“This Day Have I Begotten Thee” 

G. Mark Shafer 
 
 

T​ he  sacred  record  sets  such  a  value  upon  the  church  as  to  call  it  the  Lord’s 
1
inheritance.    How  remarkable  this  is  if  we  consider  that  without  laying  down His life 
it  had  no  value.  But  this  places  things  in  a  special  light.  Christ not only gave his life 
for  sinners;  He  came  forth  from  the  hold  of  death  to  perfect  a  people,  to  claim  the 
inheritance  and  to  prove  its  ownership  before  an  imposter  who  still  refuses  to 
relinquish  his  claims  not  only  to  God’s  church,  but  even  to  His  throne.  Thus  the 
church  becomes  central  to  the  greatest  controversy  ever  to  demand  the  attention  of 
the  universe.  To  redeem  it  requires  an  eternal,  immeasurable,  sacrifice.  Satan paid 
nothing  for  it.  He  has  nothing  to  give;  he  is  beholden  to  God  for  every  breath.  Even 
were  he  to  die  for  what  he  wishes  he  has  no  power  to  come  forth  again  to  claim  it. 
But  he  has  staked  out  a  challenge,  subverted  one-third  of  the  hosts  of  heaven,  and 
succeeded  in  the  complete  ruin  of  the  race  God  created  in  His  own  image.  Simply 
put,  he  still  claims  what  really  belongs  to  God,  and  refuses  to  recognize  Christ’s 
victory. 
 
While  we  rightly  herald  the  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ  as  good news for us, we have yet 
to  apprehended  the  full  scope  of  that  sacrifice  or  understand  the  imperative  of  His 
sufferings  after  the  cross.  Can His people be purified and sealed presently without an 
advocate  that  still  pleads  His  spilled  blood  on  their  behalf?  How else can we who are 
living  today  grasp  the  anguish  of  the  Creator  for  that  which He loved?  Jesus’ present 
sufferings  have  been  made  known,  and  the  glory  yet  to  be  revealed  in  the  ultimate 
victory  of  His  kingdom  over  evil.2  And  this  ultimate  victory  is  what  will  secure  not 
only  the  people,  but  the  King,  and  His  Kingdom.  It  is  not  a  wonder  that  Paul 
expresses,  ...“that  they  without  us  should  not  be  made  perfect.”  It must be finished 
work. 
 
We  find  two  things  pre-eminently  clear  in  Scripture.  First,  that  He  returned  to 
heaven  to  engage  in  a  mission  involving  the  efficacy  of  the  cross,  and  second,  that 
without  the  present  ministration  of  His  blood  the  plan  of  redemption  could  not 
possibly  be  entire.  Wonderfully  this  theme  brings  into  focus  the  conclusion  of  the 
redemptive  work  -  “To  the  intent  that  now  unto  the  principalities  and  powers  in 
3
heavenly  places  might  be  [made] known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”  
This  engagement  demands  an  end  to  the  battle  initiated  by  God's  antagonist.  And 
according to the Revelation, that closure comes with one last great struggle. 
 
1
Ephesians 1:18 (All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted.) 
2
See Phil. 3:10, II Cor. 1:5, I Pet. 5:1 
3
Ephesians 3:10 
1 
We  have  no  question  that  Jesus’  office  as  advocate  and  mediator  is  the  distinct 
certainty  of  the  Gospel  that  proves  the  scripture  is  not  a  dead  letter;  that  this 
dispensation  of  grace  does  not  create sons and daughters who have merely a “form of 
4
godliness.”    These  sons  and  daughters  are  active  participants  in  His  advocacy!  They 
must  be  involved  in  the  finishing  of  this  vital  part  of  His  mission  squarely  in  the  face 
of  Heaven’s  arch  enemy,  so  that  both  angels and men may behold the justice and the 
mercy  of  God.5  We  stand  at  the  closing  of  this  epoch.  The  “day  of  atonement”  is 
almost  done.  The  promise  is  that  “he  will  finish  the  work,  and  cut  it  short  in 
6
righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”  
 
So  will  end  the  perfecting  of  that  brilliant  edifice  in  heaven  from  which  Satan  must 
ultimately  turn  his  face  in  failure.  Upon  it  he  will  have  no  power  to  cast  a  shadow. 
He  will  not  be  able  to  point  to  any  of  the  redeemed  with  the  accusation  that  they 
failed  to  obtain  the  victory  over  every  sin,  or  that  they  continue  to  pollute  the 
sanctuary.  If  the  word  of  God  were  not  powerful  upon  this  one  point  of  contention, 
His  cause  would  meet  with  total,  eternal,  defeat.  And  this  is  the  contention  made 
today  by  the  accuser  of  the  brethren.  Surely  we  can  see  why!  For  Jesus  sake,  the 
character  and  the  life  of  the  believer  must  be  free  from sin.  Isn’t this what is meant 
by  the  prophetic  words  “for  he  shall  save  his  people  ​from  their  sins​?”7  Sin  will  not 
hold them captive. As Wesley wrote, “​He breaks the power of cancelled sin​.” 
 

