Revival History

The Reviving Work of the Holy Spirit Throughout the Centuries

Because the history of Christianity has been tarnished by the failures of men, it has been necessary for God to continually breath new life into His bride. The Church forsakes her First Love (intimacy with God and the daily guidance of His Spirit) and substitutes mere religion (institutional, ecclesiastical and ceremonial). This has happened in nearly every generation.

In this brief overview we will see that the Holy Spirit has been alive and well throughout the centuries actively resuscitating His Church ...in many nations and among many denominations. This brief study is in no way meant to promote any denomination... only to reveal the true workings of the Holy Spirit throughout the ages. Many accounts of Church history have been "sanitized" ... removing all mention of supernatural manifestations.

Apostolic age	1st Century	Many Salvations, Signs and Wonders
Justin Martyr and other early church fathers	100-165	Wrote about having authority over demons and sicknesses
Montanus (Montanists)	172	Probably the first "charismatic" renewal movement of the Church, emphasizing spiritual gifts (especially prophecy) to counter an institutional, ecclesiastical church with growing moral laxity. They were censured by the established church. By the beginning of the 3rd century they too became "institutional"
Origen (1st Systematic Theologian)	185-284	Declares in his writings that by the 3rd Century signs had diminished. The freedom of the Spirit was being replaced by ceremonial ritual.
Constantine converts to Christianity	312	The Church comes into earthly power and influence. Spirit life rapidly declines. Constantine built the first churches. Prior to this time Christians met in homes. The churches were fashioned after the civic auditoriums with throne like seating for the bishops and rows for the congregation. This made significant congregational involvement impractical. The worship style, which was once simple, was now adorned with the pomp and practice of the Imperial court.
Anthony (Monasticism)	251-356	Recognized as the founder of Monasticism. Devout believers who lived ascetic lives in an effort to experience the presence and power of God in a very personal way. Many lived as hermits.
Monasteries	600-1517	Christian communities in complete devotion to God. They gave themselves to prayer, study and meditation. Many monks were noted for their power in prayer and their ability to bring healing, deliverance and other miracles.
Dominic (Dominicans)	1170-1221	Raised the dead, visions, spoke in tongues...Missions
Francis of Assisi (Franciscans)	1181-1226	Was told by God “Go and repair my house which is fallen down.” Miracles, tongues, prophecy, healings, a great revival, works of mercy.
Vincent (Dominican preacher)	1315-1419	When he preached there was very strong conviction of sin with much weeping and "falling under the power."
Cathari (meaning pure)	1229	Persecuted by the institutional church and branded as heretics for being evangelistic and flowing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was after they gave strong scriptural defense at their trial that the Roman Catholic Church forbade layman the use of vernacular translations of the Bible.

Peter Waldo (Waldenses)	France	1176-1270	Began as a Catholic renewal movement but later accused of witchcraft as signs and wonders accompanied their preaching.
Martin Luther	Germany	1483-1546	Reformed church doctrine: selling of indulgences, Scripture as final authority, Salvation by faith Open to the miraculous. Prayed for the sick.
Anabaptists (one who rebaptizes)	Switzerland	1527-	They would dance, fall under the power and speak in tongues. They chided Luther and Zwingli for prohibiting the operation of the gifts of the Spirit in the organized church. To counteract, adult baptism was made a capital offense.
French Prophets (Huguenots)	France	1560	They emerged from French Catholicism. Noted for their strong prophetic gifts ..even among young children. 14 mos.-3 yrs. Persecuted by the French government.
George Fox (Quakers)	England	1650	The Holy Spirit trying to reform the Church of England. Fox emphasized the indwelling Christ instead of ritual and ceremony. Many Holy Spirit manifestations accompanied them, especially shaking. At one point 15,000 were held in English prisons.
Pietism	Germany	1680	Lutheranism had already become intellectual and stale. This German renewal sought to rectify.
Count Zinsendorf (Moravians)		1727	An extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit with many manifestations... the results of 24/7 fervent prayer for over 100 years. Perhaps the most committed Christian group in history. 1 in 12 went to the mission field... even selling themselves as slaves for the purpose of witnessing to slaves. Many of the 18th century revivalists could trace their roots to the Moravians.
The Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards George Whitfield	Eastern USA	1734-1775	Mighty Revival in the United States marked by strong conviction of sin and glorious signs and wonders including falling, crying out, shaking etc. Edwards famous sermon ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’ depicted the horrors of hell.
John Wesley (Methodist Revival) George Whitfield	England	1750	He and his followers experienced a powerful move of the Spirit accompanied by great signs and wonders including falling, shaking, laughing etc. He emphasized a second experience that he called "entire sanctification." Wesley rode on horseback throughout England. Was ostracized by the established church.
John Fletcher	England	1750	A friend of Wesley’s called the second experience "the Baptism in the Holy Spirit." He is considered the Father of modern Pentecostalism. Fletcher influenced the 19th Century Holiness advocates and they influenced the 20th Century Pentecostals.
Second Great Awakening James McGready Barton Stone Cane Ridge Revival	Eastern USA Kentucky Western Frontier	1800-1840	Glorious revival on the east coast and the western frontier. In Kentucky alone between 1800-03. 10,000 were added to the Baptists and 40,000 to the Methodists. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit were powerfully present.
Edward Irving	Scotland	1792-1834	A Holy Ghost outbreak including speaking in tongues and healings. Irving identified speaking in tongues with the Baptism in the Spirit 70 years before the Pentecostal movement began. He was excommunicated from the Church of Scotland.
Holiness Movement	USA Great Britain Canada	19th Century	A renewal movement within Methodism to recover religious fervor and Wesley’s "second work of grace."

