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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Harvest 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 he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (Joel 2:23)
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)
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)
Introduction
In the present hour many people are speaking of a tremendous revival that is at hand. The present author has stated on numerous occasions that we are on the edge of the most marvelous intervention of God in all history. The coming outpouring is the latter-rain revival spoken of in the Scriptures.
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)
The reference is to the rain cycle of the land of Israel. The former, planting rain occurs in the fall after the six-month drought of summer. Then there are occasional winter rains. The harvest rain begins in March and is referred to as the "latter-rain." After the heavy harvest rains there must be hot sun to harden the heads of wheat to prepare them for threshing.
Because of the several mentions in the Scriptures of the former and latter rain we conclude that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the Church Age will follow the pattern of the natural rain of the land of Israel. The spiritual fulfillment of the former, planting rain is described in the Book of Acts. Then there have been "mercy drops" during the "winter" of the Church Age. Now we are moving toward spring, so to speak, and the coming of the Lord. The several outpourings during the past three hundred years remind us that soon there will be an unprecedented deluge.
If this is true we are about to witness the mightiest outpouring of all time. The purpose of the latter (harvest) rain is to bring to maturity all that God has planted in the earth. After that there will come the burning sun of tribulation to harden the heads of wheat, that is, to prepare the saints to walk with Him who is the Consuming Fire of Israel.
There are two principal purposes to be accomplished by the latter-rain outpouring. The first purpose is to empower the saints to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to every nation for a witness. The second purpose is to bring Christ to maturity in the saints.
The operation of the first purpose is symbolized by the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter Eleven. The operation of the second purpose is symbolized by the Son who is brought forth, as described in Revelation, Chapter Twelve.
To be continued.