The promise came through Messiah and the firstfruits are HIS! Consider these Scriptures from Paul found in Galatians:
Galatians 3:18:
“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: Yahweh gave it to Abraham by promise.”
Galatians 3:27, 3:29:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah. And if ye be Messiah’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
Abraham was told he would produce many different physical descendants. Consider what Abraham was told in Genesis 13:15: “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.”
Abraham’s physical descendants would come through four lines of lineage:
1. Descendants through Ishmael. (Genesis 15:16)
2. Descendants through Esau. (Genesis 25: 23)
3. Descendants through Jacob. (Genesis 29-30.)
4. Descendants through Keturah. (Genesis 25:1)
These four groups received physical blessings. The 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob) were promised the land between the Euphrates and Nile, which as yet has not been fulfilled. That promise will be fulfilled for 1,000 years after the return of Messiah.
The many physical seeds will be blessed. This is in keeping with Yahweh’s word given to Abram in Genesis 17:5: “A father of many nations have I made thee.”
In addition to the physical descendants, Abraham was also promised spiritual descendants. This is rarely considered, but as firstfruits we must know our origins and our destiny. Let’s review Genesis 22:17:
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies”.
Why is this significant? The sand represents something found on the earth. The stars refer to the spiritual descendants who have no inheritance on the physical earth. The prophet Daniel writes about stars and dust in Daniel 12: 2-3:
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth[Genesis 13:16] shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”
Job also shows some insight into the spiritual nature of the stars. He references the sons of Elohim in Job 38:7: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy.”
Matthew 5:14 tells us this about firstfruits: “Ye are the light of the world.”
The apostle Paul offers this about firstfruits in 1 Thessalonians 5:5: “Ye are the children of the light, and the children of the day:”
Paul confirms this insight in Philippians 2:15: “That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of Elohim, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
The sand or dust cannot be lights. It is only the firstfruits that shine in this world and in the resurrection. We are to become as stars. It is appropriate that we were inspired to call our website, the Light of YahwehShua.
Abraham was not looking for physical blessings, but spiritual blessings. We are told this in Hebrews 11:10: “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Yahweh.”
The promise of this city is not realized until the new heavens and earth. Revelation 21: 1-2 confirms this: “And I saw a new heavens and new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from Yahweh out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
This is the city that had the foundations that Abraham was looking for. We are told this in Revelation 21:14: “And the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and in them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.”
This New Jerusalem will be the home of the firstfruits and the great multitude. (Revelation 7:9) Outside the walls of this city are those who went through the lake of fire. (Revelation 22:15) All those who were ever conceived will be resurrected and receive age-abiding life. In the new heavens and earth all will be given deathlessness. There will be no more sin, therefore, no more death. (1Corinthians 15:56)
The pattern given to Moses gives us a better understanding about the inheritance of the firstfruits. We are told in Numbers 18:20 that the Levitical priests did not have any part in the physical inheritance of the Israelites. Their inheritance was Yahweh: “And Yahweh spoke unto Aaron, thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shall they have any part among them: I am thy part and inheritance among the children of Israel.”
The firstfruits will reign with Messiah for 1,000 years. (Revelation 20: 6)
As priests they will have no inheritance in the Promised Land during those 1,000 years. They will be completing their consecration in preparation for their becoming judges in the next age, the Last Great Day.
Why are some of this age called to be firstfruits and not others? Consider what we can learn from Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and not that of yourselves: it is a gift of Elohim.” As we have learned before, only the Father can call those he wants at this time. (John 6:44) This opportunity is a gift given by both the Father and the Son. While the Father calls, it is the Son who chooses among those who have been called. (John 15:16)
The firstfruits are the seeds and heirs of Abraham, not Moses. Moses presents a temporary arrangement with the old covenant. However, the firstfruits are not the heirs of Moses and the old covenant. We are the heirs of the promise given to Abraham. It is helpful for us to understand the role of grace in the calling of Abraham.
Let us begin with what Paul tells us in Romans 4:16: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.”
Grace was a gift from Yahweh to Abraham, and so it is as well to the firstfruits through Messiah. During a 24-year period, Yahweh, (Messiah) appeared to Abraham five times. The number five is significant and is considered the number of grace. To learn more about the spiritual significance of numbers, please refer to appendix 10, found in E. W. Bullinger’s The Companion Bible.
