The Time Of The Latter Rain

[skyblue888]

Great posts sky

Thanks Gail and pk.

Appreciate your enthusiasm.

So far in this study we have been seeing that the Word of God teaches that the Latter Rain completes the work of the perfection of the believers and that without it we could not possibly reach full maturity of Christian character and be fitted for translation.

At once this runs counter to the commonly held concept that no one will receive the latter rain until he has reached ultimate character perfection. It is because of the holding of this concept that so many have taken the position that the judgment of the living comes before the latter rain so that, having been judged as reaching complete character perfection they can receive the latter rain. But this concept is untenable as we have seen from evidences so far.

But we must not pass on from this point without investigating the evidences upon which are based the conclusions that the latter rain comes upon those only who have reached finality of character perfection.

to be continued

[Gail]

I would also like it if you could investigate JoeMo's point about the spirit being poured out on all flesh. To me, that says that we will see some evidences of it in some unlikely places.

[Woody]

I would also like it if you could investigate JoeMo's point about the spirit being poured out on all flesh. To me, that says that we will see some evidences of it in some unlikely places.

[skyblue888]

Here are two statements which can be understood as supporting that view when held in a certain light:

"Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly due, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement." Evangelism, 702.

"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 receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation." Testimonies, Vol.1,126.

Taken alone without consideration of any other statement, it must be agreed that these references would justify the position that the judgment of the living commences before the latter rain falls. But if there is one thing we cannot do with safety is to come to a conclusion without comparing statement with statement to see just what the Testimonies do mean when using certain expressions.

Such a comparison will show what the Lord regards as being the facing of every test and the purification from every defilement. When we face successfully every test which has been brought to us so far, the Lord regards us as if we had faced them all, because the very same spirit of submission combined with trust in the Lord's power to save us from the evil one in that crisis, is that which is required to pass even the great final test. As we allow Christ to exercise His own tried and approved faith in and through us with power and strength as we face today's trials, we give evidence of the determination to face the final test in the same way.

This does not mean that there is no need for us to pass the great final test. Even though the passing of every test brought to us up till the time of the latter rain has qualifed us to receive the latter rain, we can still fall during the tests of the closing battle and in the great final test in particular.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Was the Spirit poured out on all flesh at Pentecost? Pentecost will be repeated before probation closes. First the Spirit was poured out upon the disciples and then as they went proclaiming their message the Spirit fell upon all who believed. That is what the expression "on all flesh" means for the Spirit will not force His presence where it is not wanted.

And yes we can expect the Spirit to fall in unexpected places as it happened in the days of Christ. Who would have expected that God would choose unlearned, uneducated fishermen to to His work while bypassing the learned men of the Sanhedrin, the teachers of the law, the Rabbis, etc etc.

sky

[skyblue888]

Nothing could be clearer than that the great final test which we must pass does not come before but at the end of the latter rain.

"The great final test comes at the end of the close of human probation when it is too late for the soul's need to be supplied." C.O.L.412.

Should the statement from Testinonies, Vol.1,186 mean that to pass every test we must pass the great final test too before we could receive the latter rain, then the latter rain could not fall till after the close of probation for all mankind when it would be too late to do any good at all for anyone.

The fact is that no one will have obtained to ultimate finality of character perfection before the outpouring of the latter rain for it is the latter rain alone which can bring us to this level once the former rain has done its work of preparation.

Thus the former rain and the latter rain provide us with the seal of the Holy Spirit whereby we are brought to the place where the devil will find nothing in us which will respond to his devices. All those who have this seal and pass the great final test will be fitted for translation.

sky

[skyblue888]

Was the Spirit poured out on all flesh at Pentecost? Pentecost will be repeated before probation closes. First the Spirit was poured out upon the disciples and then as they went proclaiming their message the Spirit fell upon all who believed. That is what the expression "on all flesh" means for the Spirit will not force His presence where it is not wanted.

