The Early Rain and the Latter Rain

Joseph Herrin (03-04-2019)

Deuteronomy 11:13-15
“And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love Yahweh your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

James (Jacob) 5:7
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

What is the early and the latter rain as it pertains to Christianity? The apostle Jacob (often known as James) tells us that we should wait patiently until we receive both the early and latter rains. Only by waiting can we be assured that we will receive that which is “precious.” The word “precious” bears the meaning “valuable, costly, honored, esteemed, or beloved.” If we earnestly desire these things, we will with patience wait for them.

What are these precious things? We know they are truth. On the day of Pentecost 120 of the saints spoke in tongues and prophesied. Not a single one of the saints spoke error.

Acts 2:1-4
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Imagine what a day that was. The church began in truth. Not a single word of falsehood was shared among the 120 saints. Not only that, but many signs and wonders were done by the 12 apostles.

Acts 2:43-47
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Truth and power. The word spoken was truth, and the actions done were in power. We cannot say that things have continued along these lines. Rarely has the response of the listeners been the same as it was on that day.

Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Men cut to the heart. Men asking with fear in their souls “What shall we do.” This is the result of truth and power. And what occurred? About 3,000 souls were saved on that day.

Speaking truth and demonstrating power did not end on that day, either. A short time later Peter and John spoke to a group gathered at the temple and even more were saved.

Acts 4:4
However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

3,000 one day. 5,000 another day. This was all within the confines of Jerusalem, for the church had not spread yet. Yahshua had told them it would be first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the uttermost ends of the earth. Yet the church was only in Jerusalem at this time. It remained with truth and power.

Acts 4:31-35
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yahshua. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

It is evident that the Holy Spirit was keeping the attitude fervent. Even in the sense that people were giving their surplus to the apostles to be distributed among the saints as they had need, not out of duress, but joyfully and with glad hearts. When in the instance a couple were unfaithful in speaking to the apostles, lying about how much they gave, the Holy Spirit revealed the lie and brought the entire house of God into a holy fear.

Acts 5:1-11
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

The Holy Spirit brought fear upon all who heard these things. Seeing such power, even to the lies told between a husband and wife exposed, caused great fear to come upon all. The Holy Spirit was not slack concerning showing His power.

Acts 5:12-16
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Indeed the Holy Spirit was keeping things very holy and fearful. This attitude was righteous and sincere. The Spirit was even allowing others to act in a powerful manner, such as the man Stephen.

Acts 6:8-15
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Yahshua of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us." And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Stephen was not only a man of faith and power, but he was a man of truth. Not only was he a man of truth, but he was given the face of an angel, showing truth and sincerity in his very words. Yet this man Stephen was to be a turning point in an age of the church. Along with him was to be a young man named Saul. This young man named Saul was an enemy of the church and its God. We see these two men set side by side. Stephen is a righteous man, and Saul is an unrighteous man.

Acts 7:54-8:3
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him (Stephen) with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Yahshua standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Yahshua, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the ekklesia which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the ekklesia, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Saul was also the name of the first King of Israel. Men remember him for the way his life ended. He was replaced by David, who had a heart after God. But Saul also began the kingdom as a man after God’s heart.

I Samuel 10:1-12
Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on [Saul’s] head, kissed him and said, "Has not the Yahweh anointed you a ruler over His inheritance? When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"' Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the oak of Tabor, and there three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine; and they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand. Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of Yahweh will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man...” Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them. And it came about, when all who knew him previously saw that he prophesied now with the prophets, that the people said to one another, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" And a man there answered and said, "Now, who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

I will come back and look at some details described in this part of Saul’s testimony, for they put Saul (1) with Saul (2) in the new testament age. The first Saul did not lack further positive testimony. When he was crowned King he did not take offense at those who did not like him.

I Samuel 10:27-11:15
But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel." Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you." So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, "What troubles the people, that they weep?" And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen." And the fear of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who came, "Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.'" Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you." So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today Yahweh has accomplished salvation in Israel." Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there." So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Does this not sound like a good King Saul? Indeed, he started off very well. Yet soon he turned to Satan. He feared the people more than Yahweh. Later when he was told by Samuel to kill all of the Amalekites, including women, children, and sheep and cattle, he kept the best of the animals alive for the people to have, and he spared King Agag. Does not King Saul at the beginning strike you as a godly King? Yet this godly King turned evil. He even acted wickedly against David, seeking to kill him with a spear, and with the sword of the Philistines. He killed an entire city of Levites, priests unto Yahweh. He even visited a medium when Yahweh would not speak to him.

