For Such a Time as This ~ Lea Sylvester

This is a different and interesting application drawn from the story of Esther.  I enjoyed it and hope you will as well!

For Such a Time as This
Witnessing Tools
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Lea Sylvester   http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=7894

The story of Esther is amazing. Those of the Christian faith might recognize what they are called for as Believers when studying this amazing Book of God's Word. This speaks to the future of the Hebrew people as well.

"Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces)." Esther 1:1

The king described here was over a vast kingdom as we are told here. We see that he makes a feast which is an important event, a celebration.

"That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him." Esther 1:2-3

It is interesting that the divine name of God is not mentioned in Esther. The king here is a type of God Himself in this story. Please stay with me.  For example, Vashti is married to the King and Vashti is a type of Israel. This will speak to those who believe that Yeshua is the Bridegroom to Christians and Yehovah is Bridegroom to Israel. There is but one Bridegroom. Nowhere in God's Word are we told otherwsie but replacement theology has taken it's toll upon the truth.

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah 63:9

This referenced passage of scripture in Isaiah is actually speaking of Yehovah. In all their affliction He feels theirs. This scripture is referenced here as an aside note but we shall see the relevance of it further along.

"And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another) and royal wine in abundance, according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure." Esther 1:7

That verse itself is amazing because it represents revelation. Wine is a stimulant. The older it gets the stronger it gets. Everything we see here is a pattern; not only past, but future. Here we find that the drinking was according to the law; "...None did compel..." God will not force himself upon anyone. As much as one wants to believe, as much as one might wish to receive the revelation of God, the deeper things of God; He will reveal Himself. As Christians, we should grow in our walk. We are to not stay on the milk but move on to the meat and to the knowledge of deeper things that God wishes to show us. We are created for a purpose. How can we know that if we do not seek to know?
We read in verse 10 and 11 that on the 7th day when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded the seven chamberlains that served in his presence to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on. But Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: thefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
When Israel, who was the Bride of God Himself; who came in the form of Yeshua, was summoned to come to be His bride and she refused. Israel did not recognize Her Messiah.  All of Israel did not refuse, some did; but Vashti here represents Israel as a whole in that day. Remember the House of Israel was not there at that time, only the Tribe of Judah and the Tribe of Benjamin.

"Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment; and the next unto him were the seven princes of Persia and Media which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom:)" Esther 1:13-14

It is interesting to note here the mention of these "wise men" which knew the times. How did they know the times? Remember Daniel? Daniel knew the times and these wise men had been taught by Daniel.  Who came to Yeshua when he was just a two year old boy? The wise men. From where did they come? Remember, this king here is the King of Persia. They came from the East. Interesting, isn't it? The wise men who visited Yeshua knew when the Messiah was to be born and when he was to call the Bride to her place. She was called to come as a bride adorned in her royal apparel. We see that the wise men knew that but Vashti did not recognize her place just as Israel did not recognize her place.
So here the king consults with them about law and judgment; they knew the laws of God, these seven princes of Persia who are consulted and we read,

"What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law beause she hath not performed the commandment of the king by the chamberlains?" Esther 1:15

We are then told in verse 16 that Vashdi the Queen had not just done wrong to the king only but also to all the princes, and to all the people that were in all the provinces of the king.  She sinned against God Himself. As a type of Israel who rejected their Messiah, their Bridegroom, she in fact sinned against God Himself.
If we look at Ezekiel Chapter 36 we find something interesting relative to this:

"And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whether they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you  from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries and will bring you into your own land." Ezekiel 36:19-24

So just as the princes say to the king in this account in Esther that Vashti had profaned his name, we read that the house of Israel profaned the Holy name of God. Do you see the parallels here? But, we also see that God promises to restore them back to their land. This passage of scripture here in Ezekiel relates to a future restoration of Israel.
Further we read,

"Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ashsuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she." Esther 1:18-19

The Christian people must recognize who our Lord is! This is very deep and points to our time.There are more places spoken about the fall of Israel and how God would be known by a people that He did not know. His name would be exalted by them instead. This is exactly what is being referenced in the scripture cited above! This speaks to our day, to those who follow the Messiah and to the Jewish people.
So a decree was sent out that all wives give honor to their husbands. He sent letters to all provinces - this is when Vashti (she is never divorced, she only loses her status as the Queen herself. Just as Israel has, not as some think from replacement theology teaching, that Israel is replaced; she is only separated from the presence of the King; God Almighty) and has her crown taken and given to another.

