Within the churches there is a firstfruits, a warlike remnant who are faithful workers in the organization but whose hearts are married to the Lord. In the days to come the holy remnant will be called out of the babylonish confusion of man-centered Christianity. They will be purified by the fires of tribulation and will be prepared to meet the Lord when He appears.

The twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis tells of Abraham sending his oldest servant, the one who ruled all Abraham's possessions, to Paddan-aram to obtain a bride for Isaac.

In this episode Abraham typifies God the Father; the servant typifies the Holy Spirit; Isaac typifies Christ; Rebekah typifies the firstfruits of the family of God ("the only one of her mother"); and the family of Nahor, Abraham's brother, portrays the Christian churches.

The Christian churches consist of those whom God has called out of the world plus a mixed multitude of people who have been brought into the assemblies by means other than the drawing of the Holy Spirit of God. All the truly called, including the elect of the Jewish race, constitute the family of God.

It is not that the called are the only persons whom God intends to save. Rather, the called are the Israel of God. They have been chosen from the nations of the earth in order to be a holy priesthood, a people who belong peculiarly to God. They are the light of the world, the new Jerusalem. Through them the nations of the earth will approach God and receive the Life and blessing of God.

We believe there is a firstfruits of those whom God has called, a "bride" selected from the whole family of God just as Rebekah was selected from the family of Nahor. The firstfruits are the victorious saints, the pillars of the Temple of God. The firstfruits of the family of God will be raised as powerful rulers, as priests, kings, and judges at the return of Christ. They will be crowned with righteousness and eternal life. They will be revealed with Jesus in glory at His appearing.

Being revealed with Jesus in glory at His appearing is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. He will receive back his mortal body from the grave in order that he may rule on the earth with the Lord Jesus throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age (Revelation 20:4-6).

The first resurrection, the resurrection of the royal priesthood, must be attained by seeking Christ each day of our discipleship.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

We must "win" Christ to the extent we enter fully into the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings. Otherwise we are not authorized by the Scripture nor competent to be a participant in the first resurrection—that which is out from among the dead.

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection [out-resurrection] of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)

To be continued.