The Generation of Eternity
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)
We see with our eyes and hear with our ears; however, we tend to see what others see and hear whether true or false because of spiritual darkness in the world. Unless we have divine light from above through our Lord Jesus Christ this spiritual innate blindness cannot penetrate the darkness.
The Gospel of Matthew has been designated as the gospel of the kingdom. In Chapter 1 of Matthew, verse 1, we have David’s name mentioned first bringing our attention to the Davidic covenant that God made with David; that David would have a seed sit upon the throne of Israel; therefore, we see our Savior as King of the Jews, or the lion out of the tribe of Judah.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5)
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)
The Four Gospels in God’s Proper Order
It has always amazed me that the four (4) gospels are uniquely and divinely placed in God’s order. We have the gospel of the kingdom in Matthew, we have the gospel of God’s complete servant in Mark, we have the son of man declared divinely in Luke’s gospel, and then in the Gospel of John we have the Creator of all things in the Person of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Each gospel has it’s own divine and unique presentation of God’s dear Son. The Holy Spirit moving through the Word to display all the aspects of God manifest in the flesh; thus, giving us a complete portrait of the man Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Now let us move to the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Four Faces
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. (Revelation 4:6)
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7)
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: (Ephesians 1:17)
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, (Ephesians 1:18)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1:19)
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)
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: (Ephesians 1:21)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,(Ephesians 1:22)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
God’s order and will is not determined by the thoughts and intents of the heart of man. Each book in the Bible is divinely orientated and delivered by the Spirit of God. Answer this question — is the Spirit of God in the earth today? Was He on earth yesterday, and the day before? It is understandable that in God’s Sovereignty the Spirit of God can move through and organize a complete and accurate revelation in giving and preserving the Word of God. In the four gospels we have the Holy Spirit of God divinely giving us a wonderful and unique picture of the life of Christ amongst men. Remember, the gospels are written from God’s side and not from man’s point of view, or from man’s side. They are written as a revelation to man concerning God’s dear Son, the Son of His love.
The Gospel of Matthew – the Lion
We see in Matthew’s gospel a king that has come to deliver the nation of Israel. He is the lion out of the tribe of Judah. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5) We see the Lord Jesus out of the tribe of Judah divinely appointed to be the King of Israel. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) He is the son of David, and this confirms the right of Christ to the kingdom. In God’s plan and purpose when all the kingdoms of men are put down Christ will reign triumphant over the whole earth — and this is the message of Matthew’s gospel.
Mark’s Gospel – the Calf
Mark’s gospel reveals the true servant of God as the beast of burden and sacrifice. In the gospel of Mark we see the Lord Jesus taking on the complete burden of man, consider the miracles that Christ performed in this gospel they all deal with the sufferings of man. As divine man He walked amongst men. He is the true servant of Jehovah for He was tested in all parts like as we are yet apart from sin. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Let us return to the Book of the Revelation And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7) We behold the second face, or second beast. The face is the face of a calf, the beast of burden and sacrifice in the Old Testament. Remember in the Book of the Revelation that God the Holy Spirit is taken out of the world in Chapter 4 when a door is opened in heaven. In the face of the calf we have the burden of a beast that displays the labor and hardships of life. We also have the second beast, or number of witness in the number two.
The Four Divine Witnesses
In Matthew we have the divine King, in Mark we have the divine witness, as well as in Luke’s gospel where Christ is the son of man. The two witnesses (both Mark and Luke) are surrounded by the Lion (the Gospel of Matthew) and the Eagle (the Gospel of John). They are God’s witnesses in the midst of Israel and the world. In the Gospel of Mark, Christ takes on all the burdens of man; He suffers man, and deals with man in the very nature as a man, yet without sin. For this reason man tends to read through the Gospel of Mark without seeing the immensity of His divine witness to the individual. He is truly the beast of burden.
