Sons of God Awake!

Bill Britton

Divine Breakthrough into the unlimited

Man is surrounded by limitations. In fact, he is a creature of circumstances, limited by time, space, human knowledge, physical strength and endurance. No matter how desperate he is to perform a task, he can stay awake only a certain number of hours, then he becomes weak and useless physically and mentally until he gives in to sleep and rest. No matter how large an empire he has to rule over, he can only be at one place at a time. No matter how rich he is, or how much money he has to bargain with, he cannot buy more than his allotted time on this earth. Sometimes the greatest of men have to leave this earth weeping in the zenith of their power and authority, due to the limitations of the physical body.

These limitations are imposed by divine authority. God has set the boundaries, and only by an act of God are the boundaries crossed. Man can go only a few days without water, and only a few weeks without food, yet Moses stayed on Mount Sinai in the Presence of God for almost three months without food and water. He was sustained by divine Life.

SCIENCE STRETCHES THE LIMITATIONS

Men used to gaze heavenward and wonder what the vast universe was like. Human knowledge of the sun, moon, and stars was very limited and made up mostly of imagination, guesswork, and superstition. But this is rapidly changing in our time. Men are sending up scientific instruments to probe the heavens, making landings on the moon, and sending their cameras and radio transmitters to other planets to send back information. For more than fifty centuries this sort of thing was only a wild dream in the minds of a few "crack-pots," some of whom were jailed and persecuted for their ideas. But now it is becoming a reality.

For almost 6,000 years man' s speed of transportation depended on how fast a horse he had, or how hard the wind blew on his sailboat. Communication was so limited that the number of people he could preach to depended on the loudness of his voice. Even when the New Testament was written, it had to be laboriously written and copied by hand, one at a time. But suddenly in the last days there was a revolution in transportation and communication. A man's voice can circle the earth, in less time than it takes to tell about it. The President of this nation can sit in his office in Washington and, speaking quietly, be heard in every part of the world. He can eat breakfast in New York, board a jet, and have lunch in Los Angeles. The leader of a European nation can read his morning mail and sign documents in his own country, and still be in
America to make a speech that evening. A man can make a trip completely around the world today in less time than it took Mary and Joseph to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. If the President makes an important speech this morning, millions of copies of that speech are printed and on the news stands for you to read by the time you get off work this evening.

"AS IN THE NATURAL......

Yes, man's physical world is undergoing a tremendous revolution. The Apostle Paul said in I Cor 15:46... "first... that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." The natural revolution is only a shadow of things to come in the spiritual. Why this sudden change in the natural world? Because it is now time for a great change in the spiritual world.

In the natural, man has begun to press against the barriers that limit him. Recently great strides were made in speed of transportation when men broke the sound barrier. As airplanes approached the speed of sound, there were vibrations setup that nearly tore the plane apart by violent shaking. But scientists discovered how to engineer planes that could withstand the vibrations of the sound barrier, and once they had broken through and exceeded the speed of sound, they discovered that there was almost no limit to the speed they could attain. However, planes flying through the "heavens" faster than the speed of sound cause sonic booms that shake those living on the earth, sometimes causing fear and trembling.

So also in the Spirit. Saints of God began to cry out against the "sound barrier" of men's voices telling them how fast and far they could go with God, what they could and could not believe, and how much of the Word of God they could appropriate for today. As they approached the barrier set up by the sound of men' s voices and men's doctrines and traditional interpretations, there was a shaking begun to take place that nearly tore some vessels apart. But the precious Holy Spirit, the greatest engineer of them all, began to bring forth some "sons" who could withstand the shaking and press through the barrier to a glorious liberty and release in the Spirit where there was almost no limit to the progress they could make in spiritual revelation. They were amazed at the liberty on the other side of the "sound barrier" of the voices of doubt and fear.

But as the Sons progressed rapidly through the heavens in their new found liberty, spiritual "sonic booms" were set off that terrified and upset those living on a low earthly plane of spirituality. Carnal Christians shook their fists at the heavenly travelers, called them false prophets, fanatics, heretics, and made great attempts to slow their progress or pull them down to an earthly level. These are trying times for those who are fenced in by the limitations of the carnal mind and the sectarian sounds of man's ways. Many on the earth level find themselves in great frustrations and fearful of all heavenly activity, shaken by the "sonic booms" of sound waves from those moving through the heavens. They hover together in their little denominational shells, hoping for their traditional fairy tales to come true. While in the heavenlies, eagle saints find little traffic but great liberty, and no fences. No longer bound by earthly sounds, they soar through spiritual heights led only by the Spirit, and hearing the Voice of Him that speaketh from Heaven. The carnal activity of earth-bound creatures interest them not at all, but they find a glorious fellowship in the mystery of God with those who soar with them in divine revelation and spiritual attainment. They cannot hear the sounds of earth, the noisy city, the busy factory, the screaming mobs, or the warring dictators. They wear a look of divine peace, for a peace is given to them that passes understanding, as they refuse to take part in the frantic earthly activity of carnal men. Theirs is a heavenly calling, having broken the barrier of earthly sounds!

THE POWER OF GRAVITY BROKEN

It was a great day for scientists when they were able to lift a rocket above the earth, through the heat and friction barrier, into a realm in space where earth gravity had no pull upon it. There were many obstacles to overcome to do this. Tremendous heat had to be dealt with, caused by the friction set up by an object passing through the air at unbelievable speeds. As the object ascended into the higher heavens, it passed through a radiation belt, coming into contact with forces that would melt and destroy ordinary materials. Until finally it burst through to outer space where there was no friction, no resistance to motion, and absolute weightlessness. Earth no longer had any pull or attraction for it.

Let me tell you this, dear ones, that there are people right now being brought by the Spirit into heavenly realms where powers of darkness are setting up terrific forces to try to destroy them. But, thank God, these are not made of "ordinary substance." They are called and ordained of God, anointed by His Spirit, and lifted by divine energy into realms never before attained by Adam's race. To say that there is great opposition to their ascension is putting it mildly. Tremendous heat and friction is being generated by powers of darkness in a desperate warfare against the sons of God who are ascending into realms long held by Satan. Thrones are being cast down, the powers of heaven are shaking, and great fear pervades throughout Satan's kingdom. The hordes of hell have not known such a shaking since Jesus arose from the grave and ascended into the heavenlies, defeating every power of the enemy, and putting Satan to an open shame. Now is the time, the generation is here, for the consummation of the battle of the ages. Overcomers and saintly warriors of all ages who defeated the enemy by faith, in other realms, are now awaiting the final thrust... the breakthrough into an unlimited realm in God!

WITHOUT LIMITATIONS

The Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were bound and cast into a furnace of fire. When they went into the fire they were bound and limited by their bonds. But when they came forth from the furnace, they had no bonds. Their limitations had burned away, while their persons and their clothing suffered nothing from the fiery trial. When they came out of the fire, they were promoted to a place of great authority in the kingdom. The indictment against rebellious Israel in the wilderness is given in Psa 78:41, that "they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." Folks, there is no limitation with God. He has no boundaries. Furthermore, he is bringing forth a new creation, and setting up a holy nation, a peculiar people in His own image and after His likeness. He is not "trying" to do anything, He is simply doing it. There is no limitation to His ability, and this glorious work will be completed right on time. Praise God! Think of it... a people dwelling on the face of the earth in the image of God, with no limitations. Sure, I realize its hard to believe, but the Word of God declares it, and I hereby declare it to be so, and the sound of them has gone throughout the earth. Too long carnal man has limited God. "He can do this, but He can't do that. " He can let us die and take us to a beautiful heaven in the sky, but He can't empower us to overcome death and have a perfect unlimited Church right here in this life. So they say. But I declare to you that the day has arrived for the fulfillment of the promises of God and the prophecies of the prophets who saw this day coming.

The whole story is far too vast to be told in this short message, but there are some areas that I want to touch on, to give you an idea of what God is doing. The scriptures are full of examples of partial fulfillment of God's glorious plan, showing us a pattern in the lives of the saints of old who walked with God. This pattern was culminated in the life of the Pattern Son, Jesus. His life was a perfect picture of a man walking among humanity, but without limitations. Upon Him was poured out the Spirit without measure (John 3:34).

UNLIMITED VISION

it was said of the living creatures of Ezekiel chapter I and chapter 10 that they were "full of eyes round about." The living creatures of Revelation chapter 4 were "full of eyes within." God has always been interested in His people having their eyes opened. Paul prayed for the Church in Eph. 1.1 8 that the eyes of their understanding might be opened. Jesus counseled the Laodicean church to "anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see." It has never been a glory to God to have His people stumble through a world of darkness, groping their way along like a blind man. Psa 119:105 says that His Word is a Lamp to our feet and a Light to our path, that we stumble not. It is God's will and purpose for His chosen ones to be able to have clear and unlimited vision, so that the enemy should have no advantage over them.

An example of this is found in the life of the prophet Elisha. In 2 Kings chapter 6 we find the story of the king of Syria making war against Israel. But every move he made was known to Elisha, who in turn warned the king of Israel. Elisha had unlimited vision into the activities and plans of the enemy, as tho he was right there in the bedchamber with him, invisible, yet listening to his plans. So the king of Syria sent an army to capture Elisha at the city of Dothan. When they arose early in the morning, Elisha's servant saw the army and was fearful. But Elisha was undisturbed. Why? Because he had eyes that were opened to spiritual forces, and he could see a great host of angelic beings camped all over the mountain in chariots of fire, ready to fight for him, if necessary. So without fear, single-handedly, he went down and smote them with blindness and took the entire army captive into Samaria. Having unlimited vision into the unseen realm gives the man of God great confidence in the battle, praise God!

Jesus is, of course, the perfect example. And there are many instances of unlimited vision in His life and ministry. One outstanding case is found in the life of Nathanael in John 1:48. Nathanael came to Jesus with many doubts, skepticism, and what he considered as good scriptural grounds for not receiving Jesus as the Messiah. But just one word from Jesus, whom Nathanael had never met before, disintegrated all his doubts and made an instant believer of him. What was that word? Jesus said to him: "When thou wast under the fig tree, l saw thee." Whatever this meant to Nathanael it showed him a vision in Jesus beyond the power of normal men.

Think of having thousands of spiritual warriors living on the earth at the same time who had their eyes opened to unlimited vision in the Spirit. Powers of darkness could not hide. That which was done in secret shouted from the housetops. No satanic force, either in a nation, a church, or an individual, could operate any longer in dark secrecy. This is the spiritual force that God is unloosing upon the earth to crush the powers of darkness and evil. The time has come to sound the trumpet! This gift has operated in part in a few prophets in our day, but from this day forth you can expect saints all over the world to begin to have a visitation from God to impart an anointing for unlimited spiritual vision. Thus saith the Lord!

UNLIMITED KNOWLEDGE

"For we know in part... " (I Cor 13:9). This has been the realm allotted to the Church for the past 2, 000 years. Tho the Apostle Paul had come to such an abundance of revelations that he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming exalted above measure, yet he still had to admit "we know in part." Yet he knew there was a place in God above this, so that he prayed for the Ephesian church that they "might be filled with all the fulness of God." As for himself, he desired to "Know Him..." forgetting the attainments of the past, and "pressing toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Again we find a foretaste of this unlimited realm in the life of Elisha. In 2 Kings chapter 5 we find that after the healing of Naaman, Elisha refused to take a gift from him. However, his servant Gehazi secretly ran after Naaman and took the gifts. When he returned, he lied to Elisha, saying that he had not gone anywhere. But Elisha had complete knowledge of the entire transaction, nothing was hidden from him. He had a touch of the divine knowledge. In chapter six of this same book we find Elisha sitting in his house with the elders. As a messenger from the king approaches, he has complete knowledge of his coming, and of his purpose. God also gives him accurate knowledge of the events of the following day, including the breaking of the famine and the death of a scoffer.

We find again in Jesus, the perfection of this divine knowledge. In John 2:24-25 we find that Jesus "knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. " He walked in such perfect union with the Father, that If e had the mind of God operating in Him at all times, so that when men criticized him in their hearts, Matt 9:4 says: It And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" To Jesus, the thoughts of men were as open and clear as spoken words, so that at the feast in Simon's house, when Simon the Pharisee had evil thoughts about Jesus, it says (Luke 7:40)... "And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. " He simply 'answered' the thoughts of the other man. Jesus did not operate by the gift of the Word of Knowledge that operates in a part realm. He had divine knowledge, without measure, in an unlimited realm.

This is the realm God is calling His sons to occupy. Philippians 2:5 says "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. In I Cor 2:16 Paul states boldly that "we have the mind of Christ." Yes, this mind has been given to us, His Church. Tho we have seen it operating in the Church only in a part realm, yet it is true and established in heaven that the Sons of God shall enter into that realm of fulness where they are led completely by the Spirit of God, motivated altogether by the mind of Christ. "Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. II (I Cor 13:12) Talk about divine revelation! Folks, this Bible is going to be understood, there IS going to be a unity of the faith. For Sons are going to follow Jesus beyond the Vail and come forth in an unlimited realm of knowledge. No longer will His ministers be stumped by hard questions, and have to fall back on the age old escape of "I don't know." The best of the lawyers tried continually to trap this young Nazarene, but He always had the right answers. He walked in the unlimited knowledge of God. And so shall His Body.

THE UNLIMITED ANOINTING

In Psalms 133 we find a picture of the High Priest receiving the anointing. It is called "the precious ointment," and is typical of that which came upon Jesus, the Head of the Church His Body, and the King of the nation of Priests. Notice in verse two that it comes first upon the Head, speaking of the beard (which signifies full maturity), and then covers the entire Body "down to the skirts of his garments." This shows us how that same anointing of the fulness of God which came upon Jesus at Jordan and remained (John 1:33) shall in like manner come upon every member of His Body.

