BIBLE TOPICS

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". Ps 119:105

Subjects

FIRSTFRUITS UNTO GOD

Once Jesus returns the calling and perfection of those sons and daughters of the Almighty who are to share with His Son the glory and honour of becoming Kings and Priests during the Millennium, will have been completed. The opportunity to have a place amongst that glorious company will, therefore, have been closed:

"And one said unto him (Jesus), Lord are they few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall they begin to say. We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God and yourselves cast forth without" (Luke 13.23-28).

Christ's parable of the ten virgins teaches the same lesson: five were wise and five were foolish. We note that all the virgins in the parable fell asleep, they were not alert, having grown weary of waiting for the bridegroom returning. This therefore shows us that many will lose sight of the fact Jesus will return and will grow spiritually sleepy. However the wise had prepared for the wedding when the bridegroom [Jesus] finally came they only needed to refill their lamps with oil. [Oil represents the word of God.] So the wise had been busy whilst waiting for the Bridegroom to arrive, despite growing sleepy. They had filled their time reading and studying God's word and they were considered worthy to enter into the marriage supper, for they had prepared themselves. The foolish however were not suitably prepared when the bridegroom arrived:

"And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord Lord open to us. But he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not" (Matthew 25.1-12).

When Jesus returns it will be to late then to obtain the 'oil' of the word. If we have spent our lives seeking the knowledge and pleasures of this world, it will be too late seeking the things of God when Jesus returns. He does not want last minute repenters who seek him only at their convenience. He wants sincere repentance and the seeking out of what Paul terms 'sound doctrine'. Jesus said "You remain in my love if you obey my commands".

For those who do genuinely seek God, putting faith in His word, believing on the saving name of Jesus and do their best despite the frailties of human nature to do His will, they will be the 'firstfuits of the earth' and accounted worthy to be granted the gift of immortality:

"And I saw, and behold the Lamb standing on the mount Zion and with him a hundred and forty four thousand, having the name of his Father, written on their foreheads . . . And they sing as it were a new song before the throne... and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb." (Revelation 14.1-4).

These have been 'purchased' by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus who gave his life "as a ransom for many". They are the ones who have put their faith in him during their lives now. The "new song" points to the fact that they have just attained to the divine nature, and no one else can learn their song, because it defines the work that they have to do. They sing a new song, saying:

"Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth." (Revelation 5.9-10).

They shall be permitted to reign with Christ throughout the Millennium assisting him in the "restoration of all things". John records:

"The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power: but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years:" (Revelation 20. 5-6).

Thus Paul speaks of this hope giving great encouragement and joy in our lives now:

"Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us more and more exceeding an eternal weight of glory." (2Corinthians4.16-

The joy and glory of those who shall be granted eternal life and perfection of existence, following this first resurrection, is spoken in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians:

"But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory, which none of the rulers of this world knoweth: had they known it they would not have crucified Lord of glory: but as it is written (in Isaiah 64v4 ) "Things which eye saw not and ear heard not, which entered not into the heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love Him, but unto us God revealed them through the Spirit. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2.7-10).

Other Prophecies you may like to look at on this subject:

Isaiah 35.10; Romans 5.15-21; 1Corinthians 15.50-54; Philippians 3.20-21; Colossians. 3.1-4; 2 Timothy 1.9-10; 2.10-12; John 10.27-29; 14.1-3; Revelation 2.7, 3.5,21