Talk:Latter Rain Movement
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[edit] Subtly opinionated
There is some good information presented here but a careful peruse of the article indicates a subtle opinion against the movement. It's not very blatant but there is a consistent focus on the negatives/controversy of the movement with half-hearted attempts at objectively defining the movement. The author seems to indicate an outsider knowledge of the movement with such statements as:
It is difficult to communicate the Latter Rain through reference to doctrine alone, because its most distinctive element is its spiritual atmosphere. Once one understands this basic point, it is easy to identify within the Pentecostal movement who has been impacted by the Latter Rain, and to what degree.
Easy to identify based on "spiritual atmosphere"? No more explanation is given of what this "spiritual atmosphere" entails. This is not an objective way to define the latter rain movement. The proceeding bullets list a few general tenets of the latter rain movement but are all the more controversial issues. I think someone who is in the movement who can stay objective should contribute to balance this article. --67.185.117.84 03:38, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
Actually what you will find with a very brief search for the "Latter Rain" on Google is that there are many more critics than members, and there is a lot of disinformation out there. This is one of those articles that will need constant effort to keep it from becoming biased either by the many critics or by some of the groups who don't want to be identified. What is most important that is communicated by this article, however is the difference between the latter rain revival, the movement and those that they influenced, because this is widely confused by the critics User:Theriddles
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- With reference to the above blockquote -- speaking as someone who came looking for information who is not a Christian, the concept is not sufficiently explained either in terms of Christian doctrine or in terms of "spiritual atmosphere". Other than the fact that this is some kind of "movement", there is no information given here that makes a great deal of sense, except to someone who already knows what this article is about. Frankly, that is not the intent of Wikipedia, as I understand it. Perhaps someone could make an attempt to communicate in simple English words the nature of what is being discussed here so that the concept could be understood by the average non-Christian reader (who, I may add, probably makes up considerably more than half the users and editors of Wikipedia). Mere lists of bible verses are not helpful -- lists of people who may or may not have been part of the movement are not helpful -- jargon is not helpful. If you truly want this concept to be understood, then someone should make an effort to explain it to the average reader. Otherwise, it's close to being cruft. Accounting4Taste 21:21, 13 August 2007 (UTC)
I understand how a "spiritual atmosphere" is an amorphous term which does not explain much especially to someone from a non-religious background. Thanks for that comment. I've reworked it. Theriddles 19:22, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
[edit] leaves out history
I got onto this page trying to find out about the Latter Rain Movement because I was looking for background to Blind Willie Johnson's gospel song of the 1930s, "Latter Rain Gonna Fall On Me." It was clear to me that this page must be incorrect as it currently stands, since the Johnson song antedates the chronology of this page by over a decade. Subsequent research has taught me that the movement began in Pentecostalism around 1900. It would be good if someone more expert in this line of history than I am would work on this page.Buckdancer 20:33, 21 July 2007 (UTC)
I don't think any changes are needed. The idea of a "Latter Rain" started at least as early as the Pentecostals (and that is mentioned here), but The "Latter Rain Movement" was a distinct movement as outlined in this article. 69.26.112.194 00:45, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Changes - August 10, 2007
It is a common misconception that John Robert Stevens and the Living Word Fellowship were a part of Latter Rain or the Manifest Sons of God movement. Stevens said on numerous occasions (in at least 12 sermons given between the years of 1959 and 1982) that he felt that God showed him to never be a part of the Latter Rain movement. Jeremiah 03:41, 11 August 2007 (UTC)
Stevens may have distanced himself later from the movement, but he is documented by Richard Riss, the authoritative historian of the movement as getting key influence there. Check out the Latter Rain book. I've added the citation to the references section. I did add a comment to reference the additional information you have provided, however. If you think you can make a more accurate formulation, go ahead, however please do not removed the substantiated material. Thanks. Theriddles 19:25, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Section on MFI is vague
Ministers Fellowship International (MFI) represents perhaps the most theologically solid group to directly emerge from the Latter Rain
What does that mean? It's extremely vague and sounds rather subjective. Does it mean that the theology is most "mainstream" or not controversial? Does it mean that it is objectively somehow more Biblically grounded? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Georgiablue (talk • contribs) 16:37, 27 December 2007 (UTC)
Of course this and every page in Wikipedia are opinionated. I hold the opinion that God created the world in 6 days, has been nurturing His Church since walking with Adam in Eden, and that He will soon restore Hs Creation to what He intended. Such are my presuppositions as a veteran minister of the Assemblies of God who found it necessary to resign in protest of the AoG' departure from it's own foundational Fundamentals of Faith, Constitution & Bylaws, and historic General Council Resolutions, in particular 1949's, wherein:
E. S. Williams, stated that Pre-trib Rapture represented correct eschatology and they rejected the Latter Rain practice of personal prophesy accompanied by the laying on of hands.
I knew Earnest S. Williams when I was a student at Central Bible College. He greeted each day and closed each evening on his knees until the passage of time prohibited such expression. It was regarding Earnest's care at Maranatha Village that I first clashed with the AoG heirarchy. It seems that one Attend was sufficient for a man of his esteem given budgetary constraints in the early 80's. What I witnessed in the ensuing years did not surprize me and the events were alarming. The spirit of Ecumenicism and Universalism were becoming entrenched in the Assemblies of God. An Apostacy, a great falling away from faith, is occurring in Classic Pentecostal circles.
Opal Reddin speaks of this falling away in her final video: In Defense of the Gospel - The Gospel Is At Stake When Error Enters In. [1]
Remember that this is my opinion and God does not care about what we think. His plan will be realized...even the fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:8ff and the fall of Babylon the Great in a single day. Jesus will establish His own throne. Dominion Theology and it's purports will have nothing to do with that success. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mountainview (talk • contribs) 16:24, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