Speaking of "him whom God hath sent..." in John 3:34, we find that God gave the Spirit to him without measure. This speaks, of course, of our Lord Jesus. But not of Him alone, for he said "As My Father sent me, so send I you (John 20:21)." Thus we see that there must of necessity be a people with the same divine anointing of unlimited measure that Jesus had, that they might fulfill His words in John 14:12 when He said "the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

We see a picture of this on the Day of Atonement when the body of the High Priest was anointed and passed through the Veil into the Holiest Place in the very Presence of God. Heb 6:20 says that Jesus has already entered into that place as a forerunner for us, signifying that we are to follow. It was the same ointment put upon the head that ran down to the skirts of the garment. Not one precious ointment for the Head, and a lesser or cheaper anointing for the Body. The same unlimited anointing that Jesus ministered under is our inheritance.

We have received the "earnest" of our inheritance in the infilling, or Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Eph 1:14(Amplified) it is called the "guarantee. - - first fruit. . pledge... foretaste... and down payment on our heritage." Anyone who has received a genuine infilling of the Spirit can testify to the glory and the power and authority made possible through this anointing which is only a foretaste of the fulness to come. For Romans chapter 12 tells us that what we now have is a "measure of faith," and that we should "prophesy according to the Proportion of faith." I Cor 13 teaches us that the glorious gifts of the Spirit are in part, and will be done away when that which is perfect is come. But not until. So be sure when you say that you have no more use for the gifts of the Spirit, that you can produce the unlimited realm of the Spirit that Jesus walked in. There is such a realm, and there is a people who shall fully manifest it. That's the word of the Lord!

FINANCES WITHOUT LIMIT

This is a phase of the Kingdom that carnally minded and greedy ministers have tried to operate for years, with some limited success. It has proved the undoing and the downfall of many. For I can tell you of a surety, that there is such a phase of the Kingdom, and this is part of the unlimited realm of ministry that God is bringing His Body into.

This does not mean that God is interested in us all living in million dollar homes, with fancy automobiles, exotic foods, and expensive clothes. These are all things that relate to the natural physical realm that means less and less to the Sons of God as they progress higher and higher in the Spirit. But it does mean that there is a place in the Spirit where the pull of gravity from earthly things have no effect on those dwelling in the heavens. And those who dwell in such a place have dominion over the earth realm in such a manner that there shall be no limit on the finances available to them.

Let us go again to Elisha, that "double-portion" prophet for an example... In chapter 4 of 2 Kings we find the story of a widow who was about to lose her two sons to pay a debt. Now Elisha was not riding in a gold-plated chariot pulled by fine Arabian horses. Neither did he have a large bag of gold to give her, nor a valuable ring to sell. He was a plain and humble man of God, and cared little for earthly things. But one thing he did have, and that was dominion over the financial realm. So he spoke a creative word that brought into existence enough finances to pay off her debt, as well as an abundance for her and her sons to live from. Nowhere do we find Elisha using this financial power to create wealth for himself, or to make himself a luxurious living. He lived simply and humbly, but he had a foretaste of that power reserved for the Body of Christ,

Jesus said: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath nowhere to lay his head." Yet He possessed this unlimited power of finances, and we see examples of His creative power in this respect. In John chapter 6 we find logical businesslike Philip sizing up the crowd of 5,000 men, and declaring that 200 pennyworth of bread would not be sufficient just to give each one a little bit. But Jesus took a little boy Is lunch and began to break it with the creative power of divine authority, until everyone was fed and there was twelve baskets filled with the fragments! Another time we see Peter getting into a predicament with the tax collectors. To solve this, Jesus simply instructs Peter to cast a hook into the water. He guarantees Peter a catch, and tells how that it will have a gold coin in its mouth for sufficient
finances to pay the taxes.

How many times I have laid on my face on the living room rug in the wee hours of the morning, travailing before the Lord for enough finances to continue this faith ministry! And God has been so faithful to supply the needs, sometimes miraculously, even in this limited realm we have walked in. So that we need not, yea, dare not tell anyone but God alone of the needs of this ministry. For we would not misuse this power of faith for finances able to do the speaking for us, then we know that what is. God is done and What is given is of the Lord!

But there is a higher realm, an unlimited realm of finances soon to be entered into. This is not to make millionaires of us all. In fact, if your heart lusts for material things, You will never see this realm at all. But it will release you into a place where you will never have to do without finances for the work of the Kingdom. And, like Jesus, You will never have to "pull" for an offering, take pledges, beg or connive. There will be finances made available for everything the Spirit leads you to do. If the Spirit tells you to send a large offering to a minister or missionary, you will do so, and there will be no lack. Much of the preaching on finances today, along the lines of having plenty, is simply to gratify the whims of the flesh. Shun such, and have no part of it. Some preach that "gain is godliness," and that driving a new car and having abundance of cash is a sign of spirituality. "From such withdraw thyself (I Tim 6.5)." If this is what you see in this message, then you are not hearing what I am saying. This unlimited financial power cannot be given to greedy materialistic men, for it would destroy them.

TRANSPORTATION UNLIMITED

One of the great hindrances at present to my being able to be with the saints around the nation, and sharing the blessings of God with them, is transportation. Even with a good car it takes weeks to make a trip to Oregon, or Maine, or Florida, minister and return home. I have greatly desired to visit the saints who have written me from North Ireland, Wales, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand, as well as many other countries and islands of the sea. But limitations have bound me so that it was impossible. But I keep hearing a voice from the Spirit telling me that the clay of limitations is soon to end. My mind can only comprehend the speed of thought, that is, as fast as you can think of it you are there. But however it works, I am sure that the Word gives examples to show us that it is there for us when we break through the Veil into the unlimited realm of His Presence. Oh, I realize that such preaching as this will make many scoffers give me the "horse-laugh," but I am sick and tired of the limitations of man's ways,
and I'm ready to be a fool for Christ's sake, that He might bring me into His highest and best.

Are there examples in the Word? You can rest assured that there are. Elijah was an Old Testament example. Obadiah' s statement in I Kings 18:12 that "the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not," and the statement of the prophets in 2 Kings 2:16 that "peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain," show that it was common knowledge in Israel that Elijah was accustomed to spiritual transportation.

This is not a form of "spiritualism" or voodoo magic. This is simply the Holy Spirit transporting a vessel of His choosing to a destination without the use of mechanical means. We have a well known case in the New Testament in the life of Philip. In Acts 8:39-40 we find Philip and the Eunuch coming up out of the water, and immediately the Spirit of the Lord catches Philip away so that the eunuch saw him no more. Philip landed in Azotus, miles from the desert scene of baptism, and continued preaching in all the cities in that area.

Jesus had some outstanding cases of this unlimited transportation. Of course I know that it was possible and happened after his resurrection, in his glorified body, but I want to show you that this is for those who still dwell in a temple of clay, in this mortal body. We find in John chapter 6 that men would have made Jesus a king and take him by force, so he escaped and departed into a mountain alone. His disciples entered into a ship and rowed out into the sea of Galilee. After rowing about 3 miles, which would have put them in about the middle of the sea, suddenly Jesus comes walking on the water. How had He gotten there? He had been up in a mountain by himself. But verse 21 tells us that they received him into the ship, "and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." Not only was He transported by the Spirit, but when He entered
into the ship, the ship and all its occupants immediately arrived at their destination miles away! Glory to God!

You can doubt it, you can wait and see, you can scoff at it. But I declare that there is an unlimited realm in God where strange things are going to start happening, and soon. And God is right now preparing the hearts of His chosen, His elect, for an entry into that which is beyond the Veil. The day is at hand! The time is here! Rise up, sons of God, and take the Land!

UNLIMITED AUTHORITY

God made man to have dominion (Psa 8:6). This truth is first given in Genesis chapter 1, and quoted again in Hebrews 2. Man fell short of this realm of dominion, by sin. Only through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus are we able to regain this place of rulership. To those who receive Jesus as Redeemer and Savior is given the privilege of becoming Sons of God, brothers and joint-heirs with God's first-born in the New Creation. Not all saved people who receive the grace of God for redemption will attain to this High Calling. But some are ordained to it by the foreknowledge of God, and they are known as the hundred-fold, the Overcomer company, the Manchild, and the Lord's Christ (anointed).

With the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost came the authority of Faith. It was faith in His name that enabled the disciples to work wonders in the early church. It was a power that shook the World. But it was not the unlimited authority and dominion designed for the Overcomer who was to rule the world with a rod of iron.

Speaking of this complete dominion in Hebrews 2, Moffatt's translation says: "Now by putting all things under him, the writer meant to leave nothing outside his control. But as it is, we do not yet see all things controlled by man. What we do see is Jesus... " Yes, in Jesus we see that complete dominion over every phase of life manifested in detail. And there are some flashes or examples of dominion in the lives of Old Testament saints who got a taste of this authority by living faith. This authority covers every phase of life, but we shall only have time here to mention a few.

Let us look into the Word of God to see what He has in store for us....

ALL NATURE OBEYS

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands... (Psa 8:6)." Everything made by God is to be in subjection to the will of God's Man. The storms at sea, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other forces over which man has absolutely no control at present, are all to be subdued and harnessed by the Overcomer.

Look at old Elijah the Tishbite in I Kings 17:1... He dared to stand before the king of Israel, and before the whole nation and declare: "There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to MY word." How could he guarantee such a thing? Authority had been granted to him to judge Israel for her sins. And he could speak the word and know that it would be fulfilled. And there is the well known case of Joshua speaking to the sun: "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon (Josh 10:12)." And the sun and moon had to obey this man of God, for he was a ruler and an overcomer, and a type of that which was to come. And remember, the very first miracle by Elisha after he received Elijah's mantle was to smite the waters of Jordan and cause the river to divide so he could cross over.

Jesus walked in this realm of dominion continually. Listen to him speak "Peace, be still," and watch the winds die to a whisper, the raging waves of the sea become smooth as glass, and the storm obeys and is as calm as a contented kitten. His authority supersedes the laws of nature, and he defies gravity as he walks upon the water. The fig tree withers at His command, and all nature stands ready to hear the word from this One who is the perfection of God' s new creation man. His life of authority is a pattern, and an example for those who will be in His Body, under His divine Headship, ruling and reigning with Him in glory!

"THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD"

All animal creation knew that Adam was their King, and the fear of him was upon every creature. Until the fall. This dominion is restored in Christ, but it goes far beyond Adam's rule, or throneship. We are to ascend to the very Throne (or authority) of God. Jesus has made the way. This Throne or authority has been given to Him (Matt 28:18), and to be shared with all those who are heirs according to the promise (Rom 8:17).

The fishermen had fished all night. They knew their job well and were experienced. If there were fish to be caught, they knew how to catch them. Let this carpenter' s son tell them how to run their business? Ridiculous! But wait... there is one difference. No matter how much experience they have at fishing, they do not have dominion over the fish. And He does! "Cast your nets on the other side..." Suddenly the nets were full, and nigh to breaking. They have to call for help to get the fish in. Peter realizes divine authority and power, and falls upon his knees before this Man. Praise God! What is Jesus doing? Is this just recorded in the Bible to show us that He was kind enough to help some fishermen catch some fish? No, the Word is showing forth His divine authority as an example of the dominion that belongs to the sons of God in the unlimited realm of God's Throne, or divine authority.

See the birds of the air in subjection to God's prophet as he sits by the brook. Day by day they bring him food. See Jesus in Luke 19 sitting calmly upon a colt "whereon yet never man sat." The natural thing for this colt is to buck and toss until he has been broken to ride. But not with this man. For here is one who has dominion over the wild untamed nature of all the beasts of the field. Notice in Mark 1:13 that during his 40 days fasting and temptation in the wilderness, He was with the wild beasts. But none attacked Him, none tore Him... for He was demonstrating divine authority over the wild beasts.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

Yes, the Sons of God are destined to rule in the realm of principalities and powers, to judge and govern angels. Want some scripture? Let's look again at Elisha... see him at Dothan, as the armies of the enemy are encamped round about him. No fear in his heart. Why? Because he knows that the mountain is full of angels waiting for his word, waiting for a command from him to take up the battle and fight for him. At the word of Isaiah (2 Kings 19) the angel smote 185,000 of the Assyrians and won a war for Israel.

Jesus knew that the angels were always ready to come and defend Him, as soon as he spoke the word. But they could not come on their own. They had to wait for His command. I Cor 6:3 tells us that we are to judge angels. Heb 1:14 says that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister FOR them who shall be heirs of salvation." They are like the mighty servants of a great King, who stand ready to serve and obey the King's son, just as soon as the son matures enough to be able to take his place of authority in the Kingdom.

Demons know their place. They know they are conquered and in subjection to the Sons of God who have come into divine authority. They cried out against Jesus, they fought Him, they resisted Him, but they always obeyed Him when He spoke- They could not do otherwise. Col 2:15 says that He spoiled principalities and powers (the princes and authorities of devils) and made a show of them openly. They are forever defeated! They will obey completely the voice of that people who rise up in divine dominion to the Throne of God!

"WITH A ROD OF IRON"

To the Overcomer is promised dominion over the nations of the world. This is not maybe so, or perhaps, it is Thus saith the Lord! The prophet Isaiah saw a glorious picture of the Kingdom realm, and he saw the kings and the nations coming to Zion for the law, and for light. In Daniel chapter 7 the prophet saw the saints of the most high possessing the Kingdom, and ruling over the nations of the world. These saints are not just preachers with college degrees, but they are housewives, farmers, plumbers, book-keepers, and from every phase of life, yes, even some preachers with college degrees. How are they going to know how to rule governments? How will they attain this great knowledge? They will have the mind of Christ, and will be led by the Spirit, and will have unlimited knowledge and dominion and authority!

See Daniel, just a little slave boy taken captive by the Babylonians in one of their military campaigns. Just one of thousands of slaves brought back to Babylon. But he was a son of God. Chosen and elected, and anointed for rulership. Don't worry, the fire won't burn him, the lions won't eat him, his enemies won't overcome him. He is going to rule, finally the chief of three presidents who govern the land for the King. And he set the stage for the return of Israel to the promised land. He WILL reign, for this is his inheritance. He is a type of those who rise in that Manchild company to the Throne of God to rule the nations.

