— Pesach (14th of Abib), 179 JE —
Recently, I did a search for the word “revival” in Sister White’s letters and manuscripts. I spent a few hours researching the 160 hits, and I’d like to share with you some of my findings. I hope this is not too much reading for you; I’ll do my best to keep it as brief as possible. As I’ve seen in my research before, I found that there are two distinct kinds of revival. There is personal revival and there is corporate revival. They both have similar qualities, but they come about in different ways; and one can lead to the other (personal to corporate or corporate to personal). I would here like to focus on public revival and share some of the quotes I found.
I want you to notice a pattern. Repentance seems to be the key ingredient for both personal and corporate revival. In personal revival, I believe it happens as we spend much time with GOD, especially in earnest prayer, but also in reading His Word. But in corporate revival, here is the pattern that I find:
It begins with preaching, which is designed to be straight and cutting, causing conviction, warning of the judgments of GOD and providing the remedy of our SAVIOUR. From 1888 CE and onward, the reviving theme is the righteousness of CHRIST, in relation to the Law, and this produced good results in meetings from 1889 through the ‘90s. Then, perhaps the most important thing that took place was at the end of the preaching, a call for people to come up to the front—for making decisions and special prayer. Finally, afterwards, there was a praise/testimony/social meeting; sometimes these went on for hours, and it was during these times that public confessions were made, and the Spirit of GOD would especially be poured out.
These kinds events will not, cannot, happen until we (1) re-establish in our congregations the social meeting for bearing our weekly testimonies, everyone encouraged to participate, which means this should take a substantial amount of time and cutting sermons out or shortening them; and (2) re-establish multi-week evangelistic camp meetings where these public revival meetings can take place.
Unless we know how to regularly practice them locally, we cannot have them in our camp meetings; and until we have evangelistic camp meetings (instead of long weekend retreats), the church will never expand much, for in the days of our pioneers hundreds would be converted at every camp meeting and then baptized, with meeting houses erected in the area of the meeting. New methods of evangelism that have been taking place in modern Adventism, such as seminars (though they have their place), just do not work nearly as well and do not afford the same opportunity for corporate revival. People are coming into Adventism with a mere head knowledge, and then they either go back to the world or become very complacent or their message becomes “the Sabbath is Saturday!” or “Beware of the popes and Jesuits and New World Order!” or “the Sunday Law is coming!”
So, here are some quotes I found. I hope you will share with me what you think of them in the comments below.
When the invitation was given to come forward he did not move. I went to him and invited him to make his decision then, for “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” He didn’t come forward but bowed then and there on his knees, which I know was a surrender to God. Oh, the Lord came near unto us, and His Holy Spirit in rich measure flowed into our hearts. I think the ministers have had as great a revival as any at this meeting. They have gained an experience that there must be most thorough plowing, that the fallow ground of the heart shall be broken up.
These meetings that call the church to make some demonstration are just what is needed to break the spell of indifference, give spiritual activity, and awaken them to life. And as they draw nigh to God, they realize that the Lord draws nigh unto them, and then they feel the peace, the quickening influence of His Holy Spirit. They are in truth wonderfully helped, for all are ready to bear their testimony and this helps them. I believe the Lord will work for this people. I am sure the Lord has a people here in this place.
Letter 123, 1895
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We see that there is need of revival all through our churches. There are babes and dwarfs, when there ought to be, in their place, men and women, growing up into Christ, their living head. I have labored most earnestly with our people, and have become fully convinced of the great need of a different kind of labor from what the churches have had. There has been the need of much dwelling upon the law, but the faith of Jesus has also to be presented in connection with the necessity of keeping the commandments of God. In every church there is need of the simplicity of living, abiding faith. Our teachers have not all been skillful in appropriating the work of righteousness, applying the truth to their own hearts, and to the hearts of their hearers. Many are dull of hearing. Their spiritual perceptions are not acute. They are not quick in discerning the work of the Spirit of God.
Manuscript 25a, 1895
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There are too few revival efforts made. There is too little seeking of the Lord. The most determined efforts should be made to arouse the people. At the close of every meeting decisions should be called for.
