Revival Centres International
Encyclopedia
The Revival Centres International is a Pentecostal Church, with its headquarters in Melbourne
, Australia
, it has approximately 300 centres in 22 countries including Australia
, New Zealand
, Canada
, Fiji
, Italy
, Kenya
, Papua New Guinea
, Malawi
, the United Kingdom
and the United States of America.
The Revival Centres was formed as a separate identity from the Commonwealth Revival Crusade in 1958, and at a short time later became a registered denomination
pursuant to the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), as Revival Centres of Australia.
The Church has a strong emphasis on the need to show evidence of glossolalia
, known as 'speaking in unknown tongues', to demonstrate the receiving the Holy Spirit to be considered a full member of the Church and a saved Christian. Revival Centres International bases its glossolalia teaching on a literalistic interpretation of Acts 2, a trait with some other Pentecostal groups. . However, Revival Centres does not affiliate with any other religious organisation and are not a member of the World Council of Churches
.
Church Genealogy
(Tom Foster) elements. In 1958, The Revival Centres of Australia (as they were then known), led by Noel Hollins and Lloyd Longfield, was formed as a schism from the Commonwealth Revival Crusade (a group which later became Christian Revival Crusade and then CRC Churches International). In 1972, the group founders split into two separate organisations - with Lloyd Longfield's group remaining officially the 'Revival Centres of Australia' and Noel Hollins leaving to form the 'Geelong Revival Centres' based in Geelong, Victoria.
to develop as a church meeting place. The land included a large seventeen-roomed mansion which had formerly been the residence of the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, known as Carn Brae. Nearby residents feared that the building of a hall on the property would spoil the previously quiet character of the area, and their protests made newspaper headlines both in Victoria
and interstate. Permission to build a hall on the property was ultimately denied. Lloyd Longfield lived in the property for several years, and used the property for various church related functions..
The Forum Theatre (formerly known as the "State Theatre") is a famous "Moorish Revival" style theatre located on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. When the theatre was first built by Bohringer, Taylor & Johnson in 1929, the theatre had the largest seating capacity in Australia, holding 3371 people. In 1985 it was purchased by the Revival Centres International and was used as its International headquarters. In 1995 it was sold to Staged Developments Australia, who redeveloped it for use as a film and concert venue.
and Easter
holidays as a Spiritual
Retreat. Each year the Melbourne assembly hosts an international convention during the Australian Queen's Birthday weekend. Some countries or zonal areas holds Annual Local Rallies over the year, usually on a localized anniversary
holiday. Revival Centres members are voluntary active in evangelising activities or "outreaching" either by personal or group participation. Various assemblies run activities for a Young Revivalists group (generally in the 10 to 14 years age group), the Young People group (generally 15 to 21 years age group) and the Revival Rangers group (5 to 10 years age group).
fields" by regular visits, and where financially possible, by bringing groups over to the main annual convention
in Australia in June each year. Visits are made by pastors and officers as part of an ongoing program of support, but also by groups of assembly members and young peoples groups.
. They also maintain a strong belief that God could heal them from anything and that they have ongoing life changing transformations.
The Revival Centres International's statement of beliefs are listed as follows;
. The identifications also includes links of the mottos of the emblems to biblical descriptions.
Revival Centres makes a statement about racism
is that they believe that all human beings have been created in the image of God and have equal value in God's sight and that salvation
is equally open to all human beings. They noted that their assemblies have representatives from all major ethnic groupings and their church members share fellowship with other members from all ethnic groups and also intermarry between those groups.
and Jesus Christ's return were imminent - holding events such as the "Survival '82" outreach.
In a Melbourne Revival Centre book, entitled "The Throne of David and the Return of Christ", at the end of chapter nine, it says "the generation of people who were alive in 1917 would still be alive when all the prophecies concerning the return of Jesus Christ reach fulfillment." The chapter acknowledges that while "1917 Generation" is not a Bible term, it later speculates in the same chapter that a "generation" scripturally implies that it is forty years. This chapter explains that it lines up with the prophesied signs
of the return of Christ examined in the chapter seven as being fulfilled by 1957. Therefore Revival Centres International teaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ based on the precept that the prophesied signs of his return have been fulfilled. The Stone of Scone
is believed to be the Stone of Destiny and also believed to be the biblical Jacob's Pillow Stone which is used for the coronation of many Kings.It is speculated by the Revival Centres that Jesus Christ will return and be crowned on this Coronation Stone
because of its biblical history.