DOMINION OVER DEATH

There are so many facets of this message, so many areas of life where the Sons of God are given dominion, unlimited authority. But let me close this message with this last thought. God is pleased to have a people who conquer sickness and death and have unlimited deliverance and dominion over them. For sickness is a form of death working in the human body. It is not a normal condition, nor God's perfect plan for this tabernacle in which we dwell. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (I Cor 15:26)." Death is an enemy. God says so. It is to be destroyed. How? and by Whom? By Jesus in His Body! His death and resurrection paid for this, and made it possible. The manifestation of it shall be in a people that are brought forth in His image into the realm of the unlimited! After every other enemy has been destroyed and put away, then shall death be dealt with. No more death! Praise God!

The faith of Enoch manifested a dominion over the power of death. And again we turn to Elisha, type of the Sons, and in 2 Kings chapter 4 we find him going in where a young boy had been dead for hours. He would not recognize death's authority. He stood against it and commanded life to return. And life did return! Death had no power against the dominion of this man of God. And even when it came time for Elisha to leave this world and lay down his prophetic mantle in this life, death was still not the victor. For there was so much life in that prophet's bones (2 Kings 13) that when a dead body was thrown into his sepulchre and touched his bones, life entered into the body, and the man that was being buried revived and came alive! Praise God!

Of course, I need not remind you of the glorious victory of Jesus over Death, Hell, and the grave. He put them to an open shame! He forever established the realm of unlimited authority over the realm of sickness and death. He only had need to speak the word to a sickness, and it would flee from the body in which it dwelled. Deafness disappeared immediately, blind eyes were opened, leprosy was completely healed, maimed limbs grew straight and strong again! When he came across a funeral procession, he would speak to the corpse, and the dead would climb out of the Coffin praising God! when they had been dead so long that they were supposed to be decomposed and stinking, He would speak a word, and they would come forth from the tomb smelling like a rose! Covered with the fragrance of His glory!

There was no guesswork about His authority. His dominion was complete, and He is the pattern Son. Would you be like Jesus ? He was born to be a King. But not on this low earth plane. His Kingdom is in another realm, an unlimited realm of the Spirit. All earth, and all the universe, along with all angelic beings and principalities, are in subjection to this Kingdom. It is an everlasting Kingdom, and it is unlimited in its authority, its dominion, and its scope.

"WHO IS THIS, COMING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS?"

Beloved, I want you to see a people today who are coming forth in the image of the Son of God. The Spirit is catching them up from this earth realm, into heavenly places where they meet and overcome great forces and powers of darkness. On and on they go, through the barriers of friction, of heat designed seven times hotter to purify and refine His sons. Finally into a place where they are no longer drawn by the pull of gravity to an earth filled with confusion and war and materialistic conceptions.

I want you to take a close look at this child of God... He walks continually under an anointing of the fulness of the Spirit. When he speaks, it is "thus saith the Lord," and settled in heaven. He has an unlimited vision into the unseen world, the thoughts of men's hearts are made manifest and nothing can be hidden from him. He does not preach for money, is not impressed by men of wealth, never pulls for an offering, yet has no lack and his efforts for the Kingdom are never slowed down for want of finances. He is not hindered by space or lack of transportation from one place to another, for he is caught away in the Spirit and transported to the place of need and ministry without time consuming and physically weary travel. He is never hindered from ministry by being laid up with sickness or physical ailments. At all times, yea twelve months out of the year, he bears an abundance of the Fruit of the Spirit. Joy flows from him like a river, Peace abides in his heart, and Love is as a great ocean. There is a continuous song of praise and victory on his lips, and never a complaint is heard. Nothing can cause him to become discouraged or lose heart. His faith never wavers. He has authority and dominion over everything made by the hand of God, and nothing can resist his word of power. Now if you have enough faith, lift your eyes to the heavens and behold such a one.... multiply this son of God 144,000 times, and I will show you the great Army that God is raising up to bring about the Restoration of God's creation!

The breakthrough is near. The day is at hand. An unlimited realm is soon to be manifested in such a way that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will break upon the world in such a blazing light and power as to subdue every enemy! Even now we are not standing still. Those who are being caught up by the Spirit are not just sitting around waiting for a certain day, or a sudden rapture. They are moving now, in the Spirit, into realms never before known in this generation. Every campmeeting, every convention, almost every meeting in the local churches where God is moving, there are divine breakthroughs being experienced. When the final breakthrough into that unlimited realm comes, they will find waiting for them there the pattern Son, Jesus, and a great host of those who died in Christ.

The nations are frantically racing for another breakthrough in science, into the unlimited realms of outer space. But their efforts are only a shadow of that great army who are even now ascending to the heights of unlimited vision, knowledge, anointing, and authority. They are being brought up by the Spirit of God, caught up in the purposes and plan of God, because they were willing to humble themselves and die to self.

Glorify His great Name! He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is Alpha and omega, the Author and the Finisher, the First and the Last, the All and in All! He is our breath, our Life, our meat and our drink. He is the divine Energy that enables us to overcome and sit with Him on His Throne! Praise ye the Lord!

Bill Britton

Oil on the Beard

The young lad came running into the room, out of breath, sweat running down his freckled face, his curly hair all tangled from the wind. All eyes were turned upon him, and his face flushed, confused by all the attention.

His eyes darted about the room. All his big brothers were there, three of them in the military finery of Saul's army. Their faces were dark as they looked at him, and a sneer of disgust curled the lips of Eliab, the eldest. Shammah looked at his little brother and wondered why in the world he couldn't have at least combed his hair and washed his face before coming in before the Prophet of God.

David's eyes found his father. "What do you want with me sir? Why did you send for me?" "Son, Samuel the prophet is here, and wants to see you." Jesse's voice seemed tired, resigned.

Then David saw the Prophet. Much older than he had realized. But it was Samuel. He had seen him once at Shiloh, from a distance. This was the Prophet who had judged Israel for many years before David was born, until Israel had demanded a king. Yes, it was really him. But why did he want to see this lad?

"Sirs," Samuel was speaking in that quiet voice of authority, "I have a witness in my heart that this is the one I have come to anoint." This disappointment on the face of the older brothers was matched only by the wonder and perplexity on David's young face. Then the Prophet took out the horn of oil, and a divine light filled his eyes as he spoke forth words with such an unction and authority that the boys had never heard before.

"Son, I speak in the Name of the Lord, and I anoint you this day in the midst of your brethren. The Spirit of the Lord shall come upon you, and thou shalt go forth and do great exploits in His Name, and the Lord shall exalt thee in due time, and thou shalt reign over His people."

Suddenly it was over. David's father Jesse, looked puzzled as he walked to the gate with Samuel. Why was it not the firstborn? Was this not God's order ? Order or no order, the Prophet explained, he must move by the guidance of the Spirit of God. And God had ordained this anointing for the youngest. So he had obeyed. Now It was up to the Lord God to fulfill it. The older brothers gathered in a group, muttering darkly. If there was any honor, why did it have to go to the youngest, that little pip-squeak. What had he ever done? Just a child, and a dreamer and singer at that. The old Prophet must be out of his mind. Getting senile, probably. Nothing would come of that prophecy. Just the senseless ramblings of an old man. So they reasoned.

Hardly noticed, David went back to his sheep. But there was a glow on his face, his eyes brightly shining. Something was happening inside him. It was as if a dozen springs had broken loose within, and he felt like singing as never before. Anointed of God!

What did it all mean? He did not know, but he knew that it was a wonderful experience, and he began to sing to the God of Israel. He felt ten feet tall, and felt as tho he could run through a troop and leap over the highest wall built.

THE FIRST FRUITS ANOINTING

This anointing that came upon David was for rulership, for the Throne of Israel. But David was just a lad, and mighty Saul sat solidly upon the throne. Nevertheless, he was anointed. Godhad spoken. It would come to pass. Saul had another twelve or fifteen years to reign. But in the mind of God, he was finished. A new order had been established. A new king anointed.
This anointing came upon David in his immaturity. He still was not recognized as king, not even allowed to do a man's job as yet. But while Saul continued on in the deadness of his rule anddictatorship, David was getting aquatinted with moving under this new anointing. In the fields with his sheep, he sang of the Lord, his Shepherd. Words of praise flowed from him like a river. No matter what job he had, or how many hours he worked, he was always content. Revelation burst within him day by day, like the rising of a new sun. He began to see the Lord as a great Shepherd, and saw the need of a King in Israel who would be a shepherd to God's people.

He found a great love in his heart for the sheep. So much so, that when a lion came and took a little lamb from the flock, he fearlessly risked his life and ran after the lion, rescued the lamb, and slew the lion in a hand to hand battle. Great exploits. Yes, the word of the Prophet was being fulfilled. But the brothers were not here to witness it. And they could never believe his word. So why risk ridicule by trying to explain?

THE EARNEST OF THE INHERITANCE

Like David, many have received an anointing from God. A heavenly oil poured out from above, and the Spirit of the Lord breaking forth within like a fountain. This comes upon the immature, spiritual children. Gifts are given, abilities and revelations are imparted. But don't expect the brethren to understand. This is for His chosen, His elect.

And don't expect them to rise and cheer, and accept your authority, or put you on the throne. it just doesn't work that way. I Samuel 16 gives the pattern. But by the power of this glorious Holy Ghost anointing, exploits are done. Many are in secret. But the day comes, when like David, God manifests his chosen ones in the slaying of mighty Goliath. All Israel is blessed, then, and rises up in Revival to conquer their enemies.

This anointing, this baptism in the Spirit, is wonderful. Indeed it is glorious! It is an anointing for rulership, for the throne. But we have received it, have worked exploits, have killed bears and lions, and yet we still are not on the Throne. Like David, we received this in our immature state, and there is much processing to go through before God actually brings us to the reality of divine authority. Be patient therefore brethren, have ye received the early rain? The latter shall surely come also.

We have received the "earnest" of our inheritance. Oh, I know that men would tell you that you must wait until after death, till you get to heaven to receive the inheritance, which they describe as a mansion in the sky, or something. But nowhere does the Bible teach such as that. In Ephesians 1:14 it speaks of the earnest of our inheritance, and the Amplified New Testament describes it as: "the guarantee of our inheritance, the first fruit, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage - in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring complete possession of it." This "earnest" is the Holy Spirit which you have received. It is that divine anointing, typified by David's anointing at the hands of Samuel.

The Bible teaches that the "inheritance" another anointing, this time the fulness of the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit without measure" that Jesus had. At the time of this anointing there is an ascending to the Throne of God, to rule over all the works of His hands. We find this picture in the life of David....

"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

Anointed to rule? Look at him! Hiding in a cave...hunted through the forests like a flea on a dog. He tried to serve in Saul's house, even married his daughter, worked for Saul like a trooper. But he was never really received. Saul hated that anointing, that divine ability.

How often we have tried to serve in the organized systems of men, even "marrying" into their systems, and giving our time, strength, and ability to build them up. But there is a divine anointing I that sets us apart. There can be no compromise.

Finally we find ourselves fighting for survival, hidden away as it were from the eyes of the public. Exploits forgotten, the masses staying with Saul's organized system. It seems that doubts would flood in and try to destroy the vision, and make us forget the prophetic word to us regarding the Throne. But even in the caves, the anointing is there. Songs in the night flow out from weary vessels, bringing new life and hope. When will God bring about the Fulfillment of His Word? Some would slay Saul and hurry it up, but not the David company. The times are in the Father's hands. We will wait upon the Lord, and have confidence in our God. He is sovereign, and will bring his Word to pass.

THE FINAL ANOINTING

Finally we see God's plan completed. Or perhaps I should say, begun. Saul's 40 years are finished, and he is overcome by his enemies. And those sons of Saul that saw and believed in the coming of a new order in the Kingdom, yet would not leave Saul's house, died also with him in the battle.

Then David begins to rise on the scene. The Throne is waiting. In II Samuel 3:3 9 David acknowledges that he has been anointed king. The people begin to recognize this. He finds favor with the elders of Israel. In chapter 5 of 11 Samuel we find the elders of Israel coming to David in Hebron, and in verse 3 it says "and they anointed David king over Israel." Why? Had he not been anointed by Samuel years before? Yes, but that anointing was upon a beardless youth. Now David is 30 years of age, a mature man of stature, a man ready to take the reins of government. He is a man with a beard. And on the day that the anointing oil came upon his beard, he sat on the throne of Israel, and reigned over God's promised land.

"OIL ON THE BEARD"

What does the beard mean? It speaks of a full grown man, a man of maturity. It does not indicate the feminine nature, nor the immaturity of a little child. In Psa 133 we find the precious ointment being poured upon the head of the High priest, "that ran down upon the beard." This High Priest was not able to take office until he was 30 years of age. (Num. 4) This is not the anointing of the Spirit given to children, nor to the woman, the bride. This is an anointing given to the masculine, mature Manchild to govern and rule. It is for authority, for the Throne.

Joseph was 30 years of age (Gen 41:14, 46) when he shaved his beard and sat clown on Pharoah's throne. Jesus was 30 years of age when he received the authority of God in the fulness of the Spirit that came upon him at Jordan. David was 30 years old when he was anointed king of Israel with the anointing that ran down upon his beard. Thirty is symbolic of full stature, full maturity.

Yes, the Body of Christ has already received an anointing for rulership. It guarantees us the Throne. For the "earnest" is the guarantee, the foretaste, the pledge. With it we are able even in our immaturity to do great exploits in His Name. But another anointing is coming, and it comes upon the fully matured, those who have come to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13)." This anointing is for government. No more just killing bears and lions and giants. Others will be enabled to do this. (I Chron 20) David has ascended to a far higher realm of rulership. He now sits on the Throne. He is God's government in the earth.

