Early Rain and Latter Rain

This page is currently being built, so please be patient with us. Below is the notes of the sermon series regarding the early and the latter rain.

This is a very important topic for these last days to understand. The principles of God regarding the harvest of souls had been revealed even in the old days of the patriarchs and prophets. Today, it is for us to understand these principles in order to better prepare ourselves before probation closes.

Many today are preaching that the former rain has come yet the latter rain is yet to come. Let us dig into the WORD to give us the understanding and wisdom regarding the truth of this subject.

What is required in order to gather a harvest?
Deuteronomy 11:14 That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Jeremiah 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

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].

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Early and Latter rain required for a harvest. They go together in one harvest SEASON. Where there is no early and latter rain, there is no harvest nor gathering for there will be no ripened grains to harvest.

What does the word rain mean?
Former Rain:
4175 mowreh mo-reh'
from 3384; an archer; also teacher or teaching; also the early rain (see 3138):--(early) rain.

The rain for the verse that says former rain means a teacher or teaching. The word mowreh for rain is from the word yarah which means,

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root; properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

2 Chronicles 26:15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

Another meaning for rain is:
3138 yowreh yo-reh'

active participle of 3384; sprinkling; hence, a sprinkling (or autumnal showers):--first rain, former (rain).

Early Rain: Teacher, Arrow, Sprinkle, Instruct, Direct, Inform, to point

Now let’s go to the latter rain and find out what kind of rain this is:
Latter Rain:
4456 malqowsh mal-koshe'
from 3953; the spring rain (compare 3954); figuratively, eloquence:--latter rain.

3954 leqesh leh'-kesh
from 3953; the after crop:--latter growth.

3953 laqash law-kash'
a primitive root; to gather the after crop:-- gather.

Latter Rain – for latter growth, to gather the after crop. Basically the latter rain is for the maturing of the plants for fruit bearing and ripening. Any farmer understands this principle.

The early rain that God will shower for the beginning of the harvest season is for the sowing of seeds in order for it to germinate while the latter rain is for making the plant mature and bear fruits and ripening the fruits to get ready to be reaped. The early rain and the latter rain go together hand in hand in one harvest season. Where there is no early rain or latter rain, there is no reaping or harvesting. This early rain teacher and latter rain power has been God’s principles to gather a harvest for His kingdom. It is also seen in individual person’s life.

Let us look at some examples of how the early rain teacher instructed God’s people and how the latter rain power made them mature in the faith and made them stand up and have the power to bear fruits and apply the truth that they have been converted to.

Example:
#1 Noah – Harvest Season
Former Rain – Harvest Message from God (Genesis 6:14 – 7:1)
Latter Rain – Power to Obey (Genesis 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Genesis 7:7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.)

Harvest Ended = 8 souls harvested
Wheat = into the ark
Tares = into the winepress of the flood

Noah received the early rain teacher to make an ark and entered the ark and the latter rain power gave him the strength to apply the instructions of God to make the ark and enter into the ark. He got the latter rain power and was saved along with his family of 8 persons. Without the latter rain power that outpoured into his life, Noah would not make it. His faith would not survive.

#2 Lot’s Harvest Season in Sodom
Harvest Message:
Genesis 19:12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring [them] out of this place: 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Latter Rain Power:
Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.

In the harvest season of Sodom, Lot and family received the early rain power yet only Lot and daughters had the latter rain power to apply what he was instructed to do. His wife failed to have the power to not look back and as a result she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

SANCTUARY LESSONS:

The early rain teacher and latter rain power principle is also declared in the second book of God which is the sanctuary book. The early rain is where in the courtyard you received the gospel and have faith in the One who died for your sins. This is where you are converted into the truth that you need a Saviour and must repent. This is where you are justified and pardoned through your faith.

In the Holy place is where you enter into sanctification where God will shower you with the latter rain in order to fully mature and bear fruits and be repined and be part of the harvest of the wheat to be ready to put into the barn when probation closes. This is where you receive the power to stand and shine and spread the gospel that had converted you. This is where you will be purified and sanctified.

The third book of God which will tell us that the early and the latter rain are required for a harvest season is the book of nature. The typical harvest season in the nation of Israelites start with sowing which needs the autumnal spring of the early rain to help germinate the seeds. Then comes March where the latter rain or spring rain comes to help the plants mature and bear fruits and be gathered in the reaping. Harvest season for wheat typically ends in May. The cycle continues each harvest season and the same early rain and latter rain are required. Without one or the other, there could be no harvest season that will happen.

It is very important to understand the word season. A season is a time period where there is planting and there is reaping. For planting, it needs an early rain, for reaping to happen, latter must come first in order to help the plant mature and bear fruits.

SEASON:
Deuteronomy 11:14 That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 3:2 … a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;

#3 First Church’s Harvest Season
The first church of Ephesus experienced their season of harvest wherein the truth was first planted by Jesus Christ, the Early Rain Teacher for their time. They had received the early rain message and the latter rain power to help them preach the truth during their harvest season.

Early Rain Message: Gospel of Christ
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Their early rain message before was believe and repent. Believe in Jesus Christ and repent from sins was their harvest message. The believers accepted that message and was converted and as a result, the church of Ephesus was formed first with the 12 disciples, apostles and deacons.

