THE SON SUBJECT TO THE FATHER                                                                                                                                       

SUMMARY

The Sons of God are all numbered! The Bible says so... "He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names." (Psalm 147:4) Now surely you don't think he was just talking about those bright lights you see up in the sky at nights. Beloved, the stars that God is interested in enough to name and number are the stars referred to in Daniel 12:3 and Rev. 1:20. The Sons of God that shall turn many to righteousness, and shall be found in His right hand at His coming! Jesus himself said in Matt. 10:30 that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." The prophet Isaiah cried out in Isa. 40:26, "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number . . ."

And the psalmist spoke very boldly of numbers in Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Now please don't think that God was trying to get us to figure out how long we are going to live. He has never been too interested in letting us know when we were going to die. That is not what this scripture means at all. It simply means that because God's Bible is a mathematically perfect book, and His truths are precise and orderly, we can know the day in which we live so as to apply our hearts to wisdom.

A PERFECT BOOK OF NUMBERS

Every letter of the alphabet in the original languages of the Bible is also a number. Thus, if you look at the original text in their number value instead of as letters, you find that every paragraph in the Bible has an amazing and perfect numerical pattern. Also, every Bible name, both of the saints of God as well as His enemies, proves to be very significant when converted to its numerical value. This converting of names and words to their numerical value is known as " gematria . " Books have been written on the subject, and it is not my intention to go into great detail on it now. I just want to draw your attention to the fact that everything in God's Bible is in perfect mathematical order. You must believe that the book, in its original form, is perfect if you are to receive any value from what I am about to say. For there is a strange verse of scripture dealing with numbers that seems to be a mistake, and can only be rightly understood by a revelation of the company of Sons that are coming forth in the image of Jesus our Lord. This scripture is found in Matthew 1:17 . . .

"So all the generations from Abraham to David are FOURTEEN generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are FOURTEEN generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon into CHRIST are FOURTEEN generations."

"THE MISSING GENERATION"

Now get your Bibles out and you will discover by reading the first sixteen verses of the book of Matthew that sure enough David was number 14 of the generations listed, and that Jeconias (the king who went into Babylon) was number 28, or 14 in the second list, but then you find that Joseph the husband of Mary was number 40 in the list, making him the 12th generation from the carrying away into Babylon. This makes Jesus, according to law, the 41st generation, or the 13th one on the 3rd list. Why? Where is the 42nd generation? Why did it seemingly leave the list incomplete with Jesus who left no son to carry on his name or bring in the next and final generation? Now friends, if you are of the opinion that the Bible is full of mistakes, and that this just happens to be one of them, you might as well throw this booklet away right now, for it will mean nothing to you. The thing I'm about to say comes by divine revelation, and it comes to those who love His Word and have confidence in its message! I propose to show you that the 42nd generation referred to as "Christ" in Matt. 1:17 refers to the Christ of I Cor. 12:12, 27. The 42nd generation is not Jesus alone, but it is His son, the overcomer of Rev 21:7. It is that company of people spoken of by Isa. 8:18 and Heb. 2:13 as "the children God hath given me." It is those referred to in Rom. 8:29 as being conformed to His image. This is the generation of Jesus Christ, an elect company, an "ecclesia" called out of all ages and all generations, those who are the true seed of Abraham, who are "joint heirs with Christ," who rule and reign with Him on the throne of their father David! There is no mistake in this first chapter of Matthew. It is mathematically perfect, marked throughout with the number 7 in many ways, which is God's perfect number. The five kings omitted in this list were "blotted out" of God's book for very special reasons.

Starting now with the prophet Isaiah, I want to take you from Genesis to Revelation to show you the picture of this glorious company of Sons that God has purposed to bring forth in His own image upon this earth.

"HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED"

Turn with me now and read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, that precious messianic prophecy referring to our lovely Savior, written some 700 years before His birth. Notice verses 8-10 . . .

"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and WHO SHALL DECLARE HIS GENERATION? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief, when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED, HE SHALL PROLONG HIS DAYS, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand."

Now it is easy to see what this scripture is speaking of. The prophecy says that he would be stricken and cut off from the land of the living before he had brought forth any children to carry on his name or "prolong his days." This was a term which referred to a man's son carrying on his genealogy after his death, just as he had been a continuance of the life of those ancestors who had lived before him. It was a terrible thing for a man to die and leave no seed. God even gave laws to insure that if this happened, his brother would continue his name by raising up seed for him. It was prophesied of Judas Iscariot in Psalm 109:13 that his children would die without leaving any seed, that in the generation following his name would be blotted out.

