Understanding the Latter Rain and the Former Rain

Posted by Bible Probe on August 01, 2005 at 11:09:55:

Understanding the Latter Rain and the Former Rain

And the need to save as many souls we can now, by spreading the Good News

First understand that a seed needs water to germinate. Once germinated it grows. Just before harvest a healthy rain will make all the difference between a lukewarm, mediocre crop and a vibrant, healthy and mature crop -swelled with goodness.

Now, think about what happens to the seeds in the ground who failed to germinate? Who can get the Latter Rain? Certainly it would be wasteful and useless on seeds that failed to germinate in the first place. Were this seed that did not germinate in the spring suddenly to germinate in the fall -- what chance does that seed/plant have of making it through the winter?

To understand this concept of the Latter Rain and the Former Rain, begin by understanding that the Old Testament addressed Jews who for the most part lived with agriculture, worked in the fields, and for the most part depended on an agrarian way of life. Israel had predictable weather patterns, including heavy rains in both the spring and the fall.

When a Jew planted their crops in the spring, the spring rain (Former Rain) was expected and necessary to germinate their seeds. Without this spring rain -- they simply would have nothing. There would be no hope of harvesting a crop in the fall.

The former rain represents the grace, you as a believer in Jesus Christ first received to help your seed germinate and grow. It can also be compared to the former rains that the apostles received in their time by knowing, loving and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the fall, the Jew could anticipate and usually received a great rain just prior to harvest. This is the Latter Rain. This fall rain would greatly enhance their crops just before harvest. So, it will be - just before the harvest --those seeds (us) who have germinated --will receive a down pouring of grace through the Holy Spirit. This can be compared to the Latter Rain that the apostles received on Pentecost.

The prophet Hosea makes a wonderful prophecy which allows us to transfer this idea of the Latter and Former Rains to the Church, and what will come upon us in these End Times:

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 unto the earth. Hosea 6:3

and in Hosea 10:12 -
Sow to yourselves 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.

This idea also gets expounded upon in Psalm 72:6 -
He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

In the New Testament, James tells us about these rains to come in James 5:7-8:

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.

The Latter Rain is the rain that will surely come just before the Harvest. It is the enormous last day revival soon to come and the harvest of souls before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh promised to us in the last days and the restoration of apostolic and prophetic gifts.

Some Scripture in this regard:

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus 26:4

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. Zechariah 10:1

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. Deuteronomy 11:14

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

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. Job 29:23

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 unto the earth. Hosea 6:3

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. Psalm 72:6

Sow to yourselves 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 10:12

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.

The Latter Rain is the rain that will surely come just before the Harvest. It is the enormous last day revival soon to come and the harvest of souls before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh promised to us in the last days and the restoration of apostolic and prophetic gifts. James 5:7-8

Follow Ups:

This board is not in use

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:

Optional Link URL : 
Link Title        : 
Optional Image URL:

If you press "Preview Message," you are taken to a preview screen where your
message is shown to you before allowing you to post it.
Your message is not finalized until you click "Post Message".

[ Bible Probe ]