The First Fruits Who Sat on Thrones from the First Resurrection

by Brad Baker

August 10th 2022

1 There was an order of how the resurrection took place and one of the most if not the most complexed topics in the Bible is from Revelation 20 which there was an order to be considered of who was first to be resurrected into Heaven. 2 There are five groups of people who were resurrected with either a Spiritual Body for those who had physically died or in case #2 were resurrected only Spiritually through baptism into Christ and the Holy Spirit.

1. First Fruits resurrected into Heaven from Mathew 27 who were the 144,000 in AD30
2. First Fruits who were Spiritually Resurrected by Baptism in the Holy Spirit that reigning with Christ on the Earth between AD30 to AD70
3. Martyrs from Rev. 6:9 & 20:4 for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God between AD30 to AD70
4. The dead in Christ that were raised first before those who was alive and remained in AD70

5.  Those alive who were caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air in AD70.

3 Not all Saints were raised at the same time and there was a forty year timeframe where the Saints who were alive on Earth would reign with Christ on Earth while those who were martyred reigned with Christ in Heaven that did not have to wait like the rest of the dead in Christ. 4 There were those who were dead in Christ during those forty years that were signified as the thousand years in Rev. 20:5 who did not come to life until the those years ended in AD70. 5 For those who were martyred who were in Heaven, they were witnessing other who were getting martyred before that sat on thrones to judge at the Great White Throne Judgment.


6 Some think that in Revelation 6:9-11 where it says they should rest a little while longer that they were in Hades waiting to be raised from the dead until the Great White Throne Judgment.

7 A white robe was given to each of them and they were told to rest or wait. You don’t give white robes to disembodied souls, you give them to those who were already made alive with Spiritual bodies.


Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

8 Sitting on thrones to judge came at the end of the signified thousand years in the meanwhile they were to rest or wait and witness what was happening so they could judge as ones who saw what happened. 9 Can you just imagine the look on the faces of those who killed Christ and His Apostles as well as many others like Steven when they saw them at the Great White Throne Judgment sitting on thrones to judge them and be cast into the Lake of Fire before the righteous when into Heaven to see it.


Matthew 13:29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.



10 In order to understand why some were and some were not including in the first resurrection as the first fruits to be raised from the dead whether it was just a Spiritual resurrection while being clothed with Immortality through baptism while alive on Earth. 11 Or a resurrection where they were raised with an Immortal Spiritual Body for the life in the hereafter. 12 We have the pattern God set for us to see within the Seven Feasts of the Lord and their harvest times from Leviticus 23 as a type to see how it would turn out in the Spiritual realm as a fulfillment. 13 Here is a short clip from one of my articles called The Three Phases of the Resurrection that set the process in order to understand how it happened.

The Three Phases of First & Second Resurrection

14 The Seven Feast of the Lord in Leviticus 23 which was God’s prophetic plan of redemption had three harvest times within them which were in type of the three phases of resurrection. 15 Those three harvest times required all the people of Israel to be in Jerusalem for those three Feasts that all seven Feasts were included within those three times of harvest. 16 The barley harvest was the first and it was in the springtime during the Holy Week of Passover and Un-leaven Bread, with the Feast of First Fruits within that week which was after the Sabbath Day that was fulfilled with Christ resurrection and those who followed in Matthew 27:51-53. 17 Next was the wheat harvest time was in the summer but group in with the Spring Feasts as part of the First Fruits which was the Feast of Pentecost that was fulfilled by the Individual’s Spiritual Resurrection through believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit during the first century. 18 All of these Spring Feasts were fulfilled in antitype and began at the Cross to Pentecost in AD30. 19 The fruit harvest was in the the fall time when all of the last three Fall Feast were going on for a whole month which were fulfilled in antitype in AD70 forty years later when the Age of the old Heaven and Earth came to an end. 20 They were the Feasts of Trumpets, Feasts Day of Atonement and Feasts of Tabernacles and this fruit harvest was in type for the Great White Throne Judgment where people of nations throughout the world were judged according to having the fruits of the Kingdom or not as sheep or goats.

