Where Did "Revival" Come From?

Sometimes it helps reframe our thinking to ask a different question than that which has been asked before.

The term "Revival" is often used by Christians. But where did the term come from? Is it a Biblical concept, or an idea constructed by men? When did this term first emerge among Christians?

I believe in God moving among His people. I long for the salvation of precious people. But what of the origins of the term?

Does anyone have any study or any insight?

Travis,

Ive been thinking about that very thing for a few years now. The Lord doesn't seem to let the term sit right anymore. Lately, I don't even have liberty to pray for it, and am checked every time I try (and I've been present for genuine revival, and the Lord for some reason has used my preaching in it, so I'm not biased).

What we deem as revival seems to me to be the normative state of believers, and those that are not "revived", I have begun to feel may actually need salvation (or sanctification/baptism with the Holy Spirit).

Deep in my spirit I feel that the pursuit of revival has allowed for the church to become apostate, seeking experience rather than salvation, and some ethereal work rather than Jesus.

What is usually deemed revival historically, is nothing more than salvation en masse; but since it happens usually in church buildings or among professing believers, our discernment is biased more towards a renewal than something brand new.

EDIT: When the Lord moved among our house fellowship in CA years ago, and before my wilderness, I was being led to believe that "revival" was an outpouring of the second blessing, as when the Holy Spirit moved in power among us it was when that was being taught. We had people trying to pile into our apartment and spilling outside to hear and seek God among us. But Satan got a foothold and division spread, and the work was quenched. Just an observation.

John 12:32 (KJV)
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all [men] unto me.”

Q… But how do we do that?

…………
elizabeth

Elizabeth: I think John 12:32 is Jesus speaking prophetically of His death, resurrection, and ascention. He said He would be lifted up from the Earth. In a sense that happened on the cross, although I am not certain that is what He meant. For sure that happened when He returned to the Father. He said that no man comes to the Father except he be drawn of the Holy Spirit. He said later in John that it was necessary for Him to go so that the Holy Spirit, the drawer if you will, could come. Just my take on that scripture.

So I guess I am saying that I don't think that this is our job, to figure out how to draw men. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to preach Jesus wherever we go, to make the gospel known.

Greg: That is what I found to be true as I researched as well. The etymology of the word "revival" does not show much usage at all before the 17 or 1800's. So does that make this idea of renewal and awakening an idea from scripture, or the idea of Mather? And, what consequences does this have on how the idea has developed over time?

Thank you Brother Travis, for your thoughtful answer.

As I continue to meditate on this Scripture, … this is my thoughts,..

When we are *Born of God,.. His Spirit has come to live in us,..
or have His *Life in us, then as we *walk in The Spirit, in everything, ,… letting Him speak through us.,,always, then we are *lifting Him ,.. (and not the *flesh up.)
(Christ in you, the hope of glory)..(not I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me).

And that Spirit of God will draw men unto Him.

What do you think?

…………….♥️
elizabeth

I agree 100% with what you are saying, I just don't think that it is what John is saying in this passage.

You've posed a critical question, Travis - what does "revival" mean, is there an equivalent concept in the New Testament, and what is it supposed to accomplish.

I think Farley handles the topic very well in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6yFrqZtxo

What do you think?

More broadly, you might also want to check out this interview with Farley - where he discusses the danger of "adopting our own language to talk about God instead of getting to know God in His language, and the words He chose to express His love toward us":

https://www.acc.edu.au/podcast/andrew-farley/

That advice actually resonates with what Ron Bailey (Philologos) used to do on these forums - insisting that we use biblical vocabulary and language, so that our thinking is based on the truth. I can better appreciate his rigorous approach these days.

On the topic of "revival" - in so far as God is working amongst believers, I believe "visitation of God" or "movement of God" might be better phrases to use than "revival".

Pslam 85 6

4 Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not REVIVE us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.

It's a biblical word, that literally means to live or to revive.
There was a clear example of this on the day of Pentecost, types and shadows happened under the old covenant, when through repentance restoration, and blessing that was bestowed again on Israel.

psl 71 20Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will REVIVE me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.

Psalm 80:18
Then we will not turn away from You; REVIVE us, and we will call on Your name.

Psalm 119:25
My soul cleaves to the dust; REVIVE me according to Your word.

pslam 119 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

Hey Gary,

As you pointed out, the relevant Hebrew word for "revive" means "to live", "to restore to life".

And through the gospel of Christ, all Christians have already been restored to life. God has already "made us alive together with Christ" when we first received His grace for us (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Romans 6 tells us that once we accept Christ, we are united together with Christ in His death, and subsequently have also been revived with Him. This is a one-time thing, as we are only born again once - and we are now permanently united to the Author of Life (1 Cor 6:17, Gal 2:20).

What Christians need is not to be revived again, but to realize what Christ has *already* accomplished for them - to know that they are already alive with Christ. This is the gospel - and when we renew our minds accordingly, we will be transformed into His likeness (Romans 12:2).

If anything, we need a revival of understanding concerning these doctrines. The Farley video I had shared elaborates on this really well.

I like this blog post by Derek Levendusky too, on gospel-centric revival: https://web.archive.org/web/20120315131453/http://www.dereklevendusky.com/?p=1285

Brother when Christians are in a backslidden state, or lukewarm, or vexed from hard trials that have wounded them, revival comes as a grace from God to restore and refresh them back into a state where revelation, realization comes , and to give boldness, among other things, like restoring their conscience from a state of being [seared as tho with a hot iron].

You can't will yourself through efforts of the flesh nor through just meditation of scripture, To Gain {realization} of the finished work. That is the holy Spirit's job to remind, reveal , restore, refresh, and he does this during outpourings of the holy spirit, whether it be corporate or personal.

It's all grace.
Not of works, or religious efforts and ritual
that no man may find a reason to boast.

The problem here is that terms like "revival" and "backsliding" are not found in the New Testament. What do these words exactly mean? Biblically, do those concepts apply to Christians or non-Christians?

In my view (which is shared by other Christians), the popular usage of these words fails to acknowledge the marked difference between Christians and the Israelites of old, or between the New Covenant and the Old.

Isn't it wiser to use New Testament vocabulary and New Testament concepts when it comes to describing the Christian experience?

It's certainly a much safer option - after all, the Word of God is settled in heaven forever (Psalm 119:89), and that includes its vocabulary.