Has anyone ever told you that the firstfruits are connected with the Mark of the Beast?
What is the connection between the firstfruit and the lump, between the root and the branches?
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16
Who is the firstfruits from the dead, or from them that slept?
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
I Corinthians 15:20
Who are the firstfruits from the living?
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Revelation 14:1, 4
NOTE: We can see that they are the living saints when Jesus comes the second time. Because in verses 6-11 we have the last messages of mercy to the world. Then verses 12-13 are a promise and description of the living saints. Then the rest of the chapter describes the second coming of Christ to judge the earth, and to deliver His Bride.
Why has Christ not yet returned?
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:7
NOTE: Again those who are alive when Jesus comes are called the precious FRUIT of the earth.
Does the second coming of Christ have a marriage feast?
What is the garment of the saints?
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Revelation 19:7-9
Did Jesus give a parable about the second coming of Christ that uses the same language that we just read in Revelation?
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Matthew 22:1-10
NOTE: We will look at Matthew chapter 24 at another time, but here we see the same language is used, those who give the gospel call will be persecuted just before the end.
So Jesus says,
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end (in love), the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Matthew 24:12-13
What was the requirement to partake of the feast? Or why was one cast out?
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:11-13
Does this mean that only a few will be lost or that many are illustrated by this one man?
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14
Since we read that this garment is the righteousness of saints, what is the righteousness of saints?
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:6
NOTE: The actual words are all uppercase in the Bible, I only bolded for the emphasis.
Is the last church dressed with the wedding garment, or is she naked?
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:
Revelation 3:17
What is the recommended solution?
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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:18:
Where is Jesus in relation to this church?
Inside? Or outside?
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
NOTE: Since the churches are so busy making fig leaves, because they do not want the garment of the righteousness of Christ.
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”
Genesis 3:7
And hiding themselves from the face of God.
“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Genesis 3:10
And what are they doing that hides them from the face of God and keeps them from being clothed with the Righteousness of Christ?
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Isaiah 59:1-8
What will eventually happen the churches around the time when Jesus comes?
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:16
NOTE: The old English word spue means to vomit violently.
Since the church will be vomited out off the mouth of Christ, is there still any hope for the members?
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation 18:4-5
NOTE: This message is to MY PEOPLE. That is for God’s people to come out of her who refuses to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. I know that God used many of the founders of the various churches, but now it is becoming evident that they are fallen. We are to come out of all those bodies who refuse the truth and hide the worst kind of crimes.
If anyone wants to say, “But my church is the real church of God” I want to challenge you to see if the leadership is not hiding every kind of crime, from rejecting even the most clear Bible truth, to the love of money, or lies to protect THE NAME of their so called CHURCH OF GOD, to bullying and even murder, supporting of wars, rape and child molestation! EVERY CHURCH I HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF OR RESEARCHED HAS had some or all of these problems, and if ANYONE STAYS IN THESE CHURCHES AFTER KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON, THIS PERSON BECOMES GUILTY OF THE SAME CRIMES/SINS!
THEREFORE THE BIBLE SAYS: Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation 18:4-5
Yes I know this seems harsh, but really think about it. How many people are suffering because the true wife/individuals of Christ’s church have not made themselves ready?
And also every one of these churches will dis-fellowship you if you try to preach the truth or reform the church and bring it back to the Bible truth!
How many people are killed every day, while the SO CALLED RIGHTEOUS are busy gossiping?
How many wars are being fought in the world in 2023?
How many families are broken because of these wars? And I mean they will never in this life EVER see their FATHERS, MOTHERS, GRANDPARENTS, GRANDCHILDREN, CHILDREN OR COUSINS!
How many times have we heard about some young girl or boy who was abused again and again because some GODLY LEADER was hiding it from the government?
And all because of a world loving, money & power grabbing RIGHTEOUS CHURCH OF GOD!
Somehow I’m not buying it! They are not the children of the LOVELY JESUS! We just read that the “branches are holy because the root is holy”, AND THESE THINGS ARE NOT HOLY!
Imagine this:
The gentle Jesus who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.
Acts 10:38 & Matthew 11:4-5
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Do you think those who commit those things are truly His followers?
I was in a store where they were playing a song about committing adultery, I mean down to the details, from start to finish. then a few minutes later THEY STOPPED THE MUSIC TO PRAY!
How many families are broken because of adultery?
So I asked someone that was working in the store,
“Are you christian?”
He said: Yes.
So I asked: Do you think God answers the prayers of those who play such music.
And he said “I DON’T KNOW!”
To be continued…
The Bible Students' Library 