21 The first resurrection that began in Matthew 27:50-53 it appears that it happened when Jesus was on the cross but in verse 53 it clearly says: and coming out of the graves after His resurrection so verse 53 actually fits in with Matthew 28:2. 22 Jesus was raised from the dead three days after He was crucified is a stated fact as well as all the saints from the past who died and had slept in hades waiting to be resurrected. 23 The first resurrection were those who were blessed according to Revelation 20:6 and is seen in Matthew 27: 51-53 which also included Individual’s Spiritual Resurrection by being baptized in the Holy Spirit that was only for believers in Christ, it was a process that took 40 years to complete until the General Resurrection that would take place for all the just and all of the unjust from all nations of the world. 24 When Jesus was resurrected on the day that the Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled He walked among the people of Israel for forty days and then ascended into Heaven. 25 So that those who came to Christ while still alive on the Earth could reign with Him Spiritually in Heaven while still being physically alive on the Earth according to Revelation 5:10 along with the disembodied souls who got a Spiritual body who were only in Heaven who were raised up from the dead in Matthew 27: 51-53.


26 Those saints who were raised from the dead in Matthew 27: 51-53 were doing what was written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Christ in obedience to God in the only form they had which was in type of things that foreshadowed the Spiritual realities in Christ. 27 Some were martyred for their faith as well as those who were martyred for Christ so that they may have obtained a better resurrection as well.

Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

Matthew 27: 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.


Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

28 When I think of the harvest times Israel had it speaks to me of the process a seed goes through before it is resurrected and produces grain or fruit. 29 It also speaks figuratively of our lives in how we respond to all the words in what Christ had said and when we die to ourselves we are clothed with Immortal life with Christ abiding in us. 30 The first century saints were the example of how they came to life through the death Jesus died for them and by faith they receive His righteousness and were born again as they were delivered from corruption before the Age of Corruption came to an end in AD70.


31 According to the blueprint plan God gave to Moses that shows where the first fruits come from. 32 We can see they were from both the The Feast of First-fruits which was the nation of Israel and the The Feast of Weeks which were those Baptized with the Holy Spirit that started at Pentecost. 33 All the other Feasts had an offering of fire instead of first-fruit offerings.

The Sabbath = Leviticus 23: 3b shall do no work on it

Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread = Leviticus 23: 8 an offering made by fire.

The Feast of First-fruits = Leviticus 23: 10b then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits.

The Feast of Weeks = Leviticus 23: 17b They are the first-fruits to the Lord.

The Feast of Trumpets = Leviticus 23: 25b offering made by fire to the Lord.’ ”

The Day of Atonement = Leviticus 23: 27b offering made by fire to the Lord.

The Feast of Tabernacles = Leviticus 23:3 6b an offering made by fire to the Lord.

Who were the First-fruits?


34 In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to give the first and best portions of the harvest as an offering to Him which was called the first-fruits. 35 As an offering to God, the Israelites acknowledged that all the harvest and everything they had came from God and belonged to Him. 36 The harvest of the grains and fruit were a type that foreshadowed God’s people as those who belonged to Him. 37 Then the time came for the resurrection of the dead those who were worthy were the first fruits that were raised from the dead first and God honoured those who served under the Old Covenant as first as seen in Mathew 27:51-53.

1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

38 There was even an order of who were raised first of those who were believers in Christ. 39 Those who were martyred were first because they were sitting on thrones ready to judge those who killed them in Revelation 20:4, but the rest of the dead in Christ were raised before those who were alive and remained at the coming of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

40 According to Jeremiah Israel was Holy to the Lord and because they served a special purpose for types and foreshadowing things to come in Christ so they were first-fruits. 41 Hosea saw it the same way and Jesus came to save Israel first before commissioning His followers to preach the Gospel to the whole world for salvation. 42 This group from Israel who were under the Old Covenant fall under the category of the Feast of First Fruits.

Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness to the Lord,
The first-fruits of His increase.

Hosea 9:10 I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the first-fruits on the fig tree in its first season.

