If we do not receive “the seal of the living God,” [Revelation 7:2] and following it, the latter rain, we are lost. Therefore, the topic of receiving the Holy Spirit is essential for us.
Through the study of this topic, the Lord is leading us to know ourselves better, and this knowledge should lead us to be corrected by Jesus. Everyone needs correction in some area. Our characters are not equally incomplete; we each have our own defects or weaknesses, but the Holy Spirit will show us where our weaknesses are.
When I titled this article, “The Latter Rain in God’s True Church,” it occurred to me that it is important to know what is God’s true church. Ellen White speaks of this:
“God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.” The Upward Look, 315.
Power of the Latter Rain
“ ‘The commencement of that time of trouble,’ . . . does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the ‘latter rain,’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” Early Writings, 85, 86. The latter rain is parallel with the loud voice of the third angel. (Revelation 18:1-4.)
The proclamation of the third angel began in 1844 and reaches to the second coming of Christ. It is not unimportant to receive this special power. Many Seventh-day Adventists say, “Yes, we do believe in the Three Angels’ Messages, but it is not the time right now to preach these messages. The Lord will show us when the time will be.” This is one of the most sophisticated lies of Satan. We will not receive the latter rain if we have not received the earlier, or the former, rain.
“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.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 506.
Many Seventh-day Adventists believe that a latter rain will be coming, and they are looking forward to the time when that will happen. However, they do not make any efforts to receive the former, the early rain. These individuals will experience a bitter disappointment.
Man’s Cooperation Required
We must go forward and exercise our faith. We need to ask the Lord to give us His special rain. “If we do not progress, if we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door.
“ ‘Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.’ [Zechariah 10:1.] Do not rest satisfied that in the ordinary course of the season, rain will fall. Ask for it. The growth and perfection of the seed rests not with the husbandman. God alone can ripen the harvest. But man’s cooperation is required. God’s work for us demands the action of our mind, the exercise of our faith. We must seek His favors with the whole heart if the showers of grace are to come to us. We should improve every opportunity of placing ourselves in the channel of blessing. Christ has said, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst.’ [Matthew 18:20.] The convocations of the church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies of the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are God’s appointed opportunities for giving the early and the latter rain.” Ibid., 508.
Did you really read what was written in this statement? “Man’s cooperation is required.” God’s work for us demands that we take action. We are to exercise our faith. We are required to think about where God’s church is, because it is only there that Christ is, and only where Christ is can we get a blessing. Therefore, this is an act of the conscience, of the mind.
Pre-conditions
Ellen White also gives one of the pre-conditions for the latter rain: “For the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord—fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“God has not revealed to us the time when this message will close, or when probation will have an end. Those things that are revealed we shall accept for ourselves and for our children. . . . It is our duty to watch and work and wait, to labor every moment for the souls of men that are ready to perish.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 191.
So, there is no possibility of receiving the latter rain unless we are actively engaged in the work. This is very plainly stated here.
The Question
The important question is, Can we receive the latter rain where Christ is not present? The following quotations give very plain answers to this question:
“The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.” Last Day Events, 49. If the church becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen, and “become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:2. It is impossible for us to unite with those who are corrupt and still remain pure.
God has given us some very important counsel: “And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. We cannot just be satisfied in thinking that He is in a nice building where people are gathering, singing, and praying. All Christians do this, but through His messenger, God says, “The presence of God is not in her midst.”
We are required to be where Christ is. If we are with Him, we will receive the early rain—the seal of the living God. Then we will be prepared to receive the latter rain. Therefore, this question and its answer are important.
Christ Among Us
Christ says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst.” Wherever there are as many as two or three believers, let them meet together on Sabbath to claim the Lord’s promises. How do we know that Christ is among this church? It is essential that we give a right answer to this question. The answer is given in Matthew 7:16, 24: “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.”
We are to look and ask, Are these brethren willing to keep the commandments of God? Are they willing to follow Jesus wherever He goes? Are they willing to proclaim the Three Angels’ Messages? Are they willing to go through the process of sanctification?
“Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.” The Upward Look, 315.
The size of the church does not matter. A right heart is demanded; the fruits are important where Christ is present. Therefore, also, little companies can fulfill the requirements of God’s church. Ellen White wrote of this: “The little companies assembled to worship God on His holy day have a right to claim the rich blessing of Jehovah. They should believe that the Lord Jesus is an honored guest in their assemblies. Every true worshiper who keeps holy the Sabbath should claim the promise: ‘That ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.’ Exodus 31:13.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 360, 361.