"After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased [stopped], he remembered Vashti, and what she had done and what was decreed against her." Esther 2:1

This speaks of a future redemption of Israel. Notice it says when his wrath was appeased, he remembered Vashti. He did not cast her away utterly, he still remembers her. God's word cannot change nor be altered.
We are told in this account that fair young virgins were gathered from all provinces to the palace. The purification process was begun and the one that pleased the king would be chosen to be queen.
When the Gospel changed hands and we see that Israel had sinned and crucified her husband, He turns to the Gentiles. Even Paul tries to win as many Jews as he could. But there was a remnant of Jews that did believe. They recognized that Yeshua was God himself in a human body.
What's interesting to consider here is the account of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. In the story of Esther, everything is shown to us; even this.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Matthew 25:1-4

When God chooses one to the be queen that is the representation of the five who have oil in their lamps. It is a representation of the Bride herself. This speaks of the Gentiles and the Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah. But, even though they are all willing to come before the king, He is only going to choose one to be His Bride. This is fascinating, the parallels and types we are given here.
We are introduced to Mordecai, who we are told was from the Tribe of Benjamin. This representation can be considered a representation of the Jews living in our day. We might say that those living today are found with the cup, (as in the cup found in Joseph's brother, Benjamin's bag, who was innocent of selling his brother but who held the cup anyway), and those today must make the decision what they will do with this cup. So Mordecai represents the Jews of today all around the world.
So many fair maidens from all over the province were gathered and among them was Esther. They were brought to the king's house. Esther pleased the king, she obtained kindness of him. She was given things of purification. This is the Holy Spirit - a type of it. It is the anointing of the Spirit which lives inside of us.
When we find favor with God He allows His spirit to come upon us. So we see this here. It is fascinating. These gifts belong to us as the Bride of Yeshua. They are given to us for the purpose for sanctification to go into the presence of our God. Seven maidens were given to her and the king preferred her. The Bride of Yeshua finds favor in the presence of God and He sends gifts to her (as we are told; He gives us many, among them His Spirit).
When the king found her, she found favor in his sight. Esther had not revealed her people nor who she was because she was told by Mordecai to keep it secret. Mordecai walked every day where Esther was to know how she did and what should become of her. Don't think that the Jewish people are not watching the Christians! They are curious to see if this rapture is really going to happen or not.
Every maiden was taken to the king's house. The king had to call them by name. We want to be called by name by the King! What do we take when we are called? We take oil; the Holy Spirit.

"Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women,, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her." Esther 2:15

When Esther was taken, she required nothing but obtained favor and was taken unto the king in the 10th month and the king loved Esther above all women and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all and he set the crown on her head and made her queen.
Do we not have a rapture here in this account? This is a beautiful type of it here in this Book of Esther. We see how the Bride conducts herself and what she should be doing. Then the king made a feast and gave gifts according to the state of the king. Readers who are Believers should get chills from this account in this writer's opinion.

"And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate." Esther 2:19

Mordecai sat at the King's gate the second time the virgins were gathered. The first time was when Vashti was queen, the second time was when Esther was chosen and given the crown. But where was Mordecai? He was at the gate, a type of their homeland. There are so many things that show that Israel is to be in their homeland to receive their Messiah.
We cannot look at the carnal side of Israel and think that they are not there. Certainly there is a mixed multitude, just as there was when Moses brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt. Many say the Jewish hate Christians. But what should we expect? They have had nothing but Christians murder them for the last 2,000 years! Think about that. Rome (calling themselves Christian) slaughtered the early church (most were Jewish) and down through history Rome has had it's bloody hand in the slaughter of millions of Jews. Rome backed the Third Reich! Should we then wonder why they feel this way?
Don't let the chronology confuse this beautiful account we are given. Mordecai sat at gate and when virgins gathered for a second time was when the king presented a gentile bride.

"In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ashuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai  who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king." Esther 2:21-23

Reading this scripture, one cannot help but think of Judas and the unrepentant thief who was crucified with Jesus. Like the two chamberlains described here in Esther, they meant to do evil. Like the two chamberlains, they were put to death on a tree.

