Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 6 (final)

David And Goliath

Men gasped in shock and amazement as they watched the strange proceedings. Some cried out a protest against the inequality of it. For, running down the mountainside, hair flying in the wind and singing a joyous psalm of victory, was a handsome young Israelite. Waiting for him in the valley was a giant Philistine, standing over nine feet tall, armed with a coat of mail and a helmet of brass, and burning with a hatred for Israelites that could not be equaled. He had cursed and defied the armies of Israel, and none had dared to oppose him. Until now. He gave a cry of rage as he saw the young lad approaching, armed only with a shepherd’s staff and a sling. The battle was on!

The Shame of Israel

To get the true picture of how Israel arrived at such a low state as to let a little shepherd boy have to take up their battle against the Philistines, you must needs go back and read the entire book of 1 Samuel. You will see how that in a time when the old order priesthood ministry became blind and heavy with flesh that God moved upon the scene and brought forth a little lad named Samuel. Tho he was young and immature, God anointed him with a prophetic ministry, and thus led and judged His people by His Spirit. It was God’s order, not man’s. It was divine order, not human organization or system.

This was a wonderful type of the Spirit-led, Spirit-filled Pentecostal movement that God raised up at the beginning of this 20th century. The old order ecclesiastical systems of man had gotten so fleshy and so blind that they could head God’s people no further in the Spirit. So God set them aside, even as He did Eli. Oh, true enough, Eli’s grandson still lived and tried to carry on the traditional religion, but it had to be named “ICHABOD”, for the glory of the Lord had departed. The Ark of God was gone.

Give Us a King

But when Samuel was old and his sons walked not in his ways, we find that Israel could not trust God to bring about another move of the Spirit and raise up another true ministry to lead them. Now they were not opposed to Samuel, as such. They still loved to talk about the “good old days”, when the Spirit moved in such a marvelous way through their prophetic ministry. But those days were gone, and it was time to organize this thing.

It seemed like such a good idea. Protect us from our enemies. Make us some laws to keep things in order, so that we still all speak the same things. Why, nearly all the most spiritual men in Israel are in favor of it. It must be the will of God.

They Have Rejected Me

But there were some, like Samuel, who wept at the idea of organizing God’s move in the earth. And he opposed it, and prayed against it. But God saw that the people were determined, and He said: “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” Now this was God’s word concerning the whole idea of organizing His people. The people would not have agreed to such strong language. But God said it, not me. He told His prophetic ministry to “protest solemnly” unto the people, and that’s exactly what I am doing today, and have been doing for years. (1 Samuel 8:9)

The Manner of the King

And God, through Samuel, showed the people the manner of the king that should reign over them. He would be so nice, in the beginning. He would have the anointing of God, and do great exploits. He would chase the Philistines, devils would be cast out. Great things would be accomplished, and the people would be much pleased with him. And he would be a man of great stature. He would look after their affairs. The responsibility of the local church could be thrown over on the organization and it’s ecclesiastical leaders. But God saw something else…

The time would soon come when Saul would put a strong bondage on the people. He would take their harvests for himself, and their efforts would be only for his gain. He would use their sons and daughters for his own purposes. No longer would there be God-called men, Spirit-anointed and aflame with the message of the hour, going into their chosen field of labor. But the organization would choose and train men according to it’s own plan and it’s own needs. And they would be servants of the organization, not servants of God. But the people would not listen.

In effect, God was saying to the people, go ahead and organize the move of the Spirit if you are determined. Legislate the Gifts of the Spirit, try to harness the power of God into one big ecclesiastical system if you think you can. But before it’s over, I’ll make you so sick of what you have created, you’ll wish you had never heard of Saul. But they said: “We want to be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” So God gave them their king, and in His grace, God even blessed Saul and gave him victory over the Philistines (which represent the Devil and his horde of demons). But when God sent Saul against the Amalekites (which represent the flesh) we find Saul holding back the part he liked. And God rejected Saul from being king, furthermore, Saul was no longer in contact with God’s prophetic ministry. For it says (15:35) that Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.

What a picture of the Pentecostal movement! For a time, even after they organized, God blessed them and gave them victory over demons and devils. But they had their “Agags” which they wanted to save back. They would go so far, and no farther.

“But thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the mighty One of Israel, even now in the midst of all your organizing and in the midst of all the confusion of Saul’s order, I yet have my prophetic ministry. For ye have not brought my prophets into your bondage, and they shall yet speak my Word, saith the Lord. For I have commanded them not to mourn longer over the old order, nor for the systems of the past that I have rejected. But there is a young lad in the land, watching over the sheep, protecting them from the lion and the bear by the power of my Spirit. And my prophetic ministry shall bring him a word concerning the throne, and he shall be anointed by my Spirit, even with that kingly anointing for power and authority and for governing my people. Tho he be small, despise him not, for he shall rise to great heights, for I have searched his inward parts and purified him, and he is mine saith the Lord”. Hallelujah to God!

A Little Lad Anointed

Samuel is instructed of the Lord (chapter 16) to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the new king over Israel. Jesse had eight sons. Now all of them were in the right family, born of the right father. But God is going to make a choice. So they gather the boys together. Except one. One lad is so small, so insignificant, so weak in outward appearance that they don’t bother to call him in from the wilderness. Anyhow, he’s not too popular, for all he seems to do is sing psalms and worship God in the Spirit. Unlike his big brothers who are out chasing Philistines, fighting Saul’s battle, knocking on doors, building up Sunday Schools, David is just resting in God. What he does, he does by the power of the Spirit. His brothers despise him.

So Samuel looks at the eldest, and likes what he sees. God is looking on the heart, and the scene is not so pretty. You are not going to fool God. Either clean up on the inside, or forget about going on with God. The old laws, “don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t look”, are not enough anymore. God is searching the inward parts. There must be a purity of heart to receive this anointing.

Finally seven sons are examined and rejected. Is there not another? Jesse is an old man now. No more strength to bring forth again. If the promised one is not here, there is no more hope. Yes, there is an eighth son, but he is so small. Never mind that, send for him, quickly! Eight is a peculiar number. It is the number of resurrection, life out of death, a new beginning. So little David is sent for, and is anointed king.

Back to the Wilderness

Now that you have been anointed, David, now that you have received the word concerning the throne, WHEN will you put on your kingly garments and begin ruling? The times are in His hands. As for me, I will return to the wilderness to sing psalms and worship God in the Spirit. He will call for me in His hour.

But Saul’s organized system is troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord, and he needs someone around with the true anointing (16:14). So David is sent for and he dwells in Saul’s house for a season. But this is not God’s plan or destiny for David, and David has to finally flee for his life from Saul’s presence, lest Saul should kill him. Some folks would lead you to believe that you can return to the old order of religion with this new anointing and this new call to the throne, but beware lest Saul run you through with his javelin. Your anointing may soothe Saul’s troubled spirit for a time, and you may even have a measure of revival. But if you stay in Saul’s house you will lose all that God has given you or called you to inherit.

But some protest, saying; “Don’t you think that God will include all those precious Pentecostals and hungry fundamentalists in this last day move?” Absolutely not! Not as organizations, not as present day ecclesiastical systems. The last great revival will break in pieces all of man’s kingdoms and the man-made rulers would kill the revival if they could. Oh yes, I see the multiplied millions eventually coming out of the old harlot system, and God will most certainly bless them and include them in what He is doing, both preachers, laymen, and local churches. For God loves His people, Pentecostals and all others, and will do for them according to what they will receive of Him.

And Now to the Battlefield

Turning now to the 17th chapter of this book of 1 Samuel, we see a picture of the present condition of God’s people. We hear the devil’s bold challenge, and then comes God’s answer.

The battle is set in array. Notice in verse 1 that the Philistines were gathered together in Shochoh, which belonged to Judah. They were camped on God’s property. Now the Philistines are types of Satan and his army, and Paul wrote to the Ephesian church that we wrestle against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in the heavenlies. Today a war is going on, and Satan’s army is camped on God’s territory. Everytime I see some of God’s people tormented with sickness, sin, affliction and suffering, I feel like crying out “Oh God, when wilt thou arise and scatter thine enemies?” Everytime I drive down the road and see some precious child bound by some horrible affliction or stumbling along in a crippled condition, I long for the power to just stop the car and set them free. For it is not God’s purpose that man should be so bound.

The Boundary of Blood

Even so, it would be much worse were it not for God’s ‘hedge’. For the word Shochoh means “a hedge”, and that’s exactly why the enemy has not already destroyed the human race, God has a hedge built around them. Satan can go so far, and no further. The word Ephesdammim means “boundary of blood”. And that’s the thing that protected the armies of Israel, for they were unable to cope with the might of Goliath. Many times the enemy would have liked to destroy me, but by calling upon the blood of Jesus and availing myself of it’s power, I was able to defeat Satan’s efforts. Praise God for that hedge, and for the boundary of blood that holds the enemy back until he is defeated.

This land belonged to Judah. Now Judah means “praise”. This land belongs to our praise, it is for His glory. Satan must be cast off and put under foot. What a praise shall go up from all creation when the enemy of mankind is bound and thrown back into the pit from whence he came. Glory to God, hallelujah!

The Two Mountains

Now in the Bible, mountains represent kingdoms. And in verse 3 we see Israel on one mountain and the Philistines on another. There is no peace between them, there can be no peace between these opposing forces. For Satan is determined to destroy the human race, and the Church is just as determined to utterly destroy the powers of the devil. In fact, Hebrews 2:14 says that Jesus partook of flesh and blood so that by death, He might destroy the devil.

The Philistine’s Champion

It takes the next four verses to describe the might and strength of Goliath, and if we let our minds dwell on his power, we might surely end up full of fear, as Israel did. For it ways they were “dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:4-11)

Where was Saul, head and shoulders above all others? Oh, beloved, he cannot fight this Goliath, for he doesn’t have the anointing. No doubt he had conferences with his captains often, discussing ways and means of running the machinery more efficiently. Perhaps he had camp-meeting with all his army at times around the campfire at night. But it was all a game. For Saul’s armor hung in the tent. It was of no value. He did not have the anointing. So he made great promises of what would be done for the one who defeated Goliath, but he never expected it to be done.

Conquerors or Slaves

Now Goliath said a strange thing in verse 8. He admitted his own identity, then he called Israel “servants to Saul”. What a fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy! Had they truly been servants of the Most High God, then Goliath would have been afraid of them, but the devil is not afraid of man’s machinery. Set up all the Sunday Schools, Bible Schools, Hospitals, women’s groups, men’s groups, youth groups, and other groups that you want. You may have so much harness that you can’t find the horse. But if that Holy Ghost anointing for true deliverance is not there, you won’t scare the devil one bit. Read verses 4-7 and you will see that Goliath was used to a lot of harness and machinery, in fact he had more than they all. The one who brings Goliath down will not be hampered with a lot of harness, but he will have the leadership of the Spirit, the faith of God, and the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus. “Servants to Saul”. What an indictment against the church world of today. Sold out their spiritual birthright for a mess of ecclesiastical pottage, and denominational flesh-pots.

“Choose you a man”. But the divided world of Christians cannot get together to form that One Body of Christ that is so necessary for the deliverance of mankind. Their carnal efforts to unite under the headship of ‘Saul’ is only folly. It will not work.

Yes, God is bringing together His Body. Under the headship of Jesus, who is truly the one and only Head of the Church. God has a man to answer the devil’s challenge. And when I speak of “God’s Perfect Man”, or “God’s Man of Faith and Power”, I am not speaking of some tent evangelist or well-known individual. But I am speaking of that glorious Body of Christ, made up of many humble members, with Jesus Christ as Head and Captain. Isaiah saw them and said: “A strong and mighty one”; Joel said: “A great people and a strong”; Daniel said they: “will be strong and do exploits”. Paul the Apostle spoke of them as when we all come ‘unto a perfect Man’.

“If he kills me, we will be your servants”. Yes, if you yield to Satan and he overcomes you, then you are his servant, to do his will. But if you overcome him, as Jesus did in the wilderness, then he must obey your every command. That is what the whole world is groaning for. For God’s David company to come forth and put the devil’s Goliath under their feet. Praise God! There can be no treaty in this war. It is either victory or slavery.

Now David…

In verse 12 David is mentioned for the first time in this chapter. He had returned from playing the harp for Saul, and was feeding his father’s sheep. Praise God, this David company, tho still in it’s minority, has something to feed the sheep.

Goliath drew near and challenged Israel for forty days. Now forty is the number denoting a time of trial and testing. God had given Israel a full trial and found them lacking in the ability to answer this challenge.

Then the father, in the fulness of time, told David to take some bread, corn, and cheese and “run” to the camp. Now I wondered why Jesse waited until the last minute and then had David to run. Why didn’t he start him out a couple days early, and just let him take his time. Beloved, there is to be a quick work done in these last days. It seems like we are making no progress at all, we wonder why this is all taking so long. And then suddenly we will hear the Father’s voice telling us to “run”.

“Notice that he left early in the morning”. It was the dawning of a new day, a very significant day in the life of David. The sheep were left behind. Not all of the “come-outers” will be ready to move in that glorious David-company in that hour. Some will have to be left behind. Some enjoy the blessings of this freedom, but they will just not come to maturity. So in the hour when the Overcomer rises up, they will be left in the wilderness.

Who is this Philistine?

David had received the kingly anointing, and he recognized no other power, no other authority but God’s. And when he heard the giant defying God and saw Israel running in fear, something rose up within him against this thing. He refused to accept this situation as inevitable. He refused to live under the heel of Goliath, he demanded either freedom or death.

Let others settle for a compromise of fear, hoping to just hold on to this last little mountain behind the hedge, trying to hang on just a little longer until Jesus comes and raptures them away beyond the blue. Let others dream about a ‘mansion in the sky’ while they close their ears to the screaming torment of the millions of earth’s lost. There are those who have received a kingly anointing, and they will not settle for anything less than total victory. They will not rest until the last enemy has been put under foot and Satan is bound and in the pit. They are those who will overcome and sit on David’s throne at last.

Just when the armies of Israel seem to be doing well on the field of battle, here came Goliath. How often has it happened, that just when we thought revival was breaking out in the church, and God was moving in a glorious way, then Satan would show his ugly head, and nullify any gains that had been made. Sometimes it would come through a sister, sometimes through the preacher, or a deacon. But the devil usually showed up before the revival got too far along.

How many times have I been having a wonderful meeting, folks getting saved, sick bodies healed, and right there in the meeting (usually right on the front row) would sit someone with a terrible affliction that somehow I couldn’t touch. One time it would be a blind girl, next time a crippled child, or a demon-possessed man. Somehow there was always a Goliath to remind me that we have not come to the measure of the full stature of Christ. Oh God, raise up thy David-people! I cannot settle for a part victory. It must be full and complete!

Opposition From Brethren

You would think that every Christian, every preacher would be glad to see someone willing to stay and fight for complete victory. Not so. Can’t you just see David’s brother Eliab (vs 28) as he says: “Why, David, little brother, I’m so glad to see you getting into the battle. If your faith gets weak, or you need encouragement, I’ll stick by you.” I can remember in the former wars how I was accused of being a devil, a “tongues-fanatic” and worse. So as you receive new revelation and move out into new realms in the Spirit, you can count on me for comfort and support. Oh no! It didn’t happen that way! How nice if our brethren had that kind of spirit. But sorry to say, we now begin to see what God had seen in Eliab’s heart that kept him back from the kingly anointing. His anger and jealousy became manifest.

Eliab rebuked David so sharply and tried so hard to discourage him, that finally David turned away from his brother altogether. I know it hurt him to do so, for I had to do the same thing one day. Remember, the father sent him first of all to his own brethren. But when they would not receive, he had to either turn away or lose the glory of that hour.

When it dawned on me the glory of what God was going to do in these last days in His Church, I just knew that I could show my brethren and that they would be glad and rejoice and accept it whole-heartedly. How simple I was! How much I had to learn about the ways of organized religion. They not only refused to listen to God’s Word, but they were ready to cast me out without a reason. I had to cry with David (vs 29): “Is there not a cause?”

Saul’s Armour

Finally the words of David came to Saul. And he was desperate. Something had to be done. So he talked to David. First he began telling David all the reasons why he would fail, looking only at the natural side. David was too immature, the giant was too much of a warrior. Never a word about faith in God, the power of the anointing. Saul was no longer depending on the supernatural for results. Oh, how like the Pentecostal movement of today. A number of years ago I had a good job in a nice city on the west coast of Florida. I was making good money, was buying a beautiful home, had positions of prestige and authority in the community life of the city. But the call of God was on my life, and the Spirit spoke to me to quit my job and leave Florida. So I did, but I found it tough sledding. One day I stopped in Chicago to see the pastor of a large church, a man whom I had heard much about. I was somewhat discouraged, not finding many open doors where I could preach, and not knowing exactly what I should do. When I told this brother my situation, he just about ruined what faith I did have left, saying that I should have kept my job in Florida and used my money and influence for the furtherance of the gospel. My insistence that I had heard the voice of God to leave did not seem to influence him. From his standpoint, I had made a mistake ever getting into the ministry. Thank God, I was able to get away from him and get alone with God where I could be led of the Spirit. His carnal wisdom did not fit my need.

