Elijah & John - Tribulation Prophets

The following is from a series I did a few years ago on my case for Elijah and John the apostle being the "two witnesses" of the Apocalypse. (here) The view that the apostle John is one of the two prophets is a minority view. That, however, should be no reason to discard it. I firmly believe the evidence for him being one of the two is immense, far more than is the evidence for Moses or Enoch. 

The Case For The Apostle John

There are several reasons why the Apostle John is to be identified as one of the two witness prophets of the Revelation prophecy. I believe a much stronger case can be made for John than can be made for either Enoch or Moses, or for any other. I believe that there is almost as much evidence for him as there was shown to be for Elijah the Tishbite. Further, it is surprising to me that this view is in fact a minority view, given the evidence for it.

I believe that we are living in the time of the end and that things are happening so rapidly. Soon Babylon will be rebuilt and become the economic capital of the world. Soon, the end time political realignment of the nations will be completed and we will have that long expected world government so much warned about in scripture, and which Antichrist will assume the lead over with the ten kings, mentioned by Daniel the prophet and by John in the Apocalypse.

We are living on the verge of the opening of the seals of the book, as described in the Apocalypse. We are on the verge of that time foretold by the Lord when

"there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (Luke 21:25-26 kjv)

You Must Prophesy Again

"And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." (Rev. 10: 8-11 kjv)

These verses clearly demonstrate that John is to be one of the two prophet witnesses. The proof of it is right there in plain sight. The angel, who is doubtless Christ, says to John "you must prophesy again." And, such fresh prophesying will be "before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." If the prophesying of the two witnesses does not fulfill this prophesy regarding John, then what is the meaning? What do those who reject John as being one of the two witnesses say about this clear prophesy concerning John's future? How and when did John prophesy "again"? Why is there widespread opposition from interpreting these words in the common ordinary sense? Why, even among those who promote the literal interpretation of the bible, and of the Book of Revelation, deviate from that rule and want to interpret the words "you must prophesy again" in a non-literal and uncommon way? Can it not be said of the two witnesses, if they be either Elijah, Enoch, or Moses, that they will "prophesy again"?

It seems so obvious that John will "prophesy again" as one of the two witness prophets that it is bewildering that so many miss it, or refuse to believe it. Why is it so hard to believe that the prophesying again of the apostle is literal and to be fulfilled in the time of the great tribulation? To accept one of the several explanations given by commentators, who do not believe John is one of the two prophets, requires one to understand the words and the language of the angelic prophesy concerning John in an abnormal manner.

To "prophesy" means to "utter" new revelation divinely given. How then can it be made to mean to write? Or, to simply preach or testify? Further, why deny what is intended by the word "again"? Whatever kind of "prophesying" John was to do in the future, after the angelic commissioning, it must be of the same kind as that which was done at the first. Further, how can anyone apply the prophesy to any other than to John? When the Angel says "you (John) must prophesy again," how can we say that by "you" that the Angel intends someone other than John?

Further, look at the context and the flow of the verses. "You must prophesy again...And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." It was John who was told that he must prophesy again and it was he who was immediately given the rod by which to measure the temple. Besides answering the question - "when did John prophesy again," we must answer this one - "when did John measure the temple, altar, and the worshippers"? Doubtless he will do this during those 42 months.

To read the other arguments made for John and Elijah, read the whole short series.

What think ye?

Warning! Attending Church May Be Dangerous To Your Health

"ye come together not for the better but for the worse." (I Cor. 11:17)

Can people really be worse off for attending and supporting apostate churches? 

Paul thought so!

(Reprint from "The Baptist Gadfly" - See here)

Has The Whole Become Leavened?

"The Sneaky Woman"

"Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (Luke 13: 33 NKJV)

Like some other passages of scripture, most commentators have gotten their interpretations of this parable wrong. That is my strong opinion. There are able Christian expositors who disagree dramatically on the meaning of the parable. There are two chief views on it. One says that the "leaven" represents something good and pure, i.e., the gospel. Others, like I do, interpret the leaven as representing something evil and corrupt, i.e., a false gospel, a corruption of the pure religion of Christ. 

