Revival History: From Israel To America-Introduction
Revival History: From Israel to America-Introduction by Paul Camuti 06/12/2026
All Scriptures KJV unless otherwise noted.
For the past few years we have spoken of from time to time about a great revival that many are anticipating to come about very soon. Some have even been calling the upcoming revival, “The Third Great Awakening.” As we draw nearer to this revival, the Lord placed on my heart to do a series on, Revival History: From Israel to America. As noted in the title, this is the introduction.
What we first need to address regarding Israel, the Christian Church, and America, is the fact that God's intention for Israel was not so much to be established as a geo-political nation. Israel was established to be a spiritual nation, meaning, they were established to be the visible expression or manifestation of the heavenly kingdom of God. The Christian Church was also called as a spiritual nation which is to be the visible expression or manifestation of the heavenly kingdom of God. In that sense, Israel and the Christian Church are interconnected and are inseparable. We will prove this with Scripture that will clearly show this to be so. Old Covenant Israel is a type and shadow of the Christian Church. The Christian Church of the New Covenant, is the New Covenant Israel that God had always intended Israel to be.
Israel Established as a Spiritual Nation-Not a Geo-Political Nation:
“Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me (My own possession, or special treasure-NASB) above all people: for all the earth is Mine. And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words thou shalt speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6 (God speaking to Moses)
“And thou shalt say unto him, 'The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let My people go, that they may serve (worship) Me in the wilderness...'” Exodus 7:16
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, 'Go and tell Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, let My people go that they may serve (worship) Me.'” Exodus 8:1
When the people of Israel went into and settled the Promised Land, God ruled the people through the elders, judges, and prophets. Then, one day....
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel in Ramah, and said unto him, “Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:1&3, 4-7
Although to some extent, Israel was a spiritual nation, particularly when ruled by kings such as David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Asa and very few others. But for the most part, especially under the wicked kings, they functioned as a geo-political nation, where the people of Israel lived like the other nations. This evenutally led to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The people of Israel were scattered among the nations of the Babylonian Empire, essentially (with the exception of a few) with no homeland.
...having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in Whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:20-22 (NASB)
...for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession...” 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5-6
Israel and the Christian Church as the visible expression and manifestation of the invisible Kingdom of God:
“Even every one who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, whom I have made. You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know Me, believe Me and remain steadfast to Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside Me there is no Savior. (12) I have declared the future, and have saved the nation (in times of danger), and I have shown that I am God, when there was no strange and alien god among you; therefore you are My witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God.” Isaiah 43: 7 10-12 (AMP)
“Fear not, nor be afraid [in the coming violent upheavals]; have I not told it to you from old and declared it? And you are My witnesses! Is there a God besides Me? There is no other Rock; I know not any.” Isaiah 44:8 (AMP)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (Jesus to the disciples).
“And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:32
“Verily, Verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.” John 14:12
By being Father God's/Jesus witnesses-being the proof and the evidence of who Jesus is, living and operating as Jesus did, we are being the visible expression and manifestation of Father God/Jesus and of the heavenly kingdom of God.
The Scriptures that we read about Israel and the Church being witnesses for God/Jesus shows the interconnectedness of Israel and the Christian Church. Also, the descripton of Israel being a kingdom of priests and a holy nation in the Old Covenant, and that same description of the Christian Church in the New Covenant show the interconnectedness of Israel and the Christian Church. Here are a few more Scriptures to show the interconnectedness of Israel and the Christian Church.
“And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:21
“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Acts 7:38
Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands-remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household. Ephesians 2:11-12, 17-19 (NASB)
The word church in Matthew 16:21 and Acts 7:38 is the Greek word ekklesia, which means assembly, gathering, called out, it is used especially for a religious congregation such as a Jewish synagogue or Christian community of members. It is synonymous with the Old Testament Hebrew words such as assembly-Hebrew word qahel which means, assembly, congregation, company or multitude. The word congregation in Hebrew is eda, which also means, congregation, assembly, or gathering.
Although there are no Scriptures to show America as being called more as a spiritual nation than a geo-political nation, there are plenty of documents written by early settlers, and the Founding Fathers themselves who definitely believed that the Christian God's providence was upon America from the very beginning.
We will start with the first landing at Cape Henry, Virginia, April 29, 1607. Chaplin Robert Hunt led the early settlers from the ship where they erected a seven foot tall wooden cross, and prayed. As they prayed, Chaplin Hunt said this prophetic prayer:
“We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains and may this land, along with England, be evangelists to the world. May all who see this cross remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and this most noble work, that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores the gospel shall go forth, not only to this new world, but the entire world.”
He then said this at the end of the prayer: “Psalm 22:27-28 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules among the nations.”
“IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.”
Lastly, Carlos Romulo, a Filipino General during WW2, who fought alongside General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese said this:
“Never forget, Americans, that yours is a spiritual country. Yes, I know you’re a practical people. Like others, I’ve marveled at your factories, your skyscrapers, and your arsenals. But underlying everything else is the fact that America began as a God-loving, God-fearing, God-worshipping people.”
May the Greatest Awakening in history cause our nation to return to being a God-loving, God fearing, God worshipping people. May it start with us. Amen.