From Nineveh to Now: Revival Comes by Preaching Repentance and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Healing Jesus Campaign with Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills in Abobo, a suburb of Abidjan in the West African country of La Côte d'Ivoire - 29 November 2013.
In 2025, U.S. Christianity grapples with a crisis of authenticity as some place their hopes for revival in political figures, echoing the Catholic Church’s pre-Reformation reliance on worldly power. Yet, Scripture and history reveal that true revival springs from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a call for repentance. From Jonah’s cry in Nineveh to the fervor of the Welsh Revival, awakenings driven by the preaching of the Gospel transformed hearts and nations across diverse cultural landscapes marked by paganism, secularism, and spiritual complacency. This article explores biblical and historical revivals sparked by Gospel preaching, not political leaders or events, and urges a return to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
Biblical Revivals: The Power of the Word
Scripture showcases revivals ignited by the bold proclamation of God’s Word, centered on repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, overcoming pagan or spiritually dead cultures without political agendas.
Jonah and Nineveh: Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, was steeped in pagan idolatry, worshiping gods like Ishtar and practicing violent imperialism. Its culture glorified conquest and sensuality, with temples hosting ritual prostitution. In Jonah 3, God sent Jonah to this morally bankrupt city with a command: “Preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jonah 3:2 KJV). His simple message—“Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4)—carried no political undertones, only a divine warning. The Ninevites, from king to commoner, “believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5), repenting en masse. God spared the city, not because of political reform but because hearts turned to Him, demonstrating the Gospel’s power to pierce even the darkest paganism.
John the Baptist: First-century Israel, under Roman occupation, was spiritually dead, with its faith reduced to ritualistic Judaism. The Sadducees embraced Hellenistic skepticism and denied resurrection, while the Pharisees’ legalism burdened the people with 613 laws, fostering hypocrisy. Pagan influences, such as Herod’s Greco-Roman temples, diluted worship. Amid this, John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). His wilderness call, untainted by political alliances, awakened a nation. Crowds, including tax collectors and soldiers, sought baptism, confessing sins (Luke 3:7-14). John’s message, cutting through religious and pagan decay, prepared the way for Jesus Christ, proving that Gospel preaching revives hearts.
The Apostles Post-Resurrection: The Roman Empire, where the apostles preached after Pentecost, was a melting pot of paganism. Emperor worship, mystery cults like Mithraism, and philosophies such as Stoicism were dominant. Temples dedicated to Jupiter and Venus flourished, and gladiatorial games glorified violence. Despite this, the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, proclaimed Christ’s death and resurrection (Acts 2). Peter’s Pentecost sermon led 3,000 individuals to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38-41). In the face of persecution, they proclaimed Christ instead of political solutions, establishing churches throughout this idolatrous world. Their focus on the Word and preaching Jesus Christ ignited a revival that gave birth to Christianity in a hostile world governed by pagan authorities. They turned the world upside down by proclaiming Jesus Christ (Acts 17:6).
Paul the Apostle: Paul’s ministry spanned the urban hubs of the Roman Empire, from Antioch to Corinth, where paganism thrived. Corinth’s temple to Aphrodite, staffed by thousands of cult prostitutes, epitomized moral decay, while Ephesus’ Artemis cult drove commerce and superstition. Amid this pluralistic paganism, Paul preached “not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Churches flourished, not through political influence, but through the Gospel’s transformative power, as “many… believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). The Ephesian church, often considered the crown jewel of Paul’s work, began with about twelve men (Acts 19:7) in a city dominated by the Artemis temple; yet historical estimates suggest it grew to tens of thousands of converts, possibly exceeding 40,000. Paul’s success demonstrates that revival flows from Spirit-empowered proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not worldly political power.
These examples underscore that revival hinges on preaching repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 calls for humility and turning from sin, overcoming cultural barriers without political reliance.
Historical Revivals: Gospel-Driven Awakenings
History shows that revivals rooted in the Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rather than politics, have transformed societies, transcending both secular and spiritually complacent cultures. The following U.S. and global movements illustrate this truth.
First Great Awakening (1730s-1740s): The American colonies, shaped by Enlightenment rationalism and mercantile greed, experienced declining church attendance. Puritan formalism and deism dulled spiritual fervor, while tavern culture and materialism flourished. In this context, the First Great Awakening erupted, driven by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” convicted thousands, emphasizing repentance, not political reform. Whitefield’s open-air preaching drew crowds, leading to mass conversions. Free from political leaders, this revival transformed colonial faith and laid the groundwork for American evangelicalism.