And yes we can expect the Spirit to fall in unexpected places as it happened in the days of Christ. Who would have expected that God would choose unlearned, uneducated fishermen to to His work while bypassing the learned men of the Sanhedrin, the teachers of the law, the Rabbis, etc etc.

sky

And, of course, when the disciples were forced to turn to the Gentiles the Spirit was poured out upon all who believed.

sky

[jasd]

QR frame:

>>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;<< [/ed.jasd]

The text above contains too many points that are problematic. Moreover, has not the firstfruits already been harvested and ascended (taken into the barn, as it were) with Jesus Christ? When the firstfruits are gathered in – the harvest has begun. That would mean that the harvest has been continuing for the past several millennia. It may be that we are forced to

define and categorize ‘harvests’.

We also have to take into account that a ‘latter rain’ can utterly wreak havoc upon a crop, for example: an untimely ‘latter rain’ causes grapes to burst forcing an untimely harvest with less than optimum grapes the result. A latter rain can be both untimely and ungentle – leading again, to the ruin of a harvest.

It may be that the latter rain is not meant to be taken as a thing or date certain for a corporate event. It may be, as suggested above, that it is an individual thing that has gone on through the centuries as the evidence that the ‘increase’ is Gd’s. One asks, “Whither the ‘latter rain’ for those whom Gd has already safely gathered in?”

Finally, mention is made of a Jacob’s trouble. It may be that that has to be revisited as to interpretation. It may not have been meant to figuratively signify Jacob/Israel’s night of wrestling with an angel.

[skyblue888]

The message given by A.T. Jones at the 1893 General Conference session was said to be a repeat of the beginning of the latter rain message given at the Minneapolis General Conference in 1888 except in greater power and glory.

Here are a few excerpts from the General Conference Bulletin:

The speaker: "Well, the latter rain is the loud cry of the third angel's message; it is the beginning of that message of glory that lightens the earth. But the latter rain is the teaching of righteousness. When did that message of the righteousness of God, as such, come to us as a people? (Congregation: "Four years ago.") Where? (Congregation: "At Minneapolis.") Yes. This point was brought up the other night, and can be read on page 183 of the Bulletin. I do not know that we can state it any more clearly than we did that night.

Now, that message of the righteousness of Christ is the loud cry. It is the latter rain. We have been praying for the latter rain here at this Conference already, haven't we? Have you? (Congregation: "Yes sir.") What were you looking for when your prayer was answered? Are you ready now to receive the latter rain? We have been praying here for the latter rain. Now there is the connection. The testimonies tell us what it is and Joel tells us what it is. I simply ask now, Are you ready to receive the latter rain? That is, are you ready to receive God's message of righteousness, according to righteousness? Let us look at it a little further.

Joel says, according to the margin, that it is a teacher of righteousness, that which brings the teaching of righteousness according to righteousness. Whose idea of righteousness? (Congregation: "God's.") No, mine. (Congregation: "No.") Yes, mine will do! (Congregation: "No.") Why? If I receive the righteousness of Christ according to my idea, is not that enough? Is not that receiving the latter rain? Is not that receiving the righteousness of Christ? (Congregation: "No sir, it is your own righteouness.") But that is what is the matter with a good many people who have heard this message of the righteousness of Christ. They have received the message of the righteousness of Christ according to their own idea of what His righteousness is, and they have not the righteousness of Christ at all.

Now, let us ask again, how are we to receive that? How is that to be given?--'According to righteousness.' How, then, is it to be received?--'According to righteousness.' It is given 'according to righteousness,' and we must receive it 'according to righteousness.' We must receive it as it is given. But let us dwell further upon that thought; and I am in no hurry to get away from it, either. When we receive the teaching, that teaching of righteousness 'according to righteousness,' we must receive it according to God's idea of righteousness, and not according to our own measure of it. And he who thinks of receiving that message of Christ's righteousness according to his own idea of it, will miss it entirely. We are to receive it according to God's idea of it, and nothing else than God's idea of righteousness. Nothing else than that is righteousness." A.T. Jones

Interesting, isn't it?

to be continued

[skyblue888]

There is a thought again that we had the other night, that when it was presented four years ago and all along since, some accepted it just as it was given, and were glad of the news that God had righteousness that would pass the judgment, and would stand accepted in His sight. A righteousness that is a good deal better than anything that people could manufacture by years and years of hard work.