Then seemingly the prophet is amazed at the revelation that is coming through him, for he starts verse 10 with "Yet . . ." And though this One he prophesied about has been cut off with evidently no one to "declare His Generation," or carry on His name, yet we find the Word of the Lord saying "HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED HE SHALL PROLONG HIS DAYS . . ." It is obvious what it means. Years ago some Mormon missionaries pointed out this scripture to me as proof that Jesus was married and had children before he died. But I declare to you today that it is not natural children after the flesh that it is talking about . . . it is a clear and definite reference to the "missing generation" of Matthew chapter one, the Sons of God that are coming forth in the image of Jesus Christ to bear His name and continue His life in the earth. They will "declare His generation."

"A SEED SHALL SERVE HIM"

Now let us go into the book of Psalms and see a prophecy of a people that is coming forth to "declare His righteousness," a people known as "a seed," a people accounted to the Lord "for a generation." Turn to Psalm 22:30-31. This is a messianic Psalm, and it speaks of Christ throughout, of His sufferings on the Cross. Let us read the last two verses . . .

''A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for A GENERATION. They shall come, and shall DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this."

I don't care how many times the agnostics, unbelievers, and lukewarm "Christians" say that it can't be done, I declare to you that God's Word says a generation shall come forth and walk in His righteousness upon this earth, showing a people that shall be born what the Lord can do. No one can stop Him from fulfilling this Word. Praise God! Hallelujah! Aren't you glad that it was Him who said it? Aren't you glad that you are a part of this Sonship company , this "chosen generation?" I tell you, we have a right to shout about it! Praise His great Name! Already some of you are getting the revelation of His "seed," His Son . . . and I could stop right now and know that the Word is working in you . . . but there is more . . . much more . . .

"THEY ARE THE SEED"

Isaiah got another picture of this seed, and it made him so happy that he just about started shouting. In Isa. 61:9 he says: "All that see them shall acknowledge them, THAT THEY ARE THE SEED WHICH THE LORD HATH BLESSED." Then in verse 10 he speaks of the Bride and the Bridegroom, of being clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. This is the chapter that starts out with a definite reference to Jesus . . . "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . ." but obvious from His discourse in Luke 4 that it referred not to him alone, but also to those who would come forth in His image in the last days to "proclaim the day of vengeance of our God." It goes on to say that they shall build up the old wastes, that they shall be named the Priests of the Lord, and known as the Ministers of our God. Until finally in verse 9 it says that "they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed."

"A CHOSEN GENERATION"

The Old Testament saints were not the only ones who saw this company of sons. The Apostle Paul saw it, and declared himself to be a part of it, for which he was willing to suffer the loss of all things. Glory to God! Also, the Apostle Peter saw it, and writes in I Peter 2:9 . . . "BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

This is not the "whosoever will" of God. This is a sovereign election of the Father. In the natural you had no choice as to who your father would be, or to what nation you would be born in. In this election of God those "whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among MANY BRETHREN." (Rom. 8:29) This is not predestination for salvation or heaven. That is for the whosoever will. This is dealing with Sonship, coming into His image. "Ye are a CHOSEN generation." HE chose you, you didn't choose Him. Ephesians chapter 1 states it like this: "According as HE HATH CHOSEN US in Him before the foundation of the world . . . HAVING PREDESTINATED US UNTO THE ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will." (The word adoption here is " huiothesia ,'' meaning the "placing as a son.") God has predestinated us to mature Sonship! Praise His Name!

"I HAVE CREATED HIM FOR MY GLORY"

Lets turn back to the prophet Isaiah and take a look at another prophetic picture of these sons. Notice that they include both men and women, for in Sonship there is no natural sex recognized by God. Notice that they are coming from every direction. God is drawing His sons out of every nation, and out from every denomination of Babylon . Notice they are called by His name, and they are referred to in the singular as "HIM." This begins to show us how that Christ is making of many people "one new man." This is "that perfect man" that God is bringing us to (Eph. 4:13). This is all seen in Isa. 43:5-7 . . .

"Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring THY SEED from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; BRING MY SONS FROM FAR, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even everyone that is called BY MY NAME: for I HAVE CREATED HIM FOR MY GLORY' I have formed him, yea, I have made him."

Both Isaiah and Peter saw that this company of Sons were created and chosen for the purpose of glorifying God and showing forth His praises. This is not something man has dreamed up to exalt himself. This is something God has brought forth that He might be glorified! God refers to them as both "they" and "him." For it is a plural company of people who, under the headship of Jesus Christ, form a singular corporate body known as "He that overcometh."

"WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME"

The evidence of Sonship is overwhelming. I cannot see how anybody could help but be convinced after reading these scriptures. However, I am not writing this message as a "proof-text" to try to convince the unbeliever or the cold-hearted Christian who is satisfied with the status-quo. This message is for you who are hungry to move on in God, to reach the higher realms of the Holy Spirit. It is a disclosure of your identity. You need to know who you are, why you're here, how you got here, and where you are going. The Word is clear on all these questions, as soon as you know your true identity, so you can recognize the scriptures that refer to you and your "brethren" in the Body of Christ. You are the Zion of God. This much is made very plain in the Word. Turn to Psalm 102:12-21

"But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. WHEN THE LORD SHALL BUILD UP ZION , HE SHALL APPEAR IN HIS GLORY. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME: AND THE PEOPLE WHICH SHALL BE CREATED SHALL PRAISE THE LORD. For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (See Heb 2:14-15). TO DECLARE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN ZION , AND HIS PRAISE IN JERUSALEM ;"

There are many generations, many have come and gone in the history of man. But there is ONE generation that God is interested in, that He has written much in the Book about, that He is perfecting into the image of His Son. Now let me show you another name for these Sons, an identity that will help you see many things in the Bible that are written for YOU. It is concerning " ZION ". Notice in verse 16 of Psalm 102 . . . The Lord is going to return. He is going to appear in His glory! What a wonderful Day. What a glorious hope! Not coming to be spit upon, smitten and crucified again, but coming to appear IN HIS GLORY! Now let me ask you . . . WHEN IS HE GOING TO APPEAR? The answer is given here . . . WHEN he builds up ZION ! In that case, we should all be interested in where Zion is, and what it is. Or maybe, WHO it is? Notice verse 21 . . . the Lord has looked down from heaven "To declare the name of the Lord in ZION , and His praise in JERUSALEM ."

"THE HIGHEST REALM IN THE CHURCH"

Jerusalem was built on seven hills. The Temple was on one of these hills. But the highest hill in the City was where David's Throne rested, and this was known as Zion . The voice of the King was heard from this place, and the law went forth out of Zion . I will not at this time go into detail on all the Scriptures dealing with Zion , for that in itself would take another book. You look up the scriptures for yourself, and you'll be amazed at what God has planned for His Sons.

Let us look at Jerusalem . The City of God . It is very clear from Rev. 21:2, 9-10 that Jerusalem is a type and a symbol of the Bride of Christ, "the Lamb's wife," the Church. But notice that in that Church there are 7 hills or realms in the Spirit. The highest realm in the Spirit for the Church is found in Zion , those who sit on the throne to rule and reign with Him. Not everyone in the Church has this place. It is for "He that overcometh." These are they that are known as "His brethren," conformed to His image, to whom He will declare the Father's name.

"UNTO MY BRETHREN"

Notice that in Psalm 102:21 that He comes to "Declare the name of the Lord IN ZION, and His praise IN JERUSALEM." Now turn quickly to Psalm 22:22 and read: "I will declare thy name UNTO MY BRETHREN: IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION will I praise thee."

Now let us go to the New Testament and see the Holy Ghost quoting from these scriptures in Hebrews 2:12, showing them to be the words of our Lord prophetically spoken in the Psalms: "Saying, I will declare thy name UNTO MY BRETHREN, in the MIDST OF THE CHURCH will I sing praise unto thee."

Now this should be conclusive proof of who Jerusalem is, and who it is referring to when He speaks in the Bible about " Zion ." For Romans 8:29 says that Jesus is the Firstborn among many brethren. Those "brethren" are also known as "Sons of God," "the elect," "the overcomers," "the manchild ," "the Christ," "son of man'," "my battle-ax and weapons of war," "the army of the Lord," and many other titles and references.

"FOR SIGNS AND FOR WONDERS"

While we are looking at Hebrews chapter two, let us look at verse 13 . . . "And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me." Now here the writer of Hebrews is giving the words of Christ as spoken prophetically in the Old Testament. The words "Behold I and the children which God hath given me" were the words of Jesus spoken through the prophet Isaiah 700 years before the birth at Bethlehem . They are found in Isaiah 8:18 . . .

"Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion ."

Yes, Jesus was a sign and a wonder in Israel . But He is not alone. He says that God has given Him some children, a seed, accounted to the Lord for a generation . . . these are both "sons of God," (John 1:12; Rom. 8:19) and "brethren" (Rom. 8:29; Heb. 2:11) of the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth. This is a divine mystery. These are both His brethren in His earthly walk of the perfect Man, as well as becoming His "seed" or offspring or children when that precious life is poured out on Calvary . "When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed . . ." said the prophet Isaiah. This seed is the offspring of Jesus, they bear His name, manifest His life and nature. They, also, are for signs and wonders in Israel said the prophet. These are those who grow up into Christ, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, to become His "brethren," the Zion of God. Isaiah said that this is "from the Lord of hosts, WHICH DWELLETH IN MOUNT ZION!" Think of it! God dwelling in US! Glory to God!

