Early and Latter Rain

[Sam]

The Early and the Latter Rain


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. James 5:7

For many years some have considered the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church from Pentecost AD 30 as recorded in the second chapter of the Book of Acts and continuing for some time until it filled the “whole world” (according to Colossians 1:6) and for the first couple centuries of the Church as the “early rain.” Then when the Holy Spirit was again poured out around the late 1800‘s and early 1900‘s and has again reached the whole world it is referred to as the “latter rain.”

The term "latter rain” is a Biblical one coming primarily from the Old Testament and in context it referred to the late rain which was necessary to bring the planting to maturity so it could be harvested.

In the land where the Bible was written, the early rain or former rain fell in October to December to assist in seed germination and then the latter rain from March to May just before harvest (harvest is some times considered typical of the end of the age per Matthew 13:39) to provide ample moisture for crops to be rich and full.

Acts chapter 2 records the Holy Spirit being poured out on about 1/4 of the early Church in Jerusalem on Sunday May 28, AD 30. (about 120 per Acts 1:15 out of more than 500 per 1 Corinthians 15:6). This happened in the Temple where people were worshiping (Luke 24:44-49). The Temple covered an area of 17 acres of land.

The population of the country of Israel, some times called Palestine, was 5-6 hundred thousand in the first century. The population of Jerusalem was about 50,000. On feast days, as many as 2 million might be gathered there.

In Acts chapter 2 we find:
The Spirit (verses 1-4)
The Strangers (verses 5-13)
The Sermon (verses 14-36)
The Salvation (verses 37-41)
The Signs (verses 42-47)

Peter’s sermon can be divided into three parts:
First: he explained what happend (verses 14-21)
Second: he explained why it happened (verses 22-28)
Third: he gave the proof from Scripture for all of this (verses 29-36)
His message can be summarized in one sentance: The signs came from the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit came through Jesus or Yeshua; Jesus could confer the Holy Spirit because He is both Lord and Christ.




A short time later in Acts chapter 3, we read about the first recorded healing miracle --the healing of a man who had been unable to walk since birth (a period of over 40 years according to Acts 4:22). After the healing, Peter preached and again likened the Holy Ghost ouptpouring to rain in Acts 3:19
“Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord...”

The times of refreshing refer to Isaiah 28:11-12
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Other passages where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is likened to rain are:

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Isaiah 44:3

“that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.” Deut. 11:14

“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.” Zech. 10:1

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

And of course in the Book of Joel (called The Prophet of Pentecost) who speaks of drought, famine, and then an outpouring of rain and restoration.
..23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, 24 and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month...And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 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. 26 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. 27 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. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:23-29)

[Sam]

Some Pentecostal History.
By Pentecostal I am referring to the operation and gifting of the Holy Spirit as He has moved upon and within people.

The following is taken from pages 14-24 of “The Happiest People on Earth” which is a biography of Demos Shakarian (1913-1993) founder of the FGBMFI (Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International). The book has a copyright date of 1974 and tells the story of Demos Shakarian and his family as told to John and Elizabeth Sherrill.
----------------------------

I never knew Grandfather Demos --he died before I was born--but I must have heard the stories about him a thousand times....

I’ve heard it described so often that I could actually see the little village of Kara Kala sitting solidly in the rocky foothills of Mount Ararat --the mountain, so the Bible tells us, where Noah’s ark came to rest. Closing my eyes I saw the stone buildings, the sheds and barns, and the one-room farmhouse where my Grandfather Demos lived. In that house Grandfather's five daughters had been born --but no son--and that was a disgrace among the Armenians, as much a disgrace as it was among the ancient Israelites.

I could picture Grandfather walking to the house-church each Sunday morning with his five little girls. Although most armenians were Orthodox, Grandfather and many others in Kara Kala were Presbyterians. I could see him marching through the village to the house where church was meeting that particular Sunday, his head held high in the face of the silent reproach.

