Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

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​10. WHY ARE THE SEALED CALLED FIRST FRUITS?

Both of the groups whose teachings we have referred to teach that those sealed go out to preach the gospel. This conception, in principle, hides the purposes for which the Lord presents the sealing message. Three main reasons may be advanced for the sealing: (1) to indicate that this is the final act that completes the preaching of the gospel (if the sealed go out to preach to others this nullifies this indication); (2) Sealed with God’s name to show that the sealed have God’s character and are “God’s property, His possession” (Testimonies to Ministers, page 446) whom He will care for when Satan controls the world; (3) The sealed will be protected through the day of God’s wrath.

The argument advanced by “The Shepherd’s Rod” as to why the sealed are called the “First-fruits” is explained by V. T. Houteff, 1 January, 1949:

“How many yields of fruit is the harvest to give? If the 144,000 are the ‘first fruits’ (Revelation 14:4), then there must be ‘second fruits’, for where there is no second there can be no first. The word ‘first fruits’ absolutely necessitates second fruits. Where do the first fruits come from, and where do the second fruits come from? We are plainly told that the first fruits are Israelites-all from the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4-8). Israel certainly stands for the church membership at the time they are sealed; the title ‘Israel’ cannot he construed to mean the world. The first fruits, therefore, are harvested from the church itself at the time the separation begins. The word ‘sealed’ means placed in a safe place-sealed. This is exactly what the apostle Peter says: 1 Peter 4:17-18 ‘For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

“Now, then if judgment begins first in the ‘house of God’, in the church, then it will end in the world, outside the church circles. Again we here am that those who escape the slaying of the Lord ‘in the house of God’ (obviously the first fruits, ‘the servants of God’) are sent to the nations who know God, and from there they bring all their brethren (the second fruits) to the purified house of God where there is neither sin nor sinner. We have now positively seen that there are first and second fruits: one from the church-the 144,000 sons of Jacob; and one from the nations-the great multitude which no man can number (Revelation 7:9)” (Timely Greetings, Volume 2, Number 43, pages 34-36).

We have quoted lengthily so that our readers may obtain as clear a picture as possible of the idea intended to be conveyed by the “Rod”. The reader will have discerned the erroneous use of 1 Peter 4:17, 18 -as if Peter wrote concerning the purification of the church by judgment - “the judgment of the Living” as the context shows - resulting in the sealing of the 144,000, and these sealed ones in turn go out to the world and bring in the great multitude. But this is definitely a wrong application of 1 Peter 4:17, 18, as we have shown elsewhere.

There is no justification for the employment of 1 Peter 4:17, 18 in connection with “the Judgment of the Living” (“the truth of the judgment of the Living, the separation or purification of the church”, page 39) - those sealed in the purified church then going out to win the great multitude. The other group who teach similarly refer to the fact that the Jews on the Day of Atonement connected up that day with the sealing of the people .1. 2 But this reference is fatal to the claim that the sealed ones go out to proclaim the Loud Cry, for, as understood by the Jews, the seal was received at the close of that day. In other words, it symbolized the decisions in the supreme court of the universe for those who are to be eternally saved, at the same time cutting off all those who have failed to accept the terms of pardon. A converted Jew, Pastor F. C. Gilbert, has written of the custom of the Jew today, showing their idea of the “sealing time”:

“As the day draws to its close, the earnestness and intensity increase. It is generally believed that the close of this day is regarded in heaven as a ‘sealing time’. If the people have done sufficient repenting, they will receive a ‘good seal’, which means that they have stood the test in heaven. If not, then they fear they are lost, and may die at any time. Hence in their closing prayers of the day, instead of saying, ‘Our Father, our King, write our name in the book of life.’ ‘Our Father, our King, write our name in the book of remembrance’, etc., they say, ‘Our Father, our King, seal our name in the book of remembrance.’ ‘Our Father, our King, seal our names in the book of life.’ And when the service is ended, they greet each other

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with the salutation, ‘I hope you have received a good seal’ “ (Practical Lessons from the Experience of Israel, pp. 536, 537, 2nd edition).

