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Is baptism and early rain equivalent?
Jam. 5:7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord, is at hand.†In a farmer’s ability to effectively farm seeds are put into the soil and early rain needed to get the seeds growing and, the latter rain is to allow it to mature and bear fruit! Joel 2:23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. 24The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.†The early rain confirms the beginning of the relationship and the latter rain what is needed for a proper harvest! When one starts a relationship with your Creator baptism forms a public acknowledgment of a personal occurrence and may overlap with this period of early rain and it represents a period of first love and ongoing growth remains a critical component.