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of Israel" and "The Throne
of David and the Return of Christ". They also publish articles such as "An Introduction to the Emblems of Israel", "The Emblems of Israel" and "Wisdom from the Preaching of the Word of God".
They regularly publish a magazine
called "Voice of Revival" since 1959, that gave insight into their doctrine
and their life, to which they made no claim that the magazine has infallibility, leaving such claim only to the Word of God i.e. the Bible.
In the 1980s, they had previously publish their own foolscap report to deliver the various of activities in their assemblies around the world to all their pastors. Eventually in 1991, after encouragement from Lloyd Longfield, this became a magazine, containing updated church developments and news around the world assemblies, being issued four times a year. Later in 1994, this magazine developed into the "Newsletter" which includes colour photos and was issued twice-yearly in February and July. In 2006, the Newsletter was replaced by the church's online news section on their official website front page. The online
news
articles are contributed by various Revival Centres International editors around the world.
A monthly email newsletter can be freely subscribed from their official website for the public as well as free podcasts of talks and free mp3
download of one of their music
album.
citing a disagreement over the revised fornication policy i.e. church members who engaged with sex outside of marriage would no longer be able to attend Revival Centres International in perpetuity .
Revival Centres International, former owner of the Forum Theatre
in the city, had bought the Campion Books premises in Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South and moved in at the end of April 1998. In 1998, Lloyd Longfield handed leadership to his son Simon Longfield who continues to lead the groups' HQ from 275 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South, Melbourne
, Victoria
.
After a combination of doctrinal schisms and the change of leadership, a number of revisions were made to refine Revival Centres International's spiritual direction and church identify.
.
, as one of the proofs for the divine authorship of the Bible, although it had never formed part of their statement of beliefs.
named Brendon MacKay. The original work and associated computer
program was developed by Brendon MacKay working at the Australian National University
of Canberra and was used to analyze Bible Numerics.
Members failing to comply with these guidelines would be dealt with by the local pastor resulting in the possibilities of counseling, education, restrictions/conditions in participation in church ran activities, temporary or permanent dismissal from the church, depending on the severity of the situation.
Lloyd stated the code did not assert the guidelines within were based on a specific command in the Bible. He said that the code contained suggestions, observations or regulations to help people apply the Scriptures in their everyday lives and in the context of a changing world. The code was devised by the leadership of the Church to help to contribute to the well being of its members. The code of conduct was revised each year or as different situations arose. The code was then distributed throughout RCI.
The intention of the code of conduct was to address broader areas of concerns that church members, especially young people, would find the most amount of pressure, misleading information or harm to their spiritual walk. The onus is now focused on each church member to " . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." This means in practice that each church member is encouraged to accept the guidance of scripture in these matters.
The natural result of this revision means that there was more allowance for church members to take even more personal responsibility for their spiritual growth and less personal intervention by the church oversight unless it was absolutely necessary or there was an urgent concern raised. Therefore the "Code of Conduct" was removed and combined with the church's simplified stand against fornication among members since 1995, had greatly clarified many decision making within the Church members in aspects of their own spiritual walk. This also means there was a moving away from the oversight being seen as a type of confessional outlet and being more of a "shepherd" or "guide".
In mid-April 1998, weeks prior to the church moving in the Campion Books premises in Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South from the Forum Theatre, some former members of Revival Centres International spoke out, via the Whitehorse Gazette, in a bid to warn Whitehorse residents of the organisation's impending move to the area so as to raise community
awareness about the Church. The Whitehorse Gazette also covered the group founder, Lloyd Longfield's response in dismissing such concerns.
. I suppose they say these things because they think we're out of line. "
Mr Longfield said those who left the group did so because they could not follow the Bible. He denied members were told to ignore them. "Some people leave because the group doesn't suit them. They cut themselves off 90 per cent of the time," he said. "It's not that no one can speak to them, they're just not in fellowship any more. They have different interests and we don't see them any more."
Mr Longfield said Church members were welcome to discuss concerns with the leaders but those who left the Church chose not to.
Mr Longfield defended the Church's actions of "disfellowshipping" members for breaking the rules. He said in other churches people who disobeyed the Bible were given a "smack on the wrist" and were allowed to keep attending services. "The church as a rehabilitation centre is ridiculous," Mr Longfield said.