People had worn out their souls almost, trying to manufacture a sufficient degree of righteousness to stand through the time of trouble, and meet the Saviour in peace when He comes; but they did not accomplish it. These were so glad to find out that God had already manufactured a robe of righteousness and offered it as a free gift to every one that would take it, that would answer now, and in the time of the plagues, and in the time of judgment, and to all eternity, that they received it gladly just as God gave it, and heartily thanked the Lord for it.

Others would not have anything to do with it at all; but rejected the whole thing. Others seemed to take a middle position. They did not fully accept it, neither did they reject it. They thought to take a middle position, and go along with the crowd, if the crowd went that way. And that is the way they hoped to receive the righteousness of Christ and the message of the righteousness of God. Others deliberately discounted the message about fifty per cent, and counted that the righteousness of God.

And so, all the way between open and free deliberate and positive rejection of it,--all the way between--the compromises have been scattered ever since; and those who have taken that compromising position are no better prepared to-night to discern what is the message of the righteousness of Christ than they were four years ago." A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.243,244.

sky

[skyblue888]

Some of the testimonies following these meetings went along these lines:

"There is salvation (righteousness) for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered to you again and again." T.M.97.

Notice this powerful statement: "How has it been with the disciples in all ages of the world? Why, they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential to our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour... You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a cucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do... for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything," as "it is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." Faith & Works,64,65,66; Testimonies to Ministers,92 (May 11,1889)

Followed by powerful appeals as this one: "Believe it because it is the truth, because God says it, and lay hold upon the meritorious blood of a crucified and risen Savior." F.W.76.

It is clear that God's idea is that the only way to be clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness is by laying right hold upon the merits of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross. And that is living faith which brings the believer into a living connection with God that He may through the endowment of the Holy Spirit work in and through us His good pleasure. (Phil.2:13)

sky

[skyblue888]

If you have noticed here, Elder Jones touched briefly on the fact that the subject of the latter rain had been discussed in a previous meeting as recorded on page 183 of the General Conference Bulletin. I thought I would make this available to you. I find it quite interesting and very thought provoking.

Starting on page 182 of the Bulletin:

"The time has come when Christ's friends should be known. And if it is a Seventh-day Adventist that is called in question for his standing in Christ and the message, let your friendship in Christ be known by standing by Him. Now we have a few minutes to talk upon how we got into this position, how these dangers came upon us. You remember the other evening when I was reading that second chapter of Joel, that one of the brethren, when I had read that 23rd verse,--Brother Corliss--called attention to the margin. Do you remember that? And I said we would have use for the margin at another time.

Now all of you turn and read that margin. The 23rd verse says: 'Be glad, then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain, moderately." What is the margin? "A teacher of righteousness." He hath given you "a teacher of righteousness." How? "According to righteousness." "And he will cause to come down for you the rain;" then what will that be? When He gave the former rain, what was it? "A teacher of righteousness." And when He gives the latter rain what will it be? "A teacher of righteousness."

Then is not that just what the testimony has told us in that article that has been read to you several times? "The loud cry of the third angel," the latter rain has already begun, "in the message of the righteousness of Christ."

Is not that what Joel told us long ago? Has not our eye been held that we did not see? Did not we need the anointing? Brethren, what in the world do we need so much as that? How glad we ought to be that God sends His own Spirit in the prophets to show us, when we did not see! How infinitely glad we ought to be for that!

Well then the latter rain--the loud cry--according to the testimony, and according to the Scripture, is "the teaching of righteousness," and "according to righteousness," too.

