I believe this will be true when Christ suddenly comes to maturity in His people in the days just prior to His return in the clouds of glory. I would like to be among those who will be so filled with God. Probably not, but I can make every effort to provide the teaching such warriors will need if they are to become strong in the Lord.

There is a part for you to play also.

Now let's consider some of the passages that point toward a specific time when God will move in an unprecedented manner in the earth.

Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. (Micah 5:3—NIV)

Can you see from the above that there will be a time when a "woman" will be in labor and give birth—a specific event occurring at a specific time involving specific people?

The meaning of the passage is, according to my understanding, that just before the return of the Lord, the Church will travail through the ministries and Christ will come to full stature in His people. When this takes place the brothers of Christ will become one stick in God's hand along with the elect Jews. Then the Lord will return.

Notice:

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, (Galatians 4:19—NIV)

The Galatian saints were saved and filled with the Spirit, according to the text of the Book of Galatians. But their willingness to return to the teachings of Judaism showed Paul that while the Galatian believers were part of the Christian religion they did not have enough of Christ formed in them to protect them against the teachings of another religion.

One passage I enjoy is as follows:

Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve. "Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD. "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God. (Isaiah 66:6-9—NIV)

The "temple" is the Body of Christ. The Lord will attack His enemies from within His Church. This already is taking place on a small scale as Christ is coming to us through the Holy Spirit and requiring that we confess and turn away from our sins.

"Before she goes into labor, she gives birth" means the Lord Jesus Christ was born apart from any travail on the part of the Church.

But today the Church is entering a travail of Spirit that Christ might be formed in the members of the Body of Christ.

To be continued.