QUESTION: Please explain James 5:7, "The early and latter rain.”
ANSWER: It is God that gives the increase. The husbandman plows and plants and cultivates, then he waits with patience for the precious fruit of the earth. The rains give the increase.
Jehovah promised these rains if the Israelites were obedient (Deut. 1.1:13-14), but because of their wickedness the rains were withheld (Jer. 3:3; 5:24). On Israel's repentance they are encouraged to expect these rains again. Hosea 5:15; 6:1-3, and also Joel 2:23-32 and Zechariah 10:1, connect the fulfillment with "the day of the Lord" when Israel is restored. James 1:1 has Israel in view, and so looks on to the coming of the Lord for their blessing. The Christian waits to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-17). He looks for no signs.
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2:33). He formed the house of God of those one hundred and twenty and baptized them into one body (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit came then and never went away again. He is here still, dwelling in every saved one and also in the house of God. Since then everyone that believed the gospel of his salvation has been added to that one body. The baptism of the Spirit took place then and can never be repeated. Christ is not said to have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, nor is any individual baptized with the Holy Spirit. It reads, "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." Individuals are sealed and so added to the body formed at Pentecost. The Gentiles are also included in this action of the Spirit (Acts 11:15-16).
Joel's prophecy (ch. 2:28-32) was not fulfilled at Pentecost, but will be to usher in the day of the Lord, for Israel's deliverance. Peter quoted it to show that what was happening was not from men drunk with new wine, but like what Joel spoke of.
The church is not waiting for the kingdom with blessings on the earth, but for the coming of the Lord to meet us in the air—not on the earth (1 Thess. 4:15-17).
The woman in Revelation 12 is Israel of whom Christ, the man child, came. We are now in the last days (2 Tim. 3). Insubjection to God's Word increases. Paul said by the Spirit that women were to keep silence in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:34), and he adds in verse 37, "The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
Speaking with tongues is mentioned three times in Acts. The hundred and twenty spake with tongues, and were understood. The converts did not speak with tongues as far as we know. The Samaritans did not, nor the eunuch, nor Saul when he received the Spirit. The Gentiles in Acts 10:46 did to confirm Peter and those with him in admitting the Gentiles into the house of God. But notice, they magnified God; it was intelligent, not jabbering. Acts 19 is the other place, and there they prophesied; again, it was intelligent giving out the mind of God.
The gift of tongues is different in 1 Corinthians 14. Directions are given that such a gift is not to be used in the assembly, except someone can interpret (vs. 28). The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. But this so-called speaking in an unknown tongue comes on those who have given themselves up to it when they are alone or in a group without someone to interpret, when it can have no meaning. They say they cannot help it. What power is behind such ways?
In Acts 2:22, God bore witness to Jesus with power and signs and wonders, but we find in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that one is coming after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. God's signs were at the beginning; Satan's signs are at the end. And the mystery of iniquity is working already; even now are there many antichrists (1 John 2:18). There is a demon or evil spirit behind every evil doctrine, giving it power in men's souls to hold them enthralled (1 John 4:1-3). Our only safety is to act on the Word of God. "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ [or, the Lord] depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19).