Romans chapter 8 verses 19 through 22 point forward to the time when the Sons of God will be revealed in glory. There are some who say that there is little said about this in the New Testament. Although there is in fact more than you might think, actually GOD has already said it all in the prophets. Let's begin with the term 'birthpangs'. Why does he use that Greek word 'birthpangs'? Obviously, there is a day coming that is yet to be born, when all that GOD has promised, in Moses and in the prophets, will become an accomplished reality! The one who really is wise, is the one who will take the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation without a hiccup, like some people do; a spiritual hiccup. They hiccup at Malachi, and then they hiccup again at Matthew. But it's finally going to be manifested. The LORD speaks about His mountain. He's going to make a feast of fat things to all people. (Isaiah 25.) It will be when Messiah comes.
'The Redeemer shall come to Zion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob.'
Subsequently thence - the reign of Messiah; and then, the Last Judgment!
This is the way it happens. The Kingdom of GOD is preparing, even now, and we read GOD has not only given Him a Name, in this present world, which is 'above every Name', (although people will not acknowledge it, it is so); but also, in that which 'is to come'. And when he says, 'that age which is to come', he's talking about the Messianic age. We are not deluded! We are not following a dream, or a figment of the imagination. This is what GOD promised, and as Peter put it in his speech on Pentecost: 'Which GOD promised, the time of the restoration of all things which GOD promised, through the mouth of His holy prophets, since the world began.'
He has also, 'Put all things under Messiah's feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him, Who fills all in all,'
following His resurrection and His ascension, and exaltation to the right hand of GOD.
One of the Psalms, Psalm 68, has a passage where the Prophet, the Psalm-writer there, celebrates the fact that Messiah has returned to Heaven. Psalm 68, verses18 through 20, speaking to Him, to the Messiah, he says: 'You have ascended on high; you have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious - that the LORD GOD might dwell there. Blessed be the LORD, Who daily loads us with benefits, the GOD of our salvation. Selah. Our GOD is the GOD of salvation; and to GOD, the LORD, belong escapes from death.'
Who is it that ascended? It is the One Who descended - our Messiah, Who was born in Bethlehem - He descended. 'To you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,'
said the angels, 'which is Messiah, the LORD!'
He is a babe, but remember, He is also the LORD! And it is to Him that this praise is directed. 'You have ascended on high; You
have led captivity captive.'
He has a 'Name which is above every Name,'
and all things are 'Put under His feet.'
Just as Joshua, when he conquered the kings of Canaan, captured them alive, told his generals, 'Come here.' He made those kings lie down on the ground, and he said, 'Now,' to his generals, 'put you're feet on their necks.' And they did so. He said, 'So will the LORD your GOD do to all your enemies!'
Joshua is a type of YESHUA, and just as YESHUA conquers our enemies, so He makes us put our feet on the necks of our enemies. I'm not talking of now, flesh and blood. I'm talking about all those things that we wrestle; 'We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.'
We wrestle against our short-comings. The LORD says, 'I shall give you the conquest over all.' 'We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.'
He rules over us, but not by putting His foot on our necks. In Psalm 110, GOD says,'Your people shall be willing in the day of your power.'
He also judges His enemies. He's going to crush the head of the serpent, and because He's going to crush Satan's head, the Bible says, 'GOD shall bruise Satan under your feet'
shortly. Whatever victories and conquests are His, He passes on to His people, so that we share in His victory; we share in His conquest; we share in His triumph! When Shaul said in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, 'Blessed be the LORD Who always leads us in triumph by Messiah, YESHUA.'
He was referring to the triumph procession of the Roman generals who led the way, but their loyal generals and soldiers came right behind them, sharing in the glory of the victory that their general had obtained. But he obtained it with them, not by himself; with them. So we share in His victory! He leads the way; He conquers first, and then, He brings us into His victory, and we learn to struggle; to overcome; to get the victory. Thanks be to GOD, Who gives us the victory through our LORD, YESHUA, the Messiah!
