The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Latter Rain
By R. A. Underwood
ON the day of Pentecost the disciples were endued with power from on high. See Acts 2:16-20, 33-39; 4:32, 33. This wonderful refreshing and baptism of the Holy Ghost is called in the Bible the early, or former, rain. A similar outpouring of the Holy Ghost will fall upon the remnant people of God. This is called the latter rain. This latter refreshing will be as wonderful in power and results as the first on the day of Pentecost. We are admonished to pray for it at this time. “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.” Zech. 10:1. Speaking of this, the prophet says: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: . . . he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. . . . Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain.” Hosea 6:1-3. This same work is referred to by Joel in chap. 2:1-23. In verse 1 the prophet says: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” In verse 12 the Lord pleads, “Turn ye even to me with all your heart,” and in verse 23 he gives the result: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for9he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” Also (verse 27): “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.” Here is the promise and conditions: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” This promise fulfilled means the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the ripening of the harvest, the end of the conflict. Should the promise be fulfilled now, there would many fall under its power to rise no more, as did Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-10. Again I read: “Upon what ground may we claim the full and rich promises of God? We can claim them only when we have fulfilled the conditions prescribed in his Word. Have you robbed God in tithes and offerings? What treasure have you been laying up in heaven by giving to the Lord his own? Look at the days and weeks and months of the past, and see if your life service has not been one long, complicated robbery of God, because you have failed to remember him, and have left eternity out of your reckoning.” “Great objects are accomplished by this system. If one and all would accept it, each would be made a vigilant and faithful treasurer for God; and there would be no want of means with which to carry forward the great work of sounding the last message of warning to the world. The treasury will be full if all adopt this system, and the contributors will not be left the poorer.” —“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, page 389. Eternal principles of righteousness are involved. Should God pour out upon his people the Holy Spirit while they are guilty of the high-handed crime of robbery, the principles of heaven would be compromised. Christ can only wait with long-suffering, and plead, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” How long must the Lord wait for his people to turn unto him? May the reader of these lines decide, “As for me and my house we will surrender all to God; we will ask the Lord to subdue our iniquities; to take away selfishness and the root of covetousness, and write his own law of love upon our hearts.” “Our God is a consuming fire.” Sin must be consumed now, and destroyed, or the sinner will be consumed with the sins in the near future. Thank God for the precious promise, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord.” Let every one say, “I return.” Amen.