Many Pentecostals and Charismatics believe that they are the fulfillment of the ‘latter rain’. They believe that the ‘former rain’ was the Day of Pentecost in the 1st century A.D. when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ 120 disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4). They believe that the evidence of signs and wonders (e.g., speaking in other tongues) underscored the ‘former rain’. Similarly, they believe that the resurgence of signs and wonders in the Pentecostal / Charismatic communities in the 20th and 21st centuries is the fulfillment of the ‘latter rain’. However, the true ‘former rain’ is the explosion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ started on the Day of Pentecost in the 1st century A.D. resulting in many people become saved in their spirits. Similar, the true latter rain is the renewed large distribution of the Gospel that occurs during the Great Tribulation before the return of Jesus Christ at His second coming on the Last Day. Rain in the Bible is a symbol for the Word of God (Gospel) which results in salvation. Salvation of the spirit occurs on earth and in the body of God’s people. The salvation of the soul occurs at the resurrection on the Last Day when God’s people are raised in their new glorified bodies in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
Bible Passaged on Former / Latter Rain
Feasts of Harvest – First-fruits, Day of Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles
Latter Rain – Knowledge Increased in the End Time
Bible Passaged on Former / Latter Rain
- Former (H3138, Heb: yoreh) – literally, sprinkling – 3 occurrences (Hos 6:3, Deut 11:14 (first), Jer 5:24)
- Latter (H4456, Heb: malqosh) – after crop (H3953/H3954) – 8 occurrences – Deu 11:14, Job 29:23, Pro 16:15, Jer 3:3, Jer 5:24, Hos 6:3, Joe 2:23, Zec 10:1
Old Testament Passages
- Deu 11:13-17
- (13) And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
- (14) That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
- (15) And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
- (16) Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
- (17) And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
- Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. (Job 29:21-23)
- Speech dropped down upon them (points to former rain) – see Deut 32:1-2, Song 4:11, Eze 20:46, Eze 21:2, Amos 7:16, Amos 9:13
- Context is Job’s former state of life as one of God’s people with wisdom and knowledge of God
- Waiting for the latter rain – see James 5:7 (symbol of waiting for God’s return)
- See also James 5:11 (the example of the patience of Job)
- In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. (Pro 16:15)
- Life – points to eternal life (salvation)
- Favor – H7522 – literally, delight, points to God’s salvation – Deu 33:23, Psa 5:12, Psa 30:5, Psa 30:7, Psa 44:3, Psa 89:17, Psa 106:4, Pro 8:35, Pro 11:27, Pro 12:2, Pro 14:9, Pro 14:35, Pro 16:15, Pro 18:22, Pro 19:12, Isa 60:10
- Cloud – Christ returns on the clouds of glory – Mat 24, etc.
- Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. (Jer 3:3)
- Context is the Babylonian Captivity (type of the Great Tribulation) – Awaiting salvation (regathering and restoration of Israel / Judah) at the Last Day to usher in eternity
- Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. (Jer 5:24)
- Rain (H1653)
- Season (H6256, Heb: eth) – literally, time
- Reserves (H8104, Heb: shamar) – literally keeps, observes (468 occurrences)
- Appointed (H2708, Heb: chuqqah) -104 occurrences – statutes
- Weeks (H7620, shabua) – literally, ‘sevened’
- Harvest – (H7105, qatsiyr) –
- Tied to the former and latter rain (salvation) – feast of weeks and ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles) – see Part 111 of Revelation Study for Feast of Tabernacles – part 167 revelation
- Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 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. (Hos 6:1-3)
- Rain (H1653)
- Christ’s two advents (salvation of the spirit, salvation of the soul/body)
- 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. (Joe 2:23)
- ‘Former rain’ (H4175, moreh) – Ps 84:6, Joel 2:23(2) – total of 3 occurrences
- ‘Latter rain’ – (H4476 – see above)
- Rain – G1653 (see below)
- In the first – latter rain occurs in the first month (month does not appear in the Hebrew)
- The larger context is the mercy of the Lord (salvation):
- Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. (Joe 2:18)
- Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: (Joe 2:19)
- But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joe 2:20)
- Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. (Joe 2:21)
- Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. (Joe 2:22)
- 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. (Joe 2:23)
- And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. (Joe 2:24)
- And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (Joe 2:25)
- And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. (Joe 2:26)
- And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. (Joe 2:27)
- Joel 2 Outline
- Joel 2:1-11 – Day of the Lord (Last Day / Judgment Day)
- Joel 2:12-17 – A Call to Return to God with all their hearts
- Joel 2:18-32 – The Lord will show pity
- Remove the northern army, pastures will again spring forth (2:19-22)
- Former and latter rain, eat in plenty and praise the Lord (2:23-27)
- Lord will pour out His Spirit on all flesh (2:28-29)
- Wonders, sun into darkness, moon into blood before the Day of the Lord (2:30-32)
- 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. (Zec 10:1)
- Context is idolatry and false teaching:
- For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams … because there was no shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds … (Zec 10:2-3)
