The First shall be Last and the Last shall be First
The First shall be Last and the Last shall be First
By
Gary Primo
Oct. 17, 2020
What does this phrase mean? I remember pondering this statement years ago, but don’t think I did a study on it. So here goes.
The following site give a pretty good assessment, but let's do a deeper examination of it.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the children of promise, or the children of Abraham, already considered themselves part of the coming kingdom. The Jews thought it was by Abraham that they would be saved, being the “children of promise” (Rom 9:8), and the Apostle Paul even acknowledges them as “brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Gal 4:28), but Paul is not saying that they are saved because of their ancestry. No one gets into the kingdom by someone else’s coattails. There are only saints and “aint’s.” They have either trusted in Christ or they have trusted in Abraham, their patriarchal father, but it is not by race we are saved; it is by grace we are saved (Eph 2:8-9). Paul quotes the Prophet Hosea who wrote, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved” (Rom 9:28). Clearly, “those who were not my people” includes Jew and Gentile, and not just the descendants of Abraham. Many of Abraham’s descendants were saved in the first century, but it wasn’t by Abraham. They were saved by repentance and faith. Sadly, the religious leaders and many of the Jews thought they were going to be first in the kingdom since they were Abraham’s descendants, but Jesus will reveal that many who thought they were first will end up being last, and the last will be first.
Salvation by birthright? Honoring a human father over Yahuwah? There is definitely something wrong about these two beliefs. Since the Jews believed salvation was their birthright, they did little as far as “putting on Yahuwah”. Similarly, pretty much every religion on earth follows this same deceptive pattern.
Christians are said to number over 2 billion on Earth today; however, are they counting everyone born into the faith or those actually practicing the faith? I believe the latter is a much, much lower number. It is something like believing in election poll numbers. But man loves to boast and by fudging the numbers he can claim a larger listening audience than he actually has.
As for worshipping one’s ancient ancestor before Yahuwah, that too is a natural human quality. It’s claimed that Jews, Arabs and Christian all have Abraham as their biological ancestor. I would say yes to Jews and Arabs, but not so much Christians; unless they are descendants of the Lost Sheep of Israel. My background is Italian/Scottish/English. So, at least via my Scottish/English blood, I may be a descendant from the tribes of Judah and Ephraim. When I can afford it, I would love to have a DNA test done to find out. Not that it would make any difference anyway. Being an Israelite spiritually is every bit as good.
Now, let us go straight to the source and examine it more closely. Mathew gives the best explanation.
Matt. 19:28 - And Yahushua said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The interpretation of “regeneration” according to dictionary.com is “spiritual rebirth; religious revival.” I would agree with “spiritual rebirth” but not so much “religious revival.” Since all worldly religions come from one pagan source {Babylon), a religious revival is merely a “revival” of that same source.
The common understanding of the twelve thrones is that they will be occupied by the twelve Apostles, representing the twelve tribes. While I do not disagree, I still wonder, “What of the other great scriptural characters that preceded them”? What are their roles going to be in the coming Kingdom?
These 12 will be judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The only others that will see salvation will be those who spiritually aligned themselves with Israel.
29 - And every one that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Indeed, those who suffered the most for following Yahushua are going to receive the greatest reward. Those who tasted death for their faith have proven beyond any doubt the fullness of their faith. Therefore, we should not run and hide from such a fate but eagerly seek the chance to prove our faith. This is the final and ultimate test.
30 - But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.
Salvation was first offered to Israel. However, after horribly corrupting their faith (worshipping their Rabbis over Yahuwah) and then murdering their long-promised Messiah, divorced themselves from Yahuwah and any chance of salvation. However, we know that there was also a large number of Jews and priests that believed and followed after the Messiah. Those will receive salvation.
At all times, Israel believed it was Yahuwah Himself that was dealing directly with them.
John 1:18 - No man has seen Elohim at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared [him].
It was not the Father but the Son who interacted with the creation which He created. (read the prior verses). Yahushua was the beginning of the creation of Elohim. In Him was the blueprint for what the Father desired Him to create. The problem the Father had with direct interaction was that the Father is “living incorruption” and cannot occupy the same space as corruption without destroying it by His mere presence. As He descends to Earth, all that is corruptible will be cleansed by the spiritual fire that precedes Him.
