The Bible Resurrections: How do they relate to a harvest?

(See part #1 here)

The resurrections throughout the end times have a close correlation to how Jews would harvest their fields or vineyards under the law. To provide you with some context, let's have a look at the following two scripture passages,

Harvest Terminology

Leviticus 23:9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. ——— Leviticus 19:9 When you reap the [main] harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

There are three terms above that I'd like to draw your attention to. They emphasize the three parts of the full harvest process; the first fruits, the main harvest, and the gleanings. It is outside the context of this post to explain the meanings and significance behind each of these parts as pertaining to the harvest. Our focus will remain on how the harvest correlate to the resurrections, and if so, we should expect that the resurrections also have three parts to it. Another thing I'd like to point out is that the harvest of resurrections is Jewish. In other words, the context relates to Jewish salvation within the Tribulation period. Let's take a closer look.

Stage #1: The First Fruits

Jesus Christ Himself was the 'first fruits', the very start of the sum of all the parts of the whole process,

1 Cor.15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [died].

This is accepted without dispute, however, what is not typically accepted, or overlooked, is that the Body of Christ is also connected to this part, simply for reason that we ARE the body of Christ. I will discuss this in more detail in our next post.

Stage #2: The Main Harvest

The main harvest (which is spiritual Israel and will, in greater part, occupy the New Jerusalem) occurs in the mid-point of the tribulation and consists of a few groups; the rapture of the 144000 and those remaining saints who happen to still be alive at this event, the ascension of the two witnesses and the staggered resurrection of martyred saints; "all those who loved not their lives to the death". Those who make up this group are, the Jewish church saints of ACTS, who died between Pentecost and 70AD under the gospel of God, and the tribulation saints, the martyred converts of the 144000 under the kingdom gospel.

Stage #3: The Gleanings

The gleanings occurs at the end of the tribulation. The groups that make up this part are the great tribulation saints (both Jews and Gentiles), who were saved by responding to the everlasting gospel, Rev.14:6, proclaimed by the angel during the second half of the tribulation. These are the brethren of the martyrs in the first half of the tribulation, Rev.6:11. The rest of the gleanings is made up of the saints of the Old Testament and those who died during the Kingdom gospel period, from John the Baptist to Pentecost. This part of the harvest, (barring the 2nd half trib. martyrs, the brethren of the 'fellowservants', who will be resurrected into heaven), is physical Israel, resurrected in flesh and blood (Ezek.37), and who will occupy the Promised Land.

The Second Resurrection (of the Unrighteous)

This resurrections, of ALL unrighteous people of ALL ages of human history, will occur at after the Millennial Kingdom. It is interesting to note that this resurrection can be related, in sorts, to a harvesting of the souls under the wrath of Jesus Christ during the latter part of the tribulation. Jesus and appointed angels will go out with a sickle and reap the souls of those who have rejected Christ and aligned to the rule of the antichrist,

Rev.14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

I will delve into more details of the first fruits resurrection in my next post.