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

43 The Feast of Pentecost is where the first-fruits of the Spirit come from. 44 They included people from other nations as well as those from Israel who were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit who had the first-fruits of the Spirit. 45 We can see where Paul included those from Achaia which were in Greece.

Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.


Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ.


1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints.

Mystery of the Redeemed from the Earth that Sat on Thrones

46 In Revelation 20:4 where John saw thrones, and they sat on them points to the 144,000 from Revelation 7:4 who were redeemed from the earth as seen from Revelation 14:3. 47 These I believe were the ones that were resurrected from Matthew 27:51-53 and those who were martyred during the first century for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands..


48 After John saw the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel he sees a different group of people those from Revelation 7:14 who were the ones who come out of the great tribulation that came from all around the world.

 Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number

49 Many were martyred during the Great Tribulation and it was a common belief that they might obtain a better resurrection if they were martyred for the sake of being faithful to Christ. 50 It shows in Revelation 20:4 that those who were martyred were resurrected before the rest of the dead who did not live again until the thousand years were finished. according to Revelation 20:5.


Revelation 20:4-6

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

51 HOW THE APOSTLES DIED:

1. Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.
2. Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.
4. John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. Ed Stevens wrote an article called: Did John Live Beyond AD 70? In his article Ed states this:
   
   Notice what PAPIAS says here about the death of John:

Pap. 5:5 Papias says in his second book that John the Theologian and James his brother were killed by Jews.

Pap. 6:3 For Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis, who had seen him with his own eyes,

claims in the second book of the Sayings of the Lord that John was killed by Jews, thus

clearly fulfilling, together with his brother, Christ’s prophecy concerning them and their

own confession and agreement about this.

Pap. 6:4 For when the Lord said to them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I

drink?” and they eagerly assented and agreed, he said: “You will drink my cup and

will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.”

Pap. 6:5 And this is to be expected, for it is impossible for God to lie.

Pap. 6:6 Moreover the encyclopedic Origen also affirms in his interpretation of the

Gospel according to Matthew that John was martyred, indicating that he had learned

this from the successors of the apostles.

Papias claimed that John was killed by the Jews, evidently at a time when they still had

the ability and opportunity to do so. This would point to the Neronic persecution (AD

64), until it was cut short by the outbreak of the Jewish revolt (AD 66). It would not

have been easy for them to do much against Christians after the war began, and

especially not after the war ended.

The Jews had no political or judicial power to kill anyone after AD 70. It clearly points to a

time before AD 70 when the Jews would have had the authority, opportunity, and means

by which to do it. The Neronic persecution fits that description well, since that is when

the Jews were in their most powerful position against the Christians.

As we look at the Biblical evidence in Matthew 20, Mark 10, and John 21, we will notice

that it points unambiguously toward the conclusion that Apostle John must have died in

the Neronic persecution before the Parousia.

5. Peter he was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James the leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller’s club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.
7. James the son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian. Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
8. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: ‘I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.’ He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.
9. Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.
10. Jude was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
11. Matthias The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
12. Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament. Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times For the sake of the Faith. And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: But he that endures to the end shall be saved.

52 Here is a copy of a debate from two people I saw that explains a lot of things about the mystery of the resurrected who reigned with Christ that debunks a pre millennial view and how those 1000 years had to be during the first century after those in Matthew 27:50-53 were resurrected from the dead.

53 Question: I guess I don’t see how you come to the conclusion the 24 elders were already in heaven raised when it seems to indicate it was future …Rev 4:1b “….Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.”

54 Answer: I used to believe the first resurrection was the general resurrection at A.D. 70 and the second resurrection was a thousand years later. 55 Most of you know I militantly defended this idea for many years on these pages. 56 Here is why I no longer believe this:

The parenthetical statement at the beginning of v. 5, “(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended),” is not found in the earliest manuscript of Revelation 20:5. 57 Furthermore, it is also omitted in roughly HALF of all other manuscripts dating from the fourth to the thirteenth century (ℵ 2030 2053 2062 MajK syrp). 58 I do not believe this statement was present in the original manuscript because with this statement removed, every element of the first and second resurrection of Rev 20 makes perfect sense of all the resurrection verses and related verses in the Bible.

