[Study Aired February 15, 2021]

Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

In the sense that the secular humanist beast who will turn on the great whore of religion and “eat her flesh and burn her with fire…”, and in the sense that the beast will be totally incapable of distinguishing the Lord’s elect from the religions of the great whore, the point is well taken that “no flesh would be saved alive” certainly includes us as the Lord’s elect.

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

The ‘eating her flesh and burning her with fire’ has been taking place within the Lord’s elect for the past two thousand years (Rev 1:3), and it is taking place dispensationally and outwardly at this very moment as secular humanism turns against all the religions of this world.

I hope in this study to demonstrate just how true the premise is that the ‘no flesh saved’ includes His elect, and at the same time demonstrate how true it is that God will provide “a way to escape that [we] might be able to bear” our trials as we “read and hear… the words of this prophecy and keep the things which are written” in this “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:3).

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

There are three stories in scripture which reveal that the Lord’s elect would indeed be destroyed along with all flesh, if the days of their trials were not shortened.

Those three stories are 1) the story of Joseph, 2) the story of Daniel and His fellows, and 3) the story of Mordecai and Esther.

The kings who rule the world of their time in these three stories are all troubled to the point of losing sleep, and each of these three stories the Lord uses His elect to save both themselves and the kingdoms of this world.

This ‘troubling’ is how the Lord deals with all of us. His ‘troubling’ of world leaders, as the scriptures demonstrate, is the Lord’s method of operation. We have three such events recorded for us in scripture.

The first was Pharaoh:

Gen 41:1  And it came to pass at the end of two full years [after Joseph had correctly interpreted the dreams of the Pharaoh’s butler and baker], that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
Gen 41:2  And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
Gen 41:3  And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
Gen 41:4  And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
Gen 41:5  And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
Gen 41:6  And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
Gen 41:7  And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
Gen 41:8  And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

God’s elect “who first trusted in Christ” are always the target of the great red dragon and all His children, but what they simply are not given to understand is that their every move to entrap the Lord’s elect is nothing more than a pit and a trap into which they themselves will fall. Their every move is a spider’s net into which they are being entangled by the Lord Himself, as is demonstrated for us all in the story of Joseph and His brothers who sold Him into Egyptian slavery. This is the first story of how the Lord has and will orchestrate the affairs of this world to threaten the destruction of His own people, and then use those very same circumstances to deliver His people. In the story of Joseph, the Lord used Joseph, as a type of ‘His anointed… His Christ’, to save himself and Egypt and all of Canaan from a deadly seven-year drought. It was the Lord Himself who, through this drought, made Joseph’s brothers to bow down to and do obeisance to him thus fulfilling the very dreams of Joseph for which they had so hated him.

Joseph was given to know that he was to judge his brothers severely and mercilessly before revealing himself to them:

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph did not deny that his brothers had chosen to sell him into Egyptian slavery. He twice said, “You sold… me… into Egypt.” Then he reveals that our will is not really our will at all when he tells his brothers, “So now it was not you that sent me here, but God.” The old man within each of us is proof positive that we are nothing more than self-centered pawns in the Lord’s chess game, and it is a rigged game in which our old man, and the father of our old man, cannot hope to win, and our heavenly Father and His son, our new man, cannot possibly lose.

Nebuchadnezzar is the second of these three troubled kings:

Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Notice that in the story of Daniel being given to tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed as well as the interpretation of his dream, Nebuchadnezzar “was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” Because he had forgotten his troubling dream and because none of his wise men and religious leaders were able to tell him his dream and also correctly interpret the dream he had forgotten, he had every intention of destroying all the wise men of Babylon including “Daniel and his fellows” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar in this story typifies our old man, the beast within us who rules our whole world:

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him [Gen 41:8 and Est 6:1 – All three kings were troubled and could not sleep].
Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
Dan 2:5  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
Dan 2:6  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
Dan 2:7  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
Dan 2:8  The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan 2:9  But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
Dan 2:10  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. [True at that time]
Dan 2:12  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:13  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

So, yes, indeed, the Lord’s elect are always being “hated by all men… for this cause”, meaning the natural man insists that religious people have no proof of their God being real. Nebuchadnezzar’s god was Nebuchadnezzar himself all the way until the Lord, in type and shadow, judged Nebuchadnezzar and made him eat grass and live out in the field like an ox for seven years.

This judgment was also preceded by giving him troubling dreams:

Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Again, the Lord Himself strikes fear in the heart of the ruler of the world before He deals with him.

Dan 4:28  All this [mentally deranged curse] came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 4:29  At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Dan 4:31  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
Dan 4:32  And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will [Gen 33:3; Lev 26:18,21, 24 and 28].
Dan 4:33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar, as a type of us, worshipped himself until he, as a type of us, ‘fell seven times’ before the Lord made a change in him:

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

The restoration to Nebuchadnezzar of his kingdom after spending seven years as a maniac in the field with the cattle, makes him a type of the Lord’s elect who all “fall… seven times”.

However, before that day comes, he is under the influence of the same secular humanist spirit which is taking over the entire western world, and it is affecting all of modern mankind, “all the kings of the earth”, who have for so long been subdued by the great whore:

Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Religion is ‘the great whore’, and religion is falling into disrepute with all flesh, and this is what the flesh, symbolized by the number ten, is doing to the religions of this world at this very moment (Meaning of the Number Ten):

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast [secular humanism], until the words of God shall be fulfilled. [Until the Lord has used secular humanism to judge the great whore of religion]
Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

It is most instructive for us to notice that as much as Nebuchadnezzar worshipped himself, at the same time the Lord made him to have great regard for Daniel’s connection to our Lord. Notice that the Lord’s words to him through Daniel are as a last resort when the Lord troubles him:

Dan 4:7  Then [first] came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
Dan 4:8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

The powers that be will be flourishing as they are today before the Lord begins to “trouble” them.

Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

The third Biblical example of how the Lord troubles the powers that be before He judges them is King Ahasuerus:

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

“That night” refers to the very night Haman was constructing some gallows on which to hang Mordecai. Here is what happened that very day:

Est 5:9  Then went Haman forth [from Queen Esther’s first banquet] that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Est 5:10  Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
Est 5:11  And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Est 5:12  Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
Est 5:13  Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
Est 5:14  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

In the story of Mordecai and Esther, Haman typifies the great red dragon who is seeking to destroy the Lord’s elect, the ‘man child’, who is born of the woman and is destined to rule the nations with a rod of iron:

Rev 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Haman, in type, is the son “of [his] father the devil” (Joh 8:44), that old serpent, the great red dragon (Rev 12:9 and 20:2). He is intent upon destroying the Lord’s typical elect, but he is totally unaware that even his hatred of the Lord and His doctrines and His people is all a part of a plan put in place by the Lord Himself before Haman was ever born, as the scriptures reveal:

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. 

How long before we are born did God have “the days that were ordained for [us… written in His book”? Here is the scriptural answer to that question:

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 

Tit  1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

If indeed the Lord has had “all… [of our] days… written in [His] book… before there were any of them”, then it follows that He would also have to have pre-planned all the days of all the lives of all the associates of His elect. In other words, He would have to be working “all things after the counsel of His own will” including the lives of Haman, his wife Zeresh, all his sons and everyone else who has ever been born.

Is that a scriptural doctrine? Yes, of coursem that is exactly what the scriptures teach from Genesis to Revelation:

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Even as Haman was basking in the apparently certain prospect of fulfilling the king’s proclamation to destroy all the Jews in his kingdom, the Lord, through Estherm was causing Haman to set himself up for the ultimate humiliation and for his own death and destruction. Just look at how the Lord has provided for the success of our new man at the expense of our old man, and look at how the Lord protects His children from their enemies. Before Haman had begun to construct the 75-foot high gallows from which he intended to hang the Lord’s typical elect, the Lord, through Queen Esther, had already begun to entreat the king to answer her petition to come to her first banquet, to which she had also invited Haman. Totally unaware of the Lord’s all-knowing sovereign hand at work on behalf of His elect few, Haman left that first banquet to go home and brag to his family and all his friends that he alone had been invited to be with Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus, on the first night of Queen Esther’s banquet, and that Queen Esther had invited him alone to be with her and the king the next night.

It was that very night, the same night the king could not sleep and the night he had read of Mordecai saving his life, that at the suggestion of his wife and all his friends Haman began preparing the “fifty cubits” (75 foot high) gallows on which he intended to hang Mordecai. But the Lord was “working all things [in this story] after the counsel of His own will” and this is what He worked to deliver His typical elect the very next night, the same night Haman intended to petition the king for the hanging of Mordecai:

Est 6:1  On that night [the night of Queen Esther’s first banquet] could not the king sleep [Gen 41:8 and Dan 2:1] , and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

This was all a work of the Lord himself. The king had no idea who would be in the court. He had no intention at this point of humiliating his most trusted assistant, Haman. He actually thought he was honoring Haman also by having “one of the king’s most noble princes”, to use Haman’s own words, to deck Mordecai out in the king’s royal apparel, set him on the king’s horse and lead the man the king delighted to honor through the streets of the city declaring that this is the man the king delights to honor. Nevertheless, by the words of “[his] own mouth (Luk 19:22), Haman was humiliated, and the worst was yet to come when that very night Queen Esther explains to the king in Haman’s presence that it is her people Haman is seeking to destroy.

In the end, the Lord protects His people and destroys their enemy. Haman is hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and his wife and children are put to death. Mordecai and Queen Esther inherit all Haman’s wealth and are used by the Lord to save all their people. Mordecai, like Joseph, was made “next to the king” in the kingdom of Persia.

All three examples here are mere types of the fulfillment of this promise to us if we are granted to endure the hatred of this world to the end:

Rev 2:25  Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.
Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:
Rev 2:27  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:
Rev 2:28  and I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. (ASV)

Est 10:1–3 The Greatness of Mordecai

[Study Posted December 20, 2020]

Est 10:1  And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. 
Est 10:2  And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 
Est 10:3  For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. 

