The Firstborn From the Dead

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (Revelation 1:5)

The second title we see being given to the Lord is: The Firstborn from the Dead.

Why is Lord Jesus Christ called "The Firstborn from the Dead" when Lazarus and others were raised first? The answer is that others were raised to life, but they died again. "That the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." (Acts 26:23)

Notice, in this verse too; it says, "He would be the first to rise from the dead," what it really means is that he would rise from the dead to live forevermore. In that sense, Christ was really the first to rise from the dead.

The reference to Christ as "The Firstborn from the Dead" also clarifies a puzzling statement in Colossians 1:15: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Here, Christ is referred to as the "Firstborn of all Creation."

On the surface, it almost sounds like Christ came into existence only when He was born into this world or, in other words, that He isn't eternal and just another created being. Jehovah's Witnesses twist this scripture to further their own agenda. The point is that Jesus Christ was the first person ever to be permanently resurrected from the dead.

The term "Firstborn" simply means that Christ "has become the firstfruits" (1 Corinthians 15:20) of a long line of people who will be resurrected with glorified, immortal bodies.

The Bible says that at the second coming of Christ, we will receive glorified bodies. What will our glorified bodies be like?

1 Corinthians 15:53 says, "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

This verse says that we will be changed. And I John 3:2 says, "..when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." In other words, our glorified bodies will be like Christ's glorified body.

What was Christ's glorified body like?

1. It was spiritual — it was not confined to natural laws. According to Luke 24 and John 20, Jesus could appear and disappear, and he could go through walls and closed doors.

2. It was physical. Jesus could eat fish and honeycomb, he could show the disciples the scars in His hands and feet, and He could speak and be understood.

3. It was powerful. In Acts 1:9-11, Jesus stood on a mountain and just took off into space.

4. It was glorified. As Luke 24:31 shows, Jesus could transport Himself by a thought.

5. It was incorruptible. Acts 1:11 shows us that Jesus will come in the same body that He left in almost 2,000 years ago.

The Firstborn From the Dead

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