by Wade E Taylor
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
The word “if” tells us that this is a conditional promise, as this is a level of “hearing” that is above and beyond all that we are capable of hearing with our physical ears.
As a part of our redemption, we have within us the ability to hear the voice of the Lord. But, no matter how well we can hear His voice, we should seek to hear better.
“But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” I Corinthians 2:10-12
We are living in a very critical time in which there is much spiritual confusion due to the mixture in the prophetic words and messages that are going forth. Therefore, the Lord is perfecting the spiritual hearing of those who, with a pure heart and spirit, are seeking to more clearly hear His voice.
This verse, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” immediately follows the message to the Laodicean Church, which is the seventh and last Church that is addressed by the Lord. The messages to these seven Churches span the entire Church Age. Thus, when we come to the Laodicean Church, we are approaching the end of the Church Age.
The fact that we are living in the time of the Laodicean Church is evident through the Word of correction that is given to them. There is a direct application of this “Word” to each of us.
“Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Revelation 3:17-18
We live during a time of unprecedented provision (rich and increased with goods) in things both natural and spiritual. The present day proliferation of religious material that is available to us, and along with this, the excessive demands upon our time, provides us with ample opportunities to “overcome.”
Thus, the problem is not the abundance or the availability of these things, but in our being satisfied with all this, and seeking nothing further (…and have need of nothing…).
For years, I said that this (because you say, I am rich…) is the reason why Jesus is without, knocking on the door of the Laodicean Church. However, He is very much within this end-time Church, actively perfecting a people (those who desire to rise above and go beyond all that is presently available) for His purposes.
“But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Beginning with Ephesus, the message to each of these seven churches describes the conditions and needs of that day and time, and then leads into the Church that follows. Because there is no Church that follows the Laodicean Church, the Lord is knocking on a “closed” door.
After Laodicea, there is nothing further in relation to the Church. The response of John to this “knocking” confirms this, as the next word is not for us to go further, but rather, for us to “come up.”
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” Revelation 4:1-2
The word “was” is in italics, which means it is not in the inspired text. Thus, the door opened when John looked. John is the first “overcomer” to be seated with Jesus in the throne, as the word “one” also is in italics.
As we look up in anticipation, an open heaven (portal) will appear over us (a door opened in heaven), to which we should respond as John did (and immediately I was in the spirit).
Especially during the Laodicean Church Age (the time in which we presently live), the Lord is actively seeking those who are willingly responding to the necessary preparation, which will qualify them to have a part with Jesus in this time of transition from the Church Age into the Millennial Kingdom.
We are both blessed and have great responsibility, as we are living in the time of the progressive unfolding stages of His return:
“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe….” II Thessalonians 1:10
We are being changed “from glory to glory.” That is, we are being changed as we experience manifestations of His glory.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is (Lord), there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:17-18 (comment added)
Those who are spiritually perceptive are receiving the ability and capacity to experience even greater manifestations of Glory. This is beginning to happen and will both prepare and lead us into the Millennial Kingdom. There is a progression in the revelation that is being given to those who desire to hear and respond to the “voice of the Lord.” This progression began in Genesis.
“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8
The fact that the voice of the Lord is “walking” tells us that what He is speaking today is beyond the Word that He spoke yesterday, and that which He will reveal tomorrow, will be beyond that which He is speaking today.
In Genesis, His voice is “walking,” but in Revelation, His voice is “knocking.” This speaks of the urgency of our hearing what He has to say to us – a “present word” that is beyond the word that was revealed to any past generation.
From the time of Adam, the Lord walked through history for a thousand years and the flood cleansed the earth. He then walked another thousand years, and Abraham was called apart to become the father of faith and the friend of God. The Lord walked another thousand years, and Solomon dedicated the temple in manifest glory.
As the Lord walked through another thousand years, John the Baptist was called apart to be prepared to introduce Jesus. This completes the four days, or the four thousand years of the Old Testament. This is not calendar time, but rather, prophetic time that relates to the purposes of our Lord. Each day relates to the completion of a particular aspect of redemption, and preparation for the restoration of His glory in our midst.
After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus walked through the two thousand years of the Church Age. Concerning this, He spoke the following word:
“On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You. And He said to them, Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Luke 13:31-32 NKJV
“Today and Tomorrow” refers to the two thousand years of the Church Age. Jesus being perfected on the “third day” refers to Him taking His place as the active, manifest head of His corporate Body.
At this present time, He is standing at the door that leads into the “third-day” (Millennial Kingdom), and He is knocking on it. He is calling apart (come up here… Revelation 4:1) a corporate “John the Baptist” to prepare the way for the closing out of the Church Age, and the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom.
“If any man hears” (Revelation 3:20). Previous to this verse, Jesus was speaking to the Churches. In preparation for the Kingdom, He has turned and is now seeking for individuals within the Church who are receptive to His voice. Jesus is presently “walking” within the range of our hearing, seeking for those who will respond to His knocking.
There are many today who are spiritually hungry and are searching for something further. If these will become quiet and intently listen during this time of intense activity, they will hear this “present” knock of the Lord’s desire to make Himself personally known, beyond that which was available to any past generation.
“Intimacy” with Jesus has become a present word. Thus, He is saying, “If you hear My voice and respond, I will come and make Myself personally known to you” (Revelation 3:20).
In the first coming of Jesus, He came as a “lamb” to submit Himself to the cross in order to accomplish redemption in our behalf. In His second coming, He will come in a very different way. We have a description of how He will look in Revelation 1:14-15:
“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.”
His feet being like “fine brass as if they burned in a furnace” speaks of the “baptism of fire,” in which those who are presently responding to His voice, will be prepared for the outworking of His purposes. We are the “feet” that will take Jesus where He desires to go (the wheel within a wheel, Ezekiel 1:16). This speaks of profound divine guidance.
“When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” Ezekiel 1:21
His voice being as the “sound of many waters” tells us that the Lord is preparing a corporate body who will all be saying the same thing, having been lifted into “apostolic” enabling power. This unity is the “spirit of prophecy” in which we are so “at one” with Jesus, that our voice has become the expression of His voice (I live, yet not I).
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me….” Galatians 2:20
“After this I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven….” (Revelation 4:1). The Lord has walked as far as He can go in the earth realm (the closed door in Revelation 3:20). Now the word of the Lord is for us to come higher, into the Kingdom.
“…And the first voice which I heard was, as it were, of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here.” Revelation 4:1
This is a call to spiritual warfare, in order to bring us above all that is attempting to hinder. Here, through intercession and prophetic revelation, Jesus will show us “things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1).
That is, the Lord will reveal to us the process of the closing out of the Church Age, the birthing of the Kingdom Age, and our placement, or part in this process.
“And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne….” Revelation 4:2
This is the time of transition from the Church into the Millennial Kingdom, in which we are being called into a higher realm. It is of vital importance in this present time of intense busyness, that as an over-comer, we rise above every hindrance to hear the present “knocking” of the Lord upon the door of our spirit.
If we will listen and respond in heart obedience, Jesus has a word of correction that will lift us above the judgment (know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked), that He spoke to the Laodicean Church – “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire.” (Revelation 3:17, 18)
The Lord has a further word of encouragement for those who are repenting of any spiritual hindrances, or indifferences that may be within us, due to the time in which we live.
“…To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.” Revelation 2:17
These overcomers, as “gold tried in the fire,” are seated with Jesus in His throne, having become His bride (a new name written in relation to our identity with Him).
Now, the present word that Jesus is speaking, “the voice of the Lord walking,” can find its full expression through each of us who are hearing and responding to His voice.