The  Apostle  Paul  calls  our  attention  to  the  reality  of  this mission and the opportunity 
we  have  to  share  in  it  when  he  says  that  those  who  were  persuaded  of  the  promises 
“embraced  them  (and)  ...confessed  that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the 
earth."8  He  declares  that  we  also  who  look  for  the  Savior  must  possess  heavenly 
citizenship9  if  we  are  to  be  partakers  of  this  mission  with  them.  The  opportunity  is 
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ours!  But  how  can  we  understand  what  this  means  when  we  adhere  to  parochial  
strictures,  wherein  convention  has  us  blindly  doing  what  is  called  “right”  for  social 
corollary?  “Righteous”  is  subjective  if,  for  recognition,  our  organizations  are 
established subject to temporal demarcation, rules, and authority.  Human supremacy 
and  hierarchy  govern  them  despite  our  smooth  speaking.  Our  righteousness  is  like 
that  of  a  drunkard  who  insists  he  has  not  indulged  in  his  drink,  but  his  rationale  is 
impaired  by  his  slavery.  In  this  matter,  religious  institutions  have  efficiently  served 
the  purposes  of  the  antagonist.  Slavery  to  the  carnal  mind  is  the  test  that  will 
separate the lowly, humble, repentant sinner from the hypocrite. 
 
The  scripture  declares  that  the  carnal  mind  is  drunk  with  sin.  Consequently,  man’s 
4​
II Timothy 3:5 
5
Hebrews 3 
6
Rom. 9:28 
7
Matthew 1:21 
8
Hebrews 11:1 
9
Philippians 3:20 (see: NASB,NKJV, ROTHERHAM – citizenship being the original and expanded 
meaning of “conversation” in this text.) 
10
Confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish​:​ limited in range or scope (Merriam 
Webster) 
2 
corporate  judgment  is  impaired,  his  definitions  of  the  sacred  and  the  common 
corrupt;  his  efforts  at  instituting  true  holiness  doomed  to  failure.  The carnal mind is 
not  merely  at  odds  with  God  [inferring  that  it  can  be synchronized or changed], it “​is 
enmity  against  God​.”11  This  one  scriptural  test  reveals  the  false  shepherds.  Men  and 
women,  presidents,  teachers,  pastors,  bishops  and  priestesses,  professing  great 
godliness,  promoting  superior  well-being,  are  thus  exposed  as  living  in the basest sin. 
The  blind,  self-preserving  nature  of  this  parochialism,  this  human  framework,  that 
mortals  have  so  staunchly  stood  behind,  with  its  close  minded  “definitions”  of 
righteousness,  have  for  millenniums  shrouded  the  meaning  of  Christ’s  heritage  and 
stood  in  the  way  of  advancing  truth.  “Having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the 
power thereof,” we are counseled, “From such turn away.” 
 
● BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION 
In contrast to these counterfeits the Lord places before us a church in which He is the 
Principle, an open door, and a call.  In order to become partakers of His high calling 
we must answer His invitation to enter.  And if we enter through this door, we find 
ourselves in a body whose overwhelming corporate interest is the final watch of His 
priesthood.  And of course, that is precisely the soil His church is gathered upon. This 
is the present truth. Here is that great declaration: 
 
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly 
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and 
church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and 
to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new 
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
12 

