2196.—The First-Fruits from the Dead.
If Moses was raised from the dead before Christ came to earth to die, how is it that Christ was the first-fruit unto God of those that slept? The term first-fruits and first-born do not always denote priority, but preeminence, not first in point of time, but first in honor and position. Ishmael was Abraham's oldest son in point of time, but Isaac was made the first-born, or given the birth-right. Esau was Isaac's oldest son, but Jacob is called the first-born. Reuben was Jacob's oldest son, but God took Levi in the place of the first-born. Manasseh was Joseph's first-born, but God called Ephraim the first-born. So He declares that He will make Christ His first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. Ps. 89:27. Even so it is with first-fruits. God translated Enoch and Elijah, and broke the power of death in them, and raised the widow's son at Zarephath, and the son of the widow of Shunem, and still others before Christ was raised from the dead; but it was because of the virtue of Christ's sacrifice that all others were caused to live both before and after His resurrection. He is God's First-born and First-fruits prospectively from before the foundation of the world, and preeminently, because that in Him all the fulness dwelt.