Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Insights from Modern Church History (A.O. 1830-1980)

costalism, known worldwide as a preacher and healer and prophet. 1 The above story occurred as his successful ministry was beginning to wane. Unknown to me at the time, many things were not going well for him and confusion was settling into his troubled life. I am convinced God used Branham in a remarkable way during his early years, but I also feel some of his beliefs, teachings and announcements were completely unjustified. The present-day cult that has sprung up around some of his bizarre ideas is lamentable. Branham is considered by many the initiator and paceset ter of the healing revivals of 1947, as well as the precursor of the entirely separate Latter Rain movement of 1948. In this chapter, as in the last two previous chapters, we will consider helpful insights about prophecy and prophets from the Latter Rain move ment and also from the life of William Branham. First, an overview of reli gious awakenings in this century and a brief sketch of Latter Rain history. "In the Twentieth Century there have been at least three major re-awak enings of Christian faith in North America." 2 This is the opening sentence of Richard M. Riss' book on twentieth-century revival movements. His approach may seem simplistic, but its accurate overview provides a con venient framework for my brief discussion of prophecy. All three of these renewal periods demonstrated Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal compo nents. Some of the more popular figures and events are well known, but there were also many lesser-known figures and events whose impact was tremendous. My focus is on prophecy and spiritual gifts, so the discussion of this intensely interesting period of Church history is unfortunately limited. Having lived through the last two periods, I can assure you that God was moving in many wonderful ways! The three periods of evangelical reawakening in North America: Overview of Twentieth-Century Revivals

• The first great reawakening, 1905-1906 • The mid-century awakening, 1947-1952 • The revival of the 1960s and '70s

The first great reawakening of the Spirit in North America during this century was the Pentecostal movement, which originated with the 1906 Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. 3 The well-known 1904 Welsh revival had reached worldwide proportions by 1905, and Pentecostalism was • 288