The Gospel of Luke – the Face of a Man
In Luke’s gospel we come to the Spirit’s witness. It is the third gospel and the third witness of God, the Holy Spirit. The number three (3) always speaks of divine orientation and presence in the Godhead. We cannot separate the Father from the Son, or the Son from the Father, or the Spirit from the Father and the Son. They are inseparable and this has led to some error in how the understanding of the trinity is taught. If we would just remove the word ‘trinity’ and stay with the Holy Spirit of God presentation of the Godhead we would not slip into the grand divisions of man in his teachings of the trinity. The Godhead declares One head, One Being that is God. He through revelation reveals Himself equally in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Godhead is inseparable, and we will leave this as it truly is — One God over all, God blessed forever.
In the Gospel of Luke we have the man, Jesus Christ. He is referred to as the son of man. In Revelation we have the third face which is the face of a man. Remember, the four beasts are around the Sovereign throne of God; therefore, the face of a man reflects God’s divine Son as the son of man dealing with man. It is the man come down from heaven; He is manifest before man as the babe in a manger. He comes as the son of man in the frail world of man; yet, above all the frailties of man. He is divinely announced in Luke’s gospel that He would be the Son of God, and son of man.
The Gospel of John – the Face of an Eagle
The last gospel, the Gospel of John, is far different from the previous three gospels. We are soaring above the world as an eagle looking down on man. It is a view from the heavenlies and it begins with the Creator of all things.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
Christ, the Creator of all things, is the eagle of Revelation 4:7. He soars and sees all that man is for He knows what is in the very heart of man. He is not ignorant of their guile and deception, all is open to Him. In John’s gospel we see Him displayed in His true sovereignty; even though He is presented as the Lamb of God, the presentation is to fulfill all righteousness, and to display the Sovereignty of God in His very death upon the cross of Calvary; He has the power even over death. In the gospel of John, Christ is over all things both visible and invisible. He is known by the Father as the Son of God. He is the ascended man, and the Holy Spirit declared that Christ came out from the Father, and was going back to the Father. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;. (John 13:3) John’s gospel not only reveals the Son of God on earth, but reveals the Son of God in heaven. (John 3) I give you some comparative verses . . .
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8:42)
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (John 16:27)
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:11)
It is quite evident comparing these few verses that we are dealing with heaven’s eye from above. We have the fourth face of the eagle symbolizing the complete circumference of God’s throne. Only the eagle could fly around the throne; therefore, we see in Jesus Christ all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
These four beasts are the evidence of the Holy Spirit of God placing each gospel in the proper order in God’s Sovereignty. The four gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ are given to these four men by the divine working of the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Christ.
The Generation
Let us return to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1, verse 1. I will repeat it for we have been away for awhile. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) What do we see at first glance? We see the obvious, Christ is the son of David, the son of Abraham. This ties both the Davidic and the Abrahamic covenants to Jesus Christ. If we continue through Chapter 1, we are confronted with a list of names showing forth the history of Israel in ascending order from Abraham. If we proceed on to the list of names then we have missed the most important part of Chapter 1. We have missed the first eight words of verse 1, we have passed over it in our haste to get to the name of Joseph, but we must return to Jesus Christ. It had been approximately four hundred (400) silent years to Israel, then God draws back the curtain of darkness, and sheds light on Israel through His beloved Son. The silent years were gone, and in the first gospel the Holy Spirit wants to relate to us the grand will and purpose of God in Jesus Christ. Since the Book of Malachi the Spirit of God had been silent, but now the Spirit of God through the Gospel of Matthew begins divine revelation of the divine will of God for man.
The Eight Words
The first eight words — The book of the generation of Jesus Christ — the number eight (8) speaks not only of divine completion, but it speaks of the eighth day and the new beginning. The first introduction is to Jesus Christ. What else do you see in the first eight words? Let me give you a hint.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11).
