The Early & Latter Rains - Part 1

     This is a word of preparation given at a recent Chronos Ministry weekly meeting. The common view of the Church is that we have already received the early rains, beginning with the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out to empower the disciples to continue Jesus’ earthly ministry of preaching the Gospel. Unfortunately, the Church also widely believes that Jesus will not return until after the latter rain outpouring based on a misinterpretation of James 5:7-8. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
       As always, we must use the Spirit-inspired scriptural connections to see what the true definition of the early and latter rains is. Joel 2:23-24 records, Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you—the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
     There are two rains, the early and latter rains, that bring one harvest. Israel’s year began in the fall, so the early rain came in autumn (Oct./Nov.) in order to soften the ground so they could plow it and sow the seeds. The latter rain came in the spring (March/April) to bring the seed to maturity.
       Joel goes on to prophecy concerning the purpose of these rains in verses 28-29. 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, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. This is the passage Peter quoted in Acts 2 concerning the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that would empower Jesus’ disciples to preach the Gospel.
      It is no coincidence that Peter quoted this passage in the first sermon preached during this age, and it just so happened to be about the end-times! The rains have to do with the end-time harvest. Unfortunately, what many of the “Generals” did not realize is that this outpouring would last throughout the last Days of God’s great week of the plan of redemption. Hebrews 1:1-4 identify the last Days as the time when God spoke to us through Jesus.
      That is, the New Covenant and the preaching of the Gospel that are Days 5-7 when counting from Adam. When counting from Jesus’ ministry, they are the last three days of the week, what Jesus called Today, Tomorrow, and 3rd Day perfection (Luke 13:32). We already have all the power of the Spirit that we need compliments of the early rains of the Day of Pentecost.
      This is why Acts 3:17 refers to times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord. This is why praying in tongues, yielding our voice to the Spirit, speaking out in a heavenly language we have not learned, releases God’s “now Word” on earth as in Heaven is so vital.
       So then, what are the latter rains that God is waiting so patiently for? They are for the age to come. That is, the Last Day, the 7th Day that comes after the Church is raptured to Heaven and seated as the heavenly court. It is when the “Elijah Church” turns over the mantle of preaching the Gospel to the newly reborn Jewish saints, who are given Elisha’s double portion of the anointing to continue Christ’s earthly ministry of preaching the Gospel.
       They operate under the guidance of the heavenly court, Jesus and His joint-heirs (the Church), by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we ensure their victory over the Antichrist. This latter rain continues throughout Christ’s millennial reign over the earth until the final harvest comes at the end of the age in what we know as God’s Great White Throne Judgment. In other words, the early and latter rains cover the entire Messianic Age, lasting three great Days or 3,000 years.