Later Rain

So important to the church of God is the latter rain that already the Old Testament prophets spoke about it and called the people to prepare for it.

Moses spoke about the early and latter rain and David mentions it in the Psalms. Isaiah writes, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour out My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessings upon thy offspring.” Isa. 44:3

Joel, when speaking of the last days, also prophesies the promise of the latter rain. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and will cause to come down for you the latter rain in the first month.” Joel 2:23

“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.” A.A. 55(1911)

WHAT IS HOLDING BACK THE LATTER RAIN?

Already in 1897, Sister White wrote, “It is the time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give largely of His Spirit.” T.M. 512

Now many years later we have not received it yet. There must be a reason for it, why the Lord has not poured it out upon His people.

“Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Jer. 5:24-25

“Ministers and people are unprepared for the time in which they live, and nearly all who profess to believe present truth are unprepared to understand the work of preparation for this time. In their present state of worldly ambition, with their lack of consecration to God, their devotion to self, they are wholly unfitted to receive the latter rain and, having done all, to stand against the wrath of Satan, who by his inventions would cause them to make shipwreck of faith, fastening upon them some pleasing self-deception. They think they are all right when they are all wrong.” Vol. 1 pg. 466

God in His mercy has granted more time to His people to get ready, but many are still neglecting the necessary preparation and are wasting their precious time of probation.

WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE READY?

This is the most important question for each one of us; our eternal life depends on it.
“Come let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn and he will heal us; 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 to us as the rain, as the, latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:1, 3

“Sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you,” Hosea 10:20
We need to make a thorough reformation in our lives. Sister White made it very clear what kind of preparation is needed.
“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully,… I saw that none could share the “refreshing” unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.” E.W. 71

The standard is high. Many will lose out on the latter rain because they did not realize the perfect character which is required by God. And this perfection cannot be gained in a few days. Therefore we must begin our work of reformation today. After you have fulfilled the conditions, then ask the Lord to fulfill His part.
“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, to every one grass in the field.” Zech. 10:1

“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… Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of grace may fall upon us… If we pray for the blessing in faith, we shall receive it as God has promised.” T.M. 508, 509

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LATTER RAIN?

“And 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.” Joel 2:28
“Servants of God, with their faces lightened up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers.” G.C. 612

“There will be thousands converted to the truth in a day who at the eleventh hour see and acknowledge the truth and the movements of the Sprit of God.” Last Day Events, p. 212
Sis. White also stated, “At that time of the Tatter rain’, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.”
The loud cry of the third angel, which has existed since the beginning of the Reform Movement, will now grow into a mighty work under the power of the latter rain.

The solemn thought is that our judgement and sealing take place before the latter rain. Also the final shaking will precede the latter rain. The wise and foolish virgins will be separated and then the little remnant who remains will receive the power from on high. The latter rain is not a power for us to overcome sins. They must be put away before our sealing or it will be too late for us. The latter rain is a mighty power to finish the gospel preaching. It is to proclaim the Sabbath more fully and to call out God’s people from Babylon which includes all churches outside the Church of God.

These thoughts should occupy our minds daily. Delay in our preparation may be fatal. “The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death… Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.” Test. Vol. 5 pg. 81

Out of the Church of God in the time of the Sunday law, when the mark of the beast is forced upon us, many will be shaken out like a cloud and the little remnant that remains will receive the latter rain. May the Lord have mercy on His people and waken each one to see the danger of being found wanting in this solemn time.
AMEN