🔥 Sonship and The Divine Council

A Biblical basis for the Council plus practical ramifications for sonship.

The most inspiring discovery in this Kingdom age is experiencing the role of sonship in Father’s strategy. I want to share this as a good news story. The verses that substantiate it follow the blog and are organized under headings. I also want to suggest reading the Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser for the full 300 pages of theological explanation of his Deuteronomy 32 worldview (7 min summary).

I experienced going the Courts of Heaven through Beverley Watkins in 2017. We did ascend to Heaven in the spirit. It was new, comfortable, fruitful, and prophetically familiar. I had not experienced such are remarkable seer gift previously. I didn’t grasp the connection with Father’s Council or sonship until reading Heiser. That connected many dots and I saw the relationship between God’s Courts/Council and Reformation of Nations via sonship. Here’s the story:

In the beginning, Father had a divine council populated with the sons of God. They were created beings, but we cannot assume they were angels, probably not. They congregated on Mt Hermon and covenanted to go into the daughters of men (Gen 6:1-4, 1Enoch 6). Their offspring were giants that had a partially divine nature and a propensity for evil. The sons/women cross (Nephelim) survived the flood and death as disembodied evil spirits. After the tower of Babel, when God divided mankind, He fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the fallen sons of God (Deut 32:8), But he retained Jacob for himself (later Israel). This good vs evil setup were the nations and giants Joshua warred against to inherit the promised land.

Now we see why the nations rage against God (Ps 2:1, Acts 4:25). Fast forward to the New Testament; those fallen sons are the powers and principalities that rule nations; the foe in current levels of spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12).

Jesus explanation – When Peter answered Jesus’ question, You are the son of God (Mt 16:16-19), everyone in that culture understood the implication of a son in Father’s divine Council. When Jesus said on this rock I will build my ecclesia, everyone caught the reference to Mt Hermon (8500 feet), home of the fallen sons covenant to rebel against Yahweh. Hermon was also home to many occult shrines. When He said, I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, everyone heard ascension to the Council. When He spoke of overcoming the gates of Hell, everyone knew it was a reference to the Pagan worship associated with Baal Hermon, a portal to the underworld near Caesarea Phillippi where this conversation took place (Mt 16:13). And when He spoke of binding and loosing, everyone in that culture made the connection to the key of David and the authority God gives to sons in the Council. And when they heard Jesus say “you,” they understood he was inviting them into sonship.

Sonship – Father’s redemptive strategy is for both people and nations. Jesus work on the cross addressed multiple falls (Isa 53:4-6). Father’s intervention began with a first-born son, but He didn’t stop there. All creation has been waiting for many sons whom Jesus calls brothers and sisters and whom Father calls family.

• Lucifer and fallen angels (rebellion against God), I want to be my own God.
• Adam/mankind (sin, missing the mark), I want the knowledge to make my own decisions.
• Fallen sons (iniquity, or the propensity for evil). I want to fulfill my own carnal appetites, dreams.
• The Tower of Babel (Independence from God). Let us make a name for ourselves.

Ramifications – Sonship is the invitation to ascend to heaven via the Courts and Council “so that” we bring Heaven’s purpose to earth (Reformation of people, businesses, communities, and nations). The sons that all creation has been waiting for are repopulating Father’s Divine Council. It’s not some future state after we die. Jesus prepared a place for us so that we could be with Him (Jn 14:2-3). It’s available to sons right now, not after we die or during some millennial reign.

Here are a few of the exciting ramifications of sonship.

#1)  We’re ultimately making disciples of nations, not just people (Ps 2:8, Mt 28:19).
#2)  We’re not evacuating a failed and evil planet in a rapture;
we’re inheriting this earth, bringing His Kingdom from Heaven to earth (Reformation).
#3)  As sons, we’re doing it with Father, co-laboring; not waiting for Him or praying for Him to do it sovereignly,
as in revival. We have a role and we’re doing our part.
#4)  Righteousness isn’t rules, its relationship; being on the same page with Father,
sharing His purpose, doing what he is doing,
#5)  Sons operate out of the desires of their heart (Ps 37:4), the same desires God wrote in our hearts
(Heb 8:10, 10:16, Jer 31:33). Hence, they are not “religious,” not depending on their self-righteousness.
Sons are free to be genuinely themselves.
#6)  Obedient servant doesn’t describe the initiative, co-laboring, conversations, creativity, and authority that sons carry.
We are the ones assigned to do greater works! Entrepreneurial is a spiritual attribute of sons.
#7)  Ecclesia is sons & daughters in every mountain of culture who share a Kingdom purpose,
not just the church mountain where we all share the same generic purpose.
#8)  Ascension is a way of life for sons; a way to life; a way to bring life!
              Courts – to take accusations to the cross and release prophetic decrees from heaven; to bind and loose (Mt 16:19), and open and shut (Isa 22:22).
              Council – conversations around Kingdom purpose with Jesus, Father, the 7 spirits.
#9)  The original sons were watchers, the Holy Spirit has made sons in this age overseers (Acts 20:28) of their families, friends, businesses, cities, and Nations. Just as Jesus ever lives to make intercession for the saints, we utilize the Courts and Council of Heaven to intercede for the land we have been given to inherit, our metron.
#10) Helping other sons open their book and find their purpose is thrilling. It creates space for them to feel chosen by God and become genuinely themselves. They love us back for doing it… so much fun!

