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) as the “early rain.” Then when the Holy Spirit was again poured out around the beginning of the twentieth century and has again reached the whole world as the “latter rain.”
A passage of Scripture that could be considered applicable to this is
James 5:7-8 which reads as follows in the NASB:
“7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
Here it could be implied that the second coming of Jesus may have something to do with early and late or latter rain.
Another verse that could seem to imply rain/refreshing being connected to the Lord’s second coming is
Acts 3:19-20 which reads as follows in the NASB:
“19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,”
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.
From what I understand, in the land where the Bible was written, the rainy season went from October to April and the dry season from May to October. The early rain fell in October/November and the latter rain in March/April just before harvest (harvest is some times considered typical of the end of the age). There were showers of rain off and on all through the rainy season.
A couple Old Testament passages about latter or late rain are listed below. The one in Joel seems to be tied in with a spiritual outpouring.
“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
“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.”
Joel 2:23
“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
Very early in the American Pentecostal outpouring early pioneers of American Pentecostalism began using the term latter rain to refer to what was happening in Los Angeles at Azusa Street.
I think this is good for symbolism but let’s not get too rigid in making this a doctrine.
Some Pentecostals give the impression that there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church, then a great spiritual drought, and then a modern day outpouring. This fits in with their idea that the early church had “the Truth,” then that Truth died (or was killed by the Roman Catholic Church), and then later was restored in 1914 a few years after the Holy Spirit was once again poured out. Others like to find references to spiritual gifts throughout centuries of church history to “prove” that God has always had a “remnant” that practice “the Truth.”
I think that the Church that Jesus established has always been around and will continue to be here until He takes it out in the rapture. This is my personal opinion.
I like the analogy of rain/water being a symbol of the Holy Spirit and I like the picture of an early and a latter rain in the beginning of the church and now at the ending of the church. But, let’s not get too rigid with this. There was rain off and on throughout the season until the harvest and I think that God has been alive and well in His church throughout the ages. There may have been dry times and then showers here and there and God’s church may have been small compared to the “political” church but I don’t think Truth was lost until somebody found it in 1914. I think Truth (Jesus) has been preached by His church since it began when He gathered His followers around Him and commissioned them and that Truth is still being preached by His Church.
And, I think the Church of Jesus was around way before the huge religious/political structure called the UPCI was formed. I do believe that many of the people in the UPCI are in the Church of Jesus but so are multitudes of folks who have nothing to do with the UPCI.
Just my personal opinion.
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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