Joel 2:23
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.
When I read this verse, I am reminded of the process of seed time and harvest. It is so important when a farmer plants his crop in the spring that there be moisture in the soil. God sends the former rain to germinate the seed so that it can begin to grow. That former rain along with continual showers gets the plant off to a good start. Often during the hot, dry summer months the plants will wilt and almost look dead. That is why it is so important to have the latter rain. This rain revives the plant and brings the seed to full development and readies it for a bountiful harvest. It is so important to have the former and latter rains to get a good harvest.
We can draw an analogy from this prophecy to relate to the modern times that we live in. The rain represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was first poured out on the day of Pentecost. Jesus as man’s representative had been planted, now all mankind was seed. On the day of Pentecost came the former rain. This rain initiated that germination process and began the harvest of souls, the Church.
Throughout time up until now, the showers have come, along with periods of spiritual drought. Now, we are living in the end times, the times of the latter rain. Today, the Holy Spirit is being poured out as never before, He is now bringing the precious seed to full and total development for the greatest harvest of souls that the world has ever seen. The signs are everywhere and the prophets are telling of this great harvest that is being readied. As never before seen in the history of the earth, the gospel is being preached to the world through TV, radio, internet and so on. Joel went on to prophecy that there would be great miracles as the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh. We are in the days of the Latter Rain, expect that miraculous power in your life today to make you a reaper in this great end time harvest.