In view of his great need, it has always seemed surprising to me that Grandfather did not accept right away the strange message that had been trickling over the mountains for nearly fifty years. The message was brought by the Russians. Grandfather liked the Russians all right, he was just too levelheaded to accept their tales of miracles. The Russians came in long caravans of covered wagons. They were dressed as our people were, in long, high-collared tunics tied at the waist with tasseled cords, the married men in full beards. The Armenians had no difficulty understanding them as most of our people spoke Russian too. They listened to the tales of what the Russians called “the outpouring of the Holy Spirit” upon hundreds of thousands of Russian Orthodox Christians. The Russians came as people bringing gifts: the Gifts of the Spirit, which they wanted to share. I could just hear Grandfather and Grandmother talking late into the night after these visits. One had to admit, Grandfather would have said, that everything the Russians were talking about was Scriptural.

“I mean, healing is in the Bible. So is speaking in tongues. So is prophecy. It’s just that the whole thing doesn’t sound ...Armenian.” By which he would have meant trustworthy. Down-to-earth. Practical.

And Grandmother, her heart forever heavy, might have said, “you know, when you talk about prophecy and healing, you’re talking about miracles.”

“Yes.”

“If we were ever to ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ in this way, do you think we could ask for a miracle?”

“You mean like having a son?”

And then Grandmother might have started to cry. I know for a fact that on a certain sunny morning in May, 1891, Grandmother was weeping.

Over the years several families living in Kara Kala had begun to accept the message of the Russian Pentecostals. Grandfather’s brother-in-law, Magardich Mushegan, was one of these. He received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and on his frequent visits to the Shakarian farm would talk about the newfound joy in his life.

On this particular day --May 25, 1891-- Grandmother and several other women were sewing in the corner of the one-room farm house. That is, Grandmother was trying to sew, but tears kept falling on the material in her lap.

Across the room, next to the window where the light was god, Magardich Mushegan sat with his Bible open on his knee, reading.

Suddenly, Magardich snapped his Bible shut, got up and walked across the room. He stood in front of Grandmother, his heavy black beard bobbing up an own in his excitement.

“Goolisar,” Magardich said. “...the Lord has just spoken to me!”

Grandmother’s back straightened “Yes, Magardich?”

“He’s given me a message for you,” Magardich said “Goolisar, exactly one year from today, you will give birth to a son.”

When Grandfather came in from the fields Grandmother met him at the door with the news of the wondrous prophecy. Pleased, wanting to believe yet skeptical, Grandfather said nothing. He only smiled and shrugged his shoulders --and marked the date on the calendar.

The months passed and Grandmother became pregnant again. By this time everyone in Kara Kala knew of the prophecy, and the whole village waited in suspense. Then, on May 25, 1892, exactly year from the day the prophecy was given, Grandmother gave birth to a baby boy.

It was the first time our family had encountered the Holy Spirit in this personal way. Everyone in Kara Kala agreed that the choice for the little boy’s name was perfect: He was called Isaac, for he was, like Abraham's’ own long-awaited son, the child of promise.

I’m sure it was a proud and happy man who paraded his family to church each Sunday after Isaac was born. But Grandfather had a stubborn streak in him --all Armenians do. he considered himself too tough-minded to accept without reservation that he had witnessed a supernatural prophecy of the sort mentioned in the Bible.. Maybe Magardich’s prediction had been merely a lucky chance.

And then --all in one day--Grandfather’s doubts disappeared once and for all.

In the year 1900, when Isaac was eight and his younger sister, Hamas, was four, the news arrived that a hundred Russian Christians were coming over the mountains in their covered wagons. Everyone was pleased. It was the custom in Kara Kala to hold a feast for the visiting Christians whenever they arrived. In spite of the fact that he didn't agree with the "full Gospel" preached by the Russians, Grandfather considered their visits as times set apart for God, and insisted that the welcoming feast be held on the large level plot of ground in front of his own home.

