The Time Of The Latter Rain

[Gibs]

The New Testament don't have a lot on the latter rain but EGW has mentioned it many times.

First the Bible verses then her quote,

Ac 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

"But near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest "in the time of the latter rain." In response, "the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain." "He will cause to come down . . . the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain," Zechariah 10:1; Joel 2:23. {AA 55.1}

But unless the members of God's church today have a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of receiving added grace in times of special need". {AA 55.2}

I am wondering if any want to volunteer any thoughts or anything to share on this subject. Is it due soon or has it happened? Or when will it happen? Is it needed badly for the harvest?

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.

[phkrause]

I am wondering if any want to volunteer any thoughts or anything to share on this subject. Is it due soon or has it happened? Or when will it happen? Is it needed badly for the harvest?

Personally I don't think it has come yet. Have no idea as to when we will see it, I also personally believe that when it does happen, those that have been waiting for it will definitely know. As far as needing it badly, well all I can say to that is this, if EGW says it will happen, than I have no reason to think that it wont happen. So in that respect I'd say its needed.

[Gibs]

Thanks PHK. I was looking for more to be in the New Testament about it, does any of you know of other verses than I have posted to possibly shed some more light from the New Testament?

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.

[Lysimachus]

People talk a lot about the Latter Rain, but those who do not partake of the Former Rain, preparing their lives and having a living experience, conversion, and are striving to overcome their defects of character, will not become partakers of the Latter Rain.

According to Sister White, all who have not experienced the Former Rain in their lives will not experience the Latter Rain.

We were reading a lot of quotations on this subject over the weekend. Powerful stuff. I'll have to share them with you all sometime.

[skyblue888]

For a short cut, you can turn to Testimonies to Ministers, p.506ff for a good synthesis of what constitutes the former or early rain experience vs the latter.

sky

[skyblue888]

There are 2 blotting out of sins. Acts 3:19 is not the blotting out of sins when Jesus makes the final atonement but the overcoming of sins in our lives in the early rain experience.

sky

[skyblue888]

pk, Mrs. White warns that the latter rain may be falling on hearts all around us and we shall not discern or receive it. T.M.507

sky

[Gibs]

Lys, I think brought out the crux of the matter and that is the early rain must have been received first. That is powerful stuff, something for all to get serious about.

And Sky, gave another good one, it may be falling all around us and not discerned. Another one to think about.

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.

[skyblue888]

Nothing could be more important than that we clearly understand in what way it is that both the former and the latter rain are a part of the first seal and as such must be distinguished from the second and final seal.

A careful study of the evidences given in the Word of God will show that the latter rain brings the completion of the work begun and carried forward by the former rain. "As in nature, so in grace." C.O.L.65.

Therefore if we are to understand the work of the former and latter rain, and their relationship to each other in the spiritual realm, we must first be clear on their work and relationship to each other in the physical realm. If this were not so, if the symbolism used did not necessitate this, then why should the Lord ever use the falling of the former and the latter rain in nature to illustrate the falling of the former and the latter rain in the spiritual world?

It is He who directs our attention to the falling of the rains in the world of nature. Nowwere is this truth more clearly expressed than in the following statement:

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain.' 'He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain.' Zechariah 10:1 Joel 2:23.

sky

[skyblue888]

"In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ...

"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. There is to be 'first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.'" Testimonies to Ministers,506.

Mark 4:26-29.

sky

[Lysimachus]

Great statements sky!

You beat me to it. :)

[skyblue888]

yup! one step ahead of you!

sky

[skyblue888]

"The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit."

"The same laws that govern earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth." C.O.L.33.

As it is in the physical realm so it is in the spiritual realm. The former rain falls at the beginning of the season and it is that which causes the seed to germinate and spring forth. Under the impetus of this rain the grain advances in growth into a lusty shoot. Then usually there is a dry period during which the grain still advances though more slowly on the odd shower which falls and the stored moisture in the soil, until the immature head of grain forms on the stalk. It is by no means yet ready for the harvest and will never be if there is no latter rain to fill out the head and bring it to full maturity. So it is that toward the end of the season the anxious, waiting farmer is rewarded by the coming of the latter rain upon the crop.