Manuscript 16, 1900
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Here are some examples of corporate revival:
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Brother Corliss spoke at 11 a.m., and a revival effort was made. About seventy-five responded. Then opportunity was given for testimonies, and the meeting continued until about two o’clock. This was a most blessed meeting. I spoke at 3 p.m. from (John 15)—the vine and the branches. The Lord gave me freedom. There was fully as large an attendance as we had last year on the Sabbath at Middle Brighton. There was a large number present who were not of our faith, and many of them seemed deeply interested.
Letter 83, 1894
After a discourse the meeting was divided. Those who desired special help and those who wished baptism were requested to go to my large tent for an inquiry meeting; the young people and children went to the children’s tent and the canvassers to the dining tent; the others remained in the large tent, and we had an excellent testimony meeting. Many outsiders remained until the very close of the meeting, which was a season of praise and thanksgiving to God. This was a very precious occasion, and we all, both ministers and people, needed this encouragement.
Letter 83, 1894
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The forenoon meeting was conducted by Elder Corliss. After his discourse, a revival effort was made. Many came forward for prayer. The meetings all through the day have been excellent. After the discourse in the afternoon, we had a testimony meeting, and many excellent testimonies were borne. One precious soul was keeping her first Sabbath. One intelligent-looking man who is an outsider said that he had learned more of Jesus in this one meeting than in all the church services he had ever attended. This day has been precious to my soul.
Manuscript 41, 1894
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The forenoon meeting was conducted by Elder Corliss. After his discourse a revival effort was made, and many came forward for prayers. After the discourse in the afternoon we had a testimony meeting and many precious experiences were related. One precious soul was keeping her first Sabbath. An intelligent looking man from the outside said that he had learned more of Jesus in that one meeting than he had learned through all his former church experience.
Manuscript 1, 1895
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Then we made a revival effort, and most of the congregation came forward, kneeling, in the place of sitting upon the seats. Oh, the place seemed sacred to me! Angels of God were in our midst; Jesus was there, and His presence was felt sensibly. The kneeling ones were requested to wait while some remarks were made. Then we all knelt and Brother Wilson, Corliss, Baker, and myself prayed. The Lord indicted prayer and the Lord heard [our] prayer. We felt the Holy Spirit’s presence.
We then gave opportunity for a testimony meeting. We had a large number of testimonies given, acknowledging the blessing of the Lord on that occasion. We knew that we had a victory that day.
Manuscript 61b, 1895
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O, it was a remarkable meeting, a decided revival. The testimony given me by the Lord was received, and God made an impression on hearts. One hundred and twenty testimonies were borne, and many unconverted sought the Lord. No one could doubt for a moment that the Lord was in the meeting. The meeting lasted three hours, and we felt that it was three hours well spent. I have never addressed a more intelligent audience or met with a better response.
Letter 13, 1901
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Here is a revival meeting gone wrong, lacking the key ingredient, with inspired advice given:
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In the work of ministers and laymen who have not a daily connection with God there is not that which will stand the test of storm and tempest. A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches, and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, without regard to his past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus.
The Old and New Testament Scriptures show us the only way in which this work should be done. Repent, repent, [repent,] was the message rung out by John the Baptist in the wilderness. Christ’s message to the people was, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5. And the apostles were commanded to preach everywhere that men should repent.
The Lord desires His servants today to preach the old gospel doctrine, sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession. We want old-fashioned sermons, old-fashioned customs, old-fashioned fathers and mothers in Israel. The sinner must be labored for, perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until he shall see that he is a transgressor of God’s law, and shall exercise repentance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. When the sinner is conscious of his helpless condition, and feels his need of a Saviour, he may come with hope and faith to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Christ will accept the soul that comes to Him in true repentance. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise.
Manuscript 82, 1894
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Here is one more quote, not from the Letters and Manuscripts, but I believe the key ingredient for the great corporate revival that will come to Adventism:
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It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.
Great Controversy, p. 478
For further reading, please read/review the sections “Praise Meetings” and “Revival Efforts” from pages 62 to 67 of 6 Testimonies. Also, see our Corporate Revival Plan at brightbeams.org/corporate-revival-plan. We finally have our revival and reformation sections on the Bright Beams Mission website presentable and in working order, so feel free to browse Personal Revival Plan (which focuses on how to practically have a rich and powerful devotional life, and linked to at the top of that page) and the Reformation section (including certain reforms from the Testimonies that the Reform Movement, as well as mainstream and independent groups, has neglected, which holding back the outpouring of the Spirit of GOD). Here is the direct link to the Reformation section: brightbeams.org/reformation.