We need nothing more than the presence of Christ, and His presence is not dependent upon the number of believers who are gathered together. Neither is God’s presence dependent on beautiful church structures. Even in your home church, Christ is personally present. He wants to be with you when you are true and faithful and desires to bring you forward in the way of sanctification.
Laborers Together
Ellen White says that the latter rain will come only to the church where the majority, the largest portion of the church, are laborers together with God: “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. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.” Christian Service, 253.
The majority of the church must stand on the side of Christ. It is very important, for a reformation, to know this. In what area should we work together with God? Well, many say, “We are doing missionary work. We have worship services; we play nice music. We do all these things for our Lord.” Is it important that we do something?
“It [the gospel] is the power that draws men together in unity. To present these truths is the work of the third angel’s message. The Lord designs that the presentation of this message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in the world at this time.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 11.
Can there be anything above this greatest work? Through His messenger, God compares this work with a ship. It is very important to be aware what this ship represents. “There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and he will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the work, God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port.” Review and Herald, September 20, 1892.
God is at the head of the work, the Three Angels’ Messages. These messages will bear and carry His people until His coming. The ship is not the church structure; the ship is the gospel, the Three Angels’ Messages. If we are not carried by this ship—that means our whole lifestyle, our thinking, our acting—we will miss the target, the heavenly port.
Ship’s Pilot
“The cause is the Lord’s; He is on board the ship as chief director, and he will guide our bark into port. Our Master can command the winds and the waves. We are only his workers, to obey orders; what he saith, that will we do. We have no need to be anxious or troubled. God is our trust. The Lord sends his richest endowments of reason and reasoning to a people he loves, and who keep his commandments. He has by no means forsaken his people who are working in his lines.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 4, 1708.
Ellen White compares this gospel ship to the ship in the Old Testament that Noah built. He also gave the invitation, “Come onto the ship. Only here is salvation. Nowhere else.” Many people laughed at him, and suffered the results of death when rejecting his message. The same fate awaits us, if we, too, reject the warning message.
“I [Ellen White] was pointed back to faithful Noah. When the rain descended and the flood came, Noah and his family had entered the ark, and God had shut them in. Noah had faithfully warned the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, while they had mocked and derided him. And as the waters descended upon the earth, and one after another was drowning, they beheld that ark, of which they had made so much sport, riding safely upon the waters, preserving the faithful Noah and His family. So I saw that the people of God, who had faithfully warned the world of His coming wrath, would be delivered.” Early Writings, 284.
Mrs. White puts a total parallel between the saving gospel ship on one hand and the ark of Noah on the other hand. This gospel ship needs strong leadership, a special pilot. Many ministers think they are some of the pilots on the ship. They want to determine where the ship is supposed to go. “Important interests in the cause of God cannot be wisely managed by those who have had so little real connection with God as some of our ministers have had. To entrust the work to such men is like setting children to manage great vessels at sea. Those who are destitute of heavenly wisdom, destitute of living power with God, are not competent to steer the gospel ship amid icebergs and tempests. The church is passing through severe conflicts, but in her peril many would trust her to hands that will surely wreck her. We need a pilot on board now, for we are nearing the harbor.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 104, 105.
“God does not leave the ship for an ignorant pilot to steer anywhere; He just stands at the helm, and then we work under orders.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 2, 565.
“There is no need of doubts and fears that the work of God will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and he will set everything in order. Let us have faith that he is going to carry the noble ship which bears his people, safely into port.” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, July 15, 1892.
Common Order
So, who is the ship’s pilot, and through whom is the gospel ship being directed? “Let me [Ellen White] tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 300.
For this work, the proclamation of the gospel will be out of the common order of things. What has been the common order until now? The church structure has pushed the mission forward, but God through His messenger at the end of time states that it will be “out of the common order of things.” Yet, there will be ministers who will say, “No! That is not the way it should be. We cannot offend the other churches. We want to save them, but we cannot tell them they belong to Babylon.”
The work will still go forward in spite of these unfaithful ministers. God will work out of the common order. He will use means and ways that will make known that He Himself took the reins. The workers will be surprised by the simple means He will use to bring about His perfect work of righteousness. Do we see how God is working out of the common order today through independent ministries and self-supporting workers?