Growing in Grace – We ascend and hear Father’s voice and see the majesty of His strategies. The experiences are so real and intimidating because we cannot manufacture them. Every time we go and take others with us, we are aware that Father must speak, or we have nothing. And, that when He does speak, His words breathe life into every one of us (Mt 4:4). I am not growing my own prowess or reputation; I am growing in grace. I am growing in my ability to co-labor; to create space for God to do what He does. I am creating room in my heart in the council to hear from each of His Seven Spirits.

The first paradox is the more clearly, I hear and see Father’s voice and strategies, the more I lay down by own intellectual plans and opinions and prayer requests. I can start conversations in the Council with what is on my heart, but the best discussions happen when I ask Father what is on your heart?

The second paradox is that I come away with more creativity and boldness and direction. I feel chosen for purpose and sent for a purpose that is mine. It’s no longer about me. I’m comfortable spending my life on His purpose for two reasons. Father’s higher purpose is in my heart anyway (He wrote it in the desires of my heart), and it’s more fun than anything I could ask or imagine. It’s a delight, a party, a privilege!

For more great info on experiencing your sonship…

• Ascending to the Council Made Simple
• 7 Spirit Cue Cards
• Court & Council Etiquette

We have additional links for inspiration and resources to leverage the purpose of your heart with the purpose in God’s heart.
Those are closer than you realize!

• Join the free Face Book Community – Kingdom Culture Partners with Purpose
• Free weekly video and blog https://releasingkings.com/category/blog-entries/

PS: this blog was inspired by a Council session – Sonship and the Deut 32 Worldview

The cutting room floor:

The original divine council and fall of Sons of God

Gen 6:2 – the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive.
And they took as their wives any they chose.

Gen 6:4 – The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—
when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them.
They were the heroes of old, men of renown/Shem (thought to be heroes in Babylonian tradition)
5)  The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth,
and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

1Enoch 6 (not in our Bible, but widely read by the Jews in Jesus day, and quoted in Jude and 2 Pet.)
1)  After the children of men were multiplied, beautiful and graceful daughters were born to them.
2)  And the angels, the children of heaven, saw them and lusted after them, and said to each other:
‘Come, let us choose wives from among the children of men and conceive children for ourselves.’
3)  And Semjaza, their leader, said to them: ‘I am afraid that you will not actually do what you have
promised, and that I alone will pay the penalty of this great sin.’
4)  And they answered him as one and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves as one by
swearing together that we will not abandon this plan but will do this together.
5)  Then they all swore an oath together and bound themselves by mutual curses to do it.
6)  There were two hundred of them;
they descended in the days of Jared to the summit of Mount Hermon,
and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves
by shared oaths that were sworn upon it.”
— Enoch’s Blessing: A Modern English Paraphrase of Enoch’s Ancient Writings by Michael Fickess

Deut 32:8 – 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.

Ps 82:1 – God (Yahweh) stands in the congregation of the mighty;
in the midst of the gods (fallen sons in the Divine Council) He judges.
2) How long will you judge unjustly and lift up the faces of the wicked? Selah.
3) Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4) Deliver the poor and needy; save them out of the hand of the wicked.
5) They neither know nor will understand; they walk on in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6) I have said, You are gods; and all of you sons of the Most High.
7) But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8) Arise, O God (Yahweh), judge the earth; for You shall inherit in all nations.

Eph 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12)  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Restoration of the Divine Council with Jesus and His brothers and sisters

Ps 2:1 – Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3) “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4) He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
5) Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6) “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7) I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
8) Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Acts 4:25 – Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Isa 22:22 – And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David.
He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Mt 16:15 – “But who do you say that I am?”
16)  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17)  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18)  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock (Hermon) I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19)  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Father’s strategy for sonship in the Kingdom

Rom 8:19 – For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Rom 8:29 – For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Heb 2:10 – For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist,
in bringing many sons to glory,
should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11)  For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.
That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Sons do what Father is doing (Reformation of Nations)

Mt 12:50 – For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jn 5:19 – Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;
he can do only what he sees his Father doing,
because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.
Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
21) For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
22) Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

Gal 5:25 – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Rev 11:15 – The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ.
And He will reign forever and ever.