All David could answer Saul was his testimony of the times when God had come to his rescue in the wilderness against the lion and the bear. All this must have sounded rather childish to Saul, who had fought many battles. But alright, David, if you insist, go ahead, but wear my armour. Let me show you how it is done, since you obviously don’t know how to run a church or have revivals. Notice in verses 38 and 39 that Saul put the armour on David, and that David took it off. Praise God!

Hang your armour back up, Saul, it didn’t work. It didn’t work for you and it won’t work for me. If organization could have brought the church to perfection, then it would have been perfect long ago. If forming denominations could take Goliath’s head off and put Satan’s power under our feet, then we have had many hundreds of chances at it. But it was the anointing on Saul that enabled him to defeat the Philistines at the first, and now that the anointing is gone, no amount of armour will make up for it. It was the anointing that made the Pentecostal movement great in the beginning, and now they are trying to make up for the lack of it with committees, departments, activities, etc. But it won’t work now any better than it did for Saul. Hang up your armour and cry out to God to restore the anointing of the Spirit.

Five Smooth Stones

When David left Saul to go meet Goliath, he didn’t even have a stone for his sling. He had his staff in his hand, a mark of his shepherd’s calling, but his shepherd’s bag was empty. He was totally unprepared for war. But he ran toward the enemy. It looked like sure suicide, but his trust was in the Lord.

When he got to the brook, which usually runs at the foot of the mountains, he stopped for ammunition for his sling. Stones. Smooth stones. Five smooth stones. This, of course, speaks of the five ministry gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Not any stones would do. They had to be smooth, so that any little wind (of doctrine) would not cause them to fly off course and miss their target. The running water in the brook had knocked these stones against each other until the rough edges were knocked off long ago. They had been in the processing of the Spirit for a long time before they wound up in David’s hand. Processed and polished and washed in the water of the Word. Oh how necessary it is for those who are going to be used of God, to submit to the dealings of God through our brother. I may not like the bumping I get from my brother, but I had better learn that if I am to be used in this last day revival, I will have to submit to the work that goes on in the brook. Isaiah 57:6 says: “Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion”.

It matters not which of the five stones David used. The rough edges of jealousy had already been ground off, so they did not care. The ministry gifts must begin to learn to work with one another, and not try to take the supremacy over each other.

Take a lesson from the stones of the brook, dear brother. Many are the stones lodged in the sides of the mountain, standing alone, with the sharp edges of their individuality protruding prominently. But they could not be used in that hour. Some stones, or ministers, have sharp cutting edges. They seem to take delight in cutting a fellow minister when they find opportunity. But they were not used for God’s high purposes. It was smooth stones God was after, stones that would not cut one another.

The Simplicity of Christ

Oh, the simple way God had of dealing with Goliath. Now any great warrior who had been through the battles, graduated from Bible School, advanced to the rank of presbyter, would know better than to attack such an enemy with only five little stones. He would know that you had to have lots of equipment, swords, shields, spears, helmets, coat of mail, etc. You can’t even start a church now days without proper advertising, finances, committees, assistant pastor, minister of music, minister of education, youth director, and a lot of other machinery.

But let me remind you that of all the swords in Israel, of all the shields and helmets hanging up in the tents, God didn’t use a one. He chose rather to use a little lad full of faith, anointed of the Spirit, going forth to battle unarmed, with the praises of God in his mouth. And don’t be fooled by those who tell you that with more and bigger buildings, finer pews, radio and TV broadcasts, and the sacrifice of your dollars will bring the church to perfection. I realize that we now use these “dead things”, and I would not be able to send these messages out if someone didn’t sacrifice to help me. But when complete victory is won over Satan and all his works, it will be God anointing His Body, His Perfect Man, with the mighty unction of the fulness of the Holy Ghost and power. “And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s.” (vs 47).

In the Name of the Lord

When David came running up to the Philistine, he came prophesying. All right, devil, you have come into this battle with your sword and spear, your weapons of sin and sickness and death. You have your cancers, your polio, your arthritis, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts!

David didn’t even boast of his stones. No use to glorify the ministries. They will be used all right, but the glory belongs to God. “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee” (vs 46). What a bold statement for such a little lad. It must have sounded presumptuous to those who heard it. But he was willing to stake his life on the fact that he was speaking the word of the Lord. See what they said about Jesus: “And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22).

Brace yourself, preacher. For in that hour you will have to learn to speak the word of the Lord, and with authority. Jesus did not have to preface what he said with a “thus saith the Lord.” For when He spoke, the Father witnessed to it. And so with David. And so with the end-time David company. Elijah stood before King Ahab and said: “There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (1 Kings 17:1) How could he dare to say such a thing? Because he stood before the Lord, and the will of God was known to him. Therefore he spoke, and therefore God confirmed the word.

When you truly go in the name of the Lord, and have the authority of that glorious name, you don’t have to scream it forth over every person you pray for, nor use it as some magical formula. You will simply go forth healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, slaying your Goliaths, and everyone will know that you are come in the name and authority of the Lord.

The Battle is the Lord’s

What a glorious rest David had entered into, tho he was in the midst of the fierce battle. The outcome of this battle does not depend on me, it depends on Him. For I am not obligated to rescue the human race from their terrible plight, He is. I did not make the promise to perfect the Church, He made it. So my confidence is not in what I can do, it is in what He can do. Praise God, children, it’s time to rise up and shout the victory!

 

The End

 

Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 5

Jonathan and Zadok

Herein lies one the of the strangest, and saddest, stories of the Bible. The story of a fine young man who saw the coming of a new order, actually prophesied of the coming Kingdom, who knew and loved the coming King dearly, yet missed being in that glorious Kingdom simply because he never got around to coming out of the old order! And with this story comes a solemn warning to those who are seeing the coming of a new order to the Church, who know what it is to feel the anointing of that new Move of the Spirit, who have every reason to be included in that glorious new Kingdom, yet who are in great danger of missing the ascent to the Throne simply because, like Jonathan, they will not separate themselves from the old order and “come out of her, my people”. They continue to hang around the edges of what God is doing in these last days, content to keep in touch with the anointed people in the wilderness, but not willing to bear the reproach of being one of that “motley crew” in Adullam. Now read on, if you dare.

Swifter than the Eagle

Jonathan was one of the finest and most admirable young men in the Bible. Many wonderful attributes are recorded of him, and not one sin laid to his charge. He was a man of faith, courage, vision, unselfishness, and deep spirituality. He was a King’s son, next in line for the throne of his father. But he laid all this aside for the love of David, God’s anointed, for he saw that it was the will of God for David to be the next King.

The first we see of Jonathan is in the 13th chapter of 1 Samuel. He is in Gibeah at the head of a thousand men in the army of his father, Saul. Here he refused to compromise or coexist with the devilish Philistines, but smote a garrison of them, and thus precipitated a crisis in Israel. His courage knew no limit. The Bible says that he was “swifter than the eagle, stronger than the lion”. His army was not so. They had few weapons, were used to being trampled under the feet of the Philistines, and upon occasion they would flee to the rocks and the caves. He dwelled in the midst of a fearful and trembling people, but he was as bold as a lion, for he trusted in the living God.

By Many or by Few

As we go to the 14th chapter of 1 Samuel, we find Jonathan initiating a great victory over the Philistines, with the help of the God of heaven. He started out alone, with only the young man that bear his armour, and after putting out a fleece to God, he single-handedly attacked an entire garrison of the Philistines. He had to crawl up a mountain on his hands and feet in order to get to them, but when he got there he caused such a slaughter that the entire Philistine army went into utter confusion and began to attack each other. God stepped in with an earthquake and a great trembling, and there was a great victory that day. Jonathan was one who knew what it was to eat of the fresh honey and have his eyes enlightened and his soul strengthened. As a result, he also knew what it was to face the wrath of Saul, who is a type of the man-made king over God’s people. But tho he sees the wrongness in this system, he continues to stay in it.

And He Stripped Himself

After young David came along on that memorable day and slew Goliath, we find David and Jonathan becoming very close friends. In fact, it says:

“The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”

The love between these two brave young men, the shepherd boy and the prince, was the brightest thing in Israel at this dark hour of history. Jonathan had at last found someone who did not run from the Philistines, someone whose courage matched his own. And he felt the divine anointing that rested upon David. For Samuel had anointed David with the horn of oil, to be king over Israel in Saul’s place. And Jonathan came to the knowledge that David was the one to sit on the throne, not himself. For if he ascended to the throne of his father Saul, he could only continue the order his father was in, and he knew that this was not of God. But here was a new order, a new anointing, a new Kingdom that Israel had never experienced before. And God had ordained it. So Jonathan stripped himself of his princely garments and gave them to David. This was all while David was in Saul’s house, under Saul’s rule.

David in the Wilderness

Suddenly a great reproach falls upon David. It comes from nothing evil that he has done. No sin can be laid to his charge. But Saul is suddenly jealous over the anointing that is on David, and he tries to destroy that anointing. So David flees for his life into a wilderness place. Jonathan does not go along. He stays in Saul’s house. He still loves David, he knows David has the anointing and the true message from God, but he is not quite ready to leave father’s house and break all the family ties and bear the reproach that David is bearing.

How many there are that are pictured here! They love the anointing and the true message of the Kingdom. They are willing to make any sacrifice, pray, fast, go, and give… just to have that anointing. Except leave the old order. When it comes to that, they cannot see the need for it. Now it is not courage that is lacking. They have courage, and a great love for God. Like Jonathan, they are full of many fine qualities. But they cannot hear the trumpet saying “Come out of her, my people.” They can hardly understand why the “Davids” have to waste their time in the “wilderness”, with that little motley band of discontents, when they could be doing so much more, preaching to bigger crowds, winning more souls, sitting at Saul’s table. They just can’t see the reason for the separation. If David had gone forth with the approval of the organization, making some desperate charge against a powerful enemy, then Jonathan wouldn’t have hesitated a minute. But what is David doing? Nothing. Just sitting out there in a cave somewhere, or hiding in the woods with his little band of four hundred men. Now four hundred may seem like a great congregation to some of these Move of God preachers who can hardly remember when they had more than fifty to preach to. But compared to the hundreds of thousands that Saul could assemble by blowing a trumpet, it was a tiny crowd.

“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.” (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

Where is Jonathan? Back in Saul’s house, probably sitting around wondering what is happening with God’s anointed tonight, maybe wishing he could just be there and hear David sing some of the psalms that God is giving him by the Spirit. He attends Saul’s banquets, but they are dead, dry affairs, full of business meetings, committee meetings, programs, promotional humbug, political maneuvering, arguing and bad spirits floating around. Yet he can’t seem to pull away. Maybe you think he can do more good for David there in Saul’s palace. Friends, believe me, God will take care of David. But he needs Jonathan out there in the wilderness with him. He is training an army, making leaders and future heroes. And Jonathan desperately needs to be in that Army. And there is a place for him. But he can’t leave the old order, break the family ties and bear the reproach from his “brethren”.

Now Jonathan knows David is right, and that the new order will eventually come in. And on occasion he says so. Saul wants Jonathan to kill David, but in 1 Samuel chapters 19 and 20 we find Jonathan opposing his father and refusing to put his hand against this new move of the Spirit. This infuriates Saul so that he rails out at Jonathan and threatens him:

“Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse and rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion?” (1 Samuel 20:30)

Saul goes on to tell Jonathan that as long as this new order is alive, that Jonathan will never be able to take over the old order and get it established. But Jonathan refuses to oppose David, and Saul throws a javelin at him. But he still will not leave Saul. He knows that there is an evil spirit troubling his father’s house, and that there is no victory in the camp. But there are strong natural ties that hold him.

I Shall be Next to Thee

Perhaps you think that Jonathan is not aware of what is going to happen to Saul’s kingdom? Listen to him as he slips off secretly and visits David out in the woods:

“And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph (which means “flowing”). And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.”

“And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life; and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan, Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.”

“And he said unto him, “Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and THOU SHALT BE KING OVER ISRAEL, AND I SHALL BE NEXT UNTO THEE; and that also Saul my father knoweth.” And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”

Now David only had a few with him, and they were in the wilderness. But the blessings of God were “flowing” there in Ziph. What a tragedy in those last few words. Jonathan has all good intentions. He has a true vision. He has a tremendous revelation of the coming Kingdom, probably more than most of the men who follow David. A lot of the men were in the wilderness with David because they had no place else to go, they were discontent with the old system. Some were there because they didn’t want to go to a debtor’s prison, some because they admired his ministry and the way he had killed Goliath. Some perhaps even had caught a vision of the message of the new order of the Kingdom. But none had the picture so clearly as Jonathan. He had the revelation. He loved the anointing. But all during the wilderness processing, he was missing!! Why? He couldn’t get around to coming out of the old order. And when the new Kingdom came in and David sat on the throne, Jonathan was not standing there by him as he had prophesied. Why? Because the day that Saul fell in the battle, Jonathan was still with him, and fell also under the sword of the Philistines.

There was a time when Jonathan could put a whole army of Philistines to flight single-handedly. But that was because God was with him. Listen friends, what worked yesterday won’t work today, because the order is changing, and God is moving on. Either move on with Him, or you’ll find yourself missing out on the greatest thing man has ever seen. Babylon is going to fall, and if you don’t come out of her, you’ll find yourself falling with her, “being a partaker of her sins, and receiving of her plagues.”

There is a little Army in the wilderness today, small, insignificant, reproached, lied-about, but anointed of God. They don’t seem to be doing much, but they are not idle. They are in training. Mighty men of war are being raised up, men who will soon go forth and in the power of the new Kingdom order do that which Saul and all his armies have not been able to do. Saul started his reign with a battle against the Philistines, and for a while it looked like he would do alright and was making good gains against the enemy. But after 40 years on the throne, the Philistines were still around, and in fact, they overcame Saul in the end and hung his body in the halls of their false god. Jonathan’s body hung there also, a reproach to the man who saw the glory from afar, but never received the inheritance.

“And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons.” (1 Samuel 31:2)

Maybe Saul Will Change

Why did Jonathan stay with Saul? He always had the hope that maybe Saul would have a change of heart and accept David and take him back. In fact, in chapter 19, we see Jonathan talking to David about this very thing. And it really looked like it would work. Jonathan convinced Saul that David was a good one to have around, and Saul relented.

“And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan; and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, AS IN TIMES PAST.” (1 Samuel 19:6-7)

But only three verses later we find Saul again making a desperate effort to kill David. Friends, it will not work. Every once in a while a revival comes along to some church in Saul’s organization, and God moves, and the anointing moves back in with signs and wonders, and Saul seems very pleased with it. “You see? Everything is going to be just like it used to be, 40 years ago.” Is that so? Just wait till the old spirit of Babylon begins to work again, they begin to pull some political ram-rodding, and you will see Saul trying to fasten David to the wall of his house with a javelin. Yes, he wants David, but he wants him dead, fastened to the wall of his house. Yes, they want the anointing, but they want it fully under their control, under their name, fastened to their wall. If God permitted that, they’d have the anointing all right. But it would be dead. It wouldn’t be that living power of God. Not for long. But God gets David back out of Saul’s house for good. Some preachers that had a touch of the Revival and later went back into an organization have told me: “But Brother Bill, they give us lots of liberty. They even let us lay hands on folks and prophesy over them, and don’t say a thing.” Yes, in my heart I’d love to see them accept the Move of God in its fulness in all the organizations. But I don’t speak out of my desire, I speak by the Word of the Lord when I say IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! The spirit that is in Saul will never allow it for long. Mark that down, and watch it come to pass!

David Comes to the Kingdom

In the book of 2 Samuel we find David taking over the Kingdom. Saul is dead. And in chapters 5, 6, and 7 we find David ascending to the throne, conquering the Philistines, bringing the Ark of God back to the Tabernacle where it belonged, and making plans to build God a permanent Temple. The glory has come to Israel. “The King sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies”. (2 Samuel 7:1)

Where is our Jonathan?

In chapter 8 we find a list of those who are ruling with David. Jonathan is not among them. If someone had to be missing, why did it have to be this man? He had such an intense desire to see this day. He longed to see David on the throne, that he might stand by his side and help him rule and reign. But he was not there. Look at 2 Samuel 8:15-18…

“And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. And JOAB the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and JEHOSHAPHAT the son of Ahilud was recorder; and ZADOK the son of Ahitub, and AHIMELECH the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and SERAIAH was the scribe; And BENAIAH the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and DAVID’S SONS were chief rulers.”

