Tent Revivals have been a dime a dozen over the centuries. The idea of revival has been muddled over the years as being en masse evangelization of large numbers of people. In truth revival by definition begins with repentance. People who have been living in sin or lukewarm (Revelation 3:16) feel compunction, compelled to confess their sins and turn to Christ. This is often the misquoted verse, "when my people humble themselves—the ones who are called by my name—and pray, seek me, and turn away from their evil practices, I myself will listen from heaven, I will pardon their sins, and I will restore their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14). The omitted line when it is quoted is "turn from their evil ways (wicked ways)." Revival begins when people are convicted of their wicked ways, and in order for that to happen, typically they must have sufferings imposed on them, losses, and finally they don't find pleasure in the sin. But more so prayer is instrumental in calling a revival. A famous Pietist named Zinzendorf started a 24hr prayer house in Germany, which lasted 100 years and was preceded by The First Great Awakening, a major revival.
I argue right now revival alone isn't the answer to the growing problem in the West. Rather we need more than repentance, we need reform. The Church has become corrupted by the world, with men at pulpit saying you can equally carrying a cross and cash sign, dedicate your life to Jesus' Way and World, but Christ Himself said this isn't possible, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24). The major problem is the Church has become a clone of the world with religious trappings. The Church has become like all organizations, greedy and imitating the world, when Jesus said, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world," (John 17:16), and "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19). Revival isn't going to change anything, especially with the Prosperity Doctrine being attached to the Gospel, telling people incorrectly that following Jesus means high dividends and riches of this world. When Jesus said, "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" (Matthew 6:19-21). It is clear that Reform is needed. Just as Martin Luther was part of reform to effect the corrupt Roman Church, now the Protestant Churches need reform, which chiefly means getting back to Bible which says following Jesus is suffering and money minded.
We have seen a share of revivals come and go last year and before that. North Carolina, and other states of U.S.A reported major revival, but now all the noise about it is over and the status quo is back in full force. It is going to take another Reformation to shake up this indolent, indifferent, and insolent generation in the West. The Reformation will come from Jesus Christ, and it will do more than revive people, it will change how Church is understood and operates, hopefully back to the Church as seen in the New Testament "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer," (Acts 2:42) and, "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop." (1 Corinthians `4:26-30).
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