Progressive revelation
How many of us have suddenly seen something in a scripture that we have never seen before? How many of us believe differently to what we used to believe a few years ago? This is the time Daniel wrote of, when the books are being opened and fresh revelation is coming to the church.
Looking again at this passage:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh” (John 6:47-51).
Those who ate manna still died physically. Jesus was comparing manna to Himself, saying that though they ate manna they still died, but if you eat ‘this bread’ you won’t.
Since then, though, everyone in history has in fact died. However, a whole generation who will see Him return will not have to die. It is significant that this revelation is being released right now: the timing suggests that God may today be preparing that generation who will not die.
When Jesus spoke about this, ‘many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him any more’ (John 6:66). Jesus continues to bring unconventional revelation today, and some respond in exactly the same way.
But Jesus is the living Word, and He has the words of eternal life.
Would Jesus have died?
Jesus said that the enemy had nothing in Him. If He had not gone to the cross, I do not believe that He would have died, physically. There was nothing in His genetic record that the enemy could use to bring death to Jesus. If there are no iniquitous genetic patterns in our life, then there is no need for sickness or death in us either. As we break bread and apply the truth of the power of the cross to our lives, God transforms us (body, soul and spirit).
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves… always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor 4: 7,10).
We deny ourselves, take up that cross, and follow Him. If we carry ‘the dying of Jesus’, then we are carrying the power of the victory of the cross, giving us authority over sin, sickness and death. We can expect a manifestation of the life of Jesus to be operating in our mortal flesh, in our body (not soul, or spirit). Why should we be subject to sickness and disease? Let’s be really open to receive revelation from the Holy Spirit about this.
Jesus radiated the glory of God and was able to do miracles in His physical body. Through presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice, and being transformed or transfigured, our bodies can do what Jesus did and we can live as He lived.
Law of Precedent
Yes, ‘it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment’ (Heb 9:27), but that verse is not about the inevitability of death, it is about not being reincarnated.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Rom 8:2).
The Law of Precedent means that if any man has not died, then it is possible for another man not to die. Enoch ‘walked with God, and was not’. Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind. Since they did not die, then there is a precedent: not everyone has died. And there will be a whole generation when Jesus returns who will not die either. I believe that God is preparing that generation today.
The glory revealed
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18 NKJV)
People have understood this to mean that we will be glorified when we get to heaven. But we can be glorified and have the glory of God manifest in us today.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom 8:19-21).
The ‘glory of the children of God’ is not glory that is robbed from God, but is a manifestation of God on the earth, bringing creation back into its original condition and purpose. The whole of the universe, and the whole spiritual realm, is waiting for the revealing of God’s sons, those who manifest the glory of God on earth as it is in heaven.
‘Sanctify you entirely’
In the last two or three years my whole understanding of Scripture has changed, as I begin to see the fresh revelation that God is opening up. In our day, the Holy Spirit is unveiling revelation for the end of time.
This is a powerful scripture, which I have read hundreds of times without seeing the significance of the revelation that is being released to us now:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5: 23).
With the help of a Bible dictionary, let me offer an expanded version of that verse to meditate upon:
- The God of Shalom (wholeness, restoration, nothing missing and nothing broken)
- will sanctify you (purify you and cleanse you inside and out, free you from the guilt of sin through the atonement)
- entirely (perfectly, completely, in all respects)
- so that not only your spirit and soul, but also your body, may be preserved
- complete (whole, entire, with no part wanting or unsound, without blemish or defect of any kind, consummate)
- without blame (faultless, free from sin and its effects)
- in the parousia of Jesus. That word is usually translated ‘[second] coming’ or ‘return’, which puts it off to some future undetermined time; but it actually means His ‘presence’, which we can enjoy now!
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Eph 5:25-27).
That is why God is pruning us, refining and purifying us, transforming us into true sons who are joint heirs with Jesus. Removal of stumbling blocks, gathering angels, the fire of God’s presence – those things mark this period in God’s Prophetic Timetable. So let us be willing to be transformed and transfigured into true sons, and receive our full inheritance.
Operate in true power and authority
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 (John 14:12).
We should increasingly operate in true power and authority, doing what Jesus did and greater works. It is going to be exciting to find out know what those greater works might be!
These are some things Jesus did that most of us have never done:
- Moved through matter
- Transported through space
- Disappeared in front of people
- Walked on water
- Multiplied food
- Turned water into wine.
It was not magic. If we are to do greater things than Jesus, we need the same power He had. Let’s be hungry and thirsty to receive the revelation and the power that we need to enable us to do as He promised.
The closing section of our Communion Prayer reads:
I speak creative words to my DNA to release the supernatural abilities of God.
I trigger the ability to see in the realm of the kingdom.
I trigger the ability to move in the realm of the kingdom.
I trigger the creative ability to transform matter.
I want to do those things, and I hope you do as well. Let us apply all we are learning to our lives, on a daily basis, until we see the manifestation of the glory of God in us – and attain to the fullness of all our inheritance in Him.