The Former Rain and the Latter Rain

August 23 – 29, 2026

Key Verse

“Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea 6:3

Study Help: Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 19–23; The Acts of the Apostles, 47–56

Introduction

“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 506

Sunday

1 THE PROMISE

1.a. What promise did Christ give to the disciples immediately before His ascension? Acts 1:4, 5, 8. Describe their spiritual condition when this promise was fulfilled. Acts 2:1

Note: “Christ’s visible presence was about to be withdrawn from the disciples, but a new endowment of power was to be theirs. The Holy Spirit was to be given them in its fullness, sealing them for their work.” The Acts of the Apostles, 30

“Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: ‘The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.’ Acts 4:32. The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live animated the entire congregation of believers.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 20, 21

1.b. Why was a special endowment of the Holy Spirit indispensable in those days? Acts 2:38–40, 43

Note: “The Saviour knew that no argument, however logical, would melt hard hearts or break through the crust of worldliness and selfishness. He knew that His disciples must receive the heavenly endowment; that the gospel would be effective only as it was proclaimed by hearts made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. The work committed to the disciples would require great efficiency; for the tide of evil ran deep and strong against them. A vigilant, determined leader was in command of the forces of darkness, and the followers of Christ could battle for the right only through the help that God, by His Spirit, would give them.” The Acts of the Apostles, 31

“God does not ask us to do in our own strength the work before us. He has provided divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal. He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 19

Monday

2 THE “FORMER RAIN”

2.a. How does Scripture describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early disciples? What specific gift is often misunderstood today? Acts 2:1–18

Note: “During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile, they had learned to speak various languages. Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress. Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven. From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language.” The Acts of the Apostles, 39, 40

2.b. What resulted from the remarkable manifestation of God’s power under the former rain? Acts 2:41, 46, 47. How can this relate to us?

Note: “The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 21

“To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the Day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word.” Ibid., 20

Tuesday

3 THE “LATTER RAIN”

3.a. How is the prophecy of Joel to have a second application in our days? Joel 2:23, 28, 29

Note: “As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. …

“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward. …

“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers.” The Great Controversy, 611, 612

3.b. On what condition is the Lord willing to bestow His Spirit upon us in fullness? Zechariah 10:1; Acts 1:14

Note: “Let Christians put away all dissension and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 21

Wednesday

4 A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION

4.a. How did God illustrate the Holy Spirit’s role in the revival of the house of Israel? Ezekiel 37:1–5, 9–12, 21, 22. What application does the parable of Ezekiel 37 have for our days? Hosea 6:1–3; Ezekiel 36:25–28

Note: “Not only does this simile of the dry bones apply to the world, but also to those who have been blessed with great light; for they also are like the skeletons of the valley. They have the form of men, the framework of the body; but they have not spiritual life. But the parable does not leave the dry bones merely knit together into the forms of men; for it is not enough that there is symmetry of limb and feature. The breath of life must vivify the bodies, that they may stand upright, and spring into activity. These bones represent the house of Israel, the church of God, and the hope of the church is the vivifying influence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord must breathe upon the dry bones, that they may live.” Seventh day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1165, 1166

Thursday

5 THE MOVEMENT OF REVELATION

5.a. How will the power of God be manifested through the movement symbolized by the angel of Revelation 18:1—in the final stage of his work—when he shall be giving the last warning of the third angel’s message? Revelation 18:1

Note: “The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here brought to view. The Advent movement of 1840–44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in this country, there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be far exceeded by the mighty movement under the loud cry of the third message.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 429

5.b. What constitutes the last warning and how is it to be accomplished? Revelation 18:4

Note: “God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and ‘receive not of her plagues.’ Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard: ‘Come out of her, My people.’ These announcements, uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth.” The Great Controversy, 604

“The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.” Ibid., 612

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

What are the reasons and conditions for the Holy Spirit to be sent in fullness?
What is the gift of tongues, and why was it bestowed?
How is the latter rain prophesied and described?
How does the vision of Ezekiel 37 relate to us?
Why is the work of the angel of Revelation 18 so important?