1st BUT OF REVIVAL
Mat 24:11-12, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." This is a dark prophesy given by Christ Himself concerning the days before His return. False prophets in the Church will cause many to roam (Rome) from the truth. There will be a rebellion against the written Word. A cold wind will blow strongly in these last days which will be aimed at the agape love of the Church. Most (many=more than half) will grew cold. Thank God He did not end there.
Mat 24:13-14, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." He also prophesied that in the midst of such a trying time there would be a people who would hold fast and endure through to the end. But this enduring people are not just holding on hoping to make it through dark days to the end or to escape in the rapture. This enduring people are preaching. They are preaching a pure Gospel message in each nation for a "witness." What is a witness? The only example we have is the example of the early Church in the Book of Acts. When the Holy Ghost came upon them they became a "witness" as displayed in Acts and went forth to preach to every creature in every nation. This will again be seen at the end of time.
2rd BUT OF REVIVAL
This chapter is indeed a dark prophesy concerning the state of things prior to Christ's return to earth. II Thess.2:11-12, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." This delusion will sweep our world at the end just before Christ returns. Only those who believe and love the Word of God will be protected and preserved in this terrible "delusion." Mr Strong explains that this word means 'a straying from orthodoxy or piety.' Mr Young says it is 'a mental straying in holding the wrong opinion.' The delusion is a being moved from and carried away from the sound doctrine of Christ.
II Thess.13, 15, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." This "But" is given in the light of such terrible departures from truth. But there will be a real Church on the earth - chosen, saved, believing the truth, sanctified and standing fast. While many are moving away from truth many are standing fast who still love and believe the Gospel which was preached by the apostles and handed down to us in the Scriptures.
3th BUT OF REVIVAL
II Tim.3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." While saints suffer sinners wax worse. It is percieved by many that decievers and deception will get far worse in the last days and that is indeed true. Men who will use seductive arts in decieving and drawing men from Scriptural truth will drive forward and advance in this cause going deeper in deception themselves.
In the light of this Paul instructs young Timithy in II Tim.3:14-15-16, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." Paul was assured that although such wicked men would grew in deception yet men like Timothy would remain faithful to the written Scriptures which had brought salvation in Christ Jesus to them. There will be a people who grew in their knowledge of written Scriptures throughtout their walk with God and by this means will come to maturity and perfection.
4th BUT OF REVIVAL
Isa.60:2, "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people..." In chapter 59 we see truth fallen in the streets and iniquity abounding. Here in this verse what a terrible, thick darkness covered the land and people.
"...but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." Darkness on the land but not on God's people. In such an hour when gross darkness covers the land then at that very time the Lord will arise upon "thee" and His glory be seen on "thee." This is at a time of terrible darkness. Revival is the Lord Himself arising upon His people.
CONCLUSION
Amidst encreasing deception, apostasy, darkness and a terrible departure from the written Scriptures revival will come to the true Church. She will revive, wax valiant, put on glory, trim her lamps, preach the Gospel, stand fast unmovable upon the truth of God, and will gather out a last harvest.