Revival Prophecies

At least 14 books of the Old Testament promise a remarkable change in the world. Though now the gate is narrow, persecution is promised to the little flock of believers, and few are chosen, the OT promises that a revival is coming.

This revival is complex, but there are 4 positive elements commonly repeated in the prophecies.

• Israel will be saved. This country will believe in Jehovah. He will be their God, and they will be His people.
• The nations will be saved. A day is coming when the earth will be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
• Israel will be prosperous. The country will have successful harvests, safe houses, happy families, and respect from the world.
• The nations will be prosperous. Not only Israel, but all nations will be wealthy and safe.

These messages are found in 92 prophecies which employ some of the most striking metaphors and pictures in the Bible.

Observations

1. Many times, God promises that He will not forsake Israel, but that He will regather them to the land of their fathers.
2. A complete conversion of the nation of Israel to the one, true God is promised repeatedly.
3. A complete conversion of the nations of the world to the one, true God is promised repeatedly.
4. The metaphors and terms of these prophecies overwhelm the imagination with thoughts of a Christian world—like the waters cover the sea, to the ends of the earth, change weapons to business tools, all the kings of the earth, all nations, all the ends of the earth, all families, etc.
5. A universal prosperity where Israel is not threatened, there is no war in the earth, wild animals are no longer wild, and harvests are abundant is promised repeatedly in the OT, but not as often as the promises of conversion.
6. This age of prosperity is commonly called “in that day” or “the day of the Lord.”
7. Before this Golden Age, before Israel’s revival, there will be terrible judgment called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” in which many will die both of the Jews and the nations (Jer. 25:29-33; 30:5-6; Dan. 12:1, et. al.).
8. During this Golden Age, there will still be sin and death in the world (Zech. 13:3; 14:17; Is. 65:20; Ez. 11:21; 47:10).
9. The feasts, death penalties, and sacrifices of the Law of Moses are found in this time (Is. 19:21; Jer. 33:18; Zech. 13:3; 14:16; Mal. 1:11, et. al.).
10. 14 of the 16 OT prophets and numerous psalms record Golden Age prophecies making this theme the most commonly inspired prophecy in the OT.
11. 8 of the 16 OT prophets end their books with clear statements about hope in the Golden Age—Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah.
12. The descendants of Abraham are contrasted with the nations by at least 8 specific, historic, ethnic names : Jews, Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, Zion, house of Joseph, Ephraim, and my people.
13. Specific names for other nations, cities, and geographical features are used commonly in the Golden Age prophecies: Moab, Ammon, Edom, Egypt, etc.
14. The pattern of terrible judgment before amazing blessing (bitter before the sweet) sounds just like the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21), John’s Revelation, and the NT motif of suffering persecution before the Blessed Hope.
15. Israel is first called in Genesis, then redeemed in Exodus, then judged terribly and at length for her vile sins in the prophets, and then finally regathered, converted, and made prosperous in the land of her fathers “in the day of the Lord.”
16. 95% of the prophecies explicitly speak of spiritual revival either among Israel or the entire world.

Best Phrases for Prayer and Hope

1. “May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth.” Ps. 72:8
2. “And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.” Ps. 72:11
3. “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship…” Ps. 86:9
4. “The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.” Is. 2:9
5. “All mankind will come to bow down before Me.” Is. 65:23
6. “They will all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them.” Jer. 31:34
7. “All the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him,” Zeph. 2:11
8. Ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Zech. 8:23
9. “The Lord will be king over all the earth.” Zech. 14:9
10. “From the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations.” Mal. 1:11

Prophecies per book

1. Psalms—15
2. Isaiah—25
3. Jeremiah—14
4. Ezekiel—12
5. Daniel—1
6. Hosea—4
7. Joel—2
8. Amos—1
9. Obadiah—1
10. Micah—3
11. Nahum—1
12. Habakkuk—2
13. Zephaniah—2
14. Zechariah—7
15. Malachi—2
    TOTAL—92

Conclusions

1. The Holy Spirit wanted these themes to be not only declared, but emphasized.
2. A great revival is coming to the nation of Israel and the entire world.
3. The clarity and repetition of the words must be fulfilled on earth with Israel and the nations of the world. It is entirely foreign to the laws of language to see these prophecies happening now in our hearts, or in the churches around the world, or in the future in Heaven.
4. The modern history of Israel since 1948 fits this revelation: the regathering has begun, but they are still hard and darkened.
5. These truths should fill us with a grand, ultimate hope. We should expect these things to happen. Massive revivals are a Blessed Hope to which we should look eagerly.
6. We should pray the exact phrases that are so hopeful and victorious.