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 door upon which Jesus is knocking is situated at the end of the message to the seventh and last Church and relates to the time of transition from the Church Age into the Millennial Kingdom Age.
“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
All that precedes these words, “after this I looked,” concerns the Church. All that follows relates to the Kingdom.
Jesus had said that He is standing at this door, “knocking,” and that He will enter into a special relationship with all those who hear and respond. A right response will lead into an active, personal relationship with Jesus and will result in our having a part in the establishing of, and functioning in, the Millennial Kingdom.
This requires of us that we have a present “upward gaze” toward the Kingdom – “I looked… and behold, a throne…” This is in direct relationship to our ability to hear spiritually – “the first voice which I heard.”
“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” Revelation 3:22
This “voice… as a trumpet talking” has a particular quality. It is a heavenly, prophetic word that is being imparted to those who are, or seeking to be, “overcomers.” This includes all those who are cultivating their spiritual ear to hear, and have an active desire to go beyond their present spiritual experience. These are being given an understanding of all that is about to take place in relation to the closing out of the Church Age and the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom.
This “voice… as a trumpet” has a very particular quality. Jesus entered this world as a baby. In His first coming, Jesus ministered through “grace” (Lamb). In His second coming, He will minister in “power” (Lion).
“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.” Revelation 1:14-15
At this present time, Jesus is being revealed to us as being fully matured and ready to become the “Head” of a mature body.
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.” Ephesians 1:10-11a
We are approaching the “fullness of the times” in which Jesus is actively taking His place as our Head (His voice becoming as the sound of many waters) in preparation for the outworking of all that follows. Like the mighty Niagara River which flows in a narrow channel in order to produce power, this corporate voice is beginning to function in which all will be saying and doing the same thing – One Body under the direction of One Head.
The present exhortation of this voice is for us to “Come up… and I will show you things which must be hereafter.”
All this refers to those who have rightly responded to the promise given in Revelation 3:21:
“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”
When John heard this heavenly call, he was able to say, “Immediately, I was in the spirit.” The Lord is presently separating us from earthly things, in order for us to become more perceptive and responsive to that which is spiritual. This is the heart of our being an overcomer.
Then John said, “behold a throne.” This is “governmental” and speaks of authority. It relates to the restoration of the “dominion” that Adam lost, which will operate during the time of visitation and tribulation (Parouisa), and will result in the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom.
“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Revelation 3:21
This end-time “dominion” will be given to an overcoming people who will have been lifted into apostolic authority with consequence. There will be visible results to the creative word.
“And he that overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 2:26-27a
Each of us who are, or desires to be an overcomer, are presently being “made ready” by the Lord to be among those who are both “prophetic” and “apostolic.” This refers to a state of being (not a position), in which these will “rule with a rod of iron” in that day.
As a part of the five-fold ministry, there are apostles and prophets whose purpose is to impart into and perfect the Body. Thus, the apostle imparts apostolic enabling and anointing into the Body. The prophet imparts prophetic enabling and anointing into the Body.
At this present time, there are those who are being called to “come up” into the higher Spirit realm, which transcends the gift realm of ministries. Thus, the gift of prophecy is becoming the spirit of prophecy. The gift realm operates thru gifting, and is limited. The Spirit realm operates through relationship, and is unlimited.
The Lord is preparing a people in this day, who are being made ready to function in this higher realm of spiritual authority, which will affect both the church and the nations. The five-fold ministry is being dealt with to recognize this new “end-time” relationship and allow it to function.
Therefore, it is imperative that we spend quality time “waiting” in the presence of the Lord with an upward gaze, that we might be able to hear and rightly respond.