In this second part, what is explored is the life cycle of Latter Rain. It should be said that the movement is all but disappeared but the doctrines formulated in latter rain have been far reaching in the churchscape to the present time. What has resulted from the doctrines as seen below has caused damage to believers that is incalculable. The table presented below will document the time line of latter rain, it’s major players and their influence on the church at large. Please pay careful attention to the Detail column: it is to serve two purposes: 1> to detail the teachings and to show the links between the original proponents of Latter Rain and subsequent movements. It is recommended that you do your own research on these individuals. I do not have the time to go into the teachings of each but the first part should give you an idea of what they held to be true.
The question to be asked is ‘What has been added to the body of Christ with all the below?’ My answer to that would be the following:
NOTHING
In each case, these individuals while expounding spiritual power brought in heresy through ‘modern revelation’ where the scriptures teachings have been extrapolated to the point of breaking. There has been losses to the cause of Christ in terms of His people who have been damaged – most irreparably, untold millions of dollars misspent to promote ministries that practice self-aggrandizement, at times gross immorality and spiritual abuse.
This is a reminder to you. At the outset in part one I mentioned that a key scripture to keep in mind is in Mt 7:15-23. In this passage Jesus warns us all to beware of those who come to us with various teachings. His conclusion is ‘by their fruit the tree is known’. I can go no further than that. The below is a detail of the Life cycle of Latter Rain.
Life Cycle of Latter Rain
In the historical patterns of the church, there is a life-cycle. Latter Rain has not been exempt from the ravages of time. In essence due to its lack of organization, it has most likely sped up its entropic slide. It has been stated that during its hey day, Latter Rain could claim over 1,000 churches in the United States alone, yet as the leaders have passed, so have their churches to where those that are true proponents of Latter Rain are perhaps a handful (although it must be said their influence over Christendom is vast). They are a diverse group and staunchly independent. As a result of this, they are no more, for the most part. Perhaps the best approach is to list the timeline of Latter Rain by the leaders and the major thrust of their ministries as they themselves would present. At present, most teaching of Latter Rain proponents are internet based and historical in nature, it is quite rare to see any particular ministry claim to be moving in Latter Rain doctrines at the present time – they usually call them something different than what they really are. As a side note, it is ironic that during the rise of Latter Rain, there was also a revival that spanned denominations and catapulted ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ, The revivals at Asbury,
Year
|
Person(s)
|
Detail
|
To 1947 |
Frankin Hall |
Authored Atomic
Power of Prayer and Fasting – Used by Hawtin(s) during North Battleford
Latter Rain outpouring |
To 1948 |
William Branham |
Holds meetings in
Vancouver , B.C. which Hawtins attend and receive laying on of hands from
Branham. |
February 1948 |
George & Ern
Hawtin, Percy Hunt |
After Prayer and
fasting, Latter Rain outpouring begins: Directive prophesy is activated
(Persbytery) |
Apri 1948 |
Same |
Feast of
Pentecost meetings held at Sharon Orphanage that year. In latter part of
year, satellite meetings occur in |
June 1948 |
Same |
Doctrine of
restoration of the office of Apostle and prophet is preached in meetings by
George Hawtin[2] |
July 1948 |
Same |
Sharon Camp
Meeting held in meeting Latter Rain doctrines are espoused: 1> laying on
of hands for baptism of Holy Spirit 2> Restoration of Apostles and
Prophets as foundational ministries 3> Concept of Present Day truth –
present day revelation extension of scriptural truths (eisgesis) 4> Laying
on of hands for impartation of spiritual gifts. |
October 1948 |
James Watt |
Joins |
1948 |
George Warnock |
Joins |
|
|
Manifestation of
the Sons of God appears in |
1951 |
Same |
Publishes Feast
of Tabernacles, field manual for Latter Rain |
|
|
|
1956 |
Assemblies of God |
Denounce
principles of Latter Rain as heresy. Movement begins decline |
1940-1960 |
William Branham,
Oral Roberts, T. L. OSborne, A.A. Ash, Kathryn Kuhlman |
These all were
predecessors to the Charismatic movement in the sense that they had
para-church ministries and ministered healing the impartation of spiritual
gifts across denominational lines. |
1960-1980 |
David Du Plessis,
John Wimber, |
Charismatic
Movement begins. Many doctrines of Latter Rain persist and are embraced,
a major apparatus consisted of the
Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FBGMI). Guest speakers
uncluded many of the notaries of Latter Rain and The Healing Movement that
ran tandem during this period of time. The baptism of the Holy Spirit began
to breach beyond Pentecostalism and into mainstream, traditional and even
Catholic churches. The vision of restoring the baptism of the Holy Spirit to
mainline denominations was spearheaded by David Du Plessis during this period
of time (1960s). The movement had extended and touched the Baptist, Lutheran,
Presbyterian,Methodist, Mennonite and Catholic churches by 1980. |
1967 |
Ern Baxter,James
Watt, James Beall |
Publishing of
materials based on Hebrews 6;1-2. Watt was
principle in initiating this form of teaching – although principals of
Latter Rain, revelation occurs 20 years after to produce materials for deeper
life in Christ. |
1970 |
Ern Baxter,Bob
Mumford, Derek Prince, Charles Simpson, |
Discipleship
movement begins – spawned on concept
of authority (five-fold) and government in the church as through leadership. |
1980’s |
|
Resurgence of the
Apostolic Movement through Paul Cain (associate of Ern Baxter and William
Branham) and others. |
1990’s |
|
Toronto Blessing
– extension of Latter Rain – James Watt , Paul Cain associated and supports
movement |
1990’s |
John Wimber |
Signs and Wonders
ministry – associates with Kansas City Prophets to bring them into Vineyard
Fold. |
After 2000 |
Mike Bickle
(Kansas City Prophet) |
International
House of Prayer comes to forefront – 24/7 praise and worship initiated. Sparks world wide movement |
|
Todd Bentley |
|
|
|
|
As the above chronicles, the root of Latter Rain for the
most part has influenced many spiritual movements in the Pentecostal world in
the last 60 plus years. There have been some exemptions but for the most part,
the roots of Latter Rain have found fertile soil in the Pentecostal circles of
the church and this is where most spiritual abuse has originated.
[1] Riss,
Richard, A Survey of 20th Century Revival Movements in North
America, Hendrikson Publishers, P.O. Box 3472 Peabody, MA 01961. Copyright
1988, pp 125-147.
[2] Riss,
Richard, Latter Rain Honeycomb Visual Productions Ltd, 1295 Eglinton
Ave. E, Mississauga, Ontario, LAW 3e6, Canada Copyright 1987. pp 71.
[3] Ibid, PP
83-86
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