"After these things did King Ahasuerus promote Haman the song of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princs that were with him. And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence." Esther 3:1-2

In the case of Haman is where we go back in time. Remember, satan himself was exalted by God to be the chief angel? God set him above all the angels.  Here, all the kings servants bowed in reverence to Haman. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
What is written next in regards to this may be difficult for some to understand; particularly those who think of the Trinity as three separate entities. But it is God's Spirit; one God. It is Jesus, God in the form of a human. Satan had to create a doctrine in this day and age and even before, that made it as though there was more than one God (Elohim is plural for the word God - but doesn't mean multiple Gods). But remember, The Lord God is one, who manifests himself in different ways! Satan wants to prevert this to be something else.
If satan can get you to believe there's more than one God, then he can get worship for himself.  Just think about the antichrist, how he will sit in the temple and be worshiped as if he were God.
God only permitted satan to do what he is doing. He is permitting him to do the evils he has and is doing. But in this and through the evil, the Jewish people will recognize who God is. Mordecai represents the Jews because he doesn't bow to Haman because he knows there is but one God.
Look at how the pope has his ring (symbology) and how all the dignitaries from around the world come before the pope and bow down and kiss his ring. He is being exalted as if he is God and he is not. This is a prime example of the deception taking place today.
Mordecai was asked why he transgressed the king's commandments. The Jewish peple will never accept the pope to be god nor anyone else.  I pray readers are getting this as an "aha" moment.
Haman was told that Mordecai was a Jew. He served one God, not multiple Gods. Haman was full of wrath and he planned to do away with Mordecai and to destroy all the Jews in the entire kingdom. In the first month (the month of Nissan) they cast lots before Haman unto the month of Adar and Haman said to the king that there was a certain people abroad and their laws are different and they don't keep the king's laws, so he suggested to the king to let it be written that they may be destroyed.  Then king took his ring and gave it to Haman, the Jews enemy, and king's scribes wrote all that the king commanded; sealed with the king's ring to destroy, kill and cause to perish all Jews and to take their spoil. The decree was given.
What did Mordecai do? He put on sackcloth and ashes and cried. The Jews will mourn when they see Him whom they have pierced. Esther's maids came and told her and she was grieved and she sent rainment to clothe Mordecai to replace the mourning garments but he received it not.
This illustrates what the true bride of Christ is. When we see the actions of Esther, it speaks of who the Bride is. There are many virgins there, but the Bride takes a different stance! She is trying to do something to comfort and to console the one that she loves. The one who cared for her who had been her father. Who is our Father?
Esther went to the king to request life for her people; risking her very life. For if not granted audience with the king, she would be put to death.
We are being shown here what will happen to the Jews unless we take a stand! Whether they recognize who Jesus is or not, if we are the Bride of Christ, we must not spit upon them because they don't agree with our "doctrine." Shame on those who are doing this!  Our Bible, the Word of God, is given to us so that we will know these things!  The Bride of Christ must be in fervent prayer for the Jewish people!

"And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shal come unto th eking into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:9-14

If we as Christians don't cry out now, if we don't pray and get serious with God about the salvation of Israel, He will arise it from another place. Why? Because God is going to deliver Israel with or without us!
Did not Jesus say that He would provoke them to jealousy with a people that were not his own? This is what the Bride is for! His elect is so precious to Him and we play a vital part in that. We are to go before the King and to cry out for mercy to them.

"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:16.

The hour that is coming upon this earth, the time of the rapture itself. But before that takes place there has to be a bitter cry. There must be some fasting and  praying for those to recognize who Esther is. They will recognize us by what we do for the purpose that we are called for. Their lives are laying in the balance. Will we stand with Her (Israel), or will we turn back. But for this reason we are brought to this position. If we don't take our place, He will find another way becaue He is going to save them.
Please take this seriously! So many Christians are standing against Israel today. The Bride must go before the King on behalf of Israel. This is so beautifully illustrated here in the story of Esther. Are we an Esther or are we jut another one of the other virgins? We won't be lost because of that, but the true Bride of Christ will be crying out for the Jewish people. Take a stand today.

Wonderfully written and presented. So much despair and troubles right now, very encouraging. Truths and teaching such as this should be read and considered rather than rampant d&v. Thanks for posting ~ this is a keeper!

The author brought out much in this article that I was unaware.  Will be reading and studying this again.
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There are many virgins there, but the Bride takes a different stance! She is trying to do something to comfort and to console the one that she loves. The one who cared for her who had been her father. Who is our Father?


(interesting that Esther was also not Mordecai's birth daughter, but he had taken her as a daughter, kinda like adopted Esther 2:15)

And also Esther 2:7... When her father and mother died, Mordecai too her as his own daughter.