The Manifestation of the Sons of God (First & Last 4)

The Manifestation of the Sons of God

by Leland Earls

 
[Paul’s Changing Perspective on the Resurrection]

 
In seeking to answer the questions proposed by the Canadian reader concerning statements by Paul, I have been seeking to show how they cannot be understood apart from fitting them into the Master plan given by the FIRST and the LAST (Rev. 1:11). Where any statement by Paul seems to be in contradiction, then a closer look at what Paul has said must be taken and evaluated accordingly. We have already assessed the fact that Paul under­stood only “in part;” he did not have the complete picture of God’s end time plan. Now I want to proceed further and deal with two other matters. First, there was a progression in Paul’s understanding as seen in His earlier epistles as compared to later ones. Second, in certain passage when Paul uses such personal pronouns as “we” “us” or “our,” we must real­ize that Paul was referring to himself and to those in his own category.

 
It is generally agreed by Biblical scholars that I & II Thessalonians were the earliest of Paul’s epistles. It also seems evident that when writing these epistles, Paul believed that he would be alive at the time of the Lord’s second coming. This is why he states in I Thess. 4:17 that, “We who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord.” I and II Corinthians were also written early in Paul’s ministry. And in similar fashion Paul spoke of the coming of the Lord and declared “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (I Cor.15:51).

 
However, when we consider the Philippian epistle, which was written later, as Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he expresses no thought of being alive at the Lord’s coming. In­stead, he is looking forward to attaining to what he calls an “out-resurrection out from among the dead” (literal rendering of the Greek of Phil. 3:11). As one who knew God’s plan for a future resurrection of ALL—the just and the unjust (Acts 24:16), based on Jesus words in John 5:29—Paul also knew that there was nothing he needed to do to eventually experi­ence a resurrection of his physical body. The resurrection was a SURE THING! What Paul was hoping to attain to, as expressed in Phil. 3:11, was something special and exclusive, for he says, “IF by any means I might attain.” Paul knew at this time that he was not going to live until the Lord’s coming, and he wanted to be sure that he would be among those quali­fied to participate in a resurrection BEFORE other resurrections, and also to a HIGHER plane—glorified life.

 
As Paul expressed his hope in Phil. 3:11, he used the Greek preposition ek two times, which means “out from” or “out from among.” It is first used as a prefix to the Greek word anastasia, meaning “resurrection,” and should be translated “OUT-resurrection.” It is then used again just before the Greek word nekcron, meaning “dead,” and together they should be translated “out from the dead.” The latter expression implies the resurrection of some while others are left behind; that is, a special resurrection, which is called in Rev. 20:5, the FIRST resurrection, and which obviously must be followed by one or more later resurrections. The “OUT-resurrection” expression (ek-anastasis), I believe, indicates NOT a resurrection back to this earth, but rather OUT FROM this earth into the glorified life.
The entire context of Phil. 3:1-21 is extremely important and affirms that which is clearly established in the teachings of Jesus that there are different categories of Christians. As you read of Paul’s desire and willingness to go “all out” to WIN a certain “prize,” it be­comes obvious that he is aspiring to something more than just believing in Jesus (the 30-fold) or even being “born again” (the 60-fold). It is the UP-ward call (3:12-14) to the “sum­mit” that Paul seeks to “lay hold of.” This is the 100-fold who will be called UP to inherit the heavenly Kingdom and glory as co-heirs with Christ in His coming Kingdom.

 
It is in the above context that Paul states in Phil. 3:20 that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.” In such passages as this, as well as numerous others in Paul’s epistles, when he uses such personal pronouns as “we” “us” and “our,” he is referring to himself and those in his own category. After reading the entire context of Phil. 3:1-21, if you can honestly say that you have “this mind” of the mature (3:15) and are going “all out” as Paul was to “attain” the prize (3:11-14), then perhaps you can include yourself in the “our” and the “we” of Phil. 3:20 (the “heavenly citizen­ship”).

 
We do not have to appeal to epistles to determine that not all believers will be glori­fied when Jesus comes. That is established by the FIRST and the LAST. But epistles, rightly read, will not contradict the basics from Jesus words. Perhaps you have never read II Thess. 1:10 where Paul speaks of Jesus: “when He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” Note the distinction; saints (separated ones) will be glorified; believers will admire. Or, consider Col. 3:4, “when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory.” Is Jesus your very life? Does everything in your life revolve around Him? Has His love become a “consuming fire” in you, increasingly refining every thought, motive and desire? Then perhaps this promise of “appearing with Him in glory” can apply to you. As you read such promises, and many others, note the qualifying conditions given before you hastily include yourself.

