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FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES
Link of article or video : http://www.sonstoglory.com/zionsonsJesuscomingreturn.htm
Hello all,
This is an excellent study taken from a book entitled “Sons to Glory”, written by man named Paul Jablonowski, who has spent many years researching into the subject of the Sons of God. I will be taking excerpts from this book, and presenting them in separate posts. It is my contention that the Bride of Christ and the 144,000 and the Manchild and Manifest Sons of God, as well as the Overcomers, are all related and can actually be proven to be one and the same group.
This is where I will start to show how this is true, and then continue with many more studies to back up what I believe the Lord is showing me. I know this is a major undertaking, and there will be many who will oppose this contention, but please bear with me as I attempt to show how I am finding this to be true, and how if it is, it is very important to all of us. Of course, as usual I encourage everyone to find out for themselves, but maybe these studies will open the door to discussions about finding out who each of these groups really are.
We will begin with finding out about Zion, and its meaning. As this is the major foundation stone.
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Sons to Glory book by Paul Jablonowski
Part 2 - Acting Like Mature Sons - Apostles
Who is Zion?
"For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation; This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it." (Psalm 132:13,14)
About a dozen different Scriptures directly mention that Zion is God's "dwelling place" or "habitation." Since we know that God's ultimate dwelling place is inside His people or His Church (2 Cor. 6:16), we can safely conclude that Zion, in a general broad sense, is representative of God's people or Church. Scripture confirms this directly in Hebrews 12:22-23, "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (messengers), to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect."
Originally, Zion was a "stronghold," "high place," "fortress," or "castle" within the city of David (Jerusalem) which David took in battle (2Sam 5:7, 1Chr. 11:5). Since the natural reflects the spiritual (1 Cor. 15:46), spiritual Zion is like a stronghold or fortress within the city of God (the Church). So, Zion can correctly be called "the city of the great King" (Ps. 48:2) and refer to the Church at large. However, more specifically Zion refers to a particular part of God's city - the very heart and strength of it (Ps. 84:7). "The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion" (Ps. 110:2).
Zion is representative of the more spiritually mature. Everyone starts their walk with the Lord as a child and progressively grows up (1 Cor. 13:11). However, growing up requires that we make certain decisions, because "many are called, but few are chosen," (Matt. 22:14). Although spiritual maturity is available to all who believe, few are willing to pay the price and really lay down their lives in order to be chosen. The Lord alone builds up Zion (Ps. 102:16) by the "way of the Cross," and chooses all those who "overcome" to be closest to Him. "And they overcame him (Satan), by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Rev. 12:11). Zion is a remnant (Joel 2:32, Isa. 37:31,32) chosen by God to be His Bride who trust in the Lord with all of their life, love Him with all of their hearts, and overcome the world through love.
Psalm 76:1 shows this progression of intimacy with the Lord… "In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. In Jerusalem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion." This verse, along with the 3 steps of spiritual maturity (fathers, young men, children), the three parts of mankind (spirit, soul & body), and Moses' tabernacle (most holy place, holy place & outer court) gives us a pretty good idea of how the Lord views Zion as very central to His heart.
"The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Ps. 87:2).
Inside the Most Holy place of Moses' tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God's Presence. However, no one was allowed in the Most Holy Place except the high priest, and only once per year with fear and trembling. Some priests did not come out alive if they did not follow the prescriptions of blood sacrifice exactly the way God told Moses, because the way to ultimate intimacy with God was not yet understood (Heb. 9:7,8). This may be why we do not see "Zion" mentioned in the Scriptures at all during the Tabernacle of Moses, because Zion represents the way of abiding intimately with the Lord in the Most Holy Place, and this was not yet known at the time of the tabernacle of Moses (Heb. 9:7-8).
However, we DO find "Zion" first mentioned with King David (2 Sam. 5:7, 1 Kings 8:1). David found amazing intimacy with God, which is why he was able to bring the Ark of the Covenant right into his backyard and worship the Presence of God whenever he wanted to without dying. Unlike the tremendous rules and regulations found in the tabernacle of Moses, the tabernacle of David was a simple three-sided tent with the Ark of the Covenant right in the midst of it! David was definitely a spiritual pioneer in his generation.
To approach at free will the Ark of the Covenant (the Presence of God) was tremendously unorthodox behavior according to the laws of Moses. This is why David's tabernacle is the only tabernacle or house that God said he was going to restore (Acts 15:16,17), because Abba Father has a desire to be close to us in an intimate way. David's tabernacle, which was in Zion, represents the way to be intimate with God.
Zion is a set-apart place of spontaneous worship and adoration toward God. Most of the Psalms were recorded by scribes as David sang from inspiration and poured out His heart to God (Ps. 87:7). Although the tabernacles of Moses and Solomon were given specific dimensions and building instructions, the tabernacle of David did NOT have any dimensions or descriptions, because God himself will build Zion. Since Zion is a holy place of worship, how can holiness or worship be measured? There was no veil to separate God's presence from His people -"every one of them appears before God in Zion" (Ps. 84:7).
Zion is always referred to in the feminine throughout the Scriptures, and several refer to her as a virgin. The next chart has some brief characteristics of Zion the Bride of Christ:
Characteristics of Zion Scripture References
God's dwelling place or habitation Ps. 9:11, Ps. 76:2, Ps. 132:13, Zech. 8:3,
The ark (presence) of God is here 1 Ki. 19:21, 2 Chr. 5:2, Ps. 102:16, Isa. 4:5
Seat of God's governmental authority Ps. 2:6, Isa. 2:3, Ps. 132:17,18, Isa. 24:23
She is God's people Heb. 12:22-24, Ps. 74:2, Isa. 10:24; 30:19
She is a virgin Isa. 62:5, Jer. 31:4, 2 Ki. 19:21, Isa. 37:22
She is a mother of daughters and sons Ps. 149:2, Isa. 66:8, Jer. 4:31, Mic. 4:10
She is a bride Isa. 49:18, Isa. 61:10, Isa. 62:5, Rev 21:2,9
Zion is the seat of God's government: "For I have set my king on My Holy Hill of Zion" (Ps. 2:6), "there I will make the government of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My anointed" (Ps. 132:17,18). "For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders gloriously" (Isa. 24:23). From general to specific, Zion is: God's dwelling place - the Church, the overcomers, and His intimate Bride.
"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God…Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." (Rev. 21:2,3,9,10)
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JESUS IS ALL AND EVERY THING!!
Patti C.
FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES
Link of article or video : http://www.sonstoglory.com/zionsonsJesuscomingreturn.htm
THE BIRTHING OF ZION’S SONS
Hello all,
This is the continuation of the study of “Who is Zion” and the role they play in the end times. As stated before I believe that the groups mentioned as the Manchild, the 144,000, the Overcomers, and the Manifest Sons of God are all the same group. They are all Zion.
I know this is a great deal to digest, as I have been struggling with this for several weeks. The Lord would show me one piece and then another, but still I hesitated in writing anything because it did not feel complete. Just last night I had a revelation, and saw that I was missing an important component, and this morning the Lord directed me to this study on Zion. Finally it all became clear, and I was prompted to begin writing about what He has been laying on my heart. This may take many posts and studies to fully present all of this, but I pray it will spark some to search for them self, and see if this could be so.
