The Seed of the Woman – Individual & Corporate + by Pastor Doug Riggs

by John Mark on 07/14/24

This message was originally recorded January 20, 2016.

My notes:

In explaining Christ as the seed of the woman as an individual and then the church incorporated into and identified with Him as our head, we not only have the seed of Christ indwelling us, but we as His body are that seed of the woman. It helps to have the revelation of the mystery of the Christ to understand not only the history of the world, but the future to come. Without this revelation, the eschatology of the church is confused with that of Israel and the nations. The seed war did not end with Jesus on the cross 2,000 years ago. Though Genesis 3:15 tells us Satan was crushed under the seed of the woman, we see that continues through the church age, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Romans 16:20) Jesus did triumph over Satan and all rulers and authorities (Colossians 2:15), but that didn't end Satan's war against the seed. Since we know Satan cannot touch God, the church in Christ seated at the Father's right hand provides no ground with which the enemy can defeat us. It's only our uncrucified flesh that gives Satan opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy us.

 

In this session, Doug does a deep dive into the new birth. "No one was born again in the Old Testament. They had a faith relationship with God." This is only one of countless proofs in scripture of the unique calling of the church as distinguished from Israel. We were "'born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.' That's an organic relationship - a one Spirit relationship, where the Old Testament, the covenant believers, there was a faith relationship, but it wasn't organic. They couldn't say they were the seed of the Messiah; although, they carried that seed as the children of Israel."

 

"Jesus Christ is the seed (singular), and now there is this corporate representation of that seed being formed in us. Sin affects the development of that seed. It's contrary to that life; it brings death." That seed needs to grow in each of us individually as well as corporately until Ephesians 4:11-13 is realized. "This growth occurs by every joint that supplies. Every member of the body of Christ is to be a joint of supply, and the word 'supply' means 'abundant supply'... The measure of the stature of Christ that's formed in any individual will be the measure in which that proper functioning working will contribute to the growth of the body."

 

So how does the body of Christ attain its goal? "There is in Him now that which will be the capacity and the resource in resurrection as a High Priest to impart those perfections to the body of Christ through the Holy Spirit so that we attain the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." It's the resurrected Christ as the glorified Man imparting the fulness of His life in us that capacitates us to reach the fulness of Him who is filling us. "The seed in us is moving on a trajectory by stages, and that seed corporately will attain the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

 

Getting back to the 'man child' (Revelation 12), Doug explains that as the time came for Jesus' crucifixion, it was Jesus' hour and it was also Satan's hour. This will also happen just prior to the rapture, "and that man child will have to be prepared. That man child is the summation of every believer that reaches maturity that will receive full reward; that will be the embodiment of the man child that's caught up to God and His throne... right in the middle of the tribulation."

 

Another prerequisite to the Lord's return to deliver Israel has to do with the full armor of God in Ephesians 6. "This is the armor that Jesus Christ returns in at the 2nd Advent. That means that this armor has to be appropriated and entered into in the body of Christ corporate from Pentecost to the rapture for Jesus to return." ... "Where does that armor come from? We're it!... The church has to become that first or He can't return." This reminds me of Hebrews 11:40, "God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they (Israel and believing Gentiles) would not be made perfect."

 

We learned from Doug's teaching over the years of the day of visitation, and judgment coming first to the household of God. "Prior to the rapture, there will be a final test. That seed of the woman (Jesus) went through the final test and had to face the powers of darkness. You think the church is not going to have to go through this? ... There's a net being drawn around the church now, and there's going to come a time when something's going to break out, and there is going to be a day of slaughter (James 5:5)... it's coming! ... There is an eschatological day that is uniquely and specifically evil that the church is to be preparing for."

 

The church that endures to the end, that survives the onslaught of the enemy, will in the evil day stand, 'having done all to stand' and will be rescued and snatched out at the rapture. That won't include those who don't repent and don't overcome at Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea. They won't survive the day of visitation, the evil day that Peter writes about.

 

Often Doug has taught on "the out-resurrection from the dead" (or "from those who are dead"). Here he explains it further as being "conformed to His death on earth; there's no more room for sanctification; I've finished my course... moral and spiritual conformity to Christ." Once this occurs, it will either result in passing on, martyrdom, or being caught up at the rapture to meet the Lord in the air. "Once a person finishes his course, it's more important for that person to be with God in the body of Christ there than here, even though it means loss to the family. It's more important for God."

 

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/1-20-16+wednesday+assembly.mp3

 

Recommended: The Bright Morning Star - Series by Doug

https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLtE2EQ9mIvN99GaYVvnnnuPwdGIC5WIoO/videos

 

Watchman Nee: Sit, Walk, Stand

 

Age of Deceit: Fallen Angels and the New World Order

https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/age-deceit-fallen-angels-new-world-order/

 

T. Austin-Sparks: That He Might Fill All Things

https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001812.html

 

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!