Sergio Becerra
The “latter rain” is part of the weather pattern that takes place in Palestine. The agriculture season depended on it in ancient times. Food production involved the planting of the seeds in fall, thus germination and rooting were activated by the autumn rain (the “early rain”). The ripening of plants and fruits took place from late spring and was brought about by the seasonal rains (the “latter rain”). The Scriptures use this process as a symbolism of God’s work on behalf of humanity’s salvation. He is in the process of growing new citizens for His kingdom that embody heavenly values in their lives.
In the Bible, the latter rain represents the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the lives of the believers that will conclude their preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. It symbolizes a final ripening of their Christian experience that will make them fit for heaven. The descent of the Spirit with great power also has a collective impact. It enables the church, through its spiritual gifts, to accomplish and finish its mission of preaching the gospel to all the world.
The apostle Paul explains the announcement and reception of the gospel in people’s lives with the symbol of the planting of a seed, and its growth to maturity until it bears fruit. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor” (1 Cor. 3:6-8, RSV).
Likewise, Deuteronomy 32:2 (ESV) portrays the proclamation of God’s teaching and words as the outpouring of rain over grass. “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.”
The prophet Joel connects the pouring of rain with the outpouring of the Spirit of God in the latter days.
Be glad, O sons of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:23, 28-29, ESV)
In the book of Acts, Peter applies this prophecy to the coming of the Spirit during Pentecost. The disciples’ speaking in tongues other than theirs was proof of the power of the Spirit. It made possible the preaching of the gospel to Jews of other cultural and language backgrounds and helps us understand that there is a general historical fulfillment of this prophecy in the apostolic church. The Spirit was poured out on the church and enabled its members with gifts that made possible the preaching of the gospel.
There is also a personal component to the coming of the Spirit in the New Testament times. The apostle James underlines how important it is to be patient for the coming of the Lord, as a farmer waits for the fruit of its work, which depends on the early and latter rain. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (James 5:7). This symbol characterizes the union of divine power and human effort in the spiritual growth process.
For Paul, Christians must develop Christ-like virtues, which are compared to the fruits that the Spirit cultivates in their lives. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23). Again, the power of the Spirit of God works in the life of the believer who allows this work to take place actively. He must use his Christian freedom to love his neighbor, to serve, and be served by him (Gal. 5:13-14).
Ellen G. White has much to say about the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which includes the latter rain. She sees a general historical fulfillment of the coming of the Spirit on the church that began at Pentecost and will be completed at the end of time. She also sees a personal fulfillment of this promise in the life of Christian believers.
On the historic fulfillment on the church, Ellen G. White says:
The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.1
On the latter rain, she adds:
But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest ‘in the time of the latter rain.’2
The latter rain will replicate the experience of the apostolic church, having a global impact as powerful as was Pentecost. Ellen G. White describes the future experience in the following words:
The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening … . By thousand voices, all ever the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers … . Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number [will] take their stand upon the Lord’s side.3
Ellen G. White also emphasizes the need of the Spirit on the life of each Christian, at all stages of Christian experience.
At no point in our experience can we dispense with the assistance of that which enables us to make the first start. The blessings received under the former rain are needful to us to the end … Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work.4
Ellen G. White states that the Holy Spirit must be present in the life of believers throughout their Christian experience. Without Him, it is not possible to develop a Christ-like character.
The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If it is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive it will be made complete in Christ. The good work begun will be finished; the holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions will take the place of impure thoughts, perverse sentiments, and rebellious acts.5
Sadly, not every Christian will receive the latter rain. Only those who experience the continued presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives will benefit from the outpouring of the latter rain.
We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain. When we are truly consecrated to God, His love will abide in our hearts by faith, and we will cheerfully do our duty in accordance with the will of God.6
Ellen G. White gives us several suggestions on what we need to do in order to receive the latter rain in our lives. We share the main ones here.
• We need to pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit. “We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today.”7
• We should humble our hearts and experience a reform and revival of our spiritual life.
Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.8
A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.9
• We should love one another. “True conversion is a change from selfishness to sanctified affection for God and for one another.”10
• We should consecrate our lives totally to God.
• We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given.11
• We should become active workers for the cause of Christ. “When the churches become living, working churches, the Holy Spirit will be given in answer to their sincere request… . Then the windows of heaven will be open for the showers of the latter rain.”12
The latter rain is not a compensation for lack of interest in spiritual things at the end of time. Our Heavenly Father gave us His Spirit the day we accepted Jesus into our lives, and He has been with us all along. However, we usually do not take advantage of the presence of the Spirit to develop a daily relationship with our Lord. It is through this daily presence that He accomplishes the promise that the good work that He began through His Spirit in us He would “complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).
The latter rain is the completion of our spiritual maturation through the power of the Holy Spirit. This special gift of grace finishes our preparation for heaven and empowers us for the final proclamation of the gospel to the world with a loud voice before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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1 Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 54.
2 Ibid., 55.
3 Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, 612.
4 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 507.
5 Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, 561.
6 Ellen G. White, Testimony to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 399.
7 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, 5:158.
8 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, 1:121.
9 Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, February 25, 1902, 1.
10 Ibid., 115.
11 Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, 672.
12 White, Review and Herald, February 25, 1890, 1.