We  might  consider  the  Apostle  Paul’s  experience  for  a  moment.   The  startling  truth 
that  changed  the  course of his life must be the groundwork for our experience today.  
We  don’t  need  to  be  afraid if divine revelation doesn’t hold our human perceptions in 
reverence.  Divine  revelation  may  even  invalidate  all  our  cherished  ideas  of  sacred 
institution  as  it  did  for  Paul,  while  his  name  was  still  Saul.   But  if  we  want  to  be 
placed  in  the  heavenly  channel  of  blessing we must recognize that the truth as it is in 
Jesus,  especially  in  His  present  exigency,13  is  the  principle  that  sanctifies  heart, 
conscience,  motive,  and  life,  making  us  “​partakers  of  the  heavenly  calling​.”14  
Indeed,  this  was  the  very  experience  that  awakened  Saul’s  conscience  on the road to 
Damascus,  revealing  that  the  insufferable  communion  he  had  received  authority  to 
persecute  was  really  the  divinely  appointed  agency  of  grace;  “I  am  Jesus  whom  thou 
persecutest.”15   Saul’s  perception  was  initially  tainted  with  traditional  tenets16  as  he 

11
Romans 8: 
12
Hebrews 12:22-3 
13
The need, demand, or requirement intrinsic to a circumstance, condition, etc. ​Dictionary.com 
14
Hebrews 3:1 
15
Acts 9:4 
16
Any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma, etc., especially one held as true by members of a 
profession, group, or movement. ​Dictionary.com 
3 
pursued  his  mission  on  that  Damascus  road,  and  he  was  determined  not  to 
countenance  any  schism.17   But  the  message  was  direct:  “It  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick 
against  the  pricks…  rise  and  stand  upon  thy  feet.”18  Suddenly  he  despised  his 
delusion. His course was altered. 
 
As  it  is  in  Christian  churches  today,  in  Saul’s  day  the  Jewish  leaders  forfeited  their 
opportunity  to  endorse  Christ’s  priesthood  because  their  temporal  religion  eclipsed 
the  ​heavenly  ​venue​.19   Yet,  at  the  same  time,  they  held  the  oracles  of  God  and  gave 
lip  service  to  Him.   They  blindly  taught  that  the  Messiah  would  come  to  establish  His 
kingdom  to  their  honor.   They  had  a  form  of  godliness  that  gave  them  the  power  to 
oppress.   But  the  light  that  brilliantly  illumined  the  path  of  Saul’s stumbling feet was 
a  ​heavenly  one.  And  immediately  he  found  himself  in  company  with  that  despised 
and persecuted sect that clung to the Word of life. 
 
Today  multitudes  stand  essentially  on  the  same  ground  the  Jews  did,  for  it  is  not 
impossible  to  give  common  lip  service  to  the  name  of  Christ  and  at  the  same  time 
deny His blood by failing to recognize the nature and venue of His mission.  We cannot 
endorse  the  ministry  of  Christ  fully  if  we  do  not  penetrate  beyond  the  gloss  of 
parochial,  or  traditional,  theology;  and  herein  lies  the  great  challenge  to  true  Bible 
students. 
 
● THE COMPREHENSIVE GOSPEL 
On  the  day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit confirmed the vital purpose of the Gospel.  He 
is  ever  faithful  to  deliver  the  same  truth  to  every  believer,  yet  with  every  epoch  it 
grows  brighter  and  brighter,  unto  the  perfect  day,  or  unto the ultimate fulfillment of 
these  declarations.  So  in  declaring  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  from  Genesis  to 
Revelation  the  scripture  never  fails  to  corroborate  the  truth  it  contains  ​with  a 
present  relevance​.   We  have  an  example  of  this  when  Jesus  was  in  the  synagogue. 
He  read  the  ​Good  News  from  the  book  of  Isaiah  and  gave  its  application...  one of no 
small  consequence.  It had a special relevance to those people on that day.  Yet as He 
stood  there  and  read  He  broadened  its  application  to  encompass  the  entirety  of 
church history: 
 
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach 
good tidings​ unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to 
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
20
 
 

After  his  conversion  Paul  declared  the  Good  News  too  –  again  with  a gripping present 
application established in the testimony of the prophets: 
 
And we declare unto you ​glad tidings​, how that the promise which was made unto the 

17
The offense of causing or seeking to cause a division or separation from a religious body. 
18
Acts 9:5 
19
Venue: The scene or setting in which something takes place; a locale. 
20
Isaiah 61:1 
4 
 fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, ​in that he hath raised up 
Jesus again​; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, ​this day have I 
begotten thee​.21 
 
These  were  not  different  tidings,  but  deliveries  of  the  same  profound  news  with 
specific  applications  for  the  epochs  they  were  delivered  in.  They  are  the  gospel  of 
Jesus Christ: 
 
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, 
made under the law, to ​redeem​ them that were under the law, that we might receive 
the adoption of sons.22 
 

