by Wade E Taylor
“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying to Him, Get You out, and depart from here: for Herod will kill You. And He said to them, Go you, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following….” Luke 13:31-33
Peter tells us a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day. Thus, when Jesus said, “I do cures today and tomorrow,” it can be understood that He is speaking prophetically of the Church Age, which is two thousand years. The “third day” is the thousand year Millennial Day. During this “third day,” Jesus said, “I will be perfected.”
We are the “Body of Christ.” Jesus is seated at the right hand of all power, at the throne of God in heaven. Therefore, at this present time, we are here in the earth as a “head-less” body. Jesus is in heaven, as a “body-less” head. The perfection that Jesus speaks of, is in the “third day,” when the head and the body will come together, as being one (Parousia).
Many dates have been set for end-time occurrences, and these have come and gone. But, there is a specific time frame for the purposes of our Lord to be fulfilled in the end-time, which is known only by Him. We deal in calendar days and time, while the Lord deals in “seasons.”
When a farmer sows seed into his field (which the seed package says will mature in 90 days), he cannot mark his calendar, and then harvest the field at the end of these ninety days. Rather, the maturity of this crop is dependent on the amount of sun, rain, and favorable temperatures, which will greatly affect the growth of the crop. Therefore, the Lord looks at the crop with a trained eye, as He knows when the field has reached the desired level of maturity for harvest.
There are many indications that we are the generation that will be ready for harvest, which opportunity no past generation has had. Thus, the time of intervention is not a date, but the time in which the “Body” has reached the desired level of spiritual maturity, so as to be joined to the mature head, Jesus.
“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 unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.” Revelation 1:14-15
The Laodicean Church is the last of the seven churches listed in the book of Revelation. During this present generation, there has been major emphasis on prosperity. The word tells us that the Laodicean Church says that they are “rich and increased in goods,” which is an indication that we are living in the time of the last Church.
“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
For many years, I have said that this door was closed because they were primarily interested in the “things” of God (rich, and in need of nothing), rather than the God of these things. The Lord is not outside the Laodicean church trying to get back in. Rather, the door is closed because this is the end of the Church Age, and there is only one-way to go – “up.”
“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking….” Genesis 3:8
Voices do not walk, but this one does, as this “voice walking” is intended to tell us two things. First, Adam and Eve had transgressed and were hiding from His presence, but they still “heard” His voice. No matter what our state of being in life may be, the Lord has something to say to us. Second, the voice is “walking,” which tells us that “what” the Lord will say tomorrow will be beyond what He said today. The Lord both moves and speaks progressively. We see this in the six prophetic days that were given to man.
The Lord walked the “first” thousand years and called Noah. He walked the “second” thousand years, and Abram was called to go out from Ur of the Chaldees. He became Abraham, the friend of God, through a personal visitation from the Lord. As the Lord walked the “third” thousand years, Solomon’s temple was dedicated in visible glory. At the end of the “fourth” thousand years, John the Baptist was called into the wilderness to be prepared to introduce the Messiah.
The Lord continued to walk through the “two days” of the Church Age. At the end of the first day of the Church Age (the fifth prophetic day), the Nicolaitans had gained control, and the dark ages resulted. Then Martin Luther and the Reformation began to bring a new ray of light, as the Lord continued to walk. Toward the end of the second day of the Church Age (the sixth prophetic day), the Pentecostal and Latter Rain visitations brought fresh, new understanding.
“Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
We have arrived at the end of the six days of man’s time, and Jesus is still walking. At this present time, there are those who are “walking with Him” into fresh and greater understanding (few). But there are also those who have stayed within each level of restored understanding (many), and persecute those who seek to go further.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14
We are living within the time of the birthing of the seventh (Millennial) day. Satan deceived Adam and Eve and gained control of the nations. At this present time, the Lord is quietly preparing a people who will defeat Satan. The Lord will use the very ones whom Satan deceived, to defeat him.
As the Lord walks onward during this present hour, He is beginning to restore His glory, which Peter, James, and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration. This restored glory will bring the judgments of God to cleanse the earth. To the saint, this will be “revival.” To those controlled by the world, it will be “tribulation.”
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints. Praise you the Lord.” Psalm 149:5-9
There are also three days in our personal relationship with the Lord. We were “called” (first day) and are being “made ready” (second day). We are approaching the time when we will be “lifted” into a higher realm of spiritual authority, with consequence (third day).
This “perfection” is the body made fully ready for the Head to come and take His place, to be seen as a corporate body in all the world. We are being made ready to be so transparent, that in “that day,” Jesus only will be seen through our lives. Our life will have become the expression of His life.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock….” Revelation 3:20
The Lord has walked to the end of the Church Age, and now He is calling those who have chosen Him, above all else, to come apart to Him – those who are spiritually hungry, available for His purposes, and desire something more. This speaks of intimacy of relationship.
The Lord is beginning His “return” (Parousia). This is not an all-at-once manifestation of the risen and glorified Jesus, but rather a gradual increase of His manifest presence, which precedes His person. Because we are His body, there is a deeper preparation that must take place.
“And His feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.” Revelation 1:15
We are the “feet” that have been perfected in fire, which will bring Jesus into open view in His “Parousia” (end-time manifestation of His presence that will result in visitation and tribulation). This speaks of the present intensity of His dealings in our lives. Brass is a combination of two materials, zinc and copper, united in intense heat. In the same way, through intense dealings, we are united with Jesus so that our voice becomes His corporate voice, as “the sound of many waters.”
“After this I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven….” Revelation 4:1
Jesus has walked as far as He can go in the Church Age. The door is closed and He is knocking, because He can go no further. The only way to go is up into the heavens (Millennial Kingdom).
“…and the first voice which I heard was, as it were, of a trumpet….” Revelation 4:1
This is a heavenly voice giving the call to “come up.” This is not words that we understand, but a spirit call to a higher realm, into which only those who have “ears to hear” will respond.
“…Come up here and I will show you things which must be hereafter.” Revelation 4:1
This speaks of the end of the “Church Age,” and the time of transition into the “Millennial Kingdom Age.” This has nothing to do with the antichrist – who he is and what he does, but rather, our part in the transition from the Church into the Kingdom – “I will show you.”
“Who has ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said to Him, why speak You to them in parables? He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matthew 13:9-11
Are you among those who, at this present time, are hearing the “voice of the Lord walking,” and are beginning to walk with Him?