First Shall Be Last – Uncommon Church Event – AlephTau Set – Bible TCG

Rocky Santangela
Jul 6
4 min read

Updated: Aug 13

First Shall Be Last – Base Art – Uncommon Church Event – AlephTau Set – Bible TCG

Upside‑Down Kingdom

First Shall Be Last is a 4‑cost Event from the Church Age featuring a powerful Discern ability: choose one of the two following options: deal 5 damage to a target undamaged being, or restore +5 hope to a target damaged being. This versatile card flips the game by either delivering a heavy removal or reviving a key ally.

The Pattern of the First and the Last

Throughout Scripture, God reveals a pattern that turns human expectation upside down. From the beginning, we see the firstborn in strength or position being passed over for the one the world would least expect. Cain came first, yet God accepted Abel’s offering. Ishmael was Abraham’s firstborn, yet the promise was confirmed through Isaac. Esau emerged before Jacob, yet Jacob received the birthright and the blessing. Manasseh was the elder, but Ephraim was blessed above him. Saul reigned as the people’s choice, but David, the shepherd boy, became king after God’s own heart.

This is not a rejection of order, it is a revelation of God’s sovereign grace. He chooses according to His purpose, not according to human performance, birth order, or worldly qualification. The pattern is clear: what man esteems, God often bypasses; what man overlooks, God exalts. This truth explodes in the ministry of Jesus. His kingdom operates by divine reversal, placing grace above merit, faith above self efforts, and God’s will above man’s tradition.

This card's verse is Matthew 19:30:

"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."

The greatest fulfillment of this pattern is in the Jew and Gentile mystery. Israel came first, chosen and beloved, entrusted with the Law, the prophets, and the promises. Yet in their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles. The church, born from every tribe, tongue, and nation, now proclaims the gospel in the power of the Spirit. But God’s covenant love for Israel remains, and His promise stands that one day the veil will be lifted, and they will see their Messiah and believe.

First Shall Be Last – Full Art – Uncommon Church Event – AlephTau Set – Bible TCG

The Last Becoming the First

Esau and Jacob’s prophecy is a shadow of this reality. Esau served Jacob for a time, but the day would come when the yoke would be broken from his neck. Likewise, the Gentile church now walks in the fullness of grace, carrying the message of Christ to the world. Yet the day will come when Israel will be restored, grafted back into the olive tree, and the nations will flow to Jerusalem to worship the King.

This is the heartbeat of God’s plan, a kingdom where the humble are exalted, the lowly are lifted, and the rejected are embraced. The cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate act of this reversal. The One who is above all became the servant of all. The One who is life tasted death. The One who is first took the place of the last, so that the last could be brought into the place of honor.

Believer, we are living proof of this kingdom truth. By grace, we have been taken from the lowest place and seated in heavenly places in Christ. We are the chosen of God, the beloved, the redeemed. Our position is not earned by effort but secured by His blood. We walk in the power of the One who reversed the order, who brought the outcast into the family, who crowned the unworthy with glory. We are heirs with Christ, forever first in the heart of our Father.

Strategic Use In Gameplay

This card excels in mid-to-late game scenarios where flexibility is critical. Whether you need to eliminate a major threat or revive a strategic unit, First Shall Be Last gives you both options in a single package. It fits perfectly in control decks, board-swinging combos, and even survival-focused builds that rely on timing and resource management.

Synergies and Plays:

Discern Removal: Use the damage option to finish off a strong, undamaged enemy Being, especially those shielded by buffs or hope.
Resurrection Utility: Decide to restore hope on a damaged key unit, enabling it to survive further turns or execute another challenge.
Event Synergy: As an Event, it triggers effects and fuels tempo decks that profit from playing multiple events in a turn.