“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. See also Hosea 6:3.
Note.—In Palestine the early rains prepare the soil for the seed sowing, and the latter rains ripen the grain for the harvest. So the early outpouring of the Spirit prepared the world for the extensive sowing of the gospel seed, and the final outpouring will come to ripen the golden grain for the harvest of the earth, which Christ says is “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:37-39; Rev. 14:14, 15.
10. For what are we told to pray at this time?
“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.” Zech. 10:1.
Note.—Before the apostles received the baptism of the Spirit in the early rain on the day of Pentecost, they all “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” Acts 1:14. During this time they confessed their faults, put away their differences, ceased their selfish ambitions and contentions for place and power, so that when the time for the outpouring came, “they were all with one accord in one place,” ready for its reception. To be prepared for the final outpouring of the Spirit, all sin and selfish ambition must again be put away, and a like work of grace wrought upon the hearts of God's people.
11. How is the closing work of the gospel under the outpouring of the Spirit described by the revelator?
“After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Rev. 18:1.
12. What does this angel say?
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Verse 2.
Note.—The religious world will then be in much the same condition as was the Jewish nation after it had rejected Christ at His first advent. See 2 Tim. 3:1-5.