The concluding chapter of the Book of Esther focuses on the greatness and power of Mordecai, who represents Christ. Knowing his greatness and power is the same as Jesus Christ being unveiled to us. Thus, the objective of the Book of Esther is to unveil Jesus Christ to us, that is, to show us the process of coming to know Christ. As we have demonstrated in the review of the Book of Esther, Mordecai represents Jesus whose greatness and power fills the whole of the scriptures. King Ahasuerus here denotes our Father God who superintends over everything. This concluding review of the Book of Esther will therefore focus on the process of knowing Christ and how such unveiling permeates through the scriptures. The unveiling of Christ or the showing of His greatness and power is about how God changes us from being wicked and insignificant beasts to become rulers of His kingdom.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Christ is unveiled to us in the Book of Esther not in a chronological order as most scriptures do not follow that pattern. However, the steps are as follows:

The Period of our Rebellion 

In verse 1 of this review of Esther Chapter 10, the King laid a tribute upon the land and the isles of the sea. Strong’s definition of tribute is as follows:

Tribute
mas, mees
From H4549; properly a burden (as causing to faint), that is, a tax in the form of forced labor: – discomfited, levy, task [-master], tribute (-tary).

So tribute here means a burden or tax or task, etc. Verse 1 is therefore another way of saying that God has given human beings an experience of evil to humble them by it. That is the beginning of the process of knowing Christ. We must know the first Adam before we can know Christ.

Ecc 1:13  I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: It is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

This experience of evil is the operation of the law of sin and death in our lives which results in us disobeying our Lord, reproving and disannulling His judgments. This is demonstrated in the Book of Esther right at the beginning where the King held a feast.  It was during this feast which spiritually signified the hearing of the word of God that we, as Vashti, refused to pay heed to the King’s words. This was a period in our lives where we heard the Lord’s call through His words but we refused to heed to our Master’s call and followed our own pernicious ways.

Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

This period in our lives, as portrayed in the Book of Revelation, is when we are shown the extent of our sins as portrayed in the message to the seven churches and the need for us to be judged. For example:

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The encounter of the Israelites with God in the desert shows us our hopeless sinful state. The Ten Commandments which represent the law of sin and death were therefore given to the Israelites to show them their sins.

Psa 95:10  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
Psa 95:11  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Gal 3:19  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses requested to see the Lord’s glory. He could only see the back parts and not the face of the Lord of glory. The back parts represent the law of Moses or the law of sin and death. Seeing the Lord’s face and his glory is operating under the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death.

Exo 33:18  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
Exo 33:19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Exo 33:21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exo 33:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exo 33:23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Need to be Judged

If we are destined to be part of the elect, just as Esther was chosen to become one of the possible candidates to become the bride of the King, then we will be dragged to repentance through fiery trials as demonstrated in many parts of the scriptures.

After the law of sin and death has been applied to us, we then come to know that we are sinful and without hope, and so this necessitates that the Lord comes to judge us as shown by the Israelites meeting the Lord on Mount Sinai. During this encounter, Israel witnessed smoke, fire and earthquake on Mount Sinai, representing the need to be judged.

The need to be dragged to Christ through judgment is also illustrated by the dedication of the temple in the Old Testament. When Solomon was dedicating the temple to the Lord in 1 Kings 8, the priests could not minister because the temple was filled with a cloud of the glory of God. Revelation 15:8 gives us insight why they could not minister.  It was because the priests were sinful and needed to be judged by the seven plagues before they could enter the temple to worship. The same thing happened to Moses when he could not enter the Tent of meeting because of the cloud that abode there. We have to pass through this judgment process which is a lifetime experience in order to know our King’s greatness in terms of His power and might as exemplified by Mordecai’s greatness in verse 2 of this review.

1Ki 8:10  And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
1Ki 8:11  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

Exo 40:35  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The Judgment Process

The judgment process is the same as a purification process. In the Book of Esther, before Esther could meet the King, she had to go through a purification process. This purification process causes us to gradually become doers of His words.  That is when we commence the dying process (beautification process) in order to meet our husband the King. We are dragged to meet the Lord through judgment (seven plagues), and it is this judgment process that grants us access to the temple to worship our Lord.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

All the Israelites who left Egypt died in the wilderness through judgment, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. The dying of the Israelites represents the dying of our old man in this journey of going to the promised land.

Jos 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

The seven plagues in the Book of Revelation are represented in the Book of Esther by Haman’s (the beast within) attempts to put to death all the Jews at an appointed time.  This brings us to our wits’ end as demonstrated by Esther putting her life on the line to come to the King’s presence uninvited. The King extending the sceptre to Esther is like Esther coming from death to life.

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

What we need to understand is that the judgment process is accompanied by a period when our heavens are opened to receive exponentially the knowledge of God and of His son Jesus.  That is what eternal life is all about. This is demonstrated in the Book of Revelation by a heavenly scene where the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Jesus) prevailed to open the seal of the word of God. Jesus also said in explaining the parable of the sower that as we receive the word of God, there will be more tribulations or persecutions. So the process of judgment and the exponential increase in the knowledge of God go together.

Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Rev 6:1  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

We can only see the glory of the Lord when we are judged. The glory of the Lord is the devouring fire that destroys the works of the flesh in our lives to be able to hear His voice. In other words, it is being able to hear His voice in the midst of our affliction, as shown in the verses below:

Exo 24:17  And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Deu 5:24  And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

The end result of the judgment that is marked out for us is the death of the old man and the birth and growth of the new man. In other words, judgment begets righteousness, which is a life of obedience as we wait for the manifestation of the sons of God.  The manifestation of the sons of God is the same as the joy that is set before us.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The Joy that is Set Before Us

Through the death of Haman, Mordecai and Esther are given exalted positions in the King’s kingdom.  That represents the joy which is set before us. In our walk here on this earth, this joy set before us is only in earnest form. In other words, only a portion of this joy is given to us now. The fullness will come into play at the time of the redemption of the purchased possession. The purchased possession includes the period of our rulership when the kingdoms of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. It extends also to the lake of fire age.  The Book of Revelation shows us the joy that is set before us by unveiling to us the reward for overcoming, the millennial rule, the great white throne judgment and the New Jerusalem.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

The death of that generation which left Egypt through judgments signifies the death of our old man which granted the new generation of Israelites the ability to possess the land of Canaan which God has promised them. The land of Canaan figuratively represents our bodies which must die (a negative connotation), but it also represents the joy that was set before the Israelites and to us (a positive application).

Jos 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

In conclusion, these processes outlined show how Christ is unveiled to us as we come to appreciate the acts of His power and might and of His greatness as symbolized by the greatness of Mordecai (verses 2 and 3). This is what Paul was alluding to when he prayed for his Ephesian brethren that:

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (His greatness and might):
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

May God have mercy on us by granting us the grace to know Him and to be found in Him on that day!! Amen!!

Esther 9:1–19: Thus, the Jews Smote All Their Enemies

[Teacher’s Choice Study Aired November 23, 2020]

Est 9:1  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 
Est 9:2  The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 
Est 9:3  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 
Est 9:4  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 
Est 9:5  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 
Est 9:6  And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 
Est 9:7  And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 
Est 9:8  And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 
Est 9:9  And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 
Est 9:10  The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 
Est 9:11  On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 
Est 9:12  And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 
Est 9:13  Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. 
Est 9:14  And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 
Est 9:15  For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 
Est 9:16  But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 
Est 9:17  On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:18  But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:19  Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 

In Esther chapter 8, we observed that Esther pleaded with the King to come out with a decree to nullify the letters which had already gone out to every province that the Jews must be destroyed, killed and cause to perish on the thirteenth day of the month of the twelfth month called Adar. This decree to destroy the Jews signifies the law of sin and death and the King’s new decree to nullify the first decree represents the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death. Chapter 9, therefore, focuses on the effect of this new decree (the law of the spirit of life) by the King in the lives of the Jews.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Est 9:1  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 

According to the law of sin and death, we were destined to be destroyed as a result of our rebellion, which is symbolized by the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. As the scriptures say, the wages of sin are death.  For as long as the enemies within dominated us, we continued to rebel against God. However, God, who is rich in mercy, came up with a new decree which is the law of the spirit of life which has liberated us from the shackles of the law of sin and death with the birth of the new man in us that has rule over them that hated us inwardly.

Outwardly, there is a day of rebellion at the end of the period when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. When the whole of the human race compasses the camp of the saints, fire will come down from God of the heavens and devour them. That is when the last enemy, death, will be destroyed.

Neh 9:17  And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Est 9:2  The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 

As indicated in previous reviews of this Book of Esther, the gathering of the Jews (the elect) is very important. It is through fellowshipping that we strengthen one another to face the day of the Lord in our lives. In the verse above, the gathering of the Jews was to help them to overcome those who sought their hurt (the enemy within). It is also to help them overcome any onslaught from any man. No man withstanding them means that fellowshipping creates the necessary condition for the Jews (the elect) to tread on serpents and scorpions and have dominion over all the powers of the enemy. The question is, “How does fellowshipping help us in overcoming those who sought our hurt and being able to tread on serpents and scorpions?” As we fellowship, we get to know the mind of Christ and therefore become of one mind with our husband, Christ. That is what the scripture is talking about when it says that a man leaves his family to get joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh. As we become one mind, nothing can withstand us as shown in the building of the tower of Babel. In Genesis 11:6, the people were of one mind (the people is one) when they were trying to build the tower of Babel (Positive application).  Until God intervened, nothing could stop them.

Mar 10:6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 
Mar 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 
Mar 10:9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 

Est 9:3  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
Est 9:4  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 

Verse 3 shows us that the resources of the kingdom of God have been made available to us (the Jews). However, the resources are only in earnest form while we live here on earth, until the redemption of the purchased possession. These resources are available to us through our knowledge of Him through His words. In His words He has given us exceeding great and precious promises that we may overcome the corruption which is in the world through lust.

