‘re-think’ No.15
FIRSTFRUITS
What we have most likely been taught over our preceding years by whatever Church we attended, that Christ Himself was the firstfruits to show forth resurrection life. This is not wrong in itself, but there is more. They go on to say that all Christians will receive the same resurrection life when Jesus comes again and those not among the believers will not experience this type of life. Strange conclusions when the Word declares differently! If we have put all of this subject into the future — when ‘we all get to heaven’, Jesus need not have demonstrated this new life on earth . . . for it would have no real meaning to us. Read on and see if you are not a part of this firstfruits company of overcomers who will experience fully the resurrection life that Calvary provided. However, every man comes forth into this full life in his own order and God determines that order and no one of us can alter that process . . . not even by ‘prayer and fasting’!
FIRSTFRUITS . . . the meaning
The word ‘firstfruits in Hebrew means first in order or rank or place . . . Rt. word to burst. Greek. APARCHE = first away from. ‘AP’= off, away (speaking of separation) and ‘ARCHE’ = first or beginning. This parallels the firstfruits of a harvest or the first-born in a family. The Feast of Pentecost’s other title is the FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS. To become a part of God’s ‘Firstfruit Company’, it is essential to partake of God’s provision of this feast. The important step of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit must not be ignored. Prov 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Even Christ would do that for His Father. . . the Church is the beginning of the increase of Himself. His Kingdom is the full increase but there comes forth at the beginning the firstfruits evidence of the harvest that will follow.
144,000 firstfruits — Revelation 14
The revelation of Jesus Christ (the Seed) in one pair of sandals is clearly seen in the four gospels. The revelation of Jesus Christ (the Harvest) is seen in the last book of our bibles. Every harvest has a firstfruits . . . those that ripen ahead of the remainder. These firstfruits guarantee that there will later be a full harvest. Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, (= the place of Authority) and with him an hundred forty and four thousand (see below), having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (The NATURE of Father-God being evidenced through the mind of Christ) (2) And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters ( corporate voice), and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: (3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne (a song =revelation relating here to ruling and restoration), and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. Fully redeemed from the demands of earth’s ways and thinking! (4) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (5) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
‘Firstfruit’ qualities . . .
VIRGINS are no longer affected by the ways of the world, the systems of religion are now displaying the ‘virgin’ state of being pure and separated. Revelation 3:12 says they are ‘overcomers’. Firstfruit qualities are clearly seen via the numbers God used. 144,000. This number is NOT a literal number. However in the spirit, we know that ‘144’ = the spirit-filled life (i.e. 100%) and 1000 = the glory of God. The glory of God is the full nature of God being manifest in a corporate firstfruits company. These ones have come forth in all the fullness of God just like Paul prayed would happen in Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Note too that they HAVE the Father’s nature in their foreheads (minds). With this Mind of Christ operating fully, they easily follow the Lamb wherever HE goes. They are without fault . . perfect through the provision and processings of the Lord and they are in the Throne Room of God which equates with the Holiest of All of the Tabernacle Pattern.
RESURRECTION OF JESUS
The Son of Man was crucified, buried and resurrected and ascended to father’s throne to ensure that we received the provision to manifest the same kind of life. He initially fulfilled the pattern of ‘The Sheaf of Firstfruits’ waved before the Lord at the Feast of Passover. Jesus was resurrected to show He was the first of many who would also display this resurrected life upon the earth. (1Co 15:20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Christ is the firstfruits to show forth incorruptible resurrection life on the earth . . . ‘out there’ in the world and in ‘my’ earth. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man (is made fully alive) in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. As Christ comes alongside each of us, we shall see Him as He is. We shall be on the same ‘wavelength’ which will culminate in our being finally changed into our glorious body like His . . . changed in a moment (Gk. atomos = atomic structure) in the twinkling of an eye. Because Christ achieved this, we can be assured that we will follow in that pattern. Again, ‘Firstfruits’ indicate that there are more to follow. When Jesus declared that the things He did we would do also . . . did He limit anything from the list ? Therefore we in him, will come forth in resurrection life. It is worth looking at John 11 where Jesus discussed this subject with Martha and declared that ‘resurrection’ was not an event but rather HE was it! “I am the resurrection and the life. . .” It is as we believe into Him, we shall experience this life which He has provided for them who can learn the song of the 144,000 (see above) through grace by His Spirit. There will be a company of saints that will experience this change before the majority will. This is not a ‘snooty’ position to take for it carries with it a tremendous responsibility for such a release or supply is for the rest of God’s people ... every man in his own order.
BETTER RESURRECTION = THE FIRST RESURRECTION
ebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: This is very much a walk of ‘overcoming’ the carnal mind with the mind of Christ. The carnal mind will think in a worldly way even to quoting ‘letter-word’ verses to substantiate their ‘not going on’, or use worldly means to try to attain it. Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Beheaded = separated from their old carnal thinking! They do not receive any ‘outward’ mark on their heads but rather receive the Father’s name (operational nature) IN their foreheads as in Revelation 14:1. Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. This better and first resurrection is a 1000 years or a day with the Lord — and will be experienced by faith (otherwise such an expression of Him will not please Him!) and it will come forth at the beginning of the seventh day, age or millennium. Now to link this with the Adoption . . . Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the ‘firstfruits’ of the Spirit for experiencing the Feast of Pentecost (or by its other title, The Feast of firstfruits) will increasingly release the FRUIT of the Spirit as well as the faith to believe into all that Jesus Christ has provided. The Adoption experience will include a change of form for us . . . we shall be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-3). . . and a new body which can contain all the fullness of God will be ours’. Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Oh to experientially know Him and to experientially know His resurrection power operating in and through us, must be one of the highlights of our walk and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
SUMMARY
Firstfruits of the harvest of God’s people being transformed into a new tribe of God-men just like Christ demonstrated when He was raised from an earthy walk to a spiritual walk. According to God’s pattern given in the Old Covenant, there must come forth a FIRSTFRUITS COMPANY that is separated away FIRST from the whole just as the sheaf of firstfruits was waved as the evidence that the whole harvest would follow. Remember that God does NOT change from His purpose — just in the way of achieving it. All the ‘firsts’ in scripture will also relate to each other . . . FIRST-born, FIRSTfruits, FIRST resurrection. §
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