Bible
Bible Numerics
British Israelism
Children of Israel
Forum Theatre
Glossolalia
Holy Spirit
Pentecostal
Pre-Adamite
Ten Lost Tribes
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, it has approximately 300 centres in 22 countries including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States of America.
The Revival Centres was formed as a separate identity from the Commonwealth Revival Crusade in 1958, and at a short time later became a registered denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
pursuant to the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), as Revival Centres of Australia.
The Church has a strong emphasis on the need to show evidence of glossolalia
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
, known as 'speaking in unknown tongues', to demonstrate the receiving the Holy Spirit to be considered a full member of the Church and a saved Christian. Revival Centres International bases its glossolalia teaching on a literalistic interpretation of Acts 2, a trait with some other Pentecostal groups. . However, Revival Centres does not affiliate with any other religious organisation and are not a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
.
Church GenealogyGenealogyGenealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
of Revival Centres International
Early Beginnings of Revival Centres International
The predecessor of the Revival Centres was the Commonwealth Revival Crusade, which began in 1945 and was itself a conjunction of Assembly of God (Leo Harris) and British-Israel-World FederationBritish-Israel-World Federation
The British-Israel-World Federation is an organization that was founded in London July 3 1919, although its roots can be traced back to the 19th century. At one time this organization enjoyed the patronage of members of the British Establishment including HRH Princess Alice of Athlone, the Duke of...
(Tom Foster) elements. In 1958, The Revival Centres of Australia (as they were then known), led by Noel Hollins and Lloyd Longfield, was formed as a schism from the Commonwealth Revival Crusade (a group which later became Christian Revival Crusade and then CRC Churches International). In 1972, the group founders split into two separate organisations - with Lloyd Longfield's group remaining officially the 'Revival Centres of Australia' and Noel Hollins leaving to form the 'Geelong Revival Centres' based in Geelong, Victoria.
Carn Brae
One of the earliest Revival Centre purchases was in March 1966, when the Revival Centres paid almost $100,000 for a property in Harcourt Street, Auburn in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to develop as a church meeting place. The land included a large seventeen-roomed mansion which had formerly been the residence of the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, known as Carn Brae. Nearby residents feared that the building of a hall on the property would spoil the previously quiet character of the area, and their protests made newspaper headlines both in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and interstate. Permission to build a hall on the property was ultimately denied. Lloyd Longfield lived in the property for several years, and used the property for various church related functions..
Forum Theatre
General Meeting Format
The Revival Centres normally holds a midweek meeting (a small scale house meeting) and then at least one Sunday assembly meeting. Both meeting types are expected to contain most of the following aspects:- Community singing or "choruses" led by a song leader based on Christian themes. Optional participation.
- Welcome and opening prayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
. - Personal Testimonies, given by church members.
- Sermon or "talk" given by a pastor or a male leader using Bible references.
- Sharing of the CommunionEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
"elements" (bread and grape juice) representing Body and Blood of ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
. Normally once a week at the Sunday meeting. Optional participation. - Operation of the Spirituals Gifts or "Voice Gifts" of the Holy Spirit by church members. i.e. containing speaking in tongues, interpretation of that tongue and prophecy (i.e. meaning professing the word of God).
- PrayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
line or "laying on of hands" for people with needs, by church leaders. Optional participation. - Donations or "tithingTitheA tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
". Optional participation. - Church Activities Announcements.
- Closing prayer.
- Social time after meeting. Optional participation.
Spiritual Gatherings and Practices
A common optional practice for Revival Centres members is to gather together each year at various camp venues during ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
and Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
holidays as a Spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
Retreat. Each year the Melbourne assembly hosts an international convention during the Australian Queen's Birthday weekend. Some countries or zonal areas holds Annual Local Rallies over the year, usually on a localized anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
holiday. Revival Centres members are voluntary active in evangelising activities or "outreaching" either by personal or group participation. Various assemblies run activities for a Young Revivalists group (generally in the 10 to 14 years age group), the Young People group (generally 15 to 21 years age group) and the Revival Rangers group (5 to 10 years age group).
Missions
Revival Centres International emphasis has been on equipping local people to run their own assemblies. They have no standing "missionaries" preferring to train and encourage the locals in the gospel and in church leadership and therefore avoiding a "paternalistic" approach. They strongly support and encourage members in the "missionMission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
fields" by regular visits, and where financially possible, by bringing groups over to the main annual convention
Convention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...
in Australia in June each year. Visits are made by pastors and officers as part of an ongoing program of support, but also by groups of assembly members and young peoples groups.
