The term “sons of God” has many meanings. Archangels are called sons of God and have been throughout human history. Archangels have throughout history been considered deities. So sons of God almost equates to deities. There is more to sons of God - there is ranking and relative eminence. There has always been a hierarchy. Four archangels are at the corners of the throne of God’s glory and this gives them eminence over other archangels. There are then seven wellknown archangels considered an inner circle of topmost angels. Then there are watchers including these seven but extended to other angels and archangels. There are many many watchers. This is how scriptures and other sacred texts and revelations have explained sons of God since the times of Noah till today. Then on top of this for the Son of Man to say that believers in Himself have power to become sons of God paints a glorious picture. The question then is how these new sons of God fit in with the others; with their hierarchy. One consideration is pre-eminence; the pre-eminence of those who were sons of God earlier. Angelic sons of God were there earlier than humans. Yet the firstborn of the sons of God, the Son of Man, was there first; the first son of God. The other consideration is about association and unity with this firstborn. Sons of God made so by faith in the Firstborn are the latest additions to the family but are not least because they are united with the first son of God. Over aeons in the future the distinction of pre-eminence might look less and less significant but the truth will ever remain of the connection between these human, soon to be resurrected, sons of God and their firstborn elder brother, all, like the Son of Man, their head, unique in having been firstborn twice - by the work of God the Father and by the resurrection to immortality from the dead.