Without  question  then,  Christ’s  earthly  ministry  and  sacrifice  are  themes  in  the  plan 
of  redemption  that  we  will  contemplate  throughout  eternity.   But since we recognize 
that  these  were  set  within  the  context  of  a  comprehensive  plan  we  must  follow  the 
progression  of  events  beyond  the  cross.  In  fact  the  actions  of  the  early  church  after 
Christ’s  death  set  the  pace  for  us.   On  Pentecost  the  Holy  Spirit  confirmed  that 
Christ’s  sacrifice  was  accepted  by  the  Fathe​r​,23  ​and  ​that  day  (the  scripture  says)  the 
decree  was  made.  What  does  this  mean?  The  second  Psalm  that  is  quoted  by Paul in 
Galatians  makes  the issue clear.  What happened when Christ was set as king upon His 
holy hill of Zion? 
 
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. ​I will declare the decree​: the LORD 
hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; ​this day have I begotten thee​.24 
 

Or  we  might  say;  “this  day  is  decreed Christ’s entitlement to the inheritance – a right 

that  becomes  obligatory  ​when  a  son is begotten​.”  But intrinsic to the entitlement, in 
this  case,  is  the  work  of  perfecting  the  qualifications  of  the  inheritance  itself.   The 
significance of this point is illustrated in Paul’s words: 
 
Now of the things which we have spoken ​this is the sum​:​ We have such an high priest, 
who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of 
the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man... now 
hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a 
better covenant​.25 
 

Here  Paul  speaks  of  a  work  vital  to  redemption  moving  forward  in  heaven  ​after  the 
Lord  was  crucified.   Understanding  this  work  is  crucial  to  understanding  the  Gospel.  
The  great  theme  of  the  Old  Testament  points  forward  to  the  time  when Christ would 
engage  in  it.   In  prophetic  terms,  the  divine  message  to the church is that ​the travail 
of  her  soul  was  accomplished  when  Jesus  Christ  was  begotten​;  and  in  breaking  the 

21
Acts 13:32, 33 
22
Galations 4:4,  
23
Acts 2:32, 33: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the 
right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath 
shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 
24
Psalm 2:6,7 
25
Hebrews 8:1-2, 6 
5 
bands  of  death  Christ not only became worthy of obtaining His inheritance (which was 
declared  upon  His  arrival  in  heaven) but having succeeded in His mission and sacrifice 
as  the  Lamb  of  God,  He  entered  in  earnest  the  consequential  work  of  the  Priesthood 
He  was  begotten  into:  that  of  ​Applying  the  blood  of  the  atonement  on  behalf  of 
repentant  souls.   As  the  believer’s  advocate  with  God  He  began  pleading  His  own 
blood  –  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  spilled  upon  the  altar  before  the  great  heavenly 
Tabernacle,  thus  removing  the  condemnation of that law which is at the very heart of 
the  heavenly  Sanctuary’s  economy.26  In  fact,  this  operation  of grace is the qualifying 
feature  of  the  heavenly  edifice, for; “​Sanctuary​,” means ​place of safety​, and it is the 
only  place  of  safety  for  those  who  have  transgressed.   Thus,  the  church  is  composed 
of  those  “whose  names  are  written  in  heaven,”  being  washed  in  His  blood,  purified, 
and made ready for the marriage.27 
 

We  perceive,  then,  that  beyond  the  shadows  and  types  of  an  earthly  system  is  the 
reality  that  King  David  spoke  of  when  he  said  “Thy  way,  O  God,  ​is  in  the  sanctuary​: 
who  is  so  great  a  God  as  our  God?”28   The  cross  itself,  though  placed  in  the  midst  of 
humanity  (for  we  slew  Him),  is  linked  to  the  services  of  the  heavenly  sanctuary.   As 
foreshadowed  in  the  earthly  sanctuary,  it  is  really  the  heavenly  services  wherein  lay 
all  the  provisions  for  salvation  ​and ​the taking away of sin for a whole people​, the last 
impediment to the marriage of the Lamb – 
 
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or 
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.29 
 

Today  Christ  is  advancing  His  kingdom  upon  the  ground  of  His  present work, and Paul 
urges  the  necessity  of making it our study ​– A more excellent ministry... the ​mediator 
of a better covenant. 
 
