The Watchman's Diary

“So it will be afterward, I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh: your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Also on the male and the female servants will I pour out My spirit in those days.” (Joel 3:1-2)

The prophet Joel prophesied that God would pour out his Spirit in the last days. This has become commonly known as “revival”. The Apostles Peter referred to this prophecy from Joel when he preached his first sermon on Shavuot (Pentecost), after the Holy Spirit appeared on them as tongues of fire. Other revivals have occurred over the centuries, to include: The Great Awakenings in the 17th and 1800s, Welsh Revival in 1906, Azusa Street Revival, etc. 

Some people teach that the sealing of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 will lead to a great revival among the Jewish people. Today, believers in Yeshua are praying and crying out for revival as the world seems to be unraveling at a quickened pace. But no matter the gloom and darkness that seems to be spreading across the world, we must remember the words of Adonai. He says to us, “Rend your heart, not your garments, and turn to Adonai, your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abundant in mercy, and relenting about the calamity due” (Joel 2:13).

Revival begins in the heart! God says, “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting” (Joel 2:12). Yes, there will be revival—the word of God cannot be broken. And though this prophecy was fulfilled in part in the first century we have not yet seen its ultimate fulfillment. Yeshua said, “you will never see Me until you say, ‘Baruch ha-bab’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:35)—not until we have rended our hearts and turn to God. 

Revival, yes! But not later. Let if be so now in your hearts and share the joy of the Lord with others. Let the fire that burns within you—the love of Messiah—spread like a wildfire in a dry, uninhabited grassland. That’s when we will experience revival!