This is the month of Shavuot, or Pentecost, and it will occur on May 17, 18.  Shavuot is one of the three great festivals that are celebrated in God’s Feast Days. The Greek Jews called it Pentecost because it always occurs 50 days after Passover. It marked the annual wheat harvest but Christians know it as the day Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the Church with tongues of fire and strange languages the disciple did not know. Jesus had told over 500 of His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit but, only 120 were obedient. The other 380 were too busy doing their things, or they didn’t take Jesus seriously. The Church today is not much different. Paul wrote to the disciples of Ephesus –

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” – 5:18

And Peter preached on Pentecost –

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:38, 39

When Paul first went to Ephesus he found disciples who didn’t know about the Holy spirit so, he taught them –

“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” – Acts 19:6

It was the same when Peter first went to Cornelius’ house –

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” – Acts 10:44-47

Sadly, both Jew and Gentile have now relegated this Feast to man-made traditions and have largely left out the Holy Spirit from His rightful place in the Church. Some even say that the gifts and speaking in tongues were just for “those days”. Could this be the reason why the Church is so powerless against the onslaught of the spirit of Antichrist?

But, I’m so thankful that man’s traditions don’t stop God from moving. He promised a former and latter rain of the Holy Spirit; the former (Pentecost) to start the great harvest and the latter (in the last days) to finish the harvest.

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month” – Joel 2:23

The Apostle James when writing about the end of the age, wrote –

“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.” – James 5:7

And the prophet Zechariah tells us to ask for the latter rain –

“Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.” – Zech. 10:1

It is certainly the time of the latter rain so, we should be asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as Paul said. God is giving all kinds of signs to alert us of the times we are living in. Beginning in 2010 the mass-die offs began; birds started falling from the sky, fish started washing up on the shores, and cows and deer started dropping dead from no apparent reason all over the world – and it is still going on! The rise in the occurrence of volcanos and earthquakes is phenomenal. Rivers started turning blood red in several places. In 2014 and 2015 a blood red moon tetrad occurred on the Feast days of Passover and Tabernacles, only the third time in 500 years. Then in 2017, the Revelation 12 sign of the Woman was fulfilled as the planet Jupiter went into retrograde motion for 42 weeks and left the womb of Virgo September 23, 2017 to continue it’s 7 year journey to Taurus, where it will meet Mars. Back on earth, President Trump declared Jerusalem the eternal capital of Israel and moved the United States Embassy there. This began a series of events which will lead to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Now, a new administration has taken over in the United States and Biden is undoing much of what President Trump did. Biden is again making overtures toward the Palestinian terrorist’s and Iran and cooling our relations with Israel. Biden is rapidly increasing the killing of the unborn and further removing any influence God may have over the United States government. However, God is still moving. Revival is breaking out in California. Population is leaving the Blue states for the Red states. California and New York are losing House Representatives and Red states are gaining them. And God in His longsuffering is still speaking. May 26th, this year, a Super Blood Red Moon will appear over the United States. Rabbi’s in Israel are interpreting it as a warning to the United States to not return to a Two-State policy toward Israel and the Arabs. As both United States and Israeli governments are in a turmoil, the spirit of Antichrist is moving to consolidate it’s power but, God is also moving! He is moving to fulfill His word. Remember, there is still a major Middle East war to happen and God is still going to have a great latter rain and end time harvest.

It is the time of the Latter rain. God wants to empower His church with His Holy Spirit. Remember it is His Church, not man’s and not some Denomination’s! Do what Zechariah said and Ask for the Holy Spirit to fill or refill your life and then start becoming the light in the darkness.