● A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT 
Of  interest  at  this  point  is  Christ’s  clarification  of  the  church’s  role  in  advancing  His 
priesthood.   When  He  was  brought  the  message  that  His  mother  and  brethren  sought 
him He turned to those gathered about Him and said: 
 
Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat 
about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the 
will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.30 
 

Here,  as  in  the  book  of  Revelation,  the  church  –  the  “woman  in  travail,”  is  clearly 
identified.   This  does not in any way diminish Mary’s place in history as blessed among 
women.   Rather,  it  sheds  glorious light on the whole purpose of Christ’s advent, these 
“​glad  tidings​”  –  the  ​good  news  of  a  qualified  Substitute,  and  Mediator,  and  Priest.  

26
Revelation 15:5 – “The temple of the tabernacle of the ​testimony (or law)​” is in heaven. 
27
Revelation 19:7 
28
Psalm 77:13 
29
Ephesians 5:27 
30
Mark 3:34, 35 
6 
Jeremiah  paints  an  interesting  picture  of  just  ​whom  it  is  that  bears  forth  the  Son  of 
Man into His heavenly work: 
 
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every 
man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into 
paleness?31 
 

Here  we  have  a  divine  illustration  of  the  church’s  role  in  God’s  display  of  grace. 
Jeremiah concludes: 
 
…​and their governor ​shall proceed from the midst of them​; and I will cause him to 
draw near, ​and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to 
approach unto me? saith the LORD​. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 
…In the latter days ye shall consider it.32 
 

So an inclusive view of the sanctuary truth in scripture reveals that: 

1. Upon Christ’s entrance into the office of High Priest in the ​heavenly sanctuary 
to mediate His blood33 He was begotten; 
2. For He was “set upon His holy hill” when He was “set down at the right hand of 
the throne of God” ...in obedience to this calling.34 
 

In  his  introduction  to  the  book  of  “The  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ”  in  chapter  one, 
John  calls  Jesus  “the  first  begotten  of  the  dead,”  again  reinforcing  our  theme  and 
placing  importance  on  the  time  at  which  He  received  His  entitlement  to  the 
inheritance  –  ​when  He  was  begotten.35  But Revelation 12 adds important emphasis to 
the  prophetic  picture.   The  whole  chapter  is  quoted  here  because  its  prophetic 
framework  is  revealing.   We see plainly that within the context of the congregation of 
the Lord the man-child was brought forth. Note the sequence: The child of the woman 
is  caught  up  unto  God, ​and ​then “is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of 
our  God,  and  the  power  of  his  Christ.”   Surely  this  is  a  persuasive  portrayal  of  the 
importance of the Lord’s coming into the Heavenly Sanctuary: 
 
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the 
moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered​. 
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having 
seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: 
and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour 
her child as soon as it was born. 
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: ​and 
her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne​. 
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that 

31
Jeremiah 30:6 
32
Jeremiah 30:21-24 
33
Hebrews 4:14 
34
Hebrews 12:2 
35
Revelation 1:5 
7 
 they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the 
dragon fought and his angels, 
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which 
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out 
with him. 
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven​, ​Now is come salvation, and strength, and 
the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our 
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night​. 
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; 
and they loved not their lives unto the death​. 
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the 
earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because 
he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman 
which brought forth the man child. 
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the 
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a 
time, from the face of the serpent. 
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might 
cause her to be carried away of the flood. 
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up 
the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of 
her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus 
Christ.36 
 

The message is declared with stunning clarity: ​The saints of the Lord travailed!​  The 
Revelator  portrays  a  woman (here representing Christ’s church) in travail; and oh how 
she  is  “straitened,  (just  as  her  Master  is,)  till  it  be  accomplished!”37   She  is  given  an 
integral  role  in  the  historical presentation of Christ as High Priest.  “The dragon stood 
before  the  woman…  for  to  devour  her  child” because if the promised child proceeded 
forth  to  His  mission,  He  would  “crush  his  head”38  (the  dragon’s)  and  completely 
destroy  the  power  of  the  serpent.   Now  can  we  more  perfectly  understand  the 
spiritual import of the promise given in Genesis? 
 
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her 
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, ​I 
will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth 
39
children​; Thy desire shall be unto thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  
 

The  scripture  proposition  is  that  this  prophecy  is  in  direct  reference  to  Christ’s 
relation  to  His  church  and  her  prophetic  function  as  the  “woman”  of  Revelation.   He 
came  forth  from  the  tomb  to  be  ​begotten  into  His  heavenly  work  as  our  High  Priest, 
“​that  ye  may  know  what  is  ​the  hope  of  his  calling​,  and  what the riches of the glory 

36
Revelation 12:1-17 
37
Luke 12:50 
38
Genesis 3:15, 16 
39
Genesis 3:16 
8 
of  ​his inheritance in the saints​:”40 ​In Him we are made sons and daughters unto God, 
“​partakers of the heavenly calling​” of Christ.41 
 