Look at Jesus, after His experience at Jordan. See the divine authority manifested in His life. The winds and waves obey Him, the fig tree withers at His command. Devils flee at His word, and the fish of the sea plunge into the nets in obedience to Him. Sickness and death bow in submission, for here is the King, God's divine Government in the earth, the first one to truly have "oil on the beard." All others were shadows, types, symbols. He is the reality. And He is the first born of many brothers, God's mature masculine company of rulers who make up His glorious Body. Praise God! Thank God every day for the anointing of the Holy Ghost that you now have, it is the foretaste, the earnest of that which is to come. But know this, there most surely is another anointing of the fulness of God coming upon His elect, His chosen! And they shall rule and reign with Him, and sit with Him upon His Throne, sharing His authority!

Bill Britton

Beyond Jordan

The four people walked down the street together, all members of the same family, yet widely separated spiritually. For tho they all lived in the same house, and had a natural affection for one another, yet they represented four different classes of church people. One was a Modernist, and had no born-again experience, one was a Fundamentalist, the third was Pentecostal, and the other well, I'll tell you about him later.

Things are said or written sometimes that are hard to receive, and we must be very careful that we do not rebel against the words of God. As the psalmist said: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wondrous works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron ... BECAUSE they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the most High (Psalms 107:8-11)."

THE MODERNIST

Frances believed in going to church. She belonged to a fashionable church with a beautiful sanctuary, pipe organ, and robed choir. it was the socially accepted thing to do, to be at one of the two services held on Sunday morning. Their minister was suave, dignified, held two doctors degrees, and was well read on current world problems. Frances believed that you could be a better person by going to church and by reading the Gospels. She believed that you could be a better member of society, a better citizen. She believed that everyone should go to church, and should join the church of their choice. But she DID NOT believe in a born-again experience. She did not believe that you could know, this side of heaven, whether you were really saved or not. You just have to wait until the Judgment day, and then when the angels weigh your bad deeds against the good ones, you'll find out whether you made it in or not. But she did not believe in present day experience with God, a "know-so" salvation. That is the modernist point-of-view.

THE FUNDAMENTALIST

George was a born-again Christian and glad of it. He had an experience with God, and he knew it. He well remembered the night, when as a sinner he had come to God and repented. All his sins were washed away, and he had entered a new life. It had been different ever since. Oh, he had been a member of a church and had a good head knowledge of the Bible and religion. But he had never really been saved before. He knew now that you don't just grow. up in a church, get baptized and confirmed at the proper ages, and hope your way to heaven. George knew that it took a real experience with God, and he was one that knew you could have one. And though man accepts God's blessings, he knew that this experience was not generated from man's side. It was an operation of the Holy Spirit, a sovereign act of God. George had this experience of the new birth. He was a Fundamentalist.

THE PENTECOSTAL

Marie was pentecostal. By that I mean that she not only was saved and had the born-again experience, but she had a second experience called the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Now the fundamentalist doesn't believe in a second experience. They believe in one definite experience with God, they III fight for that truth. But when you begin to talk about another experience with God, and speaking in tongues, then you're off the "deep end", in bad error. One experience, they say, is enough to get to heaven. You should just try to get people saved, they tell you, and forget this tongues business.

But the Pentecostals believe in a second experience. A definite experience with God. Do they have Bible for it? Oh, yes, they say ... don't you know that Passover Feast, a type of salvation, is not the only feast? The second feast, the Feast of Pentecost, is a type of this second experience! It's right there in the Bible. You become "filled with the Spirit" through meeting God and accepting a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit. You don't just read the Bible, pray an hour, pay your tithes and attend church and grow in grace until you are finally "filled with the Spirit." Every Christian, pentecostal or not, should grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. But you don't just grow and grow and get larger and larger until you have the Baptism of the Spirit. Sometimes teen-age new converts and white-haired denominational preachers have gone to the altar together and come up speaking in tongues. It is a definite experience, available to all who will receive it.

In my own experience, I was a member of a church for six years without a born-again experience. Then I was saved from sin, really saved, and I knew it. It changed my life, I was a new person, released from the power of sin. I testified of it in street services, jail services, preached in youth meetings and brush arbors, etc. I was really saved for five years before I received the second experience of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. I loved the Lord, and I knew that I was saved. But I didn't have the anointing of the Spirit. When this came, this second experience, I was there. I knew I had received something new in my life. It changed my life. I was never the same again. I had a new anointing, a now and gracious touch of God. I appreciate the five years that I knew and served the Lord before I received the infilling of the Spirit. But when the Holy Spirit took control of this vessel more than twenty-five years ago, there was a great change took place. And the glory is getting greater and sweeter all the time! Praise His Name!

Now the Pentecostals will fight for this truth, and they will declare to you that you can have a second experience with God. They know that it has to be a definite experience, and that you don't just "grow into it." BUT, the strange thing is, they will NOT accept anything beyond that. Even though the pentecostal theologians know that the Baptism in the Spirit is only the "earnest" of our inheritance, and the "first-fruits" of the Spirit, yet they cannot see that there would be anything else for us to receive. A THIRD experience? Another step in God? Another realm in the Spirit? Oh, that has to be error, they say. You must be going "off the deep end". (Where have we heard that before?) Can we actually meet with God a third time? is there a typical Feast beyond Passover and Pentecost? Let us look into the Word of God and see ....

THE THIRD EXPERIENCE!

Our Lord Jesus Christ has to be the hub and center of all our theology and all our experiences in God. On this foundation we build all great revelation. I'm not just trying to build a new doctrine, or a new theology. I want to show you in the Word an experience in God that was prophesied in the Law and the Prophets many centuries ago.

In 2 Corinthians 4:5 we read: "For we preach not ourselves, but CHRIST JESUS the LORD." in the Amplified New Testament it says we preach "JESUS CHRIST as LORD." It is these three words that crystallized to me the truth of this third step in God.

That word JESUS means saviour. That is the meaning of the Greek word, and also of its Hebrew equivalent, JOSHUA. We read in Matthew 1:21 "Thou shalt call His name JESUS, for he shall SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS." That name reminds us of an experience which we have received called justification, Regeneration, Salvation, New Birth, or whatever term you have for it. We don't just grow up in a Christian home and automatically have it, but He saves us because He is JESUS!

In Acts 10:38 we read. "How God ANOINTED Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." This Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Anointed One. "CHRIST" means "ANOINTED" in the Greek, and it speaks to me of another experience that I've had in God where the anointing of the Spirit came upon me and brought me into a new realm in God. Oh, I had been growing in God for the 5 years I had been truly saved. I didn't just sit down and say, "Well now that I'm saved, I guess there's nothing else for me to do until I get another experience". Oh no. You grow in God, in your salvation experience. You learn to pray, to give, to suffer for Christ, and more. There's a growing in the Spirit, and a bearing of the fruit of the Spirit. But when you take another step in God, and receive another experience in God, you face an entirely new realm in God, with entirely new possibilities you never had before. Now that doesn't mean that it's all over. Some say "Well, thank God, I've finally got "it", and talked in tongues, now I guess they will leave me alone for awhile and I can rest as far as religion is concerned." But they have missed the point and purpose of the experience. I found that when I received the infilling of the Spirit, it was no place to sit down. It was the beginning into a new realm of the Spirit. But what about another step? Another experience in God to bring us to another complete realm in the Spirit that we have never walked in before? Is this scriptural? Let us look ....

THE THREE FEASTS

All those glorious truths that unfold to us in the New Testament have their roots in the soil of Old Testament types and shadows. One of the clearest and most conclusive proofs of the three realms of the Spirit is found in the types of the feasts of Israel. These are given in Leviticus chapter 23.

First I want to read Deuteronomy 16:16 "THREE TIMES IN A YEAR shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; IN THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (that's the Passover), and in the FEAST OF WEEKS (that's Pentecost) and in the FEAST OF TABERNACLES." Notice now, that THREE TIMES they meet with God. Not twice on earth and once in eternity. But three times in the realm of time, within the year. Modernists do not believe in meeting Him at all here, in an experience with God. However, the Fundamentalists stand up for meeting with God ... once. Not three times, just once. But the Pentecostals say: "No, it's twice in the year, don't leave out the Feast of Pentecost, But the Bible says "THREE TIMES in a year". Which one will you leave out? If the first two feasts are types of experiences in God of Salvation and the Baptism in the Spirit, then why not believe for and accept the THIRD thing that God is about to do in the earth in these closing days of this age?

PASSOVER

Chapter 23 of Leviticus deals with these three feasts in detail.

Let me just briefly mention the feast of Passover, and what it stands for. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 it says: "For Christ OUR PASSOVER is sacrificed for us." And in John 1:29 .. "And John seeth Jesus and said, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Now, it is very definitely established that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, fulfilled that Feast of Passover on Calvary, and that each of us individually has to come to the place in God to receive an experience relating to this Passover feast. You MUST be born again. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby ye MUST be saved. There MUST come an experience in God relating to this Passover feast. You go no further in God until you come to this. You don't come to the second experience until you've had the first one. You don't get filled with the Holy Ghost until you get to Passover first. The blood of this Lamb is sprinkled on the door posts of each individual house, but it is not taken beyond the Vail into the Holy of Holies or put on the Mercy seat. God deals with this part of the sin question at a later date. I trust this speaks to your heart.

PENTECOST

This is a NEW meat offering. This means a "meal" offering, and does not involve the shedding of blood. Two wave loaves are baked. It is not a carry-over from Passover. It is not a continuation of the previous feast. You don't save portions of the Passover lamb to eat on the day of Pentecost. This was a complete feast (experience) in itself.

We find the fulfillment of this feast in the Early Church in the 2nd chapter of Acts. Nearly all Bible scholars will agree to this, even if they don't believe this is for us today. As Calvary was a fulfillment of Passover, so Acts 2:4 was the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This was the earnest of our inheritance. It was not the FULNESS, nor the completeness of God's plan. But it was the firstfruits, and was given as a WITNESS (Acts 1:8, 5:32).

'For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, and not only they, but ourselves also WHICH HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (Romans 8:23)." We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption. Does he say "we who have tasted of the Passover and are saved?" No! "We who have the firstfruits of the Spirit." He is speaking of the Feast of firstfruits, Pentecost, which the saints back there had received. He said they were groaning, waiting for something else ... the Adoption, the placing as a full grown son.

"Now He which established you with us in Christ, which HATH ANOINTED us, is God who HATH SEALED US and given the EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22)." The earnest. Now an earnest is a foretaste. It's not the entire inheritance. In the 13th chapter of Numbers when the 12 spies went in to spy out the land, it says "It was the time of the first ripe grapes." So what they brought back as proof of the goodness of the promised land was the firstfruits. They were not expected to be satisfied to live forever on that firstfruits, but it was a taste and a witness of what was in the land of their inheritance. God expected them to go in and possess the fulness. Some refused because of their unbelief, and they died in the wilderness without ever seeing the full inheritance, but someone finally had faith and obedience enough to go in and possess their possessions.

"In whom you also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye WERE SEALED with that HOLY SPIRIT of promise which is the EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:13-14)." After they believed, they were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Earnest of our inheritance. "Until" speaks of the time when we no longer have to live on the earnest or firstfruits. You see, the point the scripture is making is that the experience we have received called the Baptism in the Spirit is the firstfruits or earnest of our inheritance, and is to seal us and keep us until the unveiling of the fulness of the Spirit in us. It is a foretaste of what God has in store for us here on this earth, in the realm of time.

WHEN IS THE INHERITANCE REVEALED?

"But WHEN that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 (I Corinthians 13:10). The context shows here that he is speaking about the gifts of the Spirit. Prophecy, tongues, word of knowledge. He is not talking about the Scripture in part, but he speaks about the gifts that operate in the part realm. So that which is perfect is not the establishment of the canon of scripture, as some claim, but it is the perfect operation of the fulness of the Spirit. The gifts as we know them now are a "part" of that operation, but only operate in part. But when is that "WHEN" going to come to pass? When does the fulness come? The Apostle Peter gives us the answer:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, TO AN INHERITANCE incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME."

(I Peter I.-3-5). Now notice, friends, that he is speaking here of the Inheritance. Not the firstfruits or the earnest. This came to the early church. They already had that. But they were still looking forward to receiving the inheritance. And I don't mean a gold mansion in the sky, but the inheritance is the fulness of what the earnest was a foretaste of! Glory to God!

Peter goes on to say in verse 13 that something is to be brought to us at the "revelation" (appearing) of Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean that you are going to be translated to something somewhere in the sky, but it is coming to you. When? At the revelation, or appearing of Jesus Christ. There is something to be brought to us. I want to read Hebrews 9:28 out of the Amplified New Testament: "Even so it is that Christ having been offered to take upon himself and bear as a burden for the sins of many, once and once for all, will appear the second time, not carrying any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, BUT TO BRING TO FULL SALVATION those who are eagerly, constantly, and patiently waiting for and expecting Him." Yes, praise God, He's coming, and at His coming He will bring us to full salvation, to our full inheritance! I Thessalonians 5:9 says: "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation (full salvation) by our Lord Jesus Christ."

So we have another feast here. FEAST OF TABERNACLES. We are not dealing with doctrines here, but we are dealing with experiences in God. The Modernist would tell you that the Feast of Passover has nothing to do with the experience of salvation. But I can tell you on the authority of God's Word that this feast is a type of our experience of the new birth, or justification. The Fundamentalist would say, "That's true, but the Feast of Pentecost has nothing to do with a further experience." Then the Pentecostal leaps into the picture with a shout that the second feast certainly IS a type of a present day experience available to us, and they speak in tongues to prove it. But they go right on to say that the third feast of Tabernacles has nothing to do with any further experience or realm in God. When are we going to learn? How dumb can we be, trying to fight off God's gracious blessings? God help us not to be deceived again.

