That the Lord’s Firstfruits are not in His church simply to “get saved” and “go to heaven” is made clear in the Holy Scriptures. This is brought out in Second Timothy 2:15 where the Apostle Paul tells his fellow minister Timothy that he must continue to study the Holy Scriptures in order to retain God’s approval. Timothy completed his training for his part in the Lord’s plan for man’s salvation. Soon he and others of his spiritual caliber will join Christ in the millennium where they will spend 1000 years (one millennia) teaching multiplied billions of people who are alive upon His return. God’s Firstfruits will give the rest of humanity the opportunity to hear the Gospel message–most of them for the first time–and to respond to it without having to deal with Satan who will have been taken out of the way. Read about what will take place on earth following the second resurrection and during the following millennium using the key words–Second and Millennium respectively. Also, read part 1 of this series if you have not done so. If it seems that the “millennial people” will be given an easier path to eternal life than the rest of us, you will be right. However, because the Firstfruits had to qualify for the privilege by defeating Satan “all day every day” (Rev. 3:21), they will spend eternity in the very presence of God and Christ in the special paradise created specifically for them. To learn about that magnificent place read The Kingdom of God. Key word–Kingdom. Those who have died before Christ’s return having never heard the true Gospel will do so at the time of the Great White Throne resurrection and judgment.

Do not lose sight of the fact that both the Firstfruits, whom Jesus said would be few in number, and all others, whom He identified as “the many,” are ALL in the church which God calls “My people who are called by My name.” With that in mind we will study two parables which explain how the church works, who are in the church, who are its “firstfruits” and who are the vast majority who will be denied entrance into God’s kingdom following the first resurrection. This situation is presented in parable form in Matthew chapter 25 in the story of the ten virgins–church members, half of whom were wise (Firstfruits) and half were foolish (rejects). Now we will view the church’s wise-foolish situation by examining two other parables.

In the parable of the talents (Lk. 19:11-27) Jesus is depicted as the rich young ruler going to God’s throne in heaven to receive the Kingdom of God. Before leaving he gave to his servants (church members) varying amounts of the Holy Spirit, represented as pounds. They were to use the Spirit to grow in grace and righteousness during His absence. Some were given more of the Spirit than others. Their inheritance upon His return would depend on what they did with the portion of the Holy Spirit they were given. Upon His return, some were rewarded highly and others less highly, depending on how much they improved their faith, character, etc. during His absence. However, those who did not grow spiritually at all were cast out of the kingdom. This is also depicted in Second Timothy 2:19- 21 where the “great house” represents God’s church. Note that there are both holy and unholy people within the house (church). Note that only the holy people are allowed to remain with the Lord. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13,14, only a few become “Firstfruits.” This scenario is illustrated in the series titled “My People Called by My Name” and Who are God’s People? Key words–Called and People respectively. We are introduced to some of these people in Galatians 1:6-9 and Hebrews 5:9-14. These church members were showing their true spiritual colors, and they were not the right colors.

In the parable of the sower (Mat. 13:1-9) the Lord goes into considerable detail about who in the church will and who will not become Firstfruits. In this parable the “seed” being sown by God’s messengers is His Holy Word/Truth (Jn. 17:17). All in “the field” (the earth) are called to become Firstfruits. Some receive the Word but immediately reject it because it does not suit their lifestyle. Some receive the Word with joy, but lack the depth of character to obey it when persecution inevitably arrives. Some hear the Word and respond positively. However, over time the cares of life and the pursuit of pleasure result in their failure to grow in spiritual character and knowledge of God’s Word.

Others hear the Word and embrace it, study it deeply, believe it and obey it, thereby producing spiritual fruit. These will be the only seed recipients who will become Firstfruits at the return of Jesus Christ. Those who failed in that regard will be in the second resurrection and will be given an opportunity to right their wrongs after being taught by the Firstfruits if they are still alive upon Christ’s return. Those who have died will be in the Great White Throne resurrection, taught God’s Truth and given the opportunity to embrace it, resulting in salvation. As noted earlier, this group will also include the masses of humanity who, during their lifetimes, had neither heard the name of Jesus Christ or His message. In this way, all who have ever lived will be given the opportunity to live eternally on the new earth. Again, only the Firstfruits will be allowed to live with God and Christ in New Jerusalem–the Godhead’s universe headquarters known as THE KINGDOM OF GOD whose capital will be New Jerusalem.

As noted in the statement about the “Great House” (church), within God’s church there are both good and evil people–the evil far outnumbering the good (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14. In other words, the church has always been and continues to be basically carnal. Only a minutely few are spiritual, meaning that they are led by the Spirit of God, making them His true children (Rom. 8:14). These are those who will become God’s Firstfruits upon the return of Jesus Christ. All other church people will rise during the second resurrection.

For more proof that the church contains both good and evil people, read Revelation chapters 1-3. Notice that Jesus calls all seven of the candlesticks “churches” among whom He is standing. Notice that He address each one as “the church in” the seven towns in which each one was located. Each church represents an era of church history. Christ’s description of those in each church (era) depicts the spiritual condition of church during that era. Of particular interest is His description of the church in Laodicea which represents the final church era–THE ERA IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE. He perfectly describes the modern day church in 3:14-22.

Then there are those in the third resurrection also known as the “Great White Throne judgment.” “These are they who, during their former lives, had heard God’s Truth, knew that it was His Truth and deliberately rejected it in favor of a more man-directed religious path, of which there are many. These are called denominations, faiths, churches, etc. These will be resurrected, judged and cast into the eternal flames of hell where they will be burned to ash and walked upon by the Firstfruits (Mal. 4:13). In this group will also be those who, having been raised in the second resurrection and taught by the Firstfruits during the Millennium, then rejected God’s offer of eternal life. As noted earlier in this posting, these will also include those who lived and died before Christ’s arrival who never heard the name of Jesus or His message. May we all meet Jesus in the clouds during His FIRST RESURRECTION and spend eternity in the Kingdom of God from whence we will be caretakers of the universe. Read the series by that name. Key word–Caretakers. L.J.