1 Corinthians 15:23 teaches that the resurrection occurs in an appointed order, beginning with Christ as the firstfruits and continuing with those who belong to Him at His coming.
Paul writes that every man is raised in his own order, not all at once. Christ is the firstfruits, and afterward the believers who are Christ's are raised at His coming. Les Feldick teaches that this refers to separate resurrection companies rather than a single event.
1 Corinthians 15:23 — This is the verse in question, directly describing the order of the resurrection: Christ first, then those who are Christ's at His coming.
In 1 Corinthians 15:23, Paul writes: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. The verse is part of a passage where Paul is explaining the resurrection of believers. According to the verse, the resurrection is set in an order: Christ is the firstfruits, and after Him come those who belong to Christ at His coming. The following verses continue the thought: 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. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The text does not spell out every resurrection company, but it clearly shows that Christ's resurrection begins the order and that the resurrection of believers follows at His coming.
Les Feldick builds on the phrase 'every man in his own order' and teaches that the resurrection of the just happens in separate companies, not as one single event. He connects this to the Jewish harvest pattern: first the firstfruits, then the main harvest, and finally the corners and gleanings. The firstfruits company is Christ and the Jewish believers who came out of the graves in Matthew 27. The main harvest is the resurrection of the Body of Christ at the Rapture—Paul's 'they that are Christ's at his coming.' Then, after the Tribulation and an additional 75 days, Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints are raised as the gleanings. Les also notes that after all these resurrection companies are complete, the Kingdom is established, and then Christ delivers the Kingdom to the Father after putting all enemies under His feet.
Both the Bible text and Les Feldick draw on the harvest imagery. Paul calls Christ the 'firstfruits' in 1 Corinthians 15:23, a term from the beginning of the harvest. Les connects this to the Jewish harvest process: the firstfruits were taken as a sampling, then the main harvest, and finally the corners and gleanings. He applies this to resurrection companies: Christ and those raised in Matthew 27 are the firstfruits, the Church is the main harvest at the Rapture, and Old Testament saints and Tribulation believers are the gleanings.
Les teaches that the firstfruits company is not only Christ but also the Jewish believers who came out of the graves after His resurrection, as recorded in Matthew 27. He describes this as the first little group of resurrection people—the sampling of the Jewish harvest. This is already past, and believers in the Church Age are not part of this firstfruits group.
Les says Paul's phrase 'they that are Christ's at his coming' refers to the coming for the Body of Christ—the Rapture—not the Second Coming. This is the main harvest of believers saved during the Age of Grace. Paul used the same words to explain the resurrection of the Church, which Les says is the major resurrection company.
Les teaches that after the Tribulation and an additional 75 days, Old Testament saints such as Daniel, along with Tribulation saints, will be resurrected. This third company is like the corners and gleanings of the harvest. Their resurrection happens after the Kingdom is established and completes the resurrection of the just of all the ages.
Why Christ Must Reign Until All Enemies Are Under His Feet
I'm not mistaken, it'll probably take another whole four programs after today, because this is such a tremendous chapter, sort of like Romans chapter 8. You know, I don't know how long we spent in Romans 8 back there, but this is a chapter that is so loaded with one thing after another that we're not going to hurry through it.
Three Resurrection Companies
Les identifies three groups: Christ and the firstfruits, the main harvest of the Body of Christ, and the Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints who are raised 75 days after the Tribulation.
Three Distinct Stages
Les says the resurrection of the just is in three distinct stages and that Paul's 'at His coming' in verse 23 refers to the Rapture of the Body of Christ, not the Second Coming.
Firstfruits in Matthew 27
Les explains the firstfruits group is Christ and the Jewish believers who came out of the graves in Matthew 27, and that Paul says every man comes in his own order.
Dividing the Resurrection Companies
Les repeats that the Body of Christ will be resurrected as the main company, and then Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints follow at the Kingdom.
Harvest Imagery Applied
Les applies the Jewish harvest pattern to resurrection: firstfruits, main harvest at the Rapture, and corners and gleanings for Old Testament and Tribulation saints.
Resurrection After the Kingdom
Les connects 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 to the Kingdom and says the third group is raised after the Kingdom is established, fulfilling Daniel 12.
Every Man in His Own Company
Les emphasizes that church age saints are not raised with Old Testament saints or the firstfruits; each group is harvested in its own company, like wheat harvest.
1 Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This verse establishes Christ as the firstfruits, which is the basis for the order described in verse 23.
1 Corinthians 15:23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
This is the key verse, showing that resurrection happens in an appointed order beginning with Christ.
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 verse follows the resurrection order and points to the end when the Kingdom is delivered to the Father.
1 Corinthians 15:25: For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
This shows that Christ's reign continues until all enemies are under His feet.
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 cites this event as the firstfruits company that rose with Christ.
Daniel 12:2: And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Les connects this Old Testament passage to the resurrection of Old Testament saints in their own company.
No. Paul says every man in his own order, so the resurrection is in an appointed order. Les Feldick explains that believers are raised in separate companies: the firstfruits, the Church, and then Old Testament and Tribulation saints.
Les teaches that the firstfruits are Christ and the Jewish believers who rose from the graves in Matthew 27. This was the first sampling of the resurrection harvest, and it has already happened.
Les says Paul uses it to refer to the coming for the Body of Christ, which is the Rapture, not the Second Coming. This is the main harvest resurrection of church age believers.
Watch the Teaching: Why Christ Must Reign Until All Enemies Are Under His Feet