These are the definitions of revival and revive from a dictionary I have at home.
Terms:
Revival (noun)
1. the act of reviving or the condition of being revived
2. a restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence
3. a new presentation of an old play, motion picture, opera, ballet, or similar theatrical vehicle
4. a reawakening of interest in religion
5. a meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public professions of faith
Revive (transitive verb)
1. to bring back to life or consciousness; resuscitate
2. to impart new health, vigor, or spirit to
3. to restore to use, currency, activity or notice
4. to restore the validity or effectiveness of
5. to renew in the mind; recall
6. to present (an old play, for example) again
Revive (intransitive verb)
1. to return to life or consciousness
2. to regain health, vigor, or good spirits
3. to return to use, currency, or notice
4. to return to validity, effectiveness, or operative condition
The English word "revive" comes from a Latin word "revivere"
which comes from "re" meaning again
and "vivere" which means to live
Revive and revival mean therefore a return to life, a renewing, a restoration, a recycling, a rebirth, a repair, a refurbishing, etc. In each case it seems to be a returning to a former condition.
The word "revival" does not occur in the King James Bible. The word "revive" occurs 7 times. The word "revived" occurs 6 times. The word "reviving" occurs twice.
It is used of
-reviving a person's spirit (
Isaiah 57:15;
Gen 45:27;
Judges 15:19),
-as a request in prayer for reviving an individual (
Psalm 138:7)
-or reviving God's work (
Psalm 85:6;
Hab 3:2)
-a reference to returning or restoring (
Ezra 9:8,9)
-Israel returning from spiritual death to spiritual life (
Hosea 6:2)
-actual return to life of someone who had died physically (
1 Kings 17:22;
2 Kings 13:21;
Romans 14:9) when the spirit, soul, or life returned.
These references are from the King James Bible. In some other versions, other words such as "preserve," renew," "relief," or "new life" are used.
In the Book of Judges, we find time after time where God's people went their own way then called upon the Lord and they were renewed or revived. This vicious cycle has been used as an outline for the Book of Judges under the terms "Rebellion, Retribution, Repentance, Restoration and Rest," or "Sin, Sorrow, Supplication, and Salvation."
There are several instances in the Old Testament where there had been spiritual decline and then through the influence of a Godly king and/or prophet there was a return to God and to His ways. As with all revivals, these were just temporary.
There are also times in our history where there was coldness, indifference, or deadness which were changed to times of increased devotion and zeal.