59 For example, there appears to have been a resurrection of the twenty-four elders and the martyrs prior to the general resurrection since the twenty-four elders and the martyrs were to judge the world.  60 If the twenty-four elders and martyrs were to truly judge the world, this implies that they had to be raised prior to the Great White Throne of Judgment so that they might be able to do this.  61 How could these saints truly judge Israel if they were also resurrected at the same time as everyone else?

62 Since both the righteous and wicked were raised together at the Great White Throne of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-15), this implies that not all the saints were raised at the first resurrection so as to be given the privilege of judging Israel later at the general resurrection. 63 It seems that only the martyrs and elders were to judge with God at the general resurrection.  64 What evidence do we have to support a resurrection of the twenty-four elders and martyrs prior to the general resurrection?  65 There is a surprising amount of Biblical evidence to support the idea of a resurrection to heaven of elders and martyrs prior to the general resurrection.  66 In Revelation 20:4 we see “thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. 67 Those given authority to judge appear to be those given authority to judge beside God at the general resurrection.  68 And those given authority to judge presumably at the Great White Throne of Judgment appear to be, at least in part, the twenty-four elders who are seated on twenty-four thrones surrounding the throne of God (Revelation 4:2-4). 69 The fact that these twenty-four elders are given authority to judge at the general resurrection is implied in Revelation 11:16-18:

And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.  The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

70 Notice in the above vs. the twenty-four elders are “seated on their thrones before God. 71  These appear to be the same thrones set in place for “those given authority to judge (Rev 20:4) at the first resurrection in Revelation 20:4-5.  72 Also notice that these elders are already seated on these thrones prior to the general resurrection and destruction of Jerusalem since while seated on these thrones the elders say, “The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18).”  [Emphasis mine.]

73 We can also clearly see that the twenty-four elders were already present in heaven long before the general resurrection as they are seated before the throne of God at the time in which the Lamb opens the seven seals which set in motion the plagues of Revelation (Revelation 4:4; 5:5-8).  74 How could these elders be seated before God in heaven if the resurrection to heaven had not yet occurred until the fall of Jerusalem?  75 Clearly there must have been a literal resurrection prior to the general resurrection to explain this fact.

76 The fact that the elders are raised prior to the general resurrection is also suggested by their implied identity.  77 Revelation 21:12-14 hints at the fact that the twenty-four elders are the twelve tribal patriarchs and the twelve disciples since the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem are named after each of the twelve tribal patriarchs and the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem are named after the twelve disciples.  78 In Matthew 19:28 Jesus promises that the twelve disciples will judge Israel presumably at the general resurrection: “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”  79 Here we see not only a likely reference to twelve of the twenty-four thrones mentioned in Revelation 4:2-4, 11:16-18 and 20:4-5, we also see that the disciples were to judge Israel seemingly at the time of the general resurrection. 80 Furthermore, according to Church tradition all of the disciples except Judas and John were martyred.  81 The fact that the twelve disciples were to judge Israel (Matthew 19:28) and nearly all twelve disciples were martyred makes sense of why it is the martyrs specifically who are named at the first resurrection according to Revelation 20:4-5.

82 The twenty-four disciples and patriarchs were not the only ones implied to aid in the judgment at the general resurrection, other Christian worthies were also seemingly granted this right in Revelation 3:21.  83 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 also implies that at least some larger subset of the saints will also judge the earth at the general resurrection: “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?  Do you not know that we will judge angels?”  84 This larger subset appears to be the martyrs as it is the martyrs who “came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” In v. 5 we see that this event is the first resurrection.  85 From the context it seems that it is the Christian martyrs who are seated on the “thrones” of v. 4 since the martyrs are said to “reign” “with Christ a thousand years” later in the same verse.  86 Thus it appears that these thrones are put in place for the Christian martyrs to reign together with the twenty-four elders.  87 These “thrones” are also seemingly put in place so that those seated on them (i.e. the twenty-four elders and martyrs) are given “authority to judge” (v. 4). 88  If there truly was to be a select group of God’s people tasked with judging the world, this means that these chosen saints must be raised prior to the general resurrection if they are in fact supposed to take part in judging between the righteous and wicked at that time. 89  If the martyrs truly were to judge the world at the general resurrection, the fact that John mentions a “first resurrection” now makes a lot of sense!  90 If the martyrs were to sit on thrones beside God judging at the Great White Throne of judgment in A.D. 70, they must necessarily be raised before this event—hence the reference to a “first resurrection.”