Needless to say, each view of the meaning of leaven has its consequences. If the leaven is the gospel, then such a view leads one to a Postmillennial idea that the gospel will have become so successful in converting the world and changing societal life that Christ will come and set up his Millennial kingdom. If, however, the leaven is a corrupting element, then such would denote just the opposite, i.e. that the world at the end will have little pure religion in it. It would speak of the corrupt state of the professing Christian world, or of the visible militant church. 

In "The Case of the Sneaky Housewife" by Ray C. Stedman, a worthy commentator, Stedman said (emphasis mine - See here):

I have entitled this study "The Case of the Sneaky Housewife," not because I am trying for a tricky title but because that was doubtless the reaction of the disciples when they heard this little story. Our Lord arrested them with this story and shocked them somewhat. When he told them that there was a woman who hid leaven in three measures of meal they must immediately have thought, "What a dirty trick! What a sneaky thing to do!" Perhaps it does not strike us that way, but this is because we are not in their shoes. We do not understand the symbols as Jesus used them. So the purpose of our study together is to put ourselves back in their place and to hear this story as they heard it.

For this is one of those parables which has been greatly misinterpreted. It has been treated in a very cavalier fashion and its meaning has been grossly distorted into something entirely different from what our Lord intended. Most of the major commentators on this passage seem to throw all principles of interpretation to the winds and to take no notice of how Scripture uses these symbols in other places. So they arrive at a meaning which is simply a result of their own wishful thinking.

Most commentators who interpret the "leaven" as the gospel, something good, acknowledge that this is not the common way it is used in scripture which is universally a symbol of corruption. But, they nevertheless insist that this parable gives an exception to the rule. In this case leaven does not denote a corrupting element but simply that which expands and permeates. Some will cite from the old testament where the people of God were told to offer a certain meal offering "with leaven." (Lev. 7: 13) But, in that case there was no signification or symbolism intended as in ritual. So too were the people normally allowed to eat leavened bread. It was only forbidden on certain holy days and in symbolic ceremonies. Therefore, the rule still stands with no exceptions. When leaven is intended to be a symbol it is a symbol of permeating corruption, of moral depravity and sin. So, we are forced to view "leaven" in the parable as not being the gospel nor something good. There is nothing in the context to force us to see "leaven" in an exceptional manner. Jesus always, when he spoke of leaven, spoke of it as being what is evil. This parable would be an exception and the burden of proof is on those who see it as an exception to prove why it is so. 

Stedman said:

The usual interpretation is that the leaven is the gospel and the woman is the church. The church is to take the gospel and put it into the world of humanity which is represented by the three measures of meal. The gospel quietly but surely will work away like leaven, like yeast in bread, until all of humanity is reached by the gospel and the whole world is changed. Then, finally, the kingdom of heaven will come in. Though that is far and away the most popular interpretation of this parable, it is absolutely wrong! On the basis of that interpretation men have thought at various times and places that the church was going to introduce the millennium to the world, that it would bring in the kingdom, that the gospel would so permeate the affairs and the thinking of men that the outlooks and insights and moral standards of Christianity would be universally accepted all over the world.

In many cases the "majority" opinion in bible interpretation is not right. Oftentimes it is the minority interpretation that is correct. The majority is certainly wrong in regard to the interpretation of this short parable. 

He also said:

But if I were convinced that this is the true meaning of this parable I would be greatly tempted to throw away my Bible and to give up the ministry. If this is the correct interpretation then Jesus Christ was mistaken. For here we are, two thousand years after the time our Lord told this story. And there are outstanding, increasingly significant signs, from day to day almost, which indicate that we are nearing the time which our Lord at the end of this series of parables called the "close of the age." If that is the correct interpretation then we should see the world almost completely leavened by the gospel, almost entirely Christian.

Exactly! This is quite reasonable. Yet, if the leaven represents corruption, then what would we expect to see of the state of the church and the world at the time of the end? We would expect to see just what we now see, a church and world permeated with moral, religious, and spiritual corruption. 

