Latter Rain (post–World War II Movement)

The Latter Rain, also known as the New Order or the New Order of the Latter Rain, was a post–World War II movement within Pentecostal Christianity which remains controversial. The movement saw itself as a continuation of the restorationism of early pentecostalism. The movement began with major revivals between 1948 and 1952, and became established as a large semi-organized movement by 1952 and continued into the 1960s. The movement had a profound impact on subsequent movements as its participants dispersed throughout the broader charismatic and pentecostal movements beginning in the 1960s.

The Latter Rain Movement had its beginnings in the years following World War II and was contemporary with the evangelical awakening led by Billy Graham, as well as the Healing Revival of Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, and William Branham. In the fall of 1947, several leaders of the small Pentecostal Sharon Orphanage and Schools in North Battleford, Saskatchewan were inspired to begin a period of intense fasting and prayer for "outpourings of the Holy Spirit" after visiting a Branham's healing campaign in Vancouver, Canada. After weeks of fasting and prayer, the participants had ecstatic experiences and reported the occurrence of miracles. Later that year, groups organized large revival events, and news quickly swept across Canada and the United States, influencing many Pentecostal believers. The movement was deeply influenced by British Israelism and many of the movement's doctrines, including their interpretation of the "Latter Rain" prophecy, were based on parallels drawn between the church and Israel based on British Israel ideology.

Joseph Mattsson-Boze was an important leader of the movement and helped organize many revival conventions. He publicized the Latter Rain movement and its leaders in his ''Herald of Faith'' magazine in the 1950s and 1960s. Boze was instrumental in bringing the Independent Assemblies of God in the revival. The IAoG were key supporters of the Latter Rain movement and provided an early framework for the movement which emphasized the independence of the local church and opposed complex denominational structures. As the revival died down after a few years, those who had been swayed by the doctrine formed various loosely affiliated groups. William Branham, Ern Baxter, Sam Fife, John Robert Stevens, Paul Cain, C. Peter Wagner, Emanuele Cannistraci, Dick Iverson, Kevin Conner, Dick Benjamin, Leonard Fox, Violet Kitely, Reg Lazelle, David Schock, George Evans, Charlotte Baker, Fuschia Pickett, Jim Watt and others, were prominent ministries that influenced and were influenced by the Latter Rain.

The Latter Rain strongly emphasized relational networks over denominational structures. Latter Rain emphases are some of the most noticeable differences between Pentecostals and Charismatics, as delineated, for example, by the Assemblies of God USA in their 2000 position paper on End Time Revival. The Latter Rain movement was rejected by classical Pentecostal denominations. The broader pentecostal movement began to strongly rejected elements of the Latter Rain movement starting in the early 1950s, which caused significant discord and confrontations between participants in the Latter Rain and the leadership of older pentecostal groups. The term ''Latter Rain'' increasingly became a pejorative label among the broader pentecostal movement; therefore, many ministers who were influenced by the movement were reluctant to share their connections to the movement. Much of the movement, along with elements of the Healing Revival, slowly integrated into parts of the larger Charismatic movement.

History

Background

The late 1940s was a time Pentecostals considered "of deep spiritual hunger,"Schmitt, Charles P. (2002). ''Floods Upon the Dry Ground'', Shippensburg, PA: Revival Press. as they were concerned about the declining operation of the gifts of the Spirit they claimed were once so evident when Pentecostalism began in the early 20th century. In response, about 70 students gathered in October 1947 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, to begin the first term of the newly formed Sharon Bible College.Wanagas, Ewald A. (2000). ''The Revival & Outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Things I Have Seen and Heard'', North Battleford: Sharon Children's Homes and Schools. Most were first-year students, but some were second and third-year students from the Pentecostal Bible College in Saskatoon.

The Latter Rain Movement had its beginnings in the years following World War II and was contemporary with the evangelical awakening led by Billy Graham, as well as the Healing Revival of Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, and William Branham. In the fall of 1947, several leaders of the small Pentecostal Sharon Orphanage and Schools in North Battleford, Saskatchewan were inspired to begin a period of intense fasting and prayer for "outpourings of the Holy Spirit" after visiting a Branham healing campaign in Vancouver, Canada.

From the latter part of October 1947 until February 1948, members of the school participated in daily fasting and prayer. Classes were suspended at times to encourage the movement which the majority of the school began to participate in. The students believed that God was about to do something new and unique for the church. Some students issued prophecies that urged others "to seek the face of the Lord". Some students reporting difficulty studying because of their intense motivation to pray and fast.“The History, Teaching and Practice of the Latter Rain Heritage” by Gideo Chiu, 1982, thesis.

By day, the students labored to construct buildings to serve as new classrooms and gathered for prayer in the evenings, which included intercessory prayer, prophecy and fasting. Some fasted between three and forty days. At the time, the school consisted of three buildings at the North Battleford airport.

The group was led primarily by George Hawtin and Percy G. Hunt, two former pastors of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada