Now and then we hear news of “revival.” I can think of several times during my ministry where talk of revival was commonplace, including last February (2023) with the events at Asbury University in Kentucky.

Naturally, pastors and ministry leaders get asked a lot of questions during these seasons. People are curious and asking – what should we make of all this “revival” talk? It is appropriate to turn to the work of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), in order to answer this. Edwards was colonial era pastor ministering in the frontier town of Northampton, MA, and had profound insights into the nature of genuine revival.

Edwards wrote several books describing or defending revival, based upon his pastoral experience during two major seasons of revival. The first was called “A Narrative of the Surprising work of God in the conversion of many hundreds of souls in Northampton and the neighboring towns and villages.” (How about that for a title?)

He writes, “There was scarcely a single person in the town, old or young, left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world. Those who were wont to be the vainest and loosest, and those who had been disposed to think and speak lightly of vital and experimental religion, were now generally subject to great awakenings. And the work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ.”

This was a glorious time. Edwards called it, “a surprising work of God.” But revival doesn’t last forever and after 1735, things started to die down. However, just a few years later, revival fires were once again stirring. 

Historian George Marsden explains, “In early March (1741) there was no denying that an awakening was sweeping Boston in a way that might not have been thought possible a year earlier. By the end of April thousands of people were crowding into Tuesday and Friday “lecture” sermons, so that the three largest churches had to be opened to accommodate the throngs” (Jonathan Edwards: A Life).

There were actually plenty of people who were not happy, including some ministers. The venerable Charles Chauncey, who pastored one of Boston’s prestigious churches, was among the critics. He wrote a 400 page critique of the revival called “Seasonable Thoughts on the State of Religion in New England” (1743). His take was that, “Religion of late, has been more a commotion in the passions, than in a change of the temper of the mind.”

Chauncey saw the revival as a prime example of emotionalism gone wild. In his mind, the revival was nothing more than sensationalism, the work of the devil. Indeed, in a lot of cases, things had gotten out of hand. But Edwards knew that you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Wild fanaticism was occurring, and yet there was also a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. It was undeniable.

Edwards wrote The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God as a defense of the revival.It has become a classic in understanding that nature of genuine revival. Interestingly enough, Edwards wrote this a few months after he preached his famous sermon, “Sinners in the hands on an Angry God” (July 8, 1741 in Enfield, CT).

In this little book, Edwards asks, what are the sure and distinguishing marks by which we may use in order to judge what appears to be a revival, without danger of being misled?

First, he lists what he calls “negative” signs. These are actually neutral signs – they could go either way. These include unusual occurrences, physical effects, a change in zeal or affection, the exercise of the imagination. Edwards argues that just because you see something strange or unusual, doesn’t mean it’s not of God. It could be of God, or it could be a Satan, the great counterfeiter. His point is that nothing can be definitely concluded from these negative signs.

Edwards then turns to John’s first epistle. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  

This “testing of the spirits” indicate that either you have demonic spirits who produce false prophets, or you have the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24) which governs and controls the true prophet, who speaks the Word of God. In other words, test the teaching. Don’t believe everything you hear. Be discerning. This was true during the early church period, and it is still true today.   

Edwards proceeds to list 5 “marks” of genuine revival, based upon 1 John 4:1-7.  

Jesus is Exalted

He writes, “When the operation is such as to raise their esteem of that Jesus who was born of the Virgin, and was crucified outside the gates of Jerusalem; and seems more to confirm and establish their minds in the truth of what the gospel declares to us of his being the Son of God, and the Savior of men; it is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God.”

In sum, does the teaching (and the teacher) exalt the Lord Jesus Christ? Does it point us to his worth and “excellency”? Does it highlight the power of God in the gospel?

It opposes Satan’s Kingdom

Edwards writes, “When the Spirit that is at work operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom, which lies in encouraging and establishing sin, and cherishing men’s worldly lusts; this is a sure sign that it is a true, and not a false, spirit.”

According to Edwards, Satan’s interests lie in encouraging sin, and promoting worldly lusts among humanity. When a Spirit or a teaching opposes the interests of Satan and his kingdom, it is genuinely of God. When a people take heed to “not love the world” (1 John 2:15), that is a sure and certain sign the Spirit is of God. 

God’s Word is venerated

In revival, there is a move toward the Word of God. People who have never read the Bible before, start to read it. People who have seldom read the Bible, start to dig deeply into it. When you have revival, the Bible comes into view in a new and profound way.

Edwards draws from 1 John 4:6. “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”   

Edwards is saying that God called and sent all the apostles (John included) to teach his word. Their teaching serves as the foundation of the church. Therefore, to listen to them, was to listen to God himself.    

By way of application, if there are hours and hours of singing and worship music, but very little in the way of teaching, preaching, and bible exposition, there is reason to question the movement. There might be a sudden burst of revival energy, but it won’t last if the word of God is not at the center of everything.

Edwards puts it this way: “The devil never would attempt to beget in persons a regard to that divine word . . . . A spirit of delusion will not incline persons to seek direction at the mouth of God.”

In true revival, God’s word is esteemed and venerated. As the revival touches people, they seek to submit themselves in obedience to the teaching of Scripture.  

Truth is Revealed

The culture of our day tends to choke on the word “truth.” We are more comfortable joining the likes of Pilate when he asked, “what is truth?” (John 18:38) than we are with the propositional statements of the Bible.

Again, we must turn to the wisdom of Jonathan Edwards. “If we observe that the spirit at work makes men more sensible than they used to be, that there is a God, and that he is a great and sin-hating God; that life is short, and very uncertain; and that there is another world; that they have immortal souls, and must give account of themselves to God……the spirit that works thus, operates as a spirit of truth; he represents things as they truly are.”

In revival, God suddenly lights up the truth. There a God who hates sin. Life is short. There is another world. One day they will stand before God to be judged. These truths become front and center, and people respond accordingly to them.  

Loving God and Others

The Canadian revival of the early 1970’s was marked by love. Everywhere the revival went, they called it a “revolution of love.” The world around couldn’t help but notice. We might say this was true of all revival movements down through history.  

Edwards states, “If the spirit that is at work among a people operates as a spirit of love to God and man, it is a sure sign that it is the Spirit of God. This sign the apostle insists upon from the 6^th verse to the end of the chapter . . .and speaks expressly of both love to God and men (1 John 4:7-19).  

Satan works to promote superficial, self-serving, conditional love. Conversely, our Lord said, “A new commandment that I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34).

As pastors and ministry leaders strive to discern what genuine revival is, and isn’t, there is no better guide than Jonathan Edwards. His work is thoroughly biblical, and it has the ability to sift through the counterfeit to the heart of the matter.

Undoubtedly, there will be talk of revival in days to come. If you have never read Edwards’ Distinguishing Marks, give it a try. It’s not long, and I am certain you will find it edifying.