The manifestation of the sons of God is the next great event that will take place.  When it does take place, it will be a tribulation to those at ease in Zion [the church], but it will be a day of light to those who are walking in obedience.  To some, it will come as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).  To others, it will be one final step, since they were walking with God (1 Thessalonians 5:4).  Many creative and speculative theologies have been made up regarding the manifestation of the sons of God, but the reality is that God has told us all that we need to know right in Scripture.  There are literally hundreds of rapture theologies, and most of them twist Scripture--they go way beyond what the Scripture says and some of these theologies quote a Scripture and then say that the Scripture says just the opposite of what it actually does say. The word, rapture, means "the state of mind resulting from feelings of high emotion; joyous ecstasy."  This is not in keeping with Scripture, though the manifestation of the sons of God will certainly bring the obedient into joyousness and ecstasy--so it would not be such a bad word to use except that it has been associated with so many speculative stories.

The Holy Temple:

The Church must be built according to the pattern of Scripture.  Only God can do this.  Unless the Lord builds the House, he labors in vain that buildeth it.  When Solomon built the temple, on the day that the temple was completed according to the pattern that God had given, God's glory filled that temple.  This is a type of the manifestation of the sons of God.  When the Church is finally built according to the pattern, the glory of the Lord will fill His temple.

As One Totally Complete Man:

Some people have thought that they would be able to enter into this experience on their own.  It is obvious from Ephesians 4 that apostles are needed, so some have decided that they would be apostles.  It doesn't work that way.  God has to send apostles.  God gave these apostles until we all come into such a unity with Christ and each other that we are as one totally complete man.  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect [totally complete] man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  Ephesians 4:11.  Note that it does not refer to men and women, but to a perfect, or literally a totally complete, man.  The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ is the state of Christ being fully joined to every member of His Body and every member of that Body being fully functioning in total submission to the King of kings.  This is happening right now as the Church is going from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  This manifestation of the sons of God is both a progressive and a sudden experience.  (article)  Much of what is needed has been restored to the Church.  (article)

This is a walk from glory to glory.  "... we all, with unveiled face, beholding [seeing] the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being transfigured into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18  What we behold, what we see, makes a difference.  We must see Truth.  Truth sets us free.  Lies bind.  "... we are God's young children now, and what we will be is not yet visible; but we know that when He is visible we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

"... just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."  1 Corinthians 12:12  "... so it is with Christ."    Here, the Bible doesn't call the church the body of Christ, but Christ.  Christ the Body joined to Christ the Head!  This is why it is so important to discern the Body of Christ.  Lord, open our eyes that we might see You in Your Body.

These things have been hidden for a long time, but now God has revealed them to His apostles.

When we see the Body of Christ, we are seeing Christ as He is.

Yet some would act as if the church were merely a club or organization.  They don't build according to the pattern of scripture.

The Holy awe and respect that we have for Jesus, revealed in His Body, transfigures us from glory to glory.  We discern Christ in every gift, ministry, office and order of the Body of Christ.

"creation waits with eager longing for the revealing [unveiling/manifestation] of the sons of God."  Romans 8:19  "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 8:23  "till we all attain... to a fullgrown man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"  Eph. 4:13

So, this process continues from glory to ever-exceeding glory "until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God..."

"... to a perfect [totally complete] Man"   Ephesians 4 does not tell us about coming to perfect men and women, but coming to one Man.  That totally complete (perfect) Man is Christ the Body joined to Christ the Head in complete unity and order and submission to Christ.  Every part must be fully functioning in complete submission to Jesus.  Every order, every gift, every ministry, and every office must be in place in total agreement with the Holy Spirit with the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.  No part of the pattern of Scripture may be left out, for this is God's holy temple.  Every temple of the Old Testament Scripture pointed to this temple.  When it is complete, God's glory will surely fill His temple.  That is the manifestation of the sons of God.  It will not be the manifestation of the believers but the manifestation of Jesus Christ in the believers.  The old Adam will now be totally crucified with Christ having no ability to hold back the people of God.  There will be no temptation that can tempt them.  Death will have become a thing of the previous age for these overcomers.  Every thought, word, and action will be God doing His work through us.  Remember that God is love and that will give some clue as to what this will be like in total holiness and righteousness, which is love.

And you can have a part in it.