These resources available to us are exemplified in the story of 2Kings 6:8-11. In this story, the King of Syria sent his men on horses and chariots to surround the town of Dothan in the night in a bid to capture Elisha. When the servant of Elisha woke up in the morning and saw horses and chariots surrounding the city, he was afraid and went to inform Elisha. However, Elisha rather prayed that God should open the servant eyes to see in the spirit. When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes to see, he saw a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. This portion of scripture shows God’s provision to protect us from our enemies within and without. These passages of scriptures mean that the kingdom of God which is now within, which is represented by the mountain, is possessed through war (symbolized by horses) in our heavens, and our weapon (our resources) for this war is the fiery words of the Lord signified by chariots of fire.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

2Ki 6:8  Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 
2Ki 6:9  And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 
2Ki 6:10  And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 
2Ki 6:11  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 
2Ki 6:12  And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 
2Ki 6:13  And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 
2Ki 6:14  Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 
2Ki 6:15  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 
2Ki 6:16  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 
2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

In verse 3 and 4, the reason the rulers and others were helping the Jews was because of the fear of Mordecai which has fallen on them. Here Mordecai represents the Lord Jesus who is great in the house of the Lord and is waxing greater and greater. The waxing greater and greater of Mordecai represents the brightness of the Lord Jesus coming into our lives and consuming the enemy within with the spirit of his mouth (His words).

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 
Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 
Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 
Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 
Heb 1:12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Est 9:5  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 
Est 9:6  And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 
Est 9:7  And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 
Est 9:8  And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 
Est 9:9  And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 
Est 9:10  The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 

Verse 5 begins with the word “Thus”. This word means as a result of or the consequence of what has been said earlier. What has been said earlier is as follows:

1. That the Jews gathered together – Talking about our fellowshipping.
2. The rulers, the lieutenants and the deputies of the kingdom helped the Jews – This is speaking of the resources available to the elect.
3. Mordecai waxing greater and greater and the fear of him causing the Jews to be favored – Here Mordecai represents the brightness of the  Lord Jesus coming into our lives (waxing greater and greater) which will cause the enemy within to be consumed with the spirit of his mouth (His words). 

As a result of these, we are able to smite the enemies within with the stroke of the sword (His words). Remember that the name Shushan means Lily. In the bible, the elect is referred to as a lily (Hosea 14:5). As indicated in Chapter 1 of Esther, Shushan is where the King’s throne is. Thus, the throne of God is in the elect’s heavens (hearts and minds). As indicated in verse 6, it is within (Shushan) that the Jews smote five hundred men of the enemies. Five hundred is equal to 5x10x10. This means that it is by grace through faith that the flesh is put to death. This grace is that which chastens us and brings about the death of the enemies within.

Verses 7 to 9 are the names of the ten sons of Haman. Remember that the number 10 represents the flesh. So, our war is against the flesh. What we need to understand is that the death of Haman did not end the fight against the flesh within. There were the ten sons of Haman to contend with then. It is a war that continues on a daily basis. That is why Paul said that we die daily (1Co 15:31). When the Israelites entered Canaan, they conquered the land one nation at a time. God told the Israelites through Moses that He will drive out the nations before them little by little, and the reason for this is that He does not want Israel to be overwhelmed by the beasts of the field.

Jesus explained to us that the word field means the world. The beasts of the field are therefore the same as the flesh or the old man as they drive us towards worldliness. This worldliness consists of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This sums up the sins of the flesh.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Verse 10 mentions that even though the Jews slew their enemies, they did not take possession of the spoil. The spoil represents worldly possessions. We are in this world but not of this world, and therefore our focus is not on worldly prosperity as our brothers in Babylon consider worldly prosperity as a sign of God’s approval. They will quote Deuteronomy 8:18 –  “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” as scriptural proof of their belief.

As spiritual Jews, we need to pay heed to Paul’s admonition to Timothy as follows:

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Est 9:11  On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 
Est 9:12  And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 
Est 9:13  Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. 
Est 9:14  And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 

What these verses teach us is that the slaying of the enemies within is the work of God and not anything we have done. It is the Lord who commands, and it is done. As those seeking the death of the enemies within, we need to continually seek the Lord to command the destruction of the enemies within just as Esther did. Such prayers will surely be answered. However, we need to be patient since the death of the enemies within takes time. Patience is one of the qualities God requires of us as the process of becoming his sons takes time.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Est 9:15  For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 
Est 9:16  But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 

The gathering of the Jews on the fourteenth day is a sign that they are progressing spiritually as fourteenth means spiritual progression. This spiritual progression is the result of the slaughtering of the enemies within. In this case 300 (300 = 3x10x10) men were slaughtered. This means that the process of spiritual completion entails putting the flesh (the enemies within) to death.

Again, in verse 16, more enemies were slaughtered by the other Jews. This was possible because the Jews stood for their lives. What does it mean to stand for your life? To stand for your life is to come to a place where you put your life on the line as Esther did when she appeared uninvited in the King’s presence not knowing whether the King would extend the sceptre or she would be put to death. This is the same as losing our lives, which will result in the eventual gain of our lives. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said that the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. The violent are those who stand for their lives (lose their lives) in a bid to defeat the enemies within.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 
Est 4:16  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. 

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 

In both verses 15 and 16, it is mentioned that the Jews did not lay hands on the prey. The fact that it is mentioned three times in this chapter means that we have to pay attention to it. I will therefore elaborate more on it. The prey is the same as the spoil, and it represents wealth (Mammon). This prey or spoil encapsulates all that is in the world which men and women go after – what we will eat or drink, what we will wear and the provision of shelter. That is what the cares of this world are all about. These have derailed the course of many aspiring men and women of God.

For example, there was this gentleman that Paul, in the early part of his ministry, trusted so much, and his name was Demas. Later on in his ministry, Paul said that Demas has forsaken him because he loved the present world. It is important to also note that the excuses that those invited to the marriage dinner gave were legitimate, but resulted in their exclusion from the marriage dinner. The scripture says that they made light of the king’s invitation and went their way, one to his farm and another to his merchandise. Yes, it is true that we have to work to provide food and shelter for our families, but the enemy can use these legitimate concerns to derail our course. It takes those who have progress spiritually to let go of the spoil. May the Lord help us so that we don’t touch the spoil just as the Jews did when they smote their enemies.

Col 4:14  Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Phm 1:24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Mat 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 
Mat 22:5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 

Est 9:17  On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:18  But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:19  Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 

Verses 17 to 19 focus on what happened after the defeat of the enemies of the Jews. The defeat of the enemies resulted in the Jews having rest; feasting, having a day of gladness and sending portions one to another. Let’s take them one at a time and elaborate on them.

The Jews had Rest

From the verses above, the Jews had rested after defeating the enemies within. As God’s spiritual Jews, our rest only comes from the death of the beast within. As long as the beast within sits in the throne of our hearts, we will always fall short of this rest. Death to the beast/flesh is what grants us the rest from our labors. Now, the question is what does it mean to have rest? The answer is in Hebrews 4:10-12, which says that having rest is ceasing from our own works. Now those who did not believe in His words (Heb 4:11) did not enter into his rest. This means that entering into His rest, or ceasing from our own works, is believing in His words. That is why in Hebrews 4:12, the writer was telling us about the potency of the word of God so that we believe and obtain that rest. When we come to that place where we depend on His words and know that what He has said He is able to accomplish, then we’ve started our rest in Him!! That is when we do not depend on what we do but what He does through His words.

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead–those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.” (Berean Study Bible)

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 
Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

A day of gladness for the Jews

The day of the defeat of the enemies was the day of gladness for the Jews. In Psalm 126, the Jews were glad because God had done great things for them by delivering them from their captivity. The captivity here is our bondage to the flesh or the old man (represented by the enemies of the Jews). For whosoever sins is a slave to sin. So it is only when the Lord delivers us from our enemies within that we experience gladness or joy, and that is when we come to appreciate the great things that God has done for us.

Psa 126:1  A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Psa 126:2  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 
Psa 126:3  The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 
Psa 126:4  Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 
Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
Psa 126:6  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 

The Feasting of the Jews

Feasting is about eating and drinking, and it represents how God is enlightening the understanding of the word of God for His elect to know Him. Remember that eternal life is all about getting to know God and Jesus (John 17:3). So feasting is equivalent to being given eternal life. As our heavens are being cleansed through the death of our enemies (the old man), a door is being opened in heaven which is deepening our understanding of the word of God exponentially.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 

The Jews sent portions to each other

The portions being talked about here refer to properly weighed out food. As we are aware, food represents the word of God based on Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4, which say that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of the Lord. So the Jews sending portions to each other is about His elect sharing the word of God with each other, resulting in the building up of the body through love. That is what Paul was alluding to when he said that the body of the elect is fitted and compacted together by what every joint supplies.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luk 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Next time, we will conclude the Book of Esther by looking at the remaining verses of Chapter 9 and also Chapter 10.

[Study Posted September 20, 2020]

Est 7:1  So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 
Est 7:2  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 
Est 7:3  Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 
Est 7:4  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. 
Est 7:5  Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 
Est 7:6  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 
Est 7:7  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 
Est 7:8  Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 
Est 7:9  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 
Est 7:10  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. 

Chapter 6 ended with the King’s chamberlains bringing Haman to Esther’s banquet. As indicated, this feast is the supper of the great God as revealed in Revelation 19:17-18 where all the fowls that fly in the midst of our heavens, represented by Haman, are invited to come and eat our flesh (our old man) which will consequently result in the death of our old man (Haman) and the birth of a new man created after the image of Christ.

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

Est 7:1  So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
Est 7:2  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

There are two lessons we can learn from these two verses above. First, this banquet is also called the banquet of wine. We know that wine is made from grapes which are crushed at a winepress and then allowed to ferment. So winepress and wine are closely related and are sometimes used interchangeably, as shown in Hosea 9:2 where floor and winepress are likened to new wine which shall not feed them – that means will fail them.  Now whenever winepress is talked about in scriptures, it relates to God’s wrath against the old man. So what this means is that this banquet or the supper of the great God is when God opens our eyes through the scriptures to know his wrath against our old man (in this case Haman) as we will see shortly in this story.