He also said:

Now let's look at the leaven. The disciples would quickly recognize its meaning. It is used all through the Old Testament and it is always used the same way. Never once is leaven ever used as a symbol of anything good. Everyone in this crowd knew that this woman had no business putting leaven into these three measures of meal. That was to destroy the very meaning of this significant offering, for Scripture had taught them that the three measures of meal were to be unleavened.

Amen. I believe this commentary is "spot on."

Now, understanding the true meaning of the parable, we see how it foretells how the church would become infected with false teaching (leaven) within her communion. The letters to the seven churches, being prophetic in nature, show us the progression of the church through seven periods of time within the time period between the first and second coming. The final state of the church, or of the professing Christian world, will be one described in the seventh letter, to Laodicea, a totally corrupt church with few exceptions.

The prophecy of the parable of the leaven in the meal is similar to the question asked of the disciples in Luke 18: 8:

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" 

The implied answer is that Christ will not find true faith when he comes, for the most part. True Christians will be the exception. 

What think ye?

Wrong Brother MacArthur!

"Doomsday Prepping for the Tribulation?" by John MacArthur (here) 

In this very short video MacArthur decries Christians who are "doomsday preppers." He says they show how in error they are for not believing in a pre tribulation rapture. But, this is not so. The church will be here during the time of the great tribulation, as I have shown in writings on the subject. I would love a chance to dialogue or debate this topic with brother MacArthur (or anyone else). The bible is so clear on teaching a post tribulation rapture and brother John is not helping Christians by telling them that they will not be here when it all begins to happen. 

When John says that those who believe in a post trib coming of the Lord are "not looking for the Lord but for signs" it irritates me. That is such a misrepresentation and a contradiction to what he says elsewhere.

Pastor Charles Lawson

I have recently been listening to Charles Lawson's sermons, pastor of Temple Baptist Church (Independent) in Knoxville, Tenn. (See here) Though I am finding myself learning more and more of his doctrinal beliefs I am finding I am in much agreement. However, I do reject his KJV Onlyism and Dispensationalism. 

He seems to be one with keen insight into what is going on now prophetically. He also is an example in good preaching. His style is excellent. He teaches. His sermons have meat and milk. He has good pathos and his ethos too is good. I wish more preachers would listen to him just to see a good example in Christian discourse.

Here are some sermons I recommend:

On the Covid conspiracy and the New World Order in prophecy (here)

"Most Important Message Of This Generation You'll Ever Hear!" (here) 

"GOD`S WARNINGS....WAKE UP" (here)

"God Wants You To Hear This Message!" (here)

This is a man who believes what he preaches! He is passionate. He is honest, straightforward, and sincere. Having recently written on Christian speech and discourse, on ethos, pathos, and logos, I find Lawson's sermons good examples in how each of these elements are in good balance in his speaking.

Also, as I said, he seems to have good insights into what is going on. I do not call him a prophet, although I think more true believers may be given such a gift in the times of the end in order to empower them in their witnessing. This is true with the other miraculous gifts too. There are lots of false prophets. But, if God sends us some latter day prophets (as he will in the two witness prophets), let us test them, and if they be of God and their message in accordance with scripture, then let us give serious heed to their prognostications.

Observations on "The New World Order"

The Bible predicts that the last great world empire under the Antichrist will be in existence when Christ comes. Christ's coming destroys Antichrist and his empire. He must therefore come before Christ, although Christ comes first in judgment and tribulation before his actual coming in body in Revelation 19. Today there is continued talk about "the new world order." I am convinced that this "new world order" will be what is foretold in scripture as being "the beast," the final form of Satan's kingdom. We are so close to seeing all this come to pass in our day.

Technologies to be used to bring about a global totalitarian state:

1. Surveillance technology

- cameras everywhere

- TVs, phones, Alexa, etc., that listen to your conversations

- Big tech companies that have your e-mails, texts, etc.

- Tracking implants (as now in animals, children, criminals, etc.)