Now brethren, when did that message of the righteousness of Christ begin with us as a people? (One or two in the audience: 'Three years or four years ago.') Which was it, three or four? (Congregation: 'Four.') Yes, four. Were was it? (Congregation: 'Minneapolis.') What then did the brethren reject at Minneapolis? (Some in the Congregation: 'The loud cry.') What is that message of righteousness? The Testimony has told us what it is; the loud cry--the latter rain. Then what did the brethren in that fearful position in which they stood, reject at Minneapolis? They rejected the latter rain--the loud cry of the third angel's message.

Brethren, isn't it too bad? Of course the brethren did not know they were doing this, but the Spirit of the Lord was there to tell them they were doing it, was is not? But when they were rejecting the loud cry, 'the teaching of righteousness,' and then the Spirit of the Lord, by His prophet, stood there and told us what they were doing,--what then? Oh, then they simply set this prophet aside with all the rest. That was the next thing. Brethren, it is time to think of these things. It is time to think soberly, to think carefully." A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.182,183.

[skyblue888]

In the 1893 Bulletin, on page 494 it is said there that this message of the righteousness of God is the same message presented in 1888 except that this time (1893) it is "given in special measure."

Lets hear some more from Elder Jones:

"Now I want to ask a few questions on what we have gone over. What is the latter rain? (Congregation: 'The teaching of righteousness according to righteousness.') What is the Loud Cry? (Congregation:'The message of the righteousness of Christ.') The Loud Cry has already begun in the message of the righteousness of Christ. Where does the latter rain come from? (Congregation: 'From God.') All of it? (Congregation: 'Yes.') What is it? "The Spirit of God."

Now let us just put two things together. The teaching of the righteousness according to righteousness--that is the Loud Cry; that is the latter rain; that is the righteousness of Christ. Is that so? (Congregation: 'Yes.')

The latter rain comes down from Heaven. How much of that latter rain comes out of me? (Congregation: 'None of it.') How much of it can I manufacture? (Congregation: 'Not any.')

Now is that so? (Congregation: 'Yes.') I cannot manufacture any of it? None of it springs from me at all? Where does it come from? (Congregation: 'Heaven.') Will you take it that way? Will you receive it from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Yes.')

*("In the work of God humanity can originate nothing." C.O.L.418)*supplied

Now that is where we came to the other night. Are you ready to take it from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Is everybody in this house to-night willing and ready to take righteousness from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Amen!') According to God, without asking that God shall get some of it from us? Are you? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Whoever is willing to take righteousness from Heaven can receive the latter rain (Congregation: 'Amen!'); whoever is not, but wants the Lord to get some of it out of him, he cannot have the latter rain, he cannot have the righteousness of God, he cannot have the message of the righteousness of Christ.

What is the latter rain? (Congregation: 'Righteousness.') Are we in the time of the latter rain? (Congregation: 'Yes.') What are we to ask for? (Congregation: 'Rain.') What is it? (Congregation: 'The teaching of righteousness according to righteousness.') Where is it to come from? (Congregation: 'Heaven.') Can we have it? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Then the latter rain being the righteousness of God, His message of righteousness, the loud cry, it all being that, and that to come down from Heaven, we are now in the time of it, we are to ask for it, and receive it. Then what is to hinder us from receiving the latter rain now? (Congregation: 'Unbelief.')

A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.358,359.

[skyblue888]

"But not all are following the light. Some are moving away from the safe path, which at every step is a path of humility. God has committed to his servants a message for this time... I would not now rehearse before you the evidences given in the past two years (four years now) of the dealings of God by His chosen servants; but the present evidence of His working is revealed to you, and you are now UNDER OBLIGATION TO BELIEVE." E.G. White quoted by Elder Jones during lecture # 15 in 1893.

Believe what? What message is there referred to that God has given to His servants for this time? (Congregation: 'The message of righteousness.') The message of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is a Testimony that had been despised, rejected, and criticised for two years, and two years have passed since that time. But now the present evidence of His working is revealed, and now what does God say to every one of us? 'You are now under obligation to believe" that message. Then whoever does not believe it simply has to answer to God, does he not? That is all. Well, then, let us begin.