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the 
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your 
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of ​his calling​, 
and what the riches of the glory of ​his inheritance in the saints​, and what is the 
exceeding greatness of ​his power​ to us-ward who believe, according to the working of 
his mighty power, ​which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, 
and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all 
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, 
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things 
under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is 
his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all​.”42 (Emphasis provided) 
 
OUR HIGH CALLING 
●
Today,  as  in  Paul’s  day,  Christ’s  calling  and  our  calling  must  be  concurrent  and  they 
must  agree.   Upon  the  pivotal  success  of  His  ministry  in  heaven  God’s  people  hang 
their  whole  hope  and concentrate their interest.  This is the juncture now upon which 
the  justice  of  God  is  pinned  before  the  whole  universe,  until  the  restitution  of  all 
things43  -  to  be  revealed  by  “the  working  of  His  mighty  power.”44   And  if  we  would 
speak  and  act  the  truth  with  power  as  Paul  and  his  brethren  did,  we  must  speak  and 
act  in  reference  to  the  venue  and  pertinence  of  Christ’s  ministry.   For  we  are  not 
come  unto  a  mount  that  might  be  touched,  nor  have  we  come  to  an  earthly 
fellowship;  we have come to the reality.  ​We are come unto the general assembly and 
church  of  the  firstborn,  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge  of  all, 
and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  through  Jesus,  the  mediator  of  the  new 
covenant, by the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.45 
 

Now  we  will  not  diminish  the  function  of  the  church  in  action,  will  we?  Rather, with 
this consciousness of purpose we can but augment it. 
 
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers ​in heavenly places​ might be 
known ​by46 the church​ the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose 
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have ​boldness​ and ​access​ with 
confidence by the faith of him.47 
 

We  should  pursue  this  “​access  that  we  have  confidence  in by the faith of Him” just a 
little  further  here  since  it  is  an  integral  part  of  our  subject  matter.   There  is  an 
important  message in the earthly sanctuary for us today in view of the fact that it was 

40
(See II Corinthians 6:18.) 
41
Hebrews 3:1 
42
Eph 1:18-23 
43
Acts 3:21 
44
Ephesians 1:19 
45
Hebrews 12:18-24 
46
Through, or by means of 
47
Ephesians 3:10-12 
9 
patterned  after  the  heavenly.   Paul  admonishes  us  to  receive  “the  righteousness 
which  is  by  the  faith  of  Christ…  that  (we)  may  know  him,  and  the  power  of  his 
resurrection,  and  ​the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings  ​(all  present  tense),  being  made 
conformable unto his death.”48  How is Christ suffering today? 
 
The  truth  that  should  be  impressed  upon  our  consciousness  is  that  we  are  made 
conformable  unto  His  death  by  the  ​current  ​application  of  His  blood  in  the  heavenly 
sanctuary.   It  is  the  sins  of  the  penitent  that  are  borne  by  the  Lamb;  thus  our  Great 
Advocate  stands  before  the  Father  presenting  His  atoning  blood  for  each  repentant 
individual.  But  the  primary  work  of  the  great  Day  of  Atonement  is that the confessed 
sins  of  a  purified  church  are  cleansed  or  removed  from  the  Sanctuary  itself;49  this  is 
the  final  work  of  the  High  Priest  in  heaven  before  His  promised  return.  Satan  (the ​  
scapegoat)​
,  not  Christ,  must  at  last  bear  this  reproach.   But  without  the  ministration  of 
Christ  in  the  Sanctuary  today,  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  would  have  absolutely  no 
efficacy  for any of Adam’s race; none could have boldness or access.  But beyond this, 
the  corporate  perfecting  of  Christ’s  inheritance  would  be  lacking,  making  the 
conclusion  of  the plan of salvation a failure.  Then is it a marvel that these tidings are 
so  central  to  the  gospel?  Yet, our eyes have been blinded to it because we have made 
the  work  of  redemption  static.   Amazingly,  our  veneration  of “The Old Rugged Cross” 
has  stood  in  the  way  of  understanding  the  progress  of  Christ’s  work,  and  we  have 
failed  to  become  “partakers  of  the  ​heavenly  ​calling​.”50   But  without  this  heavenly 
connection,  without  becoming  partakers  in  Christ’s  present  “sufferings,”  without 
realizing  the  nature  of  His  work  or  the  position  of  His  church,  we  will  have  a 
counterfeit communion. 
 