91 The fact that the twenty-four elders and martyrs were raised prior to the general resurrection so that they could, therefore, judge the dead at the general resurrection in A.D. 70 makes sense of all the implicit references to resurrection or resurrection-like events prior to A.D. 70.  92 Matthew 27:52-53 is a prime example: “The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”  93 The fact that there was a “first resurrection” prior to the general resurrection also makes sense of the fact that Ephesians 2:6 mentions a resurrection to heaven of at least some of the saints prior to the general resurrection: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus[.]” 94 Similarly, if there was not a resurrection of some of the righteous before the general resurrection, how is it that Paul knew “a man in Christ” who was “caught up to the third heaven” prior to the general resurrection (2 Corinthians 12:2)? 95 John 5:24-26 may also hint at a first resurrection: “[A] time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

96 Hymenaeus  who was teaching the resurrection had already taken place was speaking of the final resurrecting at AD70 that Daniel foretold for the just and the unjust. 

2 Timothy 2:17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

End of that debate !!!

97 I think that last comment there in that debate about the resurrection Hymenaeus and Philetus may have been referring to what could have been the one in Matthew 27:51-53. 98 Or they may have been referring to the Spiritual Resurrection that the believers had through Baptism in Christ and the Holy Spirit so Hymenaeus and Philetus may have been denying the future resurrection that was coming in AD70 that Paul was talking about. 99 It would make sense that a few would not understand everything there was to know about the three phase of the resurrection. 100 There were some like Lazarus, Enoch, Moses and Elijah that do not fit into those three phases of the resurrection that I do not know about how God placed them the scheme of His plan other than He just took them into Heaven to be with Him at the time because He wanted to.

101 The first resurrection which was the antitype of the barley harvest. 102 The years harvest began with the Feast of Un-leaven bread which had the Feast of First Fruits within it was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the grave and Matthew 27: 50-53. 103 Un-leaven bread is in type non active and those who rose from the grave and Matthew 27: 50-53 were disembodied souls that were non active.

104 The next harvest was the wheat and occurred during the Feast of Pentecost which rose many from the dead with an Individual Spiritual Resurrection who found a new life in Christ. 105 This Feast was with Leaven Bread which was active. 106 This is in type for people who were resurrected Spiritually while living and reigning with Christ while being active on the Earth.

107 Then the final harvest was for the fruit in the fall and was just before the Great White Throne Judgment which was the Second or General Resurrection because it was in a class all of it’s own where rewards were given to the just, and the unjust that were resurrected for judgment then cast into the Lake of Fire. 108 These were the sheep and goats from all nations of the world Jesus was referring to in:

 Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 

109 The final resurrection was during the Fall Feasts at the end of the Age of Corruption when rest of the just from around the nations of the world were raised up that Christ made alive from the dead and gave eternal life and the unjust who were cast into the Lake of Fire with eternal condemnation.

110 The harvest time speaks of the process a seed goes through before it is resurrected and produces grain or fruit. 111 The first century saints were the example of how they came to life with an Individual Spiritual Resurrection through the death Jesus died for them and by faith and baptism they receive Christ righteousness but now it speaks figuratively of our lives and likened to the Prodigal Son.