The Sealing
“What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption. . . .
“It is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1161.
To be sealed so we are settled right in our convictions happens through reading, through prayer, and through the Holy Spirit. We need to use our minds and our understanding. We need to think through the situations of today and conclusively establish in our minds issues such as who is God’s church. When we are absolutely certain of the answers, then we will know what to do. Ellen White calls it the shaking.
The Shaking
The shaking is nothing more than a separation through the sealing; for once settled, we are sure what is God’s church. Nothing will keep us back any longer—no lies of ministers, no wrong teachings of a church. Those things will cause a shaking among God’s people.
This sealing is the same as happened in the time of Ezekiel. We can read about this in Ezekiel 9—a chapter Ellen White recommends very strongly for us to read: “This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 445, 446.
“The angel with the writer’s ink horn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel follows this angel.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1161.
Note that the prerequisite of receiving the seal is to be separated from sin and sinners. This sealing only happens under the proclamation of the third angel—not under the first angel’s message, not under the second angel’s message, but under the third angel’s message. The third angel’s message includes the other ones, but this is the hardest and strongest warning that God has ever given to the earth. This message is a test of faithfulness for you and for me. Therefore, Ellen White wrote: “Says the True Witness: ‘I know thy works.’ The third angel is leading up a people, step by step, higher and higher. At every step they will be tested.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 189.
“All seem to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles or companies. Said the angel, ‘The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.’ This little company looked careworn, as if they had passed through severe trials and conflicts.” Early Writings, 88, 89.
“I [Ellen White] was pointed down to the time when the third angel’s message was closing. The power of God had rested upon His people; they had accomplished their work and were prepared for the trying hour before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message.
“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, ‘It is done.’ And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ [Revelation 22:11.]” Ibid., 279, 280. [Author’s italics.]
Reaching the World
The decision for eternal life or eternal destruction is the most solemn decision in the life of every person.
How can we reach the whole world with the Three Angels’ Messages? How can that happen? Well, surely there are preachers who can preach this message. They will do their jobs, will they not? If we wait for them, this message will never be fully proclaimed. The people of God, as a whole, need to get to work: “The church must not depend so fully as she has done in the past upon the ordained minister alone to carry the gospel to the world. God has given to every man his work. For many years he has been bidding his people, ‘Go work today in my vineyard.’ [Matthew 21:28.] He calls upon men who understand the Scriptures to go into places where the message of truth has never penetrated, and there work, imparting to others what God has imparted to them. They can be as the salt, communicating saving properties to those with whom they come in contact.” Review and Herald, January 12, 1897. Everyone—every sister, every brother, every child, the old and the young—needs to be engaged in this work, if they want to be saved.
How can the common people with simple means be involved in completing the work? “Church members, ask God to give you a burden to open the Scriptures to others and to do missionary work for those who need help. Some will be rescued in one way and some in another, but the work must always be done as the Lord shall lead. . . . Let the publications containing Bible truth be scattered like the leaves of autumn.” In Heavenly Places, 323.
“Do not become weary in the distribution of our literature. This is a work you may all engage in successfully if you are but connected with God.” Welfare Ministry, 162.
This literature will greatly advance the work, for the seeds need to be sown. When we go out every day, we should have with us literature about the Three Angels’ Messages to share with those we may meet. If we would each do this, how quickly this message would be spread. But none of the literature will have an effect on the world unless God, with His Holy Spirit, works on the hearts of the people. The most important part in this work does not happen through you or me; it happens through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Our Preparation
“I [Ellen White] saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ [Revelation 22:11.] I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord.” Early Writings, 71.
“ ‘Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth.’ The third angel closes his message thus: ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ [Revelation 14:12.]” Ibid., 254.
Will God say to us, “Come, ye blessed of my Father”? Matthew 25:34. He can say that only to those who really understand where His church is, only to those who are separated by the third angel to come into holy fellowship with Jesus Himself.
Dr. Korinth is a physician living in Berlin, Germany. He is very active in spreading the Three Angels’ Messages throughout Europe, using the printed word. He is a promoter of home churches and is very interested in working with other historic Seventh-day Adventist groups worldwide. He may be contacted by e-mail at: hkorinth@mefag.de.