Jonathan Edwards and 5 Signs of True Revival

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, people ask pastors a lot of questions during these seasons. Church members ask, “What are we to make of all this mention of revival?” It is appropriate to turn to the work of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) to answer this. Edwards was a colonial-era pastor ministering in the frontier town of Northampton, Mass. He had profound insights into the nature of genuine revival.

Edwards wrote several books describing or defending revival based on his pastoral experience during two major revival seasons. The first was “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 descriptive 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. After 1735, things started to die. However, just a few years later, revival fires stirred once again.  

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 plenty of unhappy people, 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 many cases, things had gotten out of hand. But Edwards knew you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Wild fanaticism was occurring, 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 to defend the revival.It has become a classic in understanding the nature of genuine revival. Interestingly, Edwards wrote this a few months after preaching his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (July 8, 1741, in Enfield, CT). 

In this little book, Edwards asks, what are the sure and distinguishing marks we may use 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, and 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 we can conclude nothing definite 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” indicates that either you have demonic spirits that 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 in the early church and is still true today.   

Edwards lists five “marks” of genuine revival, based upon 1 John 4:1-7.  

1. It exalts Jesus

Edwards 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? 

2. 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 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.  

3. It venerates God’s Word

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 begin digging 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 is to listen to God himself.  

By way of application, there is reason to question the movement if there are hours and hours of singing and worship music but very little in the way of teaching, preaching, and bible exposition. 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, people esteem and venerate God’s Word. As the revival touches people, they seek to submit themselves in obedience to the teaching of Scripture.  

4. It reveals truth

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 is a God who hates sin. Life is short. There is another world. One day, we will stand before God to receive judgment. These truths become front and center, and people respond accordingly to them.  

5. Loving God and others 

Love marked the Canadian revival of the early 1970s. 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 6th 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 church 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 can 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, you might want to try it. It’s not a long work, and I am sure you will find it edifying, not to mention the benefit your flock will receive.   

©2023 Daniel Stegeman. Used with permission.