POWER FOR OUR PERILOUS TIMES!

ZECHARIAH 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.”

ABSTRACT

In the final hours of earth’s history, as darkness envelops the world and the crisis intensifies, God’s remnant church bears a sacred mandate to proclaim mercy’s last call to a perishing world. Amid feelings of inadequacy before this immense task, the promise of Joel offers hope—an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower feeble efforts. This exploration delves into rediscovering that promise, examining conditions for its reception, the essential role of charity, and the triumphant destiny awaiting a fully surrendered people yearning for God’s work to finish.

REMNANT’S DIVINE CALL!

In the gathering twilight of earth’s history, as the shadows of the final crisis lengthen and the moral darkness deepens, the remnant church stands charged with a divine commission of staggering proportions: to carry the final message of mercy to a world teetering on the brink of eternal ruin. Yet, as we look upon our own feeble efforts and the monumental task before us, a sense of profound inadequacy can easily overwhelm the soul. We have the truth, we have the organization, we have the prophetic mandate, but where is the power? The promise of the prophet Joel, a promise of a universal, all-empowering outpouring of the Holy Spirit, has echoed down through the centuries, yet it remains a tragically neglected theme in our pulpits and a largely unfulfilled reality in our lives. This article is a solemn, urgent call to rediscover this most precious promise. It is an exegetical journey into the heart of the Latter Rain, exploring the timeless conditions for its reception, the indispensable role of Christlike charity, and the prophetic destiny that awaits a people fully surrendered to its transforming power. For every church member, and every soul who longs to see the work of God finished, this is not a subject for casual consideration; it is the very key to our survival and our success. But how does this ancient promise apply to the remnant church today?

JOEL’S PROMISE UNLEASHED!

The ancient prophecy of Joel is not a relic of a bygone era but a living, breathing promise for the last-day remnant church and the very foundation of our eschatological hope. The prophet was given a vision that looked far beyond the confines of ancient Israel to a time when God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, creating a global army of Spirit-filled witnesses. The evidence for this glorious promise is recorded in the sacred text: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:28-29, KJV). The apostle Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, confirmed that this prophecy began its fulfillment with the early church, but he also extended its application to all future generations, declaring, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39, KJV). This promise is directly linked to the “times of refreshing” that are to prepare a people for the second coming of Christ, as Peter urged, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19, KJV). Yet, despite its vital importance, this is a promise that has been tragically neglected. Ellen G. White lamented this spiritual apathy: “This promise belongs as much to us as it did to them, and yet how rarely it is presented before the people, and its reception spoken of in the church. In consequence of this silence upon this most important theme, what promise do we know less about by its practical fulfillment than this rich promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby efficiency is to be given to all our spiritual labor?” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 174, 1923). The Scripture assures us that God’s promises are sure: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20, KJV). Sr. White further underscores the certainty of this promise: “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” (The Great Controversy, p. 611, 1888). Scripture further supports this as God promises, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17, KJV). “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” (Joel 2:23, KJV). “The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 21, 1904). “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” (Christian Service, p. 253, 1896). Therefore, our first and most urgent duty is to reclaim this promise from the dust of neglect and plead for its fulfillment with a faith that will not be denied. But what conditions must the remnant meet to receive this heavenly power?

PENTECOST’S PATTERN REVEALED!

While the promise of the Spirit is sure, its fulfillment is conditional, and the experience of the early disciples provides the divine blueprint for the preparation necessary to receive this heavenly endowment. The conditions which preceded the outpouring of the former rain at Pentecost—deep heart-searching, confession of sin, unity of purpose, and fervent, united prayer—are the very same conditions that must be met by the remnant church before it can receive the latter rain. The evidence from the sacred record is clear: before the Spirit fell, the disciples “all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14, KJV), and on the day of Pentecost itself, “they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1, KJV). This was not a superficial harmony but a deep, spiritual unity born of humility and a shared burden for souls. Sr. White describes their preparation: “These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul-saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 37, 1911). This apostolic pattern is the model for us today. Sr. White makes the direct application: “When we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost will fall on us” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 246, 1904). The apostle Paul pleaded for this same unity in the church at Ephesus: “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, KJV). This unity is the fruit of genuine charity, the Christlike love that must pervade the church. Sr. White further connects this unity with our mission: “Those who believe the truth should remember that they are God’s little children, that they are under His training. Let them be thankful to God for His manifold mercies and be kind to one another. They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—is to bring unity into their ranks” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 189, 1909). The community is reminded, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11, KJV). “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV). “The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 49, 1911). “The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 21, 1904). The power of Pentecost was not a random, sovereign act; it was God’s response to a people who had met His conditions. The same power awaits our demand and reception today, but only as we follow the apostolic blueprint of repentance, unity, and earnest prayer. But why is charity the supreme catalyst for this celestial empowerment?