- Drones

- Satellites

2. Bio-Medical Technology

- Mind altering drugs and Gene Editing 

- CRISP-R

- Prescription and illegal narcotics (sorcery)

- Sound wave technology and its effects on the brain and the human body

3. Psychological Conditioning

- Mass media and subliminal messaging (brainwashing)

- Socialization process (educational system)

- Destruction of the traditional nuclear family and replaced by government

- Use of the culture and its determinants (such as Hollywood) to change the culture

4. Artificial Intelligence

- The use of AI is now becoming more a tool to gather information on citizens by government and big tech and with more information comes more power and control over the individual.

- AI will become the "all seeing eye" and will be upon every citizen and all rights to privacy will be gone.

Things that must be gotten rid of to bring about a global totalitarian state:

1. Cash. Government cannot exercise full control over the economy since they cannot control cash transactions. But, in a cashless economy, when all is bought and sold digitally, then all transactions are under government supervision and control.

2. Guns. Government cannot exercise full control as long as its citizens are armed.

3. Freedom. Individual freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, and movement are restraints upon governmental power and control, or authoritarianism. Its removal is essential for totalitarianism. 

4. Christianity. Christianity and any other religion that does not abide by governmental beliefs on such issues as gay rights, transgender rights, etc., will be banned as it is an obstacle to complete government control.

5. Private Property. Private ownership of land and assets is a hindrance to governmental power and control over people and its removal will increase dependence upon the government and thus its power and control.

6. Free Press. Every totalitarian state began with a removal of a free press and all news agencies came under the control of the government and became a propaganda machine for it.

7. State and Local Governments. For the government to have absolute power and control over its citizens it must be united under one head or group. The idea of the founding fathers that governmental power should be equally distributed between three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) and between states and the federal government must be done away with. Included in this is a national police force rather than local or state forces. 

8. America. As long as the United States retains the above items and fights against their riddance, a one world government cannot be created. Change America and all others will be forced to get on the bandwagon. America's government and political, social, and religious beliefs must be radically changed so that she is no longer a hindrance to a one world government. 

9. Israel. For whatever reason, biblically or otherwise, Israel is viewed as an obstacle to world unification. As long as there is conflict in the middle east a one world government is hindered. Destroying her politically is therefore seen as a necessity for bringing about a world totalitarian state.

Recently, in the World Economic Forum, the "leaders of the world" got together and declared their plan to remake the world (into a "new world order"), using the present Corona Virus pandemic along with Climate Change to bring about this plan to reshape every aspect of life on earth for every global citizen. One of the mottoes of their recent meeting (January) in reference to their "great reset" or "2030Vision" is "you will own nothing and you will be happy." Many bible believers think that this is the prelude for the coming of the beast. 

There are lots of YouTube videos by bible teachers and world leaders who are talking about all this. Some, like Prince Charles, are promoting the goals of the World Economic Forum. This also would include many leaders around the world, including China's Xi, and our own president and the Democratic party. If one reads through all the literature from the WEF he will see all this spelled out in detail. In the above I have listed things that must be gotten rid of and how the plan is to use technology and economics to bring about their goal of a one world totalitarian government. 

You can check all this out on the World Economic Forum web page. It is easy to find as big tech wants you to find it easy enough.

What think ye?

Ten Kings & Ten Toes

To see the above on a larger screen go (here)

Who are the "ten toes" of Daniel's image? That they are the same as the "ten horns" of the Apocalyptic "beast," or "ten kings" with their ten "kingdoms" (Rev. 13 etc.), none deny. Those ten kings are intimately connected with the beast, with Antichrist and his empire, and with his rule over all the nations of the world. They give their sovereignties to the beast. They also have a love hate relationship with Babylon, both with the literal commercial city and center and also with Babylon in "mystery" (mother of all false and confused religions).  

