1 Corinthians 15 reveals the resurrection is not one simultaneous event but an organized sequence of groups, each raised in its own 'order' or company.
Paul begins with Christ as the firstfruits, then identifies those who belong to Christ at His coming, and then the end follows. Les Feldick explains that the word 'order' is a military term, indicating that every person is raised in his own company — including church-age believers, Old Testament saints, and tribulation saints at separate times.
1 Corinthians 15:23 — This is the key verse that states the resurrection order directly: Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:20 — Paul establishes Christ as the firstfruits of them that slept, forming the first company in the resurrection order.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul addresses the reality of the resurrection of the dead. In verse 20 he writes: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." This sets Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection. In verse 23, Paul continues: "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." Then verse 24 adds: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." Scripture thus presents an ordered sequence: Christ first, then those who belong to Christ at His coming, with the end following after.
Les Feldick teaches that the Greek word translated "order" in 1 Corinthians 15:23 is a military term of organization — like a platoon, company, battalion, or division. He stresses that the resurrection is not going to be general, with everybody raised at once, but every person in his own company. Les identifies the first company as Christ and the Jewish believers who came out of the graves at the time of His resurrection (Matthew 27), calling them the firstfruits. The next company is the church-age believer — the Body of Christ — at the coming for His Body, which is the rapture. Then, after the tribulation runs its course and an additional 75 days, the Old Testament saints and tribulation saints will be resurrected in their own company. Les sums this up as the resurrection of the just in three distinct stages, with all believers from Adam to the end being part of the first resurrection. He also notes that the lost are in their own separate company.
Les Feldick explains that Paul chose a military term. "Order" in the Greek is a term of organization, like a company or battalion. So Paul means every person in his own company — the resurrection will not be general with everybody at once.
Les teaches that the firstfruits company is Christ plus the Jewish believers who came out of the graves after His resurrection (Matthew 27). They were the first little group of resurrection people, and then came the church-age harvest.
According to Les, after the tribulation has run its course and an extra 75 days pass, the Old Testament saints, including Daniel, and the tribulation saints will be resurrected in their company. These are all part of the first resurrection of believers from Adam until the end.
The passage itself says "every man in his own order," and Les Feldick emphasizes that the human race will not be resurrected at the same moment. Instead, there will be separate companies — including the lost in their own company — organized by God, with several resurrections of believers close in proximity but not identical in time.
What Does "First Resurrection" Really Mean? Bible Study
often, it's hard to get everything into 30 minutes, and so you'll have to bear with me. But for those of you here in the studio, let's come back to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And again, for those of you joining us on television, some of you are probably catching our program for the first time. We're just an informal Bible study group.
Order as Military Term
Les compares "order" to military terms like company and battalion, showing that resurrection happens in organized groups, beginning with Christ and continuing with church-age believers.
Firstfruits and Church Age
Les identifies the firstfruits as Christ and the Jewish believers from the graves in Matthew 27, followed by the believers of the church age at Christ's coming.
75 Days and Remaining Saints
Les adds the third stage: after the tribulation and 75 days, Old Testament saints and tribulation saints are resurrected; he calls the body of Christ the main harvest.
Companies of Resurrection
Les maps the different companies — the lost, Old Testament saints, body of Christ, and tribulation saints — and reminds listeners that those who arose in Jerusalem were the firstfruits.
Three Parts of First Resurrection
Les summarizes that the first resurrection has three parts: the firstfruits, the body of Christ, and Old Testament/tribulation saints — all believers from Adam to the end.
Three Distinct Stages
Les gives the three distinct stages of the just resurrection: Christ and Matthew 27 saints, the church resurrection/rapture, and Old Testament saints after the kingdom, clarifying that "at His coming" refers to the coming for the Body.
Order as Term of Organization
Les stresses that the Greek word "order" is a military term of organization, so believers have several resurrections close together rather than one general event.
1 Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This verse sets Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection, the starting point of the order.
1 Corinthians 15:23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Paul explicitly gives the order: Christ first, then those who belong to Him at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:24: Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
This shows that after the earlier resurrections, the end continues the sequence.
Matthew 27:52-53: 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.
Les connects these saints to the firstfruits company in the resurrection order.
Les explains that the first resurrection includes all the believers of all the ages — Christ and the firstfruits, the church-age believers at the rapture, and Old Testament and tribulation saints after the tribulation. They are all believers from Adam until the end.
Les says this refers to the church-age believer, the Body of Christ, at the coming for the Body — the rapture — not His second coming. This is the second company in the resurrection order.
Les mentions that the lost are in their own company — the company of the lost — separate from the companies of believers. The first resurrection passages focus on the resurrection of the just.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "First Resurrection" Really Mean? Bible Study