THE THREE VEILS

The Bible gives us many other pictures and types of this great truth in addition to the three feasts of Israel. One beautiful type is found in the Tabernacle. At the bottom of the inside cover of this book is a chart or diagram of this Tabernacle. Of course, whole books could be written about the many spiritual truths found in this Old Testament pattern, but I want to limit our investigation to the three Veils. I have marked the first one the "Outer Gate 11, the second is the "Door of the Tent", and the third is the "Inner Veil" into the Holy of Holies. Each one of them was made of 100 square cubits of white linen with beautiful cunning work wrought into it. Each of them had to be passed through in order to come to a certain place in the Tabernacle.

THE OUTER GATE

This was the veil before which they brought the animals to be stain. And this door had to be passed through in order to come to the Brazen Attar where the blood was placed and the burnt offering offered up to God. The first thing you saw when you passed through this veil was the big bloody brazen altar which to us represents Calvary.

This represents Jesus the Saviour. He said "I am the door". There is no other way to get in, you must come in at the door. This brings us face to face with the Blood. Here is where sin is dealt with. Passing through this veil represents an experience we have in God, passing from death to life in Christ. This brings us into the outer court where the blood is shed, and where the washing by water takes place at the laver. But there are more curtains or veils or experiences yet to pass through.

DOOR TO THE TENT

Look at the diagram. Passing through this second veil, like eating of the second feast, brings us into the Pentecostal realm. It is a place of spiritual ministry. It is the place of testimony, of spiritual bread, and the offering up of the prayers and praises of the saints. It is the place of the seven branch candlestick, representing the Church. This Church got its start on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It has the lamps that are full of oil and kept burning.

No one, regardless of their educational attainments, can properly minister in the House of the Lord without the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. There is no other way into the sanctuary except through this veil. Passing through this veil is an experience with God, the experience of being filled with His Spirit. Here was a spiritual priesthood that ministered in the sanctuary daily. The first veil brought us to the blood, to Calvary, to which the Fundamentalist will heartily say Amen. The second veil brings us to the oil, to Pentecost, and multitudes of Spirit-filled people will attest to that. But where does the third veil take us? "Oh, no", cry the Pentecostals, "We have come through two veils, let's stop now. We can't go through that third veil! Well, friends, I have news for you. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus made a way so that we COULD go through that third veil into the Holy of Holies, and that He has already gone there as a forerunner for us. Let us look at that veil and see what is behind it.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

Passing through this third veil is a type of something the Church has not yet come to in reality. By faith we are there with Him, now. But in experience it is yet to come. But thank God, the scriptures indicate that this shall take place in the last days, the end of this age, and we are now come to that time. So we can expect another great move of the Spirit to bring us into a realm never before touched by Adam's race. Glory to God!

My purpose in this message is not to explore in detail all that is in this realm, but only to prove by the scriptures that there is such a place. If I can get you to see that there is more in God for you, then perhaps I can stir you out of your religious complacency. We have camped around this Pentecostal mountain long enough. It is time to see that God has more for us, and to get ready to move into it.

The High Priest went into this place only once, and that in the END of the year. The blood of the Passover lamb did not go back here. That blood was to be put on the doorposts of each house, to deal with the sins of the individual. But on the Day of Atonement it was not the individual he was dealing with, but with the whole nation. So that sin was put out of business altogether. Back here was Life. Here was where God said He would meet with man. No death, no sickness, no failure here. Only the fulness of God. Much more could be said about this place, but let it suffice to say that there is such a place, and it is available for us. It is part of the plan of God. Quit letting man tell you that there is no more for you in God. That argument has kept people from the first veil, out of true salvation, it has kept them from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and now it is holding some back from the fulness of God. Sure, I know there is a 30 fold company in this harvest. There is also a 60 fold. But if you really love and desire Jesus Christ as much as you say you do, why wouldn't you want to be in the 100 fold? The 30 fold comes through the first veil, the 60 fold comes through two veils, but if you want to be in the 100 fold, you will have to go all
the way. Three veils.

THE THREE BAPTISMS

Here is another picture of this same thing. Israel had three baptisms. Each one relates to an experience we have in God.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 tells us about two of these baptisms (which is as far as we have gone to this present time). "Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea: and were ALL BAPTISED UNTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE SEA. "Now there was a baptism unto Moses. This baptism through the Red Sea brought them out of Egypt and deliverance from bondage and slavery. It was at this time they ate the Feast of Passover. This speaks to us Of the experience of salvation, the deliverance from slavery to sin. Praise God!

They were also baptised in the Cloud. This cloud represented the Holy Spirit. It was their Guide through the wilderness journey. It was a Comfort to them from the heat of the desert sun. It provided rain and refreshing. It was protection from their enemies. As a pillar of fire, it gave them light in the darkness. All these things the Holy Spirit does for us. Being baptised in the cloud was to them a picture of our being Baptised in the Holy Spirit. It was with them all through the wilderness journey. Praise God!

But now we come to a third baptism. Just as passing through the Red Sea on dry ground was a baptism unto Moses, so the passing through the Jordan River dry shod was a baptism unto Joshua. A new baptism. Under new leadership or ministry. A new people, all the rebellion and unbelief gone, buried in the wilderness. See how they prepare to cross Jordan. It is the time of the Harvest, Jordan is swelling its banks. It is the worst possible time to try to cross, in the natural. But we are not doing this by the natural. The carnal man has to die. The carnal mind cannot operate. This must be by the Spirit.

YE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY

Now we see them getting ready to cross over into the Promised Land. In Joshua 3:1-4 we find them rising up "early in the morning". A new day is dawning. The officers pass through the host with the instructions. They are to keep their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant.

In verse four they instruct the people: "Yet there shall be a space between you and it (the Ark) , about TWO THOUSAND cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: FOR YE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY HERETOFORE."

Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ (the true Ark of the Covenant) conquered the waters of death and passed into the Promised Land as a forerunner for us. There He waits, until His Body follows Him in and conquers this promised land, putting all enemies under His feet. You see, beloved, this next move of the Spirit does not bring an end to everything, a cessation of all activities, as we have been taught. It actually brings us into a place of great conflict, but with the power to conquer every enemy. Satan shall be bound, and all his princes and demons shall be put in chains. This honor have the saints of God (Psalms 149).

So many are crying out for an old time revival of the "good old days". Oh, no. You see, friends, what God is taking us into now in the end of the age has never happened before. Not to grandpa, not to Paul and Silas, not to the early Church. Ye have not passed this way before. They were under the cloud, yes. They came out of sin, yes. But they did not yet pass over this Jordan. I know some of you won't like this. But you'll have to wrestle with the Word of God, not with me. It's too plain. God made it simple. This is the realm of the unlimited measure of God. Romans 12 tells us that we have the Spirit by measure, we have faith by measure, and prophesy according to the proportion of faith given us. But in John 3:34 we read of another realm: "For he whom God has sent speaketh the words of God, and GOD GIVETH NOT THE SPIRIT TO HIM BY MEASURE." The Spirit without measure. The fulness of God. There it is. And it is needed as we cross over Jordan into a land where the enemy lives. War in heaven. But no place found any longer for the enemy. He is cast out. Praise God! This is the THIRD baptism. It brings us behind the Veil, over Jordan, into the Promised Land. Get ready.

JESUS CHRIST AS LORD

Paul said that he preached Jesus Christ as LORD. This involves a great deal. It involves His absolute dominion over your life. This is the step that must be taken in order to walk in this third realm of the Spirit. We can have our sins forgiven, and still have the carnal man ruling a lot of our life. We can even be filled with the Spirit walk in the Pentecostal realm, and still go our own way. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, which was famous for speaking in tongues and gifts of the Spirit, yet he told them that they were yet carnal, full of strife and divisions and uncleanness. Sounds terrible, and it is, but it is so anyhow. Some tongue talking Pentecostal people who have received two glorious experiences with God are some of the most carnal Christians I know, full of strife and lust and unbelief. This ought not to be so. But it is.You preach Jesus as Saviour, and people will get saved. This is so. I have preached evangelistically in churches, tents, campmeetings, jails, T. B. hospitals, on the foreign mission field, street corners, school houses, factories, homes, on radio and many other places. When people hear the message of salvation, some are sure to get saved. I know this to be true.

When you preach Jesus as the Christ, the "Anointed One", the one who baptises in the Holy Ghost, then folks will be filled with the Spirit. All they need to do is to hear the message. I have preached in various kinds of churches, Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Nazarene, and others. Where ever you tell people that Jesus is the Baptizer, some will reach out and receive. I spoke in a Nazarene church, told them that they could receive the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues, and some did. Why is it so many good Baptist folks, fine born-again Christians, do not have the Baptism ? Is it because they are not good enough for it? Of course they're not, and neither are you. But that's not the reason. God doesn't give the Holy Ghost to those that are good enough. He gives it to those who hear and believe and receive. They don't have it because their ministers won't preach it. They won't preach Jesus as Christ, the anointed ... the baptizer.

Why is it so many churches never see anyone healed in their services ? Because they don't preach Jesus as the Healer. if they would preach healing, people would get healed. "Faith cometh by hearing, by hearing the Word of God. 11 The Episcopal churches preach healing, have regular healing services, and people get marvelous healings. This is not just a pentecostal monopoly. Whatever you preach Jesus to be, there will be results in that area of people's lives.Paul said that he preached Jesus as Lord. This is most important. More important than healing the physical body. That He might be absolute Lord of our lives, have dominion in His own Kingdom. For we are His Kingdom, and He is our King and our Lord. We have preached Him as Saviour. We have preached Him as Baptizer and Healer. And people have been glad to say: "Yes, Jesus, we will let you take our sins away, and we appreciate you healing our bodies and providing our needs and filling us with the Spirit, but from here on out we'll make our own decisions and row our own little boat. Isn't that just about the picture with so many ?

But the time has come that we must preach Him as LORD. For He must have a Body over which He IS Lord, in all that it means. When Jesus was here on earth, the Fat-her had a Son that responded to His every wish. "I always do those things that please the Father", said Jesus. "Not my will, but thine be done". He walked in this realm continually, and by this the Father was magnified exceedingly. Now God has given Jesus a Body, a Body made up of many members. A Body over which He is to be the absolute Lord and Head. "That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ IS Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This is the Lordship we are preaching. We preach Jesus Christ as Lord. "They that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

We have preached Him and received Him as Saviour. This is as far as many preachers seem to have gone. "Be delivered from sin, come to church, pay your tithes, be a good Christian according to our standard, and that's it. That's ail there is for you on earth, the next thing is Heaven". But others have preached Him as Christ, .lie Baptizer. They have taken the second step: "Be saved from sin, get the Baptism and speak in tongues, get the right kind of water Baptism, and you've got it made Well those two steps are fine and necessary, but don't stop there. There's one more thing. He must be Lord. This can only come to those who have gone through that third veil, through death to self. Self and Christ cannot both be Lord. Self must die. Christ must rule supreme. Perhaps you think that you have already arrived, and that everything in you is in subjection to His will. But there are areas of your life that have not been touched yet, and self still rules. But we preach Him as Lord, and this must bring results. A people will come through this last death, and a resurrection into His Life and Lordship. Glory to God!

THE HIGH CALLING

"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto these things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)." Paul, with all his knowledge, consecration, and attainments, still recognized that he had not yet reached God's ultimate for him.

Here he was, at the close of his ministry, sitting in prison, yet still reaching higher in God. What an indictment against those self-complacent doctors of theology who think they have reached maturity, and are satisfied with what they have. Paul had eaten the Feast of Passover. He had partaken of Pentecost. But he realized that there was still something more to come. He constantly urged the Church to open their hearts and their understanding to it, and to be filled with ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD!

As Paul says in Colossians 1:26, these things have been kept hid until the time for the revealing. He saw these truths, and wrote about them. But when the time for the Restoration came, men could not see them until the Spirit opened their eyes. Did you ever wonder why the great theologian Luther never preached on the Baptism of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and gifts of the Spirit? It was not time for it. Why didn't Finney, Moody, Spurgeon, Cartwright, and others of their day preach about healing and miracles and tongues and interpretation ? God kept them secret until the right time. These men were mighty men of God in the things God revealed to them.

But when the time for the restoration of Pentecost came, little common men who didn't know one tenth of the Bible that these great theologians knew, moved right in and began to preach the deeper truths of the Holy Spirit. Because the door, the second veil, was open!

And now, in the end of this age, it is time for the third veil to be entered. It is time to cross Jordan. You are going to have to pray about this, now that you have heard the word. I knew that this revelation would cause some controversy. I could have just kept quiet, and enjoyed this for myself. But no. It is not for an individual. It is for His Body. God is going to have a Body of people that is going to break Into this thing together. Don't try to tell me that you are already there, when the Body has not yet come in. If you get through this veil, you'll go in with His Body. It will bring us into a conflict such as the world has never seen before. And the end of that conflict will be absolute and utter destruction of all demon forces, putting every power of evil under the feet of the Body of Christ, that Christ may be victorious over all. Praise God for His glorious plan!

Let the song of the Lord rise from within thee. Let His praises ride on high! For the day of His glory is at hand, and the time of our ascension is nigh! Watch thy spirit with diligence, and guard against the flesh. Be thou submissive unto Him, and let nothing hinder thee from entering into His glory! Thou art come to the hour when the precious ointment flows over the Head, down upon the beard, to the skirts of His garment! Praise ye the Lord!

The Triple Sealing

Look at the High Priest as he prepares to enter the Holiest of Holies, into the very presence of God. He has prepared himself very carefully for this occasion, making sure that the essential parts of his dress and supply are all in order. There are several things we could speak about in connection with this, but the thing we are concerned about in this message is the three sets of seals on his robe and headpiece.

God has given us a picture here, in Old Testament types and shadows, of the reality of the three glorious experiences in God which prepare us for entry into His Presence in truth and experience. Other pictures of these three experiences are found in the three annual feasts of Israel, Passover-Pentecost-Tabernacles .. . and also in the three gates or veils in the Tabernacle, which veils must be passed through on the way to the Holiest Place. He has not left us in darkness concerning His purposes in our lives, but His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. Now, our feet and pathway speak of our walk in the Spirit and our actual experiences in God. So those who have eyes to see can find in His Word the perfect order for their lives, and see clearly the pathway they are to follow in this pilgrim journey, and the land of promise (or experiences in God) through which their feet shall trod. Praise God's great and wonderful Name!