CHARITY’S CELESTIAL SURGE!

While unity and prayer are essential components of our preparation, the supreme, indispensable condition for receiving the Holy Spirit is the presence of divine love, or charity, in the heart. All spiritual gifts, all doctrinal knowledge, and all acts of self-sacrifice are utterly worthless without the animating principle of Christlike love. This is the “more excellent way” to which all other spiritual pursuits must be subordinate. The evidence for the supremacy of charity is the apostle Paul’s inspired discourse in 1 Corinthians 13: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, KJV). This divine love is not a mere human emotion but the very fruit of the Spirit, the bond of perfectness that holds all other Christian virtues together. Paul commands, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14, KJV). Sr. White directly links this love with the reception of the Spirit: “If the lay members of the church will arouse to do the work that they can do, going forth to labor in the spirit of Christ, and manifesting His love for souls, the outpouring of God’s Spirit will surely come. But it will not come while the largest portion of the church are not co-operating with God. God cannot pour out His Spirit when selfishness and self-indulgence are manifest” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 246, 1904). The apostle Peter echoes this, urging us, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8, KJV). This love is the very object of the commandment. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5, KJV). Sr. White summarizes the vital connection: “Oh, how much we all need the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then we shall always work with the mind of Christ, with kindness, compassion, and sympathy, showing love for the sinner while hating sin with a perfect hatred” (Evangelism, p. 369, 1946). “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34, KJV). “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, KJV). “The Lord Jesus is our efficiency in all things; His Spirit is to be our inspiration; and as we place ourselves in His hands, to be channels of light, our means of doing good will never be exhausted. We may draw upon His fulness, and receive of that grace which has no limit” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 389, 1900). “Love works not for profit nor reward; yet God has ordained that great gain shall be the certain result of every labor of love” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 135, 1868). Therefore, the quest for the latter rain must begin with a quest for a heart filled with the pure, selfless, and all-encompassing love of Christ. But what prophetic fulfillment awaits in this final harvest?

HARVEST’S FINAL THUNDER!

In light of these concepts, the prophetic antitype of the Pentecostal former rain is the final, glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain, which will ripen the harvest of the earth and empower the church to give the Loud Cry of the third angel’s message. Just as the former rain was given to germinate the gospel seed, so the latter rain will be given to prepare the church for the final ingathering and to stand through the unprecedented time of trouble described in Daniel and Matthew 24. The evidence for this final work is found in the prophecy of Revelation 18, which describes a mighty angel whose glory lightens the entire earth: “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory” (Revelation 18:1, KJV). This is the power that will attend the final proclamation of the three angels’ messages. Sr. White was given a clear vision of this event: “I saw that this message will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry” (Early Writings, p. 278, 1882). This final movement will be a direct fulfillment of the prophecy that “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14, KJV). This is the power that will enable God’s people to stand firm during the final crisis, when the decree goes forth that no man might buy or sell. Sr. White connects this outpouring directly with our preparation: “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” (The Great Controversy, p. 611, 1888). “And the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels” (Matthew 13:39, KJV). “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great” (Joel 3:13, KJV). “The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 21, 1904). “Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children” (The Great Controversy, p. 464, 1911). Therefore, the promise of the latter rain is not a peripheral doctrine but the central hope of the church, the divine provision that will enable a small and persecuted remnant to finish the work and triumph gloriously with their returning King. But how do these truths reveal the boundless love of our Heavenly Father?

FATHER’S LOVE UNVEILED!

