Resurrection in the Bible: Understanding the First Resurrection, Jesus as Firstfruits, and the Fate of Old Testament Saints Compared to Revelation

What does the resurrection really mean, and how did the first resurrection in the Bible set the stage for everything we believe? For people who care about the resurrection of the saints, getting these details right is crucial.

The Bible paints a vivid picture: from the first true resurrection to Jesus being the “firstfruits” and rescuing souls from Sheol on the very day He rose again. But what about those Old Testament saints? Did they get the same glorified bodies Jesus had, and does that event match the “first resurrection” described in Revelation, or is there more going on?

We’ll break down the resurrection step by step. We’ll look at what happened on the feast of First Fruits, how Jesus’ resurrection changed things for every believer, and what this means for our faith now. We’ll also compare what Jesus experienced after His resurrection to what the Old Testament saints may have received and why John calls the last group the “first resurrection” in Revelation.

There are clear answers in the original language and context, and understanding them helps us see the bigger picture of resurrection hope. If you’ve ever wondered where you really fit in God’s resurrection plan, you’re not alone.

The Biblical Meaning of the First Resurrection

When we talk about the “first resurrection,” it’s easy to think of a single moment in time, but the Bible paints a picture much deeper than just an event. This idea goes all the way back to the roots of the Hebrew and Greek languages and is shaped by the culture and hope of early Jewish believers.

To get the real meaning, we need to break down the original words, put them into context, and see how Paul calls Jesus Christ the “firstfruits” in connection to the feast of First Fruits. If you’re trying to make sense of who got resurrected when, what kind of bodies they had, and why John still calls the one in Revelation the “first resurrection,” this is where it all starts to come together.

Early Jewish thought linked resurrection with the restoration of life in Sheol

The word “resurrection” in your English Bible doesn’t always show just how loaded the term is in its original language.

In Hebrew, the main word is תְּחִיָּה (techiyyah), which means revival, bringing back to life, or making alive again. This word comes from the root for “life” or “living” (chai), so it’s always tied to something being made alive that was once dead. Ancient Jews saw life and death as real, physical things, so when they talked about תְּחִיָּה, they were talking about actual people coming back, not just dreams or memories.

The Greek word you’ll find all over the New Testament is ἀνάστασις (anastasis). That word literally means “standing up again”—picture someone standing up after falling down! In Greek culture and language by the time of Jesus, ἀνάστασις meant not just some soul floating off, but the whole person, body included, rising up. This matches how Jews thought about resurrection too. In places like Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 26:19, you see clear talk about people “waking” from the dust. Their hope wasn’t just for happy spirits; it was for their real lives to be restored, even after death.

When early Jewish thinkers linked resurrection to Sheol (the underworld), they meant that everyone who died went to a kind of holding place, and that at some clear, promised time, God would raise up or restore His people—body and soul—back to life and community. This sets the whole stage for what Jesus did, and why His resurrection feels so different from the scattered stories of people rising in the Old Testament.

Paul calls Christ the “firstfruits” of the resurrection

So why does Paul call Jesus the “firstfruits” in 1 Corinthians 15:20? It’s not just symbolic talk. Paul is tying Jesus’ resurrection directly to the Jewish feast calendar—the Feast of First Fruits. The idea was simple: farmers offered God the very first sheaf of the harvest as a promise that more would come. The firstfruits meant the harvest had begun. Paul says Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have died; His resurrection proves the harvest is real and the rest of us are included.

Here’s how the analogy works:

• Jesus rose on the exact day of the Feast of First Fruits, right after Passover. This wasn’t a random detail; it was God mapping out His plan way ahead.
• His resurrection was not just a spiritual release from Sheol, but a bodily resurrection. Jesus ate food, showed scars, and walked through walls. His new body was real, yet glorified—a preview of our own future.
• Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:20 stress that Christ is not just the first, but the guarantee of what’s coming for all believers.

If you’re looking for proof that we get real resurrection and not just spiritual life, this is it. Paul says, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” He wants us to trust that just as Christ really got up, so will we.

Check out this in-depth look at Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection for more on how this feast links directly to our hope as believers.

For an even deeper dive, see how redemption, resurrection, and Jesus’ role as firstfruits fit into the larger story by exploring redemption through Christ.

