Spring 2006
The Church – Approaching The Time of Change
Wade E Taylor

The Church is approaching a time of change. We hear many leaders saying that there is a change coming to the Church, and that it will no longer appear to be as it is today.

Presently, the emphasis is on the “five-fold ministry,” which functions in the building up of the Body into spiritual maturity, and the preparation of the Body for the work of ministry.

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

In the Kingdom, the Head is about to be joined, not to the five-fold ministry, but to His body. When Jesus takes His place as the Head of His body, the Body of Christ will be energized and begin to function directly under the Head, Jesus. Thus, the word in the above Scripture - “until we all come.” This will greatly affect the Church, as we know it today.

In His first coming, Jesus came in humility. He came as a baby and grew in wisdom and stature. He learned obedience through the things that He suffered, and He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice, that we might be redeemed and purchased through that sacrifice.

In His second coming, He is taking His place of Headship, and He is coming, not in humility, but in Glory. We have a picture in Revelation 1:14-16, that shows us how the Church will look at this time:

“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. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shines in His strength.”

“His hair as white as wool” speaks of a fully mature man. He will join Himself, as Head, to a fully mature body. Thus, the Body must be “proportionate” to the Head.

“To a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13b

“Out of His mouth went a two-edged sword,” - one edge will result in repentance and healing. But if this offer is rejected, the other edge of the sword will result in judgment and death. This judgment (two-edged sword) will function “through” His Body, rather than through the five-fold ministry that ministers “to” the body.

At this present time, the Lord is knocking on the door of our heart, seeking to get us ready to function with Him in this “end-time” purpose. These will hear His call to come up higher and will be shown that which is about to take place in the earth.

“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. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

“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.” Revelation 3:20-4:1

As John looked, the door opened. Each of us can say, “We have never been busier.” The enemy of our Lord’s higher purposes is ever busy to keep us from looking up.

May we turn aside and “look up.” The Lord will respond and bring us up into the new day that is before us.