Death to self-will, and death to participation in the world system of commerce, are necessary for attaining to the first resurrection from the dead. By death to participation in the world system of commerce we do not mean the individual does not buy products from a store. We mean, rather, that he does not devote himself to the acquiring of money.

Riches are deceitful, and it nearly is impossible for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. Yet in the wealthy nations of our day it is a rare Christian who is free from the love of money. Multitudes of Christians, many of whom are unaware of their danger, already are bound with the Antichrist spirit of the love of money.

Release from the deceptions of the Antichrist money system is difficult to acquire, once one has become accustomed to living in such a system. However, at stake is the saint's position on the throne of the universe; and so it is well worth the effort to gain release from the bondage of trust in money.

The term first means nothing has come before. The first resurrection from the dead is the first resurrection from the dead.

The resurrection from the dead of the Lord Jesus in actuality was the first resurrection from the dead. The resurrection from the dead of the firstfruits is part of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus because they are an integral part of Him. He is their Resurrection and their Life. Their resurrection is a part of His, a part of the first resurrection.

The same is true, no doubt, of the saints who arose along with the Lord and appeared to the people of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:52,53). Perhaps this select group who were raised at the time of Christ's resurrection served as an honor guard of saints whom God chose to accompany the Lord Jesus as He surveyed the creation He had just purchased with His own blood.

Enoch and Elijah ascended to God; but theirs was not a true resurrection for they had not died physically.

The ascension of Enoch and Elijah were different from what will be experienced by the saints who are alive when the Lord Jesus returns. We who are alive when the Lord comes will be "changed" (I Corinthians 15:52). We shall pass from mortality to immortality. This is a true resurrection.

There is no evidence Enoch and Elijah experienced actual resurrection. They experienced ascension but not resurrection. We know this is true because our Lord Jesus is the "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18). If Enoch and Elijah had experienced resurrection prior to their ascension the Lord Jesus would not be the Firstborn from the dead.

The Lord Jesus was the first Person to die physically, be raised from the dead, and then receive the glorification of his Body. Enoch and Elijah do not as yet possess glorified bodies, for "they without us should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:40).

To be continued.