A Counterfeit Revival

A Miracle from God?

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible."--Matthew 24:24

A global religious revival based upon signs, wonders and miracles seems like a utopian fantasy these days. And yet biblical prophecy reveals that incredible supernatural events that science won't be able to explain are going to occur throughout the world in the last days.

Well, how can we be sure? We can be sure of that because Jesus Christ himself, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Trinity told us so. 

In his famous discourse he had with His disciples shortly before he went to His crucifixion, Christ revealed nine specific signs that would signal that His return was near. Here are those signs: (1) The appearance of false messiahs; (2) the increase in wars and rumors of wars; (3) the rise in conflicts between nations; (4) the increase of famines and earthquakes; (5) the persecution of true Christians; (6) the decline of Christianity; (7) the appearance of many charismatic false prophets; (8) the explosion of wickedness and crime worldwide and (9) the gospel being preached to every nation on earth. (Matthew 24)

Christ's prophecy concerning the global increase in famines and earthquakes in the last days is being fulfilled. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) approximately 330 minor and major earthquakes occurred across the world between 1900 and 1950. However, since 1950, the USGS has recorded an astounding 1,008 earthquakes worldwide; an increase of over 300 percent from the 1900-1950 period. 

Furthermore, according to the USGS,  the world experienced 27 major famines during the nineteenth century while that figure rose to 37 major famines globally during the last century. And the USGS reports that 14 major famines have already struck the world during the current century that is only 12 years old. If the trend continues, the world will experience more famines in the 21^st century than in any previous century. And that's definitely a fulfillment of Christ's prophecy.

But Christ's prophecy concerning the explosion of supernatural events across the world in the last days is indeed intriguing because very few miracles have occurred over the past 2,000 years since the early days of Christianity. Like Christ, the apostle Paul also revealed that miracles would begin appearing all over the earth in the very last days directly preceding the appearance of a wicked global leader the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. 

Paul wrote this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

This is going to be an extremely potent revival. And it's going to be a bad one because it's going to be based upon supernatural phenomena rather historical revivals that were based upon repentance from sin, the recognition of Christ's atonement for all sin on the cross and the pursuit of holiness.

But what's going to spark this revival? I believe that we're going to see an increase in Marian apparitions worldwide that's going to be the progenitor of supernatural events. Why Marian apparitions? Because the Virgin Mary (not to be confused with the Biblical Mary or Miriam who bore the physical body of Christ) is recognized globally by over one billion Roman Catholics and over one billion Muslims. She could very well be the religious figure that has the ability to unify the world. And more Marian apparition sightings were reported worldwide during the 20th century than in any other century in recorded history.
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/aprtable.html

And so, be ready because a spiritual revival is coming that will be unlike anything we've ever seen. It will be deadly. And it will even be embraced by many confessing Christians who will be taken in by this powerful delusion. What will culminate with this revival? A global religion; the appearance of the Antichrist and the terrible persecution of those who will refuse to go along with this counterfeit revival.