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.
With
every truly converted soul the relation to God and to eternal things
will be the great topic of life. But where, in the popular churches of
today, is the spirit of consecration to God? The converts do not
renounce their pride and love of the world. They are no more willing to
deny self, to take up the cross, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus,
than before their conversion. Religion has become the sport of infidels
and skeptics because so many who bear its name are ignorant of its
principles. The power of godliness has well-nigh departed from many of
the churches. Picnics, church theatricals,
church fairs, fine houses, personal display, have banished thoughts of
God. Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind, and
things of eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice.
Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. 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. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.
In
many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century,
the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that
will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. There
is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that
is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of
God's word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these
movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away
from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and
renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God's blessing is
not bestowed. And by the rule which Christ Himself has given, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16), it is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of God. Great Controversy p. 464