Another lesson we will get from verse 2 is that if we are fortunate to be invited to be part of this feast in our lifetime, our eyes will be opened, that is, we will know through scriptures that God has made available enough resources (half His kingdom) for us to be conformed to the image of his son. Peter says that according to His divine power, God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him and His precious promises.

Hos 9:2  The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Est 7:3  Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 
Est 7:4  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. 

In making petition for her life and the life of the Jews, Esther made a profound statement. I will reproduce verse 4 in NIV to make the statement clearer.

Esther 7:4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. (NIV)

Esther and her people, the Jews, are sold to be destroyed. This is the same as saying that the beast within us is made to be taken and destroyed but each man in his own order. Because this process of destroying the beast entails suffering, we have to cry to the Lord as Esther was doing when we come to our wits’ end so that He will deliver us and bring us to our safe haven. But for those who are sold as slaves to sin in this age (not given repentance in this age), they do not see the need to disturb the King because they think that their choices through their free will mentality will bring them out of trouble. In other words, those who are sold as slaves do not need to petition the King because they are not judged in this life and therefore do not come to their wits’ end. Having said that, I want to say that once you are born of flesh and blood, you will suffer because Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation. What we are talking about is suffering which leads to repentance.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Est 7:5  Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 
Est 7:6  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 

Immediately we identify who the enemy is in our lives, which is the beast within represented by Haman. The enemy’s death is near. We can see that when Haman was exposed, he was terrified because he knew his death was near. When we were in Babylon, we focused on the devil outside as our main enemy. Yes, the devil is our adversary, but that is not our main focus. The beast within, who is empowered by the devil outside, is our enemy, and when the beast within is put to death, then we have won the victory over the enemy within and without. Just as the kingdom of God is within, the enemy of the kingdom is also within.

Jesus made it clear in his sermon on the mount that we are not to worry about the enemy outside when he said that we should not resist evil but whoever smites us on our right cheeks, we should turn the other cheek also. This is talking about the enemy outside. However, with the enemy within, we are called to resist the devil so that he flees from us.

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man (Haman) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Est 7:7  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 
Est 7:8  Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 

As indicated earlier, this banquet of wine is when God opens our eyes to see the wrath of God on our old man, represented here by the King’s wrath on Haman. As we continue in the word, we come to see that the King (the Lord) has determined evil against the old man (Haman). In other words, the old man is born to be taken and destroyed.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

When the King returned from the place garden and saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was reclining, he asked in anger if Haman is forcing himself on Esther in his house. This questioning by the King means that once we come to appreciate the Lord’s wrath against our old man through feasting on his words, the old man’s stranglehold on us is broken within us, his temple (his house). If we are blessed to be elected, then our body is the house of our Lord, the King and Haman cannot do anything. Haman, represented by the beast within, cannot force himself on us in the King’s house again. In other words, our temples are being cleared of all that offend. This is exemplified by Jesus driving out the money changers and those who were buying and selling and making a declaration that his house (the King’s palace or our temple) will be called the house of prayer, but we have made it a den of robbers. The den of robbers here are represented by Haman (the beast or the nations within) and its influence on our lives.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

As verse 8 indicates, immediately the King asked “Will he force the queen also before me in the house?” Haman’s face was covered. The question is, “What does it mean when the face is covered?” The first mention of the face being covered gives us the spiritual meaning. In Genesis 38:15 we are told that when Judah saw Tamar, his sons’ wife, he thought she was a harlot because she had covered her face. What this means is that it is through the words of the King (our Lord Jesus Christ) that we come to know that the beast (Haman) within is a harlot. The harlot status of the beast within us is confirmed when we are told in Revelation 17:1 to come and see the judgment of the great whore (harlot) that sits upon many waters (nations within). This harlot’s forehead has the following names: mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. Yes, indeed we all have played the harlot at certain points in our walk and through the chastising grace of God, we are being delivered from this harlot woman’s clutches.

We must note that in Revelation, it was one of the seven angels that showed John the harlot. In the case of this story of Esther, it was the chamberlains who covered Haman’s face. The chamberlains here therefore represent the elect, just as it was an angel that showed John the harlot woman.  The angel that showed John the harlot also represents the elect as shown in Revelation 22:9 where we are told that the angel is one of us who keeps the sayings in the scriptures. We must therefore pay heed to what we are hearing from those who labor for the gospel.  This is because what we are being taught is the prophetic message which is completely reliable, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts (2Pe 1:19).

Gen 38:15  When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

2 Peter 1:19: We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (NIV)

Est 7:9  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 
Est 7:10  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. 

It is the King’s attendant (Harbonah) that identified the device to put to death Haman. What this means is that it is the elect, represented by Harbonah, the Chamberlain, who shows us how we die daily to the flesh through judgment, which symbolizes the gallows. The gallows here are the judgment or fiery trials that we go through which brings about the death of the old man. It is insightful here to note that the gallows were prepared by Haman for Mordecai. What this means is that our own wickedness (our old way of walking) is what is used by the Lord to put to death the old man resulting in the birth of the new man represented by Mordecai. Remember that the gallows were prepared for Mordecai that is, for the birth of the new man.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

It is discerning to note the spiritual implication of the measurements of the gallows.  It was 50 cubits high; 50 = 5 x 10. [The common cubit being 1.5 feet, these gallows were 75 feet high and visible to a wide area.] Five means grace through faith and 10 means completeness of the flesh (Refer to the significance of numbers in Scriptures at www.iswasandwillbe.com).  What this is suggesting is that it is God’s grace through faith that brings about the death of the old man. As we continue in Him through faith, we are building the gallows (His chastising grace) for the death of the flesh.

According to verse 9, the gallows were situated in the house of Haman. We were the house of Haman in time past, but as Haman within is being put to death, the house (our bodies) is becoming the temple of the Lord or the palace of the King.

Eventually, Haman was put to death. Once we are dying daily, the old man will surely be put to death. We will have the victory over the enemy within. The outcome of this war against the flesh is obvious. We may lose some battles but we will finally win the war against the flesh or the beast in this age.

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

[Study Posted September 7, 2020]

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 
Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

Chapter 5 deals with how Esther appeared before the King on the third day to request a feast with the King and Haman. As indicated, this feast is not the marriage supper of the lamb but rather the supper of the great God, which represents the invitation of fowls of the air to feast on our flesh. Esther was shown mercy which is accompanied by rulership which God has appointed for those who are shown mercy or overcome. Chapter 6, which we are reviewing today, is about what lies ahead of those who overcome. Let’s therefore take a look at the details of these passages of scriptures and how they relate to our walk with Christ.

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 

These verses remind us of Isaiah 63:9, which says that in all our suffering, he also suffered and that he personally came to our rescue. The night before Haman was going to ask the King to hang Mordecai, the King could not sleep and asked for the books of records to be read to him. It was through this reading that the King remembered that he had not rewarded Mordecai for revealing the plot to assassinate the King.  The King came to the rescue of Mordecai but not before Mordecai has been brought to his wits’ end.

These verses also assure us that God is a rewarder and that He never forgets the good works which He works through us!! Hebrews 11:6 says that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Isaiah 63:9: In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (NLT)

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 

Our moments of destruction will turn out to be our salvation. Just when we feel that we have lost the battle is when God makes us realize that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. From our carnal perspective, we may think that the decision by the King to reward Mordecai and the arrival of Haman at the court of the King to demand the head of Mordecai is coincidence or by chance. However, from the word of God, we know there are no coincidence in life. It shows the extent of God’s involvement in every little detail of our lives. God orchestrates every action of all human race, both good and evil. This story confirms to us that our steps are really ordered or planned – whether it is leading us to do evil, just like Haman, or to do good. We should therefore be encouraged by this that whatever our circumstances are, God is in perfect control and it will turn out for our good!!

The fact that Haman thought that if there should be any person that deserves to be honoured it should be him, makes us aware that the beast within us thinks that having favor with God is the result of our own effort, or what we call the free will.  This is the mindset we used to have when we were in Babylon as we glory in our works and our integrity, just as Job thought that he was righteous.  We were just like the Pharisee who was praying thinking he was more righteous than the publican. So the work of God in our lives is to give us an experience of evil as we walk through this earth so that we will be humbled (come to the realization that we are the greatest sinners) before Him.

Pro 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail (evil experience) hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised (humble) therewith. 

Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

As shown in the scriptures, our God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. As we grow gradually in the things of God, we need our understanding to be enlightened so that we come to appreciate what is the hope of our calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us. In other words, what we should expect when we overcome.  This is very important, as our Lord Jesus was motivated by the joy set out before Him, and therefore He endured the cross, despising the shame. In the same manner, we, too, must know the joy that is set before us to motivate us to fight this fight of faith. Verses 7–9 help us catch a glimpse of what lies in wait for us as we go through our struggles daily. Let’s list them:

Number 1:  We will receive be arrayed in a royal apparel if the King delights in us. Apparel or clothing is used to cover our nakedness (our sins). It is God’s righteousness that covers our nakedness (sinful nature). So, apparel represents God’s righteousness from a positive perspective. In Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves when they realized they were naked (sinful). When they heard the voice of the Lord in the garden of Eden, they hid themselves, and when God asked why they were hiding, Adam said that it was because he was naked, even though he was wearing fig leaves as clothes. This means that our human endeavor cannot bring us God’s righteousness. We will always be naked before him. In the end, God clothed both Adam and Eve. It is God’s righteousness that matters. This is to emphasize the fact that the apparel the King wears here represents God giving us His righteousness as He delights in us. The royal nature of the apparel means that we are being made righteous to rule.

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Number 2: The one that the King delights in (the elect) is expected to ride a horse upon which the King rides.  In this case, the elect is expected to ride the horse through the streets of the city. The use of a horse and the riding through the streets of the city suggest that we have come out of a war and that we have been victorious. In other words, we are taking a victory lap as we see frequently in the Olympics when athletes go round the tracks celebrating their victory. In our case, we are celebrating the victory over the beast within (the flesh). All the wars Israel fought spiritually signify the fight against the flesh.  Paul calls it the good fight of faith. In Galatians 5:17, Paul further describes this war as the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. These two are contrary against each other so that we cannot do the things that we would.

