The Great Awakening’s Prophetic and Visionary Testimonies

Record summary

The First Great Awakening generated reports of conversion visions, bodily manifestations, prophetic impressions, extraordinary religious experiences, and disputes over whether such phenomena came from God, enthusiasm, or deception. Jonathan Edwards’s writings, revival pamphlets, diaries, and opponents’ accounts provide material for examining discernment and competing theories of inspiration. This lead is not a single paranormal case, but a documented episode in which communities debated unusual experiences and their evidentiary status. Reports differ by denomination and genre, and later revival histories often impose a cleaner narrative than contemporary sources support.