Spring 1992

Rise Up and Come Away
A Prophetic vision for our day
Wade E Taylor

"My beloved spake, and said unto 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 putteth forth
her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a
good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away" SS 2:10-13.

Within the prophetic imagery of this passage is portrayed the resurgence of natural Israel and the maturing of the Body of Christ in the latter days. These spiritual parallels are represented in the figures of thefig tree (Israel) and the vine (The Body of Christ).

During this hour in which we live, a very special Word from the Lord is going forth. He is saying to those who have a spiritual ear to hear: "I am separating unto 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, for

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" was given to prepare the way for a "visitation" of the Lord to His people.

"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord
your God: for he hath 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.

This time of visitation is bringing a flow (latter rain) 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;

As a result of this visitation of "rain," choice sons (spiritually mature overcomers) are becoming a vibrant, visible witness (the flowers appearing) for the Lord throughout the earth. Much is being accomplished through the building up of His Body, the Church.

THE TIME OF THE SINGING OF BIRDS
IS COME, AND THE VOICE OF
THE TURTLE IS HEARD IN OUR LAND;

As a part of this increased spirituality, worship is being restored in the Body of Christ. This "singing of the birds" (prophetic worship) is the key that is unlocking the door to the heavenly realm(Zion). As a result of this, 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 Kingdom. A vast new realm of spiritual life and experience is coming into view as being presently attainable to the Lord's people.

THE FIG TREE PUTTETH FORTH
HER GREEN FIGS

Though yet a green fig, Israel is aggressively asserting itself. The entire world is aware of her presence and importance.

AND THE VINES WITH THE TENDER GRAPE
GIVE A GOOD SMELL.

The Body of Christ 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 initial working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They have become intensely spiritually hungry and are seeking for something more.

To these He is saying, "Rise up and come away with me." Those who hear and respond are being called up into a realm of spiritual identity and function with the Lord Himself.

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. At the same time, they desire to come into all that the Lord is revealing to them. These struggle with the question of priorities as they feel the many valid claims upon their time and energies.

To these the Lord is revealing Himself as standing outside the door of all this activity, 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" Rev 3:20.

There is a price to entering into His highest and best. As we 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 thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see" Rev 3:18.

This is a call to rise above the place where we become satisfied with all the natural 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 of a trumpet (prophetic revelation) talking with him, which said: "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a Throne ... and One sat on the Throne" Rev 4:1-2.

There is much that the Lord desires to reveal concerning things to come; but notice He did not place the emphasis on these things, but rather upon Himself. The revelation which follows is that of the Lord Himself in all of His Glory, with the overcoming Church caught up to His Throne. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me" John 12:32.

During this present time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and of manifold demands upon our time, let us again meditate upon the true purpose for this challenge, "My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away."

This call that is presently going forth from the Lord is for a people who are willing to pay the price by overcoming all that is less than His best and rise to a place of identity with Him in His Throne. Here, they will be qualified to rule with Him in the closing out of this age, and in the establishing of the age to come.

Let us be careful both to hear and to heed all that He is saying to us at this time.