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Chapter 10 A Rising Tide of Miracles Huguenots and Children Prophets (1688) French Protestant faith and worship was very much like that of the English Puritans in 1600. Their faith centered upon the Word of God. The Huguenots read their Bible and listened to others read aloud. They sang the Psalms, recited prayers, and heard their minister preach from the Scriptures. Children memorized the Bible and took part in church responses from the age of ten. The Huguenots embraced their faith at a high price. They were repeatedly persecuted and, subsequently, forced to defend their lives and families. The Huguenots were expecting Christ's soon coming and Millennial Kingdom. However, unspeakable persecution plunged them into a holocaust of suffering in 1685. Many were imprisoned and made galley slaves. Parents were compelled to raise their children as Catholics. Their ministers were among the prisoners taken away, while, laymen who were left behind were forbidden to leave the country. Some pastors did manage to escape France while others went underground. As the Huguenots resorted to secret meetings their fervent prayers overturned the plans of Satan. God began to do a wonderful thing. Many witnesses tell of the great Heavenly signs that continued throughout 1687. Angels, thousands of Angels sang the song of deliverance while marching or drumming was heard in the sky. Trumpets were heard to sound and hundreds gathered at night to hear the angelic chorus.49 The hearers speculated that this foretokened of a wonderful thing that God was about to accomplish. Truly, God would soon pour the promise of Joel 2:28 on the oppressed Huguenot children. The weak of this world would confound the wise. Since their ministers were driven into exile and hiding, God began anointing a young generation to stand in the gap. ----------------------------------- 49. The French Prophets, --Hillel Schwartz, University of California Press, 1980, p.16 _____________________________ In February of 1688, Isabeau a sixteen-year-old shepherdess in Dauphine had the Spirit of God come upon her as she slept. She cried out and began to sing and prophesy. At length many Huguenots sat in her room at night as she ministered in her sleep. When Isabeau lay on her back she quickly fell asleep. Then, she sang the Ten Commandments in rhyme and followed that with a Psalm. After a pause, she preached or prophesied fluently. Her gestures and speech were rapid and sometimes displayed agitation. However, she woke in the morning refreshed and did not remember the happenings of the previous night. Isabeau's message contained a call for all to repent and honor God's Word. She spoke of the forty-two months of trouble in Revelation 50 and of eternal life for God's faithful. Her message was one of comfort for those that were distressed. She spoke of Joel's prophecy about a young generation that would receive God's Spirit and prophesy. ------------------------------------ 50 These 42 months equal 1260 days. All Reformation Protestants understood these days to be 1260 years in which the ten horned beast of Rome (Reincarnated into the Roman Church) would persecute the true children of God. Rome was teaching that these events were all yet to come. ___________________________
When church priests got wind of her gift, they had her imprisoned in June 1688. God was not through, others children soon took her place of ministry. Within six months many children received the gift of prophecy as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. This revival swept the towns of Dauphine. In the village near the home of Isabeau, more than sixty had received Isabeau's experience by years end. Some adults also received the Holy Ghost Baptism. A sleeping farmer's wife flailed her arms and legs, shouting "Mercy, mercy." She prophesied that the earth would soon end and the faithful would reign with Jesus for 1000 years.51 The children's meetings grew to as many as 1500 in attendance. In the early spring of 1689 Rome moved against the young prophets. The youngest ones were placed in convents and prison hospitals and the others were condemned to death. The children prophets foresaw this intense persecution and some managed to hide and continue their ministry. By 1701 the young prophets numbered in the hundreds. Their messages were respected and quite accurate. Some predictions that did not seem to occur were simply in need of further explanation just as Revelation often needs enlightening comment. The children prophets were mightily anointed. When ordinary children received their spiritual gift they spoke with a holy unction and gave their messages while crying out in public places, "This is the last days, repent!" Many miracles accompanied their words. Furthermore, newborn infants spoke out and refused Catholic baptism.52 Some of the young prophets also exercised the Pentecostal gift of tongues. In later years the maturing prophets lead their people against unbearable tyranny. The hopeful French Protestants followed the direction of prophecy in the daylight and in the nights they were guided to their camps by divine lights.53 They believed guardian angels protected them from ambush. Mere, bands of men stood against a royal army of 20,000. Although, they did not prevail the stories of their exploits inspired the Protestants in other parts of Europe. ------------------------------- 51 Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." 52 When the author was one year old he was christened in the Episcopal Church. As the priest sprinkled, the author's Evangelical spirit rose up and refused the un-scriptural baptism of a child. He knocked the dish right from the priest's hands. There! a job well done. It may not have been miraculous but was certainly a prophetic omen. He definitely remembers the occasion and also recalls his embarrassed Grandmother Zell sopping up the spill. 53 My grandmother Cora told me of the return of her grandfather from the Civil War. Mr. Ball fought with the South during the Civil War. He survived the war to return home. He had a horse and, therefore, often traveled at night. As he went he said a light appeared before him to show him the way home. When he arrived he was unable to eat regular food for a time because of the famine in the Southern Army. Psalms 78:14 "In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire." _________________________
