I found this verse in my morning devotions yesterday, and was just wondering if anyone knew what it meant:
[bible]Jeremiah 5:24[/bible]
I know that Adventists talk about the latter reign a lot, and I have studied it, but I'm curious why it is being mentioned here.
Just some background...agriculturally in the land of Palestine, the former rain falls in the autumn in the week of the Feast of Tabernacle for fruit harvest; the latter rain falls in the spring in the week of Feast of Unleavene Bread for grain harvest.
The early rain fell after the fruit harvest as the field was plowed and seeds sown. for next gain harvest in the next cyclic year.
We know the rain is a symbol of the holy spirit for the harvest.
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Because Israel had backslid, committed spiritual adultery, worshipped the strange gods and hearkened not upto the Lord. The rains could not be given to them.
Jer 5
24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter,
in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
Jer 3
3
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a harlot's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?
5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Hope this is clear,