Now, Grandfather was proud of his fine cattle. With the news that the Russians were on their way, he went out to his herd and looked them over. He would choose the very finest, fattest steer for this special meal.

Unfortunately, however, the fattest steer in the herd turned out, on inspection, to have a flaw. The animal was blind in one eye.

What should he do? Grandfather knew his Bible well: He knew he should not offer an imperfect animal to the Lord, for didn't it say in the 22nd chapter of Leviticus, verse 20, "But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable..."?

What a dilemma! No other animal in the herd was large enough to feed 100 guests. Grandfather looked around. No one was watching. Suppose he slaughtered the big steer and simply hid the blemished head? Yes, that was what he would do! Grandfather led the half-blind steer into the barn, butchered it himself, and quickly placed the head in a sack which he hid beneath a pile of threshed wheat in a dark corner.

Grandfather was just in time, for as he finished dressing the beef, he heard the rumble of wagons coming into Kara Kala. What a welcome sight! Coming down the dusty road was the familiar caravan of wagons, each pulled by four perspiring horses. Beside the driver of the first team, erect and commanding as ever, sat the white-haired patriarch who was leader and prophet of the group. Grandfather and little Isaac ran up the road to greet their guests.

All over town preparations for the feast were underway. Soon the big steer was roasting on a spit over a huge bed of charcoal. That evening everyone gathered, expectant and hungry, around the long plank tables. Before the meal could begin, however, the food must be blessed.

These old Russian Christians would not say any prayer --even grace over meals--until they had received what they called the anointing. They would wait before the Lord until, in their phrase, the Spirit fell upon them. They claimed (a little to Grandfather's amusement), that they could literally feel His Presence descend. When this occurred they would raise their arms and dance with joy.

On this occasion as always, the Russians waited for the anointing of the Spirit. Sure enough, as everyone watched, first one and then another began to dance in place. Everything was going as usual. Soon would come the blessing of the food, and the feast could begin.

But to Grandfather's dismay, the patriarch suddenly raised his hand --not in sign of blessing-- but as a signal that everything was to stop. Giving Grandfather a strange penetrating look, the tall white-haired man walked from the table without a word.

Grandfather's eyes followed the old man's every movement as the prophet strode across the yard into the barn. After a moment he reappeared. In his hand he held the sack which Grandfather had hidden beneath the pile of wheat.

Grandfather began to shake. How could the man have known! No one had seen him. The Russians had not even reached the village when he had hidden that head. Now the patriarch placed the telltale sack before Grandfather and let it fall open, revealing to everyone the head with the milk-white eye..

“Have you anything to confess, Brother Demos?” the Russian asked.

‘Yes I have,” said Grandfather, still shaking. “But how did you know?”

“God told me,” the old man said simply. “You still do not believe that He speaks to His people today as in the past. The Spirit gave me this word of knowledge for a special reason: that you and your family might believe. You have been resisting the power of the Spirit. Today is the day you will resist no longer.”

Before his neighbors and guests that evening Grandfather confessed the deception he had attempted. With tears rolling down his face into his bristly beard, he asked their forgiveness. “Show me,” he said to the prophet, “how I, too, can receive the Spirit of God.”

Grandfather knelt and the old Russian laid his work-gnarled hands on his head. Immediately, Grandfather burst into joyous prayer in a language neither he nor anyone present could understand. The Russians called this kind of ecstatic utterance “tongues” and regarded it as a sign that the Holy Spirit was present with the speaker. That night Grandmother, too, received this “Baptism in the Spirit'”.

to be continued in part 2

[Sam]

part 2 of the latter rain outpouring in Armenia

It was the beginning of great changes in our family's life, and one of the first was a change in attitude toward Kara Kala's most famous citizen. This person was known throughout the region as the "Boy Prophet" even though at the time of the incident with the steer's head the Boy Prophet was 58 years old.

The man's real name was Efim Gerasemovitch Klubniken, and he had a remarkable history. He was of Russian origin, his family being among the first Pentecostals to come across the border [into Armenia], settling permanently in Kara Kala. From earliest childhood Efim had shown a gift for prayer, frequently going on long fasts and praying around the clock.