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Sons to Glory book by Paul Jablonowski
Part 2 - Acting Like Mature Sons - Apostles
Chapter 14
The Birthing of Zion's Sons
Jesus' first coming began with a birth, and Jesus' Second Coming is also beginning with a birth. His first coming started with a birth through a mother: It was a natural birth, through a natural mother (Mary), birthing Jesus the One and only unique Son of the Father. The Second Coming is also starting with a birth through a mother. It is a spiritual birth, through a spiritual mother (Zion), birthing Jesus IN His mature sons within His Body of believers. The purpose of this writing is to study this particular aspect of Jesus' Second Coming through a birth. "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:19)
If the majority of God's people misunderstood Jesus' mission the first time He came, what makes us think that we will understand His mission this time? In Jesus' earthly time, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who loved God's Word more than anyone else, were actually the greatest obstacles to the purposes of God in their generation. Why? Because they already thought they knew how the Messiah should come. "If anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." (Galatians 6:3)
So, how can we understand the Father's purposes for sending His son Jesus the second time to earth? Mary is our example with her simple trust and humble devotion to the Lord. She simply believed the Lord could and would do the impossible through her (Luke 1:38). The secrets of the Lord are for those who fear Him, not for those who study hard or think they already know everything like the Pharisees. It is only by God's grace that He gives us revelation into His purposes, and He looks for a broken spirit and a humble heart to impart His revelation.
A sincere love for the truth (Jesus - a person - is truth) is the main focus to have in order to understand Jesus' mission during His Second Coming. The key is to keep your relationship with Jesus at the center, and let Him give you revelation in His timing, like Mary, out of that simple devotion to Him.
If we want to qualify to receive God's revelation we must realize in humility our role as clay pots, and understand that there is "no good thing in me" (Rom. 7:18) that can help Jesus fulfill His purpose. His Spirit alone IN His people will fulfill His purposes in the earth with or without us personally. True humility will allow God's grace to flow into our lives (James 4:6). Rather than "head knowledge" stemming from a fleshly mind, His GRACE is what we really need in order to receive revelation of His purposes for our generation.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were proud because of their head knowledge in the Scriptures. But God resists the proud and blinds them no matter how much they might know (1 Tim. 6:4, John 12:40). I have always been amazed at God's ability to hide His greater truths from those who are earnestly seeking it, but with a wrong motivation. His ability to hide His secrets from the proud is much greater than our ability to "search and find."
Understanding Christ's Second Coming in our generation can only come to us as a gift of divine revelation. What is written in this study has been accumulated piece by piece over the past 14 years as I've walked day by day with the Lord and asked Him about His coming.
Some things came to me by reading other people's books or articles, but they often came right at the time I was asking the Lord personally about that subject, so I received it as from the Lord and not from man. While there may be areas in this chapter that need minor adjustments and corrections, the overall picture given here I believe is from the Lord who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
To know Him as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending is a tremendous key in understanding Jesus' Second Coming. A detailed study on the beginnings and endings of the Old Testament "Age of Truth " will reveal amazing similarities, which are not coincidental. However, this study primarily compares the beginning and the ending of the New Testament "Age of Grace," where we see that history repeats itself. After all, history really is His-story which "was written for our admonition and instruction, on whom the ends of the ages has come" (1 Cor 10:11). He really DOES want us to understand His coming! May we all have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to this "end of the age" generation.
The Alpha and the Omega
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means He is the beginning and the ending (Rev. 1:8). Therefore, it should not be a surprise that the beginning and the ending of particular works of God have many similarities, because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8). One of the greatest keys to understanding the big picture in prophecy is to see the relationship that exists between the beginning and the ending. Likewise, in order to better understand the Second Coming of Jesus (the ending of this age of grace), a short comparison will be made to the First Coming of Christ (the beginning of this same age):
Comparison of Jesus' First and Second Comings
Jesus' First Coming # (1) Jesus' Second Coming #(2)
1. Preceded by the spirit of Elijah [through the ministry of John the Baptist]
2. Preceded by the spirit of Elijah [through many modern day prophetic ministries that exist today] (Mal. 4:5)
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1. There is a pregnant virgin [Mary] before her wedding [to Joseph]
2. There is a pregnant virgin [Zion] before her wedding [to the Lamb] (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 12, 14:4, 19:7)
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1. Government [Herod] killed many babies to try to prevent Christ's coming.
2. Governments are participating in killing many babies [through abortion] to try to prevent Christ's coming "in His sons".
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1. Jesus ministered for 3 ½ years 4. The two witnesses will minister for 3 ½ years; (discussed in the book of Revelation chapter 11).
2. Jesus died and was in the grave for 3 days 5. The two witnesses die for 3 ½ days (Rev. 11:7-8)
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1. Jesus is resurrected from the dead and taken to heaven.
2. The two witnesses are resurrected from the dead and taken to heaven (Rev. 11:11-12)
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1. Many saints are raised from the dead (Matt. 27:52-53) 7. Many saints are raised from the dead (1 Thess. 5:16,17).
2. Jesus returned in His glorified body to be with His disciples. 8. Jesus will return in His glorified body to be with His people (Rev. 20:4)
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1. The various divided religious groups (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) rejected the way in which He came because He didn't come the way they were expecting.
2. The various divided religious groups (denominations) are rejecting the way He is coming in His mature sons, because it is not what we have been teaching or expecting.
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So Jesus' first coming came in different stages. First, He was conceived in His mother Mary's womb and birthed. Then, He grew up in wisdom and stature with both men and God for 30 years. Then, He was baptized by John and started His 3 ½ year ministry on the earth. At the end of His ministry, He was crucified, buried and rose again from the grave. All of these events, over about a 34 year period, consisted of His "first coming," and it was a transition period between the Age of Truth and the Age of Grace.
The second stage of His coming, which is the longest phase, is the growth of God's government (manchild) on the earth. This second stage can be compared to the 30 years before Jesus started His ministry where He was growing in spiritual maturity. The third and final stage is the 3 ½ year ministry of the "two witnesses" discussed in Revelation chapter 11 and can be compared to Jesus' 3 ½ year ministry. These final two stages will destroy the "lawless one" by the "brightness of His coming" (2 Thess. 2:8). The Greek word "coming" in this verse is "parousia" and refers to the coming of God's manifest presence and glory IN His people.
These final two stages will include the return of the risen Lord to empower His people with His presence that will bind Satan and render him powerless to deceive people anymore. Jesus will return the same way that He did the first time at His resurrection. Again, the Scriptures have established a pattern for beginnings and endings. He did not return to unbelievers, but only to those looking for Him.
He will simply appear to individuals and groups of people, as He chooses, to give them direction in establishing His kingdom on earth. There is much to say on this aspect of His return, but this writing is for the purpose of looking at the first stage, which is the birthing of Christ IN His mature sons.
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As I have noted before I am presenting this study in parts as to present it clearly. In this part, I particularly like what the author has to say about the part “Humility” plays in being a part of this group. This is of upmost importance. I also like what he states here:
“Understanding Christ's Second Coming in our generation can only come to us as a gift of divine revelation. What is written in this study has been accumulated piece by piece over the past 14 years as I've walked day by day with the Lord and asked Him about His coming.”
I really relate to this!! As that is exactly how I am coming to the conclusions that I am…piece by piece, and by walking day by day with the Lord, and asking Him about His coming.
What an awesome Lord we serve!!
JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!
Patti C.
To be continued……
FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES
Link of article or video : hhtp://www.sonstoglory.com/zionsonsJesuscomingreturn.htm
SONSHIP IS OUR BLESSED HOPE!!
Hello all,
I have always heard that the Rapture is our “blessed hope”, and of course that is certainly one of them. I feel that being born again is our blessed hope, as one would not be going in the Rapture if one is not born again. The article I am presenting today is another to look at what our blessed hope truly is, as this wraps all blessed hope into one incredible concept that brings together our highest possibility as members of the Body of Christ.
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Sons to Glory book by Paul Jablonowski
Part 2 - Acting Like Mature Sons - Apostles
Chapter 14
Sonship
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption (Sonship) by whom we cry out, "Abba Father."" (Romans 8:14,15)
The apostle Paul uses this term "adoption" five different times in his writings (Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5 and Eph 1:5). The word "adoption" here is translated from the two Greek words: "huios" (mature sons) and "thesis" (placing). So this could be translated "placing mature sons" or even better "Sonship." Some translations will use the term "children of God" or "adopted children of God," but the term huios means a mature son and one who is a legitimate heir of the father, not a child.
Sonship is about covenant and inheritance; and it is not based on being male or female. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized in Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" Galatians 3:26-29.
But babes and children do not get an inheritance until they are grown up. This maturing process is where the greater spiritual warfare is taking place today! Satan knows that these mature sons will finish the ministry of Christ in destroying the works of darkness that Jesus triumphed over at the cross. Children are not going to displace the powers of darkness. Only full grown mature believers who have learned to take up their Cross and follow the Lamb wherever He may lead them will rise to the task.
The main spiritual conflict today concerns God's people advancing unto full growth, but be of good cheer because maturity WILL happen! In 1943, T.A. Sparks wrote:
"God will reach His end; He will come in, in His Son in terms of sonship, to take up residence within those begotten of Him, and will grow in them, increase His measure in them, until at last, brought to the unity of the faith, they become a mighty embodiment and revelation of God Himself. Not in Deity, but in what He is spiritually and morally in this universe-- conformed to the image of His Son, a living expression of God's own thoughts."
So, Christ will eventually fill this universe with Himself through Sonship by generating a mature body of people through faith. This Bride Body is coming to maturity in our generation and all of those generations who have gone before us have contributed to today's maturing corporate Bride of Christ. The goal of Sonship is why Paul's letters were written to believers, and why he labored towards this end that Christ may be "formed" in our character and habits.
"My little children, for whom I labor in birth until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19)
How could the apostle Paul say here that he was laboring in birth for the believers in Galatia "until Christ is formed in them?" The Galatians that he was talking to were already "born again" believers in Jesus. Didn't they already have Christ in them?
When a person confesses Jesus, he or she becomes a new creation with the Spirit of God coming to dwell inside their spirit. However, this does not mean that their character is instantly changed into the character of Jesus.
Although this is the goal, it requires a process of "dying daily to self" and learning to submit "my will" to "Thy will." The distinction between having Christ in us at the new birth, and having Christ formed in us is a matter of spiritual maturity. Even Jesus had to "grow up in wisdom and stature before both God and man" (Luke 2:52) for 30 years.
Notice that in this Scripture above (Gal. 4:19) Paul is addressing "My little children." He is laboring so that these "little children" will grow up in their spiritual walk and learn to "take up their crosses daily" and follow Jesus' example as a "way of life" and not just a good teaching.
Although God's stated goal is that we "be perfect as I am perfect" (Matt. 5:48), the focus should not be on individual perfection. Rather Christ "in us" as His corporate Body will be the perfect man. It is corporately that we are given to understand the mysteries of Christ and the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). Paul in 1st Corinthians 2:16 did not say, "I have the mind of Christ - rather he said, "WE have the mind of Christ."
This is why God's people are called the "body of Christ," because we are one with Christ, who is the head, and one with each other as His body. It is TOGETHER that we, "all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:11).
The glory that God will be pouring out upon His people is for the purpose of bringing us into unity with Him and with one another, so that we can be perfect. Jesus tells us this in John 17:22-23: "the glory which You (Father) gave Me I have given them (disciples), that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one."
This fullness and unity and oneness with Jesus is the reason for which the apostle Paul labored in birth. He labored for this maturity, "so that we should be no longer children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men" (Eph. 4:12). The apostle John mentions 3 levels of spiritual maturity that patterns after natural maturity in 1 John 2:12-14...
1Jo 2:12
“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.”
1Jo 2:13
“I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.”
1Jo 2:14
“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
1. Little Children
Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
(You have known the Father.)
2. Young Men
You have overcome the wicked one.
(You are strong and the Word of God abides in you.)
3. Fathers
You have known Him who is from the beginning.
As this shows, maturity is a progressive revelation of knowing the Lord. Spiritual maturity is accomplished by the way of the Cross. Ask yourself this question: How much am I willing to give up in order to obey the Lord? Self-centeredness is the root of spiritual immaturity. On the other hand, maturity is "speaking the truth in love" from a heart that has submitted to God's dealings, discipline and testing (the Cross).
The way of the Cross is the wisdom of God and the power of God. His life is able to live through us only when we are dead to "self." Life comes through death. It was only after Jesus died that He was able to bring us eternal life. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24) This is foolishness to the world, but brings God glory because no flesh can boast in what "I've done for God." The focus is on Christ and what He has done for us.
"For I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)
The Greek words used in the Scriptures for "sons" also reveal a three level pattern to spiritual growth: Infancy is "teknion," while puberty is "teknon" and finally maturity is "huios." Most importantly, the life of Jesus reveals the same spiritual growth pattern with three major milestones marking public attention to His maturity as a son in the Hebrew culture. The first was Circumcision and baby dedication, which happened at the temple when Jesus was only eight days old (Luke 2:21-35). This marks a Hebrew child as a "Covenant Man."
The second was the Hebrew Bar-Mitzvah meaning "son accountable" which Jesus also publicly celebrated in the temple at the age of twelve. This marks the time when a son was able to become an apprentice under his father in the family business. This is why Jesus said to his parents, "I must be about My Father's business" (Luke 2:41-52).
Finally, a "Huiothesia" was celebrated around the age of thirty, which marks the age of maturity. This occurred in the life of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry when He was baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17). Here is some history about this Hebrew maturity rite of passage:
The word Huiothesia means "Son Placement" and indicates the time when a male child reached what was considered to be the age of maturity somewhere around thirty. At this time, the father of the young man would place his hand on the head of his son and openly proclaim, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased! I bestow upon him now all of my riches and power and authority (through power of attorney) so that he might act on my behalf in all of my affairs.
The entire creation is waiting for these mature sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:20-25 shows that this manifestation of the mature sons of God is an event which has not yet happened. It is a great "hope" that all of us "wait for with perseverance." In another place, 1 John 3:1-2 explains that as children of God "it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." The next verse explains that this is a "hope" (something in the future) which we prepare for by purifying ourselves. For as Jesus said, "The pure in heart shall see God."
This process of maturity has taken 2,000 years to perfect, as each generation has learned from their forefather's mistakes and pressed on. Even the apostle Paul said that he had not attained perfection or even laid hold of it (Phil. 3:12-16). This attitude of "pressing on toward the goal (perfection) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" is what Paul called a "mature" mindset, saying "to the degree that we have already attained (of maturity), let us walk by the same rule, and let us be of the same mind (unity in Christ and with one another)" (Phil. 3:16).
