Revival "Revived" in Unique, International Study Bible

“Revival is not the end or the focus of this ten-year-long work by hundreds of contributors, editors and behind-the-scenes workers,” Pratney said. “The end is the return and restoration of a new relationship with God. Seek revival and you won’t have a real answer. You seek God, and you may have a revival.”

But readers will certainly learn rare, formerly obscured, historical facets and character of revivals that may shed light or provide guidance for today. Hours could easily be spent studying and reflecting on the additional collective input of nearly a hundred contributors alone – contemporary or historical revival figures – who wrote articles, notes or are profiled in breakout boxes in the pages of the Study Bible.

The study tome's real bonus treasure, Pratney said, is found in a companion Bible Research Classical Theological Library DVD containing pdf files of more than 600 rare articles, essays and books – some written hundreds of years ago – by eyewitnesses and participants in revivals worldwide. The Study Bible includes the notes and study “chain” of Dr. Tamara Winslow, PhD, representing decades of painstaking research that accompanies the $90 price tag (depending where it is ordered online).

“Few people would have the time or money to go to the world's libraries to find these rare articles and books,” Pratney said. “This is like having a classical, rare, world library in a single place.”

The result is a Bible with companion helps literally packed with a lifetimes of spiritual, historical, eyewitness accounts of revivals, and the nature of them.

“The 100 contributors (alive or passed) are people – revivalists – the general editors thought had contributed to revival in some significant form,” said Pratney.

Historical contributors include Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), pioneer missionary to Burma, the Rev. Arthur Tappan Pierson (1837-1911) of the famed Keswick Conventions and William and Catherine Booth, co-founders of The Salvation Army. The familiar names of Whitefield, Finny, Muller, Studd, Spurgeon, Carey, Zinzendorf, Brainerd, Moody, Edwards, Taylor, Wesley, Seymour, Tozer, Singh and many more dot the list.

  Contemporary or recently contemporary contributors include Billy Graham, Campbell McAlpline (2009), Loren Cunningham, Mike Bickel, Lou Engle, John Dawson, Keith Malcomson, Che Ahn, Barry Chant, Steve Hill, John Wimber (1997) and many more.

  Some of the featured biographies or stories – such as the Rathfriland Revival in 1859 Ireland– may be so obscure as to cause wonderment how so much happening in the name of God has gone unnoticed, or chronicles “lost.” Enter Pratney’s love of collecting those chronicles of revival, bringing the Study Bible project to completion.

  “Winkie is a unique, fatherly figure who has collected one of the rarest personal libraries on the subject of revival in the world,” said Dee Patton, administrator for Ministry of Helps (www.moh.org) where the Study Bible can presently be obtained. “His 40-year effort purchasing rare manuscripts and books is now available to anyone and is priceless.”

  The exhaustive DVD contains many rare manuscripts such as the "Beginning of Modern Missions" first published in 1891 by the Rev. Arthur C. Chute is found, as is "The Imitation of Christ" written by Thomas A Kempis published in 1415.

  Originally intended to be released during a late 20^th century, years-long spiritual “awakening” in Brownsville, Texas, USA, led by the Rev. Steve Hill, Pratney said the Revival Study Bible seeks to answer some of the multi-layered questions, ramifications and implications of revival.

  The concept itself is questioned in the opening pages with a short essay on “Revival: Is it a Biblical Concept?” and another, “What is a Revivalist?”

  Hill was the original general editor of the Revival Study Bible when USA publishing efforts stalled and opportunities evaporated. The project was finally pushed through with the help of the Rev. Derek Hong of Singapore who contacted Amour and financial backers.

  The Study Bible is easily the largest undertaking in the publishing House’s history, said Pratney, who served as the final general editor. He expressed gratitude for Asian supporters making the history of revival in the West, available.

  “The history of revival and its study is important to them in Asia,” Pratney said. “Some of the world’s largest churches are there.”

  In addition to the astonishing access to out-of-print essays, Pratney said, are vignettes of revival figures throughout Christian history and teachings on various aspects of what may cause, sustain – or kill – a revival.  The inspirational , yet frank, discussion of spiritual insights and profound failures found in the study section on the ups and downs on revivals – and those who participate in them - are intentional, he said.

  “We did that because God is that honest,” Pratney said. “He doesn’t avoid telling us about (King) David’s mistakes, or Solomon’s errors. Our discussion of who God uses in revival and what starts or stops a revival is in the actual study-chain part of this Bible. We come to grips, for instance, with ‘why did this (revival) fail? It’s quite detailed that way. People can study through the question ‘what creates a problem in revivals?’

  So what person does God pick to be used in revival, why it succeeds and why it fails? Pratney laughed.

  “We can only say what God, says. But whomever God uses,” or works through, Pratney said, “three things certain to happen.

  “Everyone who attempts to do or participate in, something marvelous for God is going to encounter three obstacles similar to what Nehemiah did when he restored the walls of Jerusalem,” he said. “Three accusations or statements, “Who are you to do such a thing; you cannot do this, and you’ll never finish.”

  The three obstacles are represented by the biblical characters – figures of resistance to Nehemiah – Sanballat, Tobiah and Gershon. That’s what happened when the Revival Study Bible was ready to be launched ten years ago, Pratney said.

 “But thank God, now it’s here,” Pratney said. “Soon it will be available in the United States.

The Revival Study Bible is available in Asia, New Zealand and in Garden Valley, East Texas through www.moh.org.

About Winkie Pratney

By J. THOMAS ROGERS
ResonateNews.com

Winkie Pratney, the son of a cycling champion, grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. His youthful passion for chemistry began a lifelong pursuit to acquire knowledge, and led to him to build of his own scientific laboratory by the time he was a teenager. Encountering Christ as a teen, he turned from his career as a chemist and began to preach to his peers.

In-depth study of historical patterns of revival and church growth culminated in his first book, Youth Aflame: Manual for Discipleship in the 1960’s. This manual circulated worldwide via the youth missions outreaches, amid what became known as the Jesus People movement of the 1970's.

Teaching at youth events, festivals and leadership seminars since the 1960’s have sometimes gathered audiences of more than 500,000 in a single year to hear Pratney. As his family has alternated half of each year between New Zealand and East Texas in the United States, Pratney authored 17 books.

Extensive Biblical inquiry, broad historical study, and exhaustive participation in missions have uniquely prepared Pratney to serve as general editor of the Revival Study Bible.

Pratney is married to fellow New Zealander, Faeona Reese-Thomas. He continues to study, teach and travel with his wife and the couple's son, William.