I reread Harold Eberle’s revision of Victorious Eschatology, 2021, and had lunch with him yesterday. We’re on the same page, so our conversation flowed freely. I hadn’t focused on Revelation or Biblical prophecy for some time and this week’s experience left me wondering, “What is next?” The Olivet discourses and Revelation target the pre-70 AD church and the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and the fall of the Roman empire. Eight times in Revelation, John writes that those things would soon take place and Jesus was coming soon (8 times). Guess what? He was right!
- Rev. 1:1 what must soon take place
- 2:16 I will soon come to you and will fight against them the sword of my mouth
- 3:11 I am coming soon, 22:6 the things that must soon take place, 22:7 I am coming soon,
- 22:10 the time is near, 22:12 I am coming soon, 22:20 Yes, I am coming soon
There are Biblical and spiritual themes unfolding right now in this age that are exciting and available for us. ‘Sons’ are a theme from Genesis to Revelation, and they/we carry four sub-plots. Jesus isn’t coming back until sons make God’s enemies His footstool. We sons have breathtaking assignments from Father!
#1. Sons in the council (seeing what Father is doing)
The courts and council of Heaven are like new Kingdom technology. Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John all spent time with (ascended to) the Father and brought substance back from Heaven that allowed them to be overcomers. They and we overcome the accuser (Rev. 12:11) via our citizenship and seat in heaven:
- The blood of the lamb – we know how to navigate the courts of Heaven to release God’s Justice that sets captives free.
- The word of their testimony – we know what’s written in our book, and we can converse in the council to understand the strategies of Heaven and then co-labor with our Father on earth.
- They loved not their lives unto death – once we see what Father is doing is releases a courageous faith to make it happen on earth. Sons are warriors, priests, prophets, and kings.
#2 Displacing Principalities (prior sons of God)
God has always had a council populated by “sons of God.” The original sons decided to go into the daughters of men and sinned (Gen 6). Their offspring, giants, were the enemies of Israel – all the ‘ites.’ Those first sons were given rule over the nations and now show up as principalities whom God has judged (Ps. 82:1, 6-8). Can you see why the nations rage?
Deut. 32:8-9 – When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. ESV
All creation (Rom 8:19) has been waiting for the new sons to populate God’s council and displace the role of principalities over the nations. Our assignment is to occupy those high places in the mountains of our culture and to make a footstool out of the enemies of God. We’re not waiting for Jesus to return and rescue us; Jesus is waiting for His footstool!
Heb. 10:13 – Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (sons). NIV (Ps. 110:1-3, Heb 1:13, 2:6-9, 1 Cor 15:25)
#3. Bringing Heaven to Earth
It isn’t all warfare. God’s covenant with Sons is that we are His valiant ones who create value, and blessing, and wealth on earth (Deut. 8:18). The real fruit of sons is a reformation of Nations. The earth belongs to God, and He’s delegated sons to repossess it, own it, and restore it.
Ps. 2:8-9 – Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Ps. 115:16 – The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. NIV
Matt. 5:1 – Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. NIV
#4. We’re creating a habitation for God to dwell with men
There is a new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven. God’s ultimate plan is to dwell with us in the sense of restoring Eden. We are the living stones that make up this city coming from Heaven to earth.
Rev. 21:2-4 – I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” NIV
The Age of Aquarius – Ages are the 2000+ year constellation shifts that parallel signs of the times: Aries (the bull, Old Testament sacrifice) > Pisces (the fishes, church) > Aquarius (the water bearer, sons bringing Heaven or Kingdom to earth). It’s not business as usual. There is a shift in the spiritual climate that can be discerned.
As believers, we are not ignorant of the controlling cabal and the nature of its tyranny. We see the principality behind it. Those pulling the strings of our leaders in government, medicine, and banking are not just people like Soros, Fauci, or the Rothschilds. There is a spirit underwriting pedophilia and the occult aspects of it. We don’t just see a communist threat from Russia or China. We see spiritual oppression of people that spans centuries. Secularists see the near-miraculous aspects and themes and attribute them to alien influences from other planets. We see the work of Satan being exposed and dismantled, and as sons we gladly volunteer to shine the light of Jesus in the darkness and release the providence of God over the nations. We see God’s conspiracy, the reformation of nations!
Yes, there is a cosmic battle in the spirit and the natural, but the end has already been settled. We sons are here to release that jailbreak from oppression and establish His liberty and Kingdom. God has put everything under the feet of Jesus and those whom Jesus calls His brothers (God’s sons – Us!). The fact that we don’t see everything perfect yet points to the reason God called sons and gave us books. We have a role to play. Father is proud of His sons and daughters and has invited them to Reign with Him over the earth and set captives free (Ps. 8:4-6).
