I looked up 'first fruits' and read
Strong's G536 - Aparche = first fruits;
there are 12 matches in 9 verses listed
which describes first fruits:
a) new converts (Romans 16:5)
b) manifestation of the Spirit (Romans 8:23)
c) raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:20)
d) devoted to ministry (1 Cor 16:15)
e) chosen from beginning (2 Thes 2:13)
f) exercise His will from creation (Jam 1:18)
g) purchased among men (Rev 14:4)
I noticed an intersection of faith, thanks
and sactification regarding first fruits:
2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we should always give thanks
to God for you, brethren beloved
by the Lord, because God has chosen
you from the beginning [Strong's G536]
for salvation through sanctification
by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
[v14] It was for this He called you
through our gospel, that you may gain
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The purposes of God was to first purchase
us, His first fruit from the beginning for
holy fellowship with us. These End Times
are bringing together the converts who
continually sanctify all within their own
unique spheres of influence, each in their
season.
Last year I wrote down the 7 types of fruit
as from the biblical lands from an episode
by Perry Stone. He highlighted the havest
calendar and the methodology used to acomplish
the first fruits gathering:
(1) barley = march/april = winnowing w/ sickle
(2) wheat = april/may/june = threshing
(3) grapes = june/september = by hand (for wine)
(4) pamegranites = aug/sept = by hand
(5) figs = august/september = by hand
(6) olives = september/nov = shaking (for oil)
(7) honey = summer thru fall = by hand
The practical application of this gathering-in
process of working the harvest cycle requires us
to select the right method that correctly matches
the type of fruit.
Exodus 23:16
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits
of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the
field: and the feast of ingathering, [which
is] in the end of the year, when thou hast
gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Perhaps this verse is hinting that the ingathering
of His sanctified first fruits, i.e., believers,
will be taken to the heavenly feast at the end
of the Jewish calendar's year of harvest. If the
harvest cycle is correct, then we can expect
shaking for oil from September and November with
the honey or Rapture by the end of Fall. Maybe
it'll be this year (I hope)!
