The Error of the Manifested Sons of God

Debunking a Popular End-Times Myth

According to the “Manifested Sons of God” error, there will be an elite group of “overcomers” who have “deeper truth” and will come to a place of full maturity, sinlessness and immortality when they become “manifest” as the mature sons of God. They will then establish dominion over the kingdoms of this world before Jesus can return.

There are many variations of this error. Some even go so far as to deny the bodily return of Jesus to the earth, saying that His return will be a spiritual one in these overcomers – Jesus will return “in” or “through” this elite group. Others speak of this elite group as executing judgment upon the nations.

In response, first, the manifestation, or “revealing,” of the sons of God in Romans 8 clearly refers to the time of Jesus’ return to the earth when all the righteous will be changed.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God … And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:19, 23; see also Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2)

The sons of God are not “manifest” prior to Jesus’ bodily return.

Of course, Jesus does want His image to be formed in us now, and He does want our lives to be a manifestation of His light and love to the world.

But this will only be fully realized at His return:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)

Sometimes, the teachers of this error point to Ephesians 5:27 as the proof that there will be some elite believers who are literally perfect when Jesus returns.

so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)

Some even go so far as to teach that until this elite group within the Church achieves this state, Jesus will not return. However, that view will place a tremendous and legalistic burden of perfectionism on believers – a burden that no one will ever be able to carry.

Biblically, it is when we see Him at His return that we will be like Him. He will change us at that time. Then we will be perfected by His power – not before, by our own efforts.

In the meantime, this should always be our goal to which we daily move – to be transformed more and more into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Philippians 3:12)

Second, the personal and bodily return of Jesus to the earth is clearly taught in Scripture.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3)

And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Third, it is Jesus who establishes His Kingdom on the earth and executes His judgment on the nations, and not some elite group of believers.

For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27)

… to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His Kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)

Finally, the deep things of God are promised to all believers, not only to some elite group.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:28)

False teachings like the manifested sons of God appeal to people’s pride and desire to be part of an elite group. Moreover, they distract the Church away from her true mission of preaching the Gospel and making disciples to trying to subdue and dominate the kingdoms of this world. Such errors must be vigorously opposed.