A few of the prophets fled to England during the days of war. Although, these did not sustain the excellent reputation of those remaining in France, at least some of them had a positive influence on the spirituality of the English. The French prophets did not set down a formal creed or make an official statement concerning their beliefs. They moved like the wind and followed the Spirits leading. The Spirits guidance is good but must always be submitted to the unchanging truth of Scripture. A clear statement of faith leaves a positive Gospel witness for the next generation. Our present statements of faith raise a standard against false prophets that seek to damage God's work. The descendants of the French prophets did not continue their parent's message or experience. However, many other people in their day shared the anointing of the prophets, with their call to repentance and inner conversion. Some of these people did pin their beliefs, and we have greatly profited from their witness. John Wesley was one such writer and many modern Methodist's still carry his excellent spirit. Children as Prophets? The participation of children in revival is quite common. However, children as the leading figures of revival might not be so quickly accepted. God often calls the young first and then moves to the elders. Samuel heard God's voice as a child. Jeremiah and David were also quite young. I believe that God picks young people because of their obedience and faith. Early submission to God yields a lifetime of usefulness. One of the most outstanding examples of modern Revival among Children can be found in H. A. Bakers, Visions Beyond the Veil.54 --------------------------------- 54 Visions Beyond The Veil, --H.A. Baker, Missionary to China, Osterhus Publishing House, 4500 West Broadway, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55422. Contact them! ___________________________ Baker was a missionary to China during the first half of the 1900s. He took in Chinese orphans and naturally told them of Christ's love and salvation. These poor children were sometimes slow of understanding but quick in spirit. Thus, prophetic visions introduced them to all the stories and truths contained in Scripture. These little people exercised mighty gifts of prophecy, healing, and revelation. The special experiences these children enjoyed plainly demonstrated God's tender caring for the week and orphaned. We must also view our children as potential doors to the wonders of God. Although children display most of the flaws of their elders, they are teachable and ready to change. Jesus said that we must be like children to enter His Kingdom. If we introduce our little ones to God, they will return to us like prosperous merchants, loaded with gifts from above. If we become as little children we may happily receive God's gifts. Too often, I have seen children find conversion and stand on the very brink of Heaven. Then a earthly minded and doubting parent moves with all vigor to quench the Spirit's flame and redirect the child's interest toward the artificial elements of religion or the delights of vanity fair. In reality the parent performs a spiritual abortion and in the end will reap the sad consequences. The children prophets are just one of many groups that were enjoying the promise of Joel during the early 1700s. God was pouring his spirit upon all who were seeking him. Parts of the Reformation movement were about a century and a half old at that time. Protestantism had lost the powerful Spirit of the early reformers. Contrariwise, the revivalists of the 1700s viewed their fresh anointing as a sort of second Reformation. The outpouring of the Spirit ultimately crossed to America and is today spreading throughout whole earth. God is still the same today. As a child of eight years this author received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of Pentecostal tongues. During his childhood he had many edifying visions. As a young teen-ager he was: called to the ministry, prayed for the sick, maintained a musical ministry, was inspired to compose numerous songs, began preaching, witnessed for Christ and occasionally prophesied in Church. At eighteen he was place in charge of weekly reform school services in which many were born into Christ's kingdom. The life of that child, thus, set the course for the man he is today. "A little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6) Do Angels Still Sing? In the late 1800s thousands heard angels singing at the Wabash (Sheffy) Competing in the New River Valley of Virginia. Angelic songs have often been witnessed in times of revival. When today's PENTECOSTAL outpouring came to Asusa Street in Los Angeles the Angels of God sang. A witness wrote of those early days: "'The news spread far and wide that Los Angeles was being visited with a rushing mighty wind, from heaven. The how and why of it is to be found in the very opposite of those conditions that are usually thought necessary for a big revival. No instruments of music are used. None are needed. No choir. Bands of angels have been heard by some in the Spirit and there is heavenly singing that is inspired by the Holy Ghost. No collections are taken. No bills have been posted to advertise the meetings. No church organization is back of it. All who are in touch with God realize as soon as they enter the meeting that the Holy Ghost is the leader. One brother states that even before his train entered the city he felt the power of the revival." 55 ----------------------------------- 55 With Signs Following, Stanley Frodsham, Gospel Publishing House, 1946 p. 33 ____________________________ |