The apostle John reveals the benefits of becoming a firstfruit before Messiah’s return in Revelation 20:6:
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: [when Messiah returns as king] on such the second death hath no power, but they [the firstfruits] shall be priests [of the order of Melchizedek] of Yahweh and of Messiah [from the Hebrew; Christ is from the Greek, meaning anointed] and shall reign with him a thousand years.
What about the rest of mankind? John reveals this in Revelation 20:5: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
Yes, all of mankind will be resurrected, however the firstfruits have special benefits as well as special requirements. Messiah has abolished death (2 Tim. 1:10) This means that all of mankind that was created will live again. None remain in death. The firstfruits will automatically enter the temple located in the new heavens and earth. (Revelation 21:1-2) The rest of mankind must first be judged after the thousand years. Many will enter the kingdom, while those remaining must face the second death and then find life in the new heavens and earth, but not in the kingdom. These will live outside the kingdom. (Revelation 21:8, 22:15)
Paul also reveals the status of those who are resurrected when Messiah returns at the end of this age. He tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:13: “But every man in his own order: Messiah, the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming. ”Jude 14 confirms that “ten thousands of his saints,” or fruitfruits, will be coming with Messiah when he returns.
John confirms who these tens of thousands of saints are in Revelation 14:1, 4 (Diaglott):
And I saw, and beheld the Lamb standing on the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand [persons] having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are [spiritual] virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from men, a Firstfruit to Yahweh and to the Lamb.
I chose the Diaglott as the more exact translation of these verses, based on The Companion Bible’s footnotes which explain that the King James version is inaccurate.
The firstfruits are being judged in this age. (1 Peter 4:17) However, we are told in Matthew 20:16 that “many are called, but few are chosen.” The hundred forty-four thousand revealed in Revelation 14:1 represent only those chosen. While many were called, only a small number are chosen for the better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35)
Why do so few qualify to become firstfruits? Luke provides the answer in Acts 14:22: “We must through much tribulation enter in the kingdom of Yahweh.” This applies to both the firstfruits resurrected when Messiah returns and the multitude who enter the kingdom after their judgement on the last great day or white throne judgment. (Revelation 7:9; 20:11-12)
How do we become part of those who are called? (Matthew 20:26) John quotes Messiah who provides the answer in John 6:44: “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day [of this age.]
Messiah is also quoted in John 6:65 confirming what he said in verse 44: “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Messiah gave us this insight twice. This must be very important for us to know!
The invitation or calling comes only from the Father. We cannot choose to be called, but we can choose to accept the calling or invitation. Many receive the invitation, but only a few are chosen. Who does the choosing? This is the answer Messiah gave to his disciples and I believe is also for all the firstfruits. We find this in John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
You can accept or decline the invitation from the Father. How do you accept His invitation? Peter provides the answer in Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YahwehShua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Once you accept the invitation from the Father and are baptized according to Peter, there is still another step before being resurrected when Messiah returns. That step is overcoming. Please refer to Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 where Messiah himself provides more insight into overcoming. You should also refer to a concordance and find additional scriptures under overcame and overcometh.
Once we have the down payment or earnest of Messiah’s Spirit, we can begin to overcome. What is required during our efforts to overcome? Paul helps us with this in Romans 5: 3- 5:
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience: And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of Yahweh is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” Note that Paul begins the process with tribulation. Luke adds to this understanding in Acts 14: 22: “We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of Yahweh.” We must embrace the growth opportunity that comes with tribulation and not just avoid it!
Tribulation allows us to develop patience, experience, and hope. Hope is very important as revealed in Romans 8: 24: “For we saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Consider these verses along with Hebrews 11: 1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The firstfruits have a hope which is not seen. Nowhere in the Scriptures do you see the name of YahwehShua. You are, however, able to see Messiah’s human or name given at birth, Yahshua., which was a very common name. However, in Hebrews 1:4, we are informed that Messiah received a “more excellent” name. Psalm 148: 13 tells that the more excellent name is Yahweh, an exalted and higher name than the angels. (Psalm 8:5, Hebrews 2: 7, 9)
Why did He need a new name? Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3: 13) What was that curse? The answer is found in Deuteronomy 29: 20: “Yahweh shall blot out his name from under heaven.” His human name was blotted out since only he was able to die in sin. The name of Yahshua, was attached to his blood, which was defiled with all the sin of mankind. That blood was poured into the ground and not resurrected.
