THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS
By W. G. Guy
Since 1973 I have taught that the state of the church in the last days, just before the return of Christ, will be just as it was when it was first formed on the day of Pentecost. Since the church was Pentecostal when it began, it will be Pentecostal when Jesus returns. The church is going to go full-circle. This means that there is quite a difference between what the church is today and the way it was when it began; as it will be at the end.
To prove this fact, it was prophesied in scripture in multiple places about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which occurred at Pentecost; and will thus be poured out again in these end times. This outpouring is referred to as the former and the latter rain. Rain is needed to bring in the harvest; and in these last days we need to prepare for the harvest.
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 – ….love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 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.
The rain illustrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for power for believers to be convincing witnesses of God’s love through His provision of Jesus Christ; this is needed to bring in the final spiritual harvest.
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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The prophet Jeremiah tells us that there is an appointed time for the rains to come according to God’s calendar for the harvest. There are those who are rebellious and reject the purpose and plan of God and have no respect for His plans to give this rain.
Jeremiah 5:23-25 – But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things.
(Note: obviously there are those who will not experience the spiritual rains that the LORD provides.)
The former and latter rain has the purpose of restoration, returning to the original, when the rain (Holy Spirit) comes upon us again.
Hosea 6:1-3 – Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 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.
Note that this prophetic word speaks of a revival, a return unto the LORD; a healing of the church from the decay that it has experienced over the past two thousand years (two millennial days), and introducing us into the third millennial day that follows – the millennium reign of Christ.
In the book of Acts, when Pentecost came, the apostle Peter quoted from the Prophet Joel, Chapter 2:28-29, describing it as the former and latter rain poured out in the last days. However this passage is prefaced by describing the former and latter rain that is to bring in the harvest.
Joel 2:23-25 – Be glad then ye children of Zion (the realm of God), and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down fir you the rain, the former , and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil (the harvest).
Then we have the part that occurred at Pentecost:
Acts 2:16-21 – But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(Clearly, the last few lines of this passage speaks of a time that has yet to be fulfilled – that “notable day of the Lord come”.)
The last days spoken of prophetically here refer to the last two millennial days; the last two thousand years since Pentecost. Note that we are now almost at the end of these last two millennial days. This leads to the seventh millennial day which will be when Jesus rules and reigns on earth for the next thousand years: this is the Sabbath millennium, where Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath – (Matthew 12:8).
This prophetic word from Joel is about “restoration”. This is God’s plan to restore to mankind what was lost due to original sin that occurred when the serpent beguiled the woman in the garden about 6000 years ago. It is also about the restoration of a decaying and straying church that has lost most of its power and earthly influence in the world.
Proof that the former and latter rain will return for the purpose of equipping the church to be restored to its former spiritual condition is found in the Book of James which clearly refers to the last days.
James 5:7-8 – 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. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
We can’t have a latter day revival, or even endure the end-time persecution prophesied to come, without the power of the Holy Spirit as was poured out at Pentecost. Neither can the church become as it was at the beginning without the Holy Spirit being poured out upon us. The scripture cited above is a prophecy that there is a final outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we approach the return of Christ. We need this power to stand against the works of darkness and the power of the enemy which will be on full display as we come to the end of this age.
The church of the very last days will be engaged in a serious warfare, a spiritual warfare that will also effect physical and natural conditions. Thus it is vital for believers to know the Word of God and how to resist and fight against the devil and his forces.
Ephesians 6:10-17 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Each piece of this spiritual armor is an application of the Word of God. This brings up the importance of the last day outpouring of the rain of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us, equips us, and reminds us of the Word of God, which is our strength, and our spiritual armor.
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The work of the Holy Spirit is vital and of the utmost importance in these lst days.
John 16:13-14 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
This spiritual warfare will intensify to a much greater level than it is today. But God has given to us the means to stand and fight.
Isaiah 59:19 – So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
That standard is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ our LORD. For examples of His Word consider:
Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We believers will be subject to this end-time warfare, as Jesus showed to the apostle John.
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman (Israel), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (true Christians).
The latter rains are normally heavy rains; and heavy rains are usually accompanied with mighty winds; just like at Pentecost.
Acts 2:2-4 – And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
We are to earnestly seek God’s former and latter rains, which have continued to be poured out during the past two thousand years, even though too many have been in denial of it. Why? Because man wants to be in control of the church and fears losing control when the Holy Spirit moves. We are told by the prophet Zechariah that we are to pray for this 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 (for the harvest).
Jesus is returning for a church that totally represents Him and does things His way and not man’s way. His church will not have any spots, wrinkles or blemishes.
Ephesians 5:26-27 – even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The church will return to being able to turn the world upside down; as it stands as the light in this world of darkness and resists the evil that will try to fully manifest and take over the world in the place of Jesus.
Why all this rain? Because Jesus is returning for a glorious church; like it was at the beginning! So get ready to get wet – spiritually!
