Lorain County Free-Net Chapel

Ask a Minister

~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~


Question: What exactly is the 'Latter Rain'? Is it actually something that is supposed to happen, or just a figure of speech? I was listening to the song Great Awakening by 4Him and it mentions it in there. It just sounded so familiar, but I can't place it. Can you give me any information on this?

Answer: Here are the two most prominent passages containing the words "latter rain."

Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23 (NIV)

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 (AV)

Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. Zechariah 10:1 NIV

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 AV

The "latter rain" is the seasonal rain which traditionally fell in Israel in the spring of the year shortly before the harvest time. It made the harvest possible; without it the harvest would fail or be small.

It is easy to see the spiritual application especially taking into account the context in Joel 2:18-32. God promises to bless Israel and bring about great joy in the land through a divine outpouring, not only of physical rain, but also of spiritual rain. In Acts 2:14-21 the Apostle Peter quotes this passage from Joel and applies it to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He goes on to say in verses 32-41 that this blessing is for all who believe including their descendents, which of course includes believers of all generations.

According to Peter's interpretation of Joel 2, "The Latter Rain" began on the Day of Pentecost and continues today for all who believe in Jesus and receive His promised Holy Spirit. This is the "outpouring" Joel prophesied, and Jesus promised in Acts 1:4 - 8. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."


Additional Resources


Back

Copyright © 2008 - The Lorain County Free-Net Chapel
North Central Ohio, U.S.A.

Home of David Wilkerson's Times Square Church Pulpit Series Multilingual Web Site
http://www.tscpulpitseries.org

TOP OF PAGE

Webmaster
This page was last updated December 15, 2008.

Next page

Why Revival Tarries/ "Help!"/ What's Here/ Bookstore/ Statement of Faith/ Bible Study/ Around the Piano/ Bulletin Board/ Library/ Home