblical perspective. I do not hope to diminish the truths you have expressed, for there is need of discernment of spirit (1 John 4:1) and to warn against emotionalism or the popular practice of speaking in tongues. My response might challenge your view in some respects, however, so please accept my perspective as part of a friendly dialogue from an Adventist minister who lives in Wilmore and has been impacted by the surrounding circumstances of the Asbury Revival for the last eight days.
When Peter preached to Cornelius’ household there was a genuine revival but not without critique. Those who weren’t there blamed Peter and his Jewish companions for having fellowship with Gentiles. Perhaps this is a biblical illustration of what may take place when as SDAs we hear of Adventist leaders taking part of revivals that are not among our own ranks. So bear with me when I say that I have been attending these revivals.
It is definitely not a SDA evangelistic series, campmeeting, or GYC revival, but these people are being revived within their own culture and worldview. I define revival as an awakening of spiritual sensitivities, a resurrection of the life of faith, in a critical mass of people to create a movement. This is happening here. Is it a counterfeit? How can we discern?
Asbury University is not a charismatic institution. But people from all accross the region and some from very far have traveled to seek God and renew their spiritual dedication. It is expected that some people manifest their beliefs and practices when they come to an open worship service. But toleration is key. Adventist evangelists keep this in mind when people for the first time arrive at their meetings. So, the baggage that people bring with them is not representative of the revival itself. Even in the millerite movement of the 1840s many people acted in strange and questionable ways, but you are probably just as convinced as I that God was leading that revival. Those were some of Ellen White’s happiest days. Therefore, if people demonstrate emotions different from adventist culture or if some who are coming occassionally burst out in questionable ways, these are not signs of counterfeit revival, instead these are signs of revival that is attracting such a broad range of people that included are some charismatics.
But for the most part, the spirit is one of reverence and peaceful surrender. A spirit of prayer and radical generousity. A spirit of repentance, confession and humility. A spirit of toleration and unity. May our revival be marked with such characteristics.
Thank you Esteban for your well thought-out response. There is wisdom in what you say, and I agree with you. I hesitate to condemn when I have not been present to see for myself, I hesitate to assume until I see the fruit. Jesus allows us to judge by the fruit. I think of, who Peter was assumed “drunk” on the day of Pentecost.
Well said Esteban
May God bless you
Let’s see what results will follow after these demonstrations of faith and prayers
The world is in turmoil and in need of God guidance. Prayer is needed around the world bur specially in our personal lives
Thank you so much for this response. I have been truly bothered by the condemnation in the posts and the article. It is a dangerous position to think that we can determine where and with whom God is moving. We should be in prayer for all of them as well as us that we may have a revival of that spiritual sensitivity that you mentioned so that we will not judge what we only see from a distance. And understand, that this is a fantastic opportunity for us who claim to know truth to share because of that the openness to God happening at this time.
Only God is Good (Mark 10:18). Only He is Truth. Only He is Love.
While He Alone is All-powerful, He is not the only source of supernatural power as has been evidenced since “WAR IN HEAVEN” divided the heavenly family…
Today, for there to be the revelation of Pentecostal truth – before anyone can be given the Pentecostal power to proclaim it…
Scripture says – “And it shall come to pass afterward [after the former and the latter rain],” says the All-Knowing One, “that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.” (Joel 2:28) for these two Manifestations of the Holy Spirit are seen to be inseparable…
The first develops a people by teaching them in righteousness; the second fully matures them and clothes them with power to proclaim the truth in righteousness…
In consequence, there is given in the first phase of the work “a teacher of righteousness” who trains an army of under-teachers of righteousness for the carrying out of the second phase…
Since there was to be a revelation of truth in the apostles’, in Sister White’s, and in our day – The Desire of Ages is correct in saying that, at that time (when it was written), the Former Rain was the “Rain” of truth in the Apostles’ day. But today, the Former Rain is not only the truth of the Apostles’ day but also that of Sister White’s day…
Being told to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, thousands upon thousands have earnestly done so, but to no avail…
Why???
From time to time many zealous individual and group Christian Movements have launched impressive prayer marathons in a determined, persevering effort to bring about the fulfillment of the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, even the “Latter Rain.” Because, though, these periodic efforts have invariably ended in heartbreaking disappointment and frustration, thousands of souls have become confused and bewildered, given up their faith completely, and perhaps sunk into infidelity…
Yet no student of the Scriptures will deny that the Bible does definitely hold forth the promise of a singularly dynamic manifestation of the Holy Spirit, to bestow upon all believers a special outpouring of power such as the Apostles received on the day of Pentecost, – yes, even greater…
Then the answer to the question, Why do we not now receive It? inescapably is, because the conditions for receiving it have not as yet been met. When they are met this sure promise of God will be instantaneously fulfilled, even as it was with the Apostles…
Therefore, whatever is now keeping Christians from receiving this greatest of gifts, the hindrance must lie with him and not with God!!!
