A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
Christ upon earth after His second coming, but in
Latter Rain theology it would occur among mature
believers before His coming and would actually help
bring about His coming. Latter Rain believers typically
expected great visible signs of power shortly before the
Second Coming, such as instantaneous healings of all
who were sick. Some thought the manifested sons of
God would never die. Others expected them to acquire
various supernatural powers, perhaps being able to
appear, disappear, and transport themselves like the
resurrected Christ.
In the view of classical Pentecostals, the Latter Rain
movement stressed certain Pentecostal themes to the
point of imbalance. Widespread excesses and abuses took
place, particularly with the use of personal prophecies,
and some people lost faith in God altogether. Questionable
and fanciful claims were made. For example, some
said that God placed dental fillings in tooth cavities as an
answer to prayer. Classical Pentecostals questioned these
accounts, wondering why God would not simply make the
teeth whole instead.
The excesses and the disruption of local churches ultimately
caused the Pentecostal denominations to turn
away from the Latter Rain movement. For instance, at its
general conference in 1950, the UPCI condemned the following
ten teachings as its response to the New Order of
the Latter Rain: 282
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1. The promiscuous laying on of hands for the
bestowing of spiritual gifts.
2. The teaching that the church is based upon present-day
apostles and prophets.