1 Corinthians 15:23-25

1Co 15:23 But each crop will be harvested in its own order: Christ, the first harvest, then the ones to be harvested by Christ when he makes his appearance.
1Co 15:24 Next the end of the harvest will happen, when he gives back the kingdom to God and Father, when he has eliminated every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 Because it will be necessary for him to reign until he has put all the hostile ones under his feet.

the return and resurrection

Paul had shown the necessity of the resurrection as it relates to the gospel, and to the person of Christ. Now he shows how the resurrection fits into God’s plan for the return of Christ.

• Since Christ is the first harvest, his resurrection took place first.
• When Christ appears again, all those who sleep in him will be raised by him to experience a resurrection like his — unto eternal life.
• When Christ appears again, he will begin a reign on earth which will eventually eliminate every sort of opposition to the kingdom of God.Paul now shows how the resurrection is not only essential to the gospel and to the identity of Christ, but also to God’s entire plan for Christ’s return and the restoration of creation. The resurrection is not an isolated miracle. It is the first movement in a sequence that will culminate in the renewal of the universe.
• Christ’s resurrection is the firstfruits—the first harvest. His rising marks the beginning of God’s end‑time work. Because He rose first, the rest of the harvest is guaranteed. His resurrection is not merely proof of life after death; it is the opening act of the final redemption.
• When Christ appears again, the next stage of the harvest begins. All who “sleep in Him” will be awakened by Him. Their resurrection will be like His—physical, immortal, incorruptible. This is the moment Paul has been pointing toward: the resurrection of the saints at Christ’s return. Not at death. Not in some disembodied state. At His appearing.
• Then begins the reign. Christ will rule on earth, and His reign will be a reign of conquest—not military conquest, but the conquest of every enemy that opposes God’s kingdom. Every rival power, every rebellious authority, every force of evil will be subdued. The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. Christ’s reign ends only when all opposition has been eliminated.
• At the conclusion of this reign, Christ will hand the kingdom back to God the Father. What He returns is not the broken world He received, but a cleansed and liberated creation—set free from sin, death, and every corrupting power. The universe will be restored to the Father as a finished work, purified and made whole.
• So the sequence is clear:
• Christ rises first—the firstfruits.
• At His return, all who belong to Him are raised.
• He reigns until every enemy is defeated.
• He hands the restored kingdom back to the Father.
• Christ begins His return with a rescue of the saints who sleep. He concludes His reign by returning the universe to the Father, fully redeemed.
• The resurrection is not a side doctrine. It is the engine of God’s entire plan.
• At the end of this reign, Christ will give back the cleansed kingdom to God and Father.
• So, Christ begins his return with a rescue of all the saints who are asleep. He concludes his reign by returning the universe to the Father, after it has been set from from sin.

LORD, come and restore us to the life you wanted for us.