The Five-Fold Ministry and Teachings of the Latter Rain Movement

Have you ever wondered what the mysterious Latter Rain Movement was all about? This early 20th century Pentecostal revival movement was marked by extravagant supernatural claims and a belief in the restoration of the five-fold ministry.

The Latter Rain Movement was an early 20th-century Pentecostal revival movement that began in North America. It was marked by extravagant supernatural claims and a belief in "the restoration of the five-fold ministry".

Its teachings were heavily influenced by the Holiness Movement of the late 19th century and the Pentecostal Movement of the early 20th century. The movement began in 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada.

It was led by pastors like George Hawtin, M.J. Billingsley, and Ern Baxter. They taught that the Latter Rain was a prophesied outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would restore the lost power of the early church.

They also taught that a new form of church organization was needed, one that was led by apostles and prophets. The movement spread quickly throughout the United States, Canada, and eventually the rest of the world.

It was met with mixed reactions from the mainstream churches, some of whom embraced it and some of whom condemned it. In the 1950s, the movement began to decline due to internal divisions and increasing criticism from other churches.

Today, the Latter Rain Movement is considered a part of the Charismatic Renewal, a broader movement of the Holy Spirit within mainstream Protestantism. While some of the more extravagant claims of the movement have been rejected, its impact on the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements continues to be felt.

The main founders of the Latter Rain Movement were pastors George Hawtin, M.J. Billingsley, and Ern Baxter. Hawtin was a Canadian pastor and one of the pioneers of the Latter Rain Movement. He was born in London, England, and moved to Canada in 1928. Hawtin was an evangelist and a strong advocate of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. He was an influential leader in the movement and wrote several books about it, including "The Latter Rain" (1948), "The Kingdom of God" (1958), and "The Miracle of the Latter Rain" (1972).

M.J. Billingsley was an American pastor and one of the founders of the Latter Rain Movement. He was born in Arkansas and pastored several churches in that state. Billingsley was a strong advocate of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements and was very influential in them. M.J. Billingsley wrote several books about the Latter Rain Movement, including "The Power of the Latter Rain" (1949) and "The Spirit-Filled Church" (1952).

Ern Baxter was an American pastor and one of the founders of the Latter Rain Movement. He was born in Pennsylvania and pastored several churches in that state. Baxter was a strong advocate of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements and was very influential in them.

Baxter wrote several books about the Latter Rain Movement, including "The New Order of the Latter Rain" (1956), "The Manifestation of the Sons of God" (1958), and "The Abundant Life" (1963).

The main beliefs of the Latter Rain Movement included:

1. The restoration of the five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) to the church.

2. A new form of church organization that was led by apostles and prophets

3. A return to the supernatural power of the early church

4. The belief that the latter outpouring of the Holy Spirit would bring about a spiritual revival

5. The belief that the church should be a prophetic, supernatural, and end-time movement

6. The belief that the church should be actively engaged in advancing the biblical values of the Kingdom of God.

7. The belief that believers should live in a state of holiness and be filled with the Holy Spirit

8. The belief that miracles, signs, and wonders should be evident in the church.

The teachings of the Latter Rain Movement had a significant impact on the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The movement's emphasis on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of the five-fold ministry, and the prophetic, supernatural, and end-time nature of the church were all embraced by the larger movement. The movement also encouraged its followers to live holy lives and be actively involved in social justice issues.

As a result of the movement's teachings, many churches began to emphasize the importance of the gifts of the Spirit, the prophetic voice, and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

Hawtin had this to say about the movement.

"I do not wish to over-emphasize the importance of this truth, but I am constrained to say that these truths are of immense importance because they are foundational.

Upon their firm footing rests the whole superstructure of God’s plan for the ages. If we cannot see how in the very beginning God created man for the specific purpose of ruling the universe and having dominion over all the vast sidereal with its infinite space and multi-billion galaxies, then we have missed the heart of God’s intention completely, and we become doomed to spend our lives in the idle pettifogging of the Romish and Protestant systems, which give neither reason for man’s existence nor cause for his humiliation and fiery testings.

Even redemption, full and complete as it is and in spite of its infinite cost, will fail to reconcile and save more than one percent of all creation if the fruitless interpretations of the Babylonian system are to be believed."

The teachings of the Latter Rain Movement are still widespread today, especially within the Charismatic Renewal. While some of the more extravagant claims of the movement have been rejected, its impact on the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements continues to be felt.

Many churches still embrace the emphasis on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of the five-fold ministry, and the prophetic, supernatural, and end-time nature of the church. The movement also continues to encourage its followers to live holy lives and be actively involved in sharing the biblical values of Christ. 

Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com