When I was converted as a teenager and first studied the prophecies of Daniel the prophet they had a great impact on my faith. They were oracles that God gave of the future through Daniel's visions and hearing the voice of God speak to him. Only God knows the future. That was God's message as given by Daniel to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord demonstrated his sole attribute in foreknowledge by these remarks:

“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob. “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods..." (Isa. 41: 21-23)

The first view I heard as a young student of prophecy and eschatology about who were the ten kings was that they were to find their fulfillment in what was back then (1970s) called "the common market." It was originally formed by certain European countries with a number less than ten. Many bible teachers taught that they would become ten in number and that they would then become the ten kings under the empire and rule of the Antichrist. They reasoned that since the "ten toes" are what were directly attached to the two legs of Daniel's image that the toes must signify those countries which were once part of the Roman Empire (which is the significance of the two iron legs), and therefore the European nations fit that accepted criteria. However, the common market was replaced by "The European Union" which now encompasses 27 countries (Great Britain has existed via "Brexit") and this throws a monkey wrench into this interpretation. I rejected it several years ago. And, having rejected that view, I began (like others) to look elsewhere. 

I believe like many others that the ten kingdoms will be ten divisions of the world that will come into being in the near future under "the new world order," when there is a strengthened United Nations, when all countries give up their military weapons and individual sovereignties to this international governing body, and there is then created ten "global economic zones" each ruled over by a governor (king). The map above shows a UN map suggesting ten zones. I believe this is coming, although I believe the borders of each will not be exactly as shown, with some countries being in another region other than in the one shown in the above. 

Since these ten kings give their ten kingdoms to the beast (the last world empire and emperor) it would seem that they come into existence first, before Antichrist appears along with the world government that is created under him. Until they give their sovereignties to the beast, the new world order or global governmental entity (UN) will be a ten region confederacy, not an empire with a single ruler. 

In this it is "the Dragon," or Satan who is "mastermind" behind the workings of the ten kings and the worldly infidel elite that they represent. He is the mastermind behind all that is going on in the world now to bring this all about (all under the watchful eye of God of course who has foreseen it and planned for it). 

This all being true, and I believe it is, then when is Babylon, the megalopolis of Revelation 18 to be built? It clearly will be built and become the world's commercial center in the new world order under the ten kings and under Antichrist. I have followed this for many years. Saddam Hussein began rebuilding the ancient city and did much. But, it is a far cry from being yet the city described in Rev. 18! The wars in Iraq and what is going on there now has had my interest for several years. It seems that the area is being set up for the construction of this world center of trade. I could talk on this a long time. But, will forbear. I do believe it will be built in the near future, especially when the new global economic system is installed everywhere, probably during the time of the ten kings. Maybe under the reign of Antichrist.

Again, all this being true, when is that time when all the world is crying "peace and safety"? This crying of peace and safety immediately precedes the judgments of the Apocalypse, before the "sudden destruction." (See I Thess. 5: 3) Does this time of perceived "peace and safety" come before the first judgment of the Apocalypse or is it something that comes to pass during the time of the ten kings and the reign of Antichrist? It seems that at the time when Babylon is destroyed (as part of the Lord's coming in judgment) that commerce is flourishing and it is her destruction that brings economic ruin. 

Just my thoughts. What think ye?

God's Elect or World's Elite? XXXV

"For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation" 

(Psa. 132: 13)

In this chapter we will continue our look at how the believer is the truly "noble," the "high born," or "noblemen," though they are not so in "this present evil age." The "noble" of this world, says the apostle, are rarely "called" of the Lord, do not occupy high status with the Lord. The noble of this world have a high status in this world, being the unbelieving world's "elect," its elite. But, those who are noble through a new birth of the Spirit are God's elect, though not man's choice. This nobility in spiritual birth we saw involved being "born of God," the Father, and being "born of woman," of Zion, of Jerusalem "the mother" of all believers, of the church via her evangelism. This is the believer's nobility, his being spiritually "well born."

The "children of God" or "children of Zion" are "chosen" by God and make up a chosen race, and in them the human race is preserved. 

God's Chosen Generation

"But you are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (I Peter 2: 9).

"Race" ("generation" KJV) is from the Greek "genos" and "nation" is from "ethnos," and "people" is from "laos." "Genos" denotes that people who have a common father, family, and ancestry, people who are kin. "Ethnos" denotes ethnic peoples with their own political entities or communities. Thus, all believers together, of whatever time and place they were born and lived, are of one race, of one family. They are a special "generation" because they have been born into that clan of people through the birth of the Spirit.