The first appearance to Abram is found in Genesis 12:1: “Now Yahweh had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
The next appearance by Yahweh is reported in Genesis 12:7: “And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Yahweh, who appeared unto him.”
The third appearance of Yahweh is found in Genesis 13:14- 16: “And Yahweh said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art north ward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.”
Yahweh’s fourth appearance to Abram is revealed in Genesis 15:5-6: “And he brought forth abroad, and said, looking now toward heaven, and tell the stars if thou be able to number them: so shall thy seed be. And he believed in Yahweh; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
The grace that Yahweh was giving to Abram was completed in Genesis 17. Let us begin the review of this fifth appearance by reading Genesis 17:1: “And when Abram was 90 years old and nine, Yahweh appearedto Abram, and said unto him, I am the almighty Elohim, walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
During the fourth appearance, a covenant was mentioned as being made in that same day. (Genesis 15:18) However, it was not until the fifth appearance that this covenant was confirmed. This covenant was established through the circumcision of flesh. (Genesis 17:10- 11)
It was with the fifth appearance when Yahweh declared, “Behold my covenant is with thee”,in Genesis 17:4. It was at this time that a significant change came upon Abram. His name would no longer be Abram, meaning exalted father, which is spelled in Hebrew as aleph, beth, resh, mem. His new name was elevated to meaning, father of many, and spelled as aleph, beth, resh, HEY, mem. HEY, the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, was added to his name. Abram, consisting of four letters, was changed to a name having five letters. The grace given to Abraham was multiplied, as were his descendants.
This grace was confirmed by the circumcision of the flesh. The circumcision made without hands, or baptism, confirms the grace of the firstfruits. (Colossians 2:11)
It is of note that Yahshua, the one who was promised, inherited a new name after his resurrection. The name, Yahshua, (yod, hey, waw, shin, waw, ayin) was defiled with all the sin of mankind and replaced with a new name consisting of an extra letter, HEY. His resurrected name was YahwehShua, aleph, beth, waw, HEY, sheen, waw, ayin.)
Abraham’s wife, Sarai (sin, resh, yod) was also given a new name. In Genesis 17:15, we are told that her new name was Sarah, (sin, resh, HEY). Why was this change made? We have a clue in Hebrews 11:11: “Through faith also Sarai herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
Yahweh’s grace was not given immediately to Abraham and Sarah. A time period of 24 years passed from the time of Yahweh’s first appearance until the covenant was confirmed in Genesis 17. The receiving of the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the circumcision of the flesh confirmed the covenant. It is of note that we do not baptize someone in the name of YahwehShua unless they are at least 20 years of age. We call this the age of accountability. The first chapter of Numbers indicates that the male Hebrews could not go to war unless they were at least age 20.
We must demonstrate obedience as did our father, Abraham. He was willing to sacrifice everything, even his only son by Sarah. We too, are called to be willing to suffer and sacrifice according to His will.
As Abraham was told to travel to a distant place with which he was not familiar, we are told to be baptized in a name we cannot find in the Scriptures. The inherited name of the Son is revealed through the Scriptures, but is not seen. Once called, we receive clues that point us in the right direction, just as Abraham was led. However, our baptism is an act of faith.
Abraham’s belief in Yahweh was accepted as righteousness. Our belief in YahwehShua is also accepted as righteousness. Our belief and all our acts of obedience that result from that belief can lead to our overcoming.
Is overcoming important? Let us learn from Messiah what the benefits are for overcoming:
Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.”
Revelation 2:26: “And he that overcometh and keepth my words unto the end to him will I give power over the nations.”
Revelation 3:12: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my Yahweh, and he shall go no more out.”
Revelation 3:21:
“ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.”
First, we must demonstrate our faith by baptism in YahwehShua. This act allows the Spirit of Messiah to begin forming within us. (Galatians 4:19) To be in the resurrection when Messiah returns, we must overcome to the end. Abraham overcame to the end! Messiah overcame. (Revelation 3: 21) The 144,000 firstfruits standing with Messiah on Mount Zion will have overcome. (Revelation 14:1)
There are two promises. One is temporal and the other spiritual. The firstfruits seek the spiritual. The physical Israelites will have the Promised Land. We will have the promised city in the new heavens and earth.