John 12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

112 I want to mention Steven who was martyred in Acts 7:60 says he fell asleep. We do not know what happened to Steven after he physically died. 113 Some say he had to wait in Hades until AD70 to be resurrected but honestly I believe he was one of those who never saw Hades and was resurrected with a Spiritual body right away but was said to have gone to sleep because his physical body was dead. 114 After Steven saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 115 I do not believe that Jesus would have told Steven sorry but your Spirit has to go to Hades for 40 years now before you get a Spiritual Body for being a martyr for Me but Saul who was Paul who killed you get a Spiritual Body right away. 116 I know you died for your testimony but you do not qualify to obtain a better resurrection like Paul does and rest of those in Revelation 20:4 would get to sit on a throne and judge Paul who killed you. 117 Can you just image Jesus saying that…?, I can’t, but it is kind of hilarious that both Steven and Paul who killed him would both be sitting together on thrones for the Great White Throne Judgment.



Stephen the Martyr

Acts 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


118 In 1 Corinthians 15: 23 we see there was an order in which saints were resurrected and the first-fruits were first while the rest of the dead in Christ slept until AD70 and were changed along with those who remained alive on Earth.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.


Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.



119 If you miss this in Revelation 20:5 you stand the chance of taking the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished way to far. 120 Someone with a Pre Millennial Preterist view believes that the sheep were resurrected in AD70 but the goats have been waiting to be resurrected for 2000 years and still counting. 121 Jesus clearly said in the Parable of the wheat and tares which are the goats would be gathers first and that the harvest “Resurrection” would happen for both at the same time.


Matthew 13:29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

122 Christ did not ascend to heaven alone, he Ascended into Heaven with the resurrected saints from Matthew 27:51-53 as first fruits of His work of redemption for those who were under the Old Covenant. 123 Those resurrected saints who Ascended with Christ to heaven some of them were the 24 elders spoken of in the book of Revelation that John saw in Revelation 4:4. 124 The 24 elders were part of the redeemed from the Earth that Judged in the Great vWhite Throne Judgement in Revelation 20:11-15 and John mentions them again in Revelation 14:3.

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His

resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

The Lamb and the First-fruits of 144,000

Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first-fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. It’s that simple but I understand your PMP view will not see this and have your own story that stretches beyond where I dare not go out of fear of the Lord and dare not tread. So now tell me your explanation how it can not be so and show me what you got that proves you point of view.

Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

125 The elders mentioned first in the Biblical text is “the elders of Israel,” sometimes said to have consisted of seventy men (Exodus 24; Numbers 11), which was a representative body for the entire nation. 126 This body became the Sanhedrin sometime after the Babylonian Exile.

Numbers 11:16So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.

Those who sat on thrones:

127 I not sure if all from Matthew 27 got to sit on a throne but if any of them were Elders then it could be possible that some of them became the 144,000 that were redeemed from the Earth and received a throne to sit on. 

128 In Luke 22:28 there are those who have continued with Jesus in His trials get to sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 129 It does not mention when they would have Ascended into Heaven but I sure that they had to have been there before the resurrection in AD70 in order for them to be there before it happened. 130 Some assume it would be in AD70 but it just does not say that and if it did everything would have had to be set up instantly and everyone would know what happened and what was taking place. 131 For all we know they could have been witnessing with the martyrs things that were going on in the Earth for judgment day while sitting on their thrones or doing things like the Angels do.

Luke 22:28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

132 A lot assume that everything that John wrote about was still yet to come and short to take place, but there are a few cases where the things that were mentioned in Revelation had already taken place that John saw from the past. 133 And then there were the things that were present at the time like the seven Churches. 134 Then John did mentioned the things that would shortly take place. 135 John had the freedom to write about the things he saw from the past or things he was experiencing at the time as he lived through them as well as what was to shortly take place. Once you understand this verse in Rev. 1:19 it will open up things for you.

Revelation 1:19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.


136 John used a technic in his writing called frame story. Frame story is a literary technique that serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, where an introductory or main narrative sets the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories. 137 John sometimes started at the end of a story like in Revelation 20:4 where he saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them and then goes back to the starting of the story and takes it through to the end.

