What Is the Latter Rain in the Bible? Understanding God’s Final Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

The ancient kingdom of Israel and its surrounding territories looked forward to two vital rains each year. The “early rain” fell at sowing time, causing seed to germinate and welcoming a season of growth. The “latter rain” ripened the grain for the sickle, welcoming a season of preparation and harvest. These rains dictated the cycles of life and work for entire nations, which explains why the planting-to-harvest theme plays a major role throughout Scripture, often acting as a metaphor for God’s gracious dealings with humanity over millennia and His transformational work in human hearts each second.

“Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” (Deuteronomy 11:14)

Bible students often focus on the early rain: the Holy Spirit causing the Gospel to germinate in our hearts and take root in order to transform our characters. Historically, many identify the early rain as the Day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, when an outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ disciples to spread the Good News of redemption and grow the church exponentially. 

But what does the Bible tell us about the latter rain? Has it already happened, is it happening right now, or will it happen in the future? And how will we be impacted? 

The Latter Rain: Another Outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Scripture tells us:

“Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass.” (Deuteronomy 32:2)

The early and latter rains represent God sending timely teachings to the world.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7–8)

The Bible says clearly that the early and latter rains help us “establish our hearts”—for what? For the coming of the Lord, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! The early rain brings forth spiritual growth; the latter rain prepares us for the harvest, when Jesus will come and separate the “wheat” from the “tares,” those who accepted His gift of salvation from those who refused Him (Matthew 13:30).

The metaphor is clear. The latter rain is an end-time event, when there will be a final and mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto Earth. At the time of this momentous blessing, the Holy Spirit will testify of Christ’s character, glorify Him, and teach us eternal truth (John 15:26; John 16:13–14). As a result, there will be an increase of:

• clarity regarding the Gospel

and

• power for its proclamation

The Bible tells us that some will receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and ripen with godly character, while some will reject it and ripen with evil character (Revelation 22:11). Then the harvest of our planet will come.

Bible Verses About the Early and Latter Rains

The following Bible verses provide powerful insight into the early and latter rains: their impact on both the world and our spiritual lives. These verses show us that God promises a stream of continuous blessings—the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” as we “become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5–7). They also show us that we can look forward to the day when God’s final outpouring of the Holy Spirit dramatically prepares the entire world for Christ’s glorious return.

“They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.” (Psalms 72:5–7)ç

“Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8)

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:9–11)

“Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you—the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.” (Joel 2:23–24)

“Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” (Zechariah 10:1)

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” (Revelation 14:15)

Ellen G. White’s Description of the Latter Rain

Ellen G. White, a widely published Christian author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, wrote an in-depth description of the latter rain in her book Acts of the Apostles:

“It is true that in the time of the end, when God’s work in the earth is closing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor. Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.

“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. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest ‘in the time of the latter rain.’ In response, ‘the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain.’ ‘He will cause to come down . . . the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain,’ Zechariah 10:1; Joel 2:23.

“But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of receiving added grace in times of special need.

“Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power. Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use. Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach. Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness.” (pp. 54–55)

The Bible’s description of the latter rain is not a call to wait for God’s future outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is a call to continue growing, to continue praying, studying God’s Word, and serving Jesus by loving others humbly and fiercely, so that we will one day be ready for that awesome rain. Let us never forget the instruction of Hosea 10:12:

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

Related Articles:

Preparing the Heart for the Second Coming of Jesus

When Will Jesus Return? And How Can I Be Ready?

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives: Guiding and Transforming

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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.