The LATTER RAIN!!! The name comes from 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.” Pentecostals interpreted the “rain” in this verse as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The “latter rain” (the end-times outpouring) would be greater than the “former rain.” In 1948, a “revival” broke out in Saskatchewan, Canada, and the teachings of the Latter Rain movement were clarified. Those involved in the revival were convinced that they were on the verge of a new era, one in which the Holy Spirit would demonstrate His power in a greater way than the world had ever seen. Not even the age of the apostles, they said, had witnessed such a movement of the Holy Spirit. Latter Rain teaching is characterized by a highly typological hermeneutic. That is, the Bible is interpreted in a symbolic, extremely stylized manner. An emphasis is placed on extra-biblical revelation, such as personal prophecies, experiences, and directives straight from God. Latter Rain doctrine includes the following beliefs: - the gifts of the Spirit, including tongues, are received through the laying on of hands - Christians can be demonized and require deliverance - God has restored all the offices of ministry to the Church, including apostle and prophet - divine healing can be administered through the laying on of hands - praise and worship will usher God into our presence - women have a full and equal ministry role in the Church - denominational lines will be destroyed, and the Church will unify in the last days - the “latter rain” will bring God’s work to completion; the Church will be victorious over the world and usher in Christ’s kingdom
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:38:59 +0000