Yes, Christ being the firstfruits of resurrection signifies that He was the first person ever resurrected, and His resurrection inaugurated the harvest of believers.
According to Les Feldick, Christ had to be the first resurrected from the dead, and this event was followed by the resurrection of certain Jewish believers (Matthew 27) to complete the firstfruits offering. Together, they form a sample of the larger resurrection harvest to come, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:20 — This verse directly states that Christ is the firstfruits of those who have died, which is the core of the question.
The Bible teaches that Christ rose from the dead as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). This event is described in Matthew 27:52-53, where many bodies of saints who had died came out of their graves after His resurrection and appeared to many in the holy city. These saints were raised after Christ, fulfilling the order that Christ must be the first.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Christ's resurrection was the first true resurrection from the dead, as previous resurrections like Lazarus were merely a restoration to life. He explains that the Jewish believers raised in Matthew 27 were part of the firstfruits, together with Christ, forming a bundle of grain—a sample of the larger harvest. He connects this to the Old Testament feast of firstfruits (Leviticus 23) and the harvest analogy, where the firstfruits are the early ripening grain, followed by the main harvest, and finally the gleanings. Les clarifies that the church-age believers will be resurrected later in their own company at Christ's coming, not as part of the firstfruits.
The saints who were resurrected after Christ in Matthew 27 are essential to the firstfruits concept. Les explains that Christ alone is the firstfruit, but the resurrected saints together with Him form a plural firstfruits offering, just as a bundle of grain contains many stems. These saints were Jewish believers buried near Jerusalem, and they appeared to many after His resurrection.
Les teaches that resurrection occurs in stages, as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:23. First, Christ and the firstfruits (including the saints from Matthew 27), then at Christ's coming, the church-age believers, and finally, the rest of the harvest.
Les compares the resurrection order to Israel's harvest: firstfruits (early ripening grain), then the main harvest, and finally the gleanings. This illustrates that Christ's resurrection is just the beginning of the resurrection harvest, with more to follow.
Harvest Analogy
Les introduces the harvest analogy, comparing the resurrection to the three stages of Israel's harvest: firstfruits, main harvest, and gleanings.
Christ Must Be First
Les explains that Christ had to be the first resurrected from the dead, and that the saints in Matthew 27 form the 'bundle of first fruits' with Him.
Jewish Believers Raised
Les notes that the Jewish believers came out of the graves after Christ's resurrection, not before, to fulfill the firstfruits analogy.
Fulfillment of Firstfruits
Les explains that the resurrection of the saints from Jerusalem tombs fulfilled the firstfruits practice from the Old Testament.
Resurrection Doctrine
Les discusses 1 Corinthians 15:20, where Christ is called the firstfruits of those who have died, and connects it to the necessity of resurrection.
Resurrection Order
Les outlines the order of resurrection: first Christ and the firstfruits, then church-age believers at His coming.
Church Age Next
Les says that after the firstfruits, the next group to be resurrected is the church-age believers, who are part of the body of Christ.
Old Testament Background
Les points to Leviticus 23 and the feast of firstfruits to explain the language Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This verse directly names Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation of the teaching.
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 shows the order of resurrection, with Christ as the firstfruits and others following.
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 passage describes the resurrection of Jewish saints after Christ, which Les interprets as part of the firstfruits.
Yes, according to Les, Christ was the first to be resurrected from the dead. Previous instances like Lazarus were not resurrections but a restoration to life, as they died again.
Les teaches that these Jewish believers were part of the firstfruits offering, together with Christ. They had to come out after His resurrection to fulfill the plural idea of firstfruits, as a bundle of grain with many stems.
No, Les explains that church-age believers will be resurrected later in their own company at Christ's coming, not as part of the firstfruits group.
Watch the Teaching: The Three Stages of Resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 Explained