Those who were converted of the message of the Early Rain teacher formed the first body of believers:
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James. 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

After they believed and repent, shortly after Christ ascended to Heaven, they received a power.
Latter Rain Power:
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Power:
1411 dunamis doo'-nam-is

from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Power:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Peter was echoing the prophet Joel:
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]. 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Latter Rain
4456 malqowsh mal-koshe'

from 3953; the spring rain (compare 3954); figuratively, eloquence:--latter rain.

As we can see, the first Church Ephesus received the promised power of the Holy Ghost that gave them the eloquence to speak and preach the gospel. The fulfillment of the prophecy of prophet Joel was also applied to them as Peter have also spoken it.

Power: preach, prophesy, miracles, wonders,
Harvested Souls:
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

The first church movement was also revealed in the truth regarding the 7 seals.
First Seal – Gospel of Christ Opening and Conquering
Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Bow (Arrow) – Shoot
3384 yarah yaw-raw'

As we can see as revealed in the Bible, the early rain is compared to the bow or arrow that shoots. The early rain of truth will shoot like an arrow into the hearts of those who are seeking for truth. It will be planted there in the soil of their hearts. The truth will find a way and will germinate and grow into a beautiful plant. The latter rain outpouring of the Holy Ghost made the beautiful plant mature and bear fruit and be reaped into a wonderful harvest of grains for the Lord. This the early church experienced, both the early rain of truth and the latter rain power so they can arise and shine and preach the Word.

A harvest season can go into tiny details even into a person’s personal spiritual experience. The early rain truth can enter into his heart and the latter rain power can give him the abundant oil to help him shine and arise and bear fruits of the Spirit, the truth that he received will be seen abundantly in his life.

The most important season of harvest that we have to look into is the Gospel of Christ’s harvest season as a whole. This harvest season was started by the first church Ephesus and the closing of this gospel season happened in the 7th church of Laodicea. Let us take a look at the chart below.

This season has a sowing of seeds and the harvesting what was sown. There is closing and there is opening. This is illustrated in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

Sowing – Matthew 13:3 Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Jesus the sower sowed the good seed and His first church Ephesus opened the gospel to other people and went forth conquering as 1st seal proclaims. Jesus showered the first church with early rain to open the gospel to all the world.

Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Opening gospel; Believe and Repent

Harvesting – Matthew 13:30, 39, 41 and the reapers are the angels. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Closing Message: 3 angels. More about the harvest message, click here.

The closing of the gospel started in the 7th church of Laodicea where the 3 angels messages were sent by God to reap the earth which is to gather the tares in one side and gather the wheat in one side. Now the chart is updated for additional truths as revealed by the parable.

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHET JOEL in a HARVEST SEASON
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]. 2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Something very important will happen when the outpouring of the Spirit is fulfilled:
Joel 2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Let us define what floors mean:
Floor
1637 goren go'-ren
from an unused root meaning to smooth; a threshing- floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area:--(barn, corn, threshing- )floor, (threshing-, void) place.

The word floor that shall be full of wheat is referring to the threshingfloor which we can find in the book of Matthew where God is doing something there.

Matthew 3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner;

During the outpouring of the Spirit of the latter rain, the saints of God will experience

1. The wheat will experience Purging – Purification, Reformation, Cleansing, Refining
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

During the outpouring of the latter rain in the harvest season, the saints will experience thorough cleansing, reformation, purification. The tares who rejected the latter rain will reveal themselves the opposite. They will produce evil works.

Those who are waiting for the latter to be some future blessings that they can receive will find nothing when probation closes but today will manifest fruits of evil words, thoughts and deeds

They had early rain but no latter rain so when probation closes they were found foolish and empty of oil yet the wise virgins had extra oil in their lamps because while probation was still opened, they experienced the purification in the threshingfloor which helped them receive more measures of Holy Spirit in their lives.

2. There will be an Overflowing anointment
Joel 2:24 …the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Fats
3342 yeqeb yeh'-keb
from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed):--fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press).

#1 Oil
3323 yitshar yits-hawr'
from 6671; oil (as producing light); figuratively, anointing:--+ anointed oil.

Exodus 29:7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour [it] upon his head, and anoint him.

Anoint
4886 mashach maw-shakh'
a primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint:--anoint, paint.

Exodus 35:8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
Exodus 35:14 The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,

#2 Oil
8081 shemen sheh'-men
from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

8080 shaman shaw-man'
to shine, i.e. (by analogy) be (causatively, make) oily or gross:--become (make, wax) fat.

What kind of oil that God will anoint you?
Psalms 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

If you have oil, the light will shine:
Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."

What is seen in a person’s life that is shining?
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows

The saints who have received the latter rain have received the anointing and consecration to shine forth as lights, to boldly preach the gospel, to be fruitful with the fruits of the Spirit, to experience the rich and refreshing presence of God who have showered them with the heavenly anointing. Part of all these is that the saints will experience gladness as the highest form of comfort amidst what’s going on in their life during the loud cry movement that they are partaking in where they have to contend with the mouth of the 3 unclean spirits of the dragon, beast and false prophets.