They were not sealed to go out to preach to others that day; they were grateful that they received the seal of God’s favor at the close of the day of atonement - there was no time left for preaching to others, for probation closed when the High Priest came out of the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

In the Bible the term “first-fruit” is employed in two ways: (1) first-fruits of a harvest, and (2) the quality of the fruits. The first-fruits were the first in quality as well as in time. In margin of Ezekiel 44:30 they are called the “chief” fruits, and in Numbers 18:12, the “best”. When the fruit began to ripen the owner went into his vineyard or orchard and selected the best and largest of that which was maturing early and marked it by tying a fiber around it, saying as he did so, “This shall be among the first-fruits”. When a basketful of each kind had matured the owner gathered and dedicated them to the priests. In Micah 7:1 We are told that the Lord desires the first-fruits rather than the gleanings. They could not be sold or exchanged, see Ezekiel 48:14. So that even the “first-fruits” had to be first in quality. “For if the be holy, the lump is also holy” (Romans 11:16).

Undoubtedly in Revelation 14:4 the word “first-fruits” is employed to emphasize the quality of the fruit, the character of the 144,000. In this case (as in every other instance in the Scripture where there may be a question as to the manner in which a word is employed) the context clearly shows. Briefly, the context draws attention to the purity of these people: They stand “with” Jesus (Revelation 14:1). The same ones are mentioned in Revelation 17:14: ‘And they that are with Him are called, and chosen [sealed], and faithful.” These have stood the test, and God judges them perfect, fit for fellowship with Jesus the Sinless One. “These are they which, were not defiled with women” (Revelation 14:4). A woman in prophecy denotes a church. In Revelation 17:5 we have a picture of an impure woman with her daughters, all of whom have partaken of the same unholy nature. This is the symbol of “Babylon the great.” the combination of worldly churches that teach false doctrine, and combine with the Governments of earth to compel God’s people to accept these false teachings and to forsake the pure religion, and worship of the living God. But the 144,000 sealed ones are not defiled with these women, or these apostate churches.

“For they are virgins” (v. 4). Paul wrote: “I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ- (2 Corinthians 11:2). Those who “have purified their souls in obeying the truth” (1 Peter 1:22) have fellowship with Jesus, they become eternally united to Him. It is because the ten virgins in the parable of Matthew 25:1-13 have a pure faith, as they wait ‘for the coming of Jesus the Bridegroom, that they are said to be virgins.’ The “lamps” in their hands symbolize the word of God (Psalm 119:105), and it is by the light from this Lamp that the truth is seen, and from whence also comes power to obey to the purification of the life.

“These are they which follow the Lamb, whither so ever He goes” (Revelation 14:4). That is, they have learned to listen to His voice and thus learned the way of victory: “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. To him that overcomes” (Revelation 3:20, 21). “But all who follow the Lamb in heaven must first have followed Him on earth, not fretfully or capriciously, but in trustful, loving, willing obedience, as the flock follows the shepherd” (Acts of the Apostles, page 591 see also Christ Object Lessons, page 223).

“These were redeemed from among men- (v. 4) - they have been called from the world of sinful men and have learned to live holy lives. They separated (2 Corinthians 6:17; 7:1; Revelation 18:4) from sin and sinners and are found with Jesus their Companion: “We are to follow the Lamb of God whither so ever He goes. His guidance is to be chosen, His companionship valued, above the companionship of earthly friends” (Christ Object Lessons, page 223). “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:22). “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death” (Hebrews 11:5), and he became the type of those sealed in the last days who, also, would be translated to heaven, purified through walking with the Sinless One on earth and thus made ready to walk into heaven to continue that holy walk with Him.

“In their mouth was found no guile” (v. 5). The Lord’s servant, in describing those who “receive the seal of the living God, and are protected in the time of trouble”, says: “I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action” (Early Writings, page 71). “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man” (James 3:2). Our words indicate the character within, and often we are influenced for good or evil by our own words. Zephaniah; describing the remnant church, says that they “shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth” (3:13).

“For they are without fault before the throne of God” (v. 5). These words need no comment; they are the last of a list of designations of this sealed company. Each of those designations is designed to

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convey one most important fact namely, that this company are companions with the holy Jesus, the Lamb, because they like Him, are also holy. These designations were not given to indicate that they would go out as preachers, but only to emphasize their holiness. Now the words, “being the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb”, found among these other designations, are obviously employed also to emphasize their holiness, and it would completely spoil the emphasis being made upon the quality, their holiness, to have one of these designations made to mean that they are going out to give the Loud Cry, or to win the great multitude. This would be, distinctly, an intrusion of something irrelevant to the context. As all the other designations refer to their character, so the term “first-fruits” is undoubtedly employed to refer to the quality of the remnant church. This holy company, the last of the harvest of the world, will live through the darkest period of earth, at a time when the devil’s deceptions will be the greatest, and, at a time when all the world will wonder after the beast, they will remain, in the face of the threat of death, loyal to the Lamb of God and endure through the final conflict with Him.

