The Purpose of the Latter Rain

1. The latter rain fully ripens earth’s harvest and thus prepares it for the sickle.

“The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain and prepares it for the sickle.” TM 506

“As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ.” TM 506

Notice the expressions which are very significant:
“Ripens the grain.”
“Prepares it for the sickle.”
“The completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul.”
“The moral image of God is to be perfected in the character.”
“We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ.”

2. The latter rain seals God’s people, making permanent their early rain experience of complete, unbroken victory over sin.

“When the decree [the National Sunday Law] goes forth, and the stamp is impressed [the seal of God], their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity.” 5T 216

“The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, never more to be deified by the corruptions of the world….Now they are eternally secure from the tempter’s devices….holy angels, unseen were passing to and fro, placing upon them the seal of the living God.” 5T 475

The seal of God is, “A settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved.” 4 BC 1161

3. The latter rain empowers God’s people to give the loud cry. It gives power to the loud cry of the third angel.

“At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the ‘latter rain, ’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come to give power to the loud voice of the third angel.” EW 85–86

4. The latter rain prepares God’s people for the time of trouble.

“It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble.” 1T 353

“At that time [the little time of trouble] the ‘latter rain, ’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come to…prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” EW 86–86

“The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet.” EW 277

5. The latter rain prepares God’s people for the coming of Jesus.

“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man.” TM 506

“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.” “Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power.” AA 55

6. The latter rain prepares God’s people for the finishing touch of immortality and translation.

“Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” 1T 187

“None are living Christians unless they have a daily experience in the things of God and daily practice self–denial, cheerfully bearing the cross and following Christ. Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality.” 2T 505

7. The latter rain prepares God’s people to look upon the face and to live in the presence of a holy God.

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They [the professed Christians] had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing [the latter rain] that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God.” EW 71

The summary of the seven-fold purpose of the latter rain

1. Ripens grain for harvest
2. Seals God’s people in permanent and absolute surrender
3. Empowers people of god to proclaim loud cry
4. Fits people of god for time of trouble
5. Prepares for the coming of Christ by cleansing of all earthliness
6. Prepares for immortality and for translation
7. Fits them to live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor in the sanctuary

Preparation for the Latter Rain Outpouring

“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

“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.” Hosea 6:3

“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of “refreshing” and the “latter rain” to fi t them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father.” EW 71

“Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” TM 507

Two thoughts which stand out very clearly among others in this quotation is that:

 The early rain experience is an experience in which there is a greater degree of confession and forsaking of sin, a greater degree and intensity of prayer and consecration to God, and

 The early rain experience = living up to and walking in all the light we have.

“We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain. When we are truly consecrated to God, His love will abide in our hearts by faith, and we will cheerfully do our duty in accordance with the will of God.” TM 399



The latter rain is definitely not designed to achieve, namely:
 Not to give us victory over faults, weaknesses and defects in our characters,
 Not to cleanse us of every defilement,
 Not to give us power to live up to the light we already have,
 Not to produce unity,
 Not to produce sinlessness of character,
 Not to make God’s people laborers together with God.

If ever these objectives are to be achieved, they must be had before, under the experience of the early rain.

“The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with his glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God.
When we have entire, whole–hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of his Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God. God cannot pour out his Spirit when selfishness and self–indulgence are so manifest; when a spirit prevails that, if put into words, would express that answer of Cain, —‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” RH July 21, 1896

The outpouring of the Spirit of God in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former rain, and glorious was the result. Jesus had told them to tarry in Jerusalem until the promise of the Spirit should be fulfilled. But how did they prepare for this early rain outpouring?

“They did not wait in idleness. The record says that they were ‘continually in
the temple, praising and blessing God.’ Luke 24:53.” AA 35

“…they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.” AA 36

“The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ.” AA 37

“Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.” AA 37

“…it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out.” 8T 20

“…under the influence of the Spirit, words of penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven.” AA 38

“Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection.” AA 49

“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close.” GC 611

Remember, the preparation which is to be, “The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now.”

What was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost?

“The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world.” AA 48

“The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were reconverted.” AA 48

“The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character, and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.” AA 48

“I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 1T 619

Receiving early rain is our preparation of receiving the latter rain

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.” EW 71

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul–temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.” 5T 214

“Today you are to have your vessel purified that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord—fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” RH March 22, 1892

“May the Lord help His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and to maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be partakers of the Latter Rain when it shall be poured out.” 6 BC 1055



Early rain experience =

• Preparation for latter rain outpouring.
• Cleansing ourselves from filthiness of flesh and spirit.
• Cleansing our characters of all spots and stains.
• Remedying defects in our characters.
• Overcoming all temptation and sin.
• Emptying and cleansing hearts of all selfishness.
• Victory over every besetment and pride.
• Victory over every wrong word and action.
• Purification from every defilement.