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They are the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. Rev. 14:4 The first fruits were the first ripe of all of their crops from the field to the tree, it was to be consecrated unto the Lord. The first mention of it is in connection with the feast of first fruits which took place at the end of the year and was the feast of ingathering. It was the time of the gathering of the general harvest. The shadow of its importance is seen in the statement that ìIsrael was holiness unto the Lord and the first fruits of His increase.î Jer. 2:3 Indicating that first fruits apply not only to the harvest of the land and its increase but to those who are the people of God. These two elements then are applicable to the product of the marriage of Christ and His church, they are first fruits, and only the beginning of the crop and there is to be an increase, a full harvest.
In Pentecost we seek earnestly to be baptized in the Spirit but the experience which we receive is just the first fruits. Too many settle down spiritually, feeling that they have arrived. We must go on, there is more than the initial experience, there is a harvest to come. Rom. 8:23 Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection and we well know and believe that there is a great harvest to be gathered when He returns. 1 Cor. 15:20, 23 Then we have the first fruits of a new race who are seen in close proximity with Christ. Rev. 14:4 Seeing that they are named the first fruits we know immediately that there are more to follow. They have the nature and character of Christ. There is no guile to be found in their speech, it is pure and holy before the Lord. They are also noted to be the very epitome of holiness and before the throne of the Lord. Rev. 14:5 They occupy a high and holy position in the eternal economy of the Lord. So, we anticipate a season of revival and ingathering plus the marriage of the Lamb and His perfected church as the next sign of the end of the age.
The beginning of the great tribulation coincides with the birth of the man child. There is an appropriate space of time between the marriage of the Lamb and the birth of the man child. Spiritual activity will be at its peak during that time. The message of the Lord will be intense and many will be saved. It will also be a time of persecution because of the obvious results of the marriage of Christ and the perfected Bride. One of the strange doctrines preached today is that the church will escape this world without persecution. Jesus said; ìBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.î Mt. 5:10 Again; ìif they have persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.î John 15:20 the woman who will give birth to the man child will be persecuted by the dragon just before she escapes. Rev. 12:13 Church wake up. Persecution is already taking place.