Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Everybody on earth is called to learn about the work of the Holy Spirit, especially in these last days. He is doing a mighty work; the vast universe of intelligent beings is concerned about what He is doing here on planet earth.
The "early rain" of the Holy Spirit enables people to overcome all known sin (John 16:8). But the "latter rain" prepares believers to overcome all sin, even that sin now unknown to them. Don't say that's impossible: David prays our daily prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23, 24).
Many great saints died before our Day of Atonement in which we now live, not knowing they were in transgression of God's holy law; for example, Wesley who never kept the Bible Sabbath and Luther died drinking his beer. Their level of faith was sufficient for their time; but now we face the final Time of Trouble and the call to be ready to be translated (1 Thess. 4:15-17). Frightening? No! Not if we understand the "everlasting gospel" (Rev. 14:6, 7).
The greatest sins ever committed were unknown sin. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," prayed Jesus at His cross.
The "latter rain" prepares a people to sit with Christ on His throne, and exercise executive authority with Him in bringing to a close the great controversy with Satan (Rev. 3:21). The "early rain" merely extenuates it. Christ wants and deserves closure. The Lord cannot translate sin buried deep in a human heart, unknown. His presence is death to sin.
The "latter rain" is not emotional excitement, but solid truth not previously perceived. That truth will enable believers to overcome, even as Christ overcame. If ever the gospel has been "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16), it is now when it's to be understood in the light of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 22, 2007.
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