Out-Resurrection

[Editor:] Ours is a prior, pre-expectant resurrection, not revealed before the Secret Administration. When Christ, Who is our life, is manifested on His throne (Colossians 3:4) at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20) in Glory, far above all Heavens (Ephesians 4:10; 1:21, i.e., in the Super-Heavens), then we, too, will be manifested (appear) with Him there.

In the basic order of resurrections given by Paul, note that the first one is the Christ Himself.

But every man in his own order: Christ the Firstfruts; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming (I Corinthians 15:23).

Christ’s was the first resurrection to immortality (vivification). As members of Him, we share in His prior resurrection. What was unrevealed to Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians, was that “Christ the Firstfruits” included His Ecclesia of the Secret Administration. With Him, our resurrection is pre-expectant, earlier than even Israel’s prophetic “better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). Ours (Head and Body) is the best resurrection – being the Firstfuits!

Note that the word “Firstfruits” is plural. Not all versions recognize this important distinction, even prominent “literal” translations. The oversight is made in an attempt to match “Firstfruits” (in the plural) with what is thought to be “Christ” (in the singular). This would seem to make sense. However, other English versions keep it plural, consistent with its usage in the Greek Scriptures (KJV, ASV, Darby, Geneva, Holman, 20th Century, Worsley, Lamsa, Montgomery, Webster, ExeGeses, etc.).

The analogy of “Firstfruits” is not a single piece of fruit, but rather a very small group that forms the initial harvest. Attempting to match a singular “Firstfruit” with a singular “Christ” is an oversight, for “Christ” is not now singular, but plural – a unit comprised of Head and Body.

Paul would later reveal – in the Epistles of the Secret Administration – that we who are members of His Body have as our hope (confident expectation) not merely to be “Christ’s at His coming [i.e., His coming to Earth]” (I Corinthians 15:23), but rather to be “manifest together with Him in Glory” (Colossians 3:4).

Since we are reckoned as being raised with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), it’s easy to see how we are included with Him in resurrection order. Our order, in accord with the Secret Administration, is a union with Christ in the First Class, “Christ, the Firstfruits.” Thus, we see our transcendent enrichment in “the sacred secret of the Christ” (Colossians 4:3, Rotherham).

Those of us granted the distinct privilege of being members of the Ecclesia, which is His Body, (God calling those things that are [apparently] not, as though they were), have been risen with Him (Colossians 2:12), been vivified with Him (Colossians 2:13), been hidden with Him (Colossians 3:3), and will be made manifest with Him (Colossians 3:4).

These superior truths of our identity with Christ take us not only back into living union with Him at Calvary, but far beyond – “before the foundation [or, disruption] of the world” where He was already the “Lamb slain.”

Note with care how Paul’s early epistles lay the foundation of the even more glorious expansions in Ephesians and Colossians. Little wonder that Paul wrote,

Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ (Ephesians 3:4).

For more information on our Out-Resurrection see,

-          “The ‘Out-Resurrection’”, Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Notebook #912;

-          “The Out-Resurrection: Rising Before Others,” G.J. Pauptit, Bible Student’s Notebook #916;

-          “The Resurrection of Today’s Calling: The Out-Resurrection,” Tom L. Ballinger, Bible Student’s Notebook #923. 

- Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.

Bible Student's Notebook