But the farmer does not rush out with his harvesting equipment the moment the rain begins to fall to begin gathering the grain. The latter rain falls over a period of time and every head of grains needs all this outpouring throughout the fall duration of it in order to be filled out to full maturity and readied for the harvest. Even then beyond the falling of the letter rain there must be a period when the fierce heat of the summer sun hardens the grain into its golden glory, before it is ready for harvesting.

Right?

sky

[skyblue888]

I guess all agree

As the grain thus progresses toward the time of readiness for reaping, the farmer will watch over it testing its progress until there comes the time when he makes the final test and pronounces it ready for the harvest. Only then does he take out the reapers to gather in the grain, all of it, and then the harvest follows. NONE OF IT IS JUDGED FIT FOR THE HARVEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LATTER RAIN. As it is in nature so it must be in grace or otherwise why should the Lord ever have chosen the symbol of the activities of nature to illustrate the work of things in the spiritual realm?

Both the former and the latter rain are condensed water vapour falling from the sky to be soaked up by the earth wherein it penetrates to the roots of the plants which, by the same process of absortion in each case, gather it with its dissolved plant foods into the plant structure. By the same indentical processes of cell construction the growth of the plant is carried forward in both the operation of the former and of the latter rain. The only difference is in the time when they fall, the one being at the beginning of the season and the other at the latter end of the season. This being so the one completes the work which the other begun, but both are outpourings of the same rain exactly. That is, one is not the outpouring of water, while another is an outpouring of some other chemical combination. Both are water.

sky

[skyblue888]

Thanks PHK. I was looking for more to be in the New Testament about it, does any of you know of other verses than I have posted to possibly shed some more light from the New Testament?

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.

Mark 4:26-29.

We rarely think of these verses as referring to the former and latter rain but that this what they are all about.

sky

[skyblue888]

Each and every person who should experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in the changing of the life from sin to holiness and the subsequent steady growth in the Christian experience, will have no difficulty in understanding the work of the former rain at the beginning of the living experience in Christ. Each such will know that at the beginning of the experience the work is fresh and wonderful as the former rain comes down in steady abundance.

Then there follows additional showers after the initial outpouring of power and under their influence steady growth is made in the development of Christian character. But in nature the falling of the former rain is followed by a DRY SPELL. The sun burns down and something of its heat is felt. This does not mean that the influence of the rain is withdrawn for the air is laden with moisture, evidence of which is given in the dew each morning, but there is a difference from what it was when the rain was falling in abundance at the beginning.

So likewise the first flush of the new experience will be followed by a less spectacular period of quiet, solid development. The Holy Spirit has not been withdrawn. New each morning is the gentle dew of the Spirit's presence, but daily now there will be trials and difficulties calculated to stiffen the moral muscle and prepare us to receive the latter rain, which, if it came too early, would still fail in the accomplishment of its work.

sky

[Gibs]

Sky, it sounds like between the former rain and the latter rain the "mettle" is tried to see of it's soundness and then it receives the latter to fully develop it for the harvest.

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.

[skyblue888]

Sky, it sounds like between the former rain and the latter rain the "mettle" is tried to see of it's soundness and then it receives the latter to fully develop it for the harvest.

Gibs

__________

During the dry spell you mean? I suppose you could say that, yes.

But in nature the falling of the former rain is followed by a DRY SPELL. The sun burns down and something of its heat is felt. This does not mean that the influence of the rain is withdrawn for the air is laden with moisture, evidence of which is given in the dew each morning, but there is a difference from what it was when the rain was falling in abundance at the beginning.

_________

The former rain does not complete the work of God's grace in the soul. This is the work of the latter rain and it takes all of the latter rain to do it just as does in nature. This work will not be accomplished instantly when the first showers of the latter rain have fallen. It requires time for the letter rain to completely do its work. It is a process of growth and growth always takes time. This is made clear in the following statement:

"As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, 'the time of Jacob's trouble,' THEY WILL GROW UP INTO CHRIST, and will partake largely of His Spirit. As the third message swells into a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and stengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of the light which attends the third angel." Testimonies, Vol.1,353.

