The Coming Counterfeit Revival is Prophesied

The Bible tells us of a coming counterfeit revival before the return of the Lord that will be both of such magnitude as to deceive the whole world and of such persuasion as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. This counterfeit revival will be a judgment of God on those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. God has not hidden the truth that there is coming a counterfeit revival – He has warned us of its coming – and it is every person’s responsibility to know what God has said in the Bible on this subject. It is to this end that we examine the Scriptures to see whether these things are so. This coming counterfeit revival is prophesied, classified and clarified in the Bible. Therefore take heed that the thing spoken of will not come upon you.

The Coming Counterfeit Revival is Prophesied

The Bible doesn’t hide the fact that the last days will be days of great deception. We are told of an increase in false prophets, false Christs, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons. The outcome will be a counterfeit revival and this too is prophesied in the Bible. “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

The apostasy the Bible is talking about is the counterfeit revival. The apostasy is a turning away from the truth and turning to lies disguised as the truth. The last days will seem like days of great revival with multitudes holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power.

This apostasy, this departure from the true gospel, will culminate in a counterfeit revival to the extent that it will appear to be a turning to truth instead of a departure from truth. And because men are prone to judge by appearance rather than make a righteous judgment, pragmatism (if it gets results it must be true) will rule the day and many will turn to lies disguised as truth and believe this to be revival.

The apostasy that must come first before the Lord comes and we are gathered together to Him is tied in the Bible to the man of lawlessness – the antichrist. This apostasy, this counterfeit revival, will result in the manifestation of the man of lawlessness, the counterfeit Christ. Many fancy that they would never be deceived by the antichrist but the Bible prophesies that many will be deceived and that many of those believe themselves to be true Christians when they are in fact counterfeit Christians.

For there to be a counterfeit revival presupposes that there will be a counterfeit gospel and counterfeit preachers and counterfeit Christians and a counterfeit Christ; all of which the Bible clearly and unmistakably prophesies. We are told of another Jesus, a different spirit, a different gospel, and false apostles disguising themselves as apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3-15). This being true, we would be wise to heed the admonition of the Scripture and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed…ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

The Bible’s prophecy of the coming counterfeit revival is so strong that we read these words: “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance” (Matthew 24:24-25). “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). This is the apostasy; this is the coming counterfeit revival that is prophesied.