Revival Centres International's Statement of Beliefs
The core belief of Revival Centres International is the necessity of speaking in tongues as evidence of a person receiving the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. They also maintain a strong belief that God could heal them from anything and that they have ongoing life changing transformations.
The Revival Centres International's statement of beliefs are listed as follows;
- The Infallibility of the Word of GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. - Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- The GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
of His deathDeathDeath is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and resurrectionResurrectionResurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
and directive to repent, be baptised, receive the Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. - BaptismBaptismIn Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
into the Body of Christ (the Church) through the Holy Spirit with the Bible evidence of speaking in tonguesGlossolaliaGlossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
. - The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit in the ChurchChristian ChurchThe Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. - PrayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
for the sickIllnessIllness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
and healingFaith healingFaith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
by the power of God. - Bible identifies the Anglo-SaxonAnglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
people with the Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
nation of IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, describes modern nations and gives signs of the soon return of Jesus Christ.
The "British Israel" Identification and Racism Statements
Revival Centres International statement about the British Israel Identification is that it draws together Biblical and historical clues to identify which peoples represent the fulfillment of God's promises to the Old Testament nation of Israel. They believe that God's intention for Israel was that they would be a blessing to all the families (nations, ethnic groupings etc.) of the earth, not that they would form some kind of 'master race'. Some of these "British Israel" Identification includes linking emblems of modern day nations to Israel emblems from the Bible, such as the UK Royal Coat of Arms and the Seal of The President Of The United States Of AmericaSeal of the President of the United States
The Seal of the President of the United States is used to mark correspondence from the U.S. president to the United States Congress, and is also used as a symbol of the presidency. The central design, based on the Great Seal of the United States, is the official coat of arms of the U.S...
. The identifications also includes links of the mottos of the emblems to biblical descriptions.
Revival Centres makes a statement about racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
is that they believe that all human beings have been created in the image of God and have equal value in God's sight and that salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
is equally open to all human beings. They noted that their assemblies have representatives from all major ethnic groupings and their church members share fellowship with other members from all ethnic groups and also intermarry between those groups.
Second Coming Prophecies
The Revival Centres believes and adheres to an interpretation of Jesus' prophecies about His soon return. During the 1980s, The Revival Centres taught that ArmageddonArmageddon
Armageddon is, according to the Bible, the site of a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location...
and Jesus Christ's return were imminent - holding events such as the "Survival '82" outreach.
In a Melbourne Revival Centre book, entitled "The Throne of David and the Return of Christ", at the end of chapter nine, it says "the generation of people who were alive in 1917 would still be alive when all the prophecies concerning the return of Jesus Christ reach fulfillment." The chapter acknowledges that while "1917 Generation" is not a Bible term, it later speculates in the same chapter that a "generation" scripturally implies that it is forty years. This chapter explains that it lines up with the prophesied signs
Signs
Signs is the plural of sign. See sign .Signs may also refer to:*Signs , a 2002 film by M. Night Shyamalan*Signs , a journal of women's studies...
of the return of Christ examined in the chapter seven as being fulfilled by 1957. Therefore Revival Centres International teaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ based on the precept that the prophesied signs of his return have been fulfilled. The Stone of Scone
Stone of Scone
The Stone of Scone , also known as the Stone of Destiny and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone, is an oblong block of red sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland and later the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom...
is believed to be the Stone of Destiny and also believed to be the biblical Jacob's Pillow Stone which is used for the coronation of many Kings.It is speculated by the Revival Centres that Jesus Christ will return and be crowned on this Coronation Stone
Coronation Stone
The Coronation Stone is an ancient stone block, located next to the Guildhall in Kingston upon Thames, England. Kingston is now a suburb of London and was once the county town of Surrey....
because of its biblical history.
Revival Centres International Publications
While Revival Centres International acknowledges certain books as being useful for bible study, they have published a number of books themselves such as "The Sabbath", "Jacob vs Esau", "The CommonwealthCommonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
of Israel" and "The Throne
Stone of Scone
The Stone of Scone , also known as the Stone of Destiny and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone, is an oblong block of red sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland and later the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom...
of David and the Return of Christ". They also publish articles such as "An Introduction to the Emblems of Israel", "The Emblems of Israel" and "Wisdom from the Preaching of the Word of God".