These concepts of a promised outpouring of the Spirit, conditioned upon our repentance and unity, reveal a love that is not only saving but also sanctifying and empowering, a love that desires not only to pardon us but to partner with us in the great work of redemption. The Scripture declares, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3, KJV). The gift of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate expression of this drawing, transforming love. Sr. White explains the immeasurable nature of this gift: “The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail” (The Desire of Ages, p. 671, 1898). This love is not a distant, abstract concept but a tangible reality poured into our hearts, as the apostle Paul testifies: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5, KJV). In giving the Spirit, God gives the fullness of Himself. Sr. White writes, “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 273, 1902). This is the love that the apostle John marveled at: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1, KJV). This love is not merely a feeling but a cooperative power, as Sr. White states, “We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God” (Evangelism, p. 617, 1946). The ultimate goal of this divine love is to fill us with the very fullness of God, as Paul prayed that we “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19, KJV). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10, KJV). “The love of God is something more than a mere negation; it is a positive and active principle, a living spring, ever flowing to bless others. If the love of Christ dwells in us, we shall not only cherish no hatred toward our fellows, but we shall seek in every way to manifest love toward them” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 58, 1896). “The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part—the brain, the heart, the nerves—it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 115, 1905). Thus, the promise of the latter rain is the capstone of divine love, the final, glorious provision to fit a people for heaven and to demonstrate the fullness of God’s character to a waiting universe. But what sacred duties does this impose upon us toward God and our neighbor?

In light of this glorious promise and the solemn conditions for its fulfillment, our primary responsibility to God is to cease our spiritual lethargy and to engage in the earnest, personal work of preparation that He requires. This means we must heed the call to “repent, and be converted” (Acts 3:19, KJV), to put away all dissension, all selfishness, and all love of the world, and to seek the Lord with a whole heart. The apostle Paul makes this a matter of total consecration: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, KJV). This is not a work that can be delegated or postponed; it is a present, personal duty. Sr. White urges, “We need to have far less confidence in what man can do and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul. He longs to have you reach after Him by faith. He longs to have you expect great things from Him” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 512, 1923). Our responsibility to our neighbor is to become an active, Spirit-filled agent for their salvation. We cannot wait for some future endowment of power; we must use the talents we have now, going forth in the spirit of Christ to win souls. The Scripture commands, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10, KJV). This is the work of every lay member, not just the ordained ministry. Sr. White makes a powerful appeal for this total mobilization: “If the lay members of the church will arouse to do the work that they can do, going on a warfare at their own charges, each seeing how much he can accomplish in winning souls to Jesus, we shall see many leaving the ranks of Satan to stand under the banner of Christ” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 246, 1904). “And every man went unto his own house” (John 7:53, KJV). “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (Galatians 6:4, KJV). “The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 49, 1911). “God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a dearth of the Holy Spirit in the church” (The Southern Watchman, September 5, 1905). Therefore, our sacred duty is to first meet the conditions for receiving the Spirit in our own life, and then to cooperate with the Spirit in His great work of saving others. But how can we fully embrace this plea for the promised power?

PROMISED POWER PLEA!

The promise of the prophet Joel, which began its fulfillment in the former rain of Pentecost, is about to meet its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the latter rain. The signs of the times declare that we are living in the very last days of earth’s history, the time when we should be pleading with God most earnestly for this final outpouring of His Spirit. Yet, a strange and perilous apathy has settled upon us. We have discussed doctrines, we have expounded prophecies, but we have largely neglected the one thing that is essential for our spiritual efficiency and the finishing of the work. The conditions for receiving this blessing are not a mystery. They are the same conditions that were met by the disciples in the upper room: a putting away of all sin, a deep sense of our own need, a spirit of unity and Christlike love, and earnest, persevering prayer. God has not changed. His promise has not failed. The delay is on our part. Let us, as a people, awaken from our spiritual slumber. Let us heed the call to repentance and reformation. Let us put away all dissension and unite our hearts in seeking the Lord. Let us plead for the baptism of the Holy Spirit with an intensity that befits the solemnity of the hour. For when a people are thus prepared, the promise will be fulfilled. The latter rain will fall, the loud cry will be given, and the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. May we be among that number who will receive this final blessing and have a part in the final triumph of the gospel.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17, KJV).

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POWER FOR OUR PERILOUS TIMES!

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