20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Away with all the theorizing, the "if's". In fact, Jesus Christ IS risen! We state it as a fact, based on the evidence and the eyewitnesses and the Spirit that bears witness within us. He is risen. And we do not celebrate it once a year. Jesus never said to do that. We celebrate it every day of our life. His resurrected life IS our life. Without His resurrection we have nothing and are nothing. There is no church no salvation no eternal life without this resurrection. It's a fact, and we build upon it.

Jesus is not only raised, but He is the first of many others who shall raise.

But wait. Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus and Elijah and Elisha raised people from the dead. How is it that Jesus is the "firstfruits"?

With Jesus we enter a new era. Everyone who came back to life before Jesus, simply came back to life. Their human spirit re-entered their non-decayed body, and they woke up on earth again, to continue their normal existence.

Not so with Jesus. And not so with those who go to the grave, even when their bodies totally disintegrate. The resurrections that follow such events will be filled with the glory of God. Jesus was the same when He arose. But very different. You will be the same. We will recognize each other. But we will be very different. Paul explains this later in the chapter.

Jesus was the first fruit of the new tree that has been planted in the earth. Every piece of fruit that is produced on that tree is a God-breathed entity, a new creation. We will have bodies like His, minds of a genius, spirits that connect to the very heart of God. That process may have begun already when we were born again, but it will be perfected in our resurrection.

Skip 21-22

23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

Forgetting all those resurrections that only meant the continuance of life here, we start a new era with Jesus. A new world order. Not like the world is defining that, which will just be rearranging men's little kingdoms into one big anti-God kingdom of men. We've seen all that before. The new world order of men is nothing more than the old world order with more sin.

The new order of Christ begins with Christ. Resurrected. Glorified. Empowered. We got to see a little of that in the Scripture. Jesus appearing here and there, his body materializing and then scrambling and then rematerializing elsewhere. Walking through walls. Ascending into Heaven. An all-powerful Jesus able to send His very Spirit into His church even in this sinful day in which we live. Miracle-working. So powerful he can empower humans before their great resurrection.

Imagine what it will be like when all of God's people undergo this transformation. When their bodies are raised from death, not just filled with the Spirit now, but glorified by the Spirit then. Yes, there is a Kingdom of God now, but it is literally nothing compared to what it shall be, even on its greatest day.

John says we have not even received the full revelation of what we shall be, only that when He appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. Only the apostles got to see that glorified Jesus, on the mount of transfiguration and at the resurrection. And no one has yet seen a glorified believer. But it is in your future. If we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him in glory.

The whole earth is right now waiting for the revelation of these sons of God. These are believers whose bodies have been transformed. This world is in chaos. It needs a new order of men. Paul says and John says that that new order is coming. Christ started it out. We will follow at the resurrection of God's people all over the world.

Then...

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

When Jesus comes, He gathers all His people, His true people, together, and presents them to God. At that moment the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. And us.

How does He know who are kingdom people and who are not? Easy. the ones with whom He had intimate friendship. Everyone knows who his friends are, right? You know who is with you, and who is not? Who serves you and who is only interested in himself? Who cares about you? Jesus does too. He explained all that in Matthew 7.(verses 21-23)

Not those who said He was Lord, but actually came under his lordship. Did what he said. Not those who did miracles but were barren in their spiritual lives. Not those who could speak truth but couldn't live it, not those who cast out devils then lived like devils. None of them were His friends. He didn't even know them.

Can you imagine a more horrible fate in all the world than to hear Jesus on that day say to you, I do not know you! Leave me forever.

Some of us, perhaps in this very room, need to repent of a life of disobedience and careless living, and ask God through Christ to forgive you and be your friend. For on that day you will need a friend, and all the folks you hung out with in this day won't be there to receive you into Heaven. Only Christ can do that.

What happens next?

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

Jesus will reign on earth, with his lovely bride the church at His side. 1000 years is the number given as the extent of this reign. According to the prophets who saw this reign of Messiah, the Kingdom People will rule over those people of earth who are alive at his coming. We will get to see what it will be like for Jesus' will to be done on the planet. Abortion clinics will be closed. Bankers will not be allowed to hurt people. Bars will shut down. A world with a perfect government. But even during this time death will occur among the non-Kingdom people. How do I know? For one thing, the next verse... (in a minute)

Unfortunately the Jehovah's Witnesses and other cult groups have gotten hold of this truth, and they proclaim it as though it were theirs. And not too many Christians have understood it and embraced it and delighted in it, so we have surrendered a huge portion of our Bible to them.

Then there are the "Kingdom Now" people who keep talking about how the Kingdom of God is among us now, and it is, but nothing like it will be on that wonderful day!

26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Revelation tells us that at the end of the 1000 years death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire. After that, no more dying for anyone. The enemy is soundly and eternally defeated!

You say, this is Easter, let's just talk about the resurrection of Jesus. That's what I am talking about. The resurrection of Jesus means new life now, new life forever, Jesus reigning in and among us now, Jesus reigning in and among us forever. The resurrection of Jesus is our story.