As everybody in Kara Kala knew, when Efim was 11 years old he had heard the Lord calling him again to one of his prayer vigils. This time he persisted for 7 days and nights, and during this time received a vision.

This in itself was not extraordinary. Indeed, as Grandfather had been accustomed to grumble, anyone who went that long without eating or sleeping was bound to start seeing things. But what Efim was able to do during those seven days was not so easy to explain.

Efim could neither read nor write. Yet, as he sat in the little stone cottage in Kara Kala, he saw before him a vision of charts and a message in a beautiful handwriting. Efim asked for pen and paper. And for 7 days sitting at the rough plank-table where the family ate, he laboriously copied down the form and shape of letters and diagrams that passed before his eyes.

When he had finished, the manuscript was taken to people in the village who could read. It turned out that this illiterate child had written out in Russian characters a series of instructions and warnings. At some unspecified time in the future, the boy wrote, every Christian in Kara Kala would be in terrible danger. He foretold a time of unspeakable tragedy for the entire area, when hundreds of thousands of men, women and children would be brutally murdered. The time would come, he warned, when everyone in the region must flee. They must go to a land across the sea. Although he had never seen a geography book, the Boy Prophet drew a map showing exactly where the fleeing Christians were to go. To the amazement of the adults, the body of water depicted so accurately in the drawing was not the nearby Black Sea, or the Caspian Sea, or even the farther-off Mediterranean, but the distant and unimaginable Atlantic Ocean! There was no doubt about it, nor about the identity of the land on the other side: the map plainly indicated the east coast of the United States of America.

But the refugees were not to settle down there, the prophecy continued. They were to continue traveling until they reached the west coast of the new land. There, the boy wrote, God would bless them and prosper them, and cause their seed to be a blessing to the nations.

...And then, a little after the turn of the century, Efim announced that the time was near for the fulfillment of the words he had written down nearly 50 years before. “We must flee to America. All who remain here will perish.”

Here and there in Kara Kala Pentecostal families packed up and left the holdings that had been their ancestral possessions time out of mind. Efim and his family were among the first to go. As each group of Pentecostals left Armenia, they were jeered by those who remained behind. Skeptical and disbelieving folk --including many Christians-- refused to believe that God could issue pinpoint instructions for modern people in a modern age.

But the instructions proved correct. In 1914 a period of unimaginable horror arrived for Armenia. With remorseless efficiency the Turks began the bloody business of driving two-thirds of the population out in to the Mesopotamian desert. Over a million men, women and children died in these death marches, including every inhabitant of Kara Kala. Another half a million were massacred in their villages in a progrom that was later to provide Hitler with his blueprint for the extermination of the Jews. “The world did not intervene when Turkey wipe out the Armenians,” he reminded his followers. “It will not intervene now.”

The few Armenians who managed to escape the besieged areas brought with them tales of great heroism. They reported that the Turks sometimes gave Christians an opportunity to deny their faith in exchange for their lives. The favorite procedure was to lock a group of Christians in a barn and set it afire: “If you are willing to accept Mohammed in place of Christ we’ll open the doors” Time and again, the Christians chose to die, chanting hymns of praise as the flames engulfed them.

Those who had heeded the warning of the Boy Prophet and sought asylum in America, heard the news with dismay.

Grandfather Demos was among these who had fled. After his experience with the Russian patriarch, Grandfather no longer discounted the validity of prophecy. In 1905 he sold the farm which had been in the family for generations, accepting whatever bit of money he could get for it....

The family reached New York safely but, mindful of the prophecy, did not settle there. In accordance with the written instructions they kept traveling across the vast bewildering new land, until they reached Los Angeles. There, to their delight, they found a small but growing Armenian sector where several friends from Kara Kala were already living....