Just one great omission. Among the list of those who help David rule over Israel, Jonathan’s name was missing. Now this was one of the finest young men in Israel, one of the finest in the Bible. Why didn’t God arrange for him to be around and stand by David’s right hand? Friends, please hear this… God is not allowing anything of the old order of Babylon to have a ruling part in the Kingdom that He is setting up. That is why He is calling “Come out of her, my people”. Now you can see that ALL of Israel were enjoying the blessings of this new kingdom, even those who had been loyal to Saul. In fact, David sets a special place at his own table for Saul’s grandson. But he does not rule the Kingdom with David. This is for those who suffered with him through Adullam and the wilderness. And, sad to say, Jonathan did not choose to suffer with him in the wilderness. So he does not sit upon the throne with him now in the Kingdom. This grieves David greatly. He mourns much for Jonathan, for he loved him sincerely. But God’s will must be done.

Now I know that most of you who read this probably have already come out of the old order of man’s ecclesiastical systems, and are moving with the Christ in the wilderness. But this message is primarily to those who have a deep revelation of the Kingdom, who know that God is moving by His Spirit, who realize that a new order must take over soon, that we must come into a higher realm in the Spirit in order to conquer our enemies the “Philistines”. But they have not been able to see why they must leave Saul’s house. My heart goes out to these, for I know they are in a torment. They hang around the Revival close enough to know where to find the anointing, and they keep in touch with the Message. Some say that they can do more good by staying in the denomination and encouraging others to be more spiritual. You’ll encourage them to stay in, just like you’re doing until eventually not only you but all the sons of Saul are slain by the Philistines. Come out into the wilderness with David and see how many you encourage to move on out with God! I wonder how fast David’s army would have grown if Jonathan had joined in the cave? Well, God didn’t need Jonathan. But Jonathan needed God, and David.

The Faithful Zadok

In the listing of David’s rulers in 2 Samuel 8:17, we find the name of a young priest, a descendent of Aaron. He had braved the reproach of being a heretic and a traitor, to leave Saul and join David’s band. And well he might, for in 1 Samuel 22 we find Saul commanding Doeg to slaughter the 85 priests of the Lord that had remained with Saul, along with Nob, the city of the priests. But Zadok had turned his back on the old order and the apostasy of Israel and their king, and chose to be faithful to the moving of the true Spirit of God. So he cast his lot with this New Move, lock stock and barrel, wife, son and possessions. And now he helps David rule the Kingdom.

The verse in 2 Samuel 8:17 is the first time we find Zadok mentioned in the Bible. But not the last. 1 Chronicles chapter 6 tells us that he is of the tribe of Levi, and a direct descendent of Aaron, (the brother of Moses) and Eleazar the priest. He has quite a heritage, but more than this, he leaves an even greater heritage for his sons to live up to.

The Rebellion of Absalom

When David takes the throne, Zadok and Abiathar are placed in the Kingdom as Priests of God. After many years, there suddenly comes an overthrow of the government. Absalom, the popular son of David, has risen up to usurp the throne from his father. Things look very dark for David. The people favor Absalom. The great warrior Amasa, leader of the hosts, is with Absalom. But Zadok and Abiathar need not fear. They will be as safe and as comfortable under the new regime as they were with David. No need for them to leave the safety of the city and go back out into the wilderness again. They were “charter members” of the past revival, and too old to lay aside their present ministry to start all over again.

But not so. These two faithful priests leave all and start out to flee with David. They recognize where the anointing of God lies. They want that anointing, no matter if it does look from the natural as tho this is the end of it. So in 2 Samuel 15:24-29 we find the story of these two priests following David out of the City, bearing the Ark of the Covenant.

Faithfully Wait for the Revival

But David stops them. He reminds Zadok that he is a Seer, and David says that he will wait in the wilderness until the Word of the Lord comes through Zadok to certify him back into the Kingdom. But he tells the priests to take the Ark back into the city, and serve as spies for him. A thrilling spy story is told in the succeeding chapters, of Zadok’s son hiding in a well, while a woman sits on top of the well grinding corn as Absalom’s soldiers hunt for him. David has told Zadok that if God is with him, that He will again bring him to the throne, but if not, then the sooner he dies the better. Beloved, I say unto you that if God is in this last day Revival known as the New Move, Sonship, Latter Rain, Forward Move, and other names (none of which full identify it), then He will see to it that it will come to the Throne regardless of the opposition. And no one, yea, no system of man, will be able to destroy it. But if they can destroy it, then God is not in it. And if God is NOT in it, then I say the quicker they destroy it, the better for all of us. Hallelujah! We can’t lose for winning!

So Zadok and Abiathar return with the Ark to the city and served David in the midst of his enemies. Twice now this man has proved himself faithful to the Anointed of God, at the risk of his life and family. But more tests are coming, and it is “he that endureth to the end” that shall win the prize of the high calling of God. Zadok proves himself worthy.

The Rebellion of Adonijah

Zadok and Abiathar serve faithfully in the priesthood for many years. But God is digging deeper into the hearts and lives of men than ever before. He is weeding out every bit of rebellion. And he finds some in Abiathar. And Joab. Some mighty men are falling. God is cutting the number of the faithful down, as He searches the inward parts.

In the 1st chapter of 1 Kings we find Adonijah, the son of David, exalting himself and rebelling against the word of the King. And in verses 7-8 we read:

“And he (Adonijah) conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.”

“But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.”

Adonijah had determined to be king. Now when someone rose up to be king in those days, your choice of action could very well mean your life, your future, and the future of your offspring. Adonijah looked like a sure winner. He asked for the priests and warriors to help him. Joab and Abiathar went with him. Now Joab was over the Army. Things looked good for Adonijah. But the Word had gone forth from the King that another was to rule in his place, his son Solomon. And Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the warrior put their confidence in the word of the King, and sided with Solomon. As history shows, Solomon took the throne. Adonijah and Joab died violent deaths, and Abiathar was banished from his priest’s office. Abiathar almost made it. He had come through a serious crisis in the past, and had been faithful to the anointing. He had been duly rewarded with his priesthood office. But now, almost at the finish line, he stops following the anointing and the true word of the Lord, and follows after circumstances that look good. And he is banished from his office, tho not from the kingdom. Zadok takes over the office of Abiathar. And it is Zadok who is called upon to anoint Solomon as King of Israel. Again he is setting an example for those to follow.

The Sons of Zadok

As you trace Zadok’s descendants down through the Bible, you find some interesting things in the lives of those who have received such a heritage as this. One of his descendants, known as Jerushah “daughter of Zadok” married King Uzziah and was the mother of Jotham, King of Judah. Now the Bible is careful to give the name of this king’s mother, for Jotham was only 25 years of age when he began to reign, and no doubt his mother had a lot of influence on him. The mothers of the kings many times influenced them for or against the ways of the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 22:1-3 it tells the story of the wicked king Ahaziah, and it says “His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.” But with the daughter of Zadok it was a different story. Her son was a good king, and “He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord… so Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” Zadok’s heritage continues.

Zadok’s great-great grandson was the first priest in Solomon’s Temple, where the glory of the Lord so filled the place that he couldn’t stand to minister. Another descendant, Azariah, was priest in the Temple under Hezekiah when they cleaned up the Temple and had a Revival that shook the nation. Ezra, the priest who returned from the Babylonian captivity to rebuild the Temple of God, was also a descendant of this faithful priest of David’s reign. What I’m saying is that had he made the wrong choice in favor of Saul, or Absalom, or Adonijah, he would have been cut off and never left his descendants this glorious heritage to follow.

The Glory of the Latter House

But the greatest glory for the Sons of Zadok comes in the last days, as shown by the vision of Ezekiel. Ezekiel is seeing the glory of that great Temple made without hands, eternal in the heavens! And in this great and final order of God, the highest realm of ministry is reserved for the Sons of Zadok…

“It shall be for the priests that are sanctified OF THE SONS OF ZADOK; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.”

Now I am confident in my own heart that out there in the cave Adullam, wandering through the wilderness with that little band of 400 men, Zadok could not have fully known what lay ahead for him. All he knew at that time was that this was the will of God for him, here was God’s anointed, here was the one who would someday rise to the Throne, and he had to follow this course, live or die, sink or swim. Listen, beloved, God has more planned for you than I dare to tell you at this time. More even than He has revealed to me or anyone else. It will take another book to go into detail on the glory of that Zadok ministry for the last days. In this booklet I can only give a few Scriptures, and tell you there is a higher glory! Just trust Him, and be faithful to the glorious heritage left us by the Son of God!

Keepers of the House

In the 44th chapter of Ezekiel we see a vision of the glory of God filling the House of the Lord. Then God gives instructions concerning the ministry in that new Temple, a picture of the glorious House of God in the last days. The Lord is very gracious to those who have gone astray, and were not faithful to the anointing during the testing time in the wilderness and the Babylonian captivity. He lets them minister in that end time Revival, but it is only a ministry “to the house”. Since they led the people astray, they will be allowed to minister now to the people in the true things of God. But verse 13 says:

“They shall not come near unto ME, to do the office of a priest UNTO ME, nor to come near to any of MY holy things, in the Most Holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have commited.”

“But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.”

“But the priests the Levites, THE SONS OF ZADOK, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near TO ME to minister UNTO ME, and they shall stand BEFORE ME.”

Believe me friends, God remembers. Those who led the people into Babylon, and helped keep them in bondage in the systems of man, shall experience a great Revival. They shall, by the grace of God, be able to minister to the people in a miraculous ministry, to bring the people a ministry to meet their needs. But they shall NEVER come into the Most Holy place beyond the veil. Thus saith the Lord! Their ministry is on a lower realm, outside the veil, in the church realm where the candlestick resides.

But to the faithful Sons of Zadok, those who pressed on in God through the wilderness, those who were faithful to the true anointing tho it cost them everything, to these God has reserved “the prize of the High Calling of God.” Paul saw it, and desired it! I am seeing it, and find it VERY desirable! Ezekiel says that these Sons of Zadok wear only linen. Linen bonnets, linen breeches, and no wool to cause sweat. Sweat is part of the curse, and now the curse is lifted! Works are over, it is God’s Rest, and God’s righteousness! And verse 19 says that they have a relationship with the Father that no one else can know. They can come out of the Holiest Place and dwell among the people, but they cannot bring the people into what they have in God, nor sanctify the people with their holy garments. They are the Lord’s Chosen, His Elect, His Sons.

In all the glory of this latter house, I cannot find the sons of Jonathan. Poor Jonathan. He had such opportunity, but couldn’t bear the reproach. Couldn’t pull away from the old order. Oh, beloved, seemingly small things are SO important in this hour! We are fixing our destiny in God. Go all the way with Him! Let nothing hinder. It will be worth it all, in that glorious New and Eternal Temple of God, as we stand before Him, and minister UNTO HIM! SONS OF ZADOK, ARISE! Go forward in the power of the Spirit! Victory is yours!

 

Don’t miss Chapter 6 of this 6 chapter series – to follow

 

Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 4

Noah’s Ark

These are the last days. This cannot be denied, and most people will agree that this is so. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear of what is coming upon the earth. The leaders of nations are meeting together to try to find a way out, but with little success. Much of the world lives in constant fear, while the rest of it is either in ignorance of world events or is trying to forget by means of pleasure, frantic activity or drugs. The outlook certainly is dark to say the least, from the viewpoint of the natural man.

In the midst of all this, where is God? What is He doing about the situation? Thanks be to God, He is right on time with His program of deliverance. Nothing has gotten out of hand for Him. Everything is moving right along on schedule. For you see, God is preparing a vessel of deliverance for His people, and a means of judgment for His enemies. Exactly as He did in the days of Noah. Jesus spoke some powerful words in Matthew chapter 24 concerning the last days and the time of His return. Let’s read Matt 24:36-39…

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. BUT AS THE DAYS OF NO’E WERE, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that No’e entered into the ark, And knew not UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME, AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Look at this scripture closely. Jesus is saying the last days will bear a marked similarity to the days in which Noah lived. All most folks think about is that back there they were eating and drinking and getting married. Well that was going on long before Noah’s day, and has been going on ever since. Some think that as it was in Noah’s day, some were taken and some were left, and they want to be taken. You’d better hope not, for it was not righteous Noah and his sons that were taken. They were left behind to inherit the new earth. It was the wicked who were “taken away”. Most of our book-fed theologians who have no divine revelation on the Word are teaching the people to pray that they will be “taken when Jesus comes”. Take another look at Matthew 24.

The thing that interests me about Noah’s day is not what the wicked were doing, but WHAT WAS GOD DOING? He was not idle. In the days just before the flood, God was busy preparing a vessel of deliverance, an ark that would save Noah and his family, and He was using Noah to do this. Let us read Genesis 6:13-16…

“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them and behold I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. AND THIS IS THE FASHION THAT THOU SHALT MAKE IT OF: The length of the ark shall be THREE HUNDRED CUBITS, the breadth of it FIFTY CUBITS, and the height of it THIRTY CUBITS. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.”

Now God gave the instructions on how to build the ark. This was not left up to Noah–God knew just what He wanted, and He insisted on His plan. He knew just how big it needed to be in order to hold all the creatures that would come into it. Notice that the dimensions of this vessel were 30, 50, and 300. This is not an accident. These numbers are all very significant in the Bible. God’s Bible is a book of numerical perfection. The Lord is very consistent in His use of various numbers. And these three numbers are very important in the building of this vessel of deliverance in Noah’s day. They are also important in what God is doing in these last days concerning His sons. Psalm 90:19 says “So teach us to NUMBER our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

God is Building a House

Yes, God is building a house, and He is building it with living stones. This habitation of God through the Spirit will be a mighty vessel of deliverance in the time of judgment of these last days. It may be a laughing stock to the religious world, as Noah’s big ship was. It may be a strange looking vessel compared to the ecclesiastical orders of our day, even as Noah’s ship was strange looking. Few, if any, of you have ever seen a drawing of Noah’s ark that was true to the dimensions and looked anything like the real ark. Most pictures of the ark show it to be a big fat boat about twice as long as it is high. But notice that it is TEN TIMES as long as it is high. 300 cubits long, 30 cubits high. To get an idea of what it was like, take three ordinary yardsticks and lay them out side by side, 36 inches long, and about 3 inches high. This will give you a comparison of the shape of the ark. Each of the three stories was 10 cubits high (about 15 feet) and 50 cubits wide (75 feet). Stand it on end and it would be as tall as a 45 story building. It was quite a ship. Odd looking, but it was what God waned, and it served the purpose.

Now why did God specify these particular numbers? Was it an accident? Or did He just draw those figures out of a hat? Or do you think He might have had a divine purpose behind all this? Of course. God doesn’t do anything by accident. Things don’t “just happen” with the Lord. He is using this ark to speak to us about the Sons of God, the Overcomer company who shall be joined together in the last days to form a glorious vessel that will house the very fulness of God and bring deliverance to all humanity. Glory to God! Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10 that the things that happened back there in the Old Testament were types and shadows for us who are living in the last days. What does the size of Noah’s ark have to do with us today? We are living in the days of the coming of the Son of man, and remember that Jesus said that as it was in Noah’s day, so shall it be in this day. Let’s see what the Bible says about these three numbers…

Three Hundred

The number 300 in the Bible speaks of complete deliverance, of victory in conflict. And where it is used in the Bible, you often find the number 3 used with it. There were 3 stories in the ark, each of them 300 cubits long. It took all three of them to make up the complete ark, ready to save the ones God had chosen. Look at Judges 7:7, 8, 16, 20, 22…

“And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the THREE HUNDRED men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all the other people go every man unto his place. So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent and retained those THREE HUNDRED MEN: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. And he divided the THREE HUNDRED men into THREE companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And the THREE companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and help the lamps in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. And the THREE HUNDRED blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled…”

It looked like a suicide charge. Three hundred men against a great multitude of fierce warriors. But the three hundred had God on their side, and that made a big majority. In the natural they went about it in a very foolish way. They exposed themselves, let their lamps shine out, and never even had a sword in their hand. They were defenseless. A foolish way to fight a war. Any smart fundamentalist could tell them how to win the war… “Now boys, just go out and round up a lot of numbers, get a good building program going, do a lot of fine advertising, and get out your sword and go to work on all the other denominations”. But this crowd had nothing going for them but God. And believe me, He is enough. And He didn’t need a lot of numbers. In fact He sent more than 99% of the people home that started out on this journey. All Israel was going to receive deliverance, but the vessel of deliverance was the THREE HUNDRED. It is the number of victory in war, the number of divine deliverance. Supernatural deliverance.

Shields of Beaten Gold

In 1 Kings chapter 10 we find a picture of Solomon’s storehouse of treasures. There are many wonderful types here, but let us look at the number 300 in verse 17:

“And he made THREE HUNDRED shields of beaten gold; THREE pounds of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.”

