Order
by Brad Scott
In 1Corinthians 15 we read of what appears to be simple statement concerning the order of the resurrection.
1Corinthians 15:22-23For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive; but every man in his own order: Messiah the first fruits; afterward they that are Messiah's at his coming
The Greek word used behind the word order is tagma (τάγμα). It is commonly taught by Christian commentators that this word denotes a military kind of order, which is accurate. This word is used 12 times in the Tanakh. Eleven of those twelve times is in the book of Bemidebar (Numbers). This word in Hebrew is degel (דגל). It is a word that is used to describe the order of the twelve tribes journeying toward Canaan.
Bemidebar 2:2,9Every man of the children of Israel shall encamp by his own standard [tagma, degel - order] with the banner of their father's house: over against the tabernacle of the congregation shall they encamp ... All who were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
So, is it possible that the resurrection order that Sha’ul was referring to is something already foretold and patterned in Scripture? The order of the resurrection is begun by the tribe of Judah. (Can you name a famous Messiah who was from the tribe of Judah?) He or they will be followed by the twelve tribes of Israel. Perhaps the order of the resurrection is somehow connected to the whole house of Israel.
Shalom Alecheim! ◊