How Close Are We To the Rapture?
(condensed version)
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. – James 5:7
The outpouring of the spirit of God is referred to in the bible as the Rain (Hosea 6:3). It is to fall in two distinct and different periods. For example, in Israel's day at the planting of their crops, they had two different periods of rainfall known as the early rain and the latter rain. The early rains were to prepare the land for the planting of crops. Then throughout the growing season they would get a few sprinkles of rain every now and then, but rainfall during this season was not as great as the early rain period. Then came the time for the reaping, and that’s when the latter rains came to ripen the grains and prepare it for the harvest. Child of God, understand that God has used this process to illustrate the church dispensation, which is the time in which we now live. In our time, the rains that God has poured and is yet pouring out is the Holy Ghost. He has already poured out both the early rain, and the latter rain. Let me tell you when.
The former (early) rain began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. It continued through the life of the Apostles until the time when the last Apostle died which was John in 100 A.D. After his death, the church (Apostolic Church) began to go into a steep decline doctrinally to the point to where in 325 A.D. at the Nicean Council, the catholic church was founded and the trinitarian doctrine was introduced and accepted as official church doctrine. During these years, from 100 A.D. until 1900 was the long day season of the church during which time not as many people were receiving the Holy Ghost as there were in the early rain period. Now, the latter rain began to fall in Topeka, Kansas in 1901 in a building called Stones Folly, which housed a theological school run by Charles Parham. In 1903 a revival began under William J. Seymour on Azusa street in Los Angeles, California. The revival (out pouring of the Holy Ghost) continued for 3 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During that time tens of thousands of people were being filled with the Holy Ghost. Just as in the days of the early rain period, people everywhere were receiving the Holy Ghost. God once again poured out his rain.
The Bible says God is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it until He receives the early and latter Rain. What I have now just explained to you is that the early rain has been poured out, God has already received it, and it is now over. Likewise, the latter rain is over, God has received that also. So what then is there left to be fulfilled? The answer is NOTHING! We are as close to the rapture now than we have ever been.
These two very important prophecy's have come to pass. Now it's time to hear the Lord say "Come up hither" (Revelation 4:1-2). When he speaks those words, that will be it, that great catching away known to us as the Rapture. He can call us at anytime, so don't delay! I urge you to become one of His precious fruit. Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, (not the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), for the forgiveness of your sins and be filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in others tongues. And live a saved life free from sin and you WILL be in His precious fruit that’s in the earth and He will come back for you.
Until then,
Listening for the Trumpet and waiting for the Shout,
Pastor Rader Johnson