Here is another instance where the numbers three and three hundred are used together. Notice what it was… Shields. Implements of war. Paul says it will turn away every fiery dart of the wicked one. Notice that it was of gold. Gold speaks of that which is of God, divine. And it was of “beaten gold”, that which had been processed under the hammer. Peter says “the trial of your FAITH, being much more precious than of gold…” The golden shield of faith. Enough for the entire army of 300, that great Army of God that goes forth to bring deliverance to all creation. Praise God! Why the number THREE? The answer to that in just a little while. Right now lets look at 1 Chronicles 11:20…

“And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the THREE: for lifting up his spear against THREE HUNDRED he slew them, and had a name among the THREE.”

Now here was a case of supernatural deliverance. One man against 300. God had to be on his side. There’s no doubt about it being supernatural. Again we find the 3 and 300 tied together, as a mighty deliverance is wrought in Israel. So we see today the need for a great deliverance for God’s people, as well as the entire lost world. And God is bringing forth His vessel, a company of blood-bought, Spirit-filled overcomers who will be measured by the rod of God for the day when they will go into action against all the forces of hell.

Enoch walked with God THREE HUNDRED years (Genesis 5:22). Then, and not before, he passed through the veil into the Presence of the Eternal God without going by way of the grave. A mighty victory over death, a glorious deliverance from the bondage that was upon other men. He did it after walking with God for three hundred years. Number of supernatural deliverance.

Here’s something else. In Mark 14:3-6 we find the story of a woman who anointed the body of Jesus shortly before His death. She had an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious. According to verse 5 it was worth THREE HUNDRED PENCE. But here before her was the body of Christ, the vessel of deliverance for the whole world of sinners. In a few days this body would be hung on a cross to bring supernatural deliverance to “whosoever will”. And she poured out her 300 pence worth of ointment on His head. It seemed to be a foolish act, but Jesus commended her for it. “She hath wrought a good work on me”, He said. It cost her something to minister to the body of Christ in faith. And while she was rebuked and rejected by her contemporaries, history has never forgotten her, so it is with all God’s faithful prophets.

Tabernacle in the Wilderness

For the last look at this time at the 300’s of God, let us go to the Tabernacle. Notice that there are THREE gates, doors, or veils in the construction of the Tabernacle. Each of them has 100 square cubits of material. The outer gate is 5 x 20, while the other two are each 10 x 10. Five is the number of Grace and this is what marks this outer gate. Passing through it brings us to the Brazen Altar where we receive God’s grace by the shedding of innocent blood. Two is the number of witness and passing through the second veil brings us into the realm of the Holy Ghost, which is given to us for a witness, Acts 1:8 says: “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me…” This brings us into the place of the Candlestick, the Church. And this is the realm we have been in since Pentecost. The dimensions of the sanctuary, this inner court beyond the second veil, is 20 cubits long, 10 cubits wide, and 10 cubits high. That is 20 x 10 x 10 or a total of 2,000. And 2,000 years is how long we have been in this place. It is time to move on beyond the THIRD curtain or vail. Beyond the third curtain it is 10 x 10 x 10, a total of 1,000. This speaks of the golden age ahead of us. Notice that passing through the final vail makes a total of THREE HUNDRED square cubits. This speaks of the great and final deliverance awaiting the creation with the manifestation of those Sons who have passed through the THIRD veil into the very Presence of God. Jesus has already made the trip as a forerunner for us.

THREE is the number of completeness. It stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. Two straight lines cannot enclose anything, or complete anything. It takes the 3 dimensions of length, breadth, and height to form a solid. Past, present, and future make up the 3 great divisions completing time. Three things complete the sum of human capability… thought, word, and deed. Israel had three annual feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, to complete their obligation to God. There are many more scriptures showing the use of number three in the Bible, but these are given in another booklet.

Passing through the THREE veils to complete the number of divine deliverance (300), shows us the completeness of God’s plan for His people, and the completeness of the deliverance. It is not enough to pass through veil number one and receive the grace of God. It is wonderful and millions have experienced this grace, but God is calling His people on. So we pass through veil number two, and receive the power of the Holy Ghost, the gifts of the Spirit, with that precious anointing from on high. But since this was poured out almost 2,000 years ago, the world has not yet been delivered from the bondage of death and sin. Sickness, affliction, and misery is evident on every hand. Even among people who have received this second experience and passed through this second veil. Complete deliverance awaits the people who complete God’s program by passing through the THIRD veil, thus coming into a place where they can fulfill the THREE HUNDRED of God by bringing deliverance to a needy world through our Lord Jesus Christ according to Romans 8:19-23. This is known as the “Manifestation of the Sons of God”. This is the deliverance spoken of in Noah’s ark when God commanded it to be 300 cubits long. He is right now in the process of putting the finishing touches on His Vessel of deliverance, His body of Sons. The work is almost finished. Judgment will not come until the Ark of God is ready. It is very near. The dark clouds are gathering on the horizon, the thunder rolls, the lightning flashes. Be a part of God’s great THREE HUNDRED for this final hour in the battle against sin!

One of the greatest reasons for Christians missing out on God’s great plan for the end of this age is their allegiance to their sectarian denomination. The call is going forth: “COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE”. For sectarianism will have no part in that which God is doing in this present day Ark of deliverance, His “three hundred”. For they will be ONE in Christ Jesus. Brethren are finding their place in this great Body now. Realizing the dreadfulness of the need, and the importance of the call, they are laying aside the minor things that separate them, and coming together in the unity of the Spirit. It is truly a beautiful sight. Beloved, let nothing keep you from joining this great company as they rise in the Spirit to heights never before known by Adam’s race.

Thirty Cubits High

Now we go to the next dimension of the ark, the height. “…and the height of it THIRTY cubits.” (Genesis 6:15) We see in 1 Kings 6:2 that Solomon’s Temple was also thirty cubits high: “And the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, and length thereof was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, AND THE HEIGHT THEREOF THIRTY CUBITS.”

So we see that the number thirty stands for that which is of full stature. This is very significant in the message of the Sons of God. Let us look at some more scriptures on this number:

“And Joseph was THIRTY years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:46)

“David was THIRTY years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” (2 Samuel 5:4)

“And Jesus himself began to be about THIRTY years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.” (Luke 3:23)

There is not much comment needed. It is so plain. Joseph, David, and Jesus all THIRTY years of age when God put each of them in his respective place of power and authority and dominion. It is the number of full stature. Why is it the height of Noah’s ark? God is showing us that His end-time vessel of deliverance will be a company of Sons who have come “to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Until you are brought to the full stature, you will not be used in this great Body. You may be in the Body now. You may be a part of the company of Sons, and know a measure of His divine anointing and have a glorious revelation of His purposes. But until that THIRD story of the ark is completed and measured up to the full THIRTY cubits, until every member of that great Body is in its proper place with all the work completed, the real action will not start. There is a glorious work being done now in the sons. Fret not if you don’t see it, for most of what is being done is invisible. But God is moving by His Spirit, and He is not a minute late. A work is being done in you, even if you do not recognize it. Just glorify God, and walk with Him! He has His purpose in you and He will bring you to His full stature. The Word declares it and I believe it! Let others beg for the weak, cold, indifferent and immature Church to be raptured away before the Anti-Christ destroys it. I am seeing a Glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, coming forth in power and authority and in the full stature of Christ, putting every enemy under foot, and giving all the world to understand that there is a Victorious God in heaven who is able to do that which is impossible with men! Hallelujah! Can you believe it? It’s true!

The Number of Pentecost

The word “pentecost” comes from the Greek “pentekoste” meaning fifty or fiftieth. This word is used only three times in the Bible, and on each occasion it refers to the Jewish festival or feast of Pentecost, known in the Old Testament as the “Feast of Weeks” (Deuteronomy 16:16), the Harvest Feast, or the Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:17). Since this feast is tied in with the numbers of Noah’s ark, let’s look at the Scripture where God instituted it… Leviticus 23:15-17

“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number FIFTY DAYS; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked WITH LEAVEN; they are THE FIRSTFRUITS unto the Lord.”

This was the feast of the “FIFTIETH”. Seven sabbaths passed by after the resurrection of Jesus, and then of the FIFTIETH day the Holy Ghost was poured out on the waiting Church. Notice that it was a “NEW” offering. It was not just a revival of Passover, or a continuance of that feast. **This was something new and separate from the experience of salvation or justification.** Notice that it was baked with leaven, which speaks of imperfection. It was not the full harvest, it was the “firstfruits”, *and the firstfruits of the Spirit was not given to perfect the Church. The early Church had hardly gotten out of the upper room when they began to show the marks of the leaven. Members lied to the Holy Ghost and fell dead, preachers had big arguments and split up, doctrinal disputes came up and split the churches. But in all this, they were a glorious witness to the world of a resurrected Christ. For it was given to them for a witness (Acts 1:8). Notice the “two wave loaves” of “two tenth deals”. Two is the number of witness. This is the second feast, the feast of the firstfruits, the feast of witness. The final perfecting of the Church will come later, with the third and final feast of “ingathering.”

God’s Fifty

Now what does all this have to do with Noah’s ark? Notice that the ark was FIFTY cubits wide. We have already seen by the 30 and the 300 that God will have a glorious company of Sons that have come to full stature and go forth into the conflict to win a great victory for the deliverance of humanity. Now we see that they are anointed by the Holy Ghost. For the number fifty goes beyond just the one feast of Pentecost, as we will see, It speaks of the Anointing, first at Pentecost (the firstfruits), then the fulness of the Spirit without measure, as pointed out by the other scriptures.

The history of the Pentecostal outpouring and apostasy is told throughout the Bible in numbers. God has your number, friend. First let us look at the beautiful picture in the Tabernacle…”FIFTY loops made he in one curtain, and FIFTY loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second; THE LOOPS HELD ONE CURTAIN TO ANOTHER. And he made FIFTY taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became ONE TABERNACLE”. (Exodus 36:12-13)

The curtains of the Tabernacle became one great wall because they were joined together by the FIFTY loops and the FIFTY taches of gold. Beloved, the thing that joins God’s people together into ONE CHURCH is not the doctrine, the denomination, the name of the church, the great preacher, or the fine building… IT IS THE ANOINTING! When the Spirit is flowing, you find God’s people becoming ONE people. Whether it be in a fine church building, a living room, a store building, a tent, or a garage… as long as the anointing is there, you’ll find a people moving on in God into the oneness of the spirit. Noah’s ark was ONE vessel! Fifty cubits wide.

The Negative Side of Fifty

Much more could be said about God’s fifty. But space is so limited. Let us look at what man has done to the precious anointing. Now there’s nothing at all wrong with the anointing but the way man has defiled it is terrible. Turn to Joshua 7:21. The sin of Achan has been uncovered and he is now making confession… listen…

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of GOLD of FIFTY shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them, and, behold, they are hid IN THE EARTH in the midst of MY tent, and the silver under it.”

Here was a member of the generation that, as a child, had been delivered out of Egypt and it’s idolatry, now bringing the garment of Babylon right into the camp of Israel. He had his feet in the promised land, was part of the Army that had conquered Jericho and seen it’s walls fall flat. Yet he couldn’t stay away from Babylon.

Notice the wedge was of god. Divine, from God. Fifty shekels weight. That is a picture of the anointing. Pentecost. But what did he do with it? Hid it in the earth, in His tent. And so it has been. The precious power of Pentecost, the divine anointing of the Spirit hid, unseen, covered over by the fleshly manifestations and ambitions of the carnal man. “If you want it come to MY tent, join MY denomination or fellowship. Get your hands dirty in MY earth, and you can have the divine anointing.” Well, I tell you what they did with that mess… they took the whole kaboodle down to the valley of Achor (which means “trouble”) and buried it all under a huge pile of stones (including Achan, the fellow who defiled the camp). As well as all who dwelled in His house. His sons, daughters, cattle and sheep. If you are a son of Achan, or a sheep in his denomination, you’d better change pastures quick. You’ll end up in Achor. The precious anointing is for us, but not to be buried in man’s earth, under his tent. Amen.

Self-Exaltation by Fifties

Here is a story of two of David’s sons. Sons of the king. But they both died a violent and shameful death. They both had two things in common… they rebelled against the will of the King, and they had FIFTY men to run before them as a mark of their greatness.

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and FIFTY men to run before him.” (2 Samuel 15:1)

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith (his mother) exalted himself, saying I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and FIFTY men to run before him.” (1 Kings 1:5)

The story of these men’s rebellion and deaths is too lengthy to go into. The thing I want you to see is that they are a picture of those who have rebelled against God and are using the divine anointing of Pentecost to exalt themselves and draw attention to how great they are. “See my great gifts of the Spirit… look at my supernatural ministry… support this tremendous work that is turning the world upside down!” (All they really want to turn upside down is your pocketbook or billfold.) But they are using the precious gifts of God, the divine anointing to exalt themselves. “Look at our great denomination which we have built on the Pentecostal doctrine of tongues”. “See our beautiful buildings, our thousands of preachers, our many Bible Schools, our great organization which has been brought about by the power of God”. Is it the real power of God? Yes. Absalom actually had FIFTY men to run before him. This speaks of the Real Pentecost. But God judged him severely for his misuse of them.

Fifty and the Prophetic Ministry

There is a story in 2 Kings that is lengthy, but too important to pass by. It is the story of the Prophet of God as he deals with Ahaziah king of Israel. Now there are some remarkable sidelines in this story. Ahaziah the king is a type here of the Pentecostal denominations and organizations, ruling over God’s people. But outside of the king’s jurisdiction or authority is a prophet of God, a type here of the prophetic ministry of our day. Notice in the 1st chapter of 2 Kings that the king fell out of the upper room and became sick. Now he didn’t know it yet, but this sickness is unto death. He is not going to get better. Yes, Pentecostal organizations have fallen out of the “upper room” into the “supper room”, and they are very sick. And you are NOT going to revive them. This saith the Lord! They are going to die. They know they are sick, and they are going after the ways of the worldly religions and ecclesiastical orders to try to find the answer. Just like Ahaziah did. He sent messengers to Baalzebub the god of Ekron. Now Ekron means “eradication”, and if you don’t think this applies to the organizations today, let me send you some histories…

But the messengers of Ahaziah were met by Elijah. He had the Word of the Lord for Ahaziah. And it wasn’t nice, not even very courteous. But it was a true word, and it was from God. When Ahaziah heard it, he didn’t like it, so he sent out to destroy this Prophetic Ministry of his day. The denominational systems would like to destroy this end-time prophetic ministry, but I have news for you… they’ll never get the job done. But let’s read it out of the Bible, beginning in 2 Kings 1:9-15…

Then the King sent unto him a captain of FIFTY with his FIFTY. And he went up to meet him; and, behold he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake to him, “Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down!”

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of FIFTY, “If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy FIFTY”. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his FIFTY.

Again also he sent unto him another captain of FIFTY with his FIFTY. And he answered and said unto him, ” man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly!” (It is now the end-time, time is running out)

And Elijah answered and said unto them, “If I be a man of God let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy FIFTY.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his FIFTY.

And he sent again a captain of the THIRD FIFTY with his FIFTY. And the THIRD captain of FIFTY went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, “O man of God, I pray thee let my life, and the life of these FIFTY thy servants, be precious in thy sight.”

“Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the TWO captains of the former FIFTIES with their FIFTIES: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.”

And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, “Go down with him: be not afraid of him”. And he arise, and went down with him unto the king.

A book could be written about the story told by these numbers. The number FIFTY appears FIFTEEN times in this story. Fifteen is 3 x 5. Five is the number of grace, and three is the number of completeness. This shows the completeness of God’s grace to the Pentecostals, even tho they have rejected His end-time prophetic ministry.

Notice that the first two captains came to Elijah with the command to come down from the high realm he is in, on the authority of “thus saith the king”. Elijah was willing to put what he had to the test. “If I really have the word of the Lord, then let God move in a sovereign way, in answer to His prophetic mouthpiece”. And God moved. And God in heaven judged the actions of this wicked king over God’s people who would actually use the power of the anointing (fifty) to try to subdue the move of the Spirit for that day. Now God didn’t kill the king just yet. But he brought an end to this phase of the anointing. So the king lost his first fifty. The anointing was disappearing. But he tried again. Same results. More anointing gone. Notice that Elijah didn’t have to start a bonfire. He didn’t fight the fifty. He let God do it. The judgment didn’t come from God’s ministry. He just spoke the word. The judgment came from God out of heaven!

God is With You

Now the third captain and his fifty came. But he doesn’t come in the name of the king or say “thus saith the king”. He says in effect, “We know that the king is wicked, and God is with you. God has proven that by fire. We know that those who opposed and rejected the prophetic ministry have perished. Now we want you to come with us, but we come humbly asking for this ministry, and you can come on your own terms”. And I declare to you that the day is soon at hand when the people who have been anointed by the Holy Ghost will come to God for Revival. But they will not come in the name of the organization or denomination. They will be saying: “We know that twice now we have missed God by our rebellion and our attitude toward His true ministry. Now we want this true ministry from God, we want this high realm of the Spirit, and we will take it on God’s terms”. And God will come to them and give them this prophetic ministry. And the king will die. Babylon will fall. The daughters of the Harlot will perish with their Mother. But the precious people of God, and many of their anointed ministers will “Come out of her”, to go on with God into a glorious realm. This is the story of the fifties.

