In short, I do not believe the “Asbury Revival” is a revival according to the Biblical and Historical standard of Revival.
Do I believe people’s lives can be changed/affected eternally, and in the present, in some way. In short, yes.
Historically: America’s First Great Awakening (1700s), was led in part by Jonathan Edwards, considered to be America’s greatest theologian: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan-Edwards . Pastor Edwards gave a list of what distinguished the work of God. As an aside, his list is similar to that of Evan Roberts in the Welsh Revival, 1904-05. It is also similar to what Duncan Campbell preached in the Hebrides Revival (Island in Scotland), 1949-52.
I understand that those who have not studied Awakening/Revival will be tempted to embrace it as “a work of God”. And, I will not spend time here on, staging “revivals” and “24 hour prayer movements”, though that would provide much needed context. I will try to add that when I have time…
For those wondering, “Come on, Matthew…”, I understand where you are at… This isn’t my first encounter with so-called “Revival”
I want to highlight points III. and V. regarding the Scriptures and real “love”
Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God
by Jonathan Edwards
(1703-1758)
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” [1 John 4:1]
I. When the operation is such as to raise their esteem of that Jesus who was born of the Virgin, and was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem; and seems more to confirm and establish their minds in the truth of what the gospel declares to us of his being the Son of God, and the Saviour of men; is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God.
II. When the spirit that is at work operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom, which lies in encouraging and establishing sin, and cherishing men’s worldly lusts; this is a sure sign that it is a true, and not a false spirit.
III. The spirit that operates in such a manner, as to cause in men a greater regard to the Holy Scriptures, and establishes them more in their truth and divinity, is certainly the Spirit of God.
V. If the spirit that is at work among a people operates as a spirit of love to God and man, it is a sure sign that it is the Spirit of God.
“Indeed there is a counterfeit love, that often appears among those who are led by a spirit of delusion. There is commonly in the wildest enthusiasts, a kind of union and affection, arising from self-love, occasioned by their agreeing in those things wherein they greatly differ from all others, and from which they are objects of the ridicule of all the rest of mankind. This naturally will cause them so much the more to prize those peculiarities that make them the objects of others’ contempt.”
The Full Text
https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/je-marksofhs.htm
Samuel Sey has a good article on Asbury: https://slowtowrite.com/is-the-asbury-revival-a-real-revival/
Justin Peters on the “Revival”
Revival , Movie by Reformation Heritage Books
Purchase here: https://heritagebooks.org/products/revival-documentary-dvd-streaming.html
More on True Revival: https://jesusiskingmission.com/true-revival/