This King Saul was only a two-part person. He was body and soul. He did not have a spirit. So too was the Saul of the book of Acts at the beginning of his history. Until his journey to Damascus when he had an encounter with Yahshua he was merely a two-part being. That is why we read of him that “As for Saul, he made havoc of the ekklesia, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”

King Saul lived his entire life as a two-part being. The Saul of Acts lived unto the age of a young man as a two-part being, then he was born again as a three-part being. Yet, he was only a two-part being when he was first mentioned. He had not been born again at the stoning of Stephen, and this is why he could have the clothes of those stoning him laid at his feet. Doing so was an act of consent. It was at the stoning of Stephen that the ekklesia (called out ones: church) first spread. Saul was the cause of the dislocation.

At that time a great persecution arose against the ekklesia which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Notice at this time the ekklesia was not spread beyond Judea and Samaria, but it was spread. Neither can it be said that the ekklesia remained pure. From this time it began to have tares among the wheat, birds in the mustard bush, and leaven among the dough. There were still times of the Spirit giving strong acknowledgment of the truths of Christ, but these grew less as the Spirit of Christ spread throughout the land.

The scriptures, and particularly Yahshua’s teachings, reveal that the period of the kingdom of God that pertains to the church is full of leaven, that is, she has become a mixture of holy and profane things. Sin and false doctrines have been thoroughly mixed in with righteousness and truth. She has become an unholy mixture, and the scriptures clearly tell us that this would be the case with the church for a full 2,000 years. All three of the following parables appear one right after the other in the book of Matthew, but I will include the accounts from Luke on the last two for Luke brings out a further truth.

Matthew 13:24-30
He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' "And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' And the slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No; lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

Luke 13:18-24
Therefore He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree; and the birds of the air nested in its branches." And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Christ, in three of His parables, presents the church age as being mixed up. Even among the ekklesia the Lord said that false brethren (tares), false works (birds in the mustard tree), and false teaching (leavening) would be common. This was not the case in the first few years that the ekklesia was in Jerusalem. Here we saw great fear among the brethren. We saw men selling whatever they had that was extra and laying the proceeds at the apostles feet. So when was this unholy, mixed up time? For the ekklesia in Jerusalem it was before the stoning of Stephen, the man whose face even looked like an angel.

What do we see in Jerusalem? We see the first few years of the ekklesia as the early rain. We see the next nearly 2000 years as the mixed period, an unholy period. What can we expect at the end? The latter rain.

What did we see at the beginning of the gentile ekklesia age? We saw miracles and signs and wonders as Paul (formerly Saul) did marvelous things among the Greeks and Jews. One thing we do see among the Jews as well as the Greeks is that they quickly fell into a mixture of wheat and tares, birds in the mustard tree, and leavening among the dough. This is why we can find no perfect church today. We are not in the “latter rain” period. There are plenty of false brethren, false works, and false teaching.

We saw Saul’s part in this. The first Saul ended up a two-part being. He lived long before the ekklesia age. Yet he was given signs of what he represented. While going up to the “House of God” at “Beth-El” he was given two loaves of bread, which symbolize Pentecost, the time the Ekklesia started. Then the Spirit came upon Saul causing him to prophesy, and this gave way to the saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” In a similar way, on the Day of Pentecost when tongues of flame and a spirit of prophecy came upon the 120 gathered, it caused men to say “are they drunk with wine.”

The man of the same name, Saul, was shown to cause the end of the first period of Christianity, the early rain, as he drove the Christians out of Jerusalem. Yet this second Saul was to spend the latter period of his life as a three-part person. This is an interesting correlation between the first Saul who was made King and the latter Saul who became an apostle. The latter Saul (Paul) spent his entire time of ministry trying to correct the mixed up portions of the church, which were many. He was only able to count one man as faithful, and this was Timothy.

Philippians 2:19-22
But I trust in the Lord Yahshua to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Yahshua.

Paul said of him, “I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Yahshua.”

This madman at the first mention of his name (“It is hard for you to kick against the goads”), then spent the rest of his life trying to straighten out the ekklesia. He contended with apostles and tares. He grappled with men as astute as Barnabas and as wicked as Alexander the coppersmith. When he left this world the ekklesia was well passed the time of her early rains.

