According to 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection of the just occurs in three parts: firstfruits, the main harvest, and the corners and gleanings.
Paul uses Israel's harvest to picture the resurrections. Christ and those raised with Him in Matthew 27 are the firstfruits; church age believers are the main harvest at the rapture; and Old Testament saints and tribulation saints are the gleanings, raised after the kingdom begins.
1 Corinthians 15:20 — Christ is called the firstfruits of them that slept, establishing the first harvest category.
1 Corinthians 15:23 — Paul states that every man is raised in his own order—Christ first, then those who are Christ's at His coming.
Matthew 27:52-53 — Records the saints who came out of the graves after Christ's resurrection, included in the firstfruits.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul directly connects the resurrection with the concept of firstfruits. Verse 20 says, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." Then verse 23 explains the order: "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." This shows that the resurrection is not a single event for everyone at once, but that Christ was first, followed by those who belong to Him at His coming. The Gospel of Matthew gives a glimpse of the firstfruits event. Matthew 27:52-53 says, "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." These are the first resurrection saints who rose with Christ. Scripture itself does not list the full three-part harvest illustration, but the order in 1 Corinthians 15 sets the pattern for understanding the resurrections.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul draws directly from Israel's harvest to explain the resurrections. Just as an Israeli harvest had three stages—the firstfruits sampling, the main harvest, and the corners and gleanings left for the poor—so the resurrection of the just is broken into three categories. The firstfruits are Christ and the Jewish believers who came out of the graves in Matthew 27. The main harvest is the church age resurrection at the rapture. The gleanings and corners represent Old Testament saints and tribulation saints, who are resurrected shortly after the kingdom begins, about 75 days later.
The firstfruits are the first sampling of the resurrection harvest. Les teaches that this already happened when Christ rose from the dead, and it includes the Jewish believers who came out of their graves in Matthew 27. They comprised the firstfruits. Paul points to this in 1 Corinthians 15:20 when he says Christ has become the firstfruits of them that slept.
The main harvest is the church age resurrection. Les teaches that this is what Paul means by "afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" in 1 Corinthians 15:23. This is not the Second Coming, but the coming of Christ for the Body of Christ—the rapture. This will be the great resurrection day when the church age believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
The corners and gleanings represent the Old Testament saints and the tribulation saints. Les teaches that just as the Jewish harvesters left the corners and gleanings for the poor, so these believers are left until last. They will be resurrected in their own company about 75 days after the kingdom has begun, and they will then become part of the kingdom.
Why Did Jesus Only Go to Israel? Matthew 10:5-6 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Firstfruits and the Coming of Christ
Les explains that Paul breaks down the resurrections: firstfruits included Christ and the Jewish believers from Matthew 27, and afterwards those who are Christ's at His coming are the church age believers.
Harvest Process as Illustration
Les uses the Oklahoma wheat harvest to show the three stages: firstfruits sampling, main harvest, and then the corners and gleanings harvested last.
Three Categories Recap
Les recaps that the first resurrection of the just is broken into three categories: firstfruits with Christ and Matthew 27 saints, the main harvest at the rapture, and gleanings representing Old Testament and tribulation believers resurrected after the kingdom begins.
Each Man in His Own Company
Les teaches that every man is resurrected in his own company, with the Body of Christ as the main harvest and the Old Testament and tribulation saints raised 75 days after the kingdom begins.
Distinct Separate Stages
Les states that the resurrection of the just is in three distinct stages and clarifies that 'His coming' in 1 Corinthians 15 refers to the rapture, not the Second Coming.
Christ as Firstfruits and Harvest Illustration
Les emphasizes that Paul tells us to use the Israeli harvest as an illustration of the resurrections that are coming.
Firstfruits of Them That Slept
Les points out that Paul says Christ has become the firstfruits—plural—of those who have died, indicating a company of people.
1 Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This verse introduces the firstfruits concept that Les uses to define the first resurrection category.
1 Corinthians 15:23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
This verse provides the order of resurrection that Les interprets as three harvest stages.
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.
This records the saints who came out of the graves after Christ's resurrection, whom Les includes in the firstfruits.
Les Feldick teaches that there are three parts: the firstfruits, the main harvest, and the corners and gleanings. These correspond respectively to Christ and the Matthew 27 saints, the church age believers at the rapture, and the Old Testament and tribulation saints after the kingdom begins.
According to Les, the firstfruits includes Christ and the Jewish believers who came out of the graves in Matthew 27 after His resurrection. This was the first sampling of the resurrection harvest.
Les teaches that the church age resurrection is the main harvest. It will happen at the rapture, when Christ comes for the Body of Christ, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:23 as 'they that are Christ's at his coming.'
Les teaches that they are represented by the corners and gleanings of the harvest. They will be resurrected shortly after the kingdom has begun, about 75 days later, in their own company.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Jesus Only Go to Israel? Matthew 10:5-6 Explained