About The Latter Rain - 02/24/01 07:31 AM
Here is the record of it as found in the 1893 General Conference Bulletin with A.T. Jones as the speaker. But first, in order to help us realize how important these lectures are to us, let us consider the words of Sister White in regard to them:
"There have been things written to me in regard to THE MOVINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD at the last Conference (1893), and at the College, which clearly indicate that because these blessings were not lived up to, minds have been confused, and THAT WHICH WAS LIGHT FROM HEAVEN has been called excitement. I have been made sad to have this matter viewed in this light. We must be very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in pronouncing THE MINISTRATION OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT a species of fanaticism. How shall we understand THE WORKINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD if it was not revealed IN CLEAR AND UNMISTAKABLE LINES." 1 SM 130.
We turn now to Elder A.T. Jones:
"Well, the latter rain is the loud cry of the third angel's message; it is the beginning of that message of glory that lightens the earth. But the latter rain is the teaching of righteousness. When did that message of the righteousness of God, as such, come to us as a people? (Congregation: "Four years ago.") Where? (Congregation: "At Minneapolis.") Yes. This point was brought up the other night, and can be read on page 183 of the Bulletin. I do not know that we can state it any more clearly than we did that night.
Now, that message of the righteousness of Christ is the loud cry. It is the latter rain. We have been praying for the latter rain here at this Conference already, haven't we? Have you? (Congregation: "Yes sir.") What were you looking for when your prayer was answered? Are you ready now to receive the latter rain? We have been praying here for the latter rain. Now there is the connection. The testimonies tell us what it is and Joel tells us what it is. I simply ask now, Are you ready to receive the latter rain? That is, are you ready to receive God's message of righteousness, according to righteousness? Let us look at it a little further. Joel says, according to the margin, that it is a teacher of righteousness, that which brings the teaching of righteousness according to righteousness. Whose idea of righteousness? (Congregation: "God's.") No, mine. (Congregation: "No.") Yes, mine will do! (Congregation: "No.") Why? If I receive the righteousness of Christ according to my idea, is not that enough? Is not that receiving the latter rain? Is not that receiving the righteousness of Christ? (Congregation: "No sir, it is your own righteouness.") But that is what is the matter with a good many people who have heard this message of the righteousness of Christ. They have received the message of the righteousness of Christ according to their own idea of what His righteousness is, and they have not the righteousness of Christ at all.
Now, let us ask again, how are we to receive that? How is that to be given?--'According to righteousness.' How, then, is it to be received?--'According to righteousness.' It is given 'according to righteousness,' and we must receive it 'according to righteousness.' We must receive it as it is given. But let us dwell further upon that thought; and I am in no hurry to get away from it, either. When we receive the teaching, that teaching of righteousness 'according to righteousness,' we must receive it according to God's idea of righteousness, and not according to our own measure of it. And he who thinks of receiving that message of Christ's righteousness according to his own idea of it, will miss it entirely. We are to receive it according to God's idea of it, and nothing else than God's idea of righteousness. Nothing else than that is righteousness.
There is a thought again that we had the other night, that when it was presented four years ago and all along since, some accepted it just as it was given, and were glad of the news that God had righteousness that would pass the judgment, and would stand accepted in His sight. A righteousness that is a good deal better than anything that people could manufacture by years and years of hard work. PEOPLE HAD WORN OUT THEIR SOULS ALMOST, TRYING TO MANUFACTURE A SUFFICIENT DEGREE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO STAND THROUGH THE TIME OF TROUBLE, AND MEET THE SAVIOR IN PEACE WHEN HE COMES; BUT THEY HAD NOT ACCOMPLISHED IT. These were so glad to find out that God had already manufactured a robe of righteousness and offered it as a free gift to every one that would take it, that would answer now, and in the time of the plagues, and in the time of judgment, and to all eternity, that they received it gladly just as God gave it, and heartily thanked the Lord for it. Others would not have anything to do with it at all; but rejected the whole thing. Others seemed to take a middle position. They did not fully accept it, neither did they reject it. They thought to take a middle position, and go along with the crowd, if the crowd went that way. And that is the way they hoped to receive the righteousness of Christ and the message of the righteousness of God. Others deliberately discounted the message about fifty per cent, and counted that the righteousness of God. And so, all the way between open and free deliberate and positive rejection of it,--all the way between--the compromises have been scattered ever since; and those who have taken that compromising position are no better prepared to-night to discern what is the message of the righteousness of Christ than they were four years ago." A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.243,244.
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RECEIVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AS GOD GIVES IT, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN IDEA OF IT!
[This message has been edited by adventbeliever (edited March 05, 2001).]