There is a promise of The Comforter, The Spirit of Truth (John 16:7-13), and a promise of the “Latter Rain.” (Joel 2:23&28). This promised Comforter, the Apostles received on the day of Pentecost, and It was to abide with them forever; that is, even with their successors. But as in the apostolic succession, men of the primitive apostolic caliber ceased, and The Comforter gradually disappeared. And though He has at different times reappeared in the form of the Spirit of Truth, His Pentecostal power and presence have never since been re-imparted. This Manifestation of the Spirit in Power (Joel 2:28) should not, however, be confused with the Manifestation of the Spirit in Truth (Joel 2:23)…
The very title, “Latter Rain,” itself shows that this particular manifestation takes place in the “latter days” – of our time. And through Zechariah the prophet, Inspiration in pointing out that there is a set time for the Latter Rain urges: “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” (Zech. 10:1)
The related passage of Joel 2:23, marginal rendering, makes clear that “The Latter Rain,” the last message, is “a Teacher of Righteousness,” bringing to the recipient full knowledge of Truth, and righteousness. Therefore while Christians are urgently requested to pray and agonize for the Spirit of Truth at all times, they are even more urgently instructed to pray for it now!!!
As in the natural state of things, the latter rain comes not only to make the wheat grow but also to bring it to its full maturity, so, by spiritual analogy, this Teacher of Righteousness must bring the saints to the full stature of men in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:13) – fitting them for the Kingdom…
But the second phase, that promised power (Joel 2:28) which comes “afterward,” after “the Latter Rain,” is that for which most Christians are praying without considering that there is a first phase (Joel 2:23) – the “teacher of righteousness,” a final outpouring of Present Truth – which must be obtained before the final outpouring of POWER* can be realized…
It is evident that the part which comes “afterward,” the Pentecostal power, comes to enable the receiver to proclaim the latter truth; and this power will not come until the church as a body “every one grass in the field” (Zech. 10:1), not a group here and a group there, has joyously assimilated for its spiritual growth all the rain that the Teacher of Righteousness, who has now come, has brought…
But the great question here confronting us is: When can “every grass” every church member receive this glorious Truth and power? Shall saint and hypocrite share them alike? Inspiration answers:
“By fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many… and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations… and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles… they shall bring all your brethren.. to My holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel, bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord…” (Isa. 66:16, 19, 20)
So in the time between the “Latter Rain” of truth and the “Outpouring” of The Spirit’s Power, there will be sealed a consecrated number who will escape from among the “slain of the Lord.” (THE 144,000)!!! In other words, at the first-fruit harvest, when all the sinners have been taken out of the church, and the righteous left by themselves as were the 120 disciples in the upper room, then and only then can the Lord finally pour out His Spirit’s Power upon all, so that all (all the “escaped” ones) shall prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions…
“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the FILTH* of the daughters of Zion, and shall have PURGED* the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from the rain…” (Isa. 4:3-6)
Only after this “GREAT PURGE” in the church (described also in the 9th chapter of Ezekiel) will the “Remnant” be equipped to carry their fully blazing, lighted torch of Truth to all the Gentile world. For, “Out of Zion will then go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” The work will then be finished, “cut short in righteousness,” and the Lord will then appear in glory – seen by every eye… (Rev. 1:7)
May CHRIST* help us who are truly righteous to live the truth and to know that the time of the visitation is now nearer than when we first believed!!!
AMEN
Sorry, my comment should have been:
“I think of Peter, who was presumed “drunk”….
The Pharisees didn’t recognize Jesus either. The presence of God poured out on thousands of people at Asbury. If you watched the videos of people coming in and out and explaining what was going on there was order, a Godly order.
You can delete my comment. I do not mean it to be disrespectful. I have followed the Asbury revival for the last few days and listened to one day of the Asbury worship session live. The first 5 seconds of the video it was so clear to me that God was moving in that room.
See reply below….
Estudien con oración el comentario de dreamstarworld es el comentario correcto. Estoy anonadado y espantado de los demás comentarios. Dios tenga misericordia y nos de discernimiento de las estratagemas y artimañas de satanás.
Estoy al 100 por 100 de acuerdo con lo expuesto por Andy Romano.
Oh Lord…hearing some of the comments lifting up this false revival as something admirable is very concerning. Satan has a deception (or two) for even the stoutest Bible-based Christians among us. When the false outpouring of the Holy Spirit happens (and it may be happening NOW) it will APPEAR as if the real deal has arrived but those who have surrendered fully to God will see it for what it is: a counterfeit. And when the REAL DEAL comes (the latter rain) it will fall upon those fully surrendered to God.
