Don't Look For Revival

Amos 5:18-20
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

I have been meditating on an idea and wanted to share my thoughts. Most Christians look for revival, pray for revival, and attend revival meetings. We hunger for any manifestation of the Spirit. Recently the revival in Lakeland, Florida has been the center of attention. There is documented healing and people claim they met with God. When Todd Bentley, the leader of these meetings, confessed he was involved in sin I started to consider a thought. When most people were discouraged and sorrowful I was actually excited. Why? Because God does not tell His people that the last days will be glorious. He prophesies that people will be more evil and more rebellious than ever. Christian rationalize that if God's presence is decending on earth that life will improve. More people will be saved, more people will be healed, and blessings will increase. This, in my estimation, is not accurate. Yes, Christians are obligated to improve the life of those around them. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. When we serve God and our fellow man the atmosphere is changed. Still, I would suggest that when people start to slander you this is a better sign that God is returning soon. When people stop listening to instruction and blaspheme God's word start to celebrate. When people grow more wicked remind yourself that Jesus said this would happen. Don't expect life to improve because darkness will increase. I know we want to think that the church's love and power will convert the world from hatred to love. But, this is not what the Bible tells us. God's church will be glorious at the end of the age not because her surroundings improve. Everyone will not join her in her beauty. She followed her Lord while living in a sin stained world. She will be brighter because the world will be darker. She will be glorious because she perservered during percecution and temptation. It gets worse before it gets better.