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30)
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalm 24:6)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)
Let’s concentrate on the fifth word in Matthew 1:1 ‘generation.’ The word is ‘generation’ not ‘generations.’ If Israel was the focus of these eight words it would have been ‘generations,’ but the Holy Spirit introduces us to one specific generation. This is the generation of eternity. They are called out by God, both Jew and Gentile, all gathered to the Son of God and His finished work on the cross of Calvary. The dust has settled and the man Adam is put out of the way. God gives a divine man with divine life and the power of eternity. Christ is the fulfillment of the tree of life, for in Him is life, and that life is the light of men. This gives us a divine generation; therefore there must first be a divine conception.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (Luke 1:30)
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:31)
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (Luke 1:32)
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:33)
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?(Luke 1:34)
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
The Mystery of Mysteries
To the world the entire sequence of Luke Chapter 1 remains a mystery to their unregenerate minds. The world misses the supernatural, and then goes on to insert their feelings and traditions, but the mystery is not a mystery to the children of God, the generation of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul used the word ‘mystery’ many times, only to explain the mysteries of God. The word ‘mystery’ is found twenty-two (22) times in the New Testament. The word ‘mysteries’ (the plural form) is only found five (5) times. The number two (2) denotes witness, the number five (5) denotes grace. In both (the numbers and the words they are associated with) the world finds a mystery that they cannot understand. In the mystery of God, Paul walks by faith and lives out his life on earth; he finishes his course through life and goes home to be with his blessed Lord. In his epistles he used this word ‘mystery’ several times to show God’s purpose. He desired to reveal to us, through the Spirit of God, the God of mystery, and the wonderful plan of redemption from the God of mystery. This mystery is revealed in these last days; the plan of redemption through our blessed Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal plan that has been revealed in these last days by His Son, Jesus Christ.
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
The word ‘mystery’ appears first in Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:. The Lord Jesus was speaking to His disciples and used the word ‘mystery’ and then He declared that the mystery was going to be known to them, and that they had been selected by God to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. He also declared to those who are outside of the redemptive purpose and plan of God that these parables would remain a mystery. The single form of ‘mystery’ is in relationship to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God was revealed to His Apostles, but could not be known to the world around them. This was divine revelation that they would know the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The world without Christ would remain as wandering stars. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13) The Holy Spirit through Jude shows us that these have no life, they live and die in darkness (the darkness of their sin), and will receive judgment for that sin. In Mark’s gospel (4:11) it is the first time ‘mystery’ is used.
The Kingdom of God
We see the entirety of the kingdom of God revealed by the Son of God. The kingdom of God encompasses eternity. It is His kingdom over all creation, governments of men, the world populace, and even the devil himself. The kingdom of God is the total circumference of His Being, and His will. It is in the kingdom of God that this ‘generation’ exists. This generation is the eternal generation born of the Holy Spirit of God; it is not by blood, or the will of the flesh, or the will of man that they are the sons of God. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John3:1)
The man of faith sees the invisible, he walks in the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God reveals to him the things the world cannot see. 1st John not only reveals the sons of God, but by revealing them they must be a generation. Since God calls them sons in His divine grace then they are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)
It remains a mystery to the world, and to the ecclesiae (those who merely profess and not possess Christ) that we should be called the sons of God, or a chosen generation. The world is confused by how God could call us — a peculiar people, or sons, or a holy nation without borders, a royal and kingly priesthood, and that also that we are a chosen generation in Jesus Christ. This is foreign to man; thus, he denies all these things concerning the children of God. We are a generation to show forth God’s praises, and to show forth our love and our worship to the Lord of glory who has called us. He has called us out of darkness, and placed us in His heaven, and revealed to us the mystery and the mysteries of Christ; this is to all those who are born of God, and who are kept by God through the mysteries of His grace.