Exactly!
God is love…..how do we express the same kind of love? Thru obedience to His commandments & trusting God always is in control. A revival will not just happen under circumstances of the end of time prophecy coz probation is closing & the wicked will soon reap the consequences of their sins. The Holy Spirit has manifested sanctification on God’s remnant people & sealed them upon their foreheads (conscience or spiritual awakening to the truth) which occurred after the New Age of 2012.
Autumn B…..it’s not just a feeling that you can base if it’s the Holy Spirit you claim it to be. If it’s not thru the scriptures (Bible) that the manifestions were not according to the inspired writing.
You obviously have no idea what speaking in tounges means. Very dangerous for you to take such a strong stance against this.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:2. IF they are genuine in seeking God and speak in an unknown toungue God understands them
Adventists don’t read the Bible…they read Ellen G White to see what the Bible says through her lens.
They don’t listen to Christ but instead they try to mimic His actions (except the raising the dead, casting out demons, and healing the sick)…but they got the Sabbath keeping stuff down (in their understanding) pretty down pat…the Pharisees who put the Lord on the cross would be so proud of them! SDA have ZERO capacity to understand the things of the Spirit because they don’t have the Holy Spirit because they have an arch angel jesus whose blood is as useful as an antibiotic to help you get better do perfectly keep all 10 commandments and pass the investigative judgment (EGW invention).
Wow, do I choose the unique involvement, movement, and effects of the Holy Spirit, or the opinion and musings of ‘mankind’, no matter how ‘learned’ and ‘inspired’?
Funnily enough, I choose the Holy Spirit EVERY TIME!
“Let God love you. Let Jesus love you. Welcome the Holy Spirit to fill your being. Then you can share the love with all you know and meet.” – THE start of this worship, the basis of this worship. Pure basic Christianity.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13
“Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” John 17:17
When the Holy Spirit is present, He guides people into all truth, including doctrinal truth where people are erring. He will convict of sin, of righteousness and judgment. I believe we must test ALL THINGS, but wait for the fruit of what this will bring. But we have Bible for this and SOP. Adventist groups went and passed out literature, this could have been God’s way of getting the truth into the hand of the sincerest hearts among them.
The biblical example of revival was under the reign of King Josiah. The Book of the Law (the Bible/the Word) was found and this was the basis of Israel’s revival. No revival without the word of God’s truth.
Andy, you’re spot on in what you’ve said in this article. This is a false “revival” if I’ve ever seen one. Those people are jumping around, swaying, clapping, shaking their bodies, no reverence or holiness at all. Where are their Bibles? I didn’t see the first one. It looks more like a fad sweeping the country. I’m not judging those people, but see it for what it is. They’ll only be held accountable for what they know. But for those of us who do know better, need to be careful saying this is the work of God.
God will not be mocked. You cannot tell me this is God’s Holy Spirit on people who’s speaking in tongues while gyrating around. This is to be expected in these last days.
I’m going to guess the person who wrote this article is part of a reformed church, those who say they follow sound doctrine. there’s been many from these Calvinist believing denominations who have wrote off this revival as demonic as it spreads like fire across the country. This person talks about this revival not being biblical yet he uses none biblical literature to try and support his claim: Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons” (Great Controversy, p. 624).
”The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us” (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 302).
what are these books: Great Controversy, and Testimonies vol. 1? These aren’t taken from scripture so away with them. These dry believes say healings have passed away. yet in Mark 16:17 it says: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover, those who believe will do this. this here proven by scripture. And not only that i can give several testimonies of the healing power of God through my own hands. Also notice how he says they will speak with new tongues which could be considered a language that isn’t of this earth. But i can prove that speaking in tongues are biblical and are not only for language barriers, and i can do it using the bible. Too many people don’t know how to interpret the bible for themselves, they listen to other people and lean on their scholarship thinking they’re so much more qualified then they. Even if it doesn’t make sense to them they just go with it thinking they know way more then i do. 1 Corint. 14:2 for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. Have these people never read this verse before? he who speak in tongues does not speak to man but to God, he speak mysteries in the Spirit and no one understands him. 1 Corinth 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. A person speak in tongues in church then someone interprets his message and the body is edified. Corinth. 14:18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Also ! corinth. 13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I imagine the tongues of angles are different than any language here on earth and why would someone speak in the language of angles? Also several times in the Bible when a person was baptized with the Spirit they spoke with other tongues. It’s pretty easy to say by the Bible that tongues have not passed away and that tongues are for today and can be done in a way that edifies the church, speaks to God, edifies the one speaking, or possible breaks the language barrier between two people who can’t understand each other.