[Relating Matured Sonship to the Prophetic Harvest Pattern]

 
I will deal briefly with just one more statement by Paul. In I Cor. 16:50 he declares that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” Notice that word “inherit.” Ac­cording to Jewish custom, inheritance was for a son who had “come of age;” who was given his portion of the Father’s inheritance and thus became a joint-heir. When this time came, as appointed by the father (Gal. 4:1-2), the son (sometimes in a special ceremony) was offi­cially acknowledged and given (or placed in) his inheritance. There is a special Greek word which Paul uses as the spiritual counterpart for the sons of God. It is huiothesia – a combination of huios (son) and tithemi (to place, appoint, ordain, put, or set forth). Unfortunately, the translators of the authorized (King James) version used the English word “adoption” to translate the Greek word. The concept, however, which Paul was seeking to convey when using this word in his epistles has nothing to do with adoption as we use it in our culture. Paul makes this clear in Rom. 8:23 where he states that we “who have the first fruits of the Spirit (through the Holy Spirit baptism), even we ourselves groan within our­selves, eagerly waiting for the adoption (placing as a son), the redemption of our body.” Thus it is something yet in the future. When that redemption (glorification) of the body takes place, then will fulfill Rom. 8:19.

 
Since “flesh and blood” cannot enter into that inheritance, it becomes evident that for those sons who become sufficiently purified, proven, and prepared, the “redemption of the body” refers to the glorification of the body, so that it becomes like to Christ’s glori­fied body, able to function at will either in the heavenly realm or manifest as “flesh and bone” in the physical realm (Luke 24:39). So whether we see it in the metaphor of the harvest, where the grain must reach a certain stage of ripeness before it can be reaped, or in that of a son, who must reach a certain stage of maturity and responsibility before he can be placed in his inheritance, the truth is the same; God must do a work within those He is preparing to gather into the glory-realm.

 
What God is primarily after is PURITY; for it is the “pure in heart” who will see God (Mt. 5:3), and “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (He. 12: 14). The heart must be purged from the bondage to carnality. But there must also be a proving, with sufficient overcoming and mastery over self that equates to an “acceptable maturity.” I use that ter­minology to distinguish it from an absolute maturity or perfection, for we will be growing towards the stature of the Father for many eons to come. But during this age, only those who have “come of age” as God sees it, can be “placed as sons” in the heavenly inheritance. This is the meaning of the words spoken of the firstfruits company in Rev. 14:5, that they are “without fault before the Throne of God.”

 
Have you ever stopped to think that a glorified body is a powerful vessel or vehicle? Supposing you had a child 3 or 4 years old still riding a tricycle. Would you give that child the keys to your powerful automobile and tell him to use it whenever he wanted to? Stupid, you say. Well, not as stupid as claiming that all Christians, whether babes in Christ, children, or just plain carnal ones, are going to receive glorified bodies all at the same time. Absolute chaos would break out in the heavenly realm in a hurry if God did that.

[The Pre-Tribulation First Fruits in the Prophetic Harvest Pattern]

 
Let us now return to the “harvest pattern” and I will conclude this article with some final thoughts. In the pattern of Israel’s natural harvest it took the “latter rains” to insure a bounteous increase for reaping. However, for the barley crop, the intermittent rains and increasing warmth of late winter (especially at lower elevations) caused some barley heads to ripen before the heavy spring rains came in their fullness. Thus there were sufficient ripened barley heads to make up the first fruits wave sheaf to be offered at the time of the Passover feast. Even so will it be in the end time spiritual harvest. The first fruits will be translated and glorified BEFORE the full “latter rain” outpouring takes place. Hallelujah! All things will be conformed to the “harvest pattern” given by the ONE who is the FIRST and the LAST.
In. Zech. 10:1, the prophet admonishes: “ASK of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain.” We must understand God’s strategy! Not until the Lord springs His SNARE or trap and unexpectedly translated the first fruits (who are “counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” Luke 21:34-36, Rev. 3:10), will the remaining church be SHOCKED TO ITS KNEES, crying out to God and ASKING for RAIN; for it will then be the TIME for the “latter rain.” And when it “falls” the real power of God will be manifest as never before in church history! Lord, hasten the day!

“And behold, I am coming quickly (suddenly, unexpectedly) and my reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the FIRST and the LAST.” (Rev. 22:12-13).

 
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly’ (suddenly unexpectedly). Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Rev. 22:20-21.

 
Leland Earls
Concluded: 11/29/88

Note: All scripture quotations in this article are taken from The New King James Version, except where otherwise indicated.

This entry was posted in 144000, Biblical Feasts, Bride of Christ, Day of the Lord, Day of Wrath, Firstfruits, J. Leland Earls, Leland Earls, Overcomers, Parables, Prophecy, Rapture, Revelation, Second Coming of Christ, Signs, Sons of God, The Separation, Tribulation. Bookmark the permalink.

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