"THE EVERLASTING FATHER"

If Jesus has brethren, then He is an elder brother. If He has children, a seed to declare His generation, then He must be a father. Amen? Now there is a principle of Bible interpretation: "By the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established." Also, (II Pet. 1:20) . . . "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." That is, it cannot be interpreted apart from the rest of the revealed will of God in the scriptures. Also I Cor. 2:12-13 says:

"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. 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."

So let us now look into the Word of God to see if it is true that Jesus is a father and has a son . . . Let us start with Isaiah again . . . chapter 9, verse 6 . . .

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, the Prince of Peace."

The prophet does not apologize, explain, or mince any words. He simply states that a child is born, that this child is a Son, that he shall rule and reign (see verse 7 also), and that his name shall be called, among other things, the Prince of Peace. Nothing could be plainer. He could be speaking of no one other than our Lord Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. But the same scripture that calls Him Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace . . . also says that He is Mighty God, and Everlasting Father. Is he ? Can you deny it ? Be careful. Don't cast aside the word of God. Believe what He says, and believe that it is important to you. Now if He, Jesus, is the everlasting Father, then who is His son? If He is the 41st generation from Abraham, then who is the 42nd? Remember, God is not going to stop at 41. Number 42 is 6 times 7. Six is the number of man, seven is the number of divine perfection. Nothing could be plainer. It is this 42nd generation, by receiving the life of Jesus the Son born from heaven by the seed of God, not Adam, who finally in the last days brings man to the state of perfection that God desires. Its so! Believe it!

"HE SHALL BE MY SON"

Now let us go to the book of Revelation for the next scripture to show the Fatherhood of Jesus. First of all, I want to establish the fact that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Maybe you already believe this, but perhaps some do not, so lets read the Book. Of course, those poor heretics that have thrown the Book away because it does not confirm the "revelations" they are getting or the voices they are hearing, may not be impressed with what the Book says. But when those "voices" begin to tell them things that violate their reason, things that even they cannot receive, then they will have no solid foundation, no plumbline to measure by, and then shall their foundation of sand crumble and their house fall. Turn now to Rev. 1:7-8 . . . and Rev. 22:12-14 . . .

"Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which PIERCED HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:7-8)

"And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter into through the gates into the city." (Rev. 22:12-14)

If you have any doubt as to who is speaking, verse 16 goes on to say "I Jesus," . . . so the Lord gives his name. There is no doubt as to who the Alpha and Omega is, it is Jesus . . . Amen? Now turn to Rev. 21:6-7 and find out who His Son is. You see, Paul says in Ephesians 4:11-13 that the ministries of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers are given to the Church "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man." Maybe you thought you knew all about the Sons of God. Then why do we still have these ministries in the Church? Well, now the hour is come . . . Awake, Zion ! Now lets read Rev. 21:6-7 . . .

"And He said unto me, It is done. I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. HE THAT OVERCOMETH shall inherit all things; and I will be HIS GOD, and HE SHALL BE MY SON."

Now, who is speaking? Jesus, the Alpha and Omega! Is he the God and Father of the Overcomer? Yes! Then, if He is God, who is the Son of God? THE OVERCOMER! What about Peter's confession that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God?" It was true, for Jesus was the Son of God, for He was the First Overcomer. And as such, he overcame and sat down with His Father in His throne, and He says that when we overcome He will grant us to sit down with Him (Rev. 3:21). You can't separate or divide Him from the Father . . . "When you see me, you see the Father" . . . "I and the Father are one" . . . and neither can you divide Him from His Body, the Body of Christ. See the prayer of Jesus in John 17 . . .

"I have manifested (declared) thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world . . . I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me (Isa. 8:18), for they are thine . . . As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world . . . Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (Heb. 11:39-40)

"That they all may be one (Eph. 1:9-10); as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (Col. 1:27; 2:9-10), that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one . . . And I have declared unto them thy name (Psalm 22:22; 102:21), and will declare it . . ."

Peter declares in Acts 2:36 that God hath made this same Jesus, the crucified one, both LORD and CHRIST. I believe it! It is a mystery. I don't fully comprehend it, but it is so anyhow. And the truth of it begins to bring light and understanding and continuity to the other scriptures concerning the Sons of God. Jesus is LORD! Remember that. He is LORD!

"WHO IS CHRIST?"

Paul says (Col. 1:27-28) that it is not Christ in heaven, but Christ IN YOU who is the hope of glory. And it was this Christ in you that Paul preached, warning and teaching, that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Now here is a mystery, yet a very simple mystery easy to be understood, if you will only believe what the Word says . . . Read I Cor. 12:12, 27 . . .

