Literally the spring rains at the close of the wet season in Palestine that matured winter grain for the harvest ( Deut. 11:14 ), in contrast with the “early,” or “former,” rain the preceding autumn ( Joel 2:23 ; Jer. 5:24 ; James 5:7 ) that germinated the seed and gave the crop a start before the onset of winter; theologically, in a metaphorical sense, the outpouring of the divine Spirit upon God’s people to prepare them for the figurative harvest of the world at the end of time ( cf . Hosea 6:3 ).
With respect to the gospel commission that Christ entrusted to His church on earth ( Matt. 28:19 , 20 ; Acts 1:8 ), Seventh-day Adventists refer to the experience at Pentecost as the “early,” or “former,” rain, and to the divine favor that will accompany the efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit at the end of time as the “latter rain”-in other words, to the seedtime and harvest of the gospel: “The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain. . . . But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man” ( AA 54, 55).
“The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the former rain, but the latter rain will be more abundant” ( COL 121).
The relationship between the two is stated thus: “As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close, for the ripening of the harvest. . . . 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 at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said [ Acts 3:19 , 20 quoted]” ( GC 611, 612).
The early rain is also applied to a preparatory personal experience prerequisite to receiving the latter rain. As a result of the early rain experience of the individual, the heart is “emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit” ( TM 507). The latter rain, in turn, qualifies the church for bearing witness in the “loud cry” and to stand firm during the last great time of trouble: “The ripening of the grain [as a result of the latter rain]represents the completion of the work of God’s grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ. The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen there will be no life, the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection” ( ibid . 506).
The latter rain “revives and strengthens” God’s people “to pass through the time of trouble” and fits them for translation ( 1T 353; 2SG 226).
“The latter rain is coming-the refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Those will receive it, in the church already gathered by the third angel’s message [ see Three Angels’ Messages ], who are prepared for it; and honest ones without will, under its influence, soon be gathered in” (Roswell F. Cottrell, in Review and Herald 31:280, Apr. 14, 1868).