Fifty Sons of the Prophets

In the very next chapter of this book we find another story of the Pentecostal fifties. Elijah is going yet into a higher realm. Elisha is going to receive a double portion of the prophetic ministry. Now we find some preachers looking on. They are aware that something is going on. They know there is going to be a “catching up” of some kind. But they are viewing the situation “afar off”. They are not going to get into this thing just yet. They are going to stand back and watch. Maybe those two fools would drown in that raging torrent of Jordan. Hadn’t they warned Elisha time and again? Wasn’t their fault if he got mixed up in some wild heresy or “went off the deep end” into Jordan. So they watched, but they didn’t get very close. Not close enough to hear the word of the Lord through the Prophet.

Now I know that these are Pentecostal preachers who are typed here. For there were FIFTY of them, the number of Pentecost. Brother, God has your number! Let’s read the story now in 2 Kings 2:7, 16, 17…

“And FIFTY of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off; and they two stood by Jordan.” (Now Elisha comes back without Elijah…) “And they said unto him, behold now, there be with thy servants FIFTY strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some high mountain, or into some valley. And he said, “Ye shall NOT send”. And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send”. They sent therefore FIFTY men; and they sought THREE days, but found him not.”

There’s quite a story here. See how they wanted to bring back the old ministry, the old order. But Elisha told them to forget it. The old ministry had come from God, and was now gone back to God, and they would not bring it back. A new order was here, a new ministry with the same anointing only more of it. But they insisted that the old order was best, and they wanted to revive it. They had strong men. FIFTY of them. The very best of Pentecost. “We can revive the old ways!” Forget it. It’s gone. Move on with what God is doing today. But they insisted. So they sent their fifty strong men, and they searched for THREE days. This speaks of the completeness of their efforts, and the completeness of their failure to bring back the old ministry to revive the old order. Hallelujah!

Lest you should think that I am being sarcastic, or too hard, let me assure you that I am using great restraint and have asked the Lord for mercy in bringing this word through me. For God feels very strongly about what they have done to His precious anointing and how they have used the very gifts of the Spirit to mislead and scatter His dear sheep. I am here to tell you that when God deals with this thing in strong judgment, it will not be pretty.

High Hangs the Gallows

There are other fifties in the Bible, including Isaiah 3:1-5 where the prophet says that God will strip them of their anointing because of their sin. And in Haggai 2:14-16 where it shows the people coming to church expecting to receive that precious anointing as of old, only to be cheated and receive less than half measure because of sin and uncleanness.

But right now I would touch on just one more negative fifty before I tell you of the best news you’ve ever heard. Turn now to the book of Esther. Here we find Esther coming to the throne, through a wedding. Also we find Haman the Agagite attempting to kill Mordecai and his people. Esther is clearly a type of the Bride of Christ. No one will dispute that. Mordecai is a type of the Sons of God, who was instrumental in preparing Esther for the Throne, and who sustained and protected her through a time of great danger. Haman is a type of the flesh. He was an Agagite. Agag was king of the Amalekites. Amalek has always been recognized as the flesh in the Bible. Saul lost his kingdom when he spared Agag. God had decreed war forever against Amalek, and He will not be satisfied until all flesh is out of the Church. We can’t take time for the whole story, but now we find Haman building a gallows to hang Mordecai on. Why? Because Mordecai will not bow to Haman. Praise God, there are Sons being raised up who will not bow to the flesh! They are not submitting to the demands of the flesh! They are not submitting to the demands of the carnal man. So Haman builds a gallows. Read about it in 5:14…

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, “Let a gallows be made of FIFTY cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Did you ever wonder why he made the gallows so high? Fifty cubits is as high as a seven story building. You don’t have to go that high to hang a man. Ten cubits would have been plenty. But God is speaking to us here how that the flesh is going to get into Pentecost and try to use the anointing to destroy the Sons of God. Anyone moving in Sonship at this time will tell you that the greatest opposition to this message is not coming from the old line traditional churches. Many of the denominational people are hearing the message of Sonship for the first time and receiving it gladly, for they have not been warned against it, nor their minds poisoned. But in any church that is moving in a higher realm of the Spirit toward Sonship, you will find the Pentecostal people staying away by the multitudes. For they have been so indoctrinated with the warnings of “false doctrines”, “deep end”, “off brand”, “free love”, “evil spirits”, etc, until they are scared to death to come and see if it really could be God. So the gallows was FIFTY cubits high. And Haman really meant to hang Mordecai thereon. But God…

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, “behold also, the gallows FIFTY cubits high which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him (Haman) thereon.”

And so it was done. Haman hung on his own gallows. Now let me tell you what God is saying… The flesh may be trying to use the anointing now. And even the leaders of the Pentecostal movement will admit that there is far too much flesh prevalent in Pentecost today. But I see a day approaching when a great Revival sweeps the Pentecostal ranks, and the anointing will get so great, and will get in the right hands and the right channel, that the flesh will hang on the very gallows it built for the Sons. Glory to God! As it was in the days of Elijah, the people of God are going to see that their leaders have left them into a bondage of organization that has neither lifted them higher in the Spirit nor brought them into a greater understanding of the things of God, but has actually SLAMMED THE DOOR on a further move of the Spirit and the progressive revelation of God” precious Word! And they will “Come out of her” by the multiplied thousands, to move out in the greatest Revival this world has ever seen! Hallelujah! Glory to God’s great Name!

The Year of Jubilee

Now we come to the last FIFTY… And what a glorious picture it is! Turn to the book of Leviticus, chapter 25… It would be good if you would read again the entire chapter, but I want to quote here verses 8-11…

“And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.”

“Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.”

“And ye shall hallow the FIFTIETH year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a Jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his family.”

“A Jubilee shall that FIFTIETH year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.”

Now this is not the same as the Feast of Pentecost. That was on the fiftieth day after the waving of the sheaf. This is in the fiftieth YEAR. And it did not come about in the third month, the month of Pentecost, but it was to begin in the seventh month, on the day of atonement, IN THE END OF THE YEAR! This is something that the Apostle Peter says is reserved for the “last time”.

God has special Days, Weeks, Months, and Years. The numbers SEVEN and FIFTY are prominent in this.

1. Days. Man worked six days, and on the seventh day he rests. A day of rest

2. Weeks. There are seven full weeks after the Passover and the waving of the sheaf (a type of the resurrection of Jesus), then on the FIFTIETH day there is a feast, a type of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, the “firstfruits” of the Spirit. This is also known as the “earnest of our inheritance”.

3. Months. The seventh month was the Feast of Tabernacles. Signifying the entering into God’s rest. It came in the end of the civil year. A month of rest.

4. Years. Each seventh year (Leviticus 25:4) was to be a sabbath of rest to the land. They were to let the land rest and not sow, prune, or harvest. It was a year of rest for the land.

5. Sabbath years. After seven time seven years, a total of 49 full years, there was to be a year of Jubilee. Not only would the land rest (for the second year in a row at this time), but all debts could be wiped out, all slaves made free, all bondages loosed, and every man’s rightful possession returned to him. This only happened once in a generation, and it was the fulness of what the annual feast of Pentecost was only a promise of.

Now in case you’re not already shouting, let me give you some more… In the day of Atonement, the day that they went beyond the veil into the Holiest of all, they were to blow the trumpet and proclaim liberty to ALL the inhabitants of the land. Whether they knew anyone had gone beyond the veil or not, they were free! It was to be declared. What they had lost or been swindled out of, was to be returning to them. Every jail door was to be opened, and the chains removed from every slave, and every man to return to his family and find the place or realm to which he had been born. Now God wrote all this in His Book, I didn’t imagine it.

I hope you see what I see in this. I see the great year of Jubilee, when we shall pass through the veil into the very Presence of the fulness of God, to be filled with this fulness and go forth proclaiming liberty to all creation. Romans 8 calls this the “Manifestation of the Sons of God”, and says the whole creation is groaning and crying for this day. This goes far beyond anything portrayed anywhere else by God’s fifties. This is the ultimate anointing! This is the fulness of the Spirit! This is the Spirit without measure that Jesus had, spoken of in John 3:34, reserved until the end of time for His Brethren!

Return Every Man to His Possession

What a glorious promise! All that was lost in the fall of Adam is to be restored! And yet more, for the glory of the latter House shall be greater than the former. The House of God that He is building for a habitation for Himself through the Spirit, shall be greater than anything ever put in the Garden of Eden. This is His promise to us. Let me read to you about this promise from the Amplified New Testament: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

“But it is God who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us in joint fellowship with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us, enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His, putting His seal upon us and giving us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as the SECURITY DEPOSIT and GUARANTEE of the fulfillment of His promise.”

And in Ephesians 1:13–the Amplified New Testament says that we have been “stamped with the seal of the long promised Holy Spirit”. Then verse 14 goes on to say:

“That Spirit is the GUARANTEE of our INHERITANCE, the FIRST FRUIT, the pledge and foretaste, the DOWN PAYMENT ON OUR HERITAGE, in anticipation of its FULL redemption and our acquiring COMPLETE POSSESSION of it, to the praise of HIS glory.”

That which the Early Church had (which I am afraid many of our present day “Pentecostals”, so called, do not have) is called by Ephesians 1:14 in the King James Version “the EARNEST of our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of the purchased POSSESSION, unto the praise of His glory.” Now when is this possession going to be redeemed and given to the people of God? The Bible says it will be in the “year of Jubilee”. Every man shall return to his POSSESSION. In the Amplified N.T. we find the Apostle Peter saying in 1:4-5 that we are:

“Born anew into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay, unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being guarded by God’s power through your faith till you FULLY inherit that FINAL salvation that is ready to be revealed for you IN THE LAST TIME.”

Now whether my Pentecostal brethren believe this or not, every time they speak in tongues or manifest any gift of the Spirit, they are giving me another guarantee that we shall inherit the fulness of our possession. For the Holy Spirit which we have received is the “guarantee” of this glorious fulness. Now if you refuse to move on into the INHERITANCE, then why do you hang on to the guarantee, the foretaste, the earnest or firstfruits of it? You can quit hoping for a “rapture” to carry you out of this world and solve all your problems. Start putting your hope where it belongs… in the coming of the Lord “to bring to FULL salvation those who are eagerly, constantly and patiently waiting for and expecting Him.” (Hebrews 9:28) Amp. Yes, the fulness of salvation, the fulness of God’s Spirit, the very fulness of God is coming into the vessel that He has chosen for His habitation, His HOUSE!

Remember, Noah’s ark was FIFTY cubits wide. I would that you should know the “length, and breadth and depth and height of it”. This final FIFTY speaks of the fulness of this anointing that comes upon God’s vessel of deliverance in these last days. Praise God! This is not a doctrine to be kicked around and argued over. It is not just some “new thing” that you can either join or reject. It is the eternal truth of God that every one of you carry around with you when you take your Bible to church. Now accept these truths, or quit carrying them under your arm as tho you were a pious believer. Either confess that God’s Word is true and that He will do what He says He will, or else be honest enough to do what some other heretics are doing, and throw the book away.

That may sound hard, but beloved, it is time for ZION TO AWAKE! Wake up and realize the great calling where to He has called us. A whole book could be written about this Year of Jubilee, and I’d love to be the one to write it! But I must close for now and get this message out. The dimensions of Noah’s ark are recorded in God’s eternal Word, and no one can change them or take them out. And it is not likely that anyone will find in the Bible a different meaning for them than what we have presented here.

 

 

Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 3

Upreach and Outreach

The way of the Spirit is to reach for the tops of the mountains. The way of the carnal mind is to settle there and build tabernacles. But the way of the spirit is to praise God for victory, and hunt for higher mountains. God has a people called to walk in the Spirit!

Stop here and read Ephesians 1:9-18 in your Bible. Without taking space to reprint all that portion in this book, I want to refer to several verses.

Verse 11 tells us that in Christ we have been predestinated to an inheritance. (1 Peter 1:4 says “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you… ready to be revealed in the last time.”)

Now these scriptures begin to tell us something about our inheritance, and just when it is to be fully revealed. “In the last time.” That’s the day that’s beginning to dawn now, beloved. Now just what is this inheritance like? If you were a genuine heir (and you really are, you know) you would want to know something of what you were going to inherit, wouldn’t you? Unless of course it was a secret, a mystery. And this inheritance has been a glorious mystery, hidden from ages and saints, to whom He would make known the glory of this mystery. Now do you want to know what it is?

That Glorious Inheritance

Someone says “It’s a gold mansion, up in the skies somewhere. A great big house with lots of rooms, beautiful furniture, three or four stories high, etc. etc”. What’s all those rooms for? You going to have company? Not me. If we all get a big house, I’ll have my own. Not your husband, or children. They’d all have their own house (and furniture to take care of?). What kind of furniture you going to have? A refrigerator? TV? Air conditioner? What are you going to have in all those rooms? Bedrooms? (Who will be sleeping where there is no night?) Kitchen? (What will you cook?) Bathroom? What for? Can’t you just see this false city we have all built up in our natural imaginations. Multitudes of lonely people, each sitting around in a big 40 room gold house, with no one to enjoy it with?

Alright now, lets sanctify that carnal mind and see what God really has for us. The reality of the Spirit is much better than the fanciful dreams we have built up in our natural minds, so limited and finite.

There is an inheritance. Of this there is no doubt. Then there must be a people who will receive this inheritance. This is sure. It is reserved “for you who are kept by the power of God through faith…” Hebrews 9:15 tells us that Jesus had to die in order for us “to receive the promise of eternal inheritance”. Hallelujah!

We Now Have a Foretaste

God has not left us in the dark regarding this wonderful inheritance. He has given us an earnest or “foretaste” of the fulness. Turn back to Ephesians 1:13-14 and read: “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION.” Now let me read verse 14 again to you in the Amplified New Testament: “THAT SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE, THE FIRST FRUIT, THE PLEDGE AND FORETASTE, THE DOWN PAYMENT ON OUR HERITAGE, IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS FULL REDEMPTION AND OUR ACQUIRING COMPLETE POSSESSION OF IT, TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.”

Alright, what did you see? It is very plain that the INHERITANCE is of the very same substance and quality as the FORETASTE, only it is the fulness of what we have now received only a down payment or pledge. And the foretaste of this inheritance is that Holy Spirit which you received after you believed on Jesus Christ. Be honest now, could I possibly make it any plainer?

Give Us More!

When Paul laid his hands on those twelve men at Ephesus and heard them speak in tongues and prophesy, they received something real and genuine. What was it? It was the down payment on their inheritance. When the Holy Ghost fell on the house of Cornelius, causing them to speak in tongues and magnify God, they were giving evidence of having received something they wanted a lot more of. For who is there who has ever received a real genuine baptism with the Holy Ghost that has not hungered for more, and more, and more? Well, good news. What we have received is only the earnest, a pledge, on an inheritance purchased for us by the death of our Lord Jesus. Incorruptible, undefiled, reserved, eternal… Glory to God, I feel like shouting. And I think I will!

I love my Holy Ghost Baptism. I love the gifts and operations of the Spirit. I love the anointing I feel right now. For these things are a “measure” or portion of what I am going to live with and enjoy through all eternity. You might say these things constitute a “golden brick” in my heavenly Mansion. All right now, get mad with me, but it’s the truth anyhow!

Spirit of Revelation

Let’s go back to Ephesians. In verse 17 Paul prays that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. So that you might have some spiritual understanding of the things of God, and that you might know “what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Oh, dear ones, there is so much to know about Him, about this glorious inheritance, and our minds are so dull, so natural. God help us see.

There is so much I want to tell you in this message, but you must have a spirit of revelation if you are to understand. The same spirit of revelation that was given when these things were written. Don’t let doubts and limited vision keep you out of the Promised Land, the glorious land of inheritance. It is yours! He has bought it for you, it is paid for, and now it is time to cross Jordan and enter in. The Day is at hand!

Oh, I must get out of this glorious book of Ephesians, or I’ll never finish this message. Let us turn to Philippians 3:12-14…

The High Calling

Now Paul says that God apprehended him so that he might apprehend something. What? Well, whatever it was, he hadn’t yet received it after many years of faithful and fruitful ministry. Now if you think this High Calling that Paul was reaching for was Heaven, I can assure you it wasn’t. For Paul was doing everything in his power to press toward the mark for that prize of the High Calling, but he had a lot of chances all down thru his life to go to heaven. If he had just stayed out of that basket in Damascus, those Jews would have seen to it that heaven would have received Paul at the very beginning of his ministry. Some Jews at Lystra actually drug Paul out of the city and left him for dead, until the saints got around him and prayed. Can you imagine someone praying you away from your high calling? And then Paul had an excellent chance to go to heaven, right from the city of Jerusalem, with 40 thirsty Jews to help him make it. But he had to go and spoil their plans, and no telling how many of them starved to death over it. No, what Paul was reaching for was not heaven. He knew that heaven was for “Whosoever will”. He was after something greater. He was after a prize. Heaven is not a prize, it is a GIFT of God’s grace. Heaven is for “whosoever will”, the dying thief, the deathbed repenter,** the thirty-fold Christian. Paul said “I run that I may obtain.” Paul was after God’s greatest offer to man.