Thus,  Christ  is  not  now  in  heaven  happily  preparing  mansions  for  us  while  biding  His 
time  until  He  comes  again.   No,  those  mansions  already  exist.   “In  my  father’s  house 
are  many  mansions.”  But  there  is  unfinished  business,  and  it  has  nothing  to  do  with 
parochial  “missions”  or  “ministries.”   In  Christ’s twofold prophecy of the end, He said 
regarding  Daniel's  vision;  “whoso  readeth,  let  him  understand.”51   Today  Christ  is 
engrossed  in  His  final  work  – pleading His own blood that was spilled upon the altar as 
a  ransom  for  His  inheritance,  and  cleansing  His  Sanctuary  from  the  pollution  of  sin in 
order  to  perfect  His  inheritance  forever.52   Thus  the  reproach  of  His  great  adversary, 
the  Devil,  will  be  forever removed.  Is it possible that we have stood in the way of His 
task  by  our  reticence  to understand His work and enter into heavenly places by faith?  
Isn’t  His  sole  purpose  as  Advocate  the  presentation  of  His  perfected church?  Perhaps 
we  may  grasp  that  this  is  the  preparation  He  had  in  mind  when  He  said:  “And  if  I  go 
and  prepare  a  place  for  you  (reference  to  His  work  of  cleansing  the  Sanctuary  from 
the  sin  He  is  bearing),  I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself;  that  where  I 

48
Philippians 3:10 
49
Daniel 8:14 
50
Hebrews 3:1 
51
Matthew 42:15 
52
Daniel 8:14 
10 
am,  there  ye  may  be  also.”53   This  is  a  heavenly  work,  but  it  results  in  the  practical 
answer  to  Christ’s  prayer  “That  they  all  may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I 
in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us:  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast 
sent me.”54 
 
Christ  is  not  ​waiting  for  the  gospel  to  go to “all the world.”  But according to faithful 
witnesses  He  is  tarrying  in  order  that  the  final  testimony  of  His  grace  may  be 
demonstrated  before  the  whole  universe  by  His  church.   Are  we  interested  in  “the 
fellowship of His sufferings?”  How foolish we have been if we have preached the “Day 
of  Atonement”  without  fully  entering into the burden of our Lord, for we must realize 
that  He  cannot  possibly  exit  the  office  of  High  Priest  until  His  work  as  an advocate is 
finished.   And  in  order  for it to be finished it is imperative that His people understand 
it,  and  “know  the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings​.”55   Wonderfully,  the  church  that 
fulfilled  her  travail  is  being  perfected  in  the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings,  and  “the 
marriage  of  the  Lamb  ​is  come​:”56  “…Thy  desire  shall  be  unto  thy  husband,  and  he 
shall  rule  over  thee.”57   What  a  promise!  But  what  is  our  desire?   We  are  invited  as 
guests to the marriage, but we will not be allowed to enter with our own schema.58 
 
Even  as  professed  believers  we  cannot  cease  our  sinning  until  we  see  Christ  freshly 
mangled  by  our  polluted  objectives  and  realize  that  we  “crucify  unto  ourselves  the 
Son  of  God  afresh”  by  them.59   And  only  then  can  we  comprehend  the  work  to  be 
done;  only  then  will  we  be  motivated  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  abandon  our  sin  and 
become  participants  in  the  restoration  of  every  divine  institution,  and  then  we  shall 
truly  enter  into  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb.   Isn’t  this,  after  all,  the  long-looked-for 
restoration?  When  His  bride  takes  this  step,  the  fulfillment  of  the  gospel  commission 
for  the  gospel  to  be preached to every creature60 will be truly accomplished​.​  Christ’s 
church  will  have  proven her citizenship, her members sealed in His righteousness, and 
the world judged by her action. 
 