Your invitation can come suddenly as it did for Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts chapter 9) Messiah revealed himself by speaking in Hebrew (Acts 26: 14) and using his resurrected name, YahwehShua, the name of both himself and his Father. (Revelation 14: 1, Diaglott) Paul was a faithful and obedient Pharisee. He was steeped in the hypocrisy and traditions of the Pharisees. (Mark 7: 7- 9) Messiah had confronted the Pharisees concerning their beliefs and traditions. (Matthew 15: 3- 9)
Just as Paul was misled by the Pharisees, you have been misled by the religions of the world. But you may have received the same invitation given to Paul. It is difficult to be plucked from the comfort of your beliefs. It was difficult for Paul as well. He had persecuted the saints and many died because of his efforts. Paul believed in what he was doing and expected to be rewarded. Messiah had to use a dramatic intervention to get Paul’s attention. (Acts 9: 1- 18; 26: 4- 19)
Following this dramatic event, Paul was baptized and then separated himself for teaching by Messiah. (Galatians 1: 16- 18) He was personally taught by Messiah and not by another human being. He was chosen for a special mission and received the appropriate preparation. Should we accept our invitation, we too will ask for guidance in our walk with Messiah. This is available through tribulation, patience, experience and hope.
Only the Father can call someone. Messiah performed this intervention on Paul himself, but only by doing the will of the Father. Those called have been selected from the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1: 4) Your selection was like that of Paul, and not a random, impulsive decision by the Father. The Father has a plan of the ages. (Ephesians 3: 11) Perhaps you are part of his plan? Only by accepting His invitation will you be able to discover whether or not this is true. Baptism in the name of YahwehShua is the first door through which you must enter. (John 10: 7- 9)
Peter required baptism by immersion and is also a requirement of the new covenant. (Matt. 26:28, 2 Cor. 3:6) Baptism is circumcision without hands. (Col. 2:11) Circumcision was a requirement of the old covenant, but firstfruits are now under the new covenant. The old covenant entered into on Mt. Sinai has been terminated. That was a marriage covenant in which Israel became the wife of the Son of Yahweh. (Jer. 31:32) Firstfruits must embrace the new covenant, which includes the Doctrine of Messiah as revealed in Hebrews 6: 1-2 and separate themselves from the old covenant.
There is also a stumbling block in Acts 2:38. Almost all translations use the name Jesus Christ in regard to baptism. Others may use Yeshua, Yehoshua, or Yahshua. These names are all incorrect—why? They are all using a man’s name or the birth name of Messiah. You must do a study of the Hebrew name, Joshua, (Yod, hey, waw, sheen, waw, ayin) and the Greek name found in the Septuagint and Greek New Testament, IHSOU. (iota, heta, sigma, omicron, upsilon)
Even though Yahshua is the correct birth name revealed to Mary by an angel, it is not the name for baptism. Yes, he died with the birth name, but was not resurrected with that name. This is a very significant understanding to have. The revealing of the resurrected name of Messiah is part of the invitation or calling. It is not found in any bible translation. This revelation to you is a definite indication of your calling. Should you choose to accept your calling, baptism in YahwehShua confirms your having been chosen.
John gives us more insight into Messiah’s expectations for us. Consider what we are told in 1 John 3:23-24: And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son YahwehShua Messiah and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Yes, when we are baptized in the name of YahwehShua, we actually receive the down payment of his spirit. The Holy Spirit of the Father gives us the down payment (or earnest) at the time we receive the free gift of the Father’s Spirit. (2 Cor 1:22)
We are actually born again in the resurrection when Messiah returns. (John 3:3) Paul confirms this in Galatians 4:19: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Messiah be formed in you.”
The indwelling Spirit of Messiah is like a spiritual fetus (or foetus) that is developed during your earthly life and then is fully formed in the resurrection. John adds to our understanding in 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now [after baptism in YahwehShua] are we the sons of Yahweh and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when we shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Amazing! When we are born again at his coming “we shall be like him.” We will no longer be flesh, but be composed of the same spiritual substance as he! We will no longer face death and will always be with him—wherever he goes, we go.