There is, however, another word to which I wish to call attention. You will remember that I read Isa.59:6 in the last lesson; it was about those people who were trying to cover themselves with their works. In the fourth verse we have these words: 'None calleth for justice.' After the lesson Brother Starr called my attention to the German translation, and that, he says, is: 'None preacheth righteousness.' I looked at the revised version and that has it: 'None calleth for righteousness.' I looked at Young's literal translation, and that likewise reads: 'None calleth for righteousness.' So you see the thought as expressed in this verse, 'None sueth,' that is to say, to court, to ask for, to beseech, 'for righteousness.' None calleth for that. The same idea is conveyed in the German, only it is put in other words, 'None preacheth righteousness.' Well, is not that what the Lord says? They are trying to cover themselves with their works, and that is not righteousness.

Isaiah 54, last sentence of the chapter: 'This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' Their righteousness is of whom? of themselves? (Congregation: 'Of the Lord.') Their righteousness is of their works? No, 'their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' What do you say? (Congregation: 'Amen!) Than any man who expects, looks for, or hopes for any righteousness that does not come from God, what then? What has he? (Voice: 'Filthy rags.') It is no righteousness at all. Even those who want to get it out of their works, will it work that way? (Congregation: 'No.') Is that of God? (Congregation: 'No sir.')

A.T. Jones, 1893 G.C.B. p.359.

[skyblue888]

"The only way that God can get into our works is by having Him to start with, and having His righteousness to begin with; and our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought in us by His Holy Spirit. Do you see it is Christ in us, that living presence that does the righteous work, and that is by the Holy Spirit. That is what the Holy Spirit brings; that is the outpouring of the latter rain, is it not? You see we cannot study anything else. That is the message for us now.

*(One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other, Christ and His righteousness." RH Dec.23,1890)*supplied

Shall we receive the message? When we receive the message what do we receive? Congregation:'Christ.') When we receive Him what have we?(Voice:'The Holy Spirit. The latter rain.') This will come more fully afterward.

Now another thing, brethren. I do not want you to put off until after the meeting, your receiving of it. You do not need to do that at all. What the Lord wants is for you and me to come here each evening and sit down and receive that just exactly as He gives it. Just exactly as He says it. You just open your mind and heart to the Lord, and say,'Lord, that is so.'(Congregation:'Amen.')'Wel l,' says one,'are we to sit down here and take everything that is said without any question at all?'--No, not in that sense. But we are to sit down here and have such a measure of the Spirit of God that we can see what He gives through that word which is the truth, and then take it because it is the truth of God.(Congregation:'Amen.')

__________

"Believe it because it is the truth, because God says it, and lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior. He is your only hope. He is your righteousness, your Substitute and Surety, your all in all. When you realize that, you can bring to Him only an offering of praise. But when you are not willing to come to Christ and acknowledge that HE DOES IT ALL, when you feel that you must first take a few steps, and come so far, and then God will meet you, that is just exactly like Cain's offering. He did not know Jesus, and he did not know that the blood of Jesus could cleanse his sins and make his offering acceptable to God. There are more Cains than one, with tainted offerings and polluted sacrifices and without the merits of the blood of Jesus. You are to come to Jesus at every step. With the merits of the blood of Jesus and its cleansing power, offer you petitions to God and pray to Him in earnest and study your Bibles as never before." F.W.76,77.

to be continued

sky

[Gibs]

A T Jones was one of the best teachers in Adventism. I used to have about all he wrote but I kept loaning out the books and pamplets and gradually I have very few left. Many didn't like Jones but he was a man held down a lot and he did get bitter about it at the end but he righted things though before it was too late.

These messaages are far more applicable for us today than for them back then but they kept the church up on their toes and this was all in the providence of God.

