THE FORMER AND LATTER RAIN AND THE RAIN OF GRACE - j. c. o'hAIR

 

 

THE FORMER AND LATTER RAIN AND THE REIGN OF GRACE-

 Pastor  J. C. O’Hair

In Jeremiah 5:24 we read of “the Lord our God that giveth rain, both the former and the latter in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”
In Hosea 6:1 to 3 we learn that if God’s people follow on to know Him, “He shall come unto us as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
This is in harmony with God’s promised reward to Israel, for faithfulness and obedience, in Deuteronomy 11:14 and 15: “I will give you the rain of your land in His due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.”
This is confirmed in Deuteronomy 28:12. But if disobedient, God said He would shut up the heaven and give no rain. (verse 17). This is confirmed in Deuteronomy 28:24.
In Jeremiah 3:3 the Lord told His prophet that because of Israel’s sin He had withheld showers and the latter rain.
In II Chronicles 6:26 and 27, we learn that because of Israel’s sin no rain came from God; but confession brought rain.
Surely we have no Scriptural authority to spiritualize James 5:7 to mean Holy Spirit baptism where the former and latter rain is mentioned in connection with the second coming of Christ, and the precious fruit of the earth.
Now note Zechariah 10:1 and Zechariah 14:17: “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.” “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them, shall be no rain.”
The Hebrew word “yowreh” translated “former” has special reference to the flow of water, as sprinkling. “Malgowsh” translated “latter” has special reference to rain; perhaps the spring rains. Surely from these Scriptures, we would not interpret the former and latter rain to be first the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, when Peter and the Eleven stood up on the day of Pentecost, in Acts Two, and said, “this is that;” and then the latter rain, the mighty out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon Israel after this age of grace has come to an end and the completed Body of Christ has been removed to heaven.
Let us carefully and prayerfully read Joel 2:23 and 24: “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. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.”
There is nothing in the context to give any Christian the Scriptural right to support the doctrine taught by some today, that the former rain, (Holy Spirit baptism), fell on the day of Pentecost, and the latter out-pouring of the Spirit is falling on the twentieth century Pentecostalists. The out-pouring of the Holy Spirit is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and 29, and it is true that water sometimes speaks of the Holy Spirit. (John 7:38 and 39). But Joel knew nothing of this present age, this present dispensation and reign of grace. So Joel prophesied nothing concerning the Body of Christ. (Colossians 1:24 to 28). So Joel 2:23 to 28 and Acts 2:16 to 22 in Israel’s Kingdom program must be studied in the light of the reign and dispensation of grace. (Ephesians 3:1 to 15 - Romans 5:21)

 

 

 

Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

If you are blessed by this Bible Messages  please E-mail it to your friends.