We can see from this verse above that Paul did not focus on this perfection individually, but rather corporately, and this perfection is not of ourselves. Rather Christ IN us, His body, will be manifesting His life through vessels who have died to self and have allowed the life of Jesus to flow through their lives to a hurting world. Individually we "know in part and prophecy in part, but when that which is perfect has come (Jesus IN His mature unified body), then that which is in part (the current church structure) will be done away.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now (in the present state of God's body) we see a poor reflection as in a mirror; but then (when Christ's body is perfected in unity) we shall see face to face. Now we know in part; then we shall know fully." (1 Cor 13:9-12). Again, this "perfect man" in Christ will be a corporate body of unified believers.
The man Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, but Jesus is still coming in the flesh everyday through His Body of believers. God manifests in the flesh in terms of Sonship. 1 John 4:2-3 says that it is the spirit of antichrist to deny that Christ "is come" in the flesh. This Greek term "is come" is in the future tense and could easily be translated: "is coming" because Christ is coming today IN us. CHRIST IN US is the hope of glory and the secret mystery hidden from all ages, but now revealed to those of us who know Him.
We are inheritors of His divine life and nature, not in His Deity, but rather in His character and love nature. Sonship is about maturity, and maturity is being like God in our character no matter what the circumstances may be in our lives. John 1:12 clearly tells us that it is our "right" to be sons of God. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power (some translations say "the right") to become the sons of God." (KJV). But to become sons we must MATURE. To help God's people get a vision towards maturity is one of the main purposes for this writing.
Paul wrote, "We who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption (Sonship), the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23). Here, Paul links the placing of the mature sons of God with the resurrection of our bodies. In another Scripture (Philippians 3:10-12), Paul links the maturity of the saints or "being perfected" with the resurrection, where he rejoices in the sufferings of Christ that he may "attain to the resurrection from the dead."
So, the "revealing of the sons of God (the maturity of the saints)," which is still in the future, is intimately connected with bodily resurrection, and it is a completely different event from salvation. We will now see that laboring and sorrow is required before this "revealing" of God's character and glory will take place. But like Paul we should, "consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be (future tense) revealed IN us" (Rom. 8:18). Christ in us is our ONLY hope of glory! (Col. 1:27)
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This “sonship” is all about being “perfect as He is Perfect”. We cannot achieve this perfectness in any way, only “Christ in us”, and He will do this as we let “more of Thee and less of me” take over our lives. It’s all about what we give to Him, not what we give to the world. The only way we can help the world is to let Him do it through us. Becoming sons of God is our ultimate “blessed hope”.
JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!
Patti C.
to be continued...
THE BIRTHING OF THE SONS OF GOD AND THE SONS OF THE FLESH
FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES
Link of article or video : hhtp://www.sonstoglory.com/zionsonsJesuscomingreturn.htm
Hello all,
This is where this study gets even more interesting. Even though no one has commented and not many seem to be following what I am presenting here, I pray there are at least a few that are taking the time to at least consider its implications, and see how it is biblically supported and very coherent with scripture. I really don’t have a choice, whether anyone wants to look at this or not, I am compelled to at least give the opportunity for it to be considered.
May we all have eyes to see and ears to hear.
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Sons to Glory book by Paul Jablonowski
Part 2 - Acting Like Mature Sons - Apostles
Laboring & Giving Birth
Marvin Byers writes:
The Father's desire is not merely to produce babes in Christ; He is also looking for mature sons who will bring His glory to a needy world. The life of Christ is formed in us through "travail," and travail involves suffering and sorrow. So, this is why Paul mentions that "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18 NIV). That travail will bring forth that glory... The concept of giving birth to Christ's life in a spiritual sense is a glorious hope set before us. It refers to a level of spiritual maturity where we become channels through which the fullness of His life flows to others. This is a theme that is repeated many times throughout the Bible. This is why the Bible refers so often to travail, intercession, and giving birth.25
"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:22,23).
There is a birthing process to reveal the character of Jesus through His mature sons to all of creation. In order to bring forth new life, labor (pain) and birth (a sudden change) is required. When a baby is born, it goes through tremendous amounts of biological and chemical changes. For one, it starts breathing air for the first time and eating from the mouth instead of the umbilical cord. Likewise, during this spiritual birthing process, there are some major changes that take place suddenly. "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant (Jesus the Christ)." (Mal. 3:1) The Lord's "suddenlies" may take years to fully grasp (just like it did when he was born the first time), but from heaven's perspective it is like turning on a water faucet of God's glory. If the hose is not strong enough to sustain the sudden thrust and continuous flow of water it will burst. Likewise, if we are not prepared vessels through humility and brokenness, we will burst and not be able to be used by the Lord to contain His glory that is coming. Jesus uses a similar analogy referring to us as wineskins (Matt. 9:17).
Jesus also says that "whoever does the will of God is my brother and My sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). So we can all become His mother, or vessels through which the Father can use to birth His life. As mentioned previously, Mary's life is one of the greatest examples in Scripture of a vessel through which God was able to birth His purposes. A detailed study of Mary's life will reveal many godly characteristics, but one that shines through the most is her faith in believing God's promise to her. She simply trusted that God was able to bring to pass in her what was impossible to happen in the natural. She believed God and knew Him intimately, thus revealing her spiritual maturity or Sonship. Listen how Mary responded to the Lord:
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God... Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."" (Luke 1:35,38)
Believing this promise did not come without suffering and sorrow and reproach. I am sure that Mary labored spiritually as much as she did naturally. How many of Mary's family and friends do you think actually believed along with her that her pregnancy was really from the Holy Spirit??? In that time period, if you were pregnant out of wedlock it was bad news! You were a social outcast. Also, it was a great step of faith for Joseph to take Mary as his wife. In the natural, he was admitting that he was the father of the child out of wedlock. Mary and Joseph were like Moses who "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Heb. 11:26), and they were also entrusted with the secrets of the Lord.
Also, John 16 explains how the first disciples were used as "mothers" to birth the life of Christ to their generation. He told them, "it is to your advantage that I go away" (vs. 7) so that you can give birth! Jesus compares them to a woman in labor who is sorrowful during her labor, but rejoices when new life is birthed and forgets her initial anguish. "Most assuredly, I say to you that you (disciples) will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." (vs. 20-22)
This explanation of the woman in labor is the answer that Jesus gives to the riddle that is mentioned three times just before in verses 16-19. This riddle gives us insight that it was Jesus Himself who was being birthed by the disciples. Jesus says, "A little while, and you will not see Me (because He was about to be crucified); and again a little while, and you will see Me (not because of His return, but), because I go to the Father (which will cause you to sorrow and labor)." Jesus left them right at the time when they had realized that He was the answer for all of fallen humanity! This caused the disciples to travail and labor like a woman in birth so that Jesus could be seen again through them. So, Jesus was seen again not because of His return, but because His character and life was seen through the disciples as a result of travail and a birth.
