How can we be prepared for sonship? What types of preparation do we need? Who provides that preparation? Where does that preparation take place?
Gal 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under tutors and trustees (governors) until the date set by the father.
Heirs require overseeing, tutoring, training and equipping in sonship. Intimacy with the Father is the best preparation for sonship as you can’t be a son without a father. Our Father reveals our true identity in face-to-face encounters, but He has also assigned others to help us with our position and functions as sons. We also get discipleship from Jesus our brother and coheir. We get help from the Spirit of truth, our parakletos, our helper, comforter. There is also tutoring and training from the 7 Spirits of God, Wisdom, cloud of witnesses, angelic realm.
The Joshua Generation are forerunners of a heavenly royal priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. Also, on earth we are oracles and legislators, aligning heaven and earth as gateways.
There is a great shift coming: governors and tutors are being released to prepare for this shift into a new order. The cloud of witnesses and the 7 spirits are to train and tutor you to take your positions as lords, kings and sons. You must be willing to embrace and engage them if you are to fulfil your destiny to rule and bring dominion. We rule and legislate from our heavenly positions of government; this is where Wisdom and the 7 spirits help us. We still need to know the Father’s heart through intimacy and relationship.
As a gateway of heaven into the earth the cloud of witnesses have experience of both earth and heaven to help us.
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
The word “surrounded” in Greek is: perikeimai and its expanded meaning is: “I am encompassed, surrounded, or clothed with, am in submission to.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us that we are actually “wearing the testimony” of those who have gone before us like clothes.
Heb 11 lists of some of the Old Covenant saints who are now part of the cloud of witnesses. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.
Heb 11:39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Together with the cloud of witnesses, we will be made perfect (Greek: teleios completed). Our process of finishing well is combined into and with their well-run race. We are all part of the Ecclesia, and all have a continuing responsibility. Finishing our race is what creation is waiting or longing for.
The entire consummation of the plan of the universe waits until the restoration of all things back to God’s original intent. All creation waits, longing for the revealing of the sons of God. All those who have lived by faith figuratively crowd the track, having passed us the baton, and now urge us on because they will not be perfected without us… nor us without them.
Eph 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Mutual submission of the body of Christ extends to and includes those from heaven, as well as those in the body of Christ who we are in relationship with on earth. We are all literally working together. The testimonies of God’s faithfulness in and through His saints of old are to be an encouragement for us today. God is the God of the living, not the dead. These saints are alive and some of them never actually died. It is not necromancy to engage them.
Mark 9:4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
Whether they died or never died, like Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration, both “types” can appear in person for our encouragement and support. They can be invisible and appear exclusively to one person and not others or they can appear to groups. It depends on the assignment.
The purpose of these encounters is to receive impartations, wisdom, revelation, understanding, and encouragement from what these saints learned and developed in their love relationship with Jesus when they walked the earth and since in heaven.
The Old Covenant ‘cloud of witnesses’ died in faith without witnessing the completed fulfilment of God’s promises. Nevertheless, they made an investment towards them into us, the New Covenant future generations, to whom they passed the baton.
Each New Covenant generation as they have passed on over the last 2000 years have joined with those who have gone before them and become part of the cloud of witnesses, cheering us on. They have all figuratively passed the baton to the next generation and are now involved. Jesus is our example, and we are commissioned to the works He did. Like Jesus did at the transfiguration, we too can expect to encounter those who are in the cloud of witnesses. Together with the cloud of witnesses we will be interacting in heaven to influence our earthly existence.
I have had many different encounters with the cloud of witnesses; some in the heavenly realms and some in encounters on earth in corporate meetings.
The cloud of witnesses are based in the Court of the Upright in the realm of heaven. The cloud of witnesses are increasing as each believer passes over but also by preaching the good news to those within the consuming fire of God’s love after they die. As they bow the knee and confess Jesus as Lord, they enter training and relationship as part of the cloud also. The cloud of witnesses are often referred to as men in white linen when on assignment on earth.
Dan 12:7 I heard the man dressed in white linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven.
Mark 16:5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
Acts 1:10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
Clouds are mentioned many times.
Luke 9:34-35 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Acts 1:9-10 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going…
Daniel 7:13 I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.
Ascension to receive the kingdom with the cloud of witnesses. Witnesses in the Greek- martus or martur- Historical sense of being eyewitnesses, experiencing God. Legal sense of being a witness and giving evidence. Ethical sense that their lives and the example of their death and resurrection proves God’s faithfulness. A witness is someone who testifies to what he has seen or heard or knows. The testimony or witness makes a declaration of facts. Witness by being the testimony through their personal experience even death hence a martyr.
Hebrews 11:13-14 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
There was always a bigger picture and larger goal to their and our lives. We are surrounded by the saints of the past in a unique way. Those who have gone before us are spectators to the race we run. They are cheering us on to the same victory in the life of faith that they obtained.
The Greek word nephos, translated “clouds,” has an additional meaning when understood in this context. In ancient, Greek times, the word “clouds” was used to describe the highest seats in the bleachers of a stadium. The seats at the very top of the stadium were called the clouds because they were so high up in the air – like ‘the gods’ in a theatre.
The bleachers of Heaven are filled with people who have faced the impossible; they accomplished the unthinkable; and they stand as proof that you can make it too. They’re all cheering us on to victory!
We must be open to engage with them because there is more than just general encouragement, they also have specific information, help and advice at different and significant times in our lives and points in history. We can be inspired by the godly examples these saints set during their lives. Their past lives of faith encourage others to live that way today. They also have connections with our destinies and are given assignments to help us.
The Testimony of Abel – the importance of integrity of heart.