It is Not the Gifts

At the time Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he had enjoyed a marvelous ministry of power, and abundance of the Gifts of the Spirit, miracles too numerous to count, filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with tongues more than any. But all this was not the High Calling. And to think that some say today that they have arrived, when they don’t have a fraction of what this little old foot-weary traveling preacher had. And yet he freely admitted that he had not yet apprehended what he was after. And brother, neither have I. Hallelujah!

This High Calling is not the building of a lot of churches, or attaining to an Apostleship. Paul had all that. It was not getting visions or revelations, or supernatural visitations or experiences. It is something far beyond all that… It is the fullness of what we have only received the foretaste or pledge. It is that which no man, except Jesus of Nazareth, has ever come into as yet, but which is reserved for the end-times. It is now the End-time. We are about to move in…

It is Written

Where did Paul find these glorious truths? Did an angel come down in the night and visit with him and unveil these wonderful secrets? Did he take a trip to far off Tibet to learn the secrets of the sages? Of course not! Then how did He find out about this High Calling and the Fulness of the Spirit?

IN THE BOOK! “To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20) And in Acts 24:14 and 26:22, Paul himself said that he never preached anything except that which was already written in the Law and the prophets. So it must be there. Sonship, High Calling, Overcomer, Body of Christ, Inheritance… Paul preached it all and he preached it from the Book!

If what they preach is not in the Bible, then you can be assured, beloved, it is not what you and I are after. It is not what Paul was after. Some of them are gone on to perdition now, but I have heard them in times past… I have heard them speak the blasphemous thoughts of their corrupt minds. “Bury the old black lids of death” (they said) “we don’t need the Book any longer, it is only a crutch for the feeble, a light only for those in darkness, we now speak His Word today, and we are the living Word, we don’t need the dead letter.” So they throw the Book away, mostly because they can’t find their “revelations” in it.

But hear me today, and hear me good… this kind of heretic is not in the true Move of God for this hour. They are not God’s elect. What they have is not the Latter Rain, it is only the devil’s drizzle and is as poison as carbolic acid, and twice as useless.

And Now… Up We Go

Let’s go back to Ephesians. Chapter three, and in verse 18 where Paul prays that you might be rooted and grounded in love that you “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with ALL the fulness of God.”

Do you really believe that? That God wants you to be filled with all the fulness of God? Someone might say “Oh, I wouldn’t have the nerve to say that”.. Well, you don’t have to, He had the nerve to say it for you! This is His desire for His people. Not that they might just live on a lower plane of existence, feeding on doctrines, programs, increase in numbers, bigger and more elaborate buildings, frustrations in spirit… No, but God wants you to have the fulness… OF HIM! Well, I didn’t say it, go back and read Ephesians 3:19 again.

Now God wants you to comprehend, to know and understand what is the LENGTH and BREADTH, and the DEPTH and HEIGHT. The length and breadth speaks to us of the outreach of God. Look at the Horizontal crossbar on Calvary’s Cross… with those precious hands stretched out to gather in the whole creation to His bosom. God has always been interested in the salvation of lost mankind. There is infinite and eternal grace to the “whosoever will” of God… the length and breadth.

Now look at the vertical upright part of the Cross on which Jesus hung. It speaks to me of the depth and height. Friends, you will never know the full depth to which Jesus went in order to redeem back His own. I could spend the rest of my time telling you of that journey, from Heaven to earth, then from earth to hell, because of His love to usward. Hallelujah! But thank God, He made the journey back again, victorious over earth and hell, over sin and sickness, and has now been exalted above the highest heaven, praise His Name!

But now the heights… Oh, friends, what a glorious upreach in God has been available through our Lord Jesus Christ to those who dare to believe. It is beyond our wildest imagination. “Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (verse 20).

God’s Holy Climbers

In every age, while carnal man has been trying to expand his gains, build bigger barns, make a name for himself… God has had a people who have been climbing God’s spiritual mountains. Let others talk of their big deed, their great progress, their much gain in the realm where in they dwell. The Mountaineers of the Spirit continue to leave these earthly things behind, and press on to higher places in God. And it is these earnest seekers after God who have made possible every new Move of the Spirit since God has been dealing with man.

Abraham–Friend of God

While Babel was being built, while men were saying “Let us make us a name, lest we be scattered…” God was searching for a man who could hear His voice. This was in Babel’s beginning, when God came down and confused their language so that they could not understand one another. And so it has been, and so it is today… men at one another’s throats, trying to destroy each man his neighbor, because they cannot understand each other’s language. But now we are living at the time of the destruction of Babel’s great tower, and God shall turn to the people a pure language. And there shall be peace.

But God found a man who could hear His voice. And the message was not an easy one. To leave his family, his friends, all that he had worked for, all that he had accumulated in this world. To leave behind the opportunity for greater gains and expansion in Babylon’s comfortable surroundings. And where was this call leading him? He did not know. God would not tell him.

But some went with him who were not called to this high calling. Lot just liked the prosperity of being with Uncle Abraham. There are those “fellow travelers” who just go along for the ride. As long as it is a smooth ride. They like the message, like to feel the anointing of the Spirit, like the freedom of worship. But they are not called. And they must be separated. I can tell you by experience that Abraham did not like the idea of losing Lot. In that strange land with so many enemies, and so few of their own group, every friend counted. But God said Lot had to go. He was not called. Now, I’m sure Lot would have been very indignant to think that anyone could say that he was not called. After all, look how far he’s come in this thing. He’s left Ur and Babylon hadn’t he? He hadn’t stopped at Haran with Terah, had he? Yes, but he did not have the Upreach spirit. He was interested in the well-watered plains of Sodom, he was anxious to make gains in the land, to expand, to make an outreach.

But Abram’s eyes were on the mountains. And it was here, AFTER he was separated from those not in the High calling, that God let him see his inheritance. “Look, Abram, north and south, east and west. All you can see is yours. I’m going to give it to you.” But are you sure you’re able to do this Lord? This won’t bankrupt heaven, or run you short? Don’t be silly, and don’t be afraid to take what God offers. You don’t know how big God is, what He is able to do or give.

Abraham believed. Thus it is recorded. There is much for those who will believe. Who were the “bigshots” in Abraham’s day? Who were the tribal princes, the governors, the senators, the kings? No one knows. But we have an eternal record of who it was that dared to walk with God, and believe what God said!

While Lot tried to expand his possessions, finally losing all that he had, Abraham was pressing upward to the top of God’s mountain for his day, breaking into a new place in God that man had not come to before. He became the father of a nation of chosen and elect.

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

On the muddy banks of Jordan, standing barefoot and clothed in strange garments was the son of a Temple priest. To follow his father, Zacharias, meant that John could have stepped into the “inner circle” of those who attained to the high office of Temple priesthood.

But Jerusalem had become a place of sin and treachery. And the glory of the Temple was a man-made thing. While Jerusalem gloried in her attainments and boasted of her man-made beauty and strength, God was calling for someone to come outside the walls and press upward into a new place in the Spirit. God had left the old order, but they did not know it, for they had never recognized Him anyhow.

None Greater than John the Baptist

There was no one to follow, no one to show him the way. This was a leadership of the Spirit. He could not follow his father, much as he loved him, for Zacharias was trapped in the old order. But “bearing His reproach” John went outside the gates, oblivious to what others might think of him. Hearing only the voice of Him that spoke from Heaven.

And John reached a height in God no one had ever come to. Alright now, wouldn’t you like for the record to show that Jesus said of YOU that “there is none greater”? He was the voice that introduced the Son of God in the most momentous Move of God that had ever come to earth. And he was that voice because he had heard the call, and dared to believe and to climb God’s highest mountain for his day. Glory to God!

Why Don’t You Evangelize?

No doubt this could have been said to the disciples in the upper room as the day of the great feast of Pentecost approached. Here they were, with the greatest message ever given to man, and doing nothing about it. Seemingly. They had seen the Lord alive. They had proof of His resurrection. They had a story to tell, a message to preach. Then why weren’t they out telling those multitudes of Jews about it? The city was teeming with men from many nations. This was their opportunity. The timing was divinely appointed, it seemed.

But where were they? Having a secret prayer meeting, all by themselves. No burden for lost souls, some might say. No zeal for the message. Oh, the reproach that comes with being a spiritual pioneer. No one understands, no one seems to hear. But they had heard the voice of their Lord, and they were obeying. It seemed as tho the day of opportunity would come and go, and that God would miss reaching the multitudes. But God was not late. He never is. We may get nervous, and excited, but God knows what He is doing.

So while others feasted and played, they fasted and prayed until they broke into a new realm in God that the church had never come to before. They came into a new dimension in the Spirit. They walked where men had never walked before. And they opened a door of the Spirit for men everywhere and in all generations. All because they had heard the voice of the Lord, obeyed, and dared to believe.

The Just Shall Live by Faith

The door of spiritual blessing opened at Pentecost was never closed again, though the Church seemingly went into a period of great darkness. Men fought to expand the natural part of the Church. Great effort was made toward more outreach, but no upreach. As a result, the darkness that came was gross. Unspeakable things, not even edifying to talk about, took place in the Headquarters of the earthly organization, at Rome.

Then one day God reached right down in the middle of this mess and picked out a priest and spoke to his heart. He heard, believed, and on October 31, 1517 he forever inscribed his name in history when he nailed his 95 thesis to the door of his church in Wittenburg, and opened a door for men to rise out of the rottenness of Rome’s religion and come into a new Day in the Spirit.

Oh, Martin Luther had a good start on making gains in the realm where he found himself. He could have spent his time in outreach. But he had heard a divine call, and when he began an upreach into God, he stirred up all the demons in hell against him. The religious leaders of his day wanted to kill him, destroy him, why? Simply because it is in them to hate those who press upward into God for greater heights in the Spirit.

One thing you can depend on. Earthly organizations always encourage outreach, while they discourage and bitterly fight any effort for upreach. Look at history and you’ll see it’s true. It’s the very nature of the ecclesiastical systems, and they can’t change. And you can depend on it that they won’t change. God will finally destroy the system with the brightness of His glory. At times they may seem tender, they may seem to have occasional revival. But they can’t change. Those who press on to new dimensions in the Spirit always have and always will eventually come out of her.

Pentecost Restored

And now we come down to the turn of this century. Here we find the churches of the day, somewhat revived from time to time, but still trying to expand in the realm of salvation by faith. But here and there, scattered across the face of the globe were little groups of saints, or individuals, travailing for a greater Move of the Spirit.

In Topeka, Kansas in the year of 1900, a Methodist preacher by the name of Charles Parham withdrew from the evangelistic field to seek God. Others could not understand his actions. Where is your burden for souls, Bro. Parham? With a powerful evangelistic ministry, and an eloquent tongue, he could have been winning souls for Jesus. But where was he? In a big house in Topeka with a group of saints who were convinced that they didn’t have all that God had for them, and also convinced that it was time again for the Church to move into a greater realm of the Spirit.

So they began an upreach for God, but they met with tremendous powers of darkness bitterly opposing every step. Nevertheless, they pressed on into God.

Then on December 31, 1900 at a New Year’s tarrying meeting, a woman was filled with the Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. So what? The people next door to the big house knew nothing about this momentous occasion, and cared even less. But a door was being opened to the End-time Church to the glorious Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.

With this humble start, things began to happen around the world. Revival broke out in a sovereign move of the Spirit in Wales. Evan Roberts, and others, were caught up in a glorious hurricane of spiritual force, and a deluge of spiritual rain.

In the year of 1904 Frank Bartleman and others in Los Angeles were travailing in spirit for a mighty Move for that city. They were scorned and rejected by those who had eyes only for expansion and outreach within the realm of salvation by faith. They went to church after church seeking fellowship in the Spirit, but it seemed all they could do was to travail and groan in their spirits for an upreach in God. They were cast out.

A Mighty Breakthrough

God was hearing those who cried unto Him. And He reached down into Bro. Charles Parham’s little groups, now preaching in Houston Texas, and called a colored Nazarene preacher to go to Los Angeles. He went, preaching a new dimension in the Spirit, a new experience in God. He was rejected by the existing forms of religion. But God opened a door, an old building on Azuza Street. It was from here that mighty rivers of power and blessing began to flow out to the uttermost corner of the earth. Someone had dared to hear, believe, obey, and travail for greater things. God’s pioneers were moving on!

From this time there was a mighty outreach for the Gospel. Churches, cities, and nations were shaken by the mighty power of God expressed through His humble servants. Untold thousands of souls were swept into the kingdom in this great harvest. Churches sprang up all across the country in spite of violent and bitter opposition by the religious systems. This is the pattern. A new upreach in the Spirit always produced a greater outreach than ever thought possible under the old order of man. Look at the Early Church.

After a few years of glorious revival in the early years of this century, man began to take over. Organizations began to form. Fellowships, denominations, accrediting boards began to come into being in Pentecost. So that we may expand even further, they said. To hold our gains, more efficient missionary service. And expand they did. But as for upreach, it stopped. The Pentecostal revival became divided into many factions. Churches and preachers fought each other, while the world and the devil looked on and laughed.

A New Day is Dawning

Now it is time for another breakthrough. Men and women are groaning in the Spirit for that last great Move of the Spirit prophesied for the End-time. A great travail is now going on, unseen by most who are admiring their beautiful system and pointing to the great expansion and gains they have made.

But the elect are crying to God to bring them into the fulness of the inheritance. What happened on Azuza Street was a restoration of the “firstfruits” or the “Earnest”. But it is the end time. Time for the revealing of the full inheritance. God has promised. The restoration of the earnest was to prepare our hearts for that which is about to take place. The outpouring of the Spirit upon the denominational people in our day is not the end of the story, but is only to prepare them for this last great revival.

At the time God moved in a sovereign way into a Mennonite community and poured out His Spirit upon them, a powerful prophecy was given. Part of that prophecy said that what had happened previously in spiritual revival was as one and one half drops of water in a ten quart pail in comparison with that which is to follow. I believe it! The mightiest Revival this world has ever seen is on the way. I declare it in advance. I won’t have to tell you about it when it hits, you’ll be caught up in the most powerful Move of God in history! But I urge you today to be ready. Prepare your hearts to have faith. Things will take place that will stagger the natural mind. You will have to have divine faith to be able to believe for that which is to happen.

A Separation is at Hand

As in the day of Abraham, Paul, Luther, and every other spiritual pioneer, there is today a separation taking place. The walls of the old order are crumbling for those who are moving on in God. They find they cannot stay in the systems of man and come into this last great move, into the fulness of our glorious inheritance. Many times this brings about a tearing of our flesh, our natural sympathies and desires, as we are forced to say goodbye to those who have not heard the voice of Him who speaketh from Heaven.

But the whole creation groans for this day of release, and thank God it is at hand. Romans chapter 5 tells of the suffering that the called of God must go through, and of the glory that is to be revealed in us. The creation waits for the manifestation of this glory. It had not been revealed as yet in Paul’s day, even with all the benefits of Pentecost.

Verse 23 says that even we ourselves, who have every reason to be the happiest people on earth, (and we are) still groan within ourselves, waiting for this glorious end time event which shall bring us to full salvation, or deliverance over every enemy of mankind.

Will You Be a Pioneer?

Prepare your hearts. It is a great day. But you will meet with many adversaries, if you determine to go on with God. It is for the bold in spirit, for those who dare to believe for God’s best and highest. But to those who have seen the vision of the inheritance and tasted of the firstfruits, there is no choice. Live or die, sink or swim, they must press their way on to a new dimension in the Spirit for this last day.

And thank God, there is victory, a glorious victory. I can’t promise you an easy road, void of suffering. But I can promise you His Presence all along the way. This will come by a sovereign act of God. But it will come to those whose hearts are ready, prepared, and faithful. So stand thou fast in the faith, quit ye like men, for the ultimate victory over every enemy is at hand!

 

 

Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 2

The Harness of The Lord

There is a terrific operation of the Spirit going on today to bring the Sons of God into an absolute confinement to the perfect will of God. This is the Day of His Preparation, the day in which He is preparing the channel through which He shall pour forth His Glory for all the world to see. This channel is His Body in the earth, that glorious company of people who are being conformed through much tribulation and fiery tests to the Image of the Son of God. This is His “battle axe and weapons of war” with which He shall subdue kingdoms and overcome all His enemies. This is His “mighty and strong One” to whom He shall commit the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer, His “great army” with which He shall bring the nations into submission. The weapons of their warfare are not carnal, natural weapons, but they are mighty weapons, mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These are those who shall “be strong and do exploits.”

