What if the greatest revival in history isn’t behind us, but is still waiting to unfold?
After seven decades of ministry, renowned theologian and author R.T. Kendall believes the church has yet to witness what could become the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit the world has ever experienced. And at 91, he’s still hoping to see it happen.
During a recent appearance on Conversations with John and Lisa Bevere, Kendall revisited a controversial declaration he made in 1992 that shook the charismatic community.
“The charismatic movement is Ishmael,” Kendall recalled telling an audience at a Word and Spirit conference in London. “But Isaac is coming.”
Drawing from the biblical account of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Kendall explained that while Ishmael was born before Isaac, he was not the fulfillment of God’s original promise.
Kendall believes the charismatic movement, which he traces to the 1960s, was a genuine work of God, but not the ultimate fulfillment of what the Lord intends to accomplish through His church.
“And this will be 100 times greater than anything we’ve seen,” Kendall said.
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His words were not exactly welcomed.
Kendall recalled that prominent charismatic leaders took offense at his comparison, with some turning against him. Yet decades later, he believes the church is beginning to recognize that something greater may still be ahead.
But Kendall’s expectations go far beyond another localized awakening.
He described a vision of revival sweeping across the globe, from New Delhi and Tokyo to London and New York, with one message gripping the hearts of people everywhere: Jesus is coming soon.
“I saw revival that went right around the world,” Kendall said.
The vision remains unfulfilled, something Kendall openly acknowledged. Nevertheless, he continues to hope he will live to see its beginning.
John Bevere shared a similarly extraordinary experience from the early 1990s, when he said the Holy Spirit spoke to him about an unprecedented move of God.
“What you’ll see in your lifetime will make the book of Acts look like child’s play,” Bevere recalled hearing.
Bevere said he was initially skeptical, but came to believe that the coming outpouring would be seven times greater than what the early church experienced in Acts.
Amid these extraordinary expectations, Kendall also delivered a sobering warning.
He expressed deep concern that the modern church has lost its reverence for God, pointing to declining prayer, theological deception and a reluctance to preach about eternal judgment.
“The fear of God has perished from the earth,” Kendall warned.
This urgency also connects to Kendall’s forthcoming book, Holy Fear, which addresses the need to restore a biblical reverence for God in a generation increasingly disconnected from the reality of His holiness and judgment.
For Kendall, the prospect of unprecedented revival does not eliminate the church’s responsibility to confront deception, return to Scripture and recover the fear of the Lord.
And while he makes no claim to know when his vision will come to pass, his expectation remains unmistakable.
“I have a fond hope that something big in the future is coming,” Kendall said.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
