Page 29 - Gods Plan of the Ages

Acts 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

These men did not reason that they lacked the ability to study the word of God in order
to teach it accurately. They did not say, "I am a fisherman, not a Bible scholar." They
became Bible scholars, devoting themselves to its study and teaching, relying upon the
Spirit of Christ to instruct them as they did so, and they were able to lay a foundation
upon which the church of God could be firmly established. There is no less need in this
hour for men and women to manifest this same devotion to Christ and His word.
[End excerpt]

Paul was not among Christ's original twelve apostles, and he is unusual in that he was
a scholar of the Scriptures when Christ called him. Paul was raised according to the strictest
sect of his people, the Pharisees. He was educated in the school of Gamaliel, a man
renowned for Bible learning in his day. Paul did not rest on his laurels, however. After
coming to Christ he continued until his last days poring over the Scriptures, studying them
to gain understanding and knowledge of the things of God. The last letter written by Paul
in the Bible, recorded shortly before his death, was II Timothy. In that letter Paul gave
Timothy the following instruction:

II Timothy 4:13
When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books,
especially the parchments.

Paul requested that Timothy bring him his books and parchments. Paul remained a
student of the Scriptures all his life. We are the benefactors of his diligent and faithful
study. We are also called to imitate his life. We must also "study" to show ourselves
"approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth."
Let us then examine carefully this passage from I Corinthians chapter 15. Following
are verses 22-24 from the King James Bible.

I Corinthians 15:22-24
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own
order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh
the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he
shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
(KJV)

Note that this translation, and many others who have followed the KJV, lists Christ
as the firstfruits. This is apparently followed by a resurrection of Christians "they that are
Christ's at his coming," and then we have the end. With such a rendering, it is no wonder
that many Christians have concluded that there will be only one resurrection, and that none
will be resurrected to live before God apart from those who are known as Christians in this
age.
Translators are men and women just like you and I. Some do not even have the Spirit
of Christ (I could share appalling stories of men and women working on modern