- Latter rain is Restoration (salvation):
- … I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph … for I have mercy upon them … for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them … their heart shall rejoice … I will … gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. (Zec 10:6-8)
- Context is idolatry and false teaching:
New Testament Passage
- 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. (Jas 5:7)
- Early (G4406, proimos) – 1 occurrences, James 5:7
- Cognate G4404 – proi (10 occurrences) – at dawn – Mat 16:3, Mk 1:35, Mk 11:20, Mk 13:35, Mk 15:1, Mk 16:1-2, Mk 16:9, John 20:1, Acts 28:23
- Cognate G4405 – proia (4 occurrences) – morning
- Mat 21:18 – Jesus hungered in the morning
- Mat 27:1 – Chief priests and elders took counsel on how to kill Jesus
- John 21:4 – Jesus stood on the shore
- John 18:28 – Jesus taken to the judgment hall
- Cognate G4407 – proinos (1 occurrences)
- Rev 2:28 – those who overcome are given the morning star
- Latter (G3797, opsimos) – 1 occurrence, James 5:7 (later in the day)
- Cognate G3796 – opse (3 occurrences) – evening – Mat 28:1, Mk 11:19, Mk 13:35
- Cognate G3798 – opsios (15 occurrences) – early evening – e.g., Mat 16:2, Mat 20:8 (end of work day), Mk 1:32 (setting of the sun)
- Early (G4406, proimos) – 1 occurrences, James 5:7
Rain as the Word of God
- Rain / dew – a type of Gospel – Is 55:10-11, Deut 32:1-2, 2Sa 23:4 , Job 29:22-23 , Psa 72:6 , Isa 55:10-11 , Hos 6:4, Hos 14:5 , 1Co 3:6-8 , Heb 6:7 , Mic 5:7 , Zec 10:1
- H4305/H4306 (Heb: matar) – literally, to rain
- H1652 (Heb: gasham, 1 occurrence, Jer 14:22) and H1653 (Heb: geshem, 35 occurrences) – to rain (strong shower)
- H7241 (Heb: rabiyb) – 6 occurrences – Deu 32:2, Psa 65:10, Psa 72:6, Jer 3:3, Jer 14:22, Micah 5:7
- Rain shut up from heaven due to sin / disobedience – 2 Chr 6:26-27, Deut 11:17, Deut 28:4, 2 Chr 7:13
- Rain from heaven is a blessing – Deut 28:12, Deut 11:11, 1 Ki 8:36, Ps 147:8, Is 55:10-11, Acts 14:17
- Dew of heaven – Gen 27:28 , Gen 27:39 , Deu 33:13 , Dan 4:15 , Dan 4:23 , Dan 4:25 , Dan 4:33 , Dan 5:21 , Hag 1:10.
- Gospel comes through men – Ro 10:13-21, 1:15, Is 52:7, Ro 3:3f
Feasts of Harvest – First-fruits, Day of Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles
- And the LORD spoke unto Moses … holy convocations, even these are my feasts. (Lev 23:1-2)
- Feasts (appointments), convocations – a calling out (assembly)
- 7th Day Sabbath – Lev 23:3
- Passover – Lev 23:4-5
- Feast of Unleavened Bread – Lev 23:6-8
- Feast of First-Fruits – Lev 23:9-14
- Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) – Lev 23:15-22
- Feast of Trumpets – Lev 23:25
- Day of Atonement – Lev 23:26-32
- Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) – Lev 23:33-44
Feast of First-fruits – Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- … When you … shall reap the harvest thereof, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD … And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year … (Lev 23:9-12)
- Feast of first-fruits – Resurrection of Jesus Christ (the first-fruits)
- Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and Feast of Taberbacles were Feasts of Harvest
- Then Solomon offered … on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. (2Ch 8:13)
- And you shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. Three times in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD … (Exo 34:22-23)
- Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) – Salvation in the Spirit
- Feast of Tabernacles – Salvation of the soul and new spiritual body
Latter Rain – Knowledge Increased in the End Time
Seeking for the Word of God:
- Behold, the days come, says the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amo 8:11-12)
- Context of Amos is judgment on Israel (Amos 8:1-14)
- Cannot find Word of God – unsaved
Knowledge shall Increase
- But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Dan 12:4)
- Run to and from – searching for the Word of God
- Jesus as the Bread of Life
- Run to and from – searching for the Word of God
- Increased Knowledge
- Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. (Isa 5:13)
- Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isa 28:9-10)
Knowledge of Salvation
- To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, (Luk 1:77)
- That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge (1Co 1:5)
- For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2Co 4:6)
- Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God … (2Co 10:5)
- That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Eph 1:17)
Knowledge Increases in the End Times
- Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Dan 12:10)
- And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Mat 24:14)
- … but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many … (Dan 11:32-33)
- 1290 days (Great Tribulation – Abomination of Desolation) – Dan 12:11
- Symbolic of the Witness of God’s will being done by His people (servants) who endure the Great Tribulation (Abomination of Desolation)
Word of God not through Babylon
- And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication (Rev 17:4)
- Fornication – worshiping other gods and idols (Abomination of Desolation)
- … the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Rev 18:22-24)
- Knowledge through God’s people’s witness in a multitude of methods and sources
Great Multitude out of Great Tribulation
- After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands … And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:9,13-14)
- Knowledge greatly increases during the Great Tribulation
- Salvation brings the most important knowledge of Christ