Second Great Awakening (Late 18th-Early 19th Century): Post-Revolutionary America faced secular skepticism and frontier lawlessness. Deism, driven by figures such as Thomas Paine, along with saloon culture eroded morality. The Second Great Awakening countered this challenge through camp meetings and revivals. Charles Finney’s urban preaching called for repentance, while the Cane Ridge Revival (1801) in Kentucky drew 20,000, with Spirit-led manifestations—crying, shaking—accompanying Gospel preaching. Finney’s revivals led to 500,000 conversions, driven by the Word and preaching of the Gospel, rather than politics, fostering reform like abolitionism through transformed hearts.
Welsh Revival (1904-1905): The early 20th century in Wales was marked by industrial hardship and spiritual apathy. Pubs and sports rivaled churches, and nonconformist chapels became more formalistic. Evan Roberts, a 26-year-old former collier, sparked the Welsh Revival, converting 100,000 people in a year. His meetings, fueled by prayer, music, and repentance, filled churches without political affiliations. Roberts’ cry, “Lord, bend us,” ignited mass confessions, transforming Welsh society and influencing global Pentecostalism, including the Azusa Street Revival.
Healing Revival (1940s-1950s): After World War II, America embraced consumerism and secular optimism, with Hollywood glamour and suburban prosperity overshadowing faith. The Healing Revival, spearheaded by Oral Roberts and William Branham, countered this trend with faith healing and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Large crowds gathered at tent meetings, drawn by miracle testimonies rather than political agendas. Roberts’ emphasis on salvation and healing led thousands to Jesus Christ, demonstrating the power of the Word in a materialistic culture. During this period, Billy Graham rose to prominence, and his mass evangelism crusades filled stadiums with the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which sparked widespread conversions.
Charismatic Renewal (1960s-1970s): The 1960s in the U.S. witnessed countercultural rebellion and a decline in mainline churches, alongside the rise of secularism and New Age spirituality. The Charismatic Renewal, ignited by Dennis Bennett’s 1960 Spirit baptism, spread across various denominations. Leaders like Derek Prince focused on Scripture and spiritual gifts rather than politics. This movement revitalized existing churches and led to the creation of new ones, with millions embracing Gospel-centered faith during a time of cultural upheaval.
Word of Faith Movement (1980s): During the glitzy materialism of the 1980s, fueled by Wall Street excess and a self-help craze, the Word of Faith movement, led by Kenneth E. Hagin and Kenneth Copeland, sparked a revival through bold preaching of the Word of God. Grounded in biblical teachings on faith in Jesus Christ, their message—focused on God’s promises for healing, provision, and spiritual authority—deeply resonated, drawing millions to salvation. Hagin’s emphasis on “rhema” (Spirit-inspired) faith and Copeland’s dynamic broadcasts empowered believers to trust Scripture over cultural idols. The movement’s early zeal guided countless seekers to Jesus Christ, flourishing in a wealth-obsessed culture without political entanglements, showcasing the Word’s and Gospel of Jesus Christ’s transformative power.
Brownsville Revival (1995-2000): In the 1990s, America’s consumerist culture and internet boom fostered spiritual apathy. The Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida, led by Steve Hill, attracted millions seeking repentance. Hill’s preaching on holiness and salvation, rather than politics, ignited conversions and healings in a secular age, influencing global ministries.
These revivals, driven by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shattered cultural barriers—paganism, secularism, materialism—showing that God moves powerfully when His people proclaim Jesus Christ alone, rather than depending on political maneuvers to transform a nation. Only the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change hearts and renew nations. Without its proclamation, efforts to reform society are fleeting, for without transformed hearts, no lasting change endures.
Lessons for Today
The biblical and historical record is clear: revival comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not politics. Jonah, John the Baptist, the apostles, and Paul preached repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, not reform through earthly kings, piercing pagan and apathetic cultures. The Great Awakenings, the Welsh Revival, and modern awakening movements thrived on the power of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not state agendas, despite secular and materialistic opposition. Today’s church must reject unscriptural narratives that tie revival to political movements, as they echo the worldly entanglements of the 16th-century Church.
The call is urgent: we must return to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for there is no other means of salvation and transformation. Acts 4:12 declares salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Like Evan Roberts’ cry, we must pray, “Lord, bend us,” and we must preach the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ with conviction and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
Revival came to earth with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From Nineveh to Brownsville, spiritual awakenings have flowed from the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, calling sinners to repentance across pagan, secular, and complacent cultures. The only way to save America—or any nation—is through the unchanging message of Jesus Christ, which must be proclaimed by the power of the Holy Spirit—without its proclamation, there is no salvation or transformation for any nation or people.