Now, let us look at another type/antitype for this breach in the life of the ekklesia/church. This type is found in the book of Genesis as we look at the life of Joseph. Joseph’s life begins in Genesis 37 and does not conclude until Genesis 50. Everything in this large chunk of Old Testament history is about Joseph except one chapter. Genesis chapter 38 is about a different story. It involves one of Jacob’s sons, but it is not entirely about him. In fact, it is about a woman.

This is a very unusual story, especially in the way it is told. Chapter 37 tells of Joseph’s favor with his father, and his father having a special cloak made for him. It tells of his brothers’ jealousy towards him, and his reporting of the bad things they did while tending the sheep, Joseph being 17 years old at the time.

Joseph then had two dreams and he told them to his brothers and his father. The dreams revealed that everyone in Joseph’s household would one day bow down before him. When this favor was shown by God his brothers could not even speak a civil word with him, but his father took the sayings to heart.

Later, we are told that Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers as they tended their father’s sheep. The brothers saw Joseph approaching from a distance and spoke of killing him. They ended up putting him in a pit, and when they saw some Ishmaelite travelers going down to Egypt, Judah spoke of selling him for a slave. The cost was 20 pieces of silver.

All of this was in Genesis 37. You may have noted some similarities between Joseph’s life and the life of Yahshua, the Son of God. They are a type and antitype of one another. Joseph was sold by the suggestion of his brother Judah for 20 pieces of silver. Yahshua was betrayed by Judah for 30 pieces of silver. Judah (Joseph’s brother) was one of 12 brothers, and Judah (Yahshua’s disciple) was one of 12 apostles. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, and of Yahshua the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

When Joseph was sold by his brothers to Ishmaelites who were headed to Egypt, we are told that these traders were carrying aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, all of which were used by the Egyptians to prepare bodies for burial. This provides a shadow of the death that Joseph would undergo to his natural life as he was prepared by God to be a giver of life to the world. When Joseph was exalted to a place of ruling all the world was drawn unto him.

Genesis 41:57
The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.

This is one more parallel of Christ who stated:

John 12:32
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."

For both Joseph and Christ, the path to promotion was through suffering many things. Both Joseph and Yahshua suffered before their brethren, but their brethren suffered after them. Both of them had a heart after their father.

Genesis 45:3
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?"

Genesis 46:29-30
So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive."

John 14:27-31
“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”

There are a great many similarities between Joseph and Yahshua for they are given as types of one another. It is therefore very important that we see the breach in Joseph’s story aright. In chapter 38 of Genesis, we read of Tamar. Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, had three sons and the oldest son was married to Tamar. Judah’s oldest son was wicked, however, so Yahweh killed him. According to custom Tamar was given to the next son for she had no children with the first and it was the duty of the next son to raise up seed for his dead brother.

The second son was named Onan, and Onan was also wicked. He did not want to raise up seed for his brother, so whenever he had intercourse with Tamar he would spill his seed onto the ground. Yahweh saw this as a wicked deed and He killed Onan as well.

By this time Judah was getting very concerned. He knew that he should give Tamar to the next son in line to raise up seed for the first son, yet he was afraid to do so since his first two sons were now dead. Judah told Tamar to wait until the youngest son had matured and she would be given to him, yet this promise was never fulfilled. Tamar grasped the situation and understood that Judah would not fulfill his promise, so she disguised herself with a veil and met him by the side of the road one day. Judah thought she was a prostitute and he desired to have relations with her, which he did.

Tamar became pregnant as a result of this, and in effect Judah fulfilled the custom of the time by raising up seed for his first born son. When it was found out that Tamar was pregnant she made it known that Judah was the father. Tamar was pregnant with twins, and the manner of the twins birth was most unusual.

Before I conclude this story, however, I wish to return to my reason for discussing this story. I asked Father to give me understanding of this breach because I knew there had to be great prophetic significance to it, and my failure to grasp it’s meaning disturbed me. Since that time Father has given me understanding, and with it He has allowed me to gain understanding of the period of time known as the church age. These matters are related.

Remember, during the first very brief period after Pentecost there was a peculiar work of the Spirit among the saints in Jerusalem in which astounding things were occurring. However, a breach was made upon the development of this work, and this breach occurred at the stoning of Stephen and the dispersal of the saints. Then the long breach period of the church ensued, but it will end soon as the breach period concludes and the early work is picked back up and concluded by a latter rain work.

Now let us return to Judah’s and Tamar’s twin boys and see how this all ties together.

Genesis 38:27-30
And it came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.

Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first." But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named Perez. And afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.

