Latter Rain
 

Joel 2:23 "Be glad, O people of Zion, 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."

also Zech 10:1

What is "latter rain?"

Re: Latter Rain
 

And, what is "the early rain, for your vindication?"
I've heard it said that this is the initial exposure to the Holy Spirit...

Re: Latter Rain
 

I was taught that the Former Rain took place at Pentecost, the birth of the church. The latter rain is believed to be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the "last days" which revives the church in preparation for Christ's coming. The modern Pentecostal outpouring that began in the early 1900's is generally regarded as being the beginning of the Latter Rain. Many believe we're still experiencing the down pour.

Re: Latter Rain
 

Trouble with their idea is scripture says they were in the last days then...when the Hoghost was poured out 2000 years ago ("hath in THESE last days"...)

Re: Latter Rain
 

the hoghost?

Re: Latter Rain
 

Eh. Just sharing what I was told. There are all kinds of angles that can be taken.

Re: Latter Rain
 

I would def say that these were "types" of former and latter rain, yup. I'm getting close here, to a def of "latter rain," as distinct from former rain, as something like "knowledge." We thirst for knowledge. and the latter rain quenches that thirst; is one interpretation. The former rain being being that outpouring of the Holy Spirit you get when you first..."get saved," "start seeking."

Re: Latter Rain
 

Amen. Trust that "last days" in the common mind is not what God means, lol.

Re: Latter Rain
 

Ah, I'm resonating. I experienced former rain as a new believer, an undeniable infilling of the Spirit...then several years of semi-seeking, then seeking has illuminated...well, just illuminated, causing me to agree with Murray's "knowledge" for latter rain; I might say "Word;" soaking up enough Word into a personal understanding is, I believe "latter rain," or at least connected with getting it. Spirit 2.0 (goosebumps)

Re: Latter Rain
 

Today is the last day of the rest of your life.

Re: Latter Rain
 

Ha, and I've just heard a Syrian lady say "...and it doesn't matter if I die tomorrow..." putting me in mind of Christ's life. You are not really living until you might be dead tomorrow. Yow

Re: Latter Rain
 

The former and latter rain is exactly what they say. The move and manifestation of the Holy Ghost and the power of God in the assemblies of God and the reaping of souls from the world. This took place 2000 years ago and may again before the coming of Christ. Some believe and say it has already happened back in 1906 at the Azusa street revival.I think that may be close to the truth of things by the way the assembly of believers are turning instead of turning back to basic thought and procedures of prayer and fasting and seeking the Lord's face, which is his direction, we have become too smart for our good in the things of scripture or at least some think they have figured it all out...

Re: Latter Rain
 

I would highlight that it also occurs, maybe mainly occurs on a personal level.