ABUNDANCE OF RAIN

1 Kings 18:41-42, “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.  (42)  So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,”

Just so you know, “a sound” can be anything from the voice of God, to thunder. In fact, Strong’s #H6963 defines “sound” here as “to call aloud; a voice: –  sing, thunder (-ing), voice, + yell” among other things.

Fact here is, for Elijah to say “there is a sound of abundance of rain” means he did not see that cloud or any rain yet. He was moving forward in faith by saying that to Ahab. This is no doubt why he went to the “top of Carmel” in verse 42 to bow in reverence unto God in prayer. As we know, the drought was lifted after the people declared the LORD to be God. The prophetic whisper here is that as soon as we, the obedient remnant declare the Lord to be God, the drought will end and we will receive the “abundance” of the latter rain.

What we’ve seen the last 2000 years is troubling when we look at how weak the churches have become. There is a spiritual drought that as prophesied will soon end. Truth is, it has already ended in the hearts of at least 144,000 who as soon as they overcome every area of sin in life, they will have an “abundance of rain” to go forth as promised.

Now notice this statement from 1882:

“I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power in Israel. He said, “Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.” I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen.”

The prophetic whisper here is both the seven churches during the four movements praying, as we have seen a few reformations the last 2000 years, as well as the 144,000 who will be praying at the commencement of each of the seven last plagues crying unto the Lord for deliverance. After all, did not sister White just say in regards to Elijah’s faith back in 1882 that “His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen.” She goes on…

I saw that we had doubted the sure promises, and wounded the Saviour by our lack of faith. Said the angel, “Gird the armor about thee, and above all take the shield of faith; for that will guard the heart, the very life, from the fiery darts of the wicked.” (NOTE: See “armor of God” study notes at Ephesians 6:10-18)

If the enemy can lead the desponding to take their eyes off from Jesus, and look to themselves, and dwell upon their own unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, His love, His merits, and His great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith and gain his object; they will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus, and believe in Him; they then exercise faith.” {EW 73.2}

To bow very low in perfect reverence of the Lord is to seek the Lord’s hand in bringing the “abundance of rain” that he told Ahab was coming. Now notices what was shared in 1891 regarding all this.

“Before the sacrifice, Elijah had said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” After the destruction of the prophets of Baal, Elijah said to Ahab, “Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” After the king’s departure, Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; “and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees.” When he had bidden Ahab go up and eat and drink, did he have an evidence that the showers were about to fall? Did he see the clouds in the heavens? Did he see the rain, or hear the thunder?–No; he spoke these words because the Spirit of the Lord moved upon his mind, and led him to believe that his prayer would be heard.

This reminds me of the day I said to a young man and his coworker that the Lord was going to send a breeze to move the gnats off their bodies as they poured the new concrete for me. Those words just came out without thinking! When I returned from the woods to pray. The young man appeared shocked when I said, I see the Lord sent that breeze. He later spoke to my oldest son in absolute shock about what happened with the gnats. It is God that receives all the glory here as I had no clue my prayer was answered until I walked back to the house to notice the breeze. And I had no idea the young man was blessed until days later when my son told me. Continuing… 

He had done all that was possible to make manifest his faith, and now he began to pray for the outpouring of the abundance of rain.  {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 7} 

This is the same as when the apostles “rolled away the stone” in John 11:39-44 that day. They did all they could do and Jesus took it from there.

     He “said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.”

As we know, “sea” in prophecy = people in general and even wicked people when viewing the context. The prophetic whisper here is how after the Holy Spirit continues to open the eyes of the obedient remnant, we can see how wicked the world has become. Therefore, when we “look toward the sea,” we actually come to the prophetic conclusion that our Lord’s return is very near.

The servant watched while Elijah prayed. Six times he returned from the watch, saying, There is nothing, no cloud, no sign of rain. But the prophet did not give up in discouragement. He kept reviewing his life, to see where he had failed to honor God, he confessed his sins, and thus continued to afflict his soul before God, while watching for a token that his prayer was answered. As he searched his heart, he seemed to be less and less, both in his own estimation and in the sight of God. It seemed to him that he was nothing, and that God was everything; and when he reached the point of renouncing self, while he clung to the Saviour as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came.

This is the key! We need to deny and even renounce self as also Paul did when he declared himself “wretched.” 

