The Firstfruits Is Always Followed By
 The Harvest
                                                                                              By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                              May 19, 2018
     "For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation [unveiling] of the sons of God.
     For the creature [creation] was made subject to vanity [emptiness], not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subject the same in hope.
     Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption [decay] into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
     For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
     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."  Romans 8:19-23
Introduction
     The nation and people of Israel, according to God's Word, were to be an agrarian society.  They were to live by tilling the soil, planting seeds, and harvesting their crops.  The Jewish Holy Days, appointed to Israel by God in Leviticus 23, are based upon the seasons of the year, and the planting and ingathering of a harvest each year.  
     The Lord God has followed this same outline in human history.  He long ago planted the "seed" of His Word in the hearts of men, and is now waiting to gather in a harvest of redeemed souls.  
     This is what the inspired Apostle was speaking about in the Scripture text selected for this study; the ingathering of the harvest.  
The Firstfruits
     The Lord Jesus Himself promised that there would be such an ingathering.  In John 5:28-29 the Lord said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice;
     And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that hath done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."  
     So the resurrection of the dead is a clearly established truth in the inspired Word of God.  Such a resurrection will occur, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  In fact, it has already began.......
The Firstfruits
     In every harvest, there is always "firstfruits."  This is the very first grain or produce gathered from the field. Then later, following the gathering of the "firstfruits,"  the main harvest was gathered.  
      I want to emphasize to our readers, that in being grammatically correct, one should never use the word, "first," unless there is something more to follow.   The inspired Word of God does use this term, "firstfruits," in referring to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Himself, and then all true believers.  
     See 1 Corinthians 15:20.  This Scripture is speaking of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, but notice that the inspired word, "firstfruits," in this Scripture is in the plural.  This means that Christ was not the only one who arose from the dead, but others arose with Him.  All of them together made up the "firstfruits" [plural] of the resurrection from the dead.   Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!   Here is the inspired record of that resurrection event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago.......  
     In Matthew 27:50-53 is Matthew's inspired account of the death and subsequent resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the "firstfruits" of the resurrection harvest.  Beginning with verse 51, we read, "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
     And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
     And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."  
     There is no question that when the Lord went to the Father, as He Himself mentioned in John 20:17, He took those saints with Him to Heaven, and presented them to His Father, as the "firstfruits" of the resurrection harvest.  Glory to God!  
     It is grammatically, and would have been spiritually, impossible for those saints to have been the "firstfruits" of the resurrection harvest, unless the main harvest is yet to follow.  And follow it will!.......
Pentecost
     As I write, tomorrow, May 20th,  is the 6th day of Sivan on the Jewish calendar, and is the Day of Pentecost.  
     The first time in the Bible where the Scripture says, ".....and the Lord came down," is found in Genesis 11:5, where the people on the earth had built the Tower of Babel, in a vain attempt to circumvent God and still reach Heaven.  Read the account for yourself in 11:1-9.  
     As I have emphasized, one cannot have a "first," unless there is more to follow.  The Lord Jesus [God incarnate] came down from His Father in Heaven some 2,000 years ago, and clearly stated that He will "come again," John 14:3.  
     The "signs" the Lord has given us believers to "watch," now indicate that the Lord is coming on or near the Day of Pentecost.  As I write I am anticipating the Lord coming to gather the remainder of the "saints," and take us all "home" to glory  at any minute of today or tomor.  Due to the International Date Line agreed upon by the nations of the world, the nation of Israel is eight hours ahead of us believers who live in the Central Time Zone here in America.  And in Israel's reckoning of time,  each new day begins at sundown.  Therefore, when it is 10 a.m. here in the Central Time Zone where I live in Missouri, it is 6 p.m. in Israel, and a new day is beginning.  As I write, the Day of Pentecost [May 20th...Sivan 6] has just begun in Israel.  And the Lord said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh," Luke 21:28.
The Great Earthquake
     When the Lord was resurrected, and the graves of the "saints" were opened, as recorded in Matthew 27:52-53 and 28:2, there was "a great earthquake."  I certainly could be wrong, but I am expecting such a "sign" to occur again when the Lord comes to resurrect and rapture the remainder of His "saints" to glory.  
     As I write the geologists are reporting that the huge volcano in Hawaii is just ready for a massive explosion.  Likwise they are expecting a massive explosion and eruption in Yellowstone National Park.  And, if that isn't enough, they also report that both the San Adreas fault along the west coast in California, and the New Madrid fault along the Mississippi in Missouri are both trembling, and showing signs of slipping, causing great earthquakes, at any time now.  Hello!     
     I believe the Lord!  Are you truly "saved by grace," and ready for the resurrection and rapture?   Ready or not, it is coming!  1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.  Please meet me in Heaven!   Maybe, even before this day is over!    
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