by Wade E Taylor
“My beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:10-13
This passage of Scripture expresses in beautiful spiritual imagery, a prophetic vision of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit during the latter days. It speaks of a special time of “divine intervention” during which the Lord will reveal Himself and His glory, through a prepared corporate witness, as foreseen by Isaiah.
“Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His Glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3
At this present time, the Lord is seeking out those who are willing to set aside past religious concepts and cultivate afresh their spiritual ear to hear a “present word” from Him. To these He is saying, “Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away.”
This progressive “upward” call – out from the busyness of “human activity” and into an atmosphere of “divine activity,” is drawing those who respond into a time of preparation for the approaching time of “divine intervention.”
“The Winter is past, the Rain is over and gone.” The past “Charismatic” visitation within the Church resulted in a broad exposure to the supernatural through the outpouring of the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” which has been received by multitudes. The operation of the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit” within the Body of Christ became common. This has helped to establish the foundation for a new and greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
“The rain is over and gone.” This present “seeming” time of spiritual dryness is accomplishing its purpose by causing within us an intense desire for a further moving of the Holy Spirit, and a greater manifestation of the Lord’s presence.
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain, in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.” Joel 2:23-24
“He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain, in the first month.” The “first month” relates to the time in which we live, the beginning of the Third Day and the closing out of the Church Age. It confirms that a double portion is about to be given, to bring us to the necessary level of spiritual maturity to accomplish His end-time purposes.
“The flowers appear on the earth.” One of the benefits of this “double portion” ministry (former and later rain together) is that choice sons (overcomers) are growing toward spiritual maturity (the flowers appearing). These choice sons are finding others who are going through the “dealings” of this present time of preparation. They are encouraging each other, as they share their testimony of how the Lord is accomplishing His purposes within them.
“The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” True worship is beginning to be restored within the Body of Christ. This “singing of the birds” (prophetic worship in harmony) is the key that unlocks the door to the heavenly realm (Zion). Here “in our land” (places where the activity of His Holy Spirit is welcomed), the voice of the turtle-dove (prophetic revelation) is revealing the unfolding pattern of this last day visitation. A vast new realm of spiritual understanding and experience is becoming available to all who are responding to this upward call.
“The fig tree puts forth her green figs.” Though yet a green fig, “Israel” is functioning as a nation and the entire world is becoming aware of her presence and importance.
“And the vine with tender grapes give a good smell.” Though the grapes are yet tender, these “prepared witnesses” are beginning to function in a higher realm of prophetic anointing. The entire world is about to become aware of their presence and importance, as Jesus begins to appear (Parousia) in a greater manifestation of His presence.
“…But the Lord shall arise upon you, and His Glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:2-3
At this present time, there is a further call that is going forth from the Lord to those who hunger for more. He is saying, “Rise up and come away with Me.” Those who hear this call and respond are being prepared by the Lord to become vessels through whom His Glory will be revealed in this coming visitation.
There is a temptation to rest in the comfort and security of past glorious visitations, but the Lord is stirring us to respond to this call to a still higher realm. A determined choice must be made to come apart and pay the price of this calling, whatever it may be, or wherever it may lead.
To these, the Lord is revealing Himself as standing outside the door of their present religious comfort, knocking. He is saying:
“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
As we rise up to open this heavenly door to “sup with Jesus,” by expressing our spiritual hunger and need to Him, He will “sup with us” by exhorting us:
“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 3:18
As we respond to this word of counsel from the Lord, we will receive strength to rise above our present tendency to be satisfied with natural provision and blessing alone. Then we will be enabled by the Holy Spirit to become this witness of His Glory in the coming day of His power.
“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 (prophetic revelation); 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. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.” Revelation 4:1-3
This is a vivid description of His Glory. His present call is to progressively come upward toward this realm of His Glory. Only those who presently are experiencing this time of preparation will be able to receive the revelation of His purpose, thus becoming as a “burning bush” (Exodus 3:2) that will reveal the risen Christ in all of His Glory to a sin darkened world.
During this present time of preparation for the coming “day of His power,” there is much that the Lord desires to make known. Because of manifold demands upon our time and our reluctance toward change, let us again meditate upon the purpose for His present calling, “…Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away” (Song of Solomon 2:10).
May we be careful to both hear and respond to what Jesus is saying to us at this present time.