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"Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation." -Testimonies for the Church vol. 1 p. 187.1 "I saw the latter rain was coming as [suddenly as] the midnight cry, and with ten times the power." -Spaulding and Magan Collection p. 4.3 - September, 1852. "The convocations of the church, as in camp-meetings, the assemblies of the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are God's appointed opportunities for giving the early and the latter rain." - Review and Herald March 2, 1897, par. 6 "The power which stirred the people so mightily in the 1844 movement will again be revealed. The third angel's message will go forth, not in whispered tones, but with a loud voice."-Testimonies for the Church 5:252 (1885). |
Just as in the Midwest, the early rains prepare the
soil for the seed sowing we see the farmers doing each and every year in
the early Spring. Then, later in the year we see the latter rains ripen
their crop for the coming harvest in the Fall. In nature we find many parallels
in biblical truth. Here is just one more.
2000 years ago we saw the early rain fall on Pentecost to ready the Apostles with the task at hand which allowed for a sowing of the truth we as Christians embrace today. Now that we are in the last days, we understand the latter rain is promised to fall so as to equip God's obedient workers with the necessary skills to proclaim the present truth far and wide so as to assure a bountiful harvest for the Lord when He returns seeking His obedient and faithful bride. So, "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." -James 5:7
One thing many miss is, in order to receive the latter rain we must find out what caused the Apostles to receive it.It says in Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
As we know the Apostles worked for the Lord in a tireless fashion so as to cause the church of Jesus Christ to grow. So, actively doing the work, or at least helping those that can do it, is a major part of why they were blessed with the early rain on Pentecost. The other reason is recorded in the passage above. They were "in one accord." They were in agreement when it came to all doctrines of the Word of God. When the Lord's obedient remnant people, that are actively employed in doing the work in these last days come together as one, the latter rain will fall.
For the SDA, or those of you who understand who Ellen White is. See this...
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"Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. -Testimonies for the Church vol. 5 p. 214.2 "When on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, they understood the truths that Christ had spoken in parables. The teachings that had been mysteries to them were made clear. The understanding that came to them with the outpouring of the Spirit made them ashamed of their fanciful theories. Their suppositions and interpretations were foolishness when compared with the knowledge of heavenly things which they now received. They were led by the Spirit, and light shone into their once darkened understanding. -Testimonies for the Church vol. 8 p. 267.2 But the disciples had not yet received the complete fulfillment of Christ's promise. They received all the knowledge of God that they could bear, but the complete fulfillment of the promise that Christ would show them plainly of the Father was yet to come. Thus it is today. Our knowledge of God is partial and imperfect. When the conflict is ended and the Man Christ Jesus acknowledges before the Father His faithful workers, who, in a world of sin, have borne true witness for Him, they will understand clearly what now are mysteries to them. -Testimonies for the Church vol 8 p. 267.3 " I also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. -Early Writings p. 71.1} I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of "refreshing" and the "latter rain" to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." 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. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence. -Early Writings p. 71.2 "The Holy Spirit will come to all who are begging for the bread of life to give to their neighbors. -Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 90. "When we bring our hearts into unity
with Christ, and our lives into harmony with His work, the Spirit
that fell on the disciples on the day of Pentecost will fall on
us. -Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 246. "Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. -Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 21. "Not one of us will ever receive the
seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them.
It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse
the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall
upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of
Pentecost." -Testimonies for the Church vol 5 214.2 "Let all who believe the truth begin
to work. Do the work that lies nearest you. ...If the lay
members of the church will arouse to do the work that they can do,...
each seeing how much he can accomplish in winning souls to Jesus,
we shall see many leaving the ranks of Satan to stand under the
banner of Christ. If our people will act upon the light that is
given in these few words of instruction, we shall surely see of
the salvation of God. Wonderful revivals will follow. Sinners will
be converted, and many souls will be added to the church. When
we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives into harmony
with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the day
of Pentecost will fall on us." -Testimonies for the Church
vol. 8, p. 246. "The disciples did not ask for a blessing
for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls.
The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they
claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then
it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted
in a day." --Southern Watchman, Aug. 1, 1905. "The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.".--Review and Herald, July 21, 1896. "Our heavenly Father has made every provision that this should be. Read the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John. There we are shown what God desires to do for the human race. If the Holy Spirit should come upon us as it came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, eyes now blinded would be opened; the scales would fall from them. " -Signs of the Times, March 21, 1900 par. 2 |
| "Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand -RH, March 9, 1905 |
