If we look at 1 Corinthians 15 as a whole, I may say there is an order in the parts of it, which it is edifying to discover and meditate. It might be entitled, “The story of grace and of glory in the light of the resurrection.” I am about to look, however, more particularly at verses 20-28. The apostle in these few verses proceeds to teach us the different eras of resurrection and things that are to take place both during them and after them. It is a scripture very rich and beautiful in its communications.
Christ the Firstfruits
In the first place, we learn that the Lord Jesus was all alone in the day of His resurrection. There was none with Him— not one. “Christ the firstfruits,” as we read here. His resurrection had qualities which were peculiar. It was a resurrection from the dead, a victorious resurrection, wrought out and won by Himself. But it was the only resurrection which had this quality or character in it. Resurrection was due to Christ. He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father (Rom. 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). He Himself likewise could say of Himself, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:1919Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19)).
He had the power of it in Himself, by virtue of what He was. This had been typified under the law, by the reaping of a sheaf at the beginning of the harvest (and before any of the new corn had been eaten) and by the waving of it, just as it was, before the Lord (Lev. 23:9-149And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord. 13And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savor: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:9‑14)).
Christ’s at His Coming
But Christ being called “the firstfruits” pledges a harvest. This is the significance of such a title. Accordingly, in due season the harvest follows and constitutes the second era in the series of resurrections. Thus we read, “Afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (vs. 23). And this is anything but solitary. Countless thousands shall be there, for all of them are “children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:3636Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36)). They rise from the dead, or in victory, simply because “they are Christ’s,” as we read here. He had risen in His day just because of who He was and what He was; they now rise because of whose they are. “If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:1111But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)).
The Third Resurrection Era
This being accomplished in its season, then again in its season, we reach the third resurrection era, called “the end” (vs. 24). But here we have new thoughts suggested to us. This is a resurrection not worthy of the name, for it is not a victorious resurrection. It is simply a resurrection of the dead — those whose names are not written in the book of life. It is a judicial resurrection, a resurrection not to life but to judgment, as is exhibited by John in Revelation 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15). The sunny seasons of resurrection at which we first looked are now succeeded by one which summons the dead to judgment and the lake of fire. Just as we ought to know the joy of anticipating the resurrection from the dead, we ought to feel what awful forewarnings Scripture gives us of the doom of those who do not, in this age of God’s grace, accept Christ as Savior. “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29)).
The Kingdom Delivered to God
We have, however, much connected with this third resurrection season, for now the Lord goes on, by the Apostle, further to teach us what is to accompany the third and last of these eras. We learn that the Lord Jesus, having received a kingdom after the second resurrection era, will hold it and order it in a way to reduce every enemy in subjection to Himself, even death. Having been faithful to this great stewardship, He will deliver it up “to God, even the Father,” that “God may be all in all.” God Himself will then be displayed in a form of glory worthy of Himself and worthy of His eternity, when all stewardships in the hand of Christ have been fulfilled.
The Great White Throne
At the same time as this delivering up of the kingdom and this great closing action, the third resurrection season will take place. The judgment shall take place before “the great white throne,” and the doom of the dead then judged is to be “the lake of fire.” And this action will be in full consistency with all that which accompanies it, because it will be an action of “the kingdom,” just as the casting of death itself into the lake of fire will be another action. All tells of the full subjection of that moment to Christ in everything and that He has been able to subdue all things to Himself. It is a fit time to lay power and stewardship aside and enter on God’s own eternity, when “a scepter of righteousness” will yield to “a dwelling” of “righteousness” (Heb. 1:88But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8); 2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)).
But I must notice two or three things connected with this more particularly. Christ delivers up the kingdom. This will be the first time, in the whole course of the world’s history, that power has been given back to the hand that had committed it. One after another of the beasts of Daniel had his kingdom taken from him. Each one had been untrue to that which was entrusted to him, and the stewardship was taken away from him. There has never been an “enduring” kingdom, for there has never been a “faithful” kingdom. This we see in Isaiah 15-24 and in Jeremiah 25, where the cup of God’s indignation is sent from one people to another, till every land, every nation, including Israel, is made to drink of it.
Messiah stands not only preeminent, but alone in His kingdom. There will be no taking of the kingdom from Him, but He will deliver it up, as One that has been infinitely faithful, faithful to the utmost jot and tittle, to Him that appointed Him.
The Destruction of Death
There is a passing touch or stroke of beauty, which I must also notice, in the midst of the weighty communications of this scripture. It is this — that death is the only enemy which is specified as being destroyed or put under the feet of Christ. In a general way we learn that all enemies are to be subdued, but death only is named individually here.
There is a stroke of beauty in this, for the great subject of the whole chapter is resurrection. Other prophets will tell us of the subjection of other things to the scepter of the Lord Jesus in the day of His royalty. Daniel tells us that He is to break in pieces every other kingdom. The psalmist tells us of all creation owning Him in His universal Lordship. John can call Him, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” But there is no one feature signalized here, but the destruction of death in the mighty sweep and sway of the kingdom of Christ. And again I say, there is a touch and stroke of beauty in that, as resurrection is the theme of the whole chapter.
All that has been for the Lord or from the Lord among His saints shall be owned in His day. All grace in them, all love, all service, all suffering for Him or for righteousness — all forms and measures of these things shall be accepted and honored. But so, I add, all learning of His mind shall have its acceptance with Him and its own proper joy in that day. It may be but small in comparison, but it will have its measure. Servants, lovers and martyrs shall be accepted then, but so shall disciples. I claim a place in that day when “every man shall have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:55Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)), for those who, in the midst of human mistakes and misjudgments, have learned and prized and held to the thoughts and principles of the divine wisdom and of the mind of God, in the progress of His dispensations.
J. G. Bellett (adapted)