As Abraham had to leave his country and family, so do we. His travel set him apart. Our life in Messiah sets us apart as well. As Abraham was a stranger in a strange land, (Genesis 17:8; 23:4) we too are considered strange in our country of origin. We are different than anyone else. We have Messiah being formed within us, and are Jewish like our Savior. We are called to demonstrate the way of Messiah. We will be a blessing to those around us, even though they may not recognize that.
The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 3:16 that: “Now to Abraham and his seed were promises made. He sayeth not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Messiah.” Because we are baptized in YahwehShua, we have Messiah being formed in us. This makes us HIS and allows us to inherit the promise made to Abraham. Our inheritance is only through Messiah. It is not something we earned, but it is something we receive.
It is of interest that the English word for promise is often translated from Strong’s Hebrew number 1696, dabar. Dabar is often used in reference to the spokesman of Yahweh, who was Messiah. The Father never left the light. It was Messiah who walked with Adam, spoke with Moses and was born as Yahshua. Messiah is the promise, the word, and the source of age-abiding life.
Messiah told his disciples in Acts 1:4 to ”wait for the promise of the Father.” He told them not to depart from Jerusalem. Why? On Pentecost, the promise would be revealed. They would receive the down payment of the Spirit of Messiah (the promise). We need to have this promise, which is a spiritual gift. When we overcome, we will be as the stars. Messiah promised himself and is true to His word to those who are obedient and overcome.
We must develop righteousness as did Abraham our father. However, we are obtaining the righteousness of Messiah. It is not our righteousness, but His. As righteousness was imputed to Abraham, ours is only through Messiah. Our belief in YahwehShua is imputed to us as righteousness. As we overcome and grow in true love for all mankind, we become more like him and less like our carnal selves.
YahwehShua is Yahweh our Savior. Jeremiah prophesies that his name will change as well. In Jeremiah 23:6, we are told that his name will become Yahweh Tzidkenu, Yahweh our Righteousness. We shall be like him because he is in us. (1 John 3:2)
Abraham is a good role model for those wishing to become firstfruits. Like Abraham, our journey to the city with a foundation will not be completed in this life. (Revelation 17:10) Yes, he found the land, but that was not his ultimate goal. He is asleep waiting for the new heavens and earth when New Jerusalem will be revealed.
Our goal is the resurrection when Messiah returns. That, too, only comes after our death. We must believe Yahweh, follow his guidance, and wait upon our resurrection.
Paul teaches us what we must know about faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”This 11th chapter of Hebrews is filled with those who could not see what they hoped for, but trusted Yahweh. In this life, their hope was not realized but they held on, trusting that Yahweh is faithful. Once baptized in YahwehShua, we too must hold on and continue to walk forward, trusting in Yahweh’s deliverance.
Paul instructs us further in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” He gives us further insight in Romans 8:24-25: “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
The practical materially based person who lived in Ur at the time of Abraham would have considered him foolish for going to some unknown, unproven place. We have the same experience today. Those who are not being called consider the firstfruits foolish. We cannot show them the name of inheritance in the Scriptures. We can show them the name of a man, but that is not the name by which we are saved. If they are patient, they will listen to the revelation we have been given. Generally, they will not tolerate us or what they consider misguided beliefs.
Abraham and Sarah laughed when Messiah told them that they would have a child. They were too old. It was not logical. What they saw did not support such a possibility. They would learn that Messiah does not lie. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. The promise continued through Isaac, not Ishmael or Keturah. Our beliefs are considered foolish and unfounded by society. But as Messiah did not lie to Abraham and Sarah, he will not lie to us as well.
We must seek encouragement from the life of Abraham. As he walked in faith, so most we. It will not be easy or without trials. However, the reward is great.
Do not allow yourself to be stuck in the old covenant. It is not meant for us. We are of the promise given to Abraham, and not the Levitical Law given to Moses. Paul makes this very clear in Galatians 3:11: “But no man is justified by the law in the sight of Yahweh, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith.” Paul is explaining what was revealed by the prophet Habakkuk. (Habakkuk 2: 4)
Do you want to make your walk in life really count? How about going on a journey that really goes somewhere? Walk with Abraham. Walk with Messiah. Walk with the firstfruits of the Light of YahwehShua.
The ticket for this trip is available only through baptism in YahwehShua. Are you interested? Contact us!
If you wish to submit a question or comment, please email our Elder at john12e4567@gmail.com.