Revival Fires from the North? (Part 2) 

Is it time to let go of Jean Darnall’s vision of revival in the UK?

In Revival Fires from the North? (Part 1), I drew attention to a famous prophetic vision given by Jean Darnall - a Pentecostal pastor from the United States – some sixty years ago next year (1967), in which she saw revival fires breaking out across the United Kingdom, starting in the far north and working their way southward and across to mainland Europe.

We noted that Ms Darnall herself believed the vision was to be fulfilled within the foreseeable future, in the fanning of charismatic renewal into flames of spiritual awakening across the nation (a movement in which she and her husband went on to play a prominent part). We observed, too, that while the charismatic movement certainly served to instil Spirit-filled life into the UK Church, it ultimately failed to bring the much longed-for revival that Britain needed.

Points of consideration

Nevertheless, Christians across the country, and especially north of the border, tenaciously held on to the Darnall vision, fully believing it was yet to come to pass. It appears to have been belatedly that Jean, too, began to re-imagine her vision as relating to a yet future time. Many continue to do just that right up to the present day; so that whenever the Spirit appears to be moving, and spiritual interest is on the rise, Jean Darnall’s vision comes back into vogue.

While the charismatic movement certainly served to instil Spirit-filled life into the UK Church, it ultimately failed to bring the much longed-for revival that Britain needed.

Such surety that this vision was and is of God would be more understandable if Jean was known to have a track record of visionary prophecies that spectacularly came true. But no such record exists, at least that most of us are aware of. Certainly, she was known to operate in the issuing of personal prophetic words – but rarely over nations and continents. I say this in no way to belittle Ms Darnall’s ministry, and certainly not to label her a ‘false prophet’. Rather, her ministry in America and across the world over a great many years was clearly impressive and highly impactful. I, personally, retain a deep respect for her.

There’s another important aspect to this popular vision that needs to be considered. In the past, revivals did indeed spread from one location to a neighbouring one by direct human interaction (the 1859 revival, for example, spread from Ulster across the Irish Sea to Scottish districts geographically closest to Ireland (such as Ayrshire and Glasgow) before dispersing further afield). But in our modern technological age, when communication – and spiritual enthusiasm - can be transferred instantly, and where travel-times have vastly improved - it seems more unlikely that spiritual revival would spread in the manner outlined in the Darnall vision.

‘Top of Scotland’

Darnall’s vision has prompted many ‘lone ranger’ Christians to make the journey to the far north of the country over the years to issue further prophetic ‘words’ and to otherwise seek to help bring the Darnall’s vision into being. Local pastors became used to their impromptu appearance in their churches, even if they felt that, in the main, their contributions added little to what the Lord was already doing in their midst. One minister in the far north at the time told me; “I was fed up with people coming to my parish when things were going well and wanting a piece of the action.” Among those who came, however, were some who eventually settled, and became an invaluable part of the local Christian community.

Darnall's ministry in America and across the world over a great many years was clearly impressive and highly impactful. 

The ‘top of Scotland’, as Jean saw it in her vision, is sometimes used to refer to a wide range of differing locations – but is generally regarded as being either Shetland, Orkney and/or north Caithness communities, such as Thurso or Wick (less so, perhaps, the Western Isles, such as Skye or Lewis) While some of these far-flung regions have known times of spiritual refreshing over the years, most would agree that it’s not as if a deeper level of vibrancy of spiritual life is to be found in these places than elsewhere in Scotland or the UK.

Indeed, Jean’s vision has tended to bring, for those living in the far north, a tendency towards presumption and perhaps even pride – being aware that ‘revival is going to start with us’, which might have had a detrimental rather than a positive effect on the spirituality of the Church in these areas.

While believers in Scotland may have found themselves repeatedly reminded of Jean’s vision over the years, it tends not to be quite the same in England, Wales or Ireland, where many Christians, though aware of the prophecy, rarely hear it being discussed these days.