But before God can commit this great and tremendous ministry into their hands, they must submit themselves to the discipline of the Lord, letting Him truly be the Lord of their entire lives. We have long since dealt with the question of open sin, but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion of our own wills. Some good Christians are not now being so dealt with, for they are not in this Firstfruits Company, but nevertheless there is a real dealing of God going on within those who are called into the High Calling of God. This is a very real thing, and is the work of the Refiner’s Fire. To those who are going through it, some of its aspects are horrible, but very necessary, and the end result thereof is glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete submission to the will of our Lord.

It was in a minister’s conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma that God gave me a vision which I want to share with you concerning this harnessing of our own wills. There were more than 30 ministers present in this particular Thursday morning service, and God, the Father of spirits, was present to deal with His sons, to correct them and discipline them to absolute obedience to His will. There was such a stern dealing in the Spirit that no one could go to the pulpit and minister, there was a reluctance among the ministers to say anything except that which was directly ordered by the Spirit. And as those men of God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God, some of them having many years of ministry, some missionaries, all of them capable of getting up and preaching a powerful sermon, I was impressed by the way they responded to the discipline of the Spirit. And in the midst of this terrific dealing of God with out spirits, the Holy Ghost gave me a vision…

I Saw the King’s Carriage

On a dirt road in the middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the order of a stagecoach, but all edged in gold, and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled by six large chestnut horses, two in the lead, two in the middle and two in the rear. But they were not moving, they were not pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then I saw the driver underneath the carriage, on the ground on his back, just behind the last two horses’ heels, working on something between the front wheels of the carriage. I though, “My, he is in a dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back, they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward, or got frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right over him.” But he didn’t seem afraid, for he knew that those horses were disciplined and would not move till he told them to move. The horses were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though there were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were pom-poms on their harness over their heads, but the pom-poms were not moving. They were simply standing still and quiet, waiting for the voice of the Master.

There were Two Young Colts in the Field

As I watched the harnessed horses, I noticed two young colts coming out of the open field, and they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the horses: “Come and play with us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch us…” And with that the colts kicked up their heels, flicked their tails and raced across the open field. But when they looked back and saw the horses were not following, they were puzzled. They knew nothing of harnesses, and could not understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: “Why do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not have strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in life.” But the horses answered not a word, nor did they stamp their feet or toss their heads. But they stood, quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.

Again the colts called to them: “Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come over here in the shade of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look thirsty, come drink of one of our many streams of cool clear water.” But the horses answered them with not so much as a glance, but stood still, waiting for the command to go forward with the King.

Colts in the Master’s Corral

And then the scene changed, and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two colts, and they were led off to the Master’s corral for training and discipline. How sad they were as the lovely green fields disappeared, and they were put into the confinement of the Corral with its brown dirt and high fence. The colts ran from fence to fence, seeking freedom, but found that they were confined to this place of training. And then the Trainer began to work on them, with his Whip and His Bridle. What a death for those who had been all their lives accustomed to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason for this torture, this terrible discipline. What great crime had they done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to perfectly obey the Master, and finished their training. All they knew was that this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever known.

Submission and Rebellion

One of the colts rebelled under the training, and said, “This is not for me. I like my freedom, my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of this confinement, this terrible training.” So he found a way out, jumped the fence and ran happily back to the meadows of grass. And I was astonished that the Master let him go, and went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining colt. This colt, though he had the same opportunity to escape, decided to submit his own will, and learn the ways of the Master. And the training got harder than ever, but he was rapidly learning more and more how to obey the slightest wish of the Master, and to respond to even the quietness of His voice. And I saw that had there been no training, no testing, there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the choice to rebel or submit, they were sinless in their innocence. But when brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was made manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion that lay hidden in the heart of the other. And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.

Into the Harness

Finally this period of training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom, and sent back to the fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took place, as a harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even the freedom to run about the small corral, for in the harness he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And unless the Master spoke, he stood still.

The scene changed, and I saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill, nibbling at some grass. Then across the fields, down the road came the King’s carriage, drawn by six horses. With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side, was his brother colt, now made strong and mature on the good corn in the Master’s stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet… and envy came into his heart. Thus he complained to himself: “Why has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not put bells on my feet, nor pom-poms on my head. The Master has not given me the wonderful responsibility of pulling His carriage, nor put about me the golden harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of me?” And by the Spirit the answer came back to me as I watched. “Because one submitted to the will and discipline of the Master, and one rebelled, thus has one been chosen and the other set aside.”

A Famine in the Land

Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside, and the green grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried up, stopped flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature) as he ran here and there, across the fields looking for fresh streams and green pastures, finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in circles, always looking for something to feed his famished spirit. But there was a famine in the land, and the rich green pastures and flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly legs, wondering where to go next to find food, and how to get strength to go. Seemed like there was no use, for good food and flowing streams were a thing of the past, and all the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength. Suddenly he saw the King’s carriage coming down the road, pulled by six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: “My brother, where do you find the food to keep you strong and fat in these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food, and I find none. Where do you, in your awful confinement, find food in this time of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!” And then the answer came back from a voice filled with victory and praise: “In my Master’s House, there is a secret place in the confining limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand, and His granaries never run empty, and His well never runs dry.” And with this the Lord made me to know that in the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits in the time of spiritual famine, that those who have lost their own wills, and have come into the secret place of the most High, into the utter confinement of His perfect will, shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven, and a never ending flow of fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision ended.

Interpretation of the Vision

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:2) “Harness the horses: and get up, ye horsemen” (Jeremiah 46:4). I’m sure that many of you who can hear what the Spirit saith to the Church, have already seen what God was showing in the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of God, feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams of the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful. But it is not enough. While we were children, young, undisciplined, limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around the limits of the pastures, (that kept us from getting into the dark pastures of poison weeds), He was content to watch us develop and grow into young manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in His pastures, and drank at His streams, when they were to be brought into discipline or “child-training” for the purpose of making them mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every new revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly “good and profitable” religious activities. They wonder why some will not race with them in their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable ministries. They cannot understand the simple fact that this Company of saints is waiting for the voice of the Master, and they do not hear God in all this outward activity. They will move in their time, when the Master speaks. But not before, though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the colts cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to have great abilities and strength are not putting it to good use. “Get the carriage on the road”, they say, but the disciplined ones, those in God’s harness, know better than to move before they hear the voice of the Master. They will move in their time, with great purpose, and great responsibility.

And the Lord made me to know that there were many whom He had brought into training who had rebelled against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. And they could not be trusted with the great responsibility of mature Sonship, so he let them go back to their freedom, back to their religious activities and revelations and gifts. They are still His people, still feeding in His pastures, but He has set them aside from the great purposes for the end of the age. So they revel in their freedom, feeling that they are the Chosen ones with the many streams of living water, not knowing that they have been set aside as unfit for His great work in this end of the Age.

And He showed me that though the chastising seemeth grievous for the time, and the discipline hard to endure, yet the result with all the glory of Sonship is worth it all, and the glory to follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some lose even their lives in this training, yet they will share alike in the glory of His eternal purposes. So faint not, saints of God, for it is the Lord that doth bring thee into confinement, and not thine enemy. It is for thy good, and for His glory, so endure all things with praises and thanksgiving that He hath counted thee worthy to share His glory! Fear thou not the whip in His hand, for it is not to punish thee, but to correct and train thee, that thou mightest come into submission to His will, and be found in His likeness in that Hour. Rejoice thou in thy trials, in all thy tribulations, and glory thou in His cross, and in the confining limitations of His harness, for He hath chosen thee, and He hath taken upon Himself the responsibility of keeping thee strong and well fed, so lean thou upon Him, and trust not in thine own ability and thine own understanding. So shalt thou be fed, and His hand shall be upon thee, and His glory shall overshadow thee and shall flow through thee as it goes forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord, He’s wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain not at that which He bringeth to pass in your life.

Plenty in the Time of Famine

For in the hour when famine sweeps the land, He shall feed by His own hand those who are submitted to His perfect will, and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When terror stalks the land, those in His harness shall not be afraid, for they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the guidance of His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful, there shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might, and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of the religious systems have proven false, and their streams have dried up, then His Chosen ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God, that you have been chosen by His grace for this great work in this last hour.

The fence which kept the colts in their own meadows and their own pastures mean nothing to the team in the harness, for the gates open to them, and they go forth pulling the king’s carriage into many strange and wonderful places. They do not stop to eat the poison weeds of sin, for they feed only in the Master’s stable. These fields they trample under their feet as they go forth on the King’s business. And so to those who are brought into absolute subjection to His will, there is no Law. For they move in the Grace of God, led only by His Spirit where all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. This is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined, and many have perished in sin as they leaped over the fence without His harness and His bridle. Some have though of themselves as being completely harnessed and submissive to Him, only to find that in some avenue of their life there dwelled rebellion and self-will. Let us wait before Him until He puts His noose around us and draws us to His place of training. And let us learn of the dealings of God and the movings of His Spirit until at last we feel His harness drop about us, and hear His voice guiding us. Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin, and then shall we abide in His house forever!

 

Preface

The six chapters of this book are made up from a series of messages written and published in a booklet form in earlier days of this writing ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the simple titles and the familiar subjects of this book. There are truths revealed here that are not generally preached or written about. Using simple illustrations as Eagles, chickens, horses, and the lives of Old Testament men of God, the Holy Spirit has brought forth some profound truths concerning the Body of Christ and the Sons of God. These things are vitally important to you.

Our purpose in these messages is to show that God has a people that are rising above the earth-bound conceptions of carnal men and their static theology. The ecclesiastical orders and religious organizations of our day would keep God’s people in spiritual slavery if they could.

But thank God, the Truth is flowing like a river in this generation, freeing the minds of the elect from the traditions of men, enabling them to soar to new heights of revelation. God is not dead, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped opening up the Scriptures to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. The Word is coming forth as “strong meat” to those who are growing up to “full age”. His promises to us in this hour are so great as to stretch our faith… But He is able. Bless His glorious Name!

The revelations brought forth in this book are not the ultimate of God, no such claim is made. But as we eat of His Word, and digest the Truth, then He will draw back the Veil and reveal more of the glory and beauty of the Christ. Beloved, be not fearful of that which you have not heard before. His Spirit will lead you into all truth. If you are of His fold, you will hear and recognize His voice, and you will know that you are being introduced to deeper truths.

And now, may God bless you as you open this book, with your Bible near at hand, to carefully and prayerfully consider these things that our dear Lord has given me to share with His Body. May the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Him be yours at this time!

In Him ~ Brother Bill Britton

Chapter 1

The Way of the Eagles

Thunderheads rolled ominously over the Western hills, as the lightning bolts streaked across the sky. In a lush green valley below, two birds together in a barnlot reacted in different ways. Appearing similar in some ways, the birds were actually as different as day and night. The chicken, with her head down and her beak busy in the trash of the barnyard, stepped up her pace as she scratched among the debris and filth searching for grubworms, scraps, and bits of corn. Knowing that time was short, and that she would soon have to take refuge in the safety of the barn, she worked frantically to get a meal before the full fury of the storm struck.

 Quite strange was the appearance and actions of the other bird. He sat on a fence post, his head lifted to the sky and his sharp piercing eyes searching among the clouds. He stretched his wings lazily, and gusts of wind almost lifted him from his perch. It was a thrilling sight to see the magnificent wingspread, and it was easy to see that the feathers of his wings that had once been clipped back to prevent him flying away, had once again grown to their full length. It was obvious that this bird was not a chicken.

 Eagle in Captivity

 On a mountain peak far above the farm, the farmer had taken an egg from the nest of an Eagle. He had placed it under a sitting hen and hatched it out with a brood of little chickens. With much patience he had raised it and tried to tame it and make a domestic bird of it. But from the very first it had not fitted in with the routine of the chicken lot. It walked alone, for it found no fellowship with the other little chicks nor the hen. And tho from the day it hatched out it had known no environment but the domestic life about it, yet from deep within something of the wild, free nature of the eagle cried out that this was not “home”. As it grew larger, its wings had been clipped. Unable to fly, it sat in the barnyard daily, looking upward… its body confined to earth, but its heart in the sky. Not knowing why, unable to explain, yet knowing that there was a constant call from within to rise to greater heights in heavenly places above.

 Rising on Wings of the Storm

 The young eagle stretched the wings the farmer had failed to keep clipped, and as he did so his eyes caught sight of another great eagle riding on the wings of the wind, high above the storm clouds. At that moment his ears caught the sound of a sharp piercing cry from the eagle in the sky. Suddenly a gust of wind caught under his outstretched wings and lifted him from the post. With a shrill scream of victory and freedom, he left the barnlot forever and soared into the sky to meet those of his own kind.

 The Eagle Saints

 Beloved, I hope you can see what I’m getting at. I’m not the least bit interested in eagles or any other kind of birds just for their own sake. And neither is God, but He sure has a lot to say about eagles in the Bible. And what He has to say is very significant in relation to His saints, the Body of Christ, those who are called to the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 Eagles are symbolic of a certain class of Christians. “But they that wait upon the Lord… shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). The “mounting up” process is important and necessary to the Sons of God who are to be caught up to the throne of God, conformed to the image of the Son of God and rule and reign with Him forever. But it only comes to those who will wait in His Presence until the Glory that shines from His face changes them from the image of the earthly into the image of their Heavenly King. Not everyone who enjoys the blessings of God’s grace and who believes in Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls will destroy the idols of earth that stand in the temple of their hearts, and pay the price to go on with God to heavenly places. But God has predestinated those whom He hath foreknown, and He has purposed that His glory shall be manifested in them. What opportunity! What glory! What a high calling! Praise God for His unsearchable riches, and for His love and mercy to the sons of men!

 Chickens or Eagles?

 Chickens also are symbolic of people. The only time chickens are referred to in the Bible, Jesus used them as a type of those people in Jerusalem who could not hear His message nor heed His call. They traveled in crowds, in broods, and they were earthbound. They kept their eyes upon the things of this world, scratching out a bare existence, and never lifted their heads to see Him who is from above. They ate the handouts that were cast to them, and searched greedily in the crowded barnlot for more to fill their bellies, much of it unclean. For the chicken is by nature an unclean bird, and will eat dead things and unspeakable filth. They are bound to their existence on the right and on the left by fences, and are satisfied.

 But not the eagle. For he has inherited a nature that cannot and will not survive in the confining captivity of the barnyard fowl. To be happy and to fulfill his purpose in life, he must be free to soar in the wide open spaces among the clouds of heaven. It seems lonely up there, for there are not many who will dare to rise to such heights, but the eagle does not care, for it is not in his nature to mingle with the multitudes or the majority.

 Characteristics of Eagle Saints

 There is much we can learn about our heavenly calling as we consider what the Bible says about eagles. Deuteronomy 32:11 tells us how the young eagle gets his introduction to the practice of soaring in the heavens. Let the eagle saints hear carefully. It says that the mother eagle “Stirreth up her nest”, “fluttereth over her young”, “spreadeth abroad her wings”, and “beareth them on her wings”. The times has come when the young eagle must leave the nest and strike out on his own. But looking down from the dizzy heights of the mountain peak, he is not ready to begin such a new and dangerous enterprise. He has “not passed this way before”, and he is reluctant to start out. So the mother eagle begins making things uncomfortable for him in the nest. The nest is so soft, so safe, so comfortable, and he is satisfied to remain there. None of this business of “trying out your wings” for him. So the mother eagle “stirs up the nest”. She tears up his soft bed, breaks the twigs until the jagged ends stick out. In other words, she begins to make life very miserable for him in the place that once had seemed so nice.

 Oh, saints of God, does it seem that God is dealing harshly with you? Is He tearing up your soft, comfortable nest? Does the place in God that once met such a need in your life now seem rough, tight, and uncomfortable? What is happening? The Lord is getting ready to push you off into heights you never dreamed of. Does the jagged edges of that which once was such a comfort to you now stab you with grief and pain? Have you been wondering what the trouble was, and perhaps doubt that you were even in the will of God? Doubt no longer, but expect in faith for the next great work of God to come forth in your life. It is not the wrath of God trying to destroy you. It is the love and wisdom of our God making you willing to take another big step in the plan and purpose of God for His Church. We, by nature, love security. So the Lord has to make us utterly sick of our “nest” in order to make us willing to launch out into pioneer spiritual journeys in the heavenlies.

 The Flutter of Wings

 Still the young eagle does not leave the torn up nest. So the mother eagle begins to “flutter over her young”. In other words, she begins beating him with her winds. The wings under which he once hid from all danger now have become his greatest enemy, it seems. What a terrible turn of events! To escape those terrible wings, he climbs to the side of the nest, and as she spreads her wings abroad, he hops upon her back. Where she goes now, he will go. For the nest has ceased to be the safe, warm home it once was. See the mother eagle now as she soars high into the sky, with the little eagle hanging on for dear life. High above the clouds she goes, and suddenly, without warning, she dives out from under the little eagle, leaving him hanging on nothing. He screams with fear as he tumbles through the air, but instinctively his wings stretch out and begin trying to catch the air. Down, down, down, he falls as his untried wings fail to function enough to hold him up. When it looks like all hope is lost and he is about to crash on the rocks below, the mother eagle swoops under him and bears him up on her wings. Glory to God, what a relief! Back into the heights of heaven they soar… on her wings. What a glorious feeling! But just as he thinks all is well and he is sitting on top of the world, the bottom drops out again. And the process starts all over again. This time his wings begin to operate a little better, become a little stronger. Until finally he learns how to catch the currents of air and soar by himself, needing no longer the mother to catch him from falling.

