October 1, 1992
Dear SHCC board of elders,
I am a Christian, a regular at the SHCC College Plus group led by Mark Coffin, and a Tuesday night small group co-leader. I am concerned about the unity-spiritual warfare-revival message that I have been hearing lately at SHCC. For example:
"[revival]: Many believe we are approaching such a time in history" - SHCC Bulletin, 9/6/92.
"We believe that with the upcoming revival that the Lord will bring on San Jose, we must be prepared with quality lay leadership." - letter to SHCC leadership from Bill Dempster & Dave Gschwend, 9/8/92.
"unity" + "spiritual warfare" => "revival" - summary from my notes on Ed Silvoso's message from Ephesians at SHCC Sunday Evening Service, 9/13/92.
I will now address why I am concerned about this.
Concerning UNITY: My understanding of "unity" is based on Eph.4:3,13, the only two times the Greek word HENOTES (i.e. "unity") is used in the Greek New Testament, which Thayer in his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says is equivalent in meaning to "unanimity, agreement." In Ephesians 4:3, Christians are instructed by the Apostle Paul to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." That we are to "keep" the unity of the Spirit demonstrates that Christians have "the unity of the Spirit" to begin with, since you can't keep what you don't already have. This "unity of the Spirit" is defined by the baptizing work of the Spirit (1Cor.12:12-13) of truth (John 14:17) that comes through belief in the truth (Eph.1:13), the gospel of our salvation. In Ephesians 4:11-13, we are instructed that Christ has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to the Body of Christ, "till we all come to the unity of the faith...," "the faith" meaning "... the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3), "the faith" (Gal.1:23) that Paul was sent by Jesus Christ to preach (Titus 1:1-2). It is the faith of the gospel we are to with one mind strive together for (Phil.1:27). I am concerned that this "unity" (Eph.4:3,13) may not be the same "unity" that I am hearing about at SHCC.
Concerning SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Ed Silvoso taught from Ephesians at the 9/13/92 SHCC Sunday Evening service that the Body of Christ in the Bay Area can't wage effective "spiritual warfare" (against the "territorial spirits" of the Bay Area) that will lead to "revival" unless "unity" in the Body of Christ happens first, and therefore Ed encouraged us to "pray for unity." In Ephesians 2:6, which was the text used by Ed Silvoso and Peter Wilkes to establish that the Church has "authority" over "territorial spirits," Paul's explanation for why we have been seated together with Christ in the heavenly places is so "that in the ages to come He might show us the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Jesus Christ." The reason we are to "put on the whole armor of God" in Ephesians 6 is so that we "may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph.6:12) and that "we may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph.6:14). I can't find in Ephesians where Paul said, "Dear Ephesians: The key to reaching Ephesus for Christ (i.e. "revival") is for you to be in unity and then take authority over the principalities and powers of Ephesus."
Concerning REVIVAL, "that the Lord will bring on San Jose": Where in the Bible does it teach that "the Lord will bring on San Jose" a "revival"? I know it doesn't. I also know that the reason many elders and pastors at SHCC believe in the revival is because they have individually "heard from the Lord" about it. I have heard about it too:
"Postmillennialism further holds that the universal proclamation of the Gospel and the ultimate conversion of the large majority of men in all nations during the present dispensation is to be realized." - p.25 of The Millennial Kingdom, by John F. Walvoord, 1959.
"[Postmillennialism is] ... a period in the later days of the Church militant, when, under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the martyrs shall appear again, true religion to be greatly quickened and revived, and the members of Christ's churches become so conscious of their strength in Christ that they shall, to an extent unknown before, truimph over the power of evil within and without." - Augustus Strong, Systematic Theology, 1907, quoted in p.13 of Charles Ryrie's, The Basis of the Premillennial Faith, 1953.
"Through signs and wonders wrought by the apostles and prophets, a worldwide revival will break out ... the revival will come as a result of the Church defeating demonic spirits through prayer and fasting, and spiritual warfare conducted through intense worship and praise, and by rebuking demonic powers and territorial spirits." - partial summary of John Robert Stevens "Manifest Sons of God" teachings in the 1950's, summarized by Albert James Dager in his report in Media Spotlight, "Latter-Day Prophets," 1990.
When I take my eyes off what I may perceive is happening in Argentina, and focus my attention on the Bible for the possibility of a revival, the chances don't look good. 2Thess.2:3 says that we can expect apostasy, and the man of sin to be revealed, before the Day of Christ. Revelation 13:8 says that in the tribulation "all who dwell on the earth will worship" the beast/lawless one (2Thess.2:9-12). In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus taught that few are saved. How many of those who get "saved" during a "revival" are still Christians a few years later?
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT "REVIVAL":
Old Testament
Strong's #2421, "chayah," meaning "life, live, to cause to live, revive."
physical recovery: Judges 15:19
resurrection: 1Kings 17:22, 2Kings 13:21, Psalm 71:20
restoration of Israel: Ezra 9:8-9, Psalm 85:6, 80:18, 143:11, Hosea 6:2, 14:7, Habakkuk 3:2
spiritual life: Deut. 8:3, Isaiah 57:15, Psalm 119:25, 27, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159.
New Testament
Strong's #326, "anazoo," meaning "to be restored to correct life, to revive, regain strength and vigor," used of:
Prodigal Son: Luke 15:24
Sin: Rom.7:9
Jesus alive after resurrection: Rom.14:9
Strong's #2227, "zoopoieo," meaning "to cause to live, make alive, regain life":
Jesus' resurrection: 1Peter 3:18
Christian resurrection: Romans 8:11, 1Cor.15:36, 22, 47, Rev.20:5
God raising the dead: John 15:21, Romans 4:17
God giving life to all things: 1Tim.6:13
The Spirit giving life: John 6:63, 2Cor.3:6
Strong's #4806, "suzoopoieo," meaning "to make alive together with"
Christians with Jesus: Eph.2:5, Col.2:13.
Rather than "prepare for the revival that the Lord will bring on San Jose," the Bible teaches that we are to prepare for the 2nd coming of Christ (e.g. Luke 12:35-40, James 5:8, 2Peter 3:11-14). We were "called to one hope" of our calling (Eph.4:4). I think it is unbiblical and dangerous to create an atmosphere in a congregation where the expectation among the flock is for revival rather than the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and Savior of us, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). I encourage the elders and pastors at SHCC "to equip the saints for the work of ministry" (Eph.4:12) by teaching only the Scriptures (2Tim.3:16-17), edifying the body of Christ, so that we may serve the living and true God while we wait, not for the Lord to bring a revival to San Jose, but while we wait for God's Son from heaven, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come (1Thess.1:9-10). I commend the SHCC "to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). I encourage biblical "unity" to be taught, biblical "spiritual warfare" to be taught, and biblical "revival" to be taught. I also encourage that the false teachings (things the Bible does not teach) that have been allowed to pollute the air at SHCC be publically retracted.
I fear that if the Ed Silvoso/"Thrid Wave" "unity" + "spiritual warfare" => "revival" thing is not stopped soon, we may all be making every effort to keep the unity of the revival "vision" in the bond of peace until we all come to the unity of being deceived by unbiblical teachings and submitting to unbiblical authority, where those who "note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which" they learned (Rom.16:17) from the Bible via the Holy Spirit of truth (1John 2:27) will be labeled "divisive heresy hunters who are hindering the unity of the Body of Christ we need in order for the revival to happen in San Jose."