The Testimony of Enoch – the star walker. Showing the importance of relational intimacy and friendship with God in walking with Him in the heavens and on the earth.
The Testimony of Noah – believing for the unprecedented and showing that God will do what He said, however unlikely. Showing us the importance of trusting God.
The Testimony of Abraham and Sarah – through their belief in the promises of God despite seemingly impossible circumstances. Their willingness to trust God demonstrated by leaving the comfort of the familiar for the unknown at the word of God.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
Heb 11:9 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.
Heb 11:13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. They connected to a heavenly reality: the restoration of original intent. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
Heb 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Sarah overcame her doubts and believed that nothing is too hard for the Lord to fulfil His promises.
The testimony of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – living in the power of blessing in the midst of trouble.
The testimony of Moses, who was face to face with God.
The testimony of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel, who discovered the power to do great exploits for God.
The Testimony of Joan of Arc speaking at her trial. “St. Michael, when he came to me, told me that St. Catherine and St. Margaret would come to me and that I should act by their advice, that they were bidden to lead me and what I had to do and that I should believe in what they would say to me and that it was by God.”
I have found that specific members of the witnesses are drawn to us because of the similarity of our destiny and purpose. They have insight, advice, help and support to enable us to fulfil our destiny within the context of the restoration of all things.
Wisdom took me to the Court of the Upright and there were 12 seats, each with one of the cloud of witnesses. They were like a council of 12 for our ministry. In front of where they were seated was a trading floor where there were 12 flaming torches and 12 mantles. They were our assigned Council of reference who had a ministry focus of kingdom governmental and legislative authority and some had literature and media production or an equipping education focus like we have as an Ekklesia. They have traded into our ministry: we can engage with them for wisdom in establishing and administering our apostolic kingdom mandate.
In a meeting I saw one witnesses standing behind our then Bench of 12. We encouraged each member to engage with them. William Booth, A.A. Allen, Gordon Lindsey, Charles Wesley, Oral Roberts, George Jefferys, John G. Lake, Francis Hunter, Evan Roberts, Paul, John, Stephen. They all had both positive expertise and negative experiences to use in helping us fulfil our mandate and blueprint.
At various times on my journey from 2010 onwards I have met specific members of the cloud of witnesses. Sometimes, like Jacob, they sought me out while I was in the heavenly realms and sometimes, I desired to meet them. Sometimes they visited during corporate meetings. Esther, David, Jacob was very important to my early journey, revealing the importance of living under and accessing an open heaven. Being a house of God where the Father, Son and Spirit dwell within. Being a gateway of heaven into the earth.
Adam I sought out because I wanted to know what it was like before the fall in the garden and what happened during that period. Adam revealed that they had many children before they fell before time as we know it. Some remained on earth, and some (the ancient ones) returned through the fiery sword back to the tree of life in heaven. Joshua, Daniel, Joseph and Enoch appeared to me at an Ian Clayton conference. Joshua and Joseph standing by my side, Enoch behind me and Daniel before me. They held up my hands to support me concerning my role in the Joshua Generation. Bob Jones gave me a scroll for the billion-fold harvest. Personal encounters with those who had recently passed. Engaged my father in the Court of the Upright, Met my miscarried grandchildren in the training dimension.
Esther came and visited us during a gathering in 2018 to remind us that we are all called for a time such as this.
Esther 4:14 And who knows whether you have not attained royalty or called to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
We are all significant in God’s heart and within His desires for restoration of all things. I sought Esther out and talked with her in heaven. What she said was very helpful to encourage people to embrace their destiny and the process of transformation “I was unprepared.
Despite all the attention of the court, it was not until I was placed in the position to step out into my destiny in God that I truly discovered who I was within God’s kingdom and what I was capable of. No one will ever be ready until they are in the position that will test their hearts and motives and the levels of trust they will need. Allowing people to try, fail and try again is what God has done with you, so release the same grace to others. “I did not see the process as something to be desired, wanted, or even thought of as being good. The outcome was not what I was expecting.
“Many people don’t recognize their own destiny until they are in the midst of it unfolding.” Following this conversation, the Father said: “Son, use the environment of Sons Arise! to accelerate the processes of My children being prepared for their sonship positions.” We did the 6 conferences and intensives to do just that.
“Let Me call people beyond their present expectations and take them out of the comfort of their boats into unchartered waters where they will learn to swim without aids. I will stretch My children beyond if you will provide the environment where they are safe to explore.”
Esther went through a process of purification to prepare her to engage the king. Jesus has already made us righteous, therefore worthy to access the King. Do we believe we are worthy, or do we believe the lies that make us ‘less than’ and limit our sonship?
I know Esther desires to be involved with the Joshua Generation. She is invested in all of us accepting our calling and destiny as sons within God’s kingdom. Be free and open to engage her if you feel led.
Angels were observing our gathering to see if we would be doing something new. We encouraged free expressions of worship from the heart and an angel fetched David who came to see. David had a key. I asked him what he was doing, He said he was here to unlock people’s inner psalmist. The ability to respond creatively from the heart to the presence of God. We encouraged people to respond and engage with David with an open heart.
Act 13:22 …I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.
Act 13:36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep. I want that testimony, and the cloud of witnesses also want that for us too.
Steps like Jacob’s ladder leading up to heaven. There is a door standing open in heaven. Hear the invitation to come up here. Walk up those steps to the door. Now step through the veil into the kingdom realm. Jesus is standing in the doorway. Present yourself to Jesus your High Priest as a living sacrifice. Turn the desire of your heart towards the cloud of witnesses. Ask Jesus to give you encounters. Seek specific encounters if you want. Engage the court of the upright.