What must He do today to get the church "hot" and upon their toes. He wants to pour out the latter rain in great measure and it is up to us, we must open the hearts to receive it as He cannot pour it into a closed vessel.

May we all get "hot" that He will rain upon us His Spirit in great measure!

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.

[Gordon1]

A T Jones was one of the best teachers in Adventism.

And Jones remains one of the best teachers in Adventism.

[Gordon1]

And Jones remains one of the best teachers in Adventism.

In fact, who can name a single SDA on par with AT Jones since he died in 1923?

[Gordon1]

What must He do today to get the church "hot" and upon their toes.

It seems He has done all.

When His people respond to His voice by believing and living to the light - allowing His light to reach them - - then they will be hot.

[skyblue888]

Yes, I agree, and his works do follow him.

Here is some more:

"Elder D.C.Babcock.--Brother Jones, please read Job 29:23. Elder Jones.--Very good, 'And they waited for Me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.' All right. What shall we do? What does the Lord want us to do? Wait for His Spirit as for rain. Open your mind; wait as for the latter rain. What did He say to David? 'Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.' Brethren, let us sit down here and open our mouths just like little birds; you know how they do;--it looks as though the mouth was all the bird there was. That is what He wants us to do.

Can we not trust God to give to us what He wants us to have? Brethren, there is a quetion in that that I want to ask: When we come into a place like this, come with hundreds of people who are seeking the Lord, come asking the way to Zion, with our faces thitherward, do we need to sit here suspiciously looking cross-eyed at the Lord as though we did not dare to trust Him for what he would give? Is that honest? (Congregation: 'No.') Is that fair? (Congregation: 'No.') No sir. I believe this much in the Lord; that when we come together with our hearts seeking Him, every one that lays his heart wide open to receive what the Lord has to give, will not receive anything but what God gives.

And the man who comes into such a place as this, with his suspicions aroused and with a readiness to look askance at the Lord--that man is not treating the Lord as a person ought to treat the Lord: he is treating the Lord just as a person might fairly treat the devil. Is he not?

Now, brethren, let us treat the Lord honestly; let us be honest with Him, and He will be honest with us. 'To him that showeth himself froward the Lord will show himself froward.' If you and I treat the Lord honestly, He will treat us just exactly like God treats people. So I say, we need not come into this house with a particle of suspicion as to whether the Lord is going to give us things straight. He will do it; and I am going to expect He will do it, and so I am going to receive lots of blessing out of this thing. That is settled.

Now put those two things together: 'Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' He who receives it, what does he receive? (Congregation: 'A gift.') He who receives it as the gift that it is, receives what? (Congregation: 'Righteousness.') According to what? God's idea of righteousness. Will He give us anything than that which is righteousness in His own sight, and according to His own will? (Congregation: 'No.') Do you see that point? Then he who does not receive the righteousness of God as the free gift of God, does he have it? (Congregation: 'No.') and he cannot so have it, you see, because it is a gift. It is of God. It comes from God by the precious gift that it is. And therefore it being of God, and He giving it of His own gift, it is left to me to get it in His own way. He gives what is His own and He gives it according to His own idea. That is the genuine article; that is the righteousness of God alone.

Then don't you see in that there can be no room for a single thread of human invention? We cannot get it in there at all. Don't you see what ample provision the Lord has made that we may have the perfect robe which He Himself hath woven, which is the righteousness of God itself, and which will make us complete now, and in the time of the plagues, and in every other time, and throughout eternity? Brethren, I am glad that that is so. I am just as glad as I can be." A.T. Jones, 1893 G.C.B. p.360,361.

_____________________________________________

"You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Chris's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do," for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." E.G. White, Faith & Works,65,66,27.

sky

[Dr. Rich]

There is no such thing as a "latter rain" as the harvest is at hand and they plants--both the wheat and the tares, do NOT need any more watering as that would just spoil them. Therefore, if you are one of those looking for a 'latter rain' you could be fooled into believing the 'lamb like horns' are from God instead of from Satan.

