Latter Rain

[Gail]

Has anyone considered the role of the Holy Spirit in the final days as far as the "overcoming" experience goes?

I am thinking of the prophecy of Joel 2 of God's pouring out the Spirit upon all flesh...

If at Pentecost Peter says that there was a pouring out OF God's Spirit, could we be anticipating a more powerful endowment of it in the latter days? Joel seems to be intimating that the Spirit will be poured out in fulness then.

I'm thinking also of God glorifying Himself by shining His character through His people, the faithful ones who are waiting for His coming.

[ClubV12]

I see that question in terms of what will it take to be ready to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

My concern is primarily that some may be waiting for that event to enable them to "get ready" for perfection. I see it as we need to get ready NOW and STAY ready or we will never see it nor receive it when it comes.

Sure, we need the Holy Spirit in a larger measure to prepare and polish our character to stand alone before God without an intercessor (Jesus in the Most Holy place). But what must we do, today and tommorow, to be ready to receive it? To be worthy of it? THAT is the question!

[12tribes]

Quote:

The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection. {TM 506.2}

[12tribes]

Revelation 18:1-4

(1) And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

(2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

(3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

(4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Quote:

I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect.... I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”—Early Writings, 271 (1858). {LDE 186.5}

[12tribes]

John 16:8

(8) And when he is come, he will reprove (convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Quote:

The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.—The Great Controversy, 612 (1888). {Ev 701.1}

[Gail]

Excellent responses! :)

[BibleOnly]

Has anyone considered the role of the Holy Spirit in the final days as far as the "overcoming" experience goes?

I am thinking of the prophecy of Joel 2 of God's pouring out the Spirit upon all flesh...

If at Pentecost Peter says that there was a pouring out OF God's Spirit, could we be anticipating a more powerful endowment of it in the latter days? Joel seems to be intimating that the Spirit will be poured out in fulness then.

I'm thinking also of God glorifying Himself by shining His character through His people, the faithful ones who are waiting for His coming.

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit comes with evidence, the same as it did in Acts 2. Yes, the latter rain has come to pass, with more and more people receiving the Spirit ( and therefore speaking in tongues ).

How does the SDA quantify ideas like this in the light of the idea that nothing happens to people when they are born again ?

[Gail]

Nothing happens to people when they are born again? Come again? What do you mean?

I think that you are narrowing your vision of the Holy Spirit's work! My goodness- whatever happened to the character change and peace that the Holy Spirit brings by dwelling in the heart, the power for victory over sin? There are more gifts of the Spirit than just tongues, that the Spirit gives to every believer "severally as He will". IOW He decides who gets what, not us.

Enlarge your viewpoint, my friend. You will be blessed!

When I accepted Christ, my gift became teaching. Of young children. From someone who could not even babysit properly as a teen I became a teacher in church to children as well as homeschooling my own. The work was blessed.

[Gail]

Another interesting point about big manifestations of the Spirit is that they were accompanied by physical manifestations like wind, fire and earthquakes (ie- At Mt. Sinai, Mt. Carmel, and Pentecost)

[BibleOnly]

Nothing happens to people when they are born again? Come again? What do you mean?

I think that you are narrowing your vision of the Holy Spirit's work! My goodness- whatever happened to the character change and peace that the Holy Spirit brings by dwelling in the heart, the power for victory over sin? There are more gifts of the Spirit than just tongues, that the Spirit gives to every believer "severally as He will". IOW He decides who gets what, not us.

Enlarge your viewpoint, my friend. You will be blessed!

When I accepted Christ, my gift became teaching. Of young children. From someone who could not even babysit properly as a teen I became a teacher in church to children as well as homeschooling my own. The work was blessed.

Not at all. The fruits of the Spirit work in all, and are a great thing. But, fruit grows, it does not appear on a tree fully formed ( I grow a lot of fruit, my grapes right now are tiny little hard dots on the vines, they need to grow ). And, the fruits are not things unique to Christians, although Christians are expected to grow them no matter what they were before. However, in a few weeks it is Christmas and my kids will go from not having their gifts, to having them. A gift, just appears and you have it fully. Acts 8 shows that baptised believer can be told they don't have the Spirit, and a gift, not a fruit, is the logical way to expect to know. Tongues is the only sign of the Spirit in Acts. That does not make it 'more important' than other gifts, or better than the fruit. I need every gift God gives and to show all the fruit. Even as I cannot show love and avoid patience as 'someone else's fruit', I cannot speak in tongues and not show faith or wisdom as 'someone else's gift'. In the Bible God does raise up preachers and teachers according to the churches need, that is a different type of gift, one where anyone could do those things, but only some do. 1 Cor 12 lists the gifts all Christians have, and it's odd to me that everyone who thinks otherwise, doesn't think only some Christians have wisdom or faith.

[BibleOnly]

Another interesting point about big manifestations of the Spirit is that they were accompanied by physical manifestations like wind, fire and earthquakes (ie- At Mt. Sinai, Mt. Carmel, and Pentecost)

Not so in the case of Pentecost. The tongues spread like fire, it says, not that they were in an upper room and didn't freak out when the guy next to them had his head catch fire.

[Gail]

True- fire like Mt. Carmel or Mt. Sinai

[BibleOnly]

Yes, that is true, in the Old Testament God did things like that, in the New, it's more personal, just like being filled with 'the Holy Ghost and fire' is more personal than being read the Law.

[Gail]

Yes, that is true, in the Old Testament God did things like that, in the New, it's more personal, just like being filled with 'the Holy Ghost and fire' is more personal than being read the Law.

There are folk who accept the Law as personal... read Psalm 119, especially verse 97

God gave the law. It is holy, just and good- Romans 7:12

You just need to find the blessing in it

[BibleOnly]

The Law was good, it was we who could not keep it, that is why Jesus had to come.

[Gail]

The Law was good, it was we who could not keep it, that is why Jesus had to come.

Yes... those who jumped into that covenant the Sinai time around didn't know their own hearts. :(

[Gibs]

ClubV12,

You have given the right perspective on receiving the later rain. Our vessel must be purified to receive it. It is to prepare the Saints for the last overwhelming events that will be extremely trying. It cannot be given to the impure of heart.

Now is the time to prepare while it is still day as the time is at hand. Our all must be laid on the alter. Nothing witheld.

For the SDA's here,

Then my eyes were taken from the glory, and I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them, "Will ye shun the seven last plagues? Will ye go to glory and enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him and are willing to suffer for His sake? If so, ye must die that ye may live. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have, for the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar--self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory. Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach or rust corrupt. Ye must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here if ye would be partakers with Him of His glory hereafter." {EW 66.2}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.