God has established spiritual times and seasons in his own authority (Acts 1:7). When one season changes and gives way to another, the world enters a time of turmoil and change. God has established boundaries for nations and the times of their prosperity (Acts 17:26). Nations rise and fall, and this is wrapped up in the purposes of God (Daniel 2:21). The fall of nations coincides with spiritual changes, and their fall is often simultaneous with war and destruction. All of this tumult serves the purpose of preparing for the full arrival of the one kingdom that will never be shaken – the kingdom of God.
It is important for us to discern the time that we are living in (Luke 12:56). We will do this as we discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3). The change of spiritual seasons cannot be stopped. When the season changes we just need to recognize what God is doing and accept it.
Elijah lived during a time of transition. It had not rained for 3.5 years in Israel. Ahab was the corrupt king, and the nation was suffering. Crops were failing and people were hungry. But God was about to send a downpour. Before it started raining Elijah said that he heard the sound of an abundance of rain (1 Kings 18:41-46). He heard this rain in the spirit realm even before it was manifested upon the earth. It is possible to hear something with spiritual ears before it happens. Elijah knew the season of rain was impending.
The day of the Lord is coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). This will be a season unlike anything the world has ever seen. During this time there will be an abundance of rain.
Rain falls in its season (Ezekiel 34:26). In ancient Israel, there were two seasonal rains – the early rain and the latter rain (Leviticus 26:4; Deuteronomy 11:14). The early rain fell when the seeds were planted, causing them to sprout and start growing. The latter rain fell right before harvest to mature the crops. These rains fell in their seasons. They could not be resisted. Everyone had to adjust to the seasons of these rains.
The river of God is full of the living water of the Holy Spirit. This water flows into the Holy Place of God’s heavenly tabernacle (Psalm 46:4). The river of the Holy Spirit is full of pleasure. It is a fountain of life (Psalm 36:8-9). The Holy Spirit is living water. During special seasons, the Holy Spirit falls like rain.
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell like rain upon God’s children. They were baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with power to represent God’s kingdom. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was like the early rain. This was the time of the birth of the church and the beginning of God’s kingdom in the earth.
The end of the age is like harvest time. Jesus will harvest the earth because his people will have grown into spiritual maturity. The end of the age will be the season of the latter rain, which will fall and hasten the maturity of the church.
Joel prophesied that at the end of the age the latter rain of the Holy Spirit would fall (Joel 2:22-23). The Holy Spirit fell on the early church, and so it shall fall on the church of the latter days.
The end of the age will be like the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). During Noah’s time a heavy rain came upon the earth and brought great destruction upon everything that was contrary to God (Genesis 7:11-13). But Noah and his family were kept safe inside a big boat. God will keep his people safe in the midst of the flood at the end of the age.
The coming of the Lord is connected to the falling of the latter rain, because both occur at harvest time (James 5:7-8). We are commanded to be like good farmers who wait for the latter rain to fall. Patience will keep us in the right position with God until this rain falls.
The Bible says that the Lord’s coming is like rain. He will come to us by his Spirit, as the falling of the latter rain (Hosea 6:3). The Lord will come down to us like showers (Psalm 72:6). Before the Lord comes back to the earth in his body, he will come by his Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is now inside God’s people. We have the fountain of the Holy Spirit inside us (John 4:14). This is a living fountain of water that can leap up out from us. Jesus said there are rivers of living water inside us (John 7:38-39). At the time of Noah’s flood, the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were unstopped. Water was unleashed into the world. At the end of the age, the fountains of the Holy Spirit inside of God’s people will be released and rivers of water will flow out from them. The Holy Spirit will also pour down from heaven, from God’s throne. Everything that is not according to God will be shaken and removed by this deluge of the Spirit. That which is according to God will be healed and blessed.
The kingdom of God is coming. Jesus said the kingdom is inside us. If the kingdom is to be manifested, it will come out through God’s people. We are commanded to preach the gospel of the kingdom all over the world, unleashing God’s kingdom. This must happen, and then it will be the end of the age.
At the time of the latter rain, God commands us to ask for latter rain (Zechariah 10:1). In response to these prayers, God will make bright clouds that will be full of rain. Clouds represent different things in the Bible, and one thing they represent is ministers. False ministers are compared to clouds without water (Jude 12; Proverbs 25:14). Clouds that are full of rain represent true servants of God who are full of the Holy Spirit.
At the end of the age, when a true servant of God speaks, the rain of the Holy Spirit will come forth from him. This is how it was with Moses when he spoke (Deuteronomy 32:2). His teaching came forth like rain. Job explained how his speech was like rain (Job 29:22-23). We are commanded to speak as the oracles of God, releasing the Holy Spirit.
At the end of the age the latter rain will come into the earth. This will be the season of the latter rain, and nothing will be able to stop it. This rain will come from the throne of God in heaven, and it will also come out from God’s servants. This rain of the Holy Spirit will come on God’s people as a great blessing, but it will come into the earth as waves of judgment upon everything that is not according to God.
The Bible says that God’s people will be willing in the day of his power (Psalm 110:3). They will prepare for change willingly, because they recognize the time and the season they are living in. They will hear the sound of abundance of rain like Elijah did, even before that rain begins to fall, and they will prophetically act with holy urgency on the basis of that knowledge.
The seasons are changing, and the latter rain is coming, and nothing will be able to stop it.
Lincoln House Churches 