Spring 1999
A Present Message
Wade E Taylor

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the Churches.” Rev 3:22.

Although the seven Churches listed in Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation were local churches in Asia Minor, each progressively represents a particular age of Church history.

In each of the messages to these Churches, a problem is revealed, a correction given and a reward is set forth, providing the instructions are followed. Those who receive these rewards are called “overcomers.”

Also, the problem within each of these Churches reveals a particular area in our spiritual development, that we also must face and overcome. Each of us should prayerfully read the word to each of these Churches, beginning with Ephesus, and relate its message to our inner spiritual condition and need. As we personally respond to the word of correction, the reward will become active and enhance our spiritual life and walk.

The Laodicean Church represents the seventh, or the end-time Church. There are many indications that we are presently in the time that this Church represents, a time of unprecedented prosperity; and that its message is for us.

"Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods
and have need of nothing, and do not know that you
are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and
naked." Rev 3:17.

The word of correction that is given to those who are so occupied with material possessions, that they do not recognize their spiritual need is,

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold tried in the fire,
so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that
you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your
nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with
eye salve, so that you may see.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore
be zealous and repent." Rev 3:18-19.

The conditional reward is,

"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My
Throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with
My Father in His Throne" Rev 3:21.

The result of the outworking of this promise is found in Rev 5:9-10.

"And they sang a new song, saying, You ... made us
kings and priests to our God, and we will reign
over the earth" Rev 5:9-10.

This "new song" will result when we ask the Lord to apply the messages to these seven Churches to our personal spiritual life and walk; and then give Him permission to chasten or correct us accordingly, as revealed in these messages.

No one else can sing our song, as this song forms deep within as we personally respond to the Lord, and then unconditionally submit our lives to His Kingdom rule, and enter a cooperative on-going relationship with Him.

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges
every son whom He receives.” Heb 12:6.

We should rejoice when we are chastened, since this correction is limited to those whom the Lord loves. As a result, we are changed by being made conformable to His image. As we develop spiritually we are then scourged. This scourging is to remove any “self-centeredness” that may remain, so we will be ready to relate to the Lord in the outworking of His purposes in the closing out of the Church age, and the establishing of the Millennial age.

It is all too easy to relegate the messages to each of these churches to history, or to others, rather than to make a personal application, and then respond to its message as if it were written personally to us.

Because of the lateness of the hour in which we live, as we approach the time of the "Parousia" of our Lord, His presence is becoming increasingly more manifest.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears
My voice and opens the door ..."
This knocking speaks of the direct personal appearance of the Lord to an individual, which may happen in varied ways. This applies to each one of us who desires His best. He is calling our attention to the fact that it is urgent that we individually, personally, respond to the messages to the seven Churches, and especially to the Laodicean Church message.

Here, the Lord is outside of our spiritual experience, knocking upon the door, seeking entrance into a cooperative active relationship with us. He is outside because those within are satisfied with all that has been provided for them; both in church and temporal prosperity, they are "rich and increased in goods."

At this present time, the Lord is seeking individuals who are actively listening, desiring to experience His presence, above all else. It is from within His presence that He will be able to take us further.

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold tried in
the fire ...” Rev 3:18a.

There is another reason for this door being closed. This is the seventh and last Church. Therefore, there is nothing beyond this Church on the earthly level. We have come to the end of the Church age. The only way to go is “UP.”

In Rev 4:1, John heard this knock and said, "... I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven." In response the Lord said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must occur after these things." This "look" is far more than a casual glance. It is an “upward gaze” that will determine and give direction to the steps that we are about to take.

The voice that John heard was as a trumpet talking with him. This "trumpet" speaks of a directive word that is a call to action, due to the urgency of the hour in which we live.

The Lord is calling individuals (those who are spiritually hungry) to go beyond their present level of spiritual attainment and understanding. He is saying, "I will show you things which must be hereafter." This speaks of a present word of revelation.

In response to this upward call, John said,

"And immediately I became in spirit. And behold,
a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat upon
the throne" Rev 4:2.

This "throne" speaks of government. The Lord is seeking those who will submit to His governmental authority, in order to be prepared to participate with Him in the transition from the Church age into the Kingdom age.

I was in the army during World War II. Because of the urgency of the hour, officers were trained in a 90 day course. The enlisted men called these officers "ninety day wonders" and did not respect them. This was because these 90 day officers were ruling, but they had never been ruled over. The Lord will not be caught off guard, as this nation was.

Because there will be no ninety day wonders in His army, the Lord is presently preparing "officers" (overcomers) to participate with him in the closing out of the Church age (the closed door upon which He knocks) and the setting up of His Millennial Kingdom (the open door in the heavens).

These "overcomers" are those who have submitted themselves to the corrections listed in the messages to the seven churches and to His chastening hand upon their lives, and have rightly related to His correction.

We cannot overcome, unless we have something to overcome. Thus, it is imperative that we rightly understand how to relate to our present circumstances and troubles. When we come to the place where we are able to rise above and rule over these, then we will be prepared to rule over the troubles of others, in the setting up of His Kingdom. I cannot go into a city and solve its problems, when I am unable to solve my own.

"And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to
take the book, and to open its seals, for You were
slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out
of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we
will reign over the earth" Rev 5:9-10.