The Law of the First-Born--Part 3

The story of Abiathar's fall from the high priesthood is a very sobering story because it is a prophetic type and shadow of things that were to come. As I wrote earlier, it prophesies not only of the replacement of Levi with Melchizedek, but it also prophesies of the interim priesthood of Pentecost that is being replaced in our time.

Abiathar was a long-time friend and follower of David. But in the end, he backed Adonijah, rather than the type of Christ--Solomon. This was his downfall, according to the principle found in Ezekiel 18:24,

But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

Not only Abiathar, but also Ahithophel, David's counselor and friend, betrayed him in the Absalom revolt (2 Sam. 15:31; Ps. 41:9). Ahithophel was a prophetic type of Judas, Jesus' friend and disciple who betrayed Him in the New Testament struggle over throne rights. Both Ahithophel and Judas hanged themselves.

Today the struggle is over the birthright, and we now have a further fulfillment of the story of Ahithophel and Judas. This time, however, it is fulfilled corporately in the Church itself--Jesus' friend and disciple. It is not the entire Church, of course, even as Judas was not the only disciple. But the Judas of today is Christian Zionism, which has backed "Absalom" and "Adonijah" against David. In other words, they are backing the very ones who hate David's Heir to the Throne (Jesus), and who are working hard to steal His birthright, even as they stole His throne (Matt. 21:38).

This is why Pentecost cannot inherit the Age of Tabernacles. This is why Pentecost is being replaced by Tabernacles. This is why Saul was replaced by David. This is why the Pentecostal Church is being replaced by the Overcomers.

Ultimately, this relates to Sonship and the Law of the First-Born. The birthright is about Sonship, because the birthright was given to Joseph (1 Chron. 5:2). When Jacob blessed Joseph, he said in Gen. 49:22, "Joseph is a fruitful bough." The Hebrew word for bough is ben, "a son."

Even as the first coming of Christ was through Judah in order to inherit the throne, so also is the second coming through Joseph in order to inherit the birthright. In the New Testament story it was a struggle for the throne. Today it is a struggle for the birthright. The primary message of our time is Sonship, or the authority to bring forth the manifested Sons of God.

These manifested Sons are those who will fulfill the feast of Tabernacles FIRST. They will be the First-Born Sons of God (after Jesus Himself, who is their Head). At the present time, the modern Abiathars believe that Adonijah is the rightful Heir of the birthright, and that if they back Adonijah, they will be "priests of God" under him in the Age to come (Rev. 20:6).

They are wrong. They will find themselves to be disqualified, even as Abiathar was disqualified. They will be replaced even as Judas was replaced, for we read in Acts 1:20,

For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it' [Ps. 69:25]; and 'His office let another man take' [Ps. 109:8]."

Likewise, Saul himself was a type of Church under Pentecost, as I have explained many times. Saul was a legitimate king, even as Abiathar was a legitimate high priest and Judas was a legitimate disciple. But all of them were replaced. Saul was replaced by a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), because he proved himself to be unqualified to rule God's people--in spite of his prophetic anointing.

When we put all of these things together, we can only conclude that the law of the First-Born applies specifically to the Overcomers, who fit the prophetic type of King David and Jesus Christ. These are the true inheritors of the Birthright of Joseph. All others have been disqualified for their character. And let me add quickly that it does not require perfection to be an overcomer. David was anything but perfect. But David was teachable, and when confronted by his sin, he was humble enough to repent and make a genuine change in his life. That is how we must understand a man after God's own heart.

If Christian Zionists do not repent of their sin of backing Adonijah and Absalom against David, it appears that they will not be part of that First-Born company. I do not mean to imply that this is the only requirement, of course. One must experience Passover and Pentecost as well. One must be justified by faith in the blood of the Passover Lamb, and one must also be led by the Spirit and learn obedience through Pentecost.

Nonetheless, the clear prophetic types of Scripture reveal how important this issue is to God. The principle is revealed in at least three major biblical stories: Absalom, Adonijah, and the rulers of the Temple in Jesus' day. All of them were usurpers--that is, Antichrists. Those who back them will not rule in the Kingdom of David that lies ahead.

I do not want to be mean about this; but the seriousness of these biblical stories compels me to make their meaning as clear as possible, so that we may understand how to avoid the heartache that is soon to come upon the Christian Zionists.