THE BEAUTIFUL BREASTPLATE

Now, if you will turn in your Bible to Exodus 28th chapter and verses 15-30, you will read the description God is giving Moses on how to make the breastplate that covers the heart of the High Priest. Notice in verse 15, the colors that are in it ... gold, blue, scarlet, and fine twined linen. These are some of the very same colors that are in the Beautiful Veil that covers the Holiest of All, and they speak of the NATURE of our Lord Jesus. Since this is not our message today, we will hurry on. Also, we will not speak about the twelve different kinds of stones in this breastplate, mostly due to our lack of knowledge on that subject. Oh, beloved, there is so much we do not yet know about the wondrous works of God! So much to learn, and thank God there is an anointing which shall teach us all things! Hallelujah!

Much is also said about the two rings and chains of gold, but again we must hurry past and save this truth to be dealt with at a later time. But let us read verse 29: "AND AARON SHALL BEAR THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT UPON HIS HEART, WHEN HE GOETH IN UNTO THE HOLY PLACE, FOR A MEMORIAL BEFORE THE LORD CONTINUALLY ." And notice in verse 21 that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were engraved in the twelve stones. The word "like" is in italics and is not in the original, so it was actually the engraving oil ' a signet, or seal. Both words, seal and signet, come from the same Hebrew word "CHOWTHAM," so there was actually a sealing in this breastplate that covered the heart. Listen to this amazing scripture found in the Song of Solomon, chapter 8, verse 6: "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM:" This is the same word as the "signet" that was to be engraved in the stones that covered the heart, as well as the stones upon the arms or shoulders of the High Priest.

IT COVERS THE HEART

Here is the clue that unfolds the mystery of this breastplate and gives us the picture of the wonderful experience in store for those who will accept the reality found in Christ Jesus. Notice that the purpose of this breastplate was to cover the heart. Why? Why must the heart of man be sealed? Look in Matthew 15-19 "FOR OUT OF THE HEART PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS MURDERS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATION, THEFTS, FALSE WITNESS, BLASPHEMIES: "We discover in Galatians 5:19-21 that these things are the works of the flesh. So when the heart is sealed, the works of the flesh are cut off. Jn the Old Testament the cutting away of the flesh was known as circumcision. Romans 4:11 tells us why Abraham received this seal: "AND HE (ABRAHAM) RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION, A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH WHICH HE HAD, YET BEING UNCIRCUMCISED: THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FATHER OF ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE." Hallelujah!

So circumcision is a seal, a sign of the cutting away of the works of the flesh. But the outward circumcision is not what God is interested in, as we find in Romans 2:28-29, but it is that circumcision, or sealing of the HEART that is important ... "FOR HE IS NOT A JEW, WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY- NEITHER IS THAT CIRCUMCISION, WHICH IS OUTWARD IN THE FLESH: BUT HE IS A JEW, WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY: AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, AND NOT IN THE LETTER." Glory be to God! Read what Paul says in Colossians 2:11 "IN WHOM (CHRIST) ALSO YE ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST." It couldn't be plainer, could it? The Holy Spirit puts a seal upon our heart, and this is that spiritual circumcision or cutting away of the flesh which corresponds to the breastplate of the High Priest. See what the Holy Ghost spoke through the apostle in 2 Timothy 2:19 "NEVERTHELESS THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE, HAVING THIS SEAL, THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS, AND, LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY."

So there is a glorious experience in Christ Jesus our Lord, an experience which we call 'the new birth," or sometimes refer to as "salvation." When you have truly met the Lord in the fulness of this experience your life will be changed. You will have a spiritual circumcision, and the works of the flesh will be cut off. You cannot do this in your own strength, it must be an operation of the Spirit of God. You cannot be a better sinner and just grow into this state. You must meet God in a life-changing experience, and be "born-again." And when you do, you will find that your heart will be sealed, you will have the breastplate of our heavenly High Priest and through His precious promises you will be made partaker of His divine nature.

PUTTING ON A NEW NATURE

There were, on the breastplate, twelve names sealed or engraved on the twelve stones. Names, and their meaning, are very important in the Bible. The name speaks of the nature and purpose of a man. The name "JESUS" means "saviour," and the Bible says that they "CALLED HIS NAME JESUS, FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS." So these names engraved on the breastplate speak of the new nature we receive as we are circumcised in heart. "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. (2 Corinthians 5-17)." We shall not take time to look at all the names in the breastplate, but let us examine a few to get an idea of this new nature which is to come to us through the new birth.

REUBEN - "BEHOLD A SON"

"Behold a son," this is what Reuben's name means. it speaks to us of our relationship to God. The Jews recognized God as a Creator, as a Lawgiver, as a Deliverer, and as a Judge. But when Jesus came, He taught them to say: "OUR FATHER." He demonstrated our true relationship to God as Sons. We are not to be relegated to the place of a servant, tho we (like the Prodigal) realize our total unworthiness of sonship. But in spite of our unworthy condition, He has a robe, shoes, and a ring .... as well as a fatted calf. And there is a relationship between Father and son that can never be realized by servants. Thank God for this glorious treasure that comes by way of a spiritual birth, a thing we had not asked for or known about, but something He purposed for those He loved.

This sonship also implies a growing to maturity, full stature. This relationship is not to remain forever as just a child of God, an infant to be cared for and looked after and protected. But with Reuben engraved on the breastplate, we see a son coming to maturity, being conformed to the image of the first-born Son of this new creation. This brings on privileges and responsibilities, not known to the babes in Christ. But, beloved, this is our inheritance, and our destiny, so let us press on in to the fulness that God has purposed for us in our new natures.

SIMEON - "A HEARKENING"

The name of Jacob's second son, sealed into the stone of the breastplate, speaks to us of hearing and obeying the voice of God. Jesus, of course, was the perfect example of this. He "did always those things that pleased the Father." He was always quick and eager to hearken to the Father's voice. He was, in fact, the perfect Son .... the one who could cause the Father to say: "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED!" One of the marks of true sonship is that willingness to lay aside our own ambitions and desires and plans in order to do the will of the Father. "NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE." Walk softly, dear ones, and listen with an eager ear, for God is testing His sons with a still small voice, to see who is listening with obedient hearts. These are momentous days and this "hearkening" being sealed into our very natures is the reason why His Elect shall not be deceived in this hour. They are hearing His voice, and another they will not follow. Hallelujah to His wonderful Name!

JUDAH - "PRAISE"

One of the surest marks of a new nature the attitude of praise found in those who have been born again. Throughout the Word we find strong evidence that our lives are to be continually filled with praise. Grumbling and murmuring has no place in the life of the son whose heart has been sealed. Philippians 2:14 and 15 says "DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT MURMURINGS AND DISPUTINGS: THAT YE MAYBE BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS, THE SONS OF GOD, WITHOUT REBUKE, IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE NATION, AMONG WHOM YE SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD." But what if everything is going wrong, and there doesn't seem to be anything to praise the Lord for, and you don't feel like praising? Then just praise the Lord anyhow! Because it is part of your new nature, it I s been sealed into you. Many problems will melt like wax before a hot fire, when you begin to surround those problems with a mighty barrage of praise. A long and edifying message could be written about this one point alone, but we must hurry on ...

ASHER - "FORTUNATE, OR HAPPY"

Truly we are fortunate, but this is because of His grace. But there is a joy, a real happiness that becomes a part of our very nature after we come to know Him. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we find that "FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM, HE ENDURED THE CROSS." He was a man so joyous, so happy, so bubbling over with life and enthusiasm that the little children loved to be around Him. You can't consistently fool children, they know whether you are just putting on an outward show of enthusiasm, or whether you are really full of interest and life and joy. Oh yes, I know He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, but Hebrews 1:9 says that He was anointed with the oil of gladness above all the rest of us. And Isaiah 61:3 tells us that the spirit of the Lord was upon Him that He might give unto those that mourn in Zion the oil of joy for mourning. You can't give what you don't have. But He had that oil of joy, in abundance! Praise God! And His people are to be a happy people, for they have His nature. There is no place for sad, grumpy "Christians." In this world of darkness we are to be lights - living invitations for people to turn to Jesus, not a warning for those who want to have fun in life to "stay away from church and religion." I never knew what real happiness was until I found the Lord.

GAD - "A TROOP"

Gad's name speaks to us of a body of disciplined soldiers, trained and ready to take their place in the fight. The Lord is no longer speaking of "Just Jesus and me on the Jericho road ... 1, But in these days He is making us to realize our need of the Body of Christ, and our responsibility to it. "A Troop." Glory to God, this makes me think of Joel's Army, as well as Ezekiel's great army that rose from the valley of dry bones. Daniel saw that this people would be strong and do exploits. Isaiah saw a mighty and strong one that would stand in the day of judgment and turn the battle to the gate. Jeremiah saw them as God's battle ax and weapons of war that would break in pieces the nations and tear down Babylon. All the prophets saw and spoke about this great people. A Troop. Beloved, don't let man's doctrinal interpretations make you think that you are going to some other geographical planet or place during the great battle of the ages, letting the natural Jews fight God's war for Him. By your very nature you are a soldier of Jesus Christ, and part of a troop. You are not alone, and you cannot stand alone in that awful and fearful day. But you are part of a troop, and this speaks of discipline. The Bible says that tho Jesus was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the discipline He endured. That is what the word "suffered" means here. Having been a U. S. Marine Paratrooper during World War 2, I know something of the importance of discipline in time of war. It is dangerous to have buddies that are not trained and disciplined rigorously. But it Is a great comfort to know that the one next to you obeys commands quickly, knows what to do and will do it. Dear ones, we are in a great spiritual war. Not against flesh and blood, but against the princes and rulers of darkness . . . And God is weeding out those who will not come under discipline for the sake of the Body. He is "purging out the rebels." You cannot come into this alone, you need the Body. In the great day of the Lord EVERY ISLAND FLED AWAY, AND THE MOUNTAINS WERE NOT FOUND" (Revelation 16:20) Be thou warned. Set not thyself aloof from the rest of us, and took not upon us with disdain. Remember, thy name is Gad. . A troop.

ZEBULUN - "A HABITATION"

Just one more name before we leave this subject. The margin of your Bible will give you the meaning of the rest of the names of the children of Israel in chapters 29 and 30 of Genesis. Look them up, and the Spirit will show you some wonderful things about their meaning and the truths contained therein. But let us look at Zebulun "A habitation." Praise God, what a wonderful thing we are sealed up to here. To be a habitation of God through the Spirit. God's House. Glory! IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS," Jesus said in John 14:2. David wanted to build God a house, but God gave David to understand that He couldn't build God a house, even heaven and earth couldn't contain God. "What house will ye build me?" God asks (Acts 7:49). But God gave David to know that Christ was coming to build God a house. And there are many mansions or dwelling places in this house. Paul and Peter tell us that this present physical body we live in is only a tent or tabernacle, but that we shall soon exchange it for an eternal dwelling, a mansion that never grows old or sick or suffers pain. Does God have a body or house to live in? Where does God live, and what is the place of His habitation? "AND I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN SAYING, BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM (Revelation 21:3)." "YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD, AS GOD HATH SAID, TWILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE (2 Corinthians 6:16)." This is far too powerful a truth to try to cover it in the space I have available in this paragraph, but this subject will be dealt with at greater length in a later message, God willing. Let it suffice to say that we, the Zebulun people whose hearts have been sealed, are chosen of God for His very own habitation. Glory to God, makes me want to shout! But how can you shout on a piece of paper? Hallelujah! The way I feel right now, the owner of THIS house is at home!

THE SEAL ON THE SHOULDERS

The first part of this message deals with the glorious experience of the "new birth," shown in the type or shadow of the seal that covers the heart. Now we come to the second seal or experience, and this is seen in the seal put on the two onyx stones on the shoulders of the High Priest. The description of this is found in Exodus 28:6-14. Notice that the number 'two" is mentioned seven times in these verses. Two is the number of witness. It is very significant in connection with the feast of Pentecost. In Leviticus 23:17 describing the feast of Pentecost, we read: "YE SHALL BRING OUT OF YOUR HABITATIONS TWO WAVE-LOAVES OF TWO TENTH DEALS; THEY SHALL BE BAKEN WITH LEAVEN: THEY ARE THE FIRST- FRUITS UNTO THE LORD." So it is that this glorious experience of the "Baptism with the Holy Ghost" or as some like to say, "being filled with the Spirit," is typified in the feast of Pentecost, and is the "firstfruits" of our promised inheritance. Hallelujah! The Apostle Peter says in Acts 5:32 "WE ARE HIS WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS ... AND SO IS ALSO THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM GOD HATH GIVEN TO THEM THAT OBEY HIM." Now look at Acts 1:8. "BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER AFTER, THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES." Notice that while the first sealing or experience deals with the heart and the cutting away of the works of the flesh, this one deals with power. Now we can see why it was put on the two shoulders. For the arm and the shoulder speaks of strength, power, ruling ability etc. "AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER (Isaiah 9-6)."

THE GUARANTEE

This marvelous experience, seen in the sealing of the two onyx stones, is not the end of God's promises, but is in reality the earnest or guarantee of our hope of receiving the fulness of the inheritance. 1 Corinthians 1:21-22 says "NOW HE WHICH STABLISHETH US WITH YOU IN CHRIST, AND HATH ANOINTED US, IS GOD: WHO HATH ALSO SEALED US, AND GIVEN THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS." That word earnest means a foretaste or guarantee of the fulness. In fact, the Amplified New Testament brings this out thus. "BUT IT IS GOD WHO.. HAS CONSECRATED AND ANOINTED US, ENDUING US WITH THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PUTTING HIS SEAL UPON US AND GIVING US HIS HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS THE SECURITY DEPOSIT AND GUARANTEE OF THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROMISE." Another version words it: "HE HAS PUT HIS SEAL UPON US AND GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A GUARANTEE."