Heb. 2:8-9 – You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus NKJV
Heb. 2:10-12 – In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. NIV
Did Jesus already come? – All his brothers are here, and He dwells in them and does even greater works through them. Christ in you is a reality right now. He’s prepared a seat in Heaven for you, and you can talk to Him and see Him in the council as a son whenever you wish. And yes, there is a fuller sense in which He and Father will be the temple of the new Jerusalem when it descends from Heaven. Then He and Father will walk with us (like Eden). In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit (all the time). We’re not waiting for anything. We have access to everything we need; it just costs us a trip to the storehouse.
Rev 21:22 – I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. NIV
Rev 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” NIV
God is inviting you! – The purpose of heaven for each of us is already written in your heart and can be heard in the Council. Your business can shift from a Christian business full of servants to a Kingdom business full of sons who make a difference. We help people and businesses get their prophetic purpose in writing and then make it happen on earth. Taste and see! Tools to get started are here:
- Intentional Reformation Intro (A diagnostic you will enjoy along with our purpose & Values)
- Nail your Purpose Field Guide (A place to start clarifying your heart’s desires)
- OnlineHeartPlan.com (Our web site and on-line Courses)
- The USA Book (proof we can get our arms around the books of people, businesses, and nations)
Additional reading
- Harold Eberle’s Victorious Eschatology, 2021 is a great summary of Biblical prophecy
- The theological treatise on the council is The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser.
- Eyes Wide Open by Martin Trench helped me understand “ages”
- Seers and Doers by John Garfield describes the priestly experience of courts and council.
- Intentional Reformation, the kingly experience of bringing heaven to earth in business
Cutting room floor
Who makes the enemies a footstool?
Ps 110:1-3 – The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. NIV
Heb 1:13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet“? NIV
Heb 2:6-9 – But one testified in a certain place (Ps 8), saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus NKJV
Heb 10:13 – Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. NIV
Ps 8:4-6 – what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: NIV
Matt 5:34-35 – But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. NIV
Luke 20:42-43 – David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘ NIV
Acts 2:34-35 – For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘ NIV
Acts 7:48-49 – “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. NIV
Isa 66:1 – This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? NIV
Matt 19:28 – Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NIV (Jn 5 “all judgment given to son”, Jn 20:23 “whom you forgive”)
World without end
Isa 45:17 – But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. KJV
Eph 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. KJV
Ps 2:8-9 – Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” NIV
Rule them, dash then to pieces is a metaphor for the sweet savor of “brokenness.” It is the experience of death and resurrection which defines the Christian experience.
Matt 21:43-44 – “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” (Lu. 20:18) NIV
Phil 3:10 – I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death NIV
2 Tim 2:11-12 – Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. NIV
Heb 12:5-11 – “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. NIV
The holy city, new Jerusalem is sons; populated by sons (Rev 21)
Ps 48:1-2 – Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. (Jesus) NIV
Ps 87 – His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. 4 “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’” 5 But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her. 6 The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah. 7 Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.” NASU (Jn 3:3 “born from above”)
John 14:2-4 – In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” NIV
(I am the way the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me. Jn 14:6)
John 17:24 – “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. NIV
Matt 19:28 – Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NIV (Jn 5 “all judgment given to son”, Jn 20:23 “whom you forgive”)
Mark 10:29-31 – “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” NIV (Age – aion G165 = the 2000+ year constellation shifts = Aries (the OT bull, sacrifice) > Pisces (the fishes church) > Aquarius (the water bearer, sons bringing heaven/Kingdom to earth)
Luke 18:29-30 – “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” NIV
Eph 2:6-7 – And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:19-22 – Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. NIV
Col 3:4 – When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV
Heb 11:16 – Instead, they were longing for a better country — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. NIV
Rev 3:12 – to him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. NIV
Rev 21:1-4 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City (sons?), the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
(Emmanuel = God with us now) (old order = first – protos G4413, Heb 8:13, 9:1,6,8,15,18)
Heb 11:9-10 – By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. NASU
Heb 12:28-29 – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” NIV
Heb 13:14 – For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. NIV
Gal 4:26-27 – But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” NIV
Phil 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven. NIV
John 6:63 – The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life. NIV
Heb 4:11-13 – Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and Spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. NIV
River of life = Bringing heaven to earth (what sons do – water the earth) Rev 22
Gen 2:10-11 – A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. NIV
Ps 1:3 – He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. NIV
Ps 84:6-7 – Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. NASU
Isa 43:18-20 – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, NIV
Isa 44:1 – For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. NIV
Zech 14:8-9 – On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. NIV
John 7:37-39 – On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Rev 22:1-3 – Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. NIV