By the time Yahushua came in the flesh, the Jewish religion was already a cesspool of corruption. The leaders basked in the praise of their congregation and felt threatened by Yahushua and His teachings. They preferred to kill their Elohim rather than lose their authority and power over the people. These are the “first’. Because they did not seek salvation first, they will be last (resurrected and sentence to eternal death}. Like the angels that sinned, there shall be no further opportunity for salvation offered to them.
20:1 - For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 - And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 - And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 - And said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 - Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 - And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand you here all the day idle?
7 - They say unto him, Because no man has hired us. He saith unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall you receive.
8 - So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 - And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
This is talking about something else entirely. Just as these servants all received a penny for their reward, so shall all Believers receive the same reward (eternal life). It does not matter which generation of Believer the person comes from.
10 - But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 - And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 - Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 - But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny?
14 - Take [that] yours [is], and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you.
The ones that had suffered in the heat all day complained that the ones who worked only an hour received the same pay. Yet, they did agree to work for a penny, so, no matter what, they agreed to work the day for that amount and that is what they got. The landowner did them no wrong. Whatever he gave the others was none of their concern. Rather than seeking more spiritual reward than others, we should just be grateful to be on the road to salvation at all and seek to lead others to that same reward.
While I was with the WCG, I noticed many looking down their self-righteous noses at everyone outside that church. A better attitude (although not found in the scriptures) would have been “There for but the grace of Elohim go I”. In other words, we are fortunate to be called in the first place and have no right to look down on those less fortunate. We did nothing of our own to receive such honour. It was a free gift and we should be grateful for receiving it.
Another way to look at it is, what if a person who receives Yahushua through baptism, dies within hours following his confirmation into the faith? Does that person not receive the same gift of salvation that the rest of us worked so hard for? Of course, he does!
Conclusion
Who wants to be last? Not me! Isn’t that how we all feel? There is not a one of us who “deserves” salvation. We were all, at one time, guilty of sin and under the sentence of death. Our belief gave us a stay of execution. Rather than having an attitude of condemnation against those less fortunate, we should be seeking to help them see the glory of Yahushua for themselves.
Recently, I have been attempting to promote my e-book, “The Christian Counterfeit, Constantine’s One World Religion” by posting links on religious posts on my Facebook page. Sadly, there has been little response, so far. Some of those I have received were positive, some were not. Those which were not, had obviously not even read the book. Therefore, I challenged them to read the book, do their own study and prove me wrong, if they can. I am still waiting for a qualified response.
Doing the work of Yahuwah is no easy task. People are not easily persuaded to change their beliefs without just cause. Every man-made religion on earth desires to win everyone over to believe what they believe. But, not one of them is able to lead you to salvation. They are all simply a mirage.
Yahushua opened the door to free and personal access to the Father. He admonished us not to pray in public (displaying a mirage of righteousness) but rather, that we go to a closet to pray in private. This is the relationship with the Father and Yahushua that we should all be seeking. Up close and personal. It does not matter what impression one projects outwardly; Yahuwah sees the real you at all times. We must strive to be constantly conscience of that at all times; and conduct ourselves as His ambassadors should.
Naturally, I have no problem meeting with groups of likeminded individuals. We all seek that. Currently there is no local groups I feel comfortable with. But that doesn’t bother me much either. I thoroughly enjoy my Sabbath studies and my personal relationship with Yahuwah and Yahushua. It is through such studies that I learn new truths. No religion on the face of the earth seeks new truth. They are perfectly content with their set-in-stone doctrines and customs, and are not even seeking new truths.
I come out of a background of home construction and truck driving. I have no formal “religious” training. And for that I feel blessed. My only training came from reading and studying the Scriptures for myself, and allowing Yahuwah to personally reveal to me what I need to know.
There is only One who knows the end from the beginning and He is more than willing to personally train us. Do not look to any man (including myself) to interpret Yahuwah’s word for us. That is a sure way to end up on the wrong path. Study and prove all things for yourselves.
Yahuwah Bless
G.P.