The context clearly shows that the term “first-fruits” does not refer to a time element but refers to the quality of that fruit. It is in this sense that the Lord spoke of Israel, for we read: “Thus said the Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn”. Israel came from Jacob, who was not the firstborn from the point of time - Esau was the firstborn (Genesis 25:24-26). It was because God found Jacob to have a better character than that of Esau that He loved Jacob more than Esau (Malachi 1:2, 3; Romans 9:13). The same emphasis upon the use of “first” is seen in Jeremiah 31:9: “I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” Ephraim as largest of the tribes, stood for the ten tribes of the northern division of the kingdom of the Jews. Yet Ephraim was not actually the firstborn in point of time: “Joseph called the name of the firstborn Mannasseh . . . and the name of the second he called Ephraim” (Genesis 41:51).

In Matthew 1:25 Jesus is not referred to as Mary’s “firstborn Son” in order to suggest that she had other children, but to emphasize the fact that she was a virgin. Thus the context makes quite clear the use that is intended to be conveyed by the use of the word “first”. Christ is said to be the “first-fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23); the “first that should rise from the dead” (Acts 26:23). The “first begotten”, and “first-begotten of the dead” (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 1:5); the firstborn among many brethren”, the “firstborn of every creature”, and the “firstborn from the dead” (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18). The time element is not intended, for there were a number of people resurrected before the resurrection of Jesus.

Observe James’ use of the word: “Of His own will made He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). The universe is peopled with angels, and there are sinless worlds with millions of inhabitants who were in existence a long time before this world was created, so in point of time those saved from this sinful planet could not possibly be “a kind of firstfruits of His creatures”. But, thank God, through the wonderful plan of redemption, those saved from this world will be exalted more highly than the sinless inhabitants of the realms above. Through the infinite price paid for man’s redemption the redeemed become the most highly exalted of all God’s creatures.

The word (Prototokos) rendered first-begotten and first-born is defined by Robinson thus: “Properly the first-born of father or mother”; and, as the first-born was entitled to certain prerogatives and privileges over the rest of the family, the word takes another meaning; namely, “first-born, the same as the first, the chief, one highly distinguished and pre-eminent. So of Christ, as the beloved Son of God (Colossians 1:15)”.

“The general assembly and church of the first-born” (Hebrews 13:21, 22) could refer only to the redeemed from earth down all ages, and as there will not be salvation for any others, the word “first” does not indicate that there must be others to follow. “Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first-fruits of His increase” (Jeremiah 2:3), that is, treated with the deference shown to the firstborn on the basis of holiness.

The Spirit of Prophecy, ever faithful as the guide of the remnant people, throws light upon this word, as follows: “None but the 144,000 can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience - an experience such as no other company have ever had. These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as ‘the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb’ (Great Controversy, Page 649). The word “counted” again shows that no time element is intended. The word “being” in Revelation 14:4 is a supplied word, and the RSV (also Phillips, 20th Century) translates it thus: “These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb.” thus the character of the people is emphasized without any reference to any others to follow.

The Lord’s servant was given a. vision of the Advent people until they enter the city of God. In this vision the only company who live through the final scenes are those comprising the 144,000: “The

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living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice. The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name” (Early Writings, page 15). No hint is ever to be found in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy that the 144,000, after being sealed, go out to give the Loud Cry or to bring in the great multitude. They are sealed because they are holy. They are called the “first-fruits” because they are holy, and that term is employed to emphasize that fact. Evidently Satan is seeking to confuse minds so that this important feature is not so clearly seen.

Moses was not translated because of his sin: “Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin, in failing to give God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh, he would have entered the promised land, and would have been translated to heaven without seeing death” (Patriarchs and Prophets, page 478). Translation in the last days is for perfect people: “first-fruits”. What care should he exercised in the interpretation of the sacred word of the living God lest we, by some man-made interpretation, be led to inject some thought into the divinely-inspired picture that would prevent people from obtaining the real essence of what the Lord has sought, to convey to us. Those who declare that those sealed go out to preach to others in giving the Loud Cry, or go out to bring in the great multitude, help to confuse the fact that God, through His Word has stated that He is looking for a perfect people to stand upon the earth, and to remain faithful through the fiercest conflict of all ages. When God has that company prepared, purified, He will then seal them as the product of His finished work of salvation, there will be no more won, for they are indeed the remnant people.