I’m not going to read all these verses as we have studied this up before, but in Romans 7:14-24 we see how Paul illustrates the man whose flesh is winning and in control to the point of calling himself “wretched.” But later in 1Corinthians 9:26-27 he illustrates the man whose flesh is now under subjection to the perfect will of God.

The servant appeared, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.

This is yet another confirmation that this is a prophetic whisper unto the final days and what the 144,000 will experience in the “seven” last plagues!

And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

When I see this I cannot help but to see how all the churches are “stopped” by the God of order due to their creed worship as Isaiah 4:1 prophesied. And when they look upon the faithful remnant, their anger is kindled hot via their dying god of disorder. Therefore, their desire and strange assumptions to gain heaven while still embracing sin is stopped by the truth proclaimed during the loud cry that has become so loud during the latter rain that all they used to believe is now boldly exposed as error. Sadly, and as expected; when some are corrected, no matter how much love is used to present the truth, it will anger them to the point they not only pass the laws to prevent us from buying and selling to try and shut us up, they will also pass laws to legally kill us.

She goes on…

And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

Just as Elijah “heard” in v41 when he declared there was “a sound of abundance of rain,” which as the obedient remnant can also attest to when we see all that’s happening around us today and tomorrow, we know the latter rain that falls in “abundance” is soon to bless us to go forth. For we too can say right now in fact that we too hear “a sound of abundance of rain.” What the world and apostate churches are doing before our eyes confirms this hands down.

And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”  {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 8} 

Think on this for a moment. After all those amazing things the Lord did through Elijah, like answering his prayer to stop the rain for 3.5 years, (1Kings 17:1) or answering his prayer to cause the fire to burn up the drenched sacrifice as well as moat of water around it, (1Kings 18:38) or even how after the fire burned up the sacrifice proving the prophets of Baal were evil; Elijah commanded the people to kill all those so-called prophets and to top it all off, Elijah prayed and rain came to end the drought. After all that, Elijah saw no issue with still being the servant unto the king to run before him as that “abundance of rain” fell so hard that Ahab could not see the path before him so as to be able to guide the chariot. ALL of us in the remnant church need to humble ourselves as well. After all, did not Jesus say in Matthew 18:4 that, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

There are many lessons to be drawn from the experience of Israel and of the prophet of God. We are living in a time of apostasy similar to the time of which we have read; for there is great religious declension in the churches, among the professed people of God. The children of God should have a realization of their accountability, and should direct their hearts toward God, seeking for strength and grace with an earnestness which they have never before manifested. There never was a more solemn time in the history of the world than the time in which we are now living. Our eternal interests are at stake, and we should arouse to the importance of making our calling and election sure. We dare not risk our eternal interests on mere probabilities. We must be in earnest. What we are, what we are doing, what is to be our course of action in the future, are all questions of untold moment, and we cannot afford to be listless, indifferent, unconcerned. It becomes each one of us to inquire, “What is eternity to me?” Are our feet in the path that leads to heaven, or in the broad road that leads to perdition?  {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 9}

All around us the world is manifesting intense activity. There is a feeling of apprehension among all people; they are looking for some great event, but know not what it is to be.

This is exactly what’s happening right now! The people of the world know not what’s happening all around them, even though they all have a sense of urgency as to something very strange is in fact happening. Just look online to see how even the lost are declaring the world appears to be coming to an end and they don’t know exactly what’s coming or how to prepare for it. But as for the obedient remnant, we know it is “a sound of abundance of rain!”

The state of affairs in Europe excites men’s fears, and all are looking for those things that shall come upon the earth, and their hearts are failing them for fear.

The current news (04-29-25) is talking a lot about what’s happening right now in Europe! I clicked the “more results” 11 times before giving up to see a ton of articles and videos about this. Going on it says…

The nations are filled with anxiety, and there is a spirit of unrest and tumult on every hand. If ever there was a time when men should know their position, it is now. No man can afford to go on blindfolded, not knowing in what road he is traveling, but careless and hoping to come out right in the end; for great and disastrous will be his awakening. Those who do not appreciate eternal life enough to work diligently for it, will never obtain it. Those who are seeking earthly pleasure, worldly gain and honor, will never make a success of winning eternal life, unless they repent, and turn to God with all the heart.  {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 10} 

How many seek their pleasure in the gaming-table, in attending the theater, while thoughts of God and eternity are put far from their minds!

We can easily add the addictive cell phones, YouTube videos and even the careers and lustful relationships of most in the mix on top of all the other demonic distractions of today like Hollywood, video games and rock music.

