We are told prophetically in Joel that the latter rains will be greater than the former rains. The “latter rain” or the spring rain is interpreted as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s children. Biblical writers used the terms “latter rain” and “former rain” to describe the visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the church in a dispensational sense. The “early rain” came at Pentecost to give power to the witness of the gospel. And another outpouring of rain will be coming at earth’s final soul harvest before the second coming of Christ.

The “latter rain” and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be to qualify the Saints for witnessing. This power for witnessing gives power within, power to proclaim the truth and power to lead sinners to God. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and transformed them from fearful men to brave warriors for Christ. They spoke the truth with boldness despite threats, persecution, and even death.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29

This latter-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurs before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. It is the time when Jesus comes to raise the dead in Christ and rapture the Saints that are alive but also to pour out His wrath upon the unrepentant with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. There are spectacular celestial signs signalling the event.

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Joel 2:30-31

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:32

At the sixth seal in Revelation 6, we read about the celestial signs in the heavens that Joel talks about and the awesome day of the Lord that has come.

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:15-17

It is at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal that the resurrection and rapture of the Saints occur as well as the beginning of the trumpet and bowl judgements being poured out on the unrepentant.

“When the Lamb (Jesus) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour (Jesus has gone to resurrect and rapture the Saints). Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets (Trumpet Judgements) were given to them.” Revelation 8:1-2