In the Bible, what does it mean, literally and symbolically, when it mentions "the former" and "the latter rain?"

I've read of the "Latter Rain Movement" and its charismatic history and doctrines; and I wonder what Biblical basis is used for its tenets.

I've also read of "latter rain teachers" and also wonder how this apples to the Bible.


Deut.11
[14] That 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.

Job.29
[23] And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

Prov.16
[15] In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Jer.3
[3] Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Joel.2
[23] 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.

Zech.10
[1] 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.

Jas.5
[7] Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

“The Emblems of the Holy Spirit” Series:
The Holy Spirit as Former and Latter Rain
Bible Teaching By
Percy Gutteridge

http://www.parbarwestward.org/Percy_Gutteridge/HS_10_Former_Rain_Latter_Rain.php


...." My last word to you is the promise of the Lord given in Psalm 72:6—“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass.”

What is the grass that God is referring to? It’s what Isaiah says in chapter 40:6. When the voice said, “Cry,” he said, “What shall I cry?” And God said, “Cry, ‘All flesh is grass.’” Now link that, please, with Psalm 72:6: He will come down like showers upon the mown grass, the grass that’s cut down. What is the grass that’s cut down? It’s when we are willing to be cut down to size, when our “PUFF” has gone, when we are truly humble. It is when the Lord brings us down in humility, when we can walk before the Lord in humility, not in pomp and pride, and not with boastfulness of our abilities. It is when all our own righteousness is as filthy rags [Isaiah 64:6] and when we realize that we have no power within ourselves to help ourselves. It is when we realize that any good that we do must be done by the Lord Jesus through us and in spite of us, and that we are unprofitable servants even when we have done what He has told us to do [Luke 17:10]. That’s the Lord cutting us down to size. That’s the Lord coming down on the mown grass. He has promised to send the latter rain, His glorious latter rain of Holy Ghost anointing upon mown grass...."

What Is "The Former and the Latter Rain?"

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In the Bible, what does it mean, literally and symbolically, when it mentions "the former" and "the latter rain?"

I've read of the "Latter Rain Movement" and its charismatic history and doctrines; and I wonder what Biblical basis is used for its tenets.

I've also read of "latter rain teachers" and also wonder how this apples to the Bible.


Deut.11
[14] That 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.

Job.29
[23] And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

Prov.16
[15] In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Jer.3
[3] Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Joel.2
[23] 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.

Zech.10
[1] 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.

Jas.5
[7] Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.




“The Emblems of the Holy Spirit” Series:
The Holy Spirit as Former and Latter Rain
Bible Teaching By
Percy Gutteridge

http://www.parbarwestward.org/Percy_Gutteridge/HS_10_Former_Rain_Latter_Rain.php


...." My last word to you is the promise of the Lord given in Psalm 72:6—“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass.”

What is the grass that God is referring to? It’s what Isaiah says in chapter 40:6. When the voice said, “Cry,” he said, “What shall I cry?” And God said, “Cry, ‘All flesh is grass.’” Now link that, please, with Psalm 72:6: He will come down like showers upon the mown grass, the grass that’s cut down. What is the grass that’s cut down? It’s when we are willing to be cut down to size, when our “PUFF” has gone, when we are truly humble. It is when the Lord brings us down in humility, when we can walk before the Lord in humility, not in pomp and pride, and not with boastfulness of our abilities. It is when all our own righteousness is as filthy rags and when we realize that we have no power within ourselves to help ourselves. It is when we realize that any good that we do must be done by the Lord Jesus through us and in spite of us, and that we are unprofitable servants even when we have done what He has told us to do [Luke 17:10]. That’s the Lord cutting us down to size. That’s the Lord coming down on the mown grass. He has promised to send the latter rain, His glorious latter rain of Holy Ghost anointing upon mown grass...."




[I]cherryblossom,

Lately, I have begun to use the terminology latter rain teachers a lot in passing; but let there be no mistake about this, the latter rain movement is far different in that it is/was a movement, which may not involve the Holy Ghost, as movements go. From my understanding, the latter rain movement, ushered in the Azusa Street revival, which necessitated the congregants to speak in tongues equivalent to those of the event of AD 33.

Meanwhile, keep in mind, the term itselt, latter rain, is nearly self-explanatory, it simply means end time solutions disquised as rain. Moreover, Deuteronomy 29: 29 says it all for me...Peace In my sister friend.

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."


Thanks for the reply and Amen, Bro. Clyde, AMEN!

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."


Thanks for the reply and Amen, Bro. Clyde, AMEN!



cherryblossom,

You are very welcome and it is not a problem at all.

In the Bible, what does it mean, literally and symbolically, when it mentions "the former" and "the latter rain?"

I've read of the "Latter Rain Movement" and its charismatic history and doctrines; and I wonder what Biblical basis is used for its tenets.

I've also read of "latter rain teachers" and also wonder how this apples to the Bible.


Deut.11
[14] That 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.

Job.29
[23] And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

Prov.16
[15] In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Jer.3
[3] Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Joel.2
[23] 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.

Zech.10
[1] 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.

Jas.5
[7] Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

I did not realize the importance put on the two concepts of the former and latter rain. I wonder now more about it.

Is this in reference to seasonal washing [floods] as being 'latter rain' in which offer nutrients after the waters recede and was one of the main ways the earth was watered before 'the former' rain of which occurred after the great flood?

Before the earth shifted and later split, it seems based upon my research that the earth mass centered near the equator and the four seasons soon occurred after the earth tilted. This earth's tilt also happened hundreds of years before the great flood. But inbetween the time before the earth's tilt, there was no four (4) seasons. I think that the earth was watered in a condition much like certain tropical areas today; a mist that came up and also by rivers and floods and such. But after the earth tilted, floods became more constant and deserts began to form and etc. Eventually, the earth began to change and soon came the great flood of which marks a time when the began to experience rain.

This is a very interesting topic.

Thank you!

...Thanks for the scripture references!



I did not realize the importance put on the two concepts of the former and latter rain. I wonder now more about it.

Is this in reference to seasonal washing [floods] as being 'latter rain' in which offer nutrients after the waters recede and was one of the main ways the earth was watered before 'the former' rain of which occurred after the great flood?

Before the earth shifted and later split, it seems based upon my research that the earth mass centered near the equator and the four seasons soon occurred after the earth tilted. This earth's tilt also happened hundreds of years before the great flood. But inbetween the time before the earth's tilt, there was no four (4) seasons. I think that the earth was watered in a condition much like certain tropical areas today; a mist that came up and also by rivers and floods and such. But after the earth tilted, floods became more constant and deserts began to form and etc. Eventually, the earth began to change and soon came the great flood of which marks a time when the began to experience rain.

This is a very interesting topic.

Thank you!




Chevron Dove,

Yes to your question Chevron, metaphorically speaking, in my opinion you cound say that.