138 In Revelation 12 we can see how John starts a story 30 years from the past and then takes it to the present time then goes forward into a future time from the time he wrote it. 139 Then how that would apply to the events of the woman being within the time John saw from the past at the birth of Jesus Christ to something that was going to take place later that was speaking the woman going through the Great Tribulation that started in AD66 which was the Church. 140 John switches the woman from being Jesus’ Mother Mary who would rule over the nations with a rod of iron to the future Spiritual Mother of mankind which was the first century Church, the Bride of Christ. 141 Then after that her Spiritual Offspring that are the overcomer’s who keep the commandments of Jesus Christ would rule over the nations with a rod of iron in the Glorious New Creation as the Manifested Sons of God who were delivered from the bondage and Age of corruption.



Revelation 12:3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


Revelation 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 27 He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father


Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.


142 John using this technic is in Revelation 20 in the first six verses John was actually living through those events and from verse seven to the end were things that were shortly going to take place and be fulfilled in AD70. 143 John never mentioned things that would be a long time to take place such as when God told Daniel to seal the book because the things in it would be way off into the future of about 500 years which was a very long time. 144 We need to rightly divide the word of truth in order to understand what John was trying to say and what kind of timeframe they had and not extend them way off into the future of about 2000 years which would have been an extremely long time.

145 Futurist take things to be literal instead of realizing the things John wrote about were signified and not to be taken literally. Many believe that God’s Kingdom will be established on the Earth and that is where Heaven will be.


 146 Here are some verses that would be in the unseen realm that I see as related:

Revelation 5: And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Conclusion:

Who were the First-fruits?

147 In Mathew 27:51-53 they were the first fruits of Israel to be resurrected after Christ. I’m not sure who all were including but I believe David and Daniel would have been in that resurrection as well as all the Prophets especially those who were killed. 148 The 24 Elders were as well as 144,000 of the first fruits of Israel.

149 Isn’t it odd that they were resurrected same day as Christ was and no one bats an eye at it and just say they died again and Lazarus, Enoch and Elijah as well…

150 Daniel addresses only the resurrection of the just and unjust world wide but John realized that the Seven Feasts of the Lord painted a bigger picture to God’s redemption plan through the Seven Feast of the Lord with there being a first resurrection.

151 In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to give the first and best portions of the harvest as an offering to Him which was called the first-fruits. 152 As an offering to God, the Israelites acknowledged that all the harvest and everything they had came from God and belonged to Him. 153 The harvest of the grains and fruit were a type that foreshadowed God’s people as those who belonged to Him. 154 Then the time came for the resurrection of the dead those who were worthy were the first fruits that were raised from the dead first and God honoured those who served under the Old Covenant as first as seen in Mathew 27:51-53.

1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

156 There was even an order of who were raised first of those who were believers in Christ. 157 Those who were martyred were first because they were sitting on thrones ready to judge those who killed them in Revelation 20:4, but the rest of the dead in Christ were raised before those who were alive and remained at the coming of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

158 According to Jeremiah Israel was Holy to the Lord and because they served a special purpose for types and foreshadowing things to come in Christ they were first-fruits. 159 Hosea saw it the same way and Jesus came to save Israel before commissioning His followers to preach the Gospel to the whole world for salvation. 160 This group from Israel who were under the Old Covenant fall under the category of the Feast of First Fruits.

Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness to the Lord, The first-fruits of His increase.

Hosea 9:10 I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the first-fruits on the fig tree in its first season.

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

161 The Feast of Pentecost is where the first-fruits of the Spirit come from. 162 They included people from other nations as well as those from Israel who were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit who had the first-fruits of the Spirit. 163 We can see where Paul included those from Achaia which was in Greece.

Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints.

164 I think that with Lazarus, Enoch, Elijah etc. that God just took them into Heaven to be with Him just because He wanted to and He can do whatever He wants. 165 God probably liked Enoch for walking with Him so mush that He probably said hey you know what I want you to be with me now and not wait thousands of years in Hades to be with me. 

166 God probably thought, hey Lazarus you were raised from the dead by my Son so you are a special case to be thought of here in Heaven so come on up now instead of waiting a few years in Hades and I don’t want you to have to die twice.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

167 Probably one of the most misunderstood text from scripture aside from Revelation 20 would be in who the 144,000 were in chapters of Revelation 7 & 14. 168 The 144,000 are not the ones who were alive and remained that were raptured or changed in a twinkling of an eye.