Notice also the word "royal" as connected with this "elect race." Again, by the new birth believers are born of royalty, being sons and daughters of the Lord, the King of kings. The people of this kindred family are related to each other, each having the same father and mother. They are "the generation of your (God's) children" (Psa. 73: 15), those begotten of his Spirit and through his word. "God is in the generation of the righteous," said the Psalmist. (Psa. 14: 5) He also spoke of this generation as being "the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." (Psa. 24: 5-6) They are the "generation" of the Lord but not by natural generation of the flesh, but by a "regeneration." 

This new generation of the Spirit is the new birth, a second generation. The first birth or generation is of "corruptible seed," or "after the flesh," but the second generation is "of the Spirit" and "through the living and abiding word of God." (I Peter 1: 23-25) Those who are generated only once (in physical birth) die twice, experiencing the "second death" when they are forever consigned to the Lake of Fire (Gehenna). However, they who are twice born experience death only once. (See Rev. 2: 11; 20: 6,8,14) 

By natural birth men are "children of wrath" (Eph. 2: 3), a morally corrupt and depraved seed, an "evil generation" (which Jesus often mentioned). By natural generation a man is born morally "degenerate." The sinner's generation is a being born children of wrath and is a "degeneration" morally and spiritually. On the other hand, by spiritual birth men are "children of God" and "children of light" and "children of the day" (I Thess. 5: 5), as well as "children of Zion" as we have seen. Those born only once, of the flesh, are children of the night, children of darkness, and children of the Devil. (See John 8: 44) They are "a wicked and adulterous generation," (Matt. 16: 4) an unholy people. To be born into Adam's family is to be "born in sin" (Psa. 51: 5) and eternally lost. To be born into "the second Adam's" family is to be born in holiness and righteousness and eternally saved.

Notice also how the "chosen generation" (or race) are a "special people," are unique in their status and positions, being priests and kings, a "kingdom of priests," people who are "set apart" and distinguished, people who are holy. (See Rev. 1: 6; 5: 10) Moses addressed Israel of old in these words:

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; “but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deut. 7: 6-8)

Here the gracious sovereign choice of God for Israel to be his special people, a "special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth," an "elect" people, is stated and affirmed. It is unmerited. There was nothing in the people that merited this choice and favor. He emphatically says "the LORD did not set his love on you nor choose you because you were..." Believers are the ones to whom the above words properly apply and not to those who are mere physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. John the apostle says to believers "we love him because he first loved us." (I John 4: 19) Paul often reminded believers that they have been "saved by grace" (Eph. 2: 5) and "through God's mercy" (Titus 3: 5). 

As in the above passage, so too do the new testament writers tell us both how sinners are saved and how they are not saved. Both are necessary. Sinners must be told how they are saved, how to be saved. But they also must be told how they are not saved for the obvious reason that all men have erroneous ideas about salvation by their carnal beliefs. Thus we see many texts which say that sinners are NOT saved by "works," by "the law" or by "keeping the law," nor by "works of righteousness" done by human free will and effort apart from God, not by following natural understanding, etc. 

In the new testament Paul says that believers were "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy," to be that "holy people" described by Moses. (Eph. 1: 3-4) 

Royal Family Heritage

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Eph. 3: 14-15)

The Greek word for "family" is "patria." It denotes a person's kin, his lineage and ancestry, his genealogy. It not only denotes a physical connection but a sameness of character and traits by which that family is known and recognized. There is in the definition of "family" both the idea of "immediate family" and that of the "extended family." Thus, in the case of Israel, there was the extended family of the entire Jewish people, the family of Israel. But, within that extended family there were the twelve "tribes," and they were thus twelve families. Then, there were the smaller families within these twelve, and smaller families within them, down to the smallest family of a man and his wife and children. 