Understanding these words and how they connect to Jesus’ resurrection helps us see why the “first resurrection” is such a big deal, and how it changes everything for anyone who puts their faith in Him. The hope isn’t just for somewhere “up there,” but for restoration and real life, body and soul, promised from the very beginning.

Jesus as the Firstfruits on the Feast of First Fruits

The resurrection is not just a word you read in the New Testament. It bursts right out of the heart of the Jewish calendar and ties Jesus directly to the promises God made ages before. His rising from the dead happened at a specific moment for a bigger reason. This isn’t just a cool detail—it’s the bedrock for our hope as believers. Let’s look at how the resurrection of Jesus fits in with the Feast of First Fruits, why that’s more than a footnote in history, and what it means for everyone who trusts Him today.

Timing and Levitical Festival: Jesus, the Empty Tomb, and the Firstfruits Connection

The Hebrew calendar set the stage for some of the biggest promises in the Bible. According to Exodus 23:16, the Feast of First Fruits is celebrated “at the time of the firstfruits, of your labors which you have sown in the field.” In plain language, it’s when farmers brought the first part of their crops to God—saying, “Here’s the first, and I trust You for the rest.”

Now, why does this matter for the resurrection? Jesus didn’t just rise “sometime after Passover.” He got up on the very day the Jews celebrated First Fruits. Early Sunday morning, as people were preparing their grain offerings, women came to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty (Luke 24:1). That wasn’t by accident. It matched the pattern God started way back with Moses.

The Gospels line up perfectly with Exodus. Jesus was crucified at Passover, buried before the Sabbath, and rose after the third day—Sunday—the day of First Fruits. Paul later explains in 1 Corinthians 15:20 that Jesus is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” He’s the first part of a harvest, showing that more will follow. This connection isn’t just tradition; it’s why believers see Jesus’ resurrection as the down payment for every resurrection to come.

If this feels mind-blowing, it should. The timing highlights that God’s promises sync up across centuries. Each feast was a sneak preview. You can find a detailed breakdown of how Jesus fits into the Feast of First Fruits in The Resurrection – Jesus in the Feast of First Fruits.

Significance for Believers Today: The Firstfruits and Our Own Resurrection Hope

What does it mean that Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection? When the Bible uses the term “firstfruits,” it means there’s more of the same coming. Farmers trusted that if God blessed the first part of the harvest, the rest would follow. In the same way, Jesus’ resurrection is a promise to you and me. His rising is proof that our future is secure if we trust Him.

Here’s what that means for any believer:

• Bodily resurrection is guaranteed. Since Jesus didn’t rise as just a spirit (He ate fish, showed scars, walked through locked doors), we know the resurrection involves real, physical life.
• Resurrection ends the fear of death. The empty tomb means death lost its power. If the “firstfruits” made it out alive on our behalf, we can trust we’ll get there too.
• Eternal life starts now, not just “someday.” The resurrection isn’t only about the end of the story but is the engine for hope and transformation today. If you want to see how Jesus’ victory over death shapes everything for us now, check out this breakdown of redemption through Christ.

It’s not just ancient history. The firstfruits mean every believer can face life’s darkest days with unshakable hope. The same power that raised Jesus is the promise we will be raised as well. For a broader discussion on the Biblical meaning of firstfruits tied to the resurrection, you might want to read Christ, the Firstfruits of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Resurrection moves from being a distant, fuzzy hope to a living, certain promise. That’s the kind of assurance that changes how we see every day—because the rest of the “harvest” is still coming, and you’re part of it if you know Jesus.

The Old Testament Saints Rescued from Sheol

Readers often have big questions about what happened to the saints of the Old Testament after Jesus rose from the dead. You hear a lot about resurrection, but the Bible digs deeper, showing a real rescue from Sheol—the ancient underworld or “the grave.” These  true stories matter because they connect the dots from old promises to new life through Jesus, right at the turning point of history. Let’s walk through who was rescued, which Scriptures point to these events, and what form those saints took after Jesus led them out.

Who Were the Rescued Saints?

The Old Testament tells us that everyone, righteous or not, went to Sheol upon death. Sheol wasn’t just the grave—it was a place of waiting. Many Bible teachers say this was split into a place of comfort (Abraham’s Bosom or “paradise”) and one of torment.