They regularly publish a magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
called "Voice of Revival" since 1959, that gave insight into their doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
and their life, to which they made no claim that the magazine has infallibility, leaving such claim only to the Word of God i.e. the Bible.
In the 1980s, they had previously publish their own foolscap report to deliver the various of activities in their assemblies around the world to all their pastors. Eventually in 1991, after encouragement from Lloyd Longfield, this became a magazine, containing updated church developments and news around the world assemblies, being issued four times a year. Later in 1994, this magazine developed into the "Newsletter" which includes colour photos and was issued twice-yearly in February and July. In 2006, the Newsletter was replaced by the church's online news section on their official website front page. The online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
articles are contributed by various Revival Centres International editors around the world.
A monthly email newsletter can be freely subscribed from their official website for the public as well as free podcasts of talks and free mp3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
download of one of their music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
album.
Doctrinal Schisms and Refining Church Identity
In 1991, a number of related assemblies in Europe broke their loose connection with the Revival Centres International and formed the Christian Assemblies International under Scott Williams. A further schism occurred in 1995, when a large group (comprising approximately half of the Australian assemblies) aligned with the Adelaide assembly formed The Revival FellowshipThe Revival Fellowship
The Revival Fellowship is a Pentecostal church based in Australia.The Revival Fellowship has assemblies in Australia, Bali, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Côte d'Ivoire, Japan, Kenya, the...
citing a disagreement over the revised fornication policy i.e. church members who engaged with sex outside of marriage would no longer be able to attend Revival Centres International in perpetuity .
Revival Centres International, former owner of the Forum Theatre
Forum Theatre
The Forum Theatre is a theatre located on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The building was designed by American architect John Eberson, who has designed many theatres across the globe, along with a local architectural firm...
in the city, had bought the Campion Books premises in Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South and moved in at the end of April 1998. In 1998, Lloyd Longfield handed leadership to his son Simon Longfield who continues to lead the groups' HQ from 275 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
After a combination of doctrinal schisms and the change of leadership, a number of revisions were made to refine Revival Centres International's spiritual direction and church identify.
Revision on Bible Numerics
In June 1999, Revival Centres International revised its position on Bible NumericsBible Numerics
Bible Numerics is the study of numerical patterns in the Bible and the use of particular numbers to represent certain concepts...
.
Past Bible Numerics thought
In the past, the Revival Centres considered Bible Numerics, as pioneered by Ivan PaninIvan Panin
Ivan Nikolayevitsh Panin was a Russian emigrant to the United States who achieved fame for claiming to have discovered numeric patterns in the text of the Hebrew and Greek Bible and for his published work based on his subsequent research.-Biography:Ivan Nikolayevitsh Panin was born in Russia on 12...
, as one of the proofs for the divine authorship of the Bible, although it had never formed part of their statement of beliefs.
Current Bible Numerics thought
Current Revival Centre thought is that these supposed intricate numerical patterns are in fact a feature of any text, in any language. Outlined in a Revival Centres paper, written by Geoff Beggs dated 9 February 1999, this position was formed following study and consideration of work done by a mathematicianMathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
named Brendon MacKay. The original work and associated computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
program was developed by Brendon MacKay working at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
of Canberra and was used to analyze Bible Numerics.
Revision on the Code of Conduct
Years ago, Lloyd Longfield developed the "Code of Conduct" of RCI after he had become concerned when, at a church meeting, he saw that a young man had attended the meeting with his new girlfriend while his girlfriend of the previous week sat at the back of the church, crying. He devised the code of conduct, which mentioned conduct which the church regarded as unacceptable.The historical intention of the Code of Conduct
Primarily focused towards the youth of the church, the code of conduct dealt with a wide range of guidelines for "living a righteous life" covering areas of acceptable behavior and activities to relationships and appearances. For every topic, there was a biblical quotation and a number of propositions which follow from that text. Its introduction stated "...these requirements are mandatory for the safety of us all. As the worldly influences continue to grow we must become more direct in our campaign to keep unsavoury practices out of the Church - the body of Christ!"Members failing to comply with these guidelines would be dealt with by the local pastor resulting in the possibilities of counseling, education, restrictions/conditions in participation in church ran activities, temporary or permanent dismissal from the church, depending on the severity of the situation.