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. (NIV)

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

The question is when do we celebrate our victory? If we are blessed to be part of the first resurrection, then that is when we will celebrate our victory as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (His elect). Revelation 19:11–15 describes our victory as follows:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 
Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 
Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

Number 3: The third honor for those that the king delights in is that they shall receive a royal crown upon their heads. This royal crown is also called the crown of life or the crown of righteousness.  Being crowned suggests that those who prevail will rule over the nations during the period when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It is worth noting that it is the King’s most noble princes (the elect), represented by Haman as one of the King’s leading princes, that decorated Mordecai and paraded him in the streets of the city.  In this case, Haman here represents the elect which is a positive application. What this means is that it is through the agency of the elect that we learn to win this war of the flesh and to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. The prophesying (the preaching) of the elect is to edify us (build us up), encourage us to reach for the mark of His higher calling and to comfort us in our trials. This is all done with the objective of us being part of those in whom the King delights so that we can receive the prize at the end of our journey here on this earth.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 

The mourning of Haman (the beast within) means that his death is near.  As our eyes are being enlightened and we are going through trials marked out for us, our old man within has started his journey of death, and the new man is increasing in strength. Haman’s wise men and Zeresh, Haman’s wife gave Haman advice that as long as we are spiritual Jews, Haman (the beast within) will surely die! It means that once we have started dying daily, the old man will surely die!! In other words, as long as we have started seeing victories over the flesh in certain areas of our lives, we will surely win the war. He who has started the good work in us is able to bring it to completion.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

As indicated in the review of Esther chapter 5, this banquet that the King’s chamberlain hastened to bring Haman, is not the marriage supper of the lamb which is strictly for those who overcome (Haman will not be there). It is the supper of the great God as revealed in Revelation 19:17-18 where all the fowls that fly in the midst of our heavens, represented by Haman, are invited to come and eat our flesh (our old man) which will consequently result in the death of our old man (Haman) and the birth of a new man created after the image of Christ.

This feasting, or banqueting, is the opening of our eyes to understand exponentially the word of God. Thus, this banquet is when the truth of God’s words destroys our attachment to the things of the world signified by the flesh.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 

[Study Posted July 27, 2020]

Est 4:1  When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 
Est 4:2  And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 
Est 4:3  And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 
Est 4:4  So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. 
Est 4:5  Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. 
Est 4:6  So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 
Est 4:7  And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 
Est 4:8  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 
Est 4:9  And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 
Est 4:10  Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 
Est 4:11  All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king 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. 
Est 4:12  And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 
Est 4:13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 
Est 4:14  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? 
Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 
Est 4:16  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. 
Est 4:17  So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. 

Chapter 3 of Esther focused on the plot by Haman to exterminate the Jews. That is the raising of the storm by the Lord to bring us to our wits’ end with the ultimate goal of getting us to our safe haven. As discussed, Haman represents the beast within who is used by God as His left hand to become the agency for our fiery trials with the view of destroying the old man within us (Haman). The trials that Job endured (seven plagues) are the same that Esther had started enduring in this chapter. However, this is not news that the flesh wants to hear because we love our lives. The passages of scriptures we are dealing with today have to do with our fiery trials.  That is what every elect goes through. Let’s go into the details of these trials marked out for us as exemplified in the life of Mordecai and Esther.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Est 4:1  When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 
Est 4:2  And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 
Est 4:3  And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 

Putting on sackcloth as seen in the scriptures is generally a sign of mourning due to the death of someone dear to us. In the spiritual context, the one dear to us is our flesh. The rending of Mordecai’s clothes and his putting on sackcloth signify the fact that he is dissatisfied with his own righteousness (his own clothes) and is ready to put on Christ’s righteousness, which is obtained through the death of our flesh, which causes us to mourn. Remember that the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation are clothed in sackcloth during their days of prophesying. Our lives as God’s elect are a long journey clothed in sackcloth as we mourn the daily dying of our flesh through various fiery trials. Coming to understand his words as Mordecai understood all the plans for the extermination of the Jews, we as God’s elect (Spiritual Jews) mourn. We all mourn because of what is written in the word of God concerning us as shown to Ezekiel. What is written is all about lamentations, mourning and woe because of our fiery trials.  This is not what our carnal man wants to hear.

These verses also tell us where we should express our mourning.  Mordecai expressed his mourning in the midst of the city of the King and also at the King’s gate. What do these locations tell us? The city is our Lord’s dwelling place, and so that is us (the new Jerusalem). We should be able to express what we are going through that makes us mourn in the midst of our brethren. As indicated in an earlier study, the King’s gate is where the porters of God’s elect are to help us with our load and to give us direction as to how we can get to our destination. Since we are all mourning, we can comfort one another in our trials.

Gen 37:34  And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son [Joseph] many days.

2Sa 3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Eze 2:9  And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Eze 2:10  And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Est 4:4  So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. 

Our mourning in the city and at the King’s gate will surely receive response from our brothers and sisters as we try to bear each other’s burden. In the case of Mordecai, Esther came to his aid by providing a change of clothes for Mordecai. However, Mordecai refused the offer. Again in our earlier study, we pointed out that Esther, though she represents an elect, was not matured. Her solution to Mordecai’s problem was that he should not mourn. She thought that perhaps, God will take him out of all these afflictions even as our brothers and sisters on the other side believe that God will take them out of suffering through rapture (a bogus doctrine from the carnal mind). The fact is, whether we like it or not, we will drink this cup of suffering!! This situation is the same as when Jesus told his disciples of His impending death, and Peter took him aside to convince him not to accept the cross. Jesus refused to listen to Peter, and his response to his disciple was that Peter had a carnal mind.

Mat 16:21: From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Mat 16:22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”
Mat 16:23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Berean Study Bible)

Est 4:5  Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. 
Est 4:6  So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 
Est 4:7  And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 
Est 4:8  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 

Through our brothers and sisters, we are able to understand these fiery trials which are marked out for us. That was exactly what Esther tried to do by sending Hatach to Mordecai. Mordecai took his time to explain the trials facing the Jews (the elect). During our trials, we are enjoined to ask our Lord to come to our aid. That was exactly what Mordecai told Esther; that is, to make supplications to the King. The Psalmist said in Psalm 107:28 – they cried unto him in their trouble and he bringeth them out of their distress. As we make our request to Him, he is able to make a way of escape so that we may be able to bear the trials.

As you can see, we are not making our request to the Lord to escape our trials, but rather to bear the trials. Sometimes in our trials we get so discouraged, and to make matters worse, we hear voices within telling us that we are finished. David felt the same way when he fled from Absalom. Then, he cried unto the Lord with his voice and the Lord heard him out of his holy hill. His holy hill is His tabernacle, His dwelling place within us. His holy hill is also Zion, His elect. So we hear our Lord from both within (Because he lives within) and from our brethren, the elect!! Hearing him is what gives us the strength to bear what we are going through.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psa 3:1  A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
Psa 3:2  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
Psa 3:3  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psa 3:4  I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psa 15:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

Psa 43:3  O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Est 4:9  And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 
Est 4:10  Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 
Est 4:11  All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king 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. 

Our election is not by our will or effort. We have to be called and shown mercy before we can enter the King’s inner court, the temple, to see the King. For he showeth mercy on whom he wills and hardens the heart of those he wills.  Our God showing mercy to us is the same as the king holding out the golden scepter to whomsoever he wills even though nobody deserves to come to his presence. While we are going through this process of judgment of the flesh, signified by the number 30 (30 = 3 x 10), we cannot enter the temple to worship or see the king. Another rendition of this is in Revelation 15:8 where no man can enter the temple until the seven plagues were fulfilled. That is the significance of Esther not seeing the King for 30 days.

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Est 4:12  And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 
Est 4:13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 
Est 4:14  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? 

Sometimes we think that somehow judgment will pass over us and we will be able to escape from these fiery trials. That may have been the thought of Esther. That was why Mordecai told her that she should not think that she will escape just because she is the bride of the King (verse 13). The unveiling of Christ in the Book of Revelation makes us aware that we will only be blessed if we read and keep those things (the fiery trials) which are written in the Book. In other words, we must go through hardships in order to enter the kingdom of God. Remember that the three Hebrew boys (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) went through the burning furnace, but they were not harmed.

If we do not want to go through suffering (i.e. if we hold our peace), we will not be part of the Lord’s deliverance but will be destroyed (we will face the white throne judgment) and others will be saved at our expense (verse 14). The fact is, we have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this. Our deliverance is now!! As long as we are seeing Christ through the lens of our sufferings, we should be assured that our salvation is near, even at the door and we shall not pass until all the seven plagues are fulfilled in our lives!!

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Act 14:22 Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. (NIV)

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 
Est 4:16  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. 
Est 4:17  So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. 

Now that Esther had come to understand Mordecai’s message, which is about suffering with her fellow Jews, she braced herself for the inevitable. In this case, she was just like Jesus who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross despising its shame. We should pay heed to the things she requested Mordecai to do and her resolve during this time of trial.

The first thing she requested Mordecai to do was to go gather the Jews. Our gathering together equips us for the fiery trials we are going through. We get strengthened to go through our trials when we gather. There are several Old and New Testament examples of this strengthening.  Remember Jesus himself was strengthened by an angel. When Jacob was on his death bed, he got strengthened when Joseph and his children came to see him. We therefore also need to be strengthened by our brothers and sisters (who are angels), when we are going through fiery trials.

Gen 48:1  And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Gen 48:2  And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

Luk 22:41  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

The second thing mentioned is that during this period of our trials, we should fast for three days – the three days being the process of our judgment, which is a lifetime. This fasting is not about afflicting our souls as we did when we were in the clutches of Babylon. This fasting is about stopping the feeding of our old man (so as to speed up its death) by not willfully engaging in sinful acts or not imbibing in false doctrines and lies from the harlot woman.  That is the fast that breaks every yoke. Isaiah suggested during this period of fast that we are to feed the sheep and not hide from our own flesh.  Not hiding from our own flesh is when we see ourselves as we really are – our self-righteousness, weaknesses, etc. – and it is only through the Lord’s chastening grace that we come to see who we really are.

Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

The third point about this period of trial is that we have to go and see the King to make our request known. All the preparation by Esther was that she wanted to see the king to make a request. She had a firm belief that the king would attend to her request. That is to say that we must have faith and come to God in prayer during this period of our trial knowing that God will attend to our prayers.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2Sa 22:7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Psa 120:1  A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

The final point to note is that our fiery trials should bring us to a point where we are ready to lose our lives. This is where Esther came when she said that if she perish, then so be it. As the scriptures say, if we love our life, we will lose it, and if we lose our life we will gain it!! There are three examples in the word of God where individuals came to the point of being ready to lose their lives but in the end, they gained it. Esther is one example.  The other two examples are Daniel and the three Hebrew boys (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). Our ultimate example is our Lord Jesus who lost his life and has gained it as he sits at the right hand of God.

Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The question is what does it mean to lose our lives? The statement in Matthew leading to the losing of our lives tells us what Christ had in mind.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

From the passage above, loving our lives has to do with the way we treasure our relationships and what they offer more than our Lord Jesus. It is also about not being prepared to suffer (take up our cross). Loving our lives has to do with our natural affinity to enjoy pleasures of sin. As God’s elect, we need to give up all these for the reward just as Jesus and Moses did.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

May the Lord grant us the grace to lose our lives so that we will gain them at God’s appointed time!!

Our next discussion will be based on Esther Chapter 5.

Est 2:1-11: Let There be Fair Young Virgins Sought for the King

[Study Posted June 25, 2020

Est 2:1  After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 
Est 2:2  Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 
Est 2:3  And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: 
Est 2:4  And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 
Est 2:5  Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 
Est 2:6  Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 
Est 2:7  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 
Est 2:8  So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 
Est 2:9  And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 
Est 2:10  Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
Est 2:11  And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 

The ending of Esther Chapter 1 summarizes the objective of the whole book of Esther.  It is about how to bear rule of our own house (flesh). Chapter 2 shows us the beginning of the process of what it takes to bear rule (overcome our flesh), using Esther and Mordecai as examples of the elect. It will appear from Chapter 1 that Vashti had been forgotten for good as she was not expected to come before the King again.  However, God’s ways are not our ways in the sense that God always devises means that His banished be not expelled from Him (2Sa 14:14). God always remembers, as we will see in the following:

Est 2:1  After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

God’s wrath is not forever.  His anger is but for a moment (Psa 30:5). That is the God we serve. Although Vashti (the harlot woman) has been banned from the presence of the King, it is not forever. At the appropriate time, God will show mercy to her and her children. The fact that the king remembered Vashti means that there is hope for humanity. However, it will be by each in his own order.

In the scriptures, God’s remembrance is always followed by salvation. For example, when Moses settled in with his father-in-law Jethro, he forgot about the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, but in the fullness of time, God remembered Israel, and this led to their deliverance from bondage in Egypt. In a similar way, when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He remembered Abraham, and as a result, Lot was delivered. We were just like Vashti who had been banned from the King’s presence but in God’s own time, he has remembered us and this will certainly lead us to salvation!!

Sometimes we all get discouraged and wonder whether we will come to perfection, but whatever God starts, He is able to finish!! If this race depends on us, we will mess up big time!!! But He who has started this race with us is able to bring it to completion.  There is a song we sing in our local dialect here in Ghana which echoes God’s remembrance.  The words go like this:

Awurade kae me (God, remember me)
Kae me ma ensi me yie (When you remember me it will go well with me)
Mennyi ogyefo bi ti se wo (I don’t have a savior like you)
Me kotow me sere wo (I’m pleading that you remember me)

Psa 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Exo 2:23  And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
Exo 2:24  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exo 2:25  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Gen 8:1  And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

Gen 19:29  And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Gen 30:22  And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Est 2:2  Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: 
Est 2:3  And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
Est 2:4  And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 

In this age, fair virgins are being sought to become the bride of the King. Many are responding to this call all over the world, but few will be chosen.  The officers the King is appointing represent the elders all over the world in every generation whose task is to gather together the elect (young virgins) under the custody of Jesus (Hege, the King’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women). Yes, Jesus is the head of the church and is therefore the keeper of the women. This passage highlights the importance of fellowshiping. It is when we gather that we begin to know the things we have been given for our purification, that is, the judgment of the old man. It is only through this purification (judgment) that we can please the King and therefore become the bride (queen) of King Jesus. We are elected as queens to replace Vashti, (the harlot woman). This election is therefore at the expense of Vashti’s unbelief now.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these (Vashti and her children) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Est 2:5  Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 
Est 2:6  Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 

Mordecai is introduced as a Jew who was under Babylonian captivity. As we have learned, a true Jew is not one who is a physical descendent of Israel but rather someone who is spiritually circumcised (whose flesh has been subdued). Thus, Mordecai represents the elect. We all, in our appointed times, have been under Babylonian captivity, and it is through the grace of God that we are coming out just like Mordecai. It is worth mentioning that anytime Jeconiah is mentioned regarding Babylonian captivity, God always gives assurance that the captives in the company of Jeconiah will return to the promised land (overcome our flesh)!! Since Mordecai was in the company of Jeconiah, it was no wonder that Mordecai, representing the elect, had his freedom (overcame the flesh). This was not the case with Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and others who were also in Babylonian captivity.  Zedekiah’s eyes were removed, and he was imprisoned until his death in Babylon. Zedekiah’s group of captives represent those who are not given to break away from the shackles of the flesh in this life. Their eyes have been removed, and therefore, in this age, they will not be able to see.  What this is telling us is that if we were carried away captives along with Jeconiah, then God will surely break the yoke of our Babylonian captivity.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Jer 28:4  And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Jer 52:9  Then they took the king (Zedekiah), and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.
Jer 52:10  And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.
Jer 52:11  Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

Est 2:7  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 

Mordecai, the cousin of Esther, was the one who took care of Esther when her father and mother died. When God begins to open our eyes to see, then spiritually, our father and mother have died!! Our father here is the devil who abode not in the truth, and our mother is the harlot woman upon whose forehead is written Mystery Babylon. So Esther here represents the elect who are coming out of the influence of Babylon powered by the devil. The verse here also teaches us that those who are mature should guide to maturity those who are coming out of the grips of the harlot woman and the devil. As we go along, we will learn how Mordecai was able to guide Esther to maturity.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Est 2:8  So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 
Est 2:9  And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 

In every generation, many virgins are responding to the King’s commandment and decree as proclaimed by the Elect. These virgins were just like Israel coming out of Egypt after hearing Moses’ words of leaving Egypt to possess the land given by God. Esther being one of them represents a young elect. She was therefore immature and is not accustomed to strong meat which belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb 5:14).

We as virgins are gathering together in every generation under the custody of Jesus. Whether we will be chosen by the King is another matter. The gathering together is the many called, but few will be chosen!!  If we are chosen, then it is not because we are better in any way, but because God decided to show kindness to us before the foundations of the earth. In this case we are able to please Him just as Esther obtained kindness and therefore pleased Hegai. It is God who decides to have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens (Rom 9:18)!! It is therefore not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy (Rom 9:16). When this kindness or mercy is shown to us, we are then given all we need to go through our purification process (the seven plagues) which will grant us access to the temple to meet the King!!

As a result of this kindness, Esther was speedily given the things she needed for her purification which included seven maidens selected from the King’s palace. The seven maidens are all the elect God brings in our way to prepare us as bride of our King Jesus.

According to verse 8, Esther and the seven maidens were given the best place of the house of the women. The “place” is in italics in King James which means that it was not in the original manuscript. So omitting the “place”, we can say that Esther and the seven maidens were given the best of the house of the women. The house of the women signifies the church.  As Paul explained in Galatians, there are two types of houses of the women (churches) – Jerusalem which is and the Jerusalem above. Jerusalem which is (current church system), is in bondage with her children.  Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all, and it is the best place of the house of women assigned to you and me even as it was given to Esther and the seven maidens.

Act 4:4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Est 2:10  Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

As indicated, Esther represents a young elect who was just coming out of the clutches of Babylonian captivity and therefore needs to be guided by Mordecai who was experienced and knows what should be done at every point in time. As our eyes are being opened, we need to pay heed to what our elders are saying, and we should be deferring to them. That was what Esther did by not revealing her identity as a Jew.

What this teaches us is that we are not to parade ourselves as the true sons of God as our other brothers, the Pharisees of today, are doing. God is hiding us like arrows in His quiver, and at the appropriate time, when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our God and of His Christ, that is when we shall be revealed. That is what the whole of creation is waiting for – the revelation of the sons of God!! In God’s own wisdom He hides our identity when we are just coming out of Babylon just like Esther did because if we are revealed to the world, we may repent when we see war (extreme opposition) and return to Egypt. Remember that the way to Canaan was only a three-day journey through the land of the Philistines, but God directed the Israelites to take a different route lest they turn back when they see war. Again, Joseph’s revelation as a ruler to his brothers (the world) attracted extreme opposition which we may not be able to bear as we journey out of Babylon.

Isa 49:2  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Exo 13:17  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Est 2:11  And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 

Mordecai was very concerned about Esther’s welfare. Here Mordecai represents Christ Who is eager to present us faultless and with great joy before God. Jesus is walking in our midst every day and is concerned about what we do, our welfare and what we are becoming. This should give us hope that God is with us!! If there is anything we can be sure of, it is that God cares about us.  The bible is filled with many scriptures talking about God’s care.  For example, in Isaiah 41:13 it states, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

If God cares about us so much, then it makes sense to pay heed to what He says in Matthew 6:31 and 32 – ‘Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For all these things do the Gentiles seek) for the heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.’ Although this has a physical application in the sense that God will meet our daily needs, there is also the spiritual dimension of these verses. It means we should not be worried about how we will be fed spiritually and whether or not we will indeed be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. Our Father who has called us, will feed us through His elect and will make us perfect even though we may be far away from perfection now!! When we worry, it shows that we think the race depends on us. I used to worry so much about whether I would be perfected as I consider myself the worst sinner on earth!! However, gradually, He who has begun good works in my life, and that of others, will bring it to completion. He is involved in every tiny detail of our life including recognizing the number of hairs on our head. That is the God we serve!!!