Perez literally means breach, while Zerah means arising. We see in this birth that the pattern we have been looking at is portrayed very vividly. Zerah, whose name means arising, makes a very brief appearance, and a scarlet thread is tied around his hand indicating that the birthright belongs to him. However, his hand is suddenly withdrawn and his brother Perez, the breach, comes forth. After this Zerah is born, fully coming forth.

This is the pattern here:
Zerah (Arising) - brief appearance - sudden disappearance
Perez (Breach) - comes forth, usurping his brother’s position
Zerah (Arising) - follows Perez in being born

Now correlate this to the period recorded in the book of Acts. A first remnant comes forth at Pentecost, and this remnant moves in great power and purity. Much promise is there, and if allowed to progress the pure kingdom of God would be established. The scripture would be fulfilled from Isaiah 60.

Isaiah 60:1-5
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.”

This first remnant began to arise (Zerah). This first remnant had the glory of Yahweh shining in them and the earth began to be drawn to them, but suddenly this first remnant was cut off. A breach was made in the progress of this first work. At the stoning of Stephen the red cord was tied around the hand of this Zerah work for Stephen saw the heavens opened and Yahshua standing at the right hand of Yahweh. Stephen saw the birthright position of the remnant. They were called to rule and reign until all enemies were put under their feet. Yet the fulfillment of this birthright would have to wait as a breach was being made upon the progress of this first remnant.

Perez came forth as the church of Christianity, and as we have seen the period of this breach was a 2,000 year period. Yet Zerah will fully come forth at last and will receive the birthright inheritance. The glory of Yahweh will fully arise (Zerah) upon the latter days remnant, and they will rule and reign with Yahshua during the thousand years of the millennial period.

Father has now shown me that this breach in the narrative of the story of Joseph is by design. The breach in the narrative reveals insight into the breach that has occurred in the kingdom of God over the last 2,000 years. Even as Joseph was destined to rule and reign and his progress in his father’s household was interrupted, even as the telling of Joseph’s life story was interrupted, so the early remnant that would have entered into ruling and reigning, as the glory of Yahweh arose upon them, had their development and progress interrupted. What started out with great beginnings was cut short and a leavened kingdom arose in its place.

To further corroborate this breach being made by Christianity upon the early remnant who were arising, let us look at the very moment of the breach.

Acts 6:8-8:3
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people... And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel... But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Yahshua standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and they rushed upon him with one impulse. And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Yahshua, receive my spirit!" And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Look at how marvelously Stephen portrays the first remnant that is arising. Stephen was one of the first seven men chosen as deacons. This was a position of serving, revealing the servant’s heart that will be found in the true remnant. Even as Yahshua washed the disciples’ feet, so Stephen waited on tables.

Stephen was FULL of grace and power and he was performing great signs and wonders among the people. Stephen spoke with a wisdom that others could not refute. Stephen’s face even changed in its appearance, and he is described as appearing like and angel. The glory of Yahweh was certainly arising upon this vessel.

Stephen had an open heaven set before him and he was able to look intently upon the presence of Yahweh and His Son Yahshua while he was yet on Earth. What an awesome testimony of the first remnant work, the early rain portion of the kingdom of God. How the Earth would have been changed if a whole body of such ones were able to come forth and come to maturity. Yet a breach was violently made in the progress of this work.

Here we stand now, at the end of nearly 2,000 years of the breach period. We have known much about the perfect church, being given a portrait of what it looked like back at the very beginning. We have known also known the leavened church full of false doctrine: Christmas, Easter, and Sunday services; we have known the vast majority of men and women, boys and girls, being cast into an eternal lake of fire; we have known rebellion going on for millions of years, time out of mind, as those committed to the lake of fire never know the repentance leading to aionian life (See the book God’s Plan of the Ages). We have known the tares among the wheat (false brethren), and the birds dwelling in the mustard bush (demon’s in the church).

Why have we not been able to see one church with right teaching, right actions, and righteous brethren? It is because we are in the breach period of the church. Paul said:

I Corinthians 3:1-4
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

This is the period we are in. It is not a period of a pure church. That period ended nearly 2,000 years ago at the stoning of Stephen and the appearance of Saul. We wait now for the next appearance of Zerah. Let us not be content with the Perez period. Let us pray for the Arising of the latter rain. Let us PRAY.

Listen to Paul again as he warns the elders of the ekklesia.

Acts 20:29-31
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Let us PRAY. Let us PRAY. Pray for the soon arising of the latter rains.

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