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (Romans 16:25)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (1 Corinthians 2:7)
The Mystery Revealed
In Ephesians 1:9 we have the mystery of God’s will, and He has made known that will to us; that before the foundation of the world we were His in Jesus Christ. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9) In Ephesians 3:9 God reveals the creation of all things by His Son, Jesus Christ. This still remains a mystery to the evolutionist, and they who have only material gods before them. The mystery of a Divine Creator is beyond their black and shallow minds. They live in darkness to serve darkness as we live in the light to serve the Light. He has made known the mystery of His will, the mystery of the foundation of the world, the mystery of His Divine Being, and the mystery of His chosen generation to His chosen generation. From this verse of Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand, we find the Lord unfolding the kingdom of God to His disciples by parables and then divinely revealing the mystery. He told them, his own, that it is His will that they should and would understand the divine mysteries. He specifically said that it was given to them to know these mysteries of the kingdom of God; not unto the world which includes both Jew and Gentile. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25) What separates us from both Jew and Gentile? We have been chosen of God, we are a peculiar people, a chosen generation, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. We are the generation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1) And the knowledge of this mystery has been made known to us by the revelation of God through His Son, and by the touch of the Holy Spirit of God. That is — Christ in you, the hope of glory.
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (Ephesians 3:3)
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (Ephesians 3:4)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:5)
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:6)
This wonderful revelation has been given of God to bring us into His marvelous light in Jesus Christ. It is the gospel of the Lord Jesus that has opened our hearts to God’s wonderful grace. To the world they stagger in the darkness like the men of Sodom, who could not find the door, for God had blinded them to the truth. They all perished in their sin and wickedness; and now we have a whole world of darkness. How can man know the mystery that has been hidden for ages and generations? The mystery can only be revealed by faith in Jesus Christ, and we are here as the generation of Jesus Christ to reveal Him to the world. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (Colossians 1:26) We, as Christians, have been divinely brought into God’s grace to be a light to the world, and a reflection of God’s Christ. Like the Apostles God has made known unto us the mysteries of God as revealed in His Word. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)
The Mystery of Faith and the Mystery of Godliness
The redeemed know the riches of His glory, and the unsearchable riches of Christ. They have received personal divine revelation by God the Holy Spirit. The mysteries of God cannot be known except by divine revelation. He gives revelation only to them who are born of the Spirit of God. He calls whom He will, He called Abraham. Abraham did not call God. God’s divine call is just that — He calls according to His will and purpose. He calls a divine generation. This generation is called out of the world for in their birth they are separated from mother earth, and become divine beings of heaven by the divine grace of Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son, or Son of His love. And His called out generation are not confused or baffled by strange doctrines of man, for they hold their faith in a pure conscience. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1Timothy 3:9) Knowing the love of God which passeth all understanding that they are seated in Christ in heavenly places; for they are that chosen generation.
Now the sum of this whole matter: the whole world lieth in darkness, they do not have a clue concerning the generation of Jesus Christ, but God the Holy Spirit declares our faith. Our faith is without controversy, for God was manifested in the flesh. I believe the first witness was creation. I believe that long before the magi saw the star that God placed the star of Christ in the heavenlies. Then through His angel He witnessed to Zechariah, then the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and gave her the prophecy concerning her son, then an angel spoke to Joseph, then the heavens were opened and then the child was born.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)
Upon the birth of this Divine child, the Lord Jesus Christ, a throng of heavenly host cried out, ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ they were praising God. And in praising God they declared, ‘glory to God in the highest,’ for the Lord Jesus Christ is higher than the heavens. He brings peace that passeth all understanding. God showed His good will to a world of darkness. For the Light is come, and that Light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. God’s glory came to earth in the face of Jesus Christ. Although He came into the world with goodwill, the world knew Him not. And as He came for Israel, they received Him not, but now the mystery of God has been revealed in the generation of Jesus Christ.
To us who live by faith, we believe that our Savior rose from the dead and ascended to glory. Is this not a mystery to this world? That even though one rose from the dead, they still would not believe.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39)
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
We are that generation — all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are partakers of the Person of Christ. We are His generation, and we will exist with Him throughout all eternity. And all those who walk by faith in this world are brought into and through the veil of grace, and as I close, I simply make this statement — they without us — the generation of Jesus Christ — should not be made perfect — The book of the generation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1)
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)