by Wade E Taylor
A Prophetic Vision for our Day
“…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
During the time in which we live, an urgent, present Word from the Lord is going forth. He is saying to those who have a spiritual ear to hear: “I am separating to Myself all those who are willing to be made ready to have a part with Me in that which I am about to do. Therefore, arise and come away with Me.”
The winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
A season of spiritual barrenness has given way to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit which came as rain. This “former rain” (Pentecostal, Charismatic visitation) was given to prepare the way for an end-time “visitation” of the Lord to His people – “the former rain, and the latter rain, in the first month.”
“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 vats shall overflow with wine and oil.” Joel 2:23-24
This time of visitation is bringing a flow of spiritual revelation, understanding, and moving of the Holy Spirit. All who rightly respond to this time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are experiencing a higher level of spirituality and anointing (the floors full of wheat and the fats overflowing with wine and oil).
The flowers appear on the Earth
This visitation of “rain” is causing choice sons (spiritually mature overcomers) to become a vibrant, visible witness (flowers appearing) for the Lord throughout the earth. Much is being accomplished through the building up of His Body.
The time of the singing of birds is come
As a part of this increased spirituality, a higher level of worship is being made available to the Body of Christ. This “singing of the birds” (prophetic worship in harmony) is the key that is unlocking the door to the heavenly realm (Zion).
The voice of the turtle is heard in our land
As a result of this higher level of worship, the “voice of the turtledove” (prophetic revelation) is bringing forth a progressive unfolding of the Word of the Lord concerning His “end-time” purpose and the establishing of His Millennial Kingdom.The knowledge of the Lord
Shall fill all the earth
When the Spirit of the Lord shall fall
It shall flow as a river
It shall fall as the rain
It shall rise as the dawn
In glory ore the land
A vast new realm of spiritual life and experience is coming into view as being presently attainable to those who are seeking to go beyond their present spiritual experience.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs
Though yet a green fig, Israel is aggressively asserting itself. The entire world is aware of the presence and importance of Israel. Those who pray for Israel will be rewarded by the Lord; those who oppose will be judged.
The vines with the tender grape give a good smell
A remnant within the Church is beginning both to experience and to express the spiritual life and ministry that the Lord desires. Those in whom the Spirit of the Lord is moving can truly testify, “The winter is past, the vines with tender grapes are giving a good smell – for we were changed when the rain fell upon us, and now His life is flowing through us.”
At this present time, a people are being called out from the world into the Church. Great blessing and growth is taking place in the Church through this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, there is another call going forth from the Lord to those who have responded to this deeper working of the Holy Spirit. They have become intensely spiritually hungry, and are being called apart to the Lord Himself.
To these He is saying, “Rise up and come away with Me.” Those who hear and respond are being called into a realm of spiritual identity and function with the Lord Himself, in which they are becoming the expression of His life and purpose.
The pressure to participate in various legitimate activities, either church or secular, often beckons loudly to those who are finding this new and richer experience in the Lord. They struggle with the question of priorities, as they feel the many valid claims upon their time and energies, but at the same time, they intensely desire to come into all that the Lord is revealing to them.
The Lord is revealing Himself as standing outside the door of all this activity, knocking, due to the urgency of this present time. 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
There is a price to enter into His highest and best. As we come apart to sup with our Lord, expressing our spiritual hunger and need to him, He will exhort us to “…buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed….” (Revelation 3:18).
This is a call to rise above our being satisfied with all of the provisions and blessings that He amply gives, and to come into an experience of spiritual identification and fellowship with the Lord Himself.
John heard this call. A door opened in heaven and he heard a voice as a trumpet (prophetic revelation) talking with him, 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
There is much that the Lord desires to reveal concerning things to come, but notice that He did not place the emphasis on these things. The revelation that follows is of the Lord Himself in all of His Glory, with the overcoming Church caught up to His 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 4:3
Today, there are manifold demands upon our time. Let us again meditate upon the true purpose for this challenge, “My Beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away” (Song of Solomon 2:10).
This call that is presently going forth from the Lord is for those who are willing to pay the price by overcoming all that is less than His best, and rise into the place of identity with Him in His Throne.
Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Me” (John 12:32).
Here, those who respond will be qualified to rule with the Lord in the closing out of this Age, and in the establishing of the Age to come.
At this present time, let us be careful both to hear and to heed all that the Lord is saying to us.