We’ve heard a lot recently about Todd Bentley, an angel named Emma, and revival in Lakeland. When this first emerged, I asked the Holy Spirit about it. He told me to judge the fruit. I’ll continue to weigh this. Some fruit takes longer to grow than others.

But are things going on in Lakeland that disturb my spirit immensely. It doesn’t take a prophet to discern there are some extreme teachings making their way through the Body of Christ these days. As a prophet, I was especially grieved to learn of some of the unbiblical goings on in Lakeland.

The Holy Spirit began to lead me to study angels in the months before this Lakeland revival hit big. Now I know why. It’s also wise to be a student of Christian history.

Here’s a strategy: Look at past revivals for records of ministers putting such a strong emphasis on going into third heaven, giving prominence to angels and flowing in other manifestations you don’t see in the Bible or in Bible-preaching circles. Did other revivals center on angels? Or did they center on Jesus?

A recent interview in Charisma magazine blessed me. Lee Grady interviewed Julio Ruibal’s wife, Ruth, about the revival that broke out there in the 1970s. Here’s part of what she said:

“There were all sorts of miracles from the beginning and that continued throughout Julio’s ministry to the very end. They were mainly signs, wonders and different kinds of healings. Sometimes people fell when we prayed for them, but this was not something we looked for or particularly wanted. We did not have gold dust, feathers, gems, orbs, oil oozing from hands or any other such thing, nor did we seek it. We sought Jesus and His will.”

At the end of the day, a revival in and of itself shouldn’t capture our attention. Jesus should remain the center of our focus. He should be glorified, not angels or signs and wonders.

More on this topic later.