 The Rebel Falls

 But sometimes a little eagle is taken from the nest and refuses to fly. He will not try his wings. He just waits each time until the mother eagle catches him and bears him back unto the heavens on her wings. Time and again the process is repeated until the mother eagle is convinced that there is no hope for him, that she cannot teach him to launch out on his own. Now if he were a chicken, someone would watch over him, feed him, protect him. Not so the eagle. Either he learns to soar for himself, or he starves to death or becomes a prey of wild beasts. Knowing this, the mother eagle takes him high into the heavens for one last ride. Then with a wild screech of pain and disappointment, she dives out from under him and flies away, leaving him to drop to his death on the rocks far below.

 Eagle saints have a special training all their own. The flutter of His wings make us think sometimes that He is going to beat us to death. But the Bible says that if we do not receive His chastisement, it is a good sign that we are not Sons. When we are finally willing to leave the nest, trusting completely upon Him, then He takes us into heights of glory never before experienced. Well, everything seems wonderful, and we are rejoicing in our new and glorious experiences. Then suddenly the bottom drops out, and He is not there. As we drop from the dizzy heights of glory to the depths of gloom and despair, we flop our feeble wings desperately and unsuccessfully, and wonder why God has left us to perish like this. Suddenly He is there! And as He bears us on eagles wings back into the heavens, our strength and joy returns. Only to find that the process must be repeated. Over and over, until finally we find ourselves able to use our God-given “wings” and be sustained on high by the power of His strength within.

 But some that are offered Sonship, as eagle saints, refuse to move into this realm. They rebel against the processing of God. They resent being placed in the furnace of fire. They love the nest on high, the safety of His wings, but they despise the chastening, the discipline, the necessity of learning to stand alone in the heavenlies. He is patient. He is longsuffering. He works with them, giving them chance after chance. But some will not learn, will not yield their rebellious spirits to His will. So He finally leaves them to fall to destruction on the craggy rocks of a carnal earthly nature. You have seen them, and so have I. And I have wondered how that those who once soared among the stars could have fallen so low and come to such an end. How could some who had such revelation, such marvelous gifts and ministries, have come to the place where they could accept such heretical doctrines of devils? Or cheapen their ministry and sell out the gift of God for fame and fortune? It has happened, and you know it. It does not make the true revelation of the Spirit any less true. Nor does it take away from the reality of the Gift God had given them. It had been better if they had remained as chickens, in the safety of the barnlot. But they had prayed to be eagles, and God answered. But the tests had brought out the rebellious nature that would not submit wholly to the dealings and discipline of the Holy Ghost. And they fell. Now a chicken may fall off his roost, or off the chicken house, but he never falls far. For he never rises to great heights. But when an eagle falls, he falls a long way and is seen by many. But it is necessary, beloved, for there must be no rebels among those who make their nests on the tops of the mountains and soar above the storm clouds.

 Learning to Move in Heavenly Places

 Those who rule with Christ must rule from the heavens. For that is where the throne is. Many sing “I’ll fly away…”, and dream of a rapture by and by that will carry them from this sin cursed earth, past the moon and into the wild blue heavens to some geographical spot in this physical universe to a big supper all set and loaded with goodies for them to eat. And they know nothing of the purposes of God for His eagle saints who will actually be caught up to the throne to rule and reign. But the time is at hand. And the Spirit is unveiling and revealing hidden secrets from His Word to those who are called to the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. So He is teaching us to move in heavenly places. And sometimes it is terrifying. But His glorious Presence is there, comforting and reassuring. Praise God!

 The chicken yard is very confining. You can go so far, and no farther. The Plymouth Rocks stay in the Plymouth Rock pens, and the Rhode Island Reds remain in their allotted place. It would be scandalous if Farmer Brown’s hens slipped over to Farmer Jones and ate his corn, or laid their eggs in the wrong place. It doesn’t matter if you are in the Methodist pen, or Baptist, or Pentecostal, or whatever. You may cackle and crow about the advantages in your particular chicken yard over the others, but just be sure and remain within your set confines.

 Not so the eagles. No chicken yard could hold him. Put him in a cage and he will wither and die He can only live and find happiness in the freedom of the uncovered heavens. There is lots of room where the eagles gather. Unlimited revelation. Truth flows like a mighty River. No creeds, bylaws, or rigid statement of beliefs to separate the body of Christ. Sweet fellowship with all who dwell in this place, and no divisive man-made boundaries exist. Heavenly worship, gifts of the Spirit, and glorious deliverances are the order of the day here. The dull monotonous routine of a “chicken-yard” religious system is forever a thing of the past for those who rise on the wings of eagles into this place in God. What a variety of glorious treasures in the Holy Ghost there are for those who dare to believe, and who “are the called according to His purpose.”

 The Ishmaels and the Isaacs

 Some cannot believe this to be true. “We know what we now have”, they say. “We can see it, and at least it is something if not very much. But we cannot see this fantastic dream you are wishing for. A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and we will not leave this present order while we cannot see anything better in existence.” Yes, Abraham had Ishmael. Isaac was only a promise. But he was a promise of God. It was Abraham who said: “O that Ishmael might live before thee, God.” But God said: “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Ishmael was a mighty warrior, one to be admired by the natural man. He could produce. And he was Abraham’s son. But he was a child of rebellion. And he mocked at the weaning of Isaac. And God rejected him. For many years Isaac was only a promise, and one that seemed impossible to come into reality. Even to produce this promise. But, he only made a mess of things. God must bring this to pass. And He will. Little we know about the infant Isaac. Only that he was circumcised, that he grew, and was weaned. Glory to God, there are those today who are being weaned from the milk of yesterday’s traditions, and beginning to eat the strong meat of God’s Word!

 Isaac was a child who had a submissive spirit. He ascended into high places with his father and when he got to Mt. Moriah, he came down with resurrected life, in a figure. He was being made in the image of that One who had been slain from the foundation of the world. Oh, beloved, don’t settle for an earthly Ishmael experience and existence. The Isaac life is waiting for those who will believe. It may seem that it will never come, but God is not late. This High Calling is for those who with patience and faith will not settle for less than Truth and Reality. Hallelujah!

 The Face of an Eagle

 The prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle John both saw visions of the Sons of God. We find the stories in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. Tho they were separated by more than 600 years, yet both visions had this in common… the living creatures had “the face of an eagle.” And John said that it was a “flying eagle”. Not one confined to earth. Glory to God! John saw the Great Storm that was coming upon the earth. But he saw, in type, those who would be as “flying eagles” to rise above the storm.

 Eagle in the Storm

 See the chickens, how they scurry about hunting for shelter when the storm breaks. Huddling together in their misery, hoping their shelter won’t crash down upon them, fearing every lightning streak and thunderbolt. Pity those who cannot find shelter, perhaps doomed to death by drowning or hail.

 Not so the eagle. The very same storm that pounds upon the poor earthbound creatures, produces the violent winds that lifts the eagle effortlessly above the storm clouds. Revelation 12:12 speaks of both classes when it says: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!: Yes, the storm is breaking, and its full fury will fall upon those who have not known the way of the eagle.

 God is delivering many today from their earthbound existence, lifting them by the Holy Ghost into heavenly places in Christ. Things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. They do not fear the storm. The same persecution and tribulation that shall bring great travail upon a dead, backslidden church filed with earthly efforts, shall cause the eagle saints to soar to heights never before attained by man since the Pattern Son set the example. “Fear not the storm, my little ones, for thou art not children of the storm or of wrath. Look up. Lift up thy heads and rejoice, for thou art children of redemption, and thou hast inherited that heavenly nature. I have loosed the prison doors. Be thou free from thy captivity! Be not ensnared with the evil ways of this world’s systems, but learn thou the ways of thy God, and follow Him alone. Thus shalt thou rise above that which cometh upon the earth, to try them which dwell therein. And thou shalt not fear, for I am with thee, saith the Lord.”

 The Image of the Heavenly

 “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:47-49)

 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open (unveiled) face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed (transformed, transfigured) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) “Which He wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 1:20) “And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers (of darkness) in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10-11)

 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling…” (Hebrews 3:1) “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16) “But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” (Hebrews 12:22)

 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

 From these scriptures we can readily see that our calling is a heavenly calling. Let others tend the things of the earth. Let the dead bury the dead. Let the few who are called to this High Calling be about their Father’s business. This earthly body, or “house”, is only temporary. What He has prepared for His own is eternal, in the heavens. Praise God! The city of which we are a part, that bride of Christ, is above all a heavenly city, not part of this earth’s systems.

 And notice that the place in the heavenlies which we are to inherit, is now occupied by demons, principalities and powers, a place they usurped from Adam. From this place they are “rulers of the darkness of this world”. But God has purposed to bring forth a people that will ascend or be caught up to this place and cast Satan and his army down. Jesus did it, and He was the Pattern. But He purposed not to be alone in this, but was planted as a living seed that should bring forth a great harvest in His likeness.

 Notice that the scriptures above show us that the image of the earthy nature we have borne in time past is to be changed. We are to bear the image of the heavenly, the One who has been exalted higher than the heavens, Jesus Christ our Lord. Even now, the beholding of His glory is bringing about a transformation from within us. Glory to God!

 Notice that these heavenly places where we are to dwell are not in some geographical location a few billion miles from earth. They are “heavenly places in Christ.” It would be comforting to know, if it were true, that Satan and his army were right now a few million miles away in outer space. But this is not so. You don’t have to look far to discover that the powers of darkness are right here on this earth, working in the hearts and lives of men and women. But as Paul says, they are “wicked spirits in the heavenlies.” Instead of just accepting and believing what the Bible says about these things, the imagination of men has made a fable and a myth out of the truth of God’s Word. But now God is taking the veil away from our minds and revealing His Truth!

 The Eyes of the Eagle

 “Her eyes behold afar off” (Job 39:29). The eagle is noted for great vision. And so are eagle saints. They can believe for things that others, whose eyes are riveted to things of earth, cannot even see, or conceive of. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) But there is vision with the eagle saints. They are the pioneers of faith that break through into new realms in the Spirit.

 Noah was an eagle saint. He saw the judgment coming, and prepared for it. Others had no such vision, and perished. Enoch had eagle vision, and he saw the Lord coming with ten thousands of His Saints. He prophesied of these things, and he walked with God. Elijah saw the coming of a mighty deluge of life-giving rain, when it was only a little cloud like a man’s hand. Moses saw the deliverance of God’s people and the destruction of their enemies when every natural force and circumstance denied it. The vision of God’s eagle saints has never been limited by the confining limitations of natural circumstances. Isaiah, Joel, Malachi… every prophet of God has had eagle vision.

 Jesus had the greatest vision of any eagle saint that ever lived. Nothing escaped the eyes of Him who had come to lead His people to victory. “The heavens were opened” unto Him, and no power of darkness could escape his eye. He saw the hearts of men like no one else ever could. They did not have to voice their doubt, criticisms, or their needs. His eyes searched the inward parts. He was the Captain of the Eagle Saints. He was the Pattern to show us the Way of the Eagles.

 Eyes Within and Without

 The unveiling of the Spirit that comes to eagle saints works two ways. Revelation 4:6-8 tells us that they were “full of eyes before and behind.” Also “they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.” Ezekiel 1:18 says “their rings were full of eyes round about them four.”

 First there are the eyes within, that search the inward parts. The prophet Jeremiah gives a true picture when he says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” But the answer comes in the next verse: “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

 No man really knows what is in his own heart, until God tries him and puts him to the test. But God is putting a people through the fire today, and the light is revealing the condition of hearts. Saints who had always thought they were so very holy and clean, now are finding out that all the time there have been spirits imbedded deep within their very nature they had never before recognized. Horrible is the revelation, but a very necessary one. For to see one’s self is to draw back in revulsion and disgust and to cry to God for deliverance. And for the work that is to be done in this age, God must have a truly holy people.

 In Job chapter 42 the man of God suddenly sees the glory of God and also his own self-righteousness, and his whole attitude changes. Then deliverance comes. He says: “Therefore have I uttered that I understood not: things too wonderful for me, which I knew not… I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. For more than 30 chapters of this book Job steadfastly maintains his innocence and righteousness. But when he meets God face to face, he suddenly sees that his worst sin has been his own self-righteousness. He has blamed God for all his troubles, and has not been able to see himself. But he gets his “eagle vision”, and suddenly the eyes within begin to see his own Adam nature for what it is. Then can God bring him out of all his troubles and difficulties.

 Isaiah was a revered prophet of God. He talked with God, was heard by the nation, and walked in king’s courts. But one day (Isaiah 6) he got a vision of God, and also the eyes within saw what Isaiah looked like in the eyes of God. And this godly old man cried out in his misery: “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.” Praise God for the eyes within and without, for immediately there came a cleansing and deliverance! Notice the sequence. First came the operation of the eyes within, then the eyes without could do their work. After he had seen his own undone condition and confessed it, then he could see the condition of the people and minister to them. But not before. Too many are trying to cast demons out of others today while their own lives are full of bad spirits… jealousy, envy, greed, malice, fear, etc. See what happened to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13 when they tried to cast demons out of someone else before they had been to the Cross for themselves. “Cast the beam out of thine own eye, then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

 Think it not strange when you begin to see things in your life which you could never have admitted being guilty of. You see, Hebrews 6:7-8 tells us that the same rain that brings forth “herbs meet for them for whom it is dressed” also brings forth thorns and briars. Plow up a garden spot and you will see what I mean. During the cold, dark winter the frozen ground will produce nothing, either good or bad. But when the good seed is planted and the warm spring rains come, up comes every kind of weed imaginable. Where did they come from? How did they get into the soil if you didn’t plant them? They were there all the time, but needed the plowing and the warm rains to bring them forth. So the same latter rains of revival that bring forth the true fruit of the Spirit in our lives, also brings forth every ugly hidden thing that has lain dormant within and never been exposed or come to light. Then comes true deliverance, as we see our need and call upon God. For God must have and will have a people who will be “holy even as He is holy”.

 Watchman of the Wall

 True eagle saints also have sharp clear vision outwardly, and the enemy cannot penetrate their defences. Jesus is the perfect example and pattern. No one ever deceived him with smooth flattering words. No pious hypocrite ever survived under that piercing gaze. Even one of his own disciples was filled with the devil, but Jesus was not deceived. No matter that he was one of the leaders, and cast out devils in the name of Jesus. His innermost thoughts and intents of the heart was manifest in the sight of that great Captain of the Eagle Saints.

 This is a safeguard God has provided for the Church. See how a man and wife brought their deceitful gift to the Church, expecting to share equally with the others, but not willing to consecrate all as the others had. Was the Church deceived? No. For the eye of the eagle was there, “beholding afar off”. And their sin was discovered and judgment came. Hypocrites and sinners “durst not join themselves to them”, for the secrets of men’s hearts were made manifest. What a glorious testimony! 1 Corinthians 14:25 declares that this operation is for the local church, to be a part of every service if necessary… For the Bible says that when an unbeliever comes in your midst the saints will speak out the very secrets of his heart “Thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth” Do you see such as this in the local churches now? Not often. But I tell you of a truth, beloved, that it is coming. For eagle saints are even now being pushed out of their “nests” and are learning to move in heavenly places. You understand, of course, that I am not speaking in a natural, carnal sense as tho people’s bodies would be flying around in the sky like flying saucers or men from Mars. How foolish. And yet people seem unable to grasp what it means to be caught up to heavenly places in Christ. But it will happen. Then shall this world see the great manifestation of God in human flesh since our Lord Jesus was here upon the earth Himself.

 As Swift as the Eagle

 My time and space are gone, and there is still so much to say concerning the eagle saints. But I must say just one more word… Deuteronomy 28:49 and 2 Samuel 1:23 both speak of the swiftness of the eagle. “As swift as the eagle flieth”. This is characteristic of this great bird. Another place it says: “As the Eagle that hasteth to the prey”. (Job 9:26) Joel says: “They shall run like mighty men.” Matthew says the coming of the Son of man shall be “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west: For… there will the EAGLES be gathered together.” (Matthew 24:27-28)

 Yes, He will do a quick work. And He will use His eagle saints who are quick to hear, quick to believe, and quick to obey. The time is at hand, the call is going forth. Turn loose every hindrance of earth and cast aside every weight, and rise with the wings of eagles into heavenly places where you belong! Glory to God, Hallelujah!