I realize, of course, that some people have been "railroaded" through to a doctrinal "pentecostal experience" where they have an "evidence,, satisfactory to the spectators, and yet have never tasted of the fulness of this great Baptism. But anyone who has ever received the reality of this heavenly outpouring can quickly understand what I mean when I say that words are inadequate to express the glory and joy and power in it. Yet the Word is clear. It is only an earnest or foretaste. What then will the fulness be like?

REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION

There is a thrilling story and prophecy in Jeremiah chapter 32 that you must read to get the background for what I am about to say. But first let us read in Ephesians 1:13-14 ... "IN WHOM YE ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: IN WHOM ALSO AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION." The Revised version reads ... "WERE SEALED WITH THAT PROMISEDHOLY SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL WE ACQUIRE POSSESSION OF IT." And the Amplified New Testament even goes further: "WERE STAMPED WITH THE SEAL OF THE LONG PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, THAT SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE, - THE FIRST FRUIT, THE PLEDGE AND FORETASTE, THE DOWN PAYMENT ON OUR HERITAGE, IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS FULL REDEMPTION AND OUR ACQUIRING COMPLETE POSSESSION OF IT."... Glory to God! Hallelujah!

Notice that after we believed, following the new birth and the seal of the circumcision of heart, there was another sealing. One of power and promise. It is the foretaste of the full inheritance which the early church had not yet received, but which is "AN INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE, AND UNDEFILED, AND THAT FADETH NOT AWAY, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME (I Peter 1:4-5)." So now, in these last days, and through this end-time Church, there is to be an unveiling of this treasure, a manifestation of the glory of full Sonship. Romans 8:19 says that the hope of all creation waits for the appearing of the reality of this Truth.

"BUY THE FIELD ... SEAL THE DEED, WITH WITNESSES"

The children of Israel were about to go into captivity. They would not be dwelling in their promised inheritance. But the prophet Jeremiah was giving them a promise, a pledge or guarantee. In Jeremiah 32:10-14 the prophet buys a field and has the scribe Baruch subscribe the evidence and "seal it." This seal was their guarantee that they would return from captivity and again dwell in the promised land. And in verse 44 God promises that men would again enter into the land and dwell there and build cities, for he would cause their captivity to return.

Oh, beloved, can you see the tremendous significance of this prophecy? The Church has been in Babylon, in bondage to man's organized ways and methods. When Satan saw the Church locked in the darkness of the old harlot Roman system, a system that was and is corrupt and rotten to the core, he no doubt laughed with glee, thinking he had put one over on God. But God was still on the throne and ruled the affairs of men. And right in the midst of captivity God gave a seal or guarantee that He would bring them out of bondage and back into their own promised land. I'm talking about the Church now, and spiritual things. For Satan and all the hordes of demons were thrown into consternation when at the turn of this century, God again reaffirmed His pledge and poured out of His Spirit in mighty power upon hungry hearts. For every time some dear child of God received the glorious infilling of God's Spirit and came through speaking in tongues, they were manifesting the seal or guarantee that God was going to give the Church the fulness of the Spirit as manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. Let the heathen rage, let Satan storm about .... every Spirit-filled saint on earth today is a living witness that Jesus Christ is alive, and that His divine life will again be reproduced upon this earth in human vessels. Let the Pentecostal people talk about defeatism and wish for the day when they will all fly away into the skies to escape the great battle of the ages that is soon to take place upon this earth. For every time one of them speaks in tongues or manifests a gift of the Spirit, they are reaffirming the great Truth that the Church is soon to be filled with all the fulness of God and "come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Then shall every enemy be put under the feet of the Body of Christ, including the last enemy to be conquered which is death.

Every time a Spirit-filled preacher rises up in the Holy Ghost and works miracles, heals the sick, or casts demons out of someone, it makes Satan raging mad. For He knows by this sign that his time is short. For this manifestation of divine power is a seat or guarantee that the inheritance or promised land is there, purchased and ready for our return from Babylon. So Jeremiah gave them this seal as a witness to them that this wonderful land would again be theirs. Some did not believe the word of the Lord concerning this. So they did not buy land, and seal the deeds as Jeremiah did. And some never returned from Babylon. Let it be a warning to us, dear ones. God will fulfill His own purposes, whether we agree to it or not. But whether we are going to be in on it or not depends much on our own attitude and actions concerning this. Be faithful, and be full of faith. For it shall surely come to pass, and nothing shall hinder. Glory be to God! Thank God for the precious first-fruits or earnest of our inheritance. Thank God for the wonderful Baptism with the Holy Ghost, our promise that God will give to us the fulness of His Spirit!

THE GOLDEN CROWN OF THE HIGH PRIEST

Now we come to the third and last sealing in connection with the High Priest, and this one is found in his forehead. This is very significant. Notice in Exodus 28:36-38 where it speaks of this crown of pure gold, that the seal or engraving upon it is to be "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." It was the names of the twelve tribes that were engraved on the breastplate and onyx stones, which speak of our new nature and the power in this anointing. But here we are dealing with our relationship to the Lord God. For notice that the crown is of pure gold, and put upon blue lace. Blue is symbolic of the heavenly nature, while gold of course speaks of divine attributes. And it is very significant that he always was to wear this in his forehead.

THE THIRD AND FINAL SEALING OF THE SAINTS

Now read with me in Revelation 7:2-3 "AND I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL ASCENDING FROM THE EAST, HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD: AND HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE TO THE FOUR ANGELS TO WHOM IT WAS GIVEN TO HURT THE EARTH AND THE SEA, SAYING, HURT NOT THE EARTH NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS. " Verse 3 tells us that these who are to be sealed are the 144, 000. Now don't try to bring me that old traditional idea that these are the natural Jews who have suddenly decided to believe in Christ. For here God is dealing with His elect, those whom He has put through the fires of tribulation and testing and found them to be faithful. See what Revelation 14:1 says "AND I LOOKED, AND LO, A LAMB STOOD ON THE MOUNT SION, AND WITH HIM AN HUNDRED FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND HAVING HIS FATHER'S NAME WRITTEN IN THEIR FOREHEADS." It goes on to say that these were not defiled with "women" (harlot churches) they follow the Lamb everywhere (being conformed to His image) and have received that full redemption spoken of in Romans 8, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelation 22: 1 - 4 says that those who dwell in the new Jerusalem shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads.

THE MIND OF CHRIST

Why is this final sealing in the forehead? What has our mind got to do with our relationship to God? "AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND (Romans 12:2)." Notice that word "transformed." It comes from the Greek word "Metamorphoo" which is used 4 times in the Bible and translated "changed," "transformed," or "transfigured" This is the word used in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 when it speaks of Jesus being transfigured before them, on the mount of transfiguration. It is also used in 2 Corinthians 3:18 where it says: "BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN (unveiled) FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD." And the revised version words it thus: "AND WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING CHANGED INTO HIS LIKENESS FROM ONE DEGREE OF GLORY TO ANOTHER." And the wording of the Amplified New Testament is very beautiful: "AND ALL OF US, AS WITH UNVEILED FACE, BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO BEHOLD AND TO RE F LE CT LIKE MIRRORS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS VERY OWN IMAGE IN EVER INCREASING SPLENDOR AND FROM ONE DEGREE OF GLORY TO ANOTHER."

So there is a transfiguration going on within us as we behold and reflect the glory of the Lord. Hallelujah! And the sealing of our minds mark the completion of this transformation. Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 4:7 "BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, THAT THE EXCELLENCY OF THE POWER MAY BE OF GOD, AND NOT OF US." is this great truth hid? It is hid to those whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, because they would not believe. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Let us beware lest we let this glorious "good news" or gospel go unheeded. It is time now to rise up and take the Kingdom. Press thy way in, beloved, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom, and to share with you the fulness of His treasures. Glory to God, you are a joint-heir with Jesus Christ of all the riches of Wisdom and Knowledge and Grace. Need I say more? Does this not stir your heart to seek the Lord? Put down thy tools of weakness, and put off thy filthy garments. Put on the holy garments of the High Priest, with the golden crown in thy forehead .... sealed with His holiness.

GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND

The admonition of the Apostle Peter to the Church which still stands good today until the time of the final sealing of our minds, is to "GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND, BE SOBER, AND HOPE TO THE END FOR THE GRACE THAT IS TO BE BROUGHT UNTO YOU AT THE REVELATION (unveiling or appearing) OF JESUS CHRIST." Now the loins are the seat of the reproductive powers, and our soul or mind can receive seed or thoughts from various sources. These thoughts, when received into our own mind and nurtured, can bring forth and reproduce only after the source from whence we received them. Thoughts or imaginations received from the spirit of man or the flesh can only reproduce and bring forth that which glorifies and exalts the flesh. Some of these things may seem very spiritual and good, but when they exalt the flesh and glorify man you can know for sure where the seed came from. Be careful, who you receive seed from in your thought life. Satan would put many things into your mind if he could, to lead you into fear, doubt, unbelief, as well as suspicion and hatred of your brethren. if the results are Satanic, it is because you allowed him to plant seed in your mind. Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 2.11 "LEST SATAN SHOULD GET AN ADVANTAGE OF US, FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES." The amazing thing here is that this word "Devices" comes from the Greek word "noema" which also means "thoughts." I could only find this word one other place in the Scripture, and that was in 2 Corinthians 10:5 where it says "AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT (Noema) TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST."

Thank God there is a good source of seed for your thoughts, and that is from the Spirit of God. This will bring forth thoughts and actions that will glorify the Lord Jesus and magnify the God of our salvation. Praise God! Open your heart and let God talk to you. I Corinthians 2:9-16 brings out some wonderful things on this subject which we will not try to go into now for lack of space. We have been talking about the sealing which is to come to His Elect, just prior to the outpouring of judgment upon the earth. But what about NOW? What can we do about this today? We can as Peter exhorts us, gird up the loins of our mind. Keep our minds pure from the seed of Satan's thoughts. Crucify the flesh and the affections thereof, and let God make our minds a fruitful garden! So, until the day of His appearing and this final glorious sealing gird up your minds and hope for that grace that will come at the revelation of our Lord Jesus.

HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD

This is what was engraved upon Aaron's golden crown. And this is the condition of the fully sealed mind . . . separated, set apart, sealed off from the power of Satan and the evil suggestions and imaginations of demon spirits. And with this mind of Christ plus the power of the Onyx stone anointing, plus the new nature of the sealed heart .... God's great army shall go forth to set the captives free and tear down the strongholds of the devil and the kingdoms of this world. They shall bind. the god of this world with chains, and his princes with fetters of iron. In that great day of the Lord they shall destroy the power of Babylon and set its prisoners loose. They shall strip the old mother harlot and all her daughters of their finery and beauty and glory and reveal them for what they really are. What a glorious destiny for God's Elect!

When and how shall this sealing take place, and what shall it be like? As to when, I am convinced, that it shall be very soon now. Keep alert, dear ones, and be not deceived into accepting anything less than God's glorious reality. just as the reality of that which was typified in the breastplate sealing was fulfilled in the Body of Christ that was crucified on Calvary and rose again the third day: and just as the second sealing typified by the onyx stones was fulfilled in the Body of Christ in the early church on the day of Pentecost when Jesus "SHED FORTH THIS WHICH YE NOW SEE AND HEAR" (Acts 2:33) just so shall this third sealing typified by the golden crown be fulfilled in this end-time Body of Christ which God is raising up at this time. In Acts 2:4 we see that those who were in that firstfruits company that opened the door of Pentecost to "YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF" were together in one accord and were "ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST." In the opening of the door, it was the entire Body coming in together. So shall it be in the fulfillment of this great event which we are expecting to take place at any time. I know there will be those who will write and tell me that they have already received this thing many years ago. I know that some of you have had wonderful experiences in God, some far exceeding the normal pentecostal experience. But this experience that I am speaking of here goes beyond anything that man has ever received, either in the early church or in this last day church to date. Only Jesus came into this fulness and those who receive the inheritance shall be found in His likeness , conformed to His image, and measured to the fulness of His stature!

How this is going to take place, and what it is going to be like, I cannot tell you. When I find out I will write you about it .... if you don't write me first. But just as the early church could not have described the glory of that outpouring before they had experienced it, I am convinced that it will be the same in this day. Believe God! Have faith, and press in! The time is at hand, and God's divine purposes shall surely be fulfilled in His Body!

The Throne the Book and the Lamb

A glorious unveiling of the nature of Jesus Christ is given to us in the 4th and 5th chapters of the book of Revelation. If you want to make a real Bible study of this marvelous truth, I suggest you stop here and read these two chapters in your Bible before continuing with this booklet. But in case that is not possible, I will give a brief review of the content of these chapters.

In the 4th chapter, John in caught up in the Spirit and began to see a number of spiritual symbols, rainbow, sardine stone, throne, elders in white raiment, lamps of fire, four beasts, etc., etc. We can not take time to examine all these symbols and to discover their true meaning at this time, but let me say here that they are not to be taken in a natural or carnal sense, but to be spiritually understood. The proponents of the "escape-rapture" theory have twisted this chapter to try to make it imply that all the saints were caught away to heaven before the tribulation. Such a theory needs a strong imagination, as there is no indication in the scripture that this is so.

Our investigation today will have to be limited to one point ... the identity of Him that sat upon the Throne. This is most important. There can be no true understanding of the nature of Sonship and the w something purpose of God in the Church His Body unless we know about Him. No son can know the extent of his inheritance, unless he knows the identity of his Father, and knows something of His position and possessions.

HE THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE

The first and most important thing that John saw is in verse 2:

"And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." As we read on in the chapter we get a good description of Him that sat on the throne. In verse 4 he speaks of the twenty four elders, and in verse 6 and 7 we see the four beasts or living creatures. In verse 8 through the rest of the chapter our attention is turned back to the One who sat on the throne. Let us take note of what it says about Him: "And they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, WHO LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and WORSHIP HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED.