The New Testament shines a spotlight on these saints’ fate at Jesus’ resurrection. Several key passages speak directly or indirectly to their rescue:

• Matthew 27:52-53 describes tombs breaking open after Jesus’ death; “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” and later appeared in Jerusalem. Imagine that—hundreds saw real people just like Jesus, formerly dead, alive again.
• 1 Peter 3:19 says Jesus preached to “spirits in prison.” Many see this as Christ proclaiming victory to those waiting in Sheol, announcing a new path to life.
• Ephesians 4:8-10 talks about Jesus ascending on high and “leading captivity captive,” picturing a rescue mission bringing God’s faithful ones out with Him.

For a deeper look at these weird and wild events, take a look at this article on Resurrected Saints and Matthew’s Weirdest Passage which unpacks Matthew 27 and why these saints didn’t upstage Jesus as the “firstfruits.”

A short list of potential Old Testament saints in paradise might include:

• Abraham
• Isaac
• Jacob
• Moses
• David
• Samuel
• The prophets and righteous believers from Israel’s history

These individuals were waiting for the Messiah, trusting the promises given long before Jesus came. The Bible paints a clear picture: at Jesus’ resurrection, paradise’s doors finally opened and those who died in faith were brought into the next stage of resurrection hope.

Glorified Bodies or Spiritual Presence?

This is where things get interesting. Did the saints receive glorified, indestructible bodies when Jesus brought them out, or did they enter God’s presence as spirits?

Scripture gives clues, but also leaves room for honest questions. Here’s what we know:

• Jesus appeared in a truly physical, glorified body. He ate, could be touched, had wounds (John 20:27), but also passed through locked doors and vanished at will (Luke 24:31, John 20:19). His resurrection body was the real thing—not just a ghost.
• The “many saints” who rose in Matthew 27 clearly had bodies people could see. But their resurrection did not overshadow Jesus’ own—they emerged after His resurrection as a sign, not as the full harvest.
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says Jesus is the firstfruits; the “full harvest” is still to come. This leads many to believe Old Testament saints, though rescued from Sheol, may not have received lasting immortal bodies yet, but their bodies were seen. We just don’t know for sure if their bodies were spiritual or glorified.

This fits the Biblical model where Jesus, as the “firstfruits,” shows the kind of life and body all believers will one day have. The saints who exited Sheol likely entered Heaven in spiritual form, awaiting their full resurrection at the final “first resurrection” in Revelation. Does this mean we won’t get our glorified bodies either at the rapture? Will we have to wait until the first resurrection? Here’s a quick comparison:

Jesus’ Resurrection	Old Testament Saints Rescued
Glorified, physical body	Raised physically, but not eternal
Walked, ate, could be touched	Seen, recognized, but not described as glorified
Firstfruits—the model	Sign, but still awaiting full harvest

For more on the sequence and nature of these resurrections, see Resurrections of the Dead: Firstfruits, Harvest & Gleanings, which explores whether holy people left Sheol as spirits or with new bodies.

In summary (and if you love details), their bodily resurrection waits for that final, mega-event the Book of Revelation calls the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus’ new body leads the way, making Him the only fully glorified human—so far.

This tension makes resurrection such a powerful hope for believers. If Jesus broke open the gates and showed what a glorified body can do, every saint is promised the same—just not all at once. The big finale is still ahead, but the rescue from Sheol proves that God never leaves His faithful ones behind.

Why Revelation Calls It the First Resurrection

For anyone who cares about the resurrection of the saints, the question always pops up sooner or later: With all the resurrections and miracles in the Bible, why does the Book of Revelation save the label “first resurrection” for an event at the very end? If Jesus rose from the dead as the “firstfruits” (even breaking faithful people out of Sheol on His way up), then what makes the resurrection in Revelation so unique that the Spirit highlights it as “first”? Let’s dig in and see what’s really going on with this key moment and why it changes everything about how we see the future.

Theological Reasoning Behind the Term

Revelation 20:4-6 is where the term “first resurrection” lands hard. In the original Greek, John uses the word ἀνάστασις (anastasis) for “resurrection”—a word packed with hope and finality. But the twist is, Revelation calls this the “first” resurrection, even though Jesus already rose from the dead as the ultimate “firstfruits.” What gives?