There are many other women throughout the Scriptures who through faith and patience were able to be used by God to birth His purposes in their generation: Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth just to name a few. However, one of the most dramatic and climactic births in the Bible is one that is occurring in our generation, and it is found in Revelation chapter 12. Here we find "a woman clothed with the sun (glory of God), with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars (governmental authority). Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth... And she bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne." (Rev. 12:2,3,5)
This birth sounds so much like the birth of Jesus that many scholars attribute this to Mary birthing Jesus. However, John clearly says that the book of Revelation is to show us things that will take place in the future (Rev. 1:1). Although we can compare this birth to the natural birth of Jesus, this Scripture is more accurately a reference to the spiritual birth of Jesus through a spiritual mother who is the Church - the Jerusalem from above - or Zion.
Sarah (the Bride of Christ) Giving Birth
Revelation chapter 12 is the clearest description of the Bride of Christ giving birth to the life of Jesus. Therefore, let's prayerfully read it again in its entirety with this imagery in mind:
1) the woman = the Bride of Christ;
2) the man child = Jesus manifested IN 144,000 mature sons of God; and
3) the dragon = Satan.
1-2 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3-4 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.
6-9 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10-12 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
12-13 Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14-17 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (King James Version)
Since Satan can only counterfeit what God is doing, we should not be surprised to find another woman in Revelation 17 who also represents a group of people. This woman is "Babylon the harlot" who is also a mother - "the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Rev. 17:5).
At the same time that the Bride of Christ is birthing the mature sons of God bringing liberty and life, the Great Harlot will be birthing mature sons of the flesh who will bring bondage and death. Isaiah 60 explains how great glory can cover the earth, while at the same time deep darkness also covers the earth. Jesus compares the time of His Second Coming to a woman in labor by saying that wars, famines, and earthquakes are all the beginning of "birth pangs" (Matt 24:8).
Also, Paul explains within the context of Jesus' return that: "when they cry, 'peace and safety,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman" (2 Thess. 3:8).
Therefore, a comparison can be made of these two women:
(1) The Bride of Christ (Rev. 12) VS (2) The Great Harlot (Rev 17)
(1) Mother of a child to rule all nations (vs. 5)
(2) Mother of harlots and abominations (vs. 5)
(1) Filled with life by the blood of the Lamb (vs. 11)
(2) Filled with death because they shed innocent blood (vs. 6)
(1) Clothed with the riches of heaven (vs. 1)
(2)Clothed with the riches of the earth (vs. 4)
(1) The dragon and beast oppose this woman (vs. 3,13,17)
(2) The dragon and beast carry this woman (vs. 3,7)
(1) The earth helps this woman (vs. 16)
(2) The earth hates this woman (vs. 16-17)
(1) Compared to the city of Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2,3,9,10)
(2) Compared to the city of Babylon - earthly Jerusalem (vs. 5)
(1) Lay down their lives and end up with life eternal (vs. 11)
(2) Live for the moment and end up in eternal death (vs. 16)
(1) Compared to Sarah birthing Isaac (Gal. 4:21-31)
(2) Compared to Hagar birthing Ishmael (Gal. 4:21-31)
To further explain these births by the Bride of Christ (Spirit) and the Great Harlot (flesh), let's take a look at Galatians 4:21-31 where Paul compares the sons of promise to Sarah and Isaac, and the sons of the flesh to Hagar and Ishmael:
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons; the one by a bondwoman (Hagar), the other by a free-woman (Sarah). But he (Ishmael), who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh, and he (Isaac), of the free-woman, through promise; which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar - for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children - but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Gal 4:21-26).
Here we can see from Abraham's life, that our own good ideas (the flesh) will give birth to bondage, and only that which originates from God's promise (Spirit) results in bringing life. Mount Sinai brings death, but Mount Zion brings life. The next verse continues: "For it is written; "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who do not travail! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband."" (Gal 4:27, Isa. 54:1)
Sarah was made barren by God (Gen. 16:2). Therefore, she attempted to bring about God's promise by acting in the flesh and allowing Abraham to bring forth a son from Hagar which was not God's perfect will. We, the Church, have done the same thing as Sarah. We have not been patient and willing to accept God's purpose in keeping us barren for a time, and we've acted in the flesh using carnal methods to birth fleshly sons into God's house.
The watered down gospel which says, "come to Jesus and He'll fix all of your problems" allows sons of the flesh (Ishmael's) to be birthed. The true message of the Gospel is the Cross, which says, "whoever desires to save his life must lose it." The Cross is not just a part of the Gospel, the Cross IS the Gospel. True sons of the kingdom will be born out of barrenness because their mother (the Bride of Christ) will have been through the wilderness (Cross) and come to the end of "self". Sarah was not able in the natural to give birth, because she was over 90 years old and "past the time of child bearing." Likewise the Bride of Christ in the wilderness will not be able to give birth to God's mature sons in the natural. It will be (it must be) a work of the Spirit.
Isaiah testifies more about the barrenness of the true Bride of Christ in chapter 54 (where Paul is quoting from): "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not travailed with child! For more are the children of the desolate (Great Harlot) than the children of the married woman (Bride of Christ / Sarah). Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed or disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband. The Lord of Hosts is His name; and our redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused." (Vs. 1,4-6).
Isaiah then goes on to encourage her that after her barrenness she will inherit: the promises of an everlasting Covenant of Peace, children who are taught by the Lord, and protection from all harm.
Paul continues in Galatians 4: "Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh (Ishmael) then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit (Isaac), even so it is now (the Harlot persecutes the Bride). Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman." So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free." (Gal 4:28-31)
Ishmael and Isaac lived together in the same house. Likewise, in the Church there have been both the sons of the flesh and the sons of the Spirit living together in God's house. But, there came a time when Sarah said, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son (Ishmael); for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac" (Gen. 21:10-12), and God told Abraham to listen to Sarah. Likewise, after the Bride of Christ births the child of promise (the mature sons of God), then the time is soon when the sons of the flesh will also be cast out.
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There is nothing new under the sun. This birthing of the sons of God and the sons of perdition were manifested in the physical lives of Isaac and Ismael as a foreshadowing of things to come. As we come to the end of the Age, we find this birthing process taking place once again, in the spiritual fulfillment of the final battle. The big picture has always been there, right in the pages of the Word, from beginning to end.
I pray that we can all see this as the end draws near. In many ways man has complicated the Truth by his religious interpretations, and the flesh has taken precedence over the Spirit. It is all coming to a conclusion in the very near future, it is time that we see this truth and make sure we are on the right side.
JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!
Patti C.
To be continued in one final part……
FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES
Link of article or video : hhtp://www.sonstoglory.com/zionsonsJesuscomingreturn.htm
ZION GIVING BIRTH(many are called but few are chosen)
Hello all,
The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Bride (Zion) is taken out of this body of believers. Just as Eve was taken out of the body of the first Adam, the Bride will be taken out of the Body of the second Adam, Christ. This Bride will birth the Manchild, the 144,000 sons of God. In the last and final part of this study we will examine how this birth takes place, as it is shown in the Holy Bible.
Spiritual Israel will take part in redeeming natural Israel.
