Ephesians 4:8-10: Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) It is very exciting to be able to walk through scripture and see how the first resurrection contains three parts: The first fruits – Christ and the Old Testament saints Leviticus 23:9-11, Job 19:25-27, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 27:50-53, John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 The main harvest – all the church age saints from the first century up to present day Leviticus 19:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, Revelation 5:9-10 The gleanings – the tribulation saints Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-17, 11:7-12, 19:7-9, 20:1-6 (Matthew 22:1-14) We completed our study of the Main Harvest resurrection / rapture of the New Testament saints this morning. This is the resurrection of those of the Church, the body of Christ, aka the Bride of Christ, who are currently asleep, along with those of us who are alive and remain, ready to be caught up together with the dead in Christ to meet the Lord in the air! We compared 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, looking at the difference in the grammar Paul used. Remember, “Things different are not alike. Things different are not the same.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-11); afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (main harvest – Church Age saints). 1 Thessalonians 4:13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. You will notice that the Old Testament saints in 1 Corinthians are identified as “them that slept” whose physical bodies were in the grave sleeping, while their soulish bodies were in paradise / Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:19-31), but they are currently alive in their physical bodies in heaven, because they were led out of captivity by the Lord. Paul addresses the believers in Thessalonica, who represent believers of the dispensation of grace, this mystery period of time known as the Church Age. The bodies of all New Testament believers are currently in the grave, or asleep. This is why Paul uses the language he uses...”them which are asleep.” One group is no longer asleep, those who were in paradise, and one group is still asleep, even though their spirit man is in heaven waiting for the redemption of our incorruptible, immortal bodies at the rapture. These are incredible truths that Paul has revealed to us. We will complete our stiudy of the first resurrection, dealing with the gleanings harvest of the tribulation saints this coming Sunday. Please take time to read the scriptures associated with each part of the first resurrection this week, especially Revelation 20:1-6.
