abstract
| - The Latter Rain, also known as the New Order or New Order of the Latter Rain, was a post-World War II movement within Pentecostal Christianity which remains controversial to this day. For clarification in discussion of the Latter Rain a distinction should be made between:
* The Latter Rain Revival (1948-1952)
* The Latter Rain Movement (1952-1960s)
* Those influenced by the Latter Rain. The Latter Rain Movement had its beginnings in the years following World War II and was contemporary with the evangelical awakening that was occurring with Billy Graham at the forefront, as well as the Healing Revival with Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, and William Branham. William Branham is often erroneously considered the founder of the Latter Rain because those who started it were inspired by attending one of his meetings. Rather, several leaders of Sharon Orphanage, a small Pentecostal orphanage in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, were inspired to look for a deeper dimension of Christianity after visiting Branham's meeting, and they began to fast and pray in search of it. Later that year, revival events occurred, and news quickly swept across Canada and the United States, influencing many Pentecostal believers. As the revival itself died down after a few years, those who had been changed by the doctrine formed various groups which became known as "The Latter Rain" (Movement). The Latter Rain heavily emphasized relational networks over organizational structure. In addition, the term Latter Rain has become somewhat of a pejorative label; therefore, many ministers who were influenced in some way by it are reluctant to make this well known or choose to emphasize their lack of any formal involvement. Much of the movement, along with elements of the Healing Revival, slowly dissolved into parts of the larger Charismatic movement. For these reasons, history may never know the breadth of its influence. Latter Rain emphases are some of the most noticeable difference between Pentecostals and Charismatics as delineated, for example, by the Assemblies of God in their 2000 position paper on End Time Revival. This should not be confused with earlier movements or ideas within Pentecostalism including the The Latter Rain Assemblies in South Africa, begun in 1927.
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