...there was one time each week when all cares were set aside: the Sunday worship service. The house on Boston Street had a large front parlor which quickly became the community meeting place. The service followed the customs of the house churches back in Kara Kala. The focal point was a large table on which lay an open Bible. On either side of this sat the men, ranked according to age, the older men closest, behind them the younger ones, finally the boys; on the other side of the room, just as it had always been, were the women, also seated according to age. The elders continued to sport full black beards, although occasionally a younger man shocked everybody by growing only a mustache. And it was expected that, for church (if not for the rest of the week), the men would wear their bright-hued tunics, the women the long, embroidered dresses and hand-crocheted head scarves that had come down through the generations.

What comfort it must have been for Grandfather to draw on spiritual support from this body of Christians. They had long since learned that God could speak to them directly from the Bible. With his need for work on his mind, Grandfather would kneel on the small oriental rug that had been brought from the old country and ask “for a word.” Then the whole congregation would start to pray softly, often in the unknown, ecstatic languages called tongues. At last one of the elders would step to the Bible and place his finger on a passage at random. Always the words seemed to speak straight to the need. Maybe they were about the Lord’s faithfulness, or about the coming of milk-and-honey days just as the Boy Prophet had foretold. Well, the little Armenian church was waiting for those days to arrive, but at least while it waited, there were these beautiful moments of communion.

One day there was another encouragement It happened that Grandfather and his brother-in-law, Magardich Mushegan (the same man who had predicted Isaac’s birth) were walking down San Pedro Street in Los Angeles, looking for work in the livery stables. As they passed a side road called Azusa Street they stopped short. Along with the smell of horses and harness leather came the unmistakable sounds of people praising God in tongues. They had not known that anywhere in the United States were people who worshiped as they did. They rushed up to the converted stable from which the sounds were coming and knocked on the door. By now Grandfather had collected a few English words.

“Can we ...in?” Grandfather asked.

“Of course!” The door was flung open. There were embraces, hands lifted to God in thanksgiving, singing, and praising the Lord, and Grandfather and Magardich returned to Boston Street with the news that Pentecost had come even to this distant land across the sea. No one knew then that Azusa Street was to become a famous name. There was a revival going on in the old livery stable which would spark the charismatic renewal in scores of different places around the globe. At the moment Grandfather saw this other body of believers simply as a welcome confirmation of God’s promise to do something new and wonderful in California.

[Sam]

Church of God History

About the year 1884, a spirit of dissatisfaction and unrest began to work in the mind of a licensed minister of the Missionary Baptist church by the name of Richard G. Spurling, then living in Monroe County, Tenn. He began a more careful study of the Bible, and for two years or more spent much time in searching the Scriptures and church history, with a view to a reformation. After two years or more of careful searching, praying and weeping, and pleading with his church for reform to no avail, he, with others, began to arrange for an independent meeting for a conference and a more careful consideration of religious matters. Eight people met in the Barney Creek meeting house on the Tennessee/North Carolina Border and organized a group called Christian Union on Thursday, August 19, 1886. Richard Spurling was chosen as pastor. He soon died at the age of 74 and his son, Richard G. Spurling took over. The Church grew slowly.

In 1896, three men from Monroe County, TN went over into Cherokee County, NC and held a meeting. After praying, fasting, weeping there was a revival and many were converted. The group organized a Sunday School and prayer meetings under the leadership of a man named William F. Bryant. Soon, the Holy Spirit was falling and they began speaking with tongues. Men, women, and children received this experience from the Holy Spirit. People came from miles around to see what was happening. The power of healing was soon realized, and a number of miraculous cases of healings were reported. Hundreds were converted. The influence grew and spread until it extended into three or four adjoining counties. Persecutions arose, and four or five houses were burned with these earnest, humble people met for worship.

At one time the storm of persecution broke in with such fury that one hundred and six men, composed of Methodist and Baptist ministers, stewards and deacons, one justice of the peace and one sheriff, banded themselves together to put down the revival, even by violence, if that were the only way it could be accomplished. They deliberately tore down and burned the house in open daylight, where they were meeting. But the greater the persecution the more the revival spread. The meetings were moved to the home of W.F. Bryant and persecution continued there.

