The Coming Counterfeit Revival is Classified

The coming counterfeit revival is not only prophesied, it is also classified. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the elements of the counterfeit revival are classified. These elements are there but they are not understood by all because of their classification. Jesus said, “To you (you who have received the truth) it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (those who have rejected the truth) it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:11-13). These truths are classified for the purpose of judgment.

First we notice that there is a contrast between two sowers and two kinds of seed. One sower sows good seed. This is the Son of Man and the good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The Son of Man sows the true gospel, good seed, and it produces true Christians, sons of the kingdom. The other sower sows tares (weeds that look like wheat). This is the devil and the weed seeds are the sons of the evil one. The devil sows bad seed, weed seeds, a false and degenerate gospel, and it produces children of the devil – counterfeit Christians. So there we have the problem – a counterfeit gospel and a counterfeit preacher – and its product – counterfeit Christians – children of the evil one who believe that they are children of God. Don’t forget that these truths are classified for the purpose of judgment. Men and women who want nothing to do with the glorious God of the Bible but instead want to believe in a God after their own making will believe in the devil’s alternative and counterfeit and will be judged and condemned.

Next we notice the classification of the procedure of the coming counterfeit revival. “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn’” (Matthew 13:30).

This procedure of gathering up the tares and binding them in bundles – first – speaks of the apostasy; the coming counterfeit revival. Before the wheat (sons of the kingdom) are gathered into the barn, the tares (sons of the evil one) are gathered up in bundles. Before the rapture – the gathering of the wheat into the barn – the apostasy must come first – gathering and bundling of the tares.

The coming counterfeit revival is prophesied in God’s Word and the problem – a counterfeit gospel and counterfeit preachers; the product – counterfeit Christians; and the procedure – counterfeit revival – are classified in God’s Word.