The Birthright and Privilege

In this spiritual autumn, our family members of Zion have diligently been cultivating the gospel fields in every region around the world. Now their sweats and efforts are bringing forth abundant fruits. Thanks and praise be to Elohim, who bless us with abundant good fruits in keeping with the prophecies.

I believe that all the members are preaching the new covenant with the spirit of sonship, not with the spirit of a slave, and that God sees our hearts and allows us to fill Zion with good fruit that He prepared before the creation of the world. We are not slaves, but the firstborn of heaven, for whom the heavenly inheritance and all kinds of spiritual blessings are prepared. This time, let’s consider the value of the heavenly birthright and privilege given to us.

Esau and Jacob

Esau and Jacob, twins born to Isaac and Rebekah, had totally different views on birthright. Esau, who was entitled to the right of the firstborn by birth, did not realize what a great privilege his birthright was, and sold it for a bowel of lentil stew to satisfy his temporary hunger. However, Jacob, who was his younger brother, always longed for the blessing of the firstborn and watched for a chance to acquire it.

… and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Ge 25:27-34

Esau considered his birthright to be worthless and only indulged in hunting. He loved hunting and often served his father the wild game he hunted. However, it was nothing but a product gained from what he did for his own pleasure. On the contrary, Jacob always stayed among the tents and helped his mother. Since he took care of the housework like the eldest son and helped his mother in her work, she remembered God’s words, “The older will serve the younger,” and helped her son Jacob to get the blessing of the firstborn. We can see this in the book of Genesis.

The one who does not know the value of his birthright does not care if he loses it, and when its value is revealed, he starts to regret it.

After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting … Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!” When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!” … “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?” … “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud. Ge 27:30-38

Esau realized the value of the blessing later, and tried to receive even a small blessing if it was left for him. When he was given the opportunity to receive all the blessings, he despised them, and after the blessings passed on to another person, he wept loudly, gnashing his teeth. Esau, after losing his birthright, asked his father to bless him with any blessing that was left for him, crying out bitterly. Unfortunately, however, his father had no more blessings to give him.

Esau despised his birthright, not knowing what a great blessing it was. As a result, he could not receive any blessing. No blessing is easily given: It is given to the person who realizes its value and strives to acquire it. Jacob understood the value of the blessing and did not let go of it even when he was in pain from his dislocated hip (Ge 32:24-30).

The 144,000 who are given the birthright of the firstborn of heaven

Every prophecy of the Bible is written for us, God’s children, who are living today (Ro 15:4). Through the history of the Old Testament as a shadow, God teaches us the 144,000—the firstfruits of the New Testament—what kind of faith we should have.

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads … And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. Rev 14:1-4

The 144,000 are firstfruits, redeemed from among men, and they are the firstborn of heaven. God has given us the birthright blessing. None of us should neglect it.

The heavenly birthright, which God has given to us, provides so many privileges for us: the privilege to worship God on the Sabbath day, the privilege to celebrate the Passover, and much more. On a national holiday, not everyone is allowed to enter a commemorative ceremony where the President delivers his address, but only some special guests who have been invited in advance. Likewise, there are six billion people in the world, but it is only us, the people of Zion, who are given the privilege to worship God at the feasts of God such as the Sabbath and the Passover.

Tithing in the order of Melchizedek is a privilege given only to us—the firstborn of heaven, and it is also our own privilege to praise the new name with a new song and to sing praise to the glory of the new Jerusalem. Striving to save souls, studying God’s word diligently and so on—doing all these things is exercising the privileges of our birthright.

Ultimately all the laws and regulations, which God has given us, are the privileges that we, the firstborn of heaven, can exercise. God has concealed all these things from people in the world and has revealed them only to us, because all those blessings are granted only to the firstborn of heaven.

All these things are privileges and special gifts from God. Nevertheless, if one does not realize what blessings will be given to him when he puts them into practice, he is no different than Esau who did not recognize his birthright and used to go out hunting to amuse himself. If we care little for the privilege of our birthright and do not exercise it, our places will be occupied by those who make every effort to acquire it. We must not despise anything given by God, lest we regret after the everlasting kingdom of God arrives, belatedly realizing that everything given to us is a privilege.

The privilege to save souls, entrusted to the firstborn of heaven

The greatest privilege, which God has given to the firstborn of heaven, is to save souls. So Jesus granted the privilege of preaching to all the firstborn of heaven, just before He went up to heaven at His first coming.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:18-20

We are now living in a prophetic time when we make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus told us to. According to His command, God’s people are now going to every region of the world and preaching the gospel there. They are exercising the privilege given to the firstborn of heaven.

