Apr 11 – The Rain of Harvest!

“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” (Joel 2:23).

In the land of Israel, there are two seasonal rains. One is called the former rain, and the other, the latter rain.

Generally, when the season for sowing arrives, they have the former rain. Farmers then take their plow and begin to cultivate the land. They prepare the barren fields, and after a few more days of rain, they sow their seeds and plant the seedlings. Because of the former rain, the crops grow well.

After several months, they will have the latter rain. This rain helps the matured crops produce good grain and become ready for harvest. The heavier the latter rain, the richer the harvest. The seeds that were sown will yield thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even a hundredfold.

If there is no latter rain, crops such as rice, wheat, and barley will not yield any harvest. The grains will not form properly, and much of the crop will wither away. Because of His love for His people, the Lord faithfully commanded both the former rain and the latter rain for Israel.

In the same way, in the history of the Church, there have been former rains and latter rains. During the days of the early apostles, the former rain fell. Churches were established, missionary journeys began, and a great revival took place.

Now, in these last days, the latter rain has begun. When the latter rain falls, it means we are approaching the season of the world’s harvest.

Jesus said: “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:2–3).

In 1947, the mighty man of God Smith Wigglesworth prophesied that a great move of God would come and that the Holy Spirit would visit God’s people with a powerful latter rain. That prophecy is being fulfilled in our days.

The Lord has commanded a great harvest across the nations, and the latter rain is being poured out abundantly. Children of God, we are standing in the final moments before the coming of the Lord, and we must prepare ourselves.

Verse for further meditation: “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age” (Matthew 13:38–40).