The time which immediately precedes the time of Jacob's trouble is the period of the latter rain. Notice how that, when describing the experience of the people of God during this period, the words are used, "They will grow up into Christ." These words are used with the thought in mind of the natural world wherein the grain grows up during the period of the latter rain into full maturity. So it will be that during the latter rain the people of God will receive the final growth into full maturity, which will prepare them to endure the time of Jacob's trouble and, at the same time, translation.

This then is to say, that without the work of God's grace which the latter rain will do in the soul, not one of us would ever be ready for translation. For this reason it is written that "Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will be fitted by the latter rain for TRANSLATION." Spiritual Gifts, Vol.2,226.

sky

[skyblue888]

This much then must be clear that the latter rain is needed in order to reach that final state of perfection which will fit us for translation, for entry into the kingdom Heaven, but it must be emphasised again that while the latter rain completes the work of God's grace in the soul, it is not a different process at all from the former rain but the continuation of the very same process to ultimate and final completion. In other words the seal of the Holy Spirit in the former rain is still the seal of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It is one and the same seal.

If a team of workmen came and began the construction of a building and brought the work well along the way to leave it for a period before coming back to complete that which they had begun earlier, we would not describe it as being two different buildings but the one when it was complete. It would not even be two different works but one complete, the latter part being but the completion of the first part by the same workmen using the same methods and tools.

So, the same worman, the Holy Spirit, comes in the former rain to begin the work of the character building, and at the end He comes in the latter rain to complete that which He has begun. If His work in the beginning is the seal of the Holy Spirit then His work at the end is the same seal still.

The former rain can never bring anyone of us to ultimate perfection of character. Yet we know perfectly well that there will be a great multitude saved in the kingdom including the faithful Apostles, Moses, the martyrs of the Old Testament and many, many others, without ever having received the benefits of the latter rain. The simple explanation lies in the fact which many recognize anyhow and it is that a different level of experience is needed for the successful passing through the time of Jacob's trouble and translation without seeing death, than for death and resurrection.

It is important that we note and emphasize that it is a different of the same experience which is to be added to the former. The truth of this is well expressed in the following statement from the Advent pioner, James White:

"The masses of the people think that if a person is prepared to die, he is prepared for the coming of the Lord. But they do not consider the difference between dying and standing alive to meet the Lord at His coming. It is one thing to die in the Lord, to yield our spirits to Him while His is pleading for us before the Father's throne, and quite a different thing to stand in the time of trouble after Jesus has ceased to plead in man's behalf, after His priesthood is closed, and He is preparing to come to redeem His own." Life Sketches of James and Ellen White, 431.

This is from the original Life Sketches and is not to be confused with the present book entitled Lfe Sketches from Ellen G. White.

sky

[Gibs]

Here is another good read from EGW on the latter rain.

Folks this is for us NOW! IT must fall upon us and we should be praying for it!

Pray for the Latter Rain [REVIEW

AND HERALD, MARCH 2, 1897.]

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain." "He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain." In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ. {TM 506.1}

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}

There is to be "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." There must be a constant development of Christian virtue, a constant advancement in Christian experience. This we should seek with intensity of desire, that we may adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour. {TM 506.3}

Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. {TM 507.1}

At no point in our experience can we dispense with the assistance of that which enables us to make the first start. The blessings received under the former rain are needful to us to the end. Yet these alone will not suffice. While we cherish the blessing of the early rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that without the latter rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower will have been in vain. Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work. There is no place for us to rest in a careless attitude. We must never forget the warnings of Christ, "Watch unto prayer," "Watch, . . . and pray always." A connection with the divine agency every moment is essential to our progress. We may have had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer and faith we are continually to seek more of the Spirit. It will never do to cease our efforts. If we do not progress, if we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door. {TM 507.2}

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain." Do not rest satisfied that in the ordinary course of the season, rain will fall. Ask for it. The growth and perfection of the seed rests not with the husbandman. God alone can ripen the harvest. But man's co-operation is required. God's work for us demands the action of our mind, the exercise of our faith. We must seek His favors with the whole heart if the showers of grace are to come to us. We should improve every opportunity of placing ourselves in the channel of blessing. Christ has said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst." The convocations of the church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies of the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are God's appointed opportunities for giving the early and the latter rain. {TM 508.1}

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.