In May, 1903 they re-organized as The Holiness Church at Camp Creek in Cherokee County, NC and R.G. Spurling was chosen pastor. Over the next year they added a church in Georgia and two more in Tennessee. In 1906 they held a convention at the home of J.D. Murphy. In 1907 they met at Union Grove, TN and chose the name “The Church of God.” Since 1908 they have been meeting in Cleveland, TN (10 miles from Union Grove) and have been meeting there annually ever since. the Eighth Annual Assembly, held January 7-12, 1913, and they had 104 churches in ten different States, and the Bahama Islands, with a total membership of 3,056. The report also shows forty-six Bishops, one hundred and twelve Deacons and sixty-one Evangelists. The latest statistics (February 14, 2011) are 7 million members in over 170 countries.

[Sam]

Pentecost in Topeka, Kansas

Bethel Bible School established in an old mansion called Stone’s Folly in 1900 by Charles Parham. About 40 students gathered there. Students took turns praying 3 hours each so prayer was going on 24/7.

Study was based on choosing a subject, gathering all scriptures on it and then presentation in class.

Just before the new year, the classes decided to take up the study of the baptism with the Holy Ghost. Mr. Parham was about to visit Kansas City, and before he went he told the students that he was familiar with all the leading teachers’ theories about the baptism with the Holy Ghost and the various evidences that one had received it. He said that not one of these theories entirely satisfied him. “Now, students,” he said, “while I am gone, search the Scriptures to see if you can find some sign or evidence that is outstanding in apostolic precepts and practices in the reception of this vital experience, the baptism with the Holy Ghost.”

On Mr. Parham’s return, he immediately assembled the students and asked them whether they had found any real outstanding Bible evidence of the baptism with the Holy Ghost. The answer was unanimous: “speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.”

Meetings followed daily and each night. People were intensely expectant and hungry for the scriptural experience of the gift of the Holy Ghost. There seemed to be a hallowed hush over the entire building, and all felt the influence of the supernatural presence in their midst. Mr. Parham was amazed at the harmony that prevailed and was heard to exclaim, “Truly, the Lord is with us and has something for us such as we have not known before.”

At the entering into the new year, it came. The watchnight service was especially spiritual, and every heart seemed hungry for the whole will of God to be wrought in them. The first to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the full scriptural order was Agnes Ozman LaBerge, a student in the Bible school. We are privileged to report the great event in her own words: “As the end of the year drew near, some friends came from Kansas City to spend the holidays with us. On watchnight we had a most blessed service, praying that God’s blessing might rest upon us as the new year came in. During the first day of 1901, the presence and power of the Lord was with us in a marked way, encouraging our hearts to wait upon Him for greater things. The spirit of prayer was upon us in the
evening.

“It was nearly seven o’clock on this first day of January that it came into my heart to ask Brother Parham to lay his hands on me that I might receive the Holy Ghost. Instantly, the Holy Spirit came upon me and I began to speak in other tongues and to glorify God. I talked several languages, and it was clearly manifest when a new language was spoken. I had the added joy and glory my heart had longed for and a depth of the presence of the Lord such as no tongue can describe. It was the fulfillment of the promise of the Master: ‘He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’” (See John 7:38.)

When this innovation became known, the old Bible school became the most popular building in Topeka. Hundreds flocked to see the great sight. Prayer was held day and night, and soon the experience of Acts 2:4 was duplicated in hundreds of cases. Brother Parham received it, and was turned into a living, moving witness of God’s miraculous power and glory. Nearly every hungry soul he laid his hand on in the name of Jesus was satisfied by having his great heart hunger relieved. The signs of apostolic power were in evidence everywhere.