"For as the (natural) body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are ONE BODY, so also is CHRIST. . . Now YE are the Body of Christ, and members in particular."

Now it takes every member, in its right place, functioning properly, to make up a perfect body. And His body could be nothing else. The body is not just the arm, neither is it just the head. Col. 1:18 says that Jesus Christ "is the head of the body, the church." Eph. 1:22-23 says that God "gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." So as your body has many members . . . arms, feet, hands, legs, etc. so it is with Christ. The head, Jesus, is not the whole body. This is not something I dreamed up to exalt humanity. This is the way He wanted it, planned it and will have it. Jesus said (John 12:24) that His hour had come that He should be glorified, and that

"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die , it bringeth forth much fruit."

His meaning is plain. He was the corn of wheat, the one with life. He could abide and be the Son of God, the Overcomer, the Manchild, etc .. But He would be all those things alone. This was not what He wanted. He wanted to bring "many sons to glory." He wanted to be "the firstborn of many brethren." So He was willing to die for this. Think of it. And some men are not even willing to accept it! Without the sacrifice of Jesus, His going to Calvary , we could have had no hope of coming into this glory or becoming His body, His son. For we had all "fallen short of the glory of God." Only through Jesus can this glory come to us. Bless His wonderful Name! So Christ is the whole body, INCLUDING THE HEAD, JESUS. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:" (Eph. 4:15)

"THE TRUE SEED OF ABRAHAM"

Turning now to the book of Galatians, we find another absolute proof of who Christ is. Paul is very plain and very bold. He told the Corinthian church that he was "rude in speech," that is, "a simple person in speech," and I believe it. Now Paul tells the Galatians (and us) who Christ is, and who the seed is that inherits the promise . . . Gal. 3:14-16, 27-29 . . .

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE of the Spirit through faith . . . Now to Abraham AND HIS SEED were the promises made, He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of ONE, And to thy SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST . . .

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for YE ARE ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's then ARE YE ABRAHAM'S SEED, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE."

Now the Word is very clear . . . in quoting the Old Testament, he says that not everyone, not even all the seeds of Abraham receive the promise. Only Abraham and Christ, the seed of promise. Now who is this Christ who is to be heir of Abraham and inherit the promises? It is that company of people who belong to Christ, who have put on Christ, who have been baptized into Christ, who are part of His body. For His body IS CHRIST! And He includes Himself in this company, as the head and chief cornerstone! Glory to His Name!

"OUR LORD AND HIS CHRIST"

Now it cannot be disputed that Jesus is Lord. He said it, God said it, the Word said it, and I believe it. There is "One Lord, one faith, etc." Now let us consider Him in His relationship to the Body as Lord and Father. Turn to Revelation chapter 11 verse 15 . . .

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST; and He shall reign forever and ever."

Now if Jesus is Lord, then who is His Christ? It is the Overcomer the Son, the Manchild, the elect company that is known as His seed the 42nd generation. I really don't have to preach much about this, just read the scriptures, for they explain the mystery themselves . . . Turn now to Psalm chapter two . . .

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed (Christ), saying, Let us break THEIR bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my HOLY HILL OF ZION. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, THOU ART MY SON: this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. THOU SHALT BREAK THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON: THOU SHALT DASH THEM IN PIECES LIKE A POTTER'S VESSEL."

Now this has to be talking about Jesus as the Son, the Christ of God. For if it is not talking about Him, the sign Son, then it would not be referring to His body. But we find this very scripture quoted in Acts 4:25-27 as referring to Jesus. But notice that in this prayer they quoted this scripture as relating also to them. For the kings of the earth were now gathered, not against Jesus of Nazareth, but against His body there in Jerusalem . And God had already given Peter the revelation that Jesus was now both LORD and CHRIST. Lord in heaven, one with the Father; and Christ on earth, one with His body. Praise God!

Notice in Psalms chapter two how He speaks of Zion , that's where the King is. Also see that He speaks of His Son. He says that this Son shall break the nations with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Turn now to Rev. 2:26-27 . . .

"And he that overcometh (Jesus is talking), and keepeth MY works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And HE (the overcomer) shall rule them WITH A ROD OF IRON: AS THE VESSELS OF A POTTER shall they be broken to shivers: EVEN AS I RECEIVED OF MY FATHER."

So Jesus does for the overcomer what the Father did for Him. We are to Jesus what He was to the Father. "As my Father sent me, so send I you". Hebrews one says that Jesus was the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person. So we are to be to Jesus. The express image of His person! The brightness of His glory! Jesus was the Heir, so we are "joint-heirs" with Him. Jesus was for a sign and wonder, so we are for signs and wonders in Israel , and this is exactly what the disciples prayed for in Acts 4:30, for "signs and wonders." Read Rev. 12:5 . . .

