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Chapter Ten

THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT AND THE LATTER RAIN

Actually there are two parts to the rain storm ahead of us. The first part will give us a great deal more Bible truth than we have now, and the second will give us miraculous powers to aid in presenting a loud cry of a more full and complete truth to the world.

We have seen that the 144,000 will be sealed just prior to the time of trouble. It is during the time of trouble that they will fill the church triumphant with “eleventh hour” converts. Praise God! You can be protected during that time.

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.” EW 71; Mar. 33

Don’t worry! You can reflect the image of Christ fully. Here’s how.

“Perfection of character is attained through exercise of the faculties of the mind (be careful what you think, clean up your mind, no negative thinking allowed), in times of supreme test, by obedience to every requirement of God’s law.” 2SM 161
(Parenthesis mine.)

This next Scripture provides a clue indicating very strongly that the major battles are fought in the mind.

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in her heart.” (i.e. in his mind) Matthew 5:28

“Now is the time for us to let self die, to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts, to deny the cravings of appetite and passion. The minds of many are channels for impure thoughts. They do not have a realizing sense of the offensive character of sin. I call upon you to clear the King’s highway. ST 8/1/92

In connection with clearing the King’s highway Ellen White wrote of a very special light that will come from a very special angel.

“If we would receive the light of the glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory...”

The glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with His glory is the angel of Revelation 18. He is the angel that will add light to the third angel’s message. The first three angels’ messages are what we now understand. The truth is that we need the additional light. Notice how this light is connected with the latter rain. Let’s read the entire quote.

“If we would receive the light of the glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory, let us see to it that our hearts are cleansed, emptied of self, and turned toward heaven, that they may be ready for the latter rain.” ST 8/1/11892

A PERSON CAN BE PURE

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24,25

Jude seems excited because God can keep us from falling, but we must do our part to cooperate with God.

“‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword.’ These words are true. Exact obedience is required, and those who say that it is not possible to live in a perfect life throw upon God the imputation of injustice and untruth. RH 2/7/57

This is one reason why we must not accept the ‘new theology.’ That is a continuous round of sin and repent for the same sin. It is not necessary to continue in any known sin. Forget weakness and inability to overcome sin.

“We commit sin when we talk of our weakness and inability. It is an offense to God for His children to do this...” RH Oct. 30, 1888

Friends, there is no such thing as “I can’t” – not with Christ! Take courage, the truth is, a holy people can and will triumph over all. Those who are striving with Him to develop characters like His will endure to the end.

“There is no necessity for thinking that we cannot endure persecution; we shall have to go through terrible times.” RH 4/29/1890; Mar. 194

Those who are now developing characters like His will have a certain protection. (See pages 87 and Rev. 9:4,5.) Will there be persecution in our world? Will Satan do his utmost to annihilate those who would be saved?

“The persecutions of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism and popery are combined.” 3SM 387; LDE 147; Mar. 194

HERE COMES THE LATTER RAIN AND ITS
FINAL PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE!

“The prospect of being brought into personal danger and distress need not cause despondency, but should quicken the vigor and hopes of God’s people; for the time of their peril is the season for God to grant them clearer manifestations of His power.” 2SM 370

“Many...will be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the Spirit of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the Word of God, is as a fire in their bones, filling them with a burning desire to enlighten those who sit in darkness. Many, even among the uneducated, now proclaim the words of the Lord. Children are impelled by the Spirit to go forth and declare the message from heaven. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings, and, casting off all man’s machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit’s power. Multitudes will receive the faith and join the armies of the Lord.” Evangelism, p. 700

How many armies will they join? May I suggest twelve major armies? There will be twelve armies comprised of “144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel” to which will be added a great multitude of their converts “which no man could number.” Today we must “strive to be among the 144,000.”

NOTE: For excellent information regarding the 144,000 and the great multitude I suggest reading a very exciting study by Elder Taylor Bunch. It is listed in the appendix.

The above quote. It tells us what we will give to the world. What we will have to offer is more important than the miracles that will accompany us.

1. The light: e.g. spiritual illumination, truth, a set of principles, standards. (Web. 9th Dict.)
2. The Truth.
3. Word of God.
4. Words of the Lord.
5. Message from heaven.

Actually it is from the above sources that we received the original “pillars of our faith” in the past. Right now it might be a good time to review some of our pillars and show a few references where you can find them. (Bible references can be found on page 101).

• Second Advent of Christ. Ev. 624
• 7th-day Sabbath. CW 77; 7T 109; Ev. 225,226
• 3rd Angel’s message. EW 258
• Sanctuary in Heaven. Ev. 224
• Non-immorality of the wicked. CW 30
• Baptism and the Lord’s supper. Ev. 273
• State of the dead. G.C. 644; Mar. 305
• Creation. ST 2/28/84; ST 11/22/1899
• Perpetuity of the Law. CW 77; 3T 202; GC 582

All of these glorious truths have been the pillars of our faith for many years. Every true evangelist polishes and gives them a brighter glow in every series of meetings.

Let’s look at it this way. First we must have a solid foundation for these pillars. Christ is the foundation. Without Him they would be without value. He must be the very foundation of our faith. Once we have the right foundation, the above pillars can stand straight and tall as long as time should last.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

Here is the problem. If you can see the foundation and the pillars of truth standing tall and erect on the horizon, it will appear that something is lacking.

So, what do we lack? The roof! No way is our building complete! Our minds may have been heavily impressed that we do not need a roof to cap off our beliefs, but what does the Word say? Who says that we need more?

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with good, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:16 18.

As we continue you will see more and more how Ellen White relates the above text to the latter rain or the absence of it. What “roof” might the latter rain bring? Read on. You will find the building materials for a solid roof in the middle of the next chapter.

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