Here’s the secret sauce: Revelation frames the “first resurrection” as the one that comes before the second, which is for those not found in Christ. You get two main resurrections on the timeline:

1. First Resurrection: This is for the blessed and holy. These are the faithful—often called “the righteous dead.” They come to life to reign with Jesus during the millennial kingdom. This group is safe from what John calls the “second death” (eternal separation from God).
2. Second Resurrection: This happens after the thousand years. Everyone else gets raised, but this is mostly to face final judgment. Revelation 20:12-15 puts it in clear language—the books are opened and each is judged by their works.

So, when John says “first,” he means first of two main resurrection events that truly matter for eternal destinies. The earlier resurrections in Scripture—whether Elijah’s miracles, Lazarus, or anyone else God raised from the dead in their natural bodies—were signs pointing ahead. But none of those people received immortal, glorified bodies meant to last forever. They could still die again.

Revelation’s “first resurrection” stands out because it launches the final act—those raised here reign with Christ, safe from every judgment still to come. In other words, being part of the “first resurrection” is everything. It’s the VIP pass to God’s eternal kingdom. More questions appear as more is learned, like, Is the first resurrection a one time event or is it multiple events that all make up what is called the first resurrection?

Looking for how these prophetic timelines play out? A solid next step is to check out the Millennial Reign of Christ to see how this resurrection shapes everything about Christ’s kingdom and your role in it.

Implications for Eschatology

The term “first resurrection” isn’t just a neat theological label—it shakes up how we see the end times, the thousand-year reign, and what believers should be looking forward to.

First off, it locks in the idea that not everyone rises at once. There is a sequence. The righteous dead (and living believers at Christ’s return) get raised to life and receive glorified bodies before the mass resurrection and final judgment.

Here’s what this means for you and for the theology of end times (eschatology):

• Millennial Kingdom Hope: Those who take part in the “first resurrection” reign with Jesus in the millennial kingdom. They’re not just sitting on clouds—they rule and judge alongside Christ, fulfilling God’s promise for restored leadership from those who trusted Him.
• Two-Stage Resurrection Model: The whole Biblical storyline splits the resurrection into at least two major stages. Faithful saints are raised first, then after the millennium comes the resurrection of everyone else. This helps explain why the saints in Matthew 27 and those Jesus rescued from Sheol aren’t labeled the “first.” Their resurrection could have been a sign, but not the main event for all the redeemed. It could also mean they are in their glorified bodies and the first resurrection is spread out over time. We only know for sure Jesus is the firstfruits and the dead in Christ rise first.
• Assurance for Believers: If you’re in Christ, the “first resurrection” isn’t just doctrine—it’s destiny. You’re promised a real body, real reign, and a guaranteed rescue from death’s grip. Worrying about judgment loses its hold when you see where you fit in God’s plan.

In the end, God’s resurrection plan in Revelation draws a line—get in on the first, and everything changes for your future. The real, glorified resurrection hasn’t played out for all the saints yet, but it’s coming. This promise shapes everything about hope, purpose, and how Christians face every dark night with confidence.

Conclusion

Resurrection stands at the heart of the Biblical story, shaping hope for every generation. Jesus’ resurrection as the firstfruits on the Feast of First Fruits wasn’t just a well-timed miracle; it set the precedent for the kind of real, future resurrection promised to God’s people. The Old Testament saints Jesus rescued from paradise in Sheol left their waiting room, but are they still set to receive glorified bodies when the “first resurrection” in Revelation rings in the true harvest, or do they have them already? Are they the first part of the first resurrection?

The label “first resurrection” in Revelation 20 brings clarity: this promised event is when all the faithful who belong to Christ will rise once and for all, forever securing their place with Him. Each detail—from Jesus eating after rising, to saints shown in Matthew, to John’s prophetic timeline—reminds us that the resurrection is more than an idea. It’s a promise you can trust.

Resurrection hope isn’t just about the future; it strengthens your faith today. If the story of Jesus and the saints sparks more questions for you, consider studying the fullness of our future redemption and how it links with the resurrection. Take a moment to reflect: How does the certainty of Christ’s resurrection reshape how you face fear, pain, and even death? Your resurrection is built on the same promise that started with Jesus. This is the hope that changes everything.

Thanks for reading! If this post encouraged you or helped clarify the big story of resurrection, please share your thoughts or favorite insight—and keep digging deeper into God’s promises.