Being "in the family" generally involves being born with privileges of family, with inherited rights, property, riches, titles, etc. God's people have a family "heritage," an inheritance, an estate. Those who receive Christ, as we have previously observed, are given right, title, and privileges in becoming the children of God, in being "born of God." (John 1: 12-13) Contemplating this lofty status of believers, the apostle John warmly exhorted believers to "see what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." and we may well add an exclamation mark and have him say "look at the kind of love the Father has given to us!" And, "look at our designation, how we are called the children of God!" There is no higher contemplation for any human being. He then says that this status and title is "the reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (I John 3: 1-2)

Another word for "family" is "house" as in "the house of Israel" (Acts 2: 36; 7: 42; etc.) "House" is from the Greek word "oikos" first meaning house or dwelling, and then secondly those who inhabit the dwelling, i.e. the family or "household." In describing the family of believers, those born of God, Paul styles them "those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6: 10) And, writing to Hebrews he says: "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Heb. 3: 6) And he says elsewhere: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Eph. 2: 19) Jesus said:

"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" (Matt. 10: 25)

Here Jesus identifies his disciples, believers, with "them of his household," he being the "master of the house." Believers are of the "house of Christ" as Joseph, his earthly father, was "of the house of David." In fact the anti-typical "house of David" is the "house of Christ," for he is the super or anti-typical David. God promised to build David a "house," that is, a family dynasty. Wrote Isaiah:

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isa. 9: 6-7)

"The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open." (Isa. 22: 22; See also Rev. 3: 7)

Jeremiah also agrees, saying:

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth." (Jer. 23: 5)

Amos also speaks of Christ as being the true David who, by his resurrection and glorification, will restore the dynasty of David. He wrote:

“On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the LORD who does this thing." (Amos 9: 11-12)

By the believer's union with Christ they are ordained to rule with Christ, David's Lord, and the anti-typical David, and are accounted as being of David's house and dynasty. 

Family Dynasty

In some translations the word "dynasty" is given for the word normally translated as "house," and so the "house of David" means the "dynasty of David" and "the house of Christ" means "the dynasty of Christ." "Dynasty" is defined by the dictionaries as "a line of hereditary rulers of a country" or "a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field" as in "the Ford dynasty." It may also denote "a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time" or "born into a powerful political dynasty a baseball dynasty." 

What a dynasty is the "house of God" and "the house of David"! The "house of Israel" after the spirit! To them belong the "inheritance" appropriate for those who are "children of God." It is an inheritance involving land and territory, yea, the new heavens and new earth, a "better" and "heavenly country" (Heb. 11: 16). They will then be earth's new "gentry," a "landed gentry," holy aristocrats and rulers. "Gentry" is from the old French word "genterie," from gentil, meaning "high-born, noble, well-born," and also carries the connotation of being "genteel and well-bred people," that is, "of high social class," the very thing Paul discusses in his Corinthian epistles, as we have seen. 

But, the "inheritance" of the family of God does not involve only land, but other possessions, and rights and privileges, some of which we have previously observed. Believers are of the highest social class, but this, as the apostle John said "does not yet appear" to be so, for now, "in this present age," they appear to be mostly of the weak, the despised, the unimportant, the low class, the uneducated, the commoners, etc. 

The adjective "patrician" ("of or like a person of high social rank") may also therefore be applied to the children of God and in the "age to come" this will become apparent. 

Was Jesus high born, of noble birth? Yes, and no. As the divine Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, he is truly high born in a sense as is no other. As far as his being the "son of God" in his humanity, as Adam was called, he also in some respects was high born and in other respects he was low born. He was of the seed of Abraham and David, a royal seed. But, he was born in a stable, to poor parents, and in this respect he was low born, and in this he identified with his people who are mostly of the low born ('not many high born are called'). 

Jesus has the noblest of birth and family heritage, both as respects his humanity and divinity. He is the true "nobleman." All believers, all united to him, all born of God, are true noblemen through and in him. The other Greek word for "nobleman" is "basilikos" and denotes royalty. This is also applicable to the children of God for they "shall reign of the earth" as we have previously observed. He was humbly born that we might be royally born. Praise be to his name!