Dr.  Ronald Powell      

Why Are The First-Fruits Taken Before The Great Tribulation?

The above question is, we believe, one of the utmost serious to every believer. Its answer should have the effect of causing us to consecrate our lives to Christ as we never have before.  

Is being in the First-Fruits company a reward? Yes, being included can be considered the highest reward in Heaven. Christ said...

Luke 21:36  Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The promise to the Philadelphia church that it would be kept

Rev. 3:11  teaches the same thing. Indeed the promise is associated with receiving a "crown."

Revelation 3: 10 - I come quickly: hold fast to what you have, so that no man can take your Crown.

The popular view that the Raptured Christians are taken to heaven merely to escape the trials of the Great Tribulation altogether misses the point.  

Those of the Smyrna church, for example, who suffered bloody persecution during the days of pagan Rome did not consider their sufferings as punishment. Indeed, they were Christ's martyr saints.  

The Lord knew their "Tribulation and poverty" and told them that they were rich. Christ encouraged them to be faithful unto death, promising them that "I will give you a crown of life".

Rev. 2:9-10   

Indeed there are those today who have suffered greatly in communist countries, who might be excused for supposing that they are already in the Great Tribulation.

1. But there is a circumstance associated with the first Rapture that has been largely overlooked. It is highly probable that those who participate in the First-Fruit company will be given responsibilities of such a high level that they will need special training.

To a large extent the scenes and activities in paradise have been withheld from us. Paul apparently saw things in paradise that were amazing, but of which he was not permitted to speak lest it would lead to endless speculation on the part of earth-dwellers.

Nevertheless, we may well assume that in the next life men continue to learn and prepare themselves for activities in the ages to come. Despite the fact that most of these things have been withheld from us, enough has been revealed to show us that the believers in relation to the position they have won will be given responsibilities of an ascending order. For example, we know that the believers are going to judge the world. Paul says.....

1 Corinthians 6: 2  Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

This judgment committed to the Christians is clearly shown in Psalms.    

Psalms 149:5-9  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron: To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints. Praise you the Lord.

2. Notice the first-fruits company that is on Mount Zion. They follow the Lamb "wherever He goes." Wherever Christ goes, they go. His task becomes their task. They participate in His secret counsels. There are many duties to be carried out on a high level. Observe the varied activities of the twenty-four elders.

First of all, they join in the great worship scene - Rev. 4: 9-11; 5: 8-10

They cast their crowns before the throne; they sing and play on harps of gold; they are custodians of the vials of the prayers of the saints in preparation for their offering to God.  Rev. 5:8  

They act in a priestly capacity. They explain certain mysteries to John. Rev. 5:5; 7:13-14  

They are present before the company of the 144,000 on Mt. Zion. Rev. 14:3

John, himself, is kept busy in various ways. Though he is recorder of the Book of Revelation, in addition he is given the task of measuring the temple of God and those that worship therein. Rev. 11:1-2 

As an official representative of the church, his act typifies how the believers will measure the inhabitants of the earth with the rod of judgment.

3. We are told that the Man child Company will "rule all nations with a rod of iron".  Rev. 12:5

With such a task before them, there is good reason why they should experience prior Rapture to heaven, so that they may be ready for their great work.

Christ is the head of the Man child Company, which will rule the nations; but He will have many rulers under Him in carrying out this responsibility.

4. But probably of the most immediate importance, the Man-child Company will participate in the displacement of Satan and his angels from the heavenlies.

It is at the time that the Man child Company is caught up to heaven that the great final battle in the heavenlies will begin. Michael and his angels will fight the dragon. But they will not accomplish the task alone. The Christians will participate in this historic event:

Revelation 12:11-12 - And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

In reading this passage we see that together with the blood of Christ and the power of the angelic host, the word of the over-comer's testimony is required. There is a moral conflict as well as a physical conflict.  

We who live on earth are not able to comprehend fully this great conflict in the heavenlies. But praying believers know something of the reality of it. Daniel knew the meaning of the conflict when he wrestled for twenty-one days against the prince of Persia.

Paul tells us that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high (heavenly) places."

It is the Christians who have learned to battle Satan in the heavenlies, in their prayer life, who will be useful in that great final battle that is to come, just before the Great Tribulation begins.

Yes, the Christians who are in the First-Fruit Rapture will have tasks allotted them. They are invaluable to Christ in assisting Him in displacing Satan from the heavenlies. Far from taking repose in the happy realms of paradise, the First-Fruits are with Christ in the heat of the conflict.

Saints who are not yet resurrected may indeed rest from their labors. But while they rest Christ and His First-Fruit company will round up the forces of evil and bring to naught the armies of the Beast.  

Christ will judge the nations, but He chooses to do it with the help of His chosen vessels.