The Latter Rain doctrine, which emerged in the 19th century through the teachings of John Nelson Darby, promotes the idea of a great end-times revival. In this revival, the Church will rise to unprecedented spiritual power and convert masses to Christ before His return. However, a careful examination of Scripture reveals that this doctrine is not only unbiblical but directly contradicts God's prophetic timeline. Rather than predicting an end-times revival, the Bible repeatedly warns of a great falling away, a time of deep spiritual darkness in which no one will repent, and Believers will be forced into hiding. Jesus Himself prophesied of this when He said:
"I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (Jn 9:4)
This "night" refers to the Great Tribulation, a period when evangelism will cease, the Holy Spirit will be removed as the Restrainer, and Satan will hold dominion over the earth. The idea that a great spiritual awakening will take place contradicts the clear warnings given throughout Scripture. This article will expose the Latter Rain doctrine as a dangerous deception and provide biblical evidence that the Tribulation is not a time of revival but of unparalleled judgment.
The Great Falling Away, Not a Great Revival
One of the most dangerous aspects of the Latter Rain doctrine is its false promise of a massive end-times harvest of souls. Many who believe in this teaching fail to recognize that the Bible predicts the opposite: a global apostasy where many will abandon the faith. Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:3:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."
This "falling away" (Greek: apostasia) refers not only to widespread rebellion against God but also signifies a departure from the true Faith. Rather than a revival sweeping the world, Scripture clearly tells us that the last days will be marked by deception, lawlessness, and increasing wickedness.
Jesus, too, forewarned of this time:
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Mat 24:12)
Nowhere does the Bible say that the Church will usher in a triumphant global revival before Christ’s return. Instead, it warns that deception and evil will increase, leading to a time of severe spiritual darkness.
The Midnight Hour: No Opportunity for Repentance
Many who adhere to the Latter Rain doctrine believe that even during the Tribulation, people will turn to God in great numbers. However, Scripture refutes this idea. The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 provides a sobering warning.
"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (Mat 25:6)
In this parable, the midnight hour represents the end of the age, when Christ comes for His Bride. The foolish virgins—symbolizing those who were spiritually unprepared—found themselves locked out when the door was shut. Jesus solemnly declares:
"Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Mat 25:12)
This parable mirrors the days of Noah, where only those inside the ark were saved. Once the door was shut, it was too late for repentance:
"And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Mat 24:39)
The idea of a last-minute revival before Christ's return is a lie. The Tribulation will not be a time of salvation, but a time when God’s judgment is poured out and repentance is no longer possible.
None of the Wicked Will Repent
If a great revival were to occur during the Tribulation, we would expect to see sinners turning to God. Yet, the Bible states repeatedly that the wicked will refuse to repent, even in the face of God's judgment:
"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Dan 12:10)
Revelation confirms this sobering reality:
"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands..." (Rev 9:20-21)
"And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God... and repented not to give him glory." (Rev16:9)
"And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." (Rev 16:11)
If no one is repenting during the Tribulation, how can there be an end-times revival?
Satan Will Prevail Against the Saints
Another major flaw in the Latter Rain doctrine is its belief that the Church will grow in power and overcome the forces of darkness before Christ’s return. The Bible actually states the opposite:
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them." (Dan 7:21)
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them." (Rev 13:7)
During the Tribulation, the antichrist will have temporary authority over the earth, and Believers will suffer intense persecution. The Church will not be leading a mighty revival—it will be under siege.
The Holy Spirit Will Be Removed
2 Thessalonians 2 reveals another key problem with the Latter Rain teaching:
"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." (2 Thess 2:7)
The "restrainer" mentioned here is commonly understood to be the Holy Spirit, working through the Church or as a universal force of good. Some Believers view this as the fulfillment of Christ's promise, where the Holy Spirit works globally to "convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment" (Jn 16:8). The Holy Spirit serves as the conscience of mankind, helping us to distinguish right from wrong. Once the Tribulation begins, the Holy Spirit's restraining influence will be removed, allowing the antichrist to rise to power. Without the Holy Spirit convicting people of sin, salvation will no longer be possible.
This directly refutes the idea of an end-times revival. How can a great spiritual awakening occur when the very presence of God that enables repentance is taken away?
A Time to Hide, Not Evangelize
Rather than urging Believers to prepare for a great revival, Scripture commands them to hide during the Tribulation:
"Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.." (Is 26:19-21)
The context of these verses describes the resurrection of the dead after a global judgment at the end of the world. It then instructs God’s faithful to retreat into hiding as His wrath is poured out upon the earth. Instead of leading a mighty spiritual movement, Believers will endure persecution and will need to rely on God's supernatural protection.
Dealing with the Proof Texts of the Latter Rain Doctrine
One of the most frequently cited passages by proponents of the Latter Rain doctrine comes from Joel 2:23, where the prophet declares, "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." This verse is often interpreted as a promise of a great end-times revival. Another passage commonly referenced is Acts 2:17-18, in which Peter, quoting Joel, declares that in the last days, God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, with sons and daughters prophesying, old men dreaming dreams, and young men seeing visions. However, while these verses are often used to support the idea of a future, worldwide spiritual revival, a closer look reveals that the "latter rain" has already been poured out, and it has been an ongoing reality since the beginning of the Church Age.
Peter, in Acts 2:17-18, applies the prophecy from Joel to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He explicitly declares that what the people were witnessing—the speaking in tongues, the prophecies, the visions—was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy: God was pouring out His Spirit, not in a future event but right then and there. The events of Pentecost marked the beginning of the "latter rain" of the Spirit that would continue throughout the Church Age. Peter made it clear that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a reality in their time, beginning with the disciples and continuing through the Church's mission to the world.
Thus, the "latter rain" is not a promise of an end-times revival but the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church since Pentecost. This outpouring began at Pentecost and continues in the life of the Church as Believers are empowered to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and perform works of the Spirit. The idea of a future, unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit leading to a worldwide revival is a misunderstanding of these passages.
Conclusion
The Latter Rain doctrine is not only false—it is dangerous. It gives Christians false hope in an end-times revival when they should be preparing for increasing deception, persecution, and apostasy. The Bible makes the following clear:
There will be a great falling away, not a great revival (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Once the Tribulation begins, no one will repent (Daniel 12:10, Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9-11).
The antichrist will prevail against the saints (Daniel 7:21, Revelation 13:7).
The Holy Spirit will be removed, making salvation impossible (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The Church will be forced into hiding (Isaiah 26:20).
Now is the time to evangelize, for the night is coming when no man can "work" (Jn 9:4). The true Church must reject the false hope of a Latter Rain revival and instead prepare for the coming darkness. This may involve making plans for a quick escape and finding a safe place to hide as we endure the storm of the Tribulation (Prov 22:3). For those who have been hesitating to fully commit to the Lord, the time to seek Him and be ready is now (Is 55:6).
Excellent!!!