Since it is our own privilege, we should not neglect it. The privilege to preach the new name and the name of the new Jerusalem is given only to us, the firstborn of heaven, among the six billion people in the world. Even though we have the greatest privilege, unless we know its value and exercise it, it is just like giving up the privilege.

Making sure that preaching is the privilege granted only to the heavenly children, let us fully understand the value of the birthright given to us and graciously exercise our privilege, like Jacob.

… For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Th 2:1-4

God has entrusted the work of preaching the gospel to the firstborn of heaven, whom He approves. Only to His loving children, God has given this command: Preach the glory of Jerusalem to the whole world, and let people know about the birthright privileges which are given only to the heavenly children.

God laid down His life to save us, who were destined to die. How much does He love us? Sometimes God puts His precious children under scorching sunshine and sometimes He leads them to a thirsty and waterless land, so that they will be blessed in the end (Dt 8:15-16). Keeping this in mind, we, children of Zion, should value the privileges given to us by God and exercise them.

Eternal blessings for the firstborn of heaven

God has entrusted the mission of preaching the gospel to those whom He approves. Let’s find out what blessings it will bring them, through the book of Daniel.

“… But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Da 12:1-3

The glory of those who lead many to righteousness is so great. Preaching the gospel of the new covenant is a privilege given only to us, which even angels envy (1 Pe 1:12). Let us never lose this precious privilege.

Most people living today are eager to exercise, regardless of gender or age. Preaching is a spiritual exercise. God has entrusted us with the work of preaching the gospel, so that we can spiritually become stronger and greatly blessed. Since Apostle Paul realized this, he devoted his whole life to preaching, always emphasizing the mission of an evangelist.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season … But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry… . I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Ti 4:1-8

Paul urges us to preach the Word, being prepared in season and out of season, not wasting time on worthless things. When we do this, we will not end up regretting and God will bestow on us all, who have kept faith, the crown of righteousness.

Generally, a crown is worn by a king. God said that He would make His people, who kept their faith in the midst of all kinds of hardships and difficulties, royal priests in heaven and put the crown of righteousness on them.

Preaching is the first and greatest of all the privileges given to us, the firstborn of heaven. We should not consider this privilege a burden or a compulsory duty. Only those who joyfully exercise their privileges as the firstborn of heaven can be a royal priesthood of heaven and enjoy the glory forever and ever, serving Heavenly Father and Mother—the King of kings and Lord of lords.

“I will make you fishers of men”

In Revelation 22:17, we can see our Father and Mother appear as the Spirit and the Bride and preach, saying, “Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come.” Preaching is such a great blessing, so our Father and Mother have come down to this earth and set us an example of preaching.

Now, we go to all nations of the world and convey to them the voice of the Spirit and the Bride, “Come!” As a result, many souls receive the truth and study the Word, being overwhelmed with tears of thanksgiving. This glad news reaches Jerusalem every day.

Those who have just received the birthright are so overwhelmed by the fact that they are given the blessings which they have longed for. We, who have possessed the birthright for a long time, must realize its value all the more. We do not need to be swayed or influenced by others around us. Esau and Jacob were twin brothers, and they lived in the same house. However, Jacob did not imitate the behavior of his brother Esau.

Salvation was of the Jews, but God has now opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles—to all people, so we have been granted salvation today. Even though the blessing did not originally belong to us, we made efforts to acquire it, so God opened a way for us to advance towards it. Since we have obtained the birthright through our hard efforts, as did Jacob, we should not neglect it.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mt 4:17-20

I have heard that our family members of Zion, who went overseas to exercise their birthright privileges, were overwhelmed with tears when they sang a new song during worship together with the fruits that they had borne through preaching, being reminded of Peter and the apostles. Today, our Heavenly Father and Mother have called us and granted us the privilege of the firstborn. Those who do not exercise the privilege will not be able to see how many emotions it brings.

Let us put our minds together and participate in the mission of preaching—supporting through prayer if circumstances do not permit—wherever in our country or abroad, so that the will of our Father and Mother will be proclaimed quickly in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Father and Mother have called and guided us, so we have been able to get where we are today. Let us follow Them to the end, to the eternal kingdom of heaven. Since God has called us to be the firstfruits, we should set a good example for all the people of the earth and save the whole world, valuing our birthright privileges and exercising them graciously.