But  the  world,  Christendom  included,  have  determined  to  remain  oblivious  to  these 
momentous  events,  therefore  “the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh  to  them  as  a  thief  in  the 
night.”61   The  “Christian  community”  today  is  represented  by  seven  women62  who 
desire to be called by His name, but refuse His bread and attire.63  Instead they design 

53
John 14:3 
54
John 17:21 
55
Philippians 3:10 
56
Revelation 19:7 
57
Genesis 3:15 
58
Scheme, underlying organizational pattern or structure; conceptual framework. The ​schema ​is, in 
itself, always a mere product of the imagination. ​Dictionary.com 
 
59
(Hebrews 6:6) 
60
Mark 16:15, Matthew 24:14 and Ephesians 3:9-11 
61
I Thessalonians 5:2 
62
In prophecy, “women” represents fallacious communions. 
63
Isaiah 4:1 
11 
to enter the kingdom of God by cheap grace. To them the movement of Christ through 
the  heavenly  sanctuary  is  but  a  fable,  for  they  are  lodged  in  a  place  that  He  has 
vacated.   Here,  precisely,  is  where  Jesus’  terrible  two-fold  prophecy  is  fulfilled 
regarding  the  abomination  of desolation standing in the holy place; “for Satan himself 
is  transformed  into  an  angel  of  light,”64  and  stands  as  a  priest  before the people who 
preach and teach and engage in such a strange religious form. 
 
“​Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the 
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
65 
 

“It  is  finished,”  Jesus’  last  words  on  the  cross,  have  been  repeated  over  and  over 
again  as  present  truth  by  these “ministers of righteousness,” distracting our attention 
from Christ’s ​present work​.  Paul proclaims, 
 
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, ​yea rather​, that is risen again, who 
is even at the right hand of God, ​who also maketh intercession for us​.66 
 

This  is  a  work  of  utmost  importance  to  you  and  me  today.   It  isn’t  finished  yet.   All 
has  not  yet  been  fulfilled.   But  when  it  is  finished  the  proclamation  will  be  heralded 
from the throne in heaven, 
 
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: 
and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy 
still.”67 
 

In  the  prophetic  settings  of  the  Bible  it  is  well  nigh  time  for  the  “angel”  to  throw 
down  the  censer,  for  probation  to  cease  forever,68  and for Christ to leave His position 
as  Advocate  to  be  crowned  King  of  Kings.   Are  we engrossed in this heavenly work, or 
do  we  merely  have  a  form  of  Godliness?   ​The  Bridegroom  has  a  bride!   And  she  is 
being  sealed  in His righteousness.  “Her desire is unto her husband, and He rules over 
her.”69 
 

The  promise  is;  “So  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my  mouth:  it  shall  not 
return  unto  me  void,  but  it  shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper 
in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it.”70  In  other  words,  the  ​faith  of  Jesus  is  sufficient  to 
expedite this work, and now is the time of opportunity for us to enter into it. 
 
Probation  is  quickly  closing,  and  the  question  is  –  shall  you  and  I  be  included  at  the 

64
II Corinthians 11:14 
65
2 Corinthians 11:15 
66
Romans 8:34 
67
Revelation 22:11 
68
Revelation 8:5 
69
Genesis 3:15 
70
Isaiah 55:11 
12 
marriage  supper?   Then  we  must  apprehend  the  importance  of His appearance in that 
sanctuary  “made  without  hands”  as  our  great  High  Priest.   And  ​then  we  will 
understand  what  it  means  to  look  “for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing 
of  the  great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,”71  for  we  will  be  empowered  by  the 
Spirit  of  His  grace  to  enter  into  His  ​finishing  work  “according  to  the  eternal  purpose 
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 
 
Our  Lord, and His people, have yet a baptism to be baptized with; “I am come to send 
fire  on  the  earth;  and  what  will  I,  if it be already kindled.  But I have a baptism to be 
baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” 72 
 

The Nails are Driven

The nails are driven, the cross is set,
The last word spoken, the blood is let.
The Shepherd's smitten to pay the debt,
And sheep are frightened and scattered yet.

But wait – a movement! The light must be

From open portal! The Captive's free!
The Lord is risen! – the soldiers flee!
And wondering servants in Truth agree!

But now it's different, the time is long.

"The vision tarries,"​ – is this our song?
"The faith is wanting, the church is wrong."
With downcast faces we grope along.

But wait - a movement! The light must be

From heaven's portal! – The captive's free!
The church is risen! The devils flee!
And wondering servants in Truth agree!

Yet shadows deepen as turn-coats pry,

And shouts ring out, ​"Recant, or die!"
A last prayer rises, disciples sigh,
"How long Lord Jesus, O hear our cry!"

A verdict's rendered, the day is set,

71
Titus 2:13 
72
Luke 12:49,50 
13 
 The last word spoken, and blood is let.
Now saints are smitten to crown the debt,
And sheep are frightened and scattered yet.

Dear Lord, how long till jubilee?

How long till saints may taste and see?
O help us bear this injury,
Till victors all, we reign with Thee.
–​ ​Gordon E Shafer
 

14