Latter Rain
Slawomir Gromadzki
Introduction
The early rain is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, daily filling the believer’s heart, bringing victory over sin and covering with Christ’s righteousness.
The latter rain is power for witnessing. It prepares God’s faithful remnant to give the loud cry of the third angel’s message with compelling power. Then the eyes of the world will be focused upon God’s commandment-keeping people. Then the people of God will reveal the love of God, the character of God—the glory of God. Then they will be prepared to stand without a mediator during the seven last plagues.
“I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place—when the mighty angel will come down from heaven, and unite with the third angel in closing up the work for this world; my message is that our only safety is in being ready for the heavenly refreshing, having our lamps trimmed and burning.” — Selected Messages, book 1, p. 192.
Although the servant of God did not indicate a specific time for the outpouring of the Spirit, she said that at the commencement (beginning) of the time of trouble, “the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come.” — Early Writings, p. 86.
This is the brief time of trouble before the plagues fall. We are near to that time when all mankind will be divided into two classes: those with the mark of the beast and those with God’s name on their foreheads.
This is the whole passage we are supposed to read for today, so let us now, on the basis of those quotations, try to answer very important questions such as: What is the purpose of the early rain and what is the meaning of the latter rain? What conditions are we to fulfil to receive the latter rain? What is the reason that after such a long time we still haven’t received the blessing of the latter rain?
What Is the Purpose of the Early Rain?
First of all, let us explain what the purpose of the early rain is.
We can find the answer in the first sentence we’ve just read:
“The early rain is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, daily filling the believer’s heart, bringing victory over sin and covering with Christ’s righteousness.”
So we see here that it is not the goal of the latter rain to make us holy, but the early rain (the influence of the Holy Spirit that should take place now) is to transform our characters. It is during the early rain of the Holy Spirit (now) that we should learn to overcome sin and follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
It is true that the latter rain will strengthen and mature the experience already developed under the early rain, but it will not do this to a careless Christian who wastes time and who does not receive the blessings of the early rain.
What Is the Main Purpose of the Latter Rain?
What is the main purpose of the latter rain, besides strengthening and maturing the experience already developed under the early rain?
The main goal of the latter rain is to enable us to witness with great power (just as occurred at Pentecost).
To be honest, I myself used to think that now I can neglect the time of preparation because, anyway, if I only keep on believing in Christ, then when the Holy Spirit comes in the latter rain He will transform my character. But E. White clearly suggests that this way of thinking can be very deceptive:
“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.” — Testimonies to Ministers, p. 507 (R&H, March 2, 1897).
What a tragedy it will be if we don’t receive the latter rain!
While reading this, I remembered that some time ago I had a plant, but I did not water it systematically, so after a certain time the plant just withered and died. But when I noticed that the plant was dying because of the lack of water, I poured a lot of water into the flower pot, but it was too late.
We are like a plant that needs a regular water supply, but if we neglect daily receiving the spiritual blessing of the early rain, then we are going to become spiritually dead. And when we become spiritually dead, Holy Spirit will not change our sinful and hopeless condition during the time of the latter rain.
“By the cry of the third angel, the Holy Spirit will be poured out in large measure upon His people, to prepare them to stand through the time of trouble, and to fit them to engage in the closing work of the gospel.” The Review and Herald, July 21, 1891
“… at this very time that the refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord to give power to the loud cry.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 385
“The blessings received under the former rain are needful to us to the end… As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain.” The Review and Herald, March 2, 1897
“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.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 507
Latter Rain (Final Outporing of Holy Spirit)
“The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the former rain, and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant.” Testimony Treasures, volume 3, p. 211
“Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word.” The Great Controversy, p. 464
“Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled.” The Great Controversy, p. 48
“The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead to a revival of true religion and to the performance of many wonderful works. Heavenly intelligences will come among us, and men will speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God. But should the Lord work upon men as He did on and after the day of Pentecost, many who now claim to believe the truth would know so very little of the operation of the Holy Spirit that they would cry, ‘Beware of fanaticism.’” Selected Messages, book 2, p. 57
“It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His Spirit. There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour’s love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts.” — God’s Amazing Grace, p. 187.
Timing
“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain… It is the lateral enforcement of the false sabbath that forces the final decision upon every soul, and it is at this very time that the refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord to give power to the loud cry.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 385
Who Will Receive the Latter Rain
“We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, those who receive it will be those who have been purified and made white, having put away all their idols and surrendered fully to Christ.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 1, 178
“None but those who have wrestled with God, who have hungered and thirsted after righteousness, and who have been cleansed from every defilement of the flesh and spirit, will share in the refreshing of the latter rain.” The Great Controversy, 619
Who Will Not Receive the Latter Rain
“A superficial faith will not carry anyone through the final crisis. Those who have a form of godliness but have not known the deep workings of the Spirit in cleansing the soul-temple will find no place for the refreshing when it comes.” Signs of the Times, November 24, 1890
“The latter rain will fall upon those who are ready, but it will pass by those who are content with a lukewarm experience and who have not perfected a Christian character in the early rain.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, 24
Those Who Fail to Discern the Latter Rain Will Oppose It
“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.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 507
“There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work.” The Review and Herald, November 7, 1918
“‘Why’, they say, ‘should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?’ Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing‘.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 507
Covered With Christ’s Righteousness
Let us read again the first sentence of this passage because it is very important, and I want to turn our attention to the last expression:
“The early rain is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, daily filling the believer’s heart, bringing victory over sin and covering with Christ’s righteousness.”