They think more of what they shall eat, what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed, than of the salvation of their souls; and can these expect to gain heaven when they neglect the great salvation purchased for them at infinite cost? They give no proof that they love God, no proof that they love the atmosphere of heaven. By the characters they develop they say distinctly that they are in the broad road that leads to ruin.  {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 11} 

Those who make a success of the Christian life will count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Only those who are abiding in Christ, can know what true life is. They realize the value of true religion. They have brought their talents of influence and means and ability to the altar of consecration, seeking only to know and do the will of him who has died to redeem them. They know that the path they must travel is strait and narrow, and that they will have to meet many obstacles and temptations, as they resist the enticements of the broader road that leads to ruin; but they will discern the footsteps of Jesus, and press onward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in their Lord and Saviour. They will choose the royal way that leads to heaven, although it is strait and narrow; for they have respect unto the recompense of the reward.” {RH, May 26, 1891 par. 12} 

One last thing… she says this in Southern Watchman…

“When the test on Mount Carmel was over, and God had answered by fire, then it was that the prophet “went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees” –an attitude indicating deep humility and earnest supplication. Time after time Elijah sent his servant to see if in answer to his prayer a cloud was rising; but no cloud was to be seen. At the seventh time, the servant returned with the word, “There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Did Elijah stand back and say, I will not receive this evidence; I will wait until the heavens gather blackness?–No; he ventured all upon that token from the Lord, and sent his messenger to tell Ahab that there was the sound of abundance of rain. {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 7}

Again, he told Ahab about the rain before it came, just as we in this entire church family all around the world have been telling anyone that will listen! And our faith is such that we know for a fact it’s coming, because we too can say we hear the “sound of abundance of rain!”

We need the perseverance of Jacob, and the unyielding faith of Elijah,– faith that will take hold, and will not let go. Inspiration tells us that Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are; yet the Lord heard his prayer. And why should not the Lord be entreated in behalf of his people today? He will; for heaven is not closed against the fervent prayer of the righteous. The only reason of our lack of power with God is to be found in ourselves.  {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 8}

By many such a faith as these mighty men of God had in times past, is considered old fashioned. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind. Unbelief of the truths of God’s Word, because human judgment cannot comprehend the mysteries of his work, is found in every community, in all ranks of society. It is taught in many schools, and comes into the lessons of the nurseries.

As we know, it is taught in every school as we speak! Everything from Evolution to the denial of the flood proves this hands down! And now the current president wants to make sure there are Bibles in every school? How I ask can pro-abortion and pro-homosexual teachers teach anything from God’s Word unto our precious little ones?

Everywhere the spirit of darkness in the garb of religion will confront the soul; thousands who profess to be Christians give heed to living spirits. And the time is not far distant when every soul will be tested.  {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 9} 

In the name of Christ I would address you: Abide in the faith which you have received from the beginning.

In other words, remember the day you found Christ and how you were on fire for the Lord? This is what we all need to do. All of us know more about His Word than the day we met Him. And so, with this wisdom, we need to re-ignite our primitive godliness by abiding in Christ in the very same way we did when we were babes in Christ thumbing through His Word as babes in Christ. Or as Elijah did when he placed his head between his knees in prayer that day. We too must bow before our God to deny the flesh so much that Christ is glorified and souls are touched.

We must keep close to the Word of God. There is danger in departing in the least from its instructions. We need its warnings and encouragement, its threatenings and its promises. We need the perfect example given only in the life and character of our Saviour.  {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 10} 

In order to stand fast in the truth we need to have a living, active faith in God and his Word. Without such faith it is impossible to please God; for “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” The faith that is required is not a mere assent to doctrines; it is the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Humility, meekness, and obedience are not faith, but they are the effects, or fruits, of faith. Implicit trust in God’s power to save, and its effect on the life and character, do not come in a moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the right, the people of God seal their destiny.  {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 11} 

Do not be afraid to trust God. Rely upon his sure promise, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Do not let go of the promise, even though you do not see an immediate answer to your prayers.

In other words, just as Elijah continued to pray “seven” times to see if his prayer was answered, which in prophecy the number “seven” denotes perfection; we too must pray perfectly so as to have the faith to declare that which isn’t physically seen yet. Elijah didn’t see the cloud any more than we do today. But we can hear “a sound of abundance of rain” just as he did back then.

