The Voice of the Lord

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

This verse immediately follows the message to the Laodicean Church, which is the seventh and last church that is addressed by the Lord.  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.

That we are living in the time of the Laodicean Church is evident through the word of correction that is given to them.  Thus, there is a direct application of the word to this Church 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 in a time of unprecedented prosperity – “rich and increased with goods” in things both spiritual and natural.  For years, I said that this is the reason why Jesus is without, knocking on the door of the Laodicean Church.  Instead, He is within, actively perfecting a people for His end-time purposes.

The present day abundance of natural goods and demands upon our time, provides us with ample opportunities to overcome.  Thus, the problem is not the abundance of all these things, but in our being satisfied with them and seeking nothing further – “and have need of nothing.”

“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 of that day and time, and then leads into the Church that follows.  But there is no Church after the Laodicean Church, therefore, the Lord is knocking on a “closed” door, because we are at the end of the Church Age.  There is nothing further in relation to the Church.

The response of John to this “knocking” confirms this, as the next word is 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

Toward the end of the Laodicean Church age (the time in which we presently live), the Lord will begin the progression of His return – “I will show you things which must be hereafter.”

“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints.” II Thessalonians 1:10a

There is a progression of revelation concerning the manifestation of the presence of the Lord, that begins 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 there is a progression in what He speaks.  In Genesis, His voice is “walking” but in Revelation, He 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 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.  He 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.

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.  Being perfected the “third day” refers to Jesus 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), knocking - seeking 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” tells us that He 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, they will hear this “present” knock of His 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.  But 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 respond to His voice will be prepared for the outworking of His purposes at this present time.  We are the “feet” that will take Jesus where He desires to go.

His voice being as “the sound of many waters” tells us that the Lord is preparing a corporate body who will all say the same thing, having been lifted into “apostolic” enabling power.  This unity is the “spirit of prophecy” that speaks through our intimacy of relationship with Jesus, in which we are so “at one” with Him that our voice has become His voice.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.”  Galatians 2:20a

“After this I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven” (Revelation 4:1a).  The Lord has walked as far as He can go in the earth realm.  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 4:1b).  This is a call to spiritual warfare, in order to bring us above all that hinders.  Here, through intercession and prophetic revelation, Jesus will show us “things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1c).  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 4:2a).  This is a time of transition from the Church into the Millennial Kingdom, during which time of transition, we are being called to 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, He has a further word for us that will lift us above the judgment that Jesus spoke to the Laodicean Church – “know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” and respond to His word of correction, “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire.” (Revelation 3:17b, 18a)

If we will repent of any spiritual indifference that may be within us, due to the time in which we live, the Lord has a further word for us.

“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 2:17b

These, as “gold tried in the fire,” have become His bride (a new name written).  Now, His present word, “the voice of the Lord,” can find its full expression through them.