Message of the Latter Rain - Kelvin M. Duncan

accept the "truth" lingered for several years following 1888, but we have
been told that the responsible leadership, "stood for years resisting light and
cherishing the spirit of opposition."[16] Ultimately, the servant of the Lord
was constrained to write:
The true religion, the only religion of the Bible, that teaches forgiveness
only through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, that advocates
righteousness by the faith of the Son of God, has been slighted, spoken
against, ridiculed, and rejected.[17]
An eschatological opportunity greater than Pentecost was squandered.
By exciting opposition, Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people,
in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit [i.e. the "latter rain"]
that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from
obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth
to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The
light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the
action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the
world.[18]
Our own people opposed the work of God by refusing the light on the
righteousness of Christ by faith. This they should have received and should
have imparted with heart and voice and pen, for it is their only efficiency.
They should have labored under the Holy Spirit‘s direction to give the light
to others.[19]
The message which began at Minneapolis is still the "beginning" of the
"loud cry" and is still our "only efficiency." Its proclamation today is still
accompanied by the "beginning" or initial outpouring of the "latter rain"--the
only door which leads to power such as was manifested on the Day of
Pentecost. That power alone can complete the Great Commission and usher
in the second advent.
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