"And she brought forth a Manchild, who was to rule all nations with a ROD OF IRON: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne."

Now some say that this refers only to Jesus, and others say that it is the Jewish nation. But I declare to you that the very words of Jesus and the Psalmist proves that this one who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron could be none other than the SON OF GOD, the CHRIST, the OVERCOMER, the body of faithful believers now joined to their divine Head, Jesus of Nazareth. The ascended Christ spoke out of heaven to John and said "I will grant the overcomer to sit with me in my throne, even as I also was an overcomer and sat down with the Father in His throne."

"CAUGHT UP TO THE THRONE OF GOD"

Here we have another glorious promise. He not only says that the Overcomer, the Sons of God, will rule the nations with a rod of iron, but that they are "caught up" to the throne of God. Now the question arises, WHAT and WHERE is the throne of God?

This word "throne" is mentioned 40 times in the book of Revelation, and only 15 times in all the rest of the New Testament. So obviously it has to do with the end time and the Day of the Lord that is, the "Lord's Day" that John was in when he received this revelation. So let us examine some scriptures throughout the Bible on this subject and see if we can discover what it is.

First, lets take a look at WHERE the Bible says this throne is. The following scriptures all tell us that the throne of God is "in heaven," or "in the heavens" . . . Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49; Matt. 5:34; Psalm 11:4; Psalm 103:19; and Rev. 4:2.

Now, lest you get the idea that this means a literal, natural, physical chair is located somewhere up in the sky in a literal geographical location where God the Father (who is spirit) happens to be sitting with Jesus standing or sitting on His right hand, where the Russians might send a spaceship if they happen to get the right kind of fuel, then let me enlighten you with some more scriptures.

JEREMIAH 3:17 says; "At that time they shall call JERUSALEM the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it." Well. The time is approaching when Jerusalem will be the throne of God. Not natural Jerusalem . Can't you just see them trying to get the three billion people of the world into that little old Hebrew-Arab city there in Jordan ? Impossible. It simply means that the day is coming when the CHURCH of Jesus Christ will be the seat of authority, and that God will manifest His power and His authority in His people. Then all the nations of the world will come to the church, to walk in the light of the glory of God. Jer. 49:38 says that "I will set my throne in Elam , saith the Lord." Now Elam was a nation made up of the descendants of Shem. Some of them were present on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:9. Yet God said He would set His throne in Elam .

So you see, the Throne of God is not a literal chair for someone to sit down in, but it is a place or seat of authority and dominion. You can be "caught up" to the throne of God and never leave this earth. Some will. Dan. 7:9 says that God's throne was like a fiery flame. Fire speaks of judgment. So the saints will judge the world, and we shall also judge angels, (I Cor. 6:2-3), but this judgment will not come out of our own authority or power, but it will come after we have been caught up to His throne or authority. Isa. 28:6 says that "In that day" the Lord will not only be for a crown of glory unto the residue of His people, but He shall also be "For a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate." Yes, the saints shall judge the world, but it shall be with His authority, and He shall be the spirit of judgment.

"AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD"

Now Hebrews 8:1 and 12:2 says that Jesus is set down on the right hand of the throne of God, while Acts 7:55; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 1:3; Heb. 10:12 and I Peter 3:22 says simply that He is on the right hand of God. The answer is very simple, lets read I Pet. 3:22:

"Jesus Christ who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers BEING MADE SUBJECT UNTO HIM."

So He is in that place of complete dominion over all powers. He has all authority in heaven and in earth. (Matt. 28:18). Remember, He told us that He got to this place by being an overcomer and sitting down with His Father in His throne. And He promises this same thing to -- those who follow Him and overcome. In Luke 22:69 Jesus told the Sanhedrin court that "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the POWER of God." The right hand speaks of the greatest power and authority available. See in Genesis 48 how that Jacob puts his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh, because the Spirit had purposed to give Ephraim, the younger son, the greatest blessing, in violation of custom and tradition.

"WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN ?"

Jesus said that the day would come when the Son of man would sit on the right hand of the power of God. That is, the Son of man would have the authority and power and dominion of God Himself. Now who was He talking about? Who is this Son of man? Many have thought that it was Jesus and Him alone. This is not so. Certainly Jesus qualifies for all that is said about this Son of man, for He is the divine Head of this man, called "a perfect man" in Eph. 4:13. But it is Jesus and His body, joined together in the fulness of this Son of man, that fulfills all the scriptures concerning him. Let's begin by reading Genesis 1:26-27 . . .

''And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and LET THEM HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over ALL THE EARTH, and over every creeping thing upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."