The same thing happened before. John's account of how and when the Holy Spirit was given was the truth, yet it is clear to me that the whole world has been decieved into believing that what happened as found in Acts 2 was when the Holy Spirit was given. Problem is that the Holy Spirit speaks in a 'still small voice'--not as what happened at the 'Penticost'. No wonder people are mistakenly led into believing that events like Benny Hinn are from God!

[Gibs]

Dr. Rich,

I'm thinking of the 144,000 and the phony works of Benny Hinn and like will pale in the true works of God. It will be greater than Pentecost I do belive but may not be as apparent as the media won't be with them of course and they will have a world to cover, so will be spread pretty thin. 144,00 divided into 7 billion will give you the figure of about what each one of them must reach. Just as the world don't recognize the true now, it sure will not then!

You all must realize their message will not be popular to the worldly churches of today, nosiree do da, "they will be flop eared mules"!

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.

[Johnnboy]

The following two Spirit of Prophecy statements throw a flood of light on the Latter Rain. They show that as Adventists,we know little about the Sabbath, but the Latter Rain gives us a much deeper understanding of it, so that we are enabled to proclaim the Sabbath more fully. This proclamation of the Sabbath results in two positions being taken by those who hear the message. One group join those proclaiming the message and endure the persecution with them, while the other group is absolutely enraged by it.

“I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and glory. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and glory. But we shall not see it in all its glory and importance until the covenant of peace is made with us at the voice of God, ....” Letter 3, 1851

“I saw that God had children, who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They had not rejected the light on it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth [Hosea 6:2, 3.] and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the church, and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time, God's chosen, all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us.” Word To The Little Flock, 18

[Johnnboy]

In early Adventism, in hymnals such as, the “Christ in Song”, there are many songs about the soon anticipated Sabbatical and Jubilee year, many of these, however were omitted in subsequent hymnals. Notice the words of one of these, from the hymnal, “Christ in Song,”# 880 entitled, “THE YEAR OF JUBILEE.”

CHRIST IN SONG THE YEAR OF JUBILEE 880

1. “Oh, glory to God! It is coming again, 'Tis the glad jubilee of the children of men; Then blow ye the trumpet, shout glory and sing, And join in the praises of Jesus the King.

Chorus: Shout with the voice of triumph, Soon shall the saints be free (be free);Glory to the Lord! Hallelujah! Hasten the jubilee!”

2 . “'Tis the glad anti-type of that day long ago, When the hosts of the Lord might not gather or sow; When the minions of Israel from labor were free, And the land was to rest in the glad jubilee.

Chorus: Shout with the voice of triumph, Soon shall the saints be free (be free); Glory to the Lord! Hallelujah! Hasten the jubilee!”

3. “Yes, gladder by far is that rest “by and by,” When on wings like the eagle we mount to the sky: We shall dwell evermore in that land of the blest, In that grand jubilee, in that Sabbath of rest.

Chorus: Shout with the voice of triumph, Soon shall the saints be free (be free); Glory to the Lord! Hallelujah! Hasten the jubilee!”

Copyright, 1885, by the J. E. White Pub. Co. Used by permission.

[Dr. Rich]

Dr. Rich,

I'm thinking of the 144,000 and the phony works of Benny Hinn and like will pale in the true works of God. It will be greater than Pentecost I do belive but may not be as apparent as the media won't be with them of course and they will have a world to cover, so will be spread pretty thin. 144,00 divided into 7 billion will give you the figure of about what each one of them must reach. Just as the world don't recognize the true now, it sure will not then!

You all must realize their message will not be popular to the worldly churches of today, nosiree do da, "they will be flop eared mules"!

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.

Well then yes, I would have to agree with you here as it is clear to me after reading what those with insight will be like in Dan. 12, they probably will be spiritual beings (shining as the stars) with power to do much more than Jesus ever did. And of course this will be going on all over the world, not just some small part of the globe. After all, being sealed by Jesus when He comes like a thief before the start of the time of trouble means that they truely are now IN the family of Gd.