September 16, 2026

2 hours ago

4 min read

What Is The Latter Rain?

The prophet Joel prophesied of Holy Spirit’s latter-day outpourings. Historians say the latter rains are seven times greater than the former rains. The latter rains were the harvest rains that ripened what had been planted, causing the harvest to mature. For many years now, a billion-soul harvest has been maturing and ripening. The time is now.

James wrote of this same rhythm of Heaven’s rain:

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” — James 5:7 (ESV)

The early rain broke ground and caused the seed to sprout. The latter rain ripens the harvest and brings it to full maturity—and that is exactly where we stand now. Here is Joel’s promise:

“Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. The Lord says, ‘I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts...’” — Joel 2:23–25 (NLT)

Restoring What the Locust Has Eaten

The Apostle Peter quoted this prophetic word on the Day of Pentecost, saying, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” — Acts 2:16 (KJV). The King James Version states verse 25 of Joel’s promise above as follows: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm...” — Joel 2:25 (KJV).

The cankerworm, caterpillar, and palmerworm are grub worms that eat the potential harvest.

But Joel said that Holy Spirit’s rains are coming as downpours. This will cause the river of God to flow into the earth in such life-giving, massive flows that our lost harvests–stolen by hell, difficult times, or by other people–will be restored supernaturally for those who believe. Through this outpouring, supernatural restorations will come. It will activate supernatural, rapid redemption (as my daughter Rachel shares in our Glory River book).

I don’t know how many harvests have been lost over the years, but it has to be a lot. In your own life, perhaps an expected harvest was devoured by misfortune, adversity, a person, or through demonic attack. Hear the promise of restoration now unfolding in this supernatural era.

The Lord made a similar promise through the prophet Malachi:

“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way, says the Lord of Armies. See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit” — Malachi 3:10–11 (CSB).

Rapid, Supernatural Restoration

How encouraging that this era is about supernatural, rapid turnarounds! Holy Spirit is moving to restore what the enemy has devoured. Resources, inheritance, health, and relationships are now being restored in miraculous ways. We are being individually and corporately positioned for divine recovery, and we will flourish at new levels.

Miracles of restoration and harvest will activate. Many of God’s faithful remnant will find themselves restored from devastating times and moving forward from years they thought were lost. God says no; they are not lost. “Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy” — Isaiah 61:7 (ESV).

The river of God is rising and rushing to heal and restore wasted years. With supernatural accelerations of power, deliverance, and restoration, we are moving into awesome days of promise.

Artesian Wells

Artesian wells and springs will burst forth in and through believers, and in gatherings of the King’s Ekklesia. Why artesian? Why do I use that term? Artesian means a deep source of pure water that bursts or springs forth, without having to be pumped. It surfaces, or erupts, because of the power within it. Holy Spirit is releasing bursts of living water through His power.

The faithful remnant, the King’s Ekklesia, will find themselves receiving victories and deliverance in their lives that surface supernaturally. They will appear by the Lord’s miraculous power. These springs will be “suddenlies” of Holy Spirit coming forth from the great outpouring.

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for the latter rain that is falling. We receive Your promise of rapid restoration – that whatever has been lost, stolen, or eaten by locusts will be restored. We thank You for restored years, restored resources, restored relationships, restored bodies, and restored harvest. We receive this rapid, supernatural restoration and step forward into the flourishing You have promised.

And Father, You restore not only individual lives but nations as well. Our nation has been ravaged by plagues released from hell, allowed by our sin and rebellion. Our faith, however, is in Your declaration that the blood of Jesus produces forgiveness and cleansing “from ALL sin and unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Thank You for grace greater than our sin!

And as You prepare the world for this restorative rain, we persevere in releasing the power of Holy Spirit into Iran and the Middle East. Release Your grace and salvation into that region; shock the world with the revival that erupts there.

And the world needs a strong America. Continue to bring restoration in our government and across the land. Please give victory to righteousness and truth in the coming midterm elections. Stop all planned fraud! We pray all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that the years the enemy stole are being restored, and Holy Spirit’s latter rain is bringing the harvest to full maturity!

Today’s post is taken from my brother Tim Sheets and Rachel Shafer’s new book, Glory River, and used with permission. You can find this book on his website or Amazon.