As Paul said in Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Man is erring, and although his petitions may be sent up from an honest heart, he does not always ask for the things that are good for him or that will glorify God. When this is so, our wise and good Father hears our prayers, and answers, sometimes immediately; but he gives us the things that are for our good and his own glory. If we could look into his plan, we should clearly see that our prayers are answered in wisdom and love. And through the temptations and trials of life the promise will be fulfilled, “I will guide thee with mine eye.”  {SW, March 24, 1908 par. 12} 

By the way, She just quoted king David here. But I would like to share all that David said that day as it is important for us today.

Psalms 32:1-11,“A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  (2)  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  (3)  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  (4)  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.  (5)  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.  (6)  For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.  (7)  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

THEN THE LORD SAID TO DAVID…

(8) I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  (9)  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.  (10)  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.  (11)  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

1 Kings 18:43-45 says, “And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.  (44)  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.  (45)  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (46)  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”

“Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour, and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror, and the armies of Heaven follow him. With songs of triumph, a vast retinue of holy angels escort him on his way.” -SOP4 p459.

I can recall Hollywood movies depicting this cloud as one that encapsulates “alien” ships. Satan will do all he can to belittle this event beforehand due to how jarring it will be in reality.

And when I think on the cloud appears “like a man’s hand,” I can see how the way the Lord did this back then as well as in the near future on how this illustrates His blessings at times. Quite often a blessing from the Lord may seem “small” at first; which as we all know eventually grows into a massive blessing that changes lives!

And the reference to “the heaven was black with clouds and wind,” is this not a prophetic whisper, but like in Revelation, somewhat out of chronological order in that the wickedness of the church & state (black clouds and wind) is when we go forth with the blessing of the latter rain (great rain) upon us. And it is now we will “gird up” our loins as well with the extra strength of faith that comes 10 fold during the latter rain so as to “run” forth warning as many as we can just before the plagues come.

And so this is yet another prophetic whisper in how just as Elijah does all this to the glory of God, as will the obedient remnant during the latter rain, (great rain) he is then forced a “day’s journey into the wilderness” in fear as Jezebel threatens to kill him. (1Kings 19:1-19) Is it not also prophesied that the 144,000 will be forced to flee into the wilderness when the death decree is passed by the church and state whore of Babylon (Jezebel) wherein plague 1 begins?

One more thing to notice.

Elijah went “a day’s journey into the wilderness” for a reason. I believe this too is a prophetic whisper in that we know it is prophesied in Revelation 18:8 that “her plagues come in one day.”

And finally, when it talks about “the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,” we can see how the Lord gave Elijah strength to be able to run before Ahab who was using a chariot that runs faster than any man. This “girding” of Elijah to increase his strength is the prophetic whisper of the latter rain that falls with ten times the power in our day.

“The rain began to descend. It was night, and the blinding rain prevented Ahab from seeing his course. Elijah, nerved by the Spirit and power of God, girded his coarse garment about him and ran before the chariot of Ahab, guiding his course to the entrance of the city.” {3T 287.3} 

When I see the lukewarm Christians of today that are unable to see any of this; when the latter rain falls as a “great rain” I can see that many of these Christians will be blinded by Satan just as Ahab was so as to be unable to see the light of truth or even the path before them to Christ simply because of their constant rejection of Him and His Word. Did not Paul declare in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 that “if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.“

Isn’t this always the way when the leaders of the people reject the Lord, even though the basest number of the people embrace Him? After Jesus spoke on the calling of John the Baptist, the apostle Luke declared in Luke 7:29-30 that “all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.  (30)  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”

And by the way, it said that this “great rain” happened “at night” in 3T  287.3. Is this not yet another prophetic whisper unto our day wherein the off the chart wickedness of the church and state has brought a spiritual darkness upon all the world wherein the blessed and obedient remnant need a “great rain” so as to declare the final warning when they are “girded” up to “run” to all they can with this great news? After all, did not “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary… run to bring His disciples word” that Jesus had risen in Matthew 28:1&8?

Did not Paul say in Galatians 2:2 that, “I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”

Or what of Habakkuk 2:2 that says, “the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

Seriously, I found 65 verses with the word “run” in them; but I think I made my point.

My brothers and sisters, since it has just been fulfilled that both the first and second beast are now on US soil, we need to run forward to warn as many as possible for we can now hear “an abundance of rain.”