The people of Topeka became sensible of the presence and power of the Deity in their midst.
The fire quickly spread to Kansas City, Lawrence, Galena, Melrose, Keelville, and Baxter Springs. When the fire would reach a city or town, Brother Parham and his workers would follow up, and renting the largest building obtainable, they would hold a revival meeting. Sometimes,
as at Galena and Baxter Springs, no building could hold the crowds, and they would pitch a tent in a convenient location and carry on for months.
pages 51-54 Phenomenon of Pentecost

[Sam]

William Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival
pages 61-67

William J. Seymour was born May 2, 1870 in Luisiana, died September 28, 1922
became a student at Charles Parham’s Bible School in Houston, TX in 1905
He was invited to preach at a Nazarene Church in Los Angeles, preached on Acts 2:4
went home with Bro. Lee, returned to preach that afternoon was locked out, returned with Bro Lee to his home. He stayed with Bro. and Sis. Lee and held prayer meetings in the home.
Sis. Asbury visited and invited him to hold the meetings in her house at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street.

Bro. Lee was a janitor in bank and was able to pray for hours in the bank basement.
He saw two men in a vision and knew they were Peter and John. They lifted their hands, shook and spoke in tongues. Bro. Lee came home and said, “I know now how people act when they get the power of the Holy Ghost.”

A few days later he asked Bro. Seymour to lay hands on him.Later on in the evening, however, Brother Seymour approached Brother Lee and said, “Brother, I lay my hands on you in
Jesus’ name!” Immediately Brother Lee fell under the mighty power of God as though he were dead. Sister Lee was so frightened that she began to scream and cry, “What have you done to my husband?” In a few minutes Brother Lee rose up and sat in his chair. Brother Seymour said afterwards that he prayed and asked the Lord to let him get right up as they all seemed so scared, and the Lord could not finish the work at that time. Brother Lee had a wonderful blessing which
was the prelude to a mighty baptism in the Spirit. After a time Sister Farrow arrived from Texas, and Brother Lee asked her to lay hands on him. She did and the same thing happened; he dropped as one dead out of his chair, but this time he began to speak in other tongues. He only
spoke a few words in tongues and got up. This puzzled Sister Lee and her brother, and they asked if that was all there was to a full and complete baptism. Brother
Seymour told them that there was only one baptism but many fillings, and that Brother Lee would have lots of manifestations from this day forward.

They went on over to the prayer meeting in Sister Asbury’s home. When Brother Lee walked into the house, he threw up his hands and began to speak in other tongues. Six people were already on their knees praying, and the power fell on them and all six began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This happened on April 9, 1906. This was followed, as at Pentecost, by a great noise that was spread abroad.
House meetings continued with preaching from the porch to people gathered on the lawn and in the street. Crowds were so large they moved to an old abanfonded livery stable a 312 Azusa Street. From there the message went into all the world.

[bbyrd009]

An awesome testimony of "borders enlarged," to me.
I've only heard "former" and "latter" rain explained
(similarly) in the context of an individual believer,
so this is a great reflection. Ty!

[acerrak]

I dont like the picture. because it is showing the rain comming down on a building, we know that the kjv purposly mistranlated ekklesia to say church instead of the congregation. the picture should have been a bunch of believers recieving the rain and not the building.

just my 2 cents

[Sam]

Originally Posted by acerrak

I dont like the picture. because it is showing the rain comming down on a building, we know that the kjv purposly mistranlated ekklesia to say church instead of the congregation. the picture should have been a bunch of believers recieving the rain and not the building.

just my 2 cents

The picture was used as a picture or illustration, a picture of the upper room for the original early rain and a picture of what we could see as a church house for the latter rain. To me it represents the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Church or upon His people.

I realize the "church" is not a physical building but a group of people, but the church is called a house in Ephesians 2:20-22, 2 Cor 6:16, 1 Cor 3:9, 16-17,

[AreYouReady?]

Sam, the story about the Armenians reminded me about a story about the Anabaptists that heard from God to flee Russia just before Stalin came in. Some left, but when the long trek became too much, they turned back and went home... and were killed.