Ascension to the Courts and Council

Ps 27:4 – One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
5) For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.

Ps 84:5 – Blessed is the person whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the roads to Zion!
6)  Passing through the Valley of Baca (sorrow) they make it a spring;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7)  They go from strength to strength, (Chayil- to be valiant, add value)
Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

Jn 13:36 – “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”

Jn 14:2 – In my Father’s house are many rooms.
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Eph 2:6 – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches
of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2 Tim 2:12 – if we endure, we will also reign with him

Rev 3:21 – The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne,
as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Rev 4:1 – After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me,
said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
2) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne.

Question – Why don’t we see more routine evidence of sons going to the Council in the NT?
Answer #1 – We do see evidence in the passages above, Paul going to the third heaven 2Cor 12:2, etc.
But keep in mind the old covenant officially ended with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
70 AD is a possible explanation for the scarcity of ascension in the NT, since all of the NT was written prior to 70 AD.
It suggests a period of delay from Jesus atonement to the complete destruction of the temple… reflected in the following passages:

• Jn 13:36  – You cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.
• Jn 14:3  – will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
• Rom 8:18 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
  19) For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
• Heb 2:6 – “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
  7)  You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor
  8)  and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them.
  Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.
  9)  But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death,
  so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
  10)  In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,
  should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered
  11)  Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
• Heb 9:8 – The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,
  9) which is a symbol for the present time.
• Rev 1:1 – The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

It isn’t particularly credible or noble to believe that those promises that we will be with Jesus where he is (in Heaven with Father), occur 1000’s of years later after we die????
70 AD was within the lifetimes of some of those Jesus was speaking to.

Mt 16:28 – Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

Note: The bride comes from Heaven, Sons are already there!

Rev 21:2 – 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,
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Answer #2
The tabernacle/Temple Type and Shadow – For me the connection is made obvious because of the tabernacle/temple. The construction has been described in Scripture and by the Jewish people as a place where God dwells and where heaven and earth meet. Some Jewish scholars then and now would describe it as a schematic of the God-created universe itself. Certainly, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies can be seen to reflect the throne room scenes of Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7, Revelation 4.

Sons of the Light; you are the Light

Isa. 51:4 – Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation:
The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. NIV

Isa. 60:1-3 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. NIV

Matt. 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  NIV

John 12:35 – Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.
The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
36   Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”

1 Thess. 5:5 – You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  NIV

Luke 2:28 – Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30  For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31  which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”  NIV

John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” NIV

Acts 13:47 – For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”  NIV

Sons Experience Being Chosen, Designed by Their Father

John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.
Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. NIV

Rom 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son,
for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.

Eph 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 2:5 – Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world
to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? NIV

Sons Growing in Grace and Favor and Stature

2 Pet 3:18 – But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

1Cor 15:9 – For I am the least of the apostles and am not sufficient to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
10)  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was toward me has not been without fruit,
but I labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

2Cor 8:9 – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor,
in order that you might be made rich through His poverty.

Eph 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us

Lu 2:52 – And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The Authority and Power in Sonship

Mt 18:18 – Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19)   Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for,
it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Mt 28:18 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.
19)   Therefore go and teach all nations

Lu 10:17 – The seventy-two returned with joy, saying,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18)   And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19)   Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Jn 14:12 – Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also,
and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father.
13)  And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14)  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Jn 15:15 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead,
I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—
fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Jn 20:21 – Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
22)  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23)  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

1Jn 3:22 – and whatever we ask we receive from him,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

“See” what in Christ means = in the Council (see #2 in graphic)

• Jn 6:56 – Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
• Jn 12:26 – whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am my servant will also be
• Jn 14:3 – 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.
• Jn 14:20 – On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
• Jn 15:4 – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself;
  it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
  5)   I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
  apart from me you can do nothing.
  6)    If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
  such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
  7)    If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
  ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
• Jn 17:21 – Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us
• Rom 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
• 2Cor 5:17 – if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
• 2Cor 12:2 – I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.
• Gal 3:26 – So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith
• Col 3:1 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,
  seated at the right hand of God.
  2)   Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
  3)   For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
• 1Jn 2:28 – And now, dear children, continue in him
• 1Jn 3:24 – The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
• 1Jn 4:13 – This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
• 1Jn 4:15 – God lives in them and they in God.
  16)  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
• 1Jn 5:20 – And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.