Lloyd stated the code did not assert the guidelines within were based on a specific command in the Bible. He said that the code contained suggestions, observations or regulations to help people apply the Scriptures in their everyday lives and in the context of a changing world. The code was devised by the leadership of the Church to help to contribute to the well being of its members. The code of conduct was revised each year or as different situations arose. The code was then distributed throughout RCI.
Personal responsibility for their individual conduct emphasized
After the 1995 schism and then change of leadership from Lloyd Longfield to Simon Longfield in 1998, Revival Centres International had a revision on the Code of Conduct. It was found that most of the rules and regulations that were written in the code were based on many moral dilemmas concerning fornication and other behavioral problems that the people of the church faced. It was concluded that many rules and regulations contained in the code of conduct had not stressed enough the importance of personal ownership for each members' actions and in practice had problems de-emphasizing many other individual/external influence on each set of circumstances that church members faced.The intention of the code of conduct was to address broader areas of concerns that church members, especially young people, would find the most amount of pressure, misleading information or harm to their spiritual walk. The onus is now focused on each church member to " . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." This means in practice that each church member is encouraged to accept the guidance of scripture in these matters.
The natural result of this revision means that there was more allowance for church members to take even more personal responsibility for their spiritual growth and less personal intervention by the church oversight unless it was absolutely necessary or there was an urgent concern raised. Therefore the "Code of Conduct" was removed and combined with the church's simplified stand against fornication among members since 1995, had greatly clarified many decision making within the Church members in aspects of their own spiritual walk. This also means there was a moving away from the oversight being seen as a type of confessional outlet and being more of a "shepherd" or "guide".
Certain Concerns were raised by some Former Members in the Whitehorse Gazette
The Church's beliefs and practices have given rise to some criticism over its treatment of members and former members.In mid-April 1998, weeks prior to the church moving in the Campion Books premises in Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South from the Forum Theatre, some former members of Revival Centres International spoke out, via the Whitehorse Gazette, in a bid to warn Whitehorse residents of the organisation's impending move to the area so as to raise community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
awareness about the Church. The Whitehorse Gazette also covered the group founder, Lloyd Longfield's response in dismissing such concerns.
Reported Concerns Raised
Concerns raised by some former members includes the use of guilt, fear, shame and mind control as well as church activities occupying members time spent away from other non-membered family. Other concerns raised by former members were that group members are unable to criticise or question the leaders in any way or associate with any other churches.Reported Concerns Dismissed
The group founder Lloyd Longfield says that the Revival Centres International did not believe it was the only true Church but did believe its teachings were the only true way. He dismissed suggestions the group was a cult or controlled and dominated its members. "You come along and have a wonderful experience in the Lord," he said. "You are born again and from that time on you walk, carefully and more reasonably." "Every religious group is a cultCult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
. I suppose they say these things because they think we're out of line. "
Mr Longfield said those who left the group did so because they could not follow the Bible. He denied members were told to ignore them. "Some people leave because the group doesn't suit them. They cut themselves off 90 per cent of the time," he said. "It's not that no one can speak to them, they're just not in fellowship any more. They have different interests and we don't see them any more."
Mr Longfield said Church members were welcome to discuss concerns with the leaders but those who left the Church chose not to.
Mr Longfield defended the Church's actions of "disfellowshipping" members for breaking the rules. He said in other churches people who disobeyed the Bible were given a "smack on the wrist" and were allowed to keep attending services. "The church as a rehabilitation centre is ridiculous," Mr Longfield said.
See also
Authorized King James VersionBible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
Bible Numerics
Bible Numerics
Bible Numerics is the study of numerical patterns in the Bible and the use of particular numbers to represent certain concepts...
British Israelism
British Israelism
British Israelism is the belief that people of Western European descent, particularly those in Great Britain, are the direct lineal descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The concept often includes the belief that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David...
Children of Israel
Forum Theatre
Forum Theatre
The Forum Theatre is a theatre located on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The building was designed by American architect John Eberson, who has designed many theatres across the globe, along with a local architectural firm...
Glossolalia
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
Pentecostal
Pre-Adamite
Pre-Adamite
Pre-Adamite hypothesis or Preadamism is the religious belief that humans existed before Adam, the first human being named in the Bible. This belief has a long history, probably having its origins in early pagan responses to Abrahamic claims regarding the origins of the human race.Advocates of this...
Ten Lost Tribes
Ten Lost Tribes
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to those tribes of ancient Israel that formed the Kingdom of Israel and which disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts after the kingdom was destroyed in about 720 BC by ancient Assyria...