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The Controversy: 

(Rom 8:18-19) ¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  ¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  (KJV)

The KJV translation of these verses gives the title to a view known as “Manifest Sons of God”.  This teaching emerges from the Latter Rain Movement and from postmillennialism, a particular view of the end times.  The Latter Rain Movement sprang from post WWII Pentecostalism and deviates from Biblical teaching. 

People ask me questions about this every now and then because some of our church members also participate in the International House of Prayer (IHOP).  Mike Bickle, the leader of IHOP, is often accused of promoting Latter Rain and Manifest Sons of God teaching. 

According to this view, certain Christians will be identified (manifested) as sons of God—an elite group of Christians who attain never-before-seen holiness through spiritual disciplines, particularly prayer and fasting.  They will expand God’s Kingdom on earth and prepare the way for Christ’s return. 

Points from the sermon:

1)     This teaching advocates elitism.  Whenever we encounter Biblical teaching that promotes certain Christians over others or a kind of super-holiness, we should run.  That teaching isn’t Biblical.  We don’t find Christians and Super-Christians in the New Testament—just Christians. 

2)     This teaching misses the point of the passage.  The apostle Paul is not referring to Super-Christians that will usher in Christ’s return.  He is referring to Christ’s return, all of Christ’s followers being ushered into glory, and the final perfection of our bodies for which all Christians hope. 

3)     In the 80’s and 90’s, Mike Bickel associated with a group that seemed to advance the “Manifest Sons of God” view.  While Bickel is a postmillennialist, he doesn’t seem to advocate “Manifest Sons of God” or Latter Rain teaching as far as I can tell.