Continuing today with a look at the latter rain, and rain in general as telling of the word of truth flowing to us – from the cloud spoken of in the prior post. As we saw, the clouds speak of the word of the Father having flowed down in pure form from heaven, where the waters are rightly divided, returned to the cloud as they are rejected and forgotten on earth. As a result of the refusal clouds form and darkness as the shadow of death covers the earth, and cover the people as gross darkness. In this analogy we see the former and the latter rain.
Beginning today with the twofold purpose of the latter rain, which is this word I have freely preached to you.
Psalms 11:6 tells of the latter rain coming as snares upon the wicked, as fire and brimstone, and a terrible tempest [blast of air,] and these are the cup prepared for their consumption.
As we saw in the prior post the wicked are those Paul speaks of who have replaced God and sit in His judgments seats. We know these seats are the places designed to be where the LORD’s righteousness would shine onto the earth: governments (church and nation) as He intended. We have seen these seats lacking, and now outright rejecting, His counsel as symbolized by telling of these great places of light, sun, moon, and stars, now having become darkened and fallen from heaven (no longer rightly dividing the word or truth, thereby not possessing the LORD’s wisdom, and therefore not shining it on the earth as they rule.)
We know in 2 Thessalonians 2 we are told of the men (plural) sitting in these judgment seats and being there until the LORD comes. “5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what hold us down that they might be revealed in their time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: only they who now keep us down will, until they be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall the Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even those, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deception of injustice [working these signs and lying wonders] in them that perish [under their leadership;] because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Again, we see Paul here using the parallel description used by John four times in the book of Revelation, of the LORD destroying the cover of ignorance, and its origin of the deception, through the Word of His mouth, and this light into darkness as the brightness of His coming. We know this latter portion as alluding to the Genesis 1 creation, and the John 1 perspective of the same. Additionally, we know the reference to the word coming from the mouth of the LORD has its origin in Isaiah 49, “1 Listen, O isles [O dry places of the earth,] unto me; and hearken, you people, from far; The LORD has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name. 2 And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he hid me; 3 And said unto me, You are my servant, O Israel [my people, my nation,] in whom I will be glorified.”
This is the context in which we are able to understand the latter rain and Word as both the snare that catches and destroys the wicked (self-inflicted by the choice to stay in rebellion and insubordination,) and it delivering those receiving the correction and coming out from under the darkness of these oppressors.
Psalms 10 tells of the these wicked ones further defining them as the lawless. Psalms 11 follows this with the prayer of understanding and is the response of the righteous in light of what is said in the prior Psalm.
Psalms 10
1 Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts [the images of gods they have created govern their corrupted reasoning.]
5 His ways are always grievous; (Your judgments [LORD] are far above out of his sight:) as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them [openly shows he despises and dismisses them.]
6 He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set [imagine ways] against the poor.
9 He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he does catch the poor, when he draws him into his net.
10 He crouches, and humbles himself, [dissembling – faking it] that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: He hides his face; He will never see it.
12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand: forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore does the wicked contemn [hold in contempt and vilify] God? he has said in his heart, You will not require it.
14 You have seen it; for You behold mischief and spite, to requite it with Your hand: the poor commits himself unto You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break You the arm [the power (of deception)] of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till You find none.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of His land.
17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble: You will prepare their heart [their cognitive mind,] You will cause Your ear to hear:
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Psalms 11
1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say you to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain [the high places you have corrupted?]
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily [secretly] shoot at the upright in heart [well and right reasoning.]
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven [where there is understanding and order:] His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The LORD tries the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous LORD loves righteousness [truth and justice in judgment;] his countenance beholds the upright.
In these Psalms we see why the LORD suffers long, and askes the upright to suffers with Him. In our doing the latter rain is delivered, to both snare and undeniably expose the lawlessness of the wicked, while at the same time bring the uncountable masses out of their darkness and into His marvelous Light.
This is what the book of Job, from start to finish, explains by example. It tells of suffering, inflicted by the pressure of those in the rut of a degenerate culture, which is at the same time by this necessary endurance being delivering from this same culture cause from where they are unable to escape by their own means (all they know is the ways of the cause.)
Friends, I tell you, I speak because I do know and have seen, we have not followed cunningly devised fables, but rather we have trusted in God, and Truth who is Almightily greater, providential, and compassionately merciful. He is not man that He would have or needs to have any ulterior motive. He has no intention of forcing anyone to do anything, and we do well if we understand this is His war for our good, by methods of superior intellect able to overcome any and all earthly powers and means. This is truly His making us in His image and likeness, and for the good of humanity, the sake of peace and civility. He wants only for us to understand it is our choosing to go our own way, which is destroying a real utopia [Eden] He has created for us.
What we are seeing in this rejection of His overture is the worst of all errors, pride that refuses correction, and instead chooses self-destruction. I tell you now, in the Name of Jehovah’s Salvation (Jesus) He will not let them destroy all, and will save as many as will receive this report and willingly live under the rule of mutual security for all. I call on the rebels to join us, join the remnant that brings this message to the world in need of hearing it. Let God’s glory be seen in you as His child.
This is my testifying to you of the thing I have witnessed and know as truth. The next witness will be that of the Father out of the Whirlwind (great tempest.)
As my LORD said, and is recorded in Matthew 7:
20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
21 Not every one that says unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Job 37
1 At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3 He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars: he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things does he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south comes the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancing of [what is poised and waiting in] the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How your garments are warm, when he quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them.
22 Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.
Job 38
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind [tempest,] and said,
2 Who is this [Who do these men think they are] that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it [a protective wrapping,]
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Here-to shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves [casting up mire] be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring [the springs of light] to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal [that I will be knows as He who sealed it;] and they stand as a garment [the clothing of my stand.]
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth [has your spirit moved on the face of the deep as Mine did in My creating?]
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That you should take it to the bound thereof [its termination point,] and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail, [the waters frozen in heaven, that come down as fire and brimstone,]
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst you guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Know you the ordinances of heaven? canst you set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Canst you send lightnings, that they may go and say unto you, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together [from lack of rain, when the waters of the earth have evaporated away?]
39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait [lay poises as does the rain in the cloud?]
41 Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
James 5
1 Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the LORD of Hosts.
5 You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husbandman waits [is poised] for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draws near.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the LORD, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation [For many shall say unto me LORD, LORD, while in fact they reject correction, and swear by their invention, and refuse to subordinate to the Truth.]
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail much.
17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Revelation 3
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write [this formula to the people in the judgment – it is either their acquittal or the self-condemnation by choice to continue in darkness;] These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you wert cold or hot.
16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel you to buy [the price is “diligently” seeking God] of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup [feast] with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.