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Sons to Glory book by Paul Jablonowski
Part 2 - Acting Like Mature Sons - Apostles
Zion Giving Birth
Several Scriptures refer to how Zion will give birth. Since we have established that Zion is representative of the Bride of Christ, let's examine what the Lord's Bride will be birthing. Passages from the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah point this out:
"Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: "Your brethren (birthed by the Great Harlot) who hated you, who cast you out for My name's sake, said, 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy,' (saying why do you take up your cross?) but they shall be ashamed." The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, who fully repays His enemies!" (Isa. 66:5-6)
Above, we see that one of the reasons why the Lord is bringing about the birth of His sons is to fully repay His enemies, or to cast out the children and methods of the flesh. The very next verses explain the birth process that the Lord will bring to pass to punish His enemies:
"Before she travailed, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion (the Bride of Christ) travailed, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery? says the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? says your God." (Isa 66:7-10)
The birth of these children of God through the Bride of Christ will be the answer that the Lord gives to vindicate His name and His holy city Jerusalem. Although spiritual Jerusalem (the Bride of Christ) has been redeemed, natural Jerusalem (the city as well as our physical bodies) still remains in bondage to the children of the flesh (Gal 4:25). But shortly after the birth of these "son's of Zion," Isaiah 66:10-13 shows that natural Jerusalem will also be redeemed:
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus says the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts. So, I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." The conclusion of Isaiah's book goes on to explain the judgment of God with fire and the reign of His Kingdom on earth with the headquarters in His holy mountain Jerusalem.
On several different occasions Jeremiah compares Zion or Israel to a woman in labor:
"For I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself, who spreads her hands, saying, "Woe is me now, for my soul is weary because of murderers!"" (Jer. 4:31)
Thus says the Lord, "Behold a people comes from the north country… as men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion." We have heard the report of it; our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor." (Jer. 6:22,24)
"Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north… what will you say when He punishes you? For you have taught them to be chieftains, to be head over you. Will not pangs seize you like a woman in labor?" (Jer. 13:20,21)
Israel was about to be taken captive to Babylon, and her labor, travail, pain and sorrow was prophesied to come as a result of Babylon wreaking havoc in Jerusalem. Likewise, the Great Harlot (Babylon) that was birthed from the flesh, will wreak havoc in spiritual Jerusalem.
But at the same time that the Bride of Christ (mature believers) are being persecuted by Babylon she will begin to intercede and travail to bring about Jesus' life to a dying world. Jeremiah lets us know when this birth will take place: during the "time of Jacob's trouble" and during the "day of the Lord" which is also the time when Jesus returns: "Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. "We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it (the Day of the Lord); and it is the time of Jacobs's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break his (Babylon the Great Harlot - false church's) yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them." (Jer. 30:4-9)
Finally, Micah also confirms that the Lord's reign in Zion will start with a birth: "In that day (the day of Messiah's return), says the Lord, I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation.
So the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever. And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in your midst? Has your counselor perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor. Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, Like a woman in birth pangs." (Mic. 4:6-10)
Micah then goes on to explain that the Messiah will have two comings, and that he will not return the second time until AFTER the Bride of Christ has "given birth." "But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth (two comings) have been from of old, from everlasting (they are established).
Therefore He (the Messiah) shall give them up (by returning to heaven after his earthly ministry), until the time that she who is in labor (the Bride of Christ) has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. And he (Jesus) shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace." (Micah 5:2-5)
Jesus is waiting in heaven to return, but He will not return until the Bride of Christ has given birth to His life and character through mature sons. Only after this birth can we begin to start looking for any rapture or physical return of the man Christ Jesus. Only after this birth will the nation of Israel begin to be provoked to jealousy and saved. Only after this birth can we look for the promise of a restored government of God on the earth.
It requires some effort on our part, some pain, some labor, some spiritual travail. Life comes from travail. Jesus travailed, Paul travailed, the Early Church travailed, and the Bride of Christ will also travail to bring forth the "sons of Zion" in our generation.
I have yearned so much just to spend time in the Presence of the Lord and behold His beauty! Yet at the same time, I have desired so much for others to see His beauty and love that I must get out and show others His goodness! The tension between these two desires is what has caused a spiritual travail to begin. The pain, travail and labor are not fun. But we have a great hope and joy set before us. Jesus said, "a woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world" (John 16:21).
Let's be like Jesus, and for the joy that is set before us "endure the cross." Then, through the power of the Cross, we can take part in birthing His life and character to be seen by the whole world as a witness and then Jesus will return in glory: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27)
Who is Being Birthed?
The "man child" being birthed in Revelation chapter 12 is Jesus the Christ - only it is "Christ IN us." Christ's Bride is a many membered body. Likewise, the child (or children) whom she births represents a many membered body. The creation eagerly waits for the revealing of these sons of God because they will manifest Jesus Himself. Jesus alone is the only glory that is worth eagerly waiting for. Anything that comes from us is less than worthless; it is dangerous, because the flesh is always in conflict with the Spirit. Even heresy (false doctrine) is listed as a "work of the flesh" which is far from harmless, because it ends up bringing bondage and death.
There are only five direct details given about the "man child" being birthed in Revelation chapter 12. Since ALL of these details can be found in the "144,000 saints" discussed in Revelation 14:1-5, it is not far fetched to conclude that the manchild represents Jesus IN the 144,000 saints. The following chart compares these two:
(1)The "man child" VS (2) The 144,000 saints
(1) Will rule all nations with a rod of iron (12:5)
(2) Are found on Mt. Zion with Jesus - Zion is the place of His worldwide government (14:1)
(1) Are caught up to God and to His throne (12:5) Are before the throne of God (14:3,5)
(2) They (plural) overcame Him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (12:11)
(1) They are overcomers found without fault and blameless, which only comes from the blood of the Lamb (14:4,5)
(2) They overcame Satan by the word of their testimony (12:11)
(1) They sing a new song that only they can learn (their testimony) (14:4)
(2) They love not their lives unto death (12:11)
(1)They follow the Lamb (sacrificial animal) wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4)
(2)Is a firstborn child (Isa. 54:1) Are firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (14:4)
The only place that Zion is mentioned in the book of Revelation is in connection with the 144,000 saints who are sealed with the Father's name written on their foreheads (Rev. 7:3, 14:1). We have seen that Zion is representative of the Church and more specifically of the Bride of Christ who is called out from the church. These 144,000 are birthed out from the Bride of Christ and stand with the Lamb who is the head of His body. This is a beautiful picture of unity, because the next verses go on to show that the "voice of many waters like the voice of loud thunder," and "the sound of harpists playing their harps" comes from these 144,000 redeemed saints.
They are all speaking and singing the same thing spiritually and so it sounds like "many waters" and "loud thunder," because they are one with the Lamb and therefore one with each other. The world will finally see and know that the Father loves them and that He has sent Jesus as His only Son! Not because of our church programs or Christian bumper stickers, but because we will "be made perfect in one" as Jesus promised! (John 17:22-23).
These 144,000 are not defiled with other "loves" in this world. They are spiritual virgins, because they have set their sights on loving Jesus as their main goal in life and Him alone. They do not let other cares or distractions take them away from their first love. The 144,000 are emptied of "self-life" and have allowed the life of their savior to flow through them. They are without fault and blameless because their entire self-worth and right-standing relies practically (not just judicially) on the blood of the Lamb. They walk by faith and not by sight where the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all unrighteousness.
The 144,000 found on Mount Zion are called "firstfruits" (Rev. 14:4). Firstfruits are grains or crops that have reached maturity earlier (first), before the general harvest. The 144,000 will be believers who have reached the place of maturity before the rest of the believers. They will have learned through "the way of the Cross" and the grace of God to abide (be one) with Jesus and with each other in His body. God's plan is unity in diversity. We are not all to be the same "cookie cutter Christians" looking and acting alike. But we can still be unified together in the spirit, and maintain our individual callings in God. This true unity will bring the perfection that the apostle Paul longed for (Philippians 3:12-16).