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Psa 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

ESTHER 2:12-18: And The King Loved Esther Above All the Women

Est 2:12  Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 
Est 2:13  Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house. 
Est 2:14  In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 
Est 2:15  Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle 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. 
Est 2:16  So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 
Est 2:17  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 
Est 2:18  Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 

The last session ended with Mordecai walking every day before the court of the women’s house and being concerned about Esther’s welfare. He represents Jesus who walks in our midst, concerned about our welfare. That is very comforting!! The next verse deals with the purification process to become like Christ.

Est 2:12  Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 

As indicated, these virgins, including Esther, were just like Israel when they left Egypt. In other words, they have just started the process of leaving Babylon. They therefore have to meet their God in Mount Sinai to start the process of knowing Him intimately. Thus, all the virgins gathered will each have to appear before the King at the appointed time after going through the initial purification process to gradually become like Christ. Remember that the number 12 is the number of Christ. The 12 months therefore is the initial purification period we go through to start the process of becoming like Christ, worthy to appear before Him for the first time just as the Lord told Moses to sanctify the Israelites and let them wash their clothes in a bid to meet the Lord on Mount Sinai for the first time. The question is: what does it mean to appear before the King (Jesus)? In the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, we are given to know that every male is to appear before the Lord three times in the year.  The number three means the process of spiritual completion through judgment. It is through these appearances before God that we are judged (the purification process) and become like Christ. In Exodus 34:24 and Deuteronomy 31:11, we are made to understand that when we appear God, the following happens:

• He will cast out the nations before us, enlarge our borders and no man shall desire our land. It means that the beast within will be subdued.
• The law will be read to our hearing. Our heavens will be opened to accelerate our understanding of the mystery of God.
• When the Israelites met God for the first time at Mount Sinai, they saw the following: Smoke, Thunder, Lightning, Fire and earthquake.  Whenever there is smoke, it speaks of burning. Our evil deeds provides the material for God to burn with fire (His Words) and that is what brings about the smoke. So the smoke, thunder, lightning and earthquake reflect the judgment we must go through (the seven plagues) to enter into the temple to meet God (For God to sit in the throne of our hearts and mind).

So the essence of the virgins, including Esther, meeting the King at their appointed times suggests a time in our life as believers after our eyes are being opened, when we start to understand the Lord’s words, especially His words concerning our judgment. That is what kick-starts the process of subduing our flesh so we can become like Christ – each one in his own order.  No wonder the Psalmist desired to appear before God as he thirsts after God (Psalm 42:2).

Exo 23:17  Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Exo 34:23  Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
Exo 34:24  For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

Deu 31:11  When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Psa 42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

This period consists of six months being purified with oil of myrrh and six months exuding the sweet fragrance of Christ. According to Strong, the definitions of myrrh are: to trickle, bitter, grieve, etc. as shown below:

mârar
maw-rar’
A primitive root; properly to trickle (see H4752); but used only as a denominative from H4751; to be (causatively make) bitter (literally or figuratively): – (be, be in, deal, have, make) bitter (-ly, -ness), be moved with choler, (be, have sorely, it) grieved (-eth), provoke, vex.

Total KJV occurrences: 16

The number six symbolizes mankind. So the six months of purification using the oil of myrrh and six months exuding sweet odor means that it is appointed to every man to go through judgment which brings about grief, bitterness, etc., but this done gradually (trickles). In the end, it produces a sweet smelling odour of Christ. That is the plan of God for every man but each in his own order. Paul puts it this way: “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.”

2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Joh 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (This speaks of how our walk and our house (our bodies) should show the sweet fragrance of Christ).

Est 2:13  Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house. 
Est 2:14  In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 

As indicated, we all have undergo preliminary purification before we can appear before the King just as the Israelites came out of Egypt and went straight to Mount Sinai to meet the Lord. The maidens were given whatsoever they desired to appear before the King. In a similar manner, our Lord has provided us with all we need as we progress through our spiritual journey. It must be noted that it is in the evening that the maiden would go to see the King. This age is regarded as a long evening or night. As Paul says in his letter to the Romans the night is almost over, and so we should put on the armour of light. It is in this age that we are being prepared to be the bride of the King if so be that we are favored. Verse 14 also shows us that there are two houses of women – the house where the virgins are preparing to appear before the King and the house where those who have been rejected as a bride reside (the concubines). These represent the two Jerusalems as explained in Galatians Chapter 4. There is the Jerusalem which is above (the elect) and that is the mother of us all, and there is also Jerusalem which exists now (Christendom) which is in bondage with her children. It is comforting to note that for those rejected (the concubines), they will not be forgotten forever. One day, the King may delight in them and call them by name just as God in His appointed time delighted in us and called us by name even though we were rejected. It also means that one day God will have mercy on everybody!!

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Est 2:15  Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle 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. 
Est 2:16  So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 
Est 2:17  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

Finally, it came the turn of Esther to see the King. What is important to point out here is that in her preparation, she required nothing but what Hegai (who represents Jesus) appointed to her. One of the key lessons we need to learn in our walk is that it is not what we want, but what God has appointed for us. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. What he has appointed for us is always the best!! That is why we pray that His will be done!!

The scriptures never said that Esther was the most beautiful among the virgins, so her selection as the bride of the King is based purely on the fact that the King favored her or showed mercy on her.  He showeth mercy on whom he wills!! It is therefore not of him that willeth or of him that runneth but of God that showeth mercy!! It also affirms the fact that many are called to be the bride of Christ but few are chosen. Here Esther represents the few chosen, and the other virgins represent the many called.

Before Esther goes through the seven plagues in order to enter the temple to worship God, we are here shown what will happen at the end – the crowning of Esther as the bride of the King and the marriage feast that follows.  In the book of Revelation, we are given to see the 144,000 overcomers (representing the elect of every generation) just before the seven angels began blowing their trumpet. This is to show us that God calls those things which are not as though they were. He sees the end from the beginning. This should give us hope. If we have started this journey with Him, then we should believe that we will be brought to our desired haven even as Esther was crowned. Our crowning will be the redemption of the purchased possession. Nothing can stopped us if we have been chosen.  That is why Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” This is to encourage our brothers and sisters all over the world who are going through the fiery trials appointed by our Lord that it shall be well with us all!! One day, we will all be crowned as the bride of the King.

Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Rev 7:2  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Est 2:18  Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. 

The feast here is for the princes and the King’s servants, that is, the elect. That is the marriage supper of the Lamb!! The gift we are all waiting for is the redemption of the purchased possession. As indicated, all these are for us to know how the end will play out before we go through the seven plagues which will qualify us to appear in the temple. Esther was in the same situation. She was yet to go through the seven plagues.

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Est 2:19  And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate. 
Est 2:20  Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 

The virgins gathered for the second time.  The number two stands for a witness as by two or three witnesses the matter under consideration is established. Thus, the gathering of the virgins a second time is to stress the importance of our gathering together. The following verses highlight what takes place when we gather together:

• Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (This means when we get together, we are encourage and strengthened to withstand the seven plagues marked out for us as the day of the Lord approaches)
• 1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (We experience uniquely the presence of Jesus and our heavenly father) 
• Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (It is in our gathering together that we experience great grace. Here grace is qualified as being great)

Mordecai is always found at the King’s gate. The King’s residence is the palace. In our case, our Lord Jesus’ residence is in the temple, and our bodies are the temple. ‘The King’s gate’ appears eleven times in the Bible, and ten of them are in the Book of Esther. The first time the King’s gate was mentioned is in 1 Chronicles 9:18. Here it explained the role of those who sit at the King’s gate by saying that those at the King’s gate are porters in the companies of the children of Levi. In our modern day, the porters are those who help people with their bags and show them where to go. We see a lot of them at airports, hotels, stations, etc. So those who sit at the King’s gate are the gatekeepers or porters who ensure that nothing evil enters through the gate, and they show those entering the King’s gate where to go. This role is being played by the elders who ensure that we do not take in false doctrines and guide us to know where we are going. We should note that this role is also being played by the Levites who are joined to us but cannot enter the temple. They are also helping others, but the recipients of their assistance become entrenched in Babylonian captivity.

Esther 4:2 says that we should not enter the King’s gate clothed with sackcloth. Sackcloth represents mourning. When we enter His presence individually or collectively, we should not be as those who are not appreciative of what our Lord is doing in our lives.  The Psalmist said that we should enter His gate with thanksgiving in our heart and His courts with praise. The encouraging words we receive from our brothers, the porters, are to help us all have hope that whatever situation in which we find ourselves, God will show up!! This should make us joyful.  Paul said rejoice, again I say rejoice (Php 4:4)!!

One of the things I used to miss a lot when I started my Babylonian captivity exit was the praise and worship we sing when we go to church. Later I came to realize that we cannot sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. We cannot praise and worship the Lord when we are in Babylon!!!

Deu 19:15  One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

1Ch 9:18  Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

Est 4:2  And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

Psa 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

Est 2:20  Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 

We have already explained earlier why it was imperative that Esther hide her identity as a Jew. We said that God is hiding us like arrows in His quiver, and at the appropriate time, when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdom of our God and of his Christ, we shall be revealed.

Est 2:21  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 Ahasuerus. 
Est 2:22  And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 
Est 2:23  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. 

What Mordecai did in telling Esther to tell the king about the death plot is what saved the king. Since we are the Jesus of Nazareth, we represent the king who was the center of the plot. This plot against us is happening in every generation. We are all experiencing rage from those in Babylon and the world as the Psalmist said in Psalm 2: “Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?” This is all part of the persecution we face every day because human beings hate the idea that God has a chosen people. So when they see that you do not do what they do, they become angry. Remember that Ishmael persecuted Isaac. However, in the end, He that sitteth in our heavens shall laugh, and He will speak to them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure. We used to be like the two Chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, when we hated God’s anointed, but in God’s own time He showed mercy to us and is hanging our old man on a tree, just as the two chamberlains were hanged on a tree.

