Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of grace may fall upon us. At every meeting we attend our prayers should ascend, that at this very time God will impart warmth and moisture to our souls. As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain. If we pray for the blessing in faith, we shall receive it as God has promised.—(Testimonies to Ministers, 508.) {Pr 119.6}

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. [SEE APPENDIX.] This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. {TM 91.2}

The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the Revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth (RH Nov. 22, 1892). {7BC 984.6}

By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. {1SM 234.6}

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. {1SM 234.6}

They began this satanic work at Minneapolis. Afterward, when they saw and felt the demonstration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it the more, because it was a testimony against them. {TM 79.3}

An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord’s message through Brethren [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. {1SM 234.6}

The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error. . . . {2SM 114.1}

Another angel unites his voice with the third angel, and the earth is lighted with its glory. You must remember that this angel represents the people that have this message to give to the world. Are you among that people? {RH, August 18, 1885 par. 14}

Now is the time when we may look for just such a message as has been coming to us. {1888 1140.2}

“It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from (475) God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. {3BIO 474.6} I know that this is the very position many would take if either of these men were to fall, and I pray that these men upon whom God has laid the burden of a solemn work may be able to give the trumpet a certain sound, and honor God at every step, and that their path at every step may grow brighter and brighter, until the lose of time.”–Letter 24, 1892. {3BIO 475.1}

“The two men used mightily by God at Minneapolis and in the decade that followed, Waggoner and Jones, became the special point of attack of the great enemy of God and man. In time they were misled and their positive testimony was hushed.”  {3BIO 474.5}

Now we have come to the loud cry, haven’t we? That part of the prophecy is reached. We have come to the image of the beast; that part is reached; that prophecy is fulfilled. Now, of course, in the workings of the image of the beast there are many things to come in fulfillment of that, but all these things–persecutions, deceiving miracles, etc.–are simply the consequence of what has been done: simply the speaking and acting of the image that is already made. We are not to look now for any great, wondrous, marked movement in legislation or government to fulfill that part of the prophecy, because the image is made. That is fulfilled. What comes in the future in legislation and in the strifes and contentions and the rioting and warring, with the evil that will come, is simply the inevitable outcome and consequence of this. Then what next will there be in the line of this prophecy which is here before us? Rev. 14:9,10. [Audience: “The wrath of God.”] Yes. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 87.5}

Then where are we, brethren? We are in the loud cry. Oh, then let that loud voice be heard. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 93.6}

Where are we? In the loud cry of the third angel’s message. That angel’s message is to go, to call God’s people out of Babylon. But the angel comes down having great power. Then are we not brought face to face with the demand for that power that we must have to be clothed with power from on high, the power that is brought by God’s Holy Spirit? Are we not there? [Audience: “Yes.”] Well, then, brethren, let us stay there. Let us stay there, calling for that power, and depending wholly upon it when it comes. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 94.3}

What is the loud cry for? To strengthen us for the time of trouble. Where are we? [Congregation: “In the loud cry.”] Has the loud cry begun? [Congregation: “Yes.”] What has it begun for? To do a work for us, to enable us to stand in the time of trouble. {February 6, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 167.10}

Now a little further in regard to that demand for unity. This that is before us–this call for the Loud Cry–the latter rain–it is this that strengthens us for the time of trouble. And it has already begun. There is the word. This is the one important thing–to be of one heart and mind. {February 6, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 167.11}

Is the Latter Rain Already Here?

Take the Revelation 18 fourth angel’s message, he came into his lot in 1888. There was the message of 1888 the fourth angel’s message. We should pray that we should be participant of that message.

“Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). This is our message, the very message that the three angels flying in the midst of heaven are proclaiming. The work to be done now is that of sounding this last message of mercy to a fallen world. A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God’s people. But divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest. {2SM 113.3}

The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error. . . . {2SM 114.1}

In 1888 the message was brought, and people are saying it was rejected and we have to wait for it again. Sr White said a new life is coming and taking possession of all Gods people but divisions will come. The present message is already lightening the earth. If we are praying for the message of 1888, its already around us. It’s been going on since 1888. There are a people who in prayer life are absorbing that and saying yes I thank you for it as they had been contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints as it came in 1888. Something that is already there needs to be appropriated by the science of prayer.

Mystic Babylon has not been sparing in the blood of the saints and shall we [not] be wide awake to catch the beams of light which have been shining from the light of the angel who is to brighten the earth with his glory.– Letter 112, 1890. {3SM 426.3}

We have these important messages and the angel of 1888 came the light of the angel who is to brighten the earth with his glory and we are to catch the beams of light that have been shining. As we pray for the things that we desire, they are already there. We are to by prayer catch it in the science of prayer.

The question of most vital importance for this time is, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will unite with the angel in giving the message of truth to the world? Who will receive the light that is to fill the whole earth with its glory?” Those who cherish the light that they have, will receive more. Increasing light will shine about the souls who yield to the softening, subduing grace of Christ; and those who love the light, will be saved from the delusions of Satan. {RH, November 5, 1889 par. 12}

Who will unite with the angel? We have these important messages from the angel that came in 1888 and all he had to give was given and now all the rays of light are shining and it is the prayer life in the science of prayer that appropriates in the soul of the person who prays and practises the science of pray. In connection of this message of 1888, Sr White wrote it was the latter rain and it says we are to pray for the latter rain and we think it’s not there and we are asking for it but the fact is it is there already but we are to come into the reception of it.

The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. T{TM 507.1}

The Lord says I will give you the Holy Spirit but what were they to do? Pray for it.

The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. {TM 507.1}

You can’t have it unless you have something already. Did you notice what prayer is? Prayer is that activity in science that you will discern and receive what is there. If you are not engaged in prayer according to the science of prayer you will miss out on what you are praying for that is already there. It is all around us but without prayer it can’t be appropriated.

At no point in our experience can we dispense with the assistance of that which enables us to make the first start. The blessings received under the former rain are needful to us to the end. Yet these alone will not suffice. While we cherish the blessing of the early rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that without the latter rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower will have been in vain. Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work. {TM 507.2}

Further reading: http://sabbathsermons.com/category/walking-in-the-light-of-1888/

http://sabbathsermons.com/category/4th-angels-message-revelation-18-angel/