Chapter 212—The Latter Rain
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.
Zechariah 10:1
.
Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern
lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of
spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s church. The outpouring
of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or
former rain, and glorious was the result.... But near the close of earth’s
harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the
church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is
likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that
Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest “in the time
of the latter rain.”
As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost so will He again be
glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when He shall prepare a people
to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great controversy.
Many ... will be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the
Spirit of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the Word of God, is as a
fire in their bones, filling them with a burning desire to enlighten those who
sit in darkness. Many, even among the uneducated, now proclaim the words
of the Lord. Children are impelled by the Spirit to go forth and declare the
message from heaven. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its
promptings, and ... they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit’s
power.
But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection
with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of
reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of
receiving added grace in times of special need.
Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of
advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work. There is no place
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