THE "LATTER RAIN."

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Sep 20, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 38.

THE "LATTER RAIN."

1. TO ANCIENT Israel, while yet in the wilderness, the Lord made this promise: "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall harken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." Deut. 11:13, 14.

2. About six hundred and fifty years later, this promise was given by the prophet Joel: "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He 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." Joel 2:23.

3. That the "rain" here mentioned is figurative is shown by the fact that reference is made to the time just preceding the coming of the Lord (verse 1). Therefore the promise is to the spiritual Israel, to whom, at that time, it can be said, "He hath given you the former rain."

4. That "rain" is used here to illustrate a spiritual lesson, is further shown by James: "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. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:7, 8.

5. Joel's prophecy, before quoted, is otherwise expressed in these words: "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; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." Joel 2:28, 29.

6. This prophecy began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down with great power upon the disciples of Christ. Peter then said to the people, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel," and added the scripture above cited. Acts 2:16-18. That was the "early rain." The "latter rain" is due just before the harvest, which is "the end of the world." Matt. 13:39.

7. The Spirit of Christ is His representative in the earth until He come again. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26; see, also, Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:14. And in this way He will be with us "unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:19, 20.

8. As the "latter rain" is essential to an abundant harvest, so the special outpouring of the Spirit is indispensable in the last days. (a) Because it will be a time of apostasy on the part of professed Christians, and an especial awakening will be desirable. 1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rev. 3:14-22. (b) Because it will be a time of great delusion and deception. Matt. 7:22, 23; 24:23-27; 2 Peter 2:1, 2; Rev. 13:11-17. (c) Because of the fierceness of Satanic wrath against the truth. "Wo to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev. 12:12.

9. In connection with the work of the last days' revival of the Spirit—which is to be a world-wide work—the Lord gives us this injunction: "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." Mal. 3:10.

10. Can any one afford to lose the blessing of the "latter rain," and be without fruit when the great harvest time comes? Can you? Would you not rather have it said to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? Matt. 25:21.