So the purpose of God in the beginning was for man to have dominion. He created him for this purpose. It looked as thoughAdam fell and lost this estate and dominion, but Jesus has come to restore it, and more. Luke 3:38 says that Adam was the son of God. Now maybe you think that God had reached the ultimate of His creation, and that if Satan had not come and spoiled it with sin, that God would have been forever satisfied with His Adam and the seed that would be brought forth in his image. Oh no. Though Adam had dominion over the earth, he was of the earth, earthly, and could only bring forth seed which would bear the image of the earthly. God had a higher plan and purpose. I Cor. 15:45 says that the first Adam was made a LIVING SOUL. God wanted something more for His Son. So the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, suffered and died, so that the last Adam could be a LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT! Yes, the Son of man is to have dominion over all the creation of God, but on a much higher plane than the first Adam ever had. This is our inheritance because of Jesus.

"WHAT IS MAN ?"

Let us see if God dropped His plan for man to have dominion, or if He still pursues that course of action . . . Turn to Psalm chapter 8, beginning with verse 3:

''When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and THE SON OF MAN, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. THOU MADEST HIM TO HAVE DOMINION over the works of thy hands; thou has put ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beast of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea."

Now we turn to the New Testament and see the writer of Hebrews quoting this Old Testament scripture, giving us some light on it in relation to Jesus and His sons . . . Heb. 2:5-9 . . .

"For unto the angels have he not put in subjection THE WORLD TO COME (this world in the days ahead), whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified (Psalm 8) saying What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the SON OF MAN that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little (for a little while) lower than the angels; thou crownest him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. ( end quotation of Psalm 8). For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him (Son of man). But NOW we see NOT YET all things put under him (Son of man). BUT WE SEE JESUS (Head of the Son of man corporate body), who WAS made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR."

Now the very next verse goes on to say that Jesus is bringing MANY SONS unto glory, that He and they are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren. So the writer of Hebrews is very realistic (which is more then I can say for some of the self exalted dreamy-eyed "positive-speakers" of our day). At least he recognized that the body of Sons, the Son of man company , (with the single exception of Jesus) had not yet come to the place God has purposed for them. They did not yet have the dominion that was their inheritance. This was some 30 years after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the day of Pentecost and the enduement of the Church with power from on high. That enduement, he realized, was only the "earnest" of the inheritance. They had a "measure" of power and authority and dominion over evil spirits and sickness and even death. But the fulness of the inheritance had not come. ALL things had not yet been put under the feet of the Son of man, even though the scripture in Psalms indicated that it had already been done. God speaks of those things that are not as though they are, because He knows His eternal purpose shall be fulfilled. As far as God is concerned, it is done, but "we don't yet see it."

"THE SON SUBJECT TO THE FATHER"

The traditional churches, especially the Pentecostals, have been subjecting the people to a fantasy of men's imaginations concerning the coming of the Lord. This they hold out to the people as the "hope of the Church," that Jesus will come and "rescue" His army from this wicked old world and take them off to a great supper in the sky while someone else does the necessary work of subduing Satan and the Anti- christ . Maybe the Jews will do it. Maybe, in one day's time all the Jewish Rabbis, merchants, soldiers, housewives, school-teachers, etc. will suddenly change their minds about Christianity and its Christ. Maybe they will all then be suddenly clothed with the full armor of the Spirit and come to the place of authority and dominion in the Spirit that the Church has not been able to reach in 2,000 years. Maybe. I tell you, the fantasies of men are much harder for me to swallow than the Truth of God's precious Word. The Word of God makes sense, at least it does to those who are beginning to see by the eye of the Spirit, for these things are spiritually discerned.

The story of how God subdues all things under the feet of His Son (the corporate body of sons) is told in I Cor. l5:24-28. However, you must have the correct interpretation of the personal pronouns of he-him-his in this passage. Some of these pronouns refer to God, while some refer to the Son of man who is coming into dominion over all things. Now we know that Jesus our Lord already has overcome and has all authority and power over all things. So when this passage speaks of someone ruling until all things are under his feet, we know it is not speaking of Jesus alone. It speaks of His body, His sons, the Son of man. Let us read it, and I will identify to the best of my ability, these pronouns as they appear . . .

"Then cometh the end, when HE (Son of man) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when HE (Son of man) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For HE (Son of man) must reign, till HE (God the Father) hath put all enemies under HIS (Son of man) feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For HE (God the Father) hath put all things under HIS (Son of man) feet. But when HE (God the Father) saith all things are put under HIM (Son of man), it is manifest that HE (God the Father) is excepted , which did put all things under HIM (Son of man). And when ALL THINGS shall be subdued unto HIM (Son of man) then shall the Son also himself be subject unto HIM (God the Father) that put all things under HIM (Son of man), that GOD may be all in all."

