The Firstfruits Rapture: Part 2
In this study I would like to continue to expand over some important points regarding the Firstfruits Rapture. For 25 years I held the belief that the Rapture would take place at the end of the world, but as I began to listen to prominent Bible teachers regarding the Firstfruits Rapture, and that it will occur 42 months prior to the end, many puzzle pieces to end times prophesy began to come together for me as I connected many Bible passages that also showed me why it is God’s will. So I will begin by quoting the following passage of Matthew 21 which shows the importance of bearing fruit.
Matthew 21:18-19 Now in the morning as he [Jesus] returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
This fig tree represents a person that should be bearing fruit for the kingdom of God, but because it is not, Jesus condemns and destroys it. The 2 criteria that God requires all true believers to fulfill in order to be able to enter into the kingdom of God (with the exception of very young children), are repentance and bearing fruit. In Luke 13, Jesus explains the importance of repentance.
Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13 teaches us the importance of bearing fruit.
Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The principle being taught here in Luke 13 is crucial in understanding the concept of a Firstfruits Rapture. As explained in this passage, the man who comes seeking fruit it angry that the tree has not borne fruit and wants to destroy it, but caretaker of the vineyard wants to show mercy upon the tree by giving it extra attention, and fertilizing it, in order to help it bear fruit. This is the main purpose of God's will towards all professing Christians, such as those who have been a part of misguided congregations, the lukewarm Christians, as well as the Jews, is that "fertilizer" be applied in their lives in order to help them bear fruit and be able to enter into the kingdom of God. Very young Elect babies and children are excluded from this group because their innocence has prevented their names from being blotted out of the Lamb's book of life [Rev 3:5], and so therefore they remain firstfruits. This is why Jesus declares in Matthew 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" - because these Elect babies and children are firstfruits who will be caught up in the Firstfruits Rapture!
Another passage that supports a Firstfruits Rapture is found in Revelation 3.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, which shall come upon all the world, to test them that dwell upon the earth.
Only the Firstfruits will be “kept” from this hour of temptation. This is the “hour” of the coming of the Son of man which Jesus repeatedly alludes to as the “hour” in which He will come as a thief in the night.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour [G5610] your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour [G5610] as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour [G5610]] that he is not aware of.
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour [G5610] wherein the Son of man cometh.
The hour of trial that will come upon the world to test them that dwell upon the Earth will be a testing program that each person living in the world will either pass, (by repenting and bearing fruit), or will fail and most likely succumb to the great deception that is coming to the world.
The requirement for bearing fruit is also found in the parable of the ten talents of Matthew 25.
Matthew 25: 14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
The scenario of being left behind is also described in Luke 17.
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." [New King James version]
The Firstfruits Rapture has a special purpose in God's divine plan of Salvation and those that are left behind will be the numbered in the millions, if not billions. Those that are ready will be as the wise virgins that were ready when the bridegroom arives, but there will still be hope in the world and it will still be the day of salvation.
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Make sure you are bearing fruit and are not a lukewarm Christian.
Revelation 3:14-19 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.
Matthew 21:18-19 Now in the morning as he [Jesus] returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
This fig tree represents a person that should be bearing fruit for the kingdom of God, but because it is not, Jesus condemns and destroys it. The 2 criteria that God requires all true believers to fulfill in order to be able to enter into the kingdom of God (with the exception of very young children), are repentance and bearing fruit. In Luke 13, Jesus explains the importance of repentance.
Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13 teaches us the importance of bearing fruit.
Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The principle being taught here in Luke 13 is crucial in understanding the concept of a Firstfruits Rapture. As explained in this passage, the man who comes seeking fruit it angry that the tree has not borne fruit and wants to destroy it, but caretaker of the vineyard wants to show mercy upon the tree by giving it extra attention, and fertilizing it, in order to help it bear fruit. This is the main purpose of God's will towards all professing Christians, such as those who have been a part of misguided congregations, the lukewarm Christians, as well as the Jews, is that "fertilizer" be applied in their lives in order to help them bear fruit and be able to enter into the kingdom of God. Very young Elect babies and children are excluded from this group because their innocence has prevented their names from being blotted out of the Lamb's book of life [Rev 3:5], and so therefore they remain firstfruits. This is why Jesus declares in Matthew 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" - because these Elect babies and children are firstfruits who will be caught up in the Firstfruits Rapture!
Another passage that supports a Firstfruits Rapture is found in Revelation 3.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, which shall come upon all the world, to test them that dwell upon the earth.
Only the Firstfruits will be “kept” from this hour of temptation. This is the “hour” of the coming of the Son of man which Jesus repeatedly alludes to as the “hour” in which He will come as a thief in the night.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour [G5610] your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour [G5610] as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour [G5610]] that he is not aware of.
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour [G5610] wherein the Son of man cometh.
The hour of trial that will come upon the world to test them that dwell upon the Earth will be a testing program that each person living in the world will either pass, (by repenting and bearing fruit), or will fail and most likely succumb to the great deception that is coming to the world.
The requirement for bearing fruit is also found in the parable of the ten talents of Matthew 25.
Matthew 25: 14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
The scenario of being left behind is also described in Luke 17.
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." [New King James version]
The Firstfruits Rapture has a special purpose in God's divine plan of Salvation and those that are left behind will be the numbered in the millions, if not billions. Those that are ready will be as the wise virgins that were ready when the bridegroom arives, but there will still be hope in the world and it will still be the day of salvation.
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Make sure you are bearing fruit and are not a lukewarm Christian.
Revelation 3:14-19 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.
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