Objections

Some have proposed that Darnall’s prophecy was never meant to be taken literally, and that ‘from the top of Scotland to Lands’ End’ is merely a figure of speech indicating that revival would encompass the whole of the UK. Yet Jean makes it very clear in follow up interpretations that it was to be a southward movement – starting in the north and moving south.

How long are we to wait in expectancy for a prophetic word to be fulfilled before coming to acknowledge that it possibly wasn’t an authentic word from God at all, and soundly dismiss it?

Some say that prophecy by its nature - especially visions - captures an essence of what is going to happen, but, especially in non-Scriptural prophecy, is not to be taken word for word, as we are imperfect vessels at communicating God’s words to us. Divine words and pictures nearly always end up being influenced by the person receiving them, even if their essential message is true and divinely inspired. Many wonder whether that is the case regarding the Darnall prophecy. But if that is the case, then how are we to decide which parts of the ‘word’ are divinely-inspired and which should we omit?

Others point out that, at least in a biblical sense, God sometimes waits a long time between a prophecy and its fulfilment (think of the four hundred years between the last Old Testament prophet, and Jesus finally appearing). Yet this is to place modern-day prophecy on a par with Scriptural prophecy, a notion almost universally rejected by mainstream Christian theology.

Revival words galore

Darnall is by no means the first person, of course, to predict a fresh wave of revival coursing through our country. Many others have done so. Indeed, this is a favourite ploy among travelling prophetic figures, in attempt to impress and encourage their audiences (though I’m not remotely suggesting that was Jean’s motive). Many a false charismatic ‘prophet’ has boldly proclaimed that revival will occur in this place or that (usually the location he is currently speaking in) at some point in the near future – though, invariably, that event rarely if ever comes to pass (by which time said ‘prophet’ has long moved on to distant shores).

One of the more intriguing and authentic-sounding prophetic words for UK-wide revival relates to the highly respected Hugh Brash Bonsall – founder of the Birmingham Bible Institute. Bonsall experienced a powerful vision in the mid-1930s, of “a most powerful revival going to come to Great Britain – a personal visitation of God to the whole nation.” He was told (by the Lord) to return to the UK and prepare for the moment – which he did, the remainder of his life being focused on this pursuit.

To let go of the vision needn’t give cause for disillusionment or despair; it simply implies that God has something other - something better - in store. 

But how long are we to wait in expectancy for a prophetic word to be fulfilled before coming to acknowledge that it possibly wasn’t an authentic word from God at all, and soundly dismiss it? Or do we just wait for the next outbreak of revival to occur and insist, this must be the one that Bonsall or Darnall or whoever predicted? Scripture itself explicitly establishes historical fulfilment – or non-fulfilment - as a primary benchmark for distinguishing true prophecies from false ones (Deut 18:22; Jer 28:9). It’s nearly a century since Bonsall received his vision of revival. It will be 60 years next year since Jean Darnall received hers. Is it perhaps time to take stock and come to the realisation that this is not a prophecy we need to be holding on to.

Coming awakening

Jean’s vision of revival has long brought enormous hope, inspiration and even excitement to believers based in north Scotland. It’s long been entrenched in the psyche of the church community, and many will prefer to cling on to it. I fully appreciate that desire. But if it can be reasonably shown that it’s not a genuine word from God for our nation, this would be holding onto false hope.

To let go of the vision needn’t give cause for disillusionment or despair; it simply implies that God has something other - something better - in store. A number have shared their strong belief that the United Kingdom is likely to be privy to a very significant movement of God’s Spirit in coming days – brought about through increasing disillusionment, insecurity and desperation (as indeed revivals often are) as the nation descends into deepening turmoil and uncertainty - a nationwide spiritual awakening that will draw a very significant number into the kingdom of God. We need to prepare, to the extent that we can, for such a move.

Exactly how, where and when that spiritual movement will rise and fan into flame remain aspects that we need to admit we do not currently know with any certainty.  

Tom Lennie