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Philippians 3:12-16
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
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12 X 12,000 = 144,000. If you compare the 144,000 saints to the 12 apostles of Jesus, I think you will get a better picture of the role and function of these 144,000 in our generation. They will be chosen by the Lord to first "be with Him," and secondly, "to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and cast out demons" (Mark 3:14). These end of the age apostles each have a special individual calling from the Lord. They will not be appointed by man, nor is it a "promotion" in the Kingdom. It is simply a calling to a position in God's government to fulfill His purposes at His second coming similar to what the first twelve apostles had to do during His First Coming.
Zechariah saw the final purpose of Zion's sons: "For I have bent Judah My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man. Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning… The Lord of hosts will defend them; They shall devour and subdue with slingstones; They shall drink and roar as if with wine… For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land." (Zech. 9:13-16).
Jesus will bring righteous judgment to the kingdoms of this world through His Manchild.
Maranatha - "Come Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).
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I would like to end this study with a few major points. I repeat one special paragraph from the chapter above about the “first fruits”.
“The 144,000 found on Mount Zion are called "firstfruits" (Rev. 14:4). Firstfruits are grains or crops that have reached maturity earlier (first), before the general harvest. The 144,000 will be believers who have reached the place of maturity before the rest of the believers. They will have learned through "the way of the Cross" and the grace of God to abide (be one) with Jesus and with each other in His body. God's plan is unity in diversity.”
It is imperative that one has taken the WAY OF THE CROSS to be worthy to be part of the Lord’s FIRSTFRUITS. The first death is to the SELF, and the ULTIMATE rebirth of this death will be as the MANCHILD.
How many have truly died to themselves and live for Christ? When we become believers and are born again, we are given the promise of having this opportunity. We see through a glass darkly, but if we truly give all, of ourselves and our lives in this world, to Him,…we will achieve this HIGH CALLING.
Phl 3:14
“I press toward THE MARK for the prize of the HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus.”
This is the true meaning of what Jesus told us.
Mat 22:14
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This does not mean that only a few are saved. It means that out of those saved only a few will mature into the spiritual high calling of being part of the 144,000 Manchild company.
There was much presented in these 5 studies in regards to this issue, I have no idea how it has been received as no one has commented. Is there anyone out there that is seeing the Truth in this? Does it matter, or is it too spiritual to be considered? I can only pray that it has reached those that do have an interest and maybe in some way has confirmed your own conclusions about the matter.
I will continue to write on this issue, as long as that is what the Lord is showing me to do, but this is the end of this particular study.
May the Lord keep His Truth in your hearts.
JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!
Patti C.
Yes, exactly and as written in the prophets the birth is triggered by the coming of the King of Confusion on the 10th day of the 10th month.
Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be DELIVERED; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
And then the delivery is made in Babylon and
Jer 51:49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
If we take those things being talked about in the above posts and apply them to understanding the prophets, we can forsee the birthing process and how it plays out, down to the very days. But first the King of Babel comes with all his host in judgment, and he comes Tevet 10. This is the "anti-Christ" and he appears "like lightning" with "all power and signs and lying wonders" and all of the people believe the lie that he is Jesus and the second coming has been fulfilled. All of this will be seen with the eyes because that is what the sons of the flesh use to judge things; all they know is the carnal understanding- seeing is believing. But the sons of God know the Word, and walk by faith and not by sight, they see with spiritual eyes of understanding- knowledge of the Word of God.
There are then two things Jesus said that "no man knows but the Father" and this is who the Son is, and the day and the hour; these two things only the Father can reveal. Everyone who knows who the Son is, is a little child; of this group, the mature in Christ know the day and the hour; this is what separates the two groups, who has received how much revelation. It is the knowledge of the times and seasons that is the seal in the forehead, and the latter rains (revelation) of the Spirit.
So this is what makes the sons of God manifest at the hour. Most Christians will worship the King of Confusion, along with all of the "peoples, nations and languages" because they aren't given the latter revelation of the times and seasons so it looks to the eyes to most certainly be the second coming of the King of Israel in winter. The 144,000 however know the appointed times of the two kings and know for fact that- despite what the eyes and ears are telling- this is in fact the Destroyer of Nations Ye Olde King of Confusion.
They then are gathered before the king just as the three, and the fiery furnace/den of lions/etc.
Dan 4:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can DELIVER after this sort.
culminating in the manifestation of the sons of God in the fulfillment through Christ in them of the 7th month festivals: you see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego COME FORTH FROM THE MIDST OF THE FIRE: born of fire- revealed by fire to be the sons of God.
Hi John!
Thanks so much for adding that informative and insightful information!! I am so glad you took the time to read the studies and comment. You are so right, the False Christ will be revealed first, just as Jesus warned us he would. The sons of God will know this and not be fooled by this big lie. It is all about spiritual maturity and giving it all to our Glorious Lord.
Bless you and thanks again for commenting.
YSIC
Patti C.
Dear Patti,
I took this one paragraph out from the article you posted about Zion and must disagree with you so completely in that the rest of this article contains assumptions that leave one totally confused.
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It is my contention that the Bride of Christ and the 144,000 and the Manchild and Manifest Sons of God, as well as the Overcomers, are all related and can actually be proven to be one and the same group.
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There was a nation birthed in one day. On May 14, 1948, a nation complete with it's people, Constitution, One complete language. military, even though lacking the equipment that the British gave to the Palestinians) was fully delivered as promised by Jehovah God that, after Israel had spent it's time in the wilderness of the other countries again, it would come to an end and He would bring them back to the Land. The United Nations granted statehood to Israel on that day. One deciding vote in favor of this was Russia, where a great majority of the Israelites had traveled and lived in harsh opposition to their presence. The doors were opened for those children of Israel to migrate back to their Land; first from the direction of the north. This scripture had nothing to do with the church and it's high time that certain Replacement Theology people stop replacing themselves with the Hebrew Children that are in Diaspora. Ezekiel 20:34 - "I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the ... Isaiah 11:11-12 NIV - "In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to ... for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west . ... those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. "I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the LORD your God." (Amos 9:15)
“I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.” (Jeremiah 33:7) For anyone to say Israel is in the land illegally is belittling the Word of God and to replace Israel with other doctrines that exchange the 12 tribes for some other conglomeration is adding to the Word of God....very serious business, don't you think?
Patti, I just don't understand. You wrote such a great presentation of the Tribe of Dan being of the 12 Tribes of Israel including why he would not be included as one of the tribes of 12 Tribes of Israel that would make up the 144,000 and here you are doing a complete turn-around. I don't believe you are double-minded on this issue but perhaps you have been influenced by writings that are such a maze of words that it is hard to understand just what is being said....causing pure confusion. The church, whether made up of Gentiles or Hebrews, will be removed before the 144,000 will be doing their work given to them by the Lord. It was Israel that gave birth to the Male Child, the Saviour of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn't come forth from any other place, only this place, just about a mile south of Jerusalem, in the little town of Bethlehem as fore-told by Micah 5:2, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
""Before she travailed, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion (the Bride of Christ) travailed, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery? says the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? says your God." (Isa 66:7-10)
There is the physical Zion located in Jerusalem and there is the Heavenly Zion that is The New Jerusalem. This cannot be altered into anything else. The Illuminati attempt to gain God's foot-stool, will seem to accomplish it and just as quickly will be faced with God's Wrath.