To have this opportunity for this rebirth, we must be baptized in the name of the resurrected Messiah. The name of a man does not work. Why? Messiah’s name identifies the blood he shed for our sins. He died in sin (2 Cor 5:21), not for any sins of his own. The sin he did have was not his own. He could not repent since the sin was not his. Without the ability to repent he could not resurrect himself. His father gave him life. His blood was not resurrected. His blood remained in the ground, while only his flesh and bones went into the tomb. After his death, a Roman’s spear pierced his side and his blood went into the ground. He was not resurrected with his blood. The blood is identified by his birth name, Yahshua. His blood remains in the ground and will be totally destroyed when the material world is transformed into the new heavens and earth.
We cannot be saved by a name defiled by sin. It is now the name of death. Only the resurrected name is the name of life. Consider what Paul tells us in Romans 5:10: “For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to Yahweh, by the death of His Son [Yahshua], much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” We were reconciled by the blood of Yahshua but achieve resurrection by the name of life, YahwehShua. YahwehShua is not found in the Scriptures, but there are signposts that lead to having that name revealed. Paul tells us “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7) The birth name of Messiah can be seen in the Scriptures, however, the name of faith, YahwehShua, cannot be seen. Paul teaches about this in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
When we choose baptism in YahwehShua, it is a leap of faith. That is why Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight. It is only by revelation from the Father that we are able to see the unseeable and choose baptism in YahwehShua, and not his defiled birth name.
Understanding the significance of the defilement of the birth name is critical. The first important verse to be aware of is found in Deuteronomy 29:20: “Yahweh will not spare him, but then the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and Yahweh shall blot out his name from under heaven.” The only human to die in sin was Messiah, so only his name was blotted out. It was the law and he died under the law. (Gal. 4:4)
The knowledge that a name can be blotted out leads us to a very mysterious revelation in Hebrews 1:4: “Being make so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Messiah had to have a new name. In death, his human birth name was blotted out. Since his blood was defiled, he could not stand before his Father with this defilement. He therefore received a “more excellent name.” Psalms 148:13 provides this further insight: “Let them praise the name of Yahweh: for his name alone is excellent.”
Messiah through death and defilement of his human name, inherited a more excellent name, YahwehShua, or Yahweh Saviour! This is very important knowledge for you to become a first-fruit.
The best scholarship available for the grammatical understanding for the correct birth name and derivation of the name of YahwehShua is found on the website, kahalyahweh.net. This site is the work of George Gabler. He has a great understanding of the Hebrew and Greek languages related to the birth name and the resurrected name of Yahweh. He first introduced me to YahwehShua and I have learned much from his scholarship.
I recommend his website for a deeper understanding of the names of Messiah. However, he and I have some disagreements which resulted in our parting ways. This is very similar to the situation between Paul and Barnabas. (Acts 15:39) I love and respect George Gabler despite our scriptural disagreements. One such difference is the serving of leavened bread on Passover night when we remember Messiah. There are others which are referred to in other articles. For example, we follow the Doctrine of Messiah as revealed in Hebrews 6: 1-2. When you compare this to Leviticus 23, you will notice that Day of Coverings (atonement) and the Feast of Tabernacles are no longer required for firstfruits.
Despite our differences, we both are in full agreement on the names. I respect him and love him as a brother in the faith. I highly recommend his teachings regarding the names. In my opinion, his most significant article is “The Name of Inheritance” (available on our website, dated 1/31/20).
I also wish to suggest these other articles as well:
1. WHY NOT JESUS? http://kahalyahweh.net/articles/whynotjesus.htm
2. YAHWEH OR GOD? http://kahalyahweh.net/who-do-you-worship.20160625.htm
3. WHO IS G-O-D…REALLY? http://kahalyahweh.net/articles/who-is-god-really.html
4. THE MISSING E
http://kahalyahweh.net/articles/missing-e20170812-edit-FB.html
Regarding the importance of leavened bread, instead of unleavened bread on Passover night, (the 14th of Abib), I recommend another excellent source, The Messianic Feast, by T. Alex Tennent. I do not agree with everything he teaches, but on the subject of leavened bread we are in complete agreement. He does recognize the name of Yahweh for the Father, but does not use the correct birth name for the Son and does not refer to the resurrected name at all.
As you read and study, do so only after praying to Yahweh. Pray that he will guide you into His truth. However, it is only after baptism in YahwehShua that you will be led to a more complete understanding of Yahweh’s truth. If we can be of further assistance please contact us. If you wish to comment or submit a question, please email our Elder at john12e4567@gmail.com.