Notice that I have capitalized the words dealing with His description. A basic principle of correct Bible interpretation is to compare scripture with scripture, rather than just let our imagination run wild. So let us compare this chapter with other scriptures to find out who it is that fits this description as the one ca the throne.

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

They called him "LORD." Look at Ephesians 4:5 ... There is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Since there is but one Lord, who is it? Acts 2:36 tells us: "God hath made that same JESUS, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ." Philippians 2:11 is very emphatic: "And that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father." And finally, in the first chapter of Revelation we see Jesus speaking to John these words: "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."

Is Jesus the Alpha and Omega? Four times in Revelation He is called this, and in chapter 22, verses 13 and 16 He is clearly identified by name! "JESUS," as being the Alpha and Omega. So Jesus is LORD. It is undeniable. There are many more scriptures, but this should be enough to establish this one point.

"GOD." Is Jesus God? Is He the Almighty? Look at the Bible We have already quoted Revelation 1:8 in which Jesus declares Himself as "the Lord ... the Almighty." Now go to Isaiah 9:6 "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, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." It is clearly evident here that the prophet can be speaking about none other than Jesus our Lord. He is the MIGHTY GOD!

Turn to Revelation 15:3 and hear them singing "the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Who is this King of saints? Jesus, of course. And in Revelation 21:7 we hear the words of Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, as he says: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his GOD, and he shall be my son." Who is the God of the overcomer? Jesus our Lord! Who is the Son? The Overcomer! But Jesus Himself is also the Son of God, isn't He? Yes! And He also identifies Himself as an Overcomer in Revelation 3 - 21. This is the other part of the mystery concerning the nature and character and identity of our Lord Jesus. Praise His Name!

Many are the scriptures that bear out this great truth, but the witness of two or three are all that are needed to establish it. So we see that the One on the Throne is "LORD GOD ALMIGHTY," and we find that this description fits Jesus Christ and Him alone. There is only one Lord, and there is only one God. Isaiah 43:10 says "Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he, before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." Never was, and never will be but one God. And His Name is Jesus! Hebrews 1:8 calls Him God, and says that he laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning (verse 10). The prophet called Him God, and He said himself that He was the Lord, the Almighty, the God of the overcomer.

WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME

Here is another of the descriptions of Him that sat upon the throne. Now turn back to Revelation 1:8 and see that Jesus Christ is speaking. This is plain to see from the context of verses 5 through 7. Jesus says: "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." The exact wording of Revelation 4:8 concerning Him that sat on the throne. This same wording is given in Revelation 11:17 concerning our Lord. It is also used in Revelation 1:4 in the introduction of the book and the greeting from our Lord Jesus!

WHO LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER

One of the things said about the One on the throne is that He lives for ever and ever. In Revelation 1:18 we find Jesus speaking to John and saying: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore." Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. Revelation 10:6 says "him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are ..." In other words, this One who lives for ever and ever is the one who created all things. This can be none other than Jesus!

THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS

Here is conclusive proof of His identity. Notice the exact wording of their praise as they cast their crowns before the throne: "Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Now get that settled: ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE. Who does this description fit? Look in the Gospel of John, chapter 1:1-14.

In the beginning was the Word, that Word was God, and that Word was made FLESH and dwelt among us. Who was made flesh? Who was that Word that dwelt among us? Jesus Christ, of course. There can be no doubt about this. Verse three tells us that "ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM, AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE." Did Jesus Christ, that living Word of the Father, really create all things? Turn to Colossians 1:16. The context tells us that we have redemption through His blood, and that He is the image of the invisible God. This can only be referring to Jesus our Lord. Then in verse 16 we read: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, AND FOR HIM." There it is, the exact statement of Revelation 4, concerning Him that sat on the throne. Now, let us get one more witness of this before going on. Turn to Hebrews 2:9-10. "But we see Jesus . . . crowned with glory and honour ... For it became him, FOR WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND BY WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, in bringing many sons unto glory . . . "

JESUS CHRIST ON THE THRONE

Now, by all honest rules of Bible interpretation, there can be no doubt whatsoever that the one who is sitting on the throne in Revelation 4 is Jesus Christ, the one who shed His blood on Calvary. There is no other person or identity that fits all the description given here, not the Holy Ghost, not the Father. Just Jesus. Now if you wonder why I am making such a strong case of this, let me tell you that we are about to hit a snag as far as the carnal mind is concerned. For now we turn to chapter 5.

A BOOK IN HIS RIGHT HAND

The first four verses of chapter 5 of Revelation tells of the book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne (Jesus Christ). This book must be opened, and the seals loosed. This is imperative and necessary for the salvation of humanity, for the restoration of Adam's race.

We see Jesus Christ the Lord, in His creative deity and majestic Godhood, sitting on the throne with the book in his right hand. But the Word indicates that this book must be opened, not by God, but by man. And they could not find a man worthy to open the book. And John, representing the human race here, wept much because there was no one worthy to open the book. But in verse 5 the glad tidings go forth: "Weep not." They had found someone who prevailed, to open the book. Good news for the human race! This one who had prevailed, who was worthy, came and took the book out of the hand of him that sat on the throne. But who is this man that takes the book from Jesus Christ, the Lord God Almighty, creator of heaven and
earth?

THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

"The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Now who can this be? There is only one in the Bible who fits this description. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Turn to Revelation 22:16 . . . "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, and the bright and the morning star."

John looked for the lion of the tribe of Juda who had prevailed, and he saw "in the midst of the elders stood a IAMB as it had been slain." In John 1:29 we hear John the Baptist saying of Jesus: "Behold the LAMB OF GOD, who taketh away the sin of the world." In Revelation 4:9 they sung a new song to the Lamb, saying, I 'Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, and HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God KINGS AND PRIESTS."

Now for the identity of this Lamb, let us turn to Colossians 1:14 again where we find that it is Jesus, the Son of God, who redeems us to God by His blood. This of course would not have to be proved here. Many scriptures verify this truth. Then in Revelation 1:5-6 we read that "Jesus Christ ... hath made us KINGS AND PRIESTS unto God and His Father." There is absolutely no one else in heaven or earth who can fulfill this description of the Lamb who took the book, except Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. Glory to God!

DOWN FROM HIS GLORY

Now we come to the strange part of this whole story in these two chapters. We found that the scriptures teach and reveal to us without doubt that the One who sat on the throne with a book in His right hand is Jesus Christ. But we also found that according to scripture, the one who came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat on the throne was also Jesus Christ. How can this possibly be? Is this a mistake ? Is it utter confusion? No! There is a beautiful and glorious truth hidden here, but only to be revealed by the Spirit of God to those with ears to hear and hearts to receive.

Here it is .... We see the picture of Jesus, in His creative deity, sitting on the throne. All the description of him here represents Deity, Almighty God. He has the book, and He has the ability. But this book has to be opened by man, so that man can partake of that which is in the book, the creative life of God. If God, in His powers of Deity, opened the Book, then man in his low estate would still not be able to benefit from it. And after much searching, it is evident that there is no man able to open the book. The race of Adam has utterly failed to produce a saviour. They have not produced ONE single man that is worthy. God said in Ezekiel 22:30 "I sought for a man ... but I found none."

Since the race of Adam has failed to open the book, God brings into existence a new creation. And in Revelation 3:14 we find that Jesus Christ is "the beginning of the creation of God." A NEW MAN is being created in Christ Jesus, holy and righteous. (Ephesians 4 : 24) . In order to do this, He had to give up His deity estate, be made like unto us, take on the seed of Abraham, and overcome all that was facing the human race. Had He failed in just one point, the new creation would have been doomed. But thanks be to God, He did not fail! The new creation was proved to be worthy to take the book. In Philippians 2:5-9 we read that Jesus "emptied himself," and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. But after his glorious victory on this earth realm, God hath highly exalted him, and given to this worthy man who had prevailed, that which had before only been in the hand of Deity.

And in 2 Corinthians 8:9 we read: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, THOUGH HE WAS RICH, yet for your sakes HE BECAME POOR, that YE through his poverty might be rich." Here we see the emptying of him that was rich. He that had the likeness of God, taking on the likeness of man, that through this he might lift man into the likeness of God. Praise His dear Name! What a price He paid for our redemption. And beloved, it was a very REAL price. It was not just theoretical. He actually came down from Deity to Humanity. Yet He came not from Adam's race, nor of the seed of men, but he was born of the seed of God. That which had become human was, in its basic substance, the very Word of God.

BOTH LORD AND CHRIST

Acts 2:36 tells us that this same Jesus is now both LORD and CHRIST! As Lord He sits upon the throne in His creative Deity, Almighty God, the everlasting Father, the God of the Overcomer. This shows us His relationship to God the Father. He is One. As Christ (meaning "the anointed man") we see Him in his relationship to His Body, the Son of man, the chief cornerstone of the temple, the firstborn of "many brethren." As Lord, He is bringing many "sons" to glory, and as Christ He is not ashamed to call us "brethren." (Hebrews 2:10-11). As LORD, He is one with the Father. One God. But as CHRIST, He is one with us. One Body. Colossians 2:9 says that in Him dwelleth ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And in Ephesians 1:23 it says that the Church His Body is the fulness of Him.

When you sum it up, Jesus Christ our Lord is the hub of all wisdom. He is our wisdom, and righteousness, and redemption. Now let us go back to Revelation chapter 5 to see what happened in this drama that took place before those heavenly witnesses. Let me make a little diagram to show how Jesus fits into this situation:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HE THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE------------ THE ONE WHO WAS WORTHY
-------------------------------------------------------------TO OPEN THE BOOK

Is LORD (Rev 4:8) ---------------Is LORD (Rev 1:8, Acts 2:36, Phil 2:11)

Is GOD (Rev 4:8) ---------------------------Is GOD ( Isa 9: 6 , Rev 1 5: 3,
----------------------------------------------------------Rev 21:7, John 20:28)

Is ALMIGHTY (Rev 4:8)---------------- Is ALMIGHTY (Rev 1:8, Rev 15:3)

Is He "which was, and is, a----------------Is HE "Which was, and is, and
is to come" (Rev 4:8) ---------------------------is to come." (Rev 1:4, 8)

Is He that liveth forever and -----------Is He that liveth forever and ever
(Rev 4:9-10) ---------------- -------------(Rev 1:18, Rev 10:6, Heb 7:25)

All things created by Him and for ---All things created by Him and for Him
his pleasure (Rev 4:11) --------------(John 1:1-14, Col 1:16, Heb 2:9-10)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE TRANSFER OF LIFE

Now we see the life of God transferred from the realm of deity to the realm of humanity. Now we see God's kingdom brought to earth. And here is the nature and character of God being made available to those who were once members of Adam's race, but now born anew into a new creation, into the likeness of Him who is worthy.

All this was done through the intervention of Him who was willing to step down from His glory and become flesh, human flesh. All that had once been in the right hand of Almighty God on the throne now passes into the hands of the man who has passed through death and conquered all enemies. All authority that once belonged only to the invisible God, now is available to mankind through the person of the Son of God. So the glory He once had before the world was, while in the form of God (as Deity) , is now regained while in the form of man (as humanity). Jesus bridged the gap between God and man. He brought the very life and nature of God to this earth in a visible human body. And He took this human flesh, glorified it, and took it back to heaven into the very presence of Almighty God.

What does this mean to us? It means that as His Body, we are destined to be with him, in whatever state He is. "As He is, so are well. No longer is the book of Life, the nature of God, and His glory available only on a plane of deity where it is unattainable to us. But Jesus has prevailed to bring it to us! Bless His Name! Thus the blessings of Heaven and Life are brought to earth through Jesus Christ, and our association with Him. We are associated with Him IN HIS DEITY, as "SONS OF GOD," into which He can pour His own divine nature, and through which He can manifest Himself to all the world. We are associated with Him IN HIS HUMANITY, as "BRETHREN," "joint-heirs with Christ," with whom He can have fellowship and share His glorious inheritance.

His humanity was never destroyed, but He has taken that blood, or "life of the flesh" back to the Father eternally! Just as the blood of the goat on the day of Atonement was taken beyond the Veil into the Holy of Holies and placed on the Mercy-seat in the very presence of God, just so the robe of flesh that Jesus wore on this earth was resurrected and taken into the very presence of Deity. Some would say that His body no longer exists, and that we shall never see Him again in that body. But the Bible declares that we shall see Him, and that He shall make our present bodies like unto the body He now has in glory. Praise His Name!

Let us worship and praise Him who is worthy, who has prevailed to open the book! Three is the number of Deity (as well as being the complete number), while seven is the number signifying perfection Notice in Revelation 4:11 they said "Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive GLORY and HONOUR and POWER." Three things ascribed to deity. But in Revelation 5:12 "Worthy is THE LAMB that was slain to receive POWER, and RICHES, and WISDOM, and STRENGTH, and HONOUR, and GLORY, and BLESSING." Seven attributes (including the three given to deity) now ascribed to the perfect Lamb who was worthy. All the blessings of deity (plus four, the blessings of earth) given now to this new creation.

A new heaven, a new earth! Yes, a new creation. And Jesus Christ Himself, tho He has been exalted above every name that is named and is one with the Father, yet He will always be the federal head of this new creation man. For He is, and always shall be, one with His Body. And through this Body He shall rule and reign forever and ever. One thing to remember, humanity will always be in subjection to deity. As I Corinthians 15:27-28 points out, when God in His deity has put ALL things in subjection under the feet of Christ in His Body, it is manifest that deity is not under the feet of humanity. So that the Son in his humanity, the entire Body of Christ, shall always be subject to Jesus Christ the Lord in His deity, that God may be all in all. Hallelujah! What a mighty God we have! What a glorious plan He has for us! Eye has not seen, nor ear heard what God hath prepared for them that love Him!

Truly we can say with the Apostle, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." And "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

The 42nD Generation

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