[Gail]

Great illustrations, skyblue- thanks for sharing those! Amen!!!

[phkrause]

Great posts sky

[JoeMo]

"28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon ALL flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (Joel 2:28-32; Acts2:17-18)

If you notice, the above quote states that God "will pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh". It doesn't say just SDA's or just those who keep the Sabbath and/or perfectly keep the commandments - it says "ALL". The question is, will all heed the Spirit? Unfortunately, I think both scripture and EGW indicate that the answer is a resounding "no" - some won't hear the call; and others will outright reject it!

I think that the rejection of the Spirit is the thing we must beware of. Many of us pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; and when He doesn't manifest Himself in the way we expect Him to, we reject Him. Because we are so afraid of having a supernatural experience like that experienced by the disciples at Pentecost or in other places in Acts where people received the Spirit, we reject it as satan's counterfeit.

Rather than quote such a long passage, I invite you to read Matt. 12:22-32. In summary, Jesus heals a posessed man on Sabbath; and the Pharisees accuse Him of healing in the name of Beelzebub. Jesus responds with His "house divided" sermon, and ends with "31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." In context, was Jesus warning them against attributing the work of the Spirit to Beelzabub?

I think we, also need to be careful about attributing the work of the Spirit to the evil one. Just because someone less deserving than ourselves receives an incredible spiritual gift doesn't mean the gift is counterfeit. It's called a spiritual "gift" precisely because it is undeserved. If it was deserved, it would be called a "wage" or a "reward". Just because a spiritual manifestation is not what we, as conservative Adventists expected doesn't make it counterfeit. My experience has always been that when I try to put God in a box, He does something totally outrageous and unexpected to teach me that He will NOT be boxed up.

Someone earlier in this thread quoted where EGW stated that the Holy Spirit could be falling all around us, and we would be unaware. We see the gift of tongues in many other churches (I have seen it it a few SDA churches), and we immediately dismiss it false. I have personally witnessed and participated in several miraculous healings of end-stage cancer, a broken neck, a totally debilitating female injury incurred in childbirth, blindness, deafness, and lameness. These all happened during intense sessions of prayer and seeking. I refuse to believe that, in a time of desperate appeal to God, He would turn us over to Satan's deception. My God is neither that mean or arbitrary. Having been a witness and a participant in these powerful works, I am convicted that Sister White was right - the Spirit is falling, and we are unaware - not because we are stupid or undeserving, but because we cling to man-made denominationalism and rationalism.

Why do the wonderful prophecies of God have to pertain to the past or future? Can't they be meant for us now? How long before we acknowledge and embrace the amazing gifts God is holding out to us now?

[Gibs]

I believe there is an urgency about this latter rain and all should take this seriously.

Folks this is for us NOW! IT must fall upon us and we should be praying for it! This is why I brought up this topic.

Pray for the Latter Rain [REVIEW

AND HERALD, MARCH 2, 1897.]

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain." "He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain." In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ. {TM 506.1}

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}

I am glad many have taken an interest in this.

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.

[JoeMo]

I agree Gibs - great topic! The time for us is now! Only the power of the Holy Spirit will motivate us to take the message of Christ's soon coming to the entire world. We are God's ambassadors (2Cor. 5:19-21); and as such, we have complete access to the power of the Kingdom we represent. It's time for us to act like ambassadors, reflect the character of our King, and take possession of the Kingdom that Jesus has already won for us. Somewhere (I believe it is early in "Acts of the Apostles"), EGW says that Jesus had no power available to Him that we do not have available to us for the asking. Let's take hold of that power and take over this planet for the Kingdom of God! Isn't that what the latter rain is all about - preparing our hearts and preparing the world for the return of the King?