It is also worth mentioning that according to this first quotation, during the fall of the early rain we are to be “covered by Christ’s righteousness.”
What does it mean?
Joel 2:23
EARLY (RAIN) = TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
It means that during the early rain we should let the Holy Spirit teach us about Christ our Righteousness, concentrating on the beautiful message of the Gospel.
It tells us that if we want to receive the latter rain, first we have to accept the truth about the righteousness of Christ in the early rain.
The Loud Cry and the Righteousness of Christ
I was shocked when, for the first time, I read this amazing quotation by E. White (she wrote it some years after the presentation of the righteousness-by-faith message at the Minneapolis GC):
“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer: This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” — Selected Messages, book 1, p. 363.
What does it mean?
It is obvious that the latter rain could have taken place long ago if only we had fulfilled a certain very simple condition!
Knowing the history of our church, we can say that if we focus on Christ our Righteousness, if we study and share the truth with one another, then the latter rain comes. So it means that it is not enough to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but we have to accept Christ in the message that was given to us long ago.
Is the message accepted?
If it is, why are we still waiting for the blessing?
But on the other hand, we actually preach the truth about Christ our Righteousness, so what is the problem?
The problem is that we generally know and preach the same message of righteousness by faith that is known in evangelical churches, but it is not the same message that the Lord gave us during the 1888 era through Waggoner, Jones, and W. W. Prescott. The message most of us know and preach is the message given to Martin Luther and other Reformers so long ago. It was a beautiful truth about righteousness by faith alone but it wasn’t complete. Over a 100 years ago, however, the Lord gave us the fully recovered gospel, and proclaiming only this message can lead to the outpouring of the latter rain.
The Result of Accepting Christ Our Righteousness
What will be the result of accepting the truth about Christ our Righteousness during the time of the early rain?
The result of this is shown in the book of Revelation 18:1.
Who is this mighty angel coming down from heaven listed in Revelation 18:1?
“The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition. How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is wanting in their hearts, but it is this very fervor of love that makes God’s people the light of the world.” — Review and Herald, July 23, 1889.
“The latter rain is power for witnessing. It prepares God’s faithful remnant to give the loud cry of the third angel’s message with compelling power. Then the eyes of the world will be focused upon God’s commandment-keeping people. Then the people of God will reveal the love of God, the character of God—the glory of God. Then they will be prepared to stand without a mediator, during the seven last plagues.”
Other Conditions for Receiving the Latter Rain
What are other important conditions we are to fulfil at the time of the early rain in order to receive the latter rain?
We need to desire the Holy Spirit and pray for the outpouring, and we need to pray while being united in Christ and in one truth, as those first Christians were united just before Pentecost.
United Like Twin Light Particles
We should be united like twin light particles—photons are.
On the internet I’ve found a very interesting article about the unity of twin photons. It refers to the famous 1997 quantum mechanics experiment led by physicist Nicolas Gisin and his team at the University of Geneva. Listen to what some scientists say about it:
“Light has the ability to behave in a conscious manner. To actually transmit information across the entire universe instantly. Consider this. In 1997 a Geneva researcher created a pair of twin light photons and sent them flying in opposite directions along optical fibers. When one photon hit a mirror it was forced to make a random choice to go one way or the other. Whichever way it went its twin photon already seven miles away always instantaneously took the very same option. In fact, physicists now believe that an entangled twin particle will know what its partner is doing and instantaneously mimic its actions even if the pair live in separate galaxies billions of light years apart. Since we’ve been told that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, how does one photon on one side of the universe know what the other photon on the other side of the universe is doing?”
We have read here something amazing because it says that a certain scientist shot two light particles (twin photons) in different directions, and it was astonishing that when one of them changed direction, the other did exactly the same. Scientists say that it will happen even if those two twin photons are separated by millions of light years!
They always go in the same directions?
Why?
Because they let the same Spirit guide them!!!
Are we guided by the same Spirit?
If we are guided by the same Spirit at the time of the early rain, we will be united in Christ and Truth, and we finally will become the light of the world.
Healthy Cells, Cancer Cells and Light
Have you heard that healthy cells in our body emit light particles? It means that if we are healthy and especially if we are happy and love one another, we actually emit light particles? But CANCER CELLS do not emit any light particles! Cancer cells are total darkness.
Why?
It is because they are selfish! Healthy cells are unselfish, and when they see that a neighbouring cell is suffering because of the lack of protein, carbohydrates or oxygen, they absorb less so that the poor cell can have more and get better. But cancer cells, when they see other cells’ needs, say, “I don’t care,” and they take everything for themselves. They are not light because they can’t love.