169 After Jesus was crucified he descended into the lower parts of the earth and preached to the spirits in prison who were asleep in hades on the side where Abraham’s bosom was. 170 Having the keys to death Jesus sets them free from their prison and the 144,000 follow Him wherever He went according to:


 Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first-fruits to God and to the Lamb.


Ephesians 4:9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)


1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,


171 Right after John describes the 144,000 as being from the twelve tribes of Israel that were redeemed from the Earth in Matthew 27:51-53 he then goes on the describes those who came out of the Great Tribulation from all around the world. 172 This could have been the ones who were raptured at the sound of the last Trump for the first resurrection saints who were blessed.


173 To prove my point getting back to the 144,000, they appear before John saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. 174 The 144,000 fit in very well with Matthew 27 which was before the Gospel was preached. 175 Notice more proof of that here in verse Revelation 14:14-15 that the 144,000 appear not only before the gospel was preached but way before the final harvest of not first fruits but the fruit harvest of the whole Earth in AD70 after the first fruits Harvest at the sound of the last trump for the blessed in the first resurrection where the unjust were not mentioned. 176 Only the dead in Christ and those who were alive and remained to meet the Lord in the air are mentioned.


1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.


1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.


The harvest in Rev.14:14-20 was not of the offering of first fruits shown in the Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of Pentecost, it was the final harvest in the Feast of Tabernacles which had an offering by fire.


Revelation 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

177 After the 144,000 John sees those who came out of the Great Tribulation from all around the world. 178 While judgment fell on Jerusalem these people from other nations also went through hard times for their faith in Christ. 179 I’m not sure if they came in after those who were alive and remained that were raptured or changed into Spiritual bodies or not.


180 Just to see how this might have played out without stating it as a fact, let’s just say those who came out of the Great Tribulation were not part of the ones who met the Lord in the air. 181 Let’s say that they came into Heaven After the last trump where the dead in Christ and those who were alive met the Lord in the air. 182 And let’s say that the last Trump happened in AD66. 183 Those who came out of the Great Tribulation could have still been part the first resurrection if they were resurrected before the just and unjust in the resurrection that Daniel spoke of in Daniel 12 and Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25:30. 184 Because that resurrection was  for the first fruits, it was for whole world and also ended the Age of Corruption after the Great White Throne Judgment which fulfilled the Feast day of Atonement and where the Feast of Tabernacles carried on. 185 Either way I believe those came out of the Great Tribulation were part of the first resurrection that was only for the blessed and they could have been the dead in Christ and those who were alive that remained before the last Trump.


186 The final resurrection which Daniel spoke of in Daniel 12 and Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25:30 was for the just and unjust. 187 The just would have been those who were dead that never heard of the nation of Israel or the God of Israel but they had the fruits of the Kingdom. 188 They were the sheep Jesus mentioned and treated others kindly as if unto the Lord and did the things Jesus would have done to others in love. 189 The unjust were those who did the opposite and were the goats. 190 This resurrection and Great White Throne Judgment put an end to death and the Age of Corruption and started a new Glorious Creation where the whole world stated off with All Things being Made New for a New Heaven & Earth. 191 Jesus Christ is the Everlasting father to all of mankind now instead of Adam. 192 Those from the first resurrection became Christ Bride and everyone else after them are their Spiritual Offspring, children of the resurrection and manifested Sons of God which is who we are.

193 Here is how I see the order of the first resurrection:

1. The 144,000 from Mathew 27:51-53

2. The ones who reigned on the Earth through baptism in Christ and the Holy Spirit

3. Those who were martyred during the first century

4. Those who were dead in Christ and those who were alive that remained to met the Lord in the air

5. Those who came out of the Great Tribulation if they came after those who met the Lord in the air. They may have been the same group of people.

194 After the first resurrection order was complete the resurrection for the Great White Throne Judgment happened in AD70 after Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed.