The Feast of Firstfruits
The Feast of Firstfruits
I. Introduction
"When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath." (Leviticus 23:10-11)
The Feast of Firstfruits is also known as "the day of the firstfruits." This festival takes place on the day after the first Sabbath following Passover. On this day, the Israelites would bring the first ripe grain from their fields, barley, as firstfruits to the temple to offer to God. The priest was to wave this sheaf before the Lord so that they would be accepted. This was an act of thanksgiving for the harvest, offering the best of the harvest to God, honoring God, and giving glory to God.
Scripture says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing." (Proverbs 3:9-10)
II. The Lord Jesus Is the True Firstfruits
1. Jesus Christ Was the First to Be Resurrected from the Dead
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20)
The true firstfruits refer to Jesus Christ; He was buried for three days and was the first to be resurrected from the dead. This means that Christ, like a grain of wheat, died and was buried in the ground, carrying the resurrection life from God, emerging as the very first fruit from the earth. He entered the Most Holy Place in heaven, offered Himself to God, and with the precious blood shed on the cross, atoned for the sins of the whole world.
God's servant Moses, according to the Lord's command, instructed the Jews to observe the Feast of Firstfruits annually at the appointed time, with the purpose of helping them understand that Christ is the firstfruits. The day the Lord Jesus rose from the dead was precisely the first day of the week, that is, the day after the Sabbath, a date that perfectly aligns. Approximately 1,500 years prior, this festival was already established in the law of Israel, signifying that the Savior would surely rise on the Feast of Firstfruits!
Paul discovered this mystery and said, "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
2. The Lord Was Buried in the Tomb for Three Days and Three Nights
Jesus answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:39-40)
(1) On the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month (Abib), priests began to slaughter the Passover lamb in the temple.(2) The Lord Jesus was the true Passover Lamb. The fourteenth day of the first month was a Wednesday. He was crucified at 9 AM and died at 3 PM.(3) After sunset and nightfall on that day, it was Thursday, and the Lord was already buried in the tomb.(4) This fulfills the words of the Lord Jesus: "as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) in the heart of the earth."(5) Scripture says, "He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits." (1 Peter 3:18-19).(6) "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit." (1 Peter 4:6)(7) "Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?" (1 Corinthians 15:29)(8) Jesus' spirit simultaneously descended to Paradise in Hades, proclaiming the good news to Abraham and the righteous. Scripture says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." (John 8:56)(9) After the Lord Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He also took all the souls of the righteous from Paradise in Hades to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:4).(10) The righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).From this perspective, the righteous live (eternal life) by faith (in Jesus), not by works.
3. On the Lord's Day (the first day of the week), Jesus Was Resurrected!
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." (Matthew 28:1-6)
(1) When the sun set on Saturday, it became the Lord's Day (the first day of the week), and Jesus was resurrected!(2) The day the Lord Jesus was resurrected is the Feast of Firstfruits (commonly known as Easter).(3) Early on the Lord's Day, while it was still dark,Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance. She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, John, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John 20:2).(4) The resurrected Lord was no longer a physical body but a spiritual body, not limited by the material world. John, in the tomb, saw the burial cloth still rolled up and believed (John 20:8)!(5) After the disciples left, Mary remained outside the tomb, weeping. She saw two angels inside the tomb (mistaking them for gardeners) and asked them about Jesus' body. Then the Lord appeared, and she also mistook Him for a gardener. It wasn't until the Lord called her name that she recognized it was the resurrected Jesus (John 20:11-16).
III. Christ's Resurrection Is for Our Justification
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)
1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 12-14, says this:
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
However, since Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, we who believe that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead are, like Abraham, credited as righteous by faith (Romans 4:24).
IV. Jesus Ascends to Heaven, Offers Himself as the Firstfruits, and Accomplishes Eternal Atonement with His Own Blood
"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (in Christ)." (1 Corinthians 15:19-20)
"But Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
After the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, the large stone at the entrance of the tomb could not block Him. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone to allow Mary and the disciples to enter and witness that the Lord had risen (Matthew 28:1-6)!
After the two apostles, Peter and John, left, Mary continued to stay at the entrance of the tomb. Suddenly, she heard Jesus say, "Mary!" She turned around and reached out to touch the Lord.
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." (John 20:17) The Lord Jesus is both the High Priest and the sacrifice; He was going to see the Father, to offer Himself in the true sanctuary in heaven, becoming the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (Hebrews 9:24-26).