Note: while this is happening, and the rain is pressing out the evils of your life, the rain also awakens the frogs to try to destroy and annoy you and they do this by their tongue to spread lies and poison..

Now, let's go to the 3rd important event that will happen during the outpouring of the Latter Rain during the gospel of Christ's harvest season.

3. The wheat will receive Overflowing Supply of New Wine

Joel 2:24 …the fats shall overflow with wine…
The fats – the dug out trough or winepress where the wine is pressed and will overflow with wine during the pressing time.

There are 2 kinds of wine:
Wine – doctrine
#1 New wine
Joel 2:24 …the fats shall overflow with wine…

Fats –
3342 yeqeb yeh'-keb
from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed):--fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press).

Wine
8492 tiyrowsh tee-roshe'

or tiyrosh {tee-roshe'}; from 3423 in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine:--(new, sweet) wine.

The new wine when harvest started was harvest message of Revelation 14 and 18. That wine was overflowing since it started in 1844 until probation closes it will continue to overflow.
WINE = DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES OF GOD

NEW WINE FOR THE CLOSING WORK OF THE GOSPEL = 3 ANGELS/REV18
NEW WINE FOR THE OPENING WORK OF THE GOSPEL = BELIEVE/REPENT

#2 Wine of Babylon
Revelation 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon [hath been] a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Wine
3196 yayin yah'-yin
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).

The wine of Babylon is a fermented wine that makes people intoxicated.

The fermented wine of Babylon makes people mad. Jeremiah 51:7
Mad
1984 halal haw-lal'

a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.

Remember the foolish virgins?
Boastful, foolish, merry making, shine in evilness, enrage, celebrate in wickedness, renowned, every pleasures of the world.

The wine of Babylon makes people bear fruits of foolishness/evilness.

This wine of Babylon makes people what?
Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges.
32:32 For their vine [is] of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes [are] grapes of gall, their clusters [are] bitter: 32:33 Their wine [is] the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Poison
2534 chemah khay-maw'
or (Dan. 11:44) chemaC {khay-maw'}; from 3179; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever):--anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(- ful). See 2529.

Daniel 11:44 …(referring to the king of the north)….. therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Wine of her idolatry = worship on Sunday
Wrath of her idolatry = DIE if you don’t submit

The poison of the dragon is his fury which he makes everyone drink. If you do not bow and worship the beast who received power from the dragon, his fury is coming on upon you. The wine of the wrath of the dragon is going to also be drunk by the kings of the earth where they will persecute and kill those who refuse to bow to their global religious laws. This is also the same with his agents today. They are having a cup of the wine of the poison of Babylon. If you do not agree, surrender and submit to their authority, their fury is coming upon you. They will do all they can to destroy you, to silence you to keep you quiet in order to shut down the gospel message of truth so that their lies can be accepted by many who do not read and study the Bible but are putting their confidence on some original writings that are void of scriptural support.

Jesuits oath = full of wrath

How many people in the world does Babylon want to drink her wine?
Rev 17:2 – Kings and inhabitants of the earth
Jer 51:7 – the nations

Fornication
4202 porneia por-ni'-ah
figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.

4203 porneuo porn-yoo'-o
(figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).

Wine of the wrath of her fornication.. Or wine of the poison of her fornication is the wine of the wrath of her idolatry. The whole world will drink this wine of Sunday worship. The 10 kings will receive power to reign with the beast for one hour where all of them will agree and unite to drink this wine of fornication or idolatry.

Revelation 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Babylon wants the whole world to unite with her and drink the cup of her idolatry of worshipping Sunday as paying homage to the dragon. This is the universal Sunday law that we are waiting for or the global fornication of all the kings of the earth.

More Verses about Early and Latter Rain that helps us understand why we need them today:

EARLY RAIN
Psalms 84:4 Blessed [are] they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
84:5 Blessed [is] the man whose strength [is] in thee; in whose heart [are] the ways [of them].
84:6 [Who] passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
84:7 They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] in Zion appeareth before God.

Rain - 4175 mowreh mo-reh'
from 3384; an archer; also teacher or teaching; also the early rain (see 3138):--(early) rain.

Pools
1293 Brakah ber-aw-kaw'
from 1288; benediction; by implication prosperity:--blessing, liberal, pool, present.

Those who have received the early rain will be filled with blessings and gifts from God.

Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Food = meat, wages
Gladness = oil of gladness, joy

Those who have received the rain from heaven will experience the fruitful season of overflowing food and gladness.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Rain = early rain

Early rain of Christ’s righteousness must be received in order to produce the fruits thereof which the latter rain power helps you produce those fruits.

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Ask for the latter rain:
Zechariah 10:1 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.

What happens if you reject the rain:
Ezekiel 38:22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Overflowing rain today = untouched by plagues
Zero rain today = overflowing rain of wrath during plagues

Why we need the rain today:
Joel 1:10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

Isaiah 24:7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

Joel 1:5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.

Holy Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth. Harvest message is closed. Harvest is done. New wine is dried. Wicked are forever lost, no more second chance now punishment is coming.

Early & latter rain