Yes, Jesus will forever be the Head of this corporate body. They will never operate independent of God. Of this body Jesus said: "I will be his God, and he shall be my Son." (Rev. 21:7). This body of Sons will never be equal to or have dominion over God their Father. This Son company will forever be subject to the headship of Jesus, that God may be all in all. Men have tried to relegate Jesus to a second-place minor position in the Godhead. Not so.

Jesus is much more than men have ever imagined. There is no one ABOVE HIM. He has been exalted to the place above ALL principality and power and might, and dominion, and EVERY name that is named both in this world and the world to come. His name is above EVERY name. None above His. But with His body it is another story. There is someone above them. The Son shall be forever subject to the Father. Bless His Name! That's just the way I like it! Glory to Jesus!

SUMMARY

This subject is inexhaustible, the Bible is full of it. It is the very theme of the Book. I could make this a thick full sized book, writing about Zion , the Sons of God, this generation of Jesus Christ, the 42nd generation of Matthew 1:17. This generation shall not pass away until every promise of God has been fulfilled, down to the last jot and tittle. But I must close this part of the message for now. Paper is scarce, postage is expensive, and funds are limited. So I must keep this message down to a size that I can afford to send out to all hungry hearts. I would like to print this booklet in multiplied thousands, enough to put one into the hands of everyone of God's sons, that they might know the heights to which God has called them. For when we see the eternal things of God, the things of an "exceeding and eternal weight of glory," they give us courage and strength to bear our "light afflictions which is but for a moment."

Summary

So in summarizing, let me say that God has planned it right down to the last numerical perfection. He has a company of people brought forth by the life which is in His Son Jesus, born not of blood or the will of the flesh, but born of God (John 1:13). Yes, they are born of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God. I Pet. 1:23. And that Word was Jesus, made flesh and dwelling among men. (John 1:14). So they are His sons, and He is their God. This is the people who shall overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, to ascend to the very authority and dominion of God himself. All things . . . yes, that means everything, except God Himself, shall be put under their feet and be subject to their rule and authority.

They are known as a corporate body, for they are ONE in Him. The Bible calls them Son of man, Son of God, Christ, Body of Christ, Manchild, Overcomer, God's Army, Stars, Sons of God, a Chosen Generation, His Seed, Zion, the Temple of God, House of God, Abraham's Seed, His Brethren, Living Stones, and many other titles and references. Sometimes they are called by a plural name or title, sometimes by a singular one. For it is a plural body of saints, making up a singular Man with Jesus as the head.

There are many good things in eternity for the Church. Christ loves His bride. There are many promises to the "whosoever will" people. Heaven will be wonderful for the 30 fold and for the 60 fold. But it is in this company of sons, the 100 fold, that God has purposed to place the fulness of Himself, to the praise of His glory! It is with them He will share His throne, His authority and power and dominion. I know it is so, for the forerunner, Jesus, has already made it in. He will soon come and receive us unto Himself into this place of dominion and rulership in the Throne. This comes entirely by grace, through the sovereign choosing of God. We cannot deserve it, we cannot fast and pray enough to earn it. But we CAN receive it by faith, joyfully, and gratefully, as He offers it to us out of the abundance of His love and mercy to us.

God's whole program is now geared to the express purpose of perfecting these living sons. The actions of even our enemies, yea, all circumstances, are controlled by the Lord to the intent of bringing forth out of us every expression and every spirit that is unlike Him, so that He can deal with it and deliver it. The whole world, yea even the entire creation of God, awaits with groaning the unveiling of these sons. For with the manifestation or unveiling of His sons, comes a deliverance for all of creation from the bondage of death and sorrow and sin and misery. Am I interested in Evangelism? With all my heart I cry out for the salvation of lost humanity. Not just a token few here and there, but for the deliverance for all the teeming masses in darkness and sin and heathenism. This will only come by the utter ruin of Satan and the spoiling of his goods.

This will come when EVERY enemy has been put under the feet of the Body of Christ, the Son of man. And it is this company of sons, "He that overcometh," who shall bring this about. The time is at hand for it now. Privileged I am to be living in this hour, and to have a part in sounding this trumpet! Glory to God! How I praise Him! No wonder I am so interested in preaching this message of Sonship. It is the answer to real Evangelism. It is the answer to the world's needs. Press in, sons of God! Let no enemy, no hindrance, no well meaning minister of lesser things hold you back from the high purpose of God. This is the highest calling in the Church. This is Mt Zion! "BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT ZION , AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM !" (Heb. 12:22). You are the generation of Jesus Christ, the Seed that inherit the Promises! Now walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called!

Bill Britton

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