According to Old Testament law, the firstfruits had to be offered to God first before they could be used. This is likely why Mary could not yet touch the Lord.
A short time later, Jesus met Mary and the other women again, and they came up to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9). At this point, Jesus had descended from heaven (Hebrews 9:24), having already seen the Heavenly Father and offered Himself in the sanctuary, completing the offering of the firstfruits.
Jesus did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; instead, He entered the heavenly Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
V. The Tabernacle Built by Moses Is a Microcosm of Heaven!
"For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands, merely a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence... to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:24, 26)
This means that the vast and boundless heaven has a blueprint and structure similar to the tabernacle; the tabernacle was merely a copy of the true sanctuary, a microcosm of heaven. Heaven can likewise be divided into three parts: the Most Holy Place, the Holy Place, and the outer court.
1. The Most Holy Place of Heaven (Third Heaven, Highest Heaven)
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:19-20)
"Behind the curtain" refers to the Most Holy Place, which only the high priest could enter once a year. And Christ, in the order of Melchizedek, became a high priest forever, entering "behind the curtain" for us, meaning He entered the heavenly Most Holy Place, coming into the presence of the Heavenly Father.
Solomon built the temple, and its inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high (1 Kings 6:19-20). The inner sanctuary was the Most Holy Place, a perfect cube, with equal length, width, and height. All these specifications were precisely according to God's instructions to Moses, reflecting the dimensions and proportions of the heavenly tabernacle.
The holy city, the New Jerusalem, is the bride, the wife of the Lamb. This city is a perfect cube. The angel measured the city with a reed, and it was four thousand stadia in length, width, and height; proving that this glorious holy city in heaven is a perfect cube, which is located in the Most Holy Place of the third heaven.
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (blood, water, Holy Spirit)." (Revelation 21:27)
2. The Holy Place of Heaven (Second Heaven, General Heaven)
After the Great White Throne Judgment, all those released from Hades, the overcomers, dwell in the second heaven.
(1) God's Chosen People"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place (tabernacle) is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They (the law-abiding Israelites) will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'" (Revelation 21:3)
(2) Christians"To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children." (Revelation 21:6-7)
3. The Outer Court of Heaven (First Heaven, Lowest Heaven)
(1) Christians and God's Chosen People"Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:15)
These unrighteous people are those who believe in God, including two major categories: "Christians" and "God's chosen people." However, by God's grace, these people can still be saved by promise, not perishing in the lake of fire; but they cannot enter the holy city itself, only remaining outside the city.
(2) Righteous Gentiles"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." (Romans 2:7)
There is another group of righteous Gentiles, those who persistently do good and act according to their conscience. God reserves the outer court for them. Scripture says, "But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles." (Revelation 11:2)
VI. Each One Is Resurrected in Their Own Order
"But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." (1 Corinthians 15:23)
1. Christ Became the Firstfruits of Those Who Had Fallen Asleep, Being the First to Be Resurrected from the Dead
Christ Jesus is the firstfruits, the first to be resurrected from the dead, the first to become immortal, incorruptible, and a glorious spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:43-44).
Scripture says, "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." (Revelation 1:5)
2. Some Saints Who Had Fallen Asleep Were Also Resurrected; This Is the Second Batch of Resurrected Overcomers
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had fallen asleep were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matthew 27:50-53)
"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24)
After the Lord Jesus was resurrected, a kernel of wheat fell to the ground and died, producing many seeds. Some saints who had fallen asleep were also resurrected; they came out of the tombs and went into the holy city, appearing to many people! These saints are the second batch to be resurrected, and the Lord took them to heaven.
3. Those Who Died in Christ Are Resurrected and Raptured Before the Tribulation; This Is the Third Batch of Resurrected Overcomers
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Before the Great Tribulation, those who died in Christ will be resurrected; this is the third group of people resurrected from the dead. They, along with us who are living overcomers, will have our bodies changed and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
4. The Tribulation Martyrs Are Resurrected in the Millennium; This Is the Fourth Batch of Overcomers
"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)
The overcomers who are martyred in the Great Tribulation, who do not receive the mark of the beast or worship its image, will be resurrected in the Millennium. This is the fourth batch of resurrected overcomers (they were not raptured; the rapture is a one-time event before the tribulation). They will reign with Christ for a thousand years in the Millennial Kingdom (the overcomers of the Great Tribulation will only reign for a thousand years, not forever).
These people belong to the first resurrection after the tribulation; they will be resurrected in the Millennial Kingdom and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Scripture says, "Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)
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