Phoebe Palmer	USA England Canada	1807-1874	Thousands saved and filled with the Holy Spirit during her meetings. Wrote 3 books about holiness.
Charles Finney	USA New York	1792-1873	Revival that impacted entire communities. Many fell under the power, weeping and crying out in repentance.
Dwight L. Moody	USA England	1873-1899	Won thousands to Christ after being Baptized in the Spirit.
Charles Fox Parham	USA	1873-1929	Bethel Bible College, Topeka Kansas experienced a Holy Ghost outpouring. Students spoke in tongues. 12/31/1900. Parham taught Seymour.
The Welch Revival Evan Roberts	Wales England Ireland Australia United States	1904-1912	A young Welshman has an encounter with God and carries the message of repentance to his people. Thousands are saved and the Church is gloriously revived. Jails are empty; judges have little to do! England and Ireland are profoundly affected also. Roberts' message was concise: 1) You must confess every know sin to God and make every wrong done to man right. 2) You must remove every doubtful habit from your life. 3) You must obey the Spirit promptly. 4) You must go public with your witness of Christ. The United States began to feel the first waves of this revival in 1905.
Azusa Street Revival William Seymour Frank Bartlemen	USA… worldwide	1906-1908	Seymour gave himself almost constantly to prayer for a "new Pentecost." He was fired from his pastorate when he preached about the Baptism with evidence of speaking in tongues. Seymour was eating dinner with the Asberry’s on Bonnie Bray St. in LA when Richard Asberry suddenly fell to the floor speaking in tongues. They moved to 312 Azusa St. Apr.14, 1906. For about 2 years God poured out…. changing Christianity forever. Missionaries came from all over the world to be filled with God’s power and countless souls have been saved as a result. The effects of that great outpouring spread throughout the USA, Europe, Africa, China, India, etc.
David Wesley Myland	USA	1910	Wrote a book that was called the Latter Rain Covenant comparing the natural former and latter rains of Israel with the church age. Declaring Pentecost and the 1st Century with the "former rain" and the Azusa Street outpouring and following as the "latter rain." with a long dry season in between.
Healing Revival William Branham Oral Roberts Kathryn Kuhlman	USA world	1947-1960	Many healing evangelist were raised up to demonstrate God’s power to heal. Many were saved. An important link between the Pentecostal Movement and the Charismatic renewal.
Latter Rain Revival	Canada USA world	1948	Running parallel with the healing revival. Many flocked to North Battleford, Saskatchewan to be filled. This movement recognized modern day apostles and prophets.
The Charismatic Movement Dennis Bennett	Worldwide	1960-	This renewal movement was marked by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the operation of the Gifts within the mainline denominations... touching the lives of millions around the world. Charismatics were encouraged to remain in their churches, but some were put out. Others left because they felt they were not being fed.
The 3rd Wave C. Peter Wagner John Wimber	USA	1983-1993	Renewal movement among Evangelicals... with signs and wonders taking place at Fuller Theological Seminary! The Vineyard Fellowship was birthed as a result of this move of God.
The Toronto Blessing John Arnott Rodney Howard-Browne	Worldwide	1994-	Refreshing move of the Spirit with manifestations of laughing, falling, shaking etc. Most notable outpouring at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship since Jan. 20, 1994. Millions have traveled to Toronto and carried the fire to their home churches. Intimate worship is paramount...with thousands of testimonies of healing and deliverance.

Latter Rain Revival