Regards,
gerlinda
Gerlinda,
The twelve tribes mentioned in the Old Testament represent NATURAL ISRAEL.
The twelve Tribes mentioned in Rev 7. are SPIRITUAL ISRAEL.
Any member of natural Israel that becomes a born again believer is a member of Spiritual Israel, and that is the only way they will be included in the 144,000.
How can you believe that only the Jews...which by the way are from only ONE of the 12 tribes, are the chosen people of God, and also believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ?? That would be considered a Replacement Theology.
Replacement theology says that the Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people. What I am saying is the complete opposite of that!! I am saying the Church becomes Israel, and the people who have received His Son, and are born again from above by the Holy Spirit, are His chosen people...Spiritual Israel.
What I wrote about the Tribe of Dan, has to do with the Anti-Christ coming from the original 12 tribes of NATURAL ISRAEL, and has nothing to do with my study of the Manchild and the 144,000.
I am sorry if the studies I presented were confusing to you, but they were perfectly clear to me, and I totally believe and stand by what I presented, as that is what the Holy Spirit has shown me, and it is totally supported by Scripture. I will be writing more studies on these issues and hopefully it will simplify the concepts I am showing.
Still, I totally encourage you to find out for yourself, and if what you say above is what you truly believe, than that is what you have found out and that is what you have been shown.
With all due respect,
YSIC
Patti C.
Let me correct the scripture that was quoted in my reply. I went ahead and copied it from Patti's post; therefore the insertion of (the Bride of Christ)is not in the Scripture at all but inserted by the source of the item. It should read as such.
"Before she travailed, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery? says the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? says your God." (Isa 66:7-10)
Also, I'd like to add that God does not need the Body of Christ to deal with natural Israel nor does he need them when He is pouring out His wrath. With that said, we will just have to respectfully agree to disagree.
Thank you,
gerlinda
Gerlinda,
Before we agree to disagree, could you at least answer the question I asked you?
How can you believe that only the Jews...which by the way are from only ONE of the 12 tribes, are the chosen people of God, and also believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ?? That would be considered a Replacement Theology.
I am really just curious as to how you see this. I answered your questions, I would appreciate the same respect.
Thanks!
Patti C.
As far as what is being said here, Patti is understanding correctly. There is a carnal understanding and there is a spiritual understanding, this is clearly taught in scripture. The carnal mind understands Israel according to the flesh, meaning the carnal mind thinks that an Israelite is born of the flesh; his fleshly lineage makes him an Israelite. But the spiritual mind understands Israel according to the spirit, meaning the spiritual mind thinks that an Israelite is born of the Spirit; his spiritual lineage makes him an Israelite.
Just like Jesus is the spiritual Moses, the spiritual David, the spiritual Adam; He is the spiritual Jacob, the spiritual Israel. Just as Israel begat 12 fleshly sons according to the carnal seed, Jesus beget 12 spiritual sons according to the Spiritual seed which He sowed:
Lu 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Now the apostles are the 12 princes of the 12 tribes of Israel after the Spirit, and all living Christians can trace their spiritual lineage back to one of the 12, and ultimately to Jesus Christ Himself, the Father of the Israel of God.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
gerlinda you speak of replacement and this is a fair word, as the apostle teaches:
Ro 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Ro 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
So from the tree of Israel branches were removed and replaced by other branches. But Israel hasn't been replaced, but some of the branches were. Now the branches of the tree of Israel are all according to the seed of faith in Christ.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
And the vine is?
Ps 80:8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
Ps 80:14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
So Jesus says I AM Israel, and YOU are the branches.
What Jesus did was to resurrect the dead understanding of the carnal mind, and translate our understanding into the heavens, that is, raising our thoughts and understanding of the Word of God from the earthly, carnal realm; and into the heavenly, spiritual realm- that now we see with eyes of the spirit and not of the flesh, for the flesh is profitless, and by the flesh no man knows the things of God:
1Cor2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Babes in Christ understand with the carnal understanding of the flesh, but those of strong meat discern the spiritual.
If you're pointing at the children of the flesh and saying "here is the Israel of God" then you are succumbing to the strong delusion of the carnal understanding, and it is this understanding that blinds carnal Israel to the truth; the veil of the flesh.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so is the spiritual understanding higher than the carnal understanding. Believe me when I tell you that anyone understanding prophecy through what they can see with their eyes are succumbing to the strong delusion and will fall "and how great that fall"; believe me when I tell you everything you are seeing with your eyes is a lie, and the lies will only get bigger and bigger until culminating in the coming of the King of Lies in the 10th month to tell the biggest lie ever told.
The word "repent" in the Greek "metanoia" means THINK ABOVE, CHANGE YOUR THINKING.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
gerlinda here is a question to honestly consider:
You point at a group of people and say "Here is Israel after the flesh", but what happens if I ask, "How do you know this is really who they are said to be?" You have no geneologies to prove this. How do you know this is Israel after the flesh? You speak of an Illuminati- how do you know they have not staged this entire thing? How do we know that these aren't really the sons of, say, Esau? Surely you've heard people claiming that the Illuminati created the modern nation of Israel? How do you know they're not right? If Satan is in control of the nations, how hard would it be for him to counterfeit bible prophecy in a carnal way? How hard would it be for Satan to arrange the nations, and put the sons of, say, Japeth, in the promised land and call them the sons of Jacob? How do you know it's not one big lie designed to trick you?
If you are honest with yourself you'll understand that you can't know these things. The Lord in His wisdom has made the things of the flesh completely meaningless. You cannot be sure that that carnal people is who they are said to be; it may be true, then again it could very well not be true; we just are not able to be sure.
Now, I point at a group of people and say "Here is Israel after the Spirit", and should one ask "How do you know these?" it is easy, I ask them "Who is the Son?" and if they answer "Jesus" then I respond "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" because that they know Who the Son is shows they have received the first rains of the Spirit, and are guarenteed Israelites of God. And I can be 100% sure of it, by and through the spiritual teachings of the Messiah Jesus- the true Israel of God.
WOW! WELL SAID!!
Dear John,
That explanation is absolutely awesome!! I have never heard it put better!! Thank you so much for giving Gerlinda an excellent answer to her questions about it, as you did much better than I could have.
Again, you have added greatly to the studies that I have presented and I am so glad that you chimed in here, and helped show the importance of natural verses spiritual. This is imperative truth, that all believers must come to understand to graduate from milk to meat. Once they do, everything else takes on a whole new meaning, and it is so exciting...it is as if one's eyes and ears have finally been opened.
Bless you!! I cannot thank you enough for your aid in putting forth these foundational truths. I totally enjoyed what you said, and I know that you have helped others to understand.
Agape!
Patti C.
Hi Again, John!
I forgot to ask you about the 10th Day of the 10 Month that you have mentioned several times in your responses here. I am very intrigued about it and the significance it holds in regard to the Antichrist. I wonder if you could share more about it with us all.
I am starting a new thread with a little of the info. that I have found out about it, and hopefully you can respond to this question there, as this thread is getting to long, and the title really does not relate to this subject.
Thanks!!
Patti C.