In the fullness of time, this deed by Mordecai resulted in his salvation. In a similar way, we should not be weary in well doing knowing that at the right time we will reap if we do not lose hope!! Jesus said that the very little words of encouragement, assistance, prayer, etc. that we do for our brothers and sisters please Him because we have done it for Him. At the right time, He will remember these deeds, and His remembrance leads to salvation as we have discussed earlier on in this chapter.

Act 22:6  And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Act 22:7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

If God permits, we will look at Esther Chapter 3 next time.

Psa 89:24-29 “In my name shall his horn be exalted” – Part 3

In order for Christ to go and prepare a place for us, which we understand that place to be our heavens within (Joh 14:3, Eph 2:6, 1Co 3:16), it necessitates that we know in our hearts that “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints” (Psa 89:7).

Part one of this multi-part study entitled “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound” starts off immediately by saying that God’s mercy is what will be extended to every generation in time starting with the first fruits who are the first to be matured on the true Vine of life, Jesus Christ (Joh 15:5) which is the only place that true spiritual increase can come (1Co 3:6, 1Pe 2:5).

In Part two of the study, we learn that “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face”, and that His judgments are in our earth for the very reason of teaching us His righteousness, which comes when we hear the voice of the true Shepherd and do those things that are required of us (Isa 26:9, Jer 22:29, 1Pe 4:17, Joh 10:27, Rom 2:13).

The third part of our study speaks to those who hear the joyful noise and understand that joy is set before us (Heb 12:2) as an anchor for our soul on which Christ as our stronghold is able to help us keep our eyes (Heb 6:19, Col 1:27). It is by His faithfulness and mercy that we can endure to the end, and it is by Him giving us the power to keep His spiritual words that we can be quickened, or said another way, “in my name shall his horn be exalted”.

God tells us to be careful to maintain good works (Tit 3:8) and to let our light shine before men (Mat 5:16). These actions both witness of His power and reassure us that we are His little flock who are being given the power to lay down our lives today as we go through many hard trials and tribulations which we are promised (Act 14:22). God’s remnant are those who are blessed to witness of His power that will start and finish His workmanship which He has begun in us (Zec 4:6, Php 2:13, 1Jn 3:1).

In this study, with a subtitle called “In my name shall his horn be exalted“, we will look at how God makes a way for us through Christ to anchor our souls in the promises that have been given to us, so that we can be both sure and stedfast in our Lord as we come boldly before the throne of grace in our time of need to obtain mercy (Heb 4:16). Our horn is exalted in His name because it is his words, his promises, which fill us with hope of overcoming and knowing that we can be more than conquerors through Christ as He quickens us and provides that hope through each joint which supplies for the nourishing and quickening of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16, Joh 6:63).

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psa 89:24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
Psa 89:25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
Psa 89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
Psa 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
Psa 89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
Psa 89:29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Psa 89:24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

The story of Esther provides many excellent examples of how God’s horn is exalted in the circumstances which He creates to demonstrate His faithfulness to finish what He has begun within His people through His merciful hand which is sovereign over all the affairs of His people who are the apple of His eye (Eph 1:11, Zec 2:8).

God’s horn is exalted in us as His mercy is revealed, which enables us to go through very trying experiences (like Esther and Mordecai and the Jews of their time did) in order to witness to the world of His faithfulness and desire to deliver His people and give them the kingdom, which is His good pleasure to do (Luk 12:32).

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The righteousness of Christ, which is the gift that God has given His people, is greatly contrasted with the laws of the land, the edict sent forth from King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), which is a type and shadow of how the law destroys us and how we will never be justified by those laws which at one point Xerxes was convinced were unbreakable.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The story of Esther and the conflict of the law of the land versus God’s plans to ultimately deliver Esther, Mordecai and the Jews, has been written for God’s people who are the true Jews inwardly, the Israel of God who are giving witness today of how “in my name shall his horn be exalted”. When God’s horn is exalted, mercy rules over judgment as it finally did in the heart of Xerxes, but only because God had used Esther to soften his heart. Esther did these things at the bequest of Mordecai who is a type of Christ working with Esther, who is a type of the Church.

By simply being given to stand on God’s word “shall his horn be exalted”. The preparation of our hearts is discussed in type and shadow in the story of Esther and the need for God’s people to spiritually fast in order to be humbled in our flesh so that we can go to king Xerxes, which events in Esther’s life represents our going to the world as His faithful witnesses at the end of this age we are in to witness the true gospel to every man.

Est 4:16 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.

Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [Est 1:10-12]

We are to be moderate in all things (Php 4:5, Luk 12:45), and this part of scripture (Est 1:10-12) is given not only to point out the high-spirited king Xerxes, whose heart was merry with wine, but more revealing the true spiritual ‘drunkenness’ of Vashti the queen who was about to lose her crown because of an unwilling and stubborn spirit (1Sa 15:23) which would not be subject to the king’s request to come out to him. She refused to be sent forth and come into the presence of the king just as the churches of Babylon cannot be subject unto Christ today. The only way that will ever happen is through the death of the old man represented by the beheading of John, which was brought on yet again by circumstances surrounding the beauty of a woman which in both these stories typify the churches of Babylon, which are fair to look upon like Vashti and “the daughter of the said Herodias” found in these verses (Mar 6:21-28). One great admonition we can take from both of these stories is that we need to be ready today, because we will be called upon by the Lord to witness as “sheep in the midst of wolves”, and we must be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” even “in their synagogues” where “they will scourge you”.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Psa 89:25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Getting back to the main point of our study that it is “in my name shall his horn be exalted”, we see in this next verse the same thought being conveyed as to how it is not by might or power but by God’s holy spirit that He makes a way in the sea of our hearts to accomplish the impossible, turning the heart of the king like a river, which was very aptly described in the story of Esther time and again.

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Pro 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Psa 89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

When God sets his “right hand” in our life to redeem us from ourselves and the wickedness of this age, He brings us to “cry unto me” and declare “Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation”.

No one can save themselves, not even Christ (Mar 15:30, Act 2:40) and so we are examples to the world, as was Esther in type and shadow, of how God is not a respector of any person: “yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him” (2Sa 14:14) which is brightly illustrated in the story of Esther and all the crying that came up to God with fasting by all who we’re called upon to do that.

2Sa 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

God’s steadfast love cannot fail, but unless we are put to the test and sore pressed in this life, we will not know how great the deliverance of the king can be as we rest on “the rock of my salvation”.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Psa 18:48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Psa 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psa 18:50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psa 21:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Psa 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

This next part of the Psalm speaks of the reward that God gives to those who are blessed to have Vashti, who represents the first Adam, who wants to rule and reign as a queen but with no direction from God (in type Xerxes), dethroned from our hearts and replaced by the unlikely ‘without mother or father’ Esther (Est 2:7) who is a type of the first-born hidden generation (Mat 1:18, Heb 7:2-3, 1Jn 4:17), or first fruit who will be used by God to appease the anger of the king.

Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

We are higher than the kings of the earth (within at first) when we are raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) and granted dominion over the powers and principalities which Christ is able to rule over in our heavens (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21).

Psa 89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore^H5769, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

It is truly God’s mercy which will keep us for evermore (o-lawm’, o-lawm’) and that will be our message to all the world, that it was His covenant, his promises, his words of eternal life, with us that made it possible for us to stand fast and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust and endure until the end for the world’s sake as well as our own sake.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Psa 89:29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

This verse 29 is more confirmation of the same point that it is in Christ (“In my name shall his horn be exalted”) that we will be empowered to endure or do all things (Rev 11:3). He makes His seed to endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at how God has made provision for His people to overcome through the chastening and scourging grace that every son must experience. Even if “his children forsake my law” or “walk not in my judgments” or “break my statutes” or “keep not my commandments”, God has devised a means to redeem us from the earth in our corrupt and marred vessels, promising to “visit their transgression with the rod” and “their iniquity with stripes” of verses 30-32.

Audio Links

God’s Four Sore Judgments – Part 4
When I Send My… Sore Judgment… The Famine – B

Introduction

In Revelation 11 we are told:

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

This series of studies is designed to answer the question, “How will the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ?”

We have established the fact that the primary application of all scripture is the spiritual, inward application as it applies to “the kingdom of God… within [us]”:

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We need to ask the question, “If the kingdom of God is within you, does this mean that the physical kingdoms of this world will never become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ?” Put another way, does the fact that the primary application of Luk 17:20-21 exclude a time when God’s elect will also bear rule over the kingdoms of this world which are not within? The Biblical answer to that question is, “Absolutely not!” The kingdom of God within God’s elect from the time of Christ to the time of the millennium in no way excludes the necessity for those who have the kingdom of God within them in this age to be given to rule over the nations of this world. The two are not mutually exclusive. Instead it is essential to the revealed plan and words of God that His elect, who at this time have the kingdom of God within them, must bear rule with “a rod of iron” over the physical kingdoms of this world for “a thousand years”, before the “little season” of rebellion of all the nations “in the four quarters of the earth” can take place. Without that rule over the outward “kingdoms of this world”, there would be no rebellion against God’s elect following the thousand years.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

These “four sore judgments” which we are covering are expanded into seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials in the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ. Both God’s four sore judgments and the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ concern themselves with the judgment of the “man of sin”, which is the flesh of every man who has ever lived, probably most succinctly expressed in these words in 1Co 3:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Last week I closed by telling you we would be learning how this next verse applies to prophecy, and how the principle revealed in this verse would help us to better understand how the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ:

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Adam, as a type of Christ, is first a natural, carnal and rebellious individual. Afterward through judgment, and “through death… the last Adam becomes a living spiritual [individual]”. This same principle will apply on the national level when “the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ”. As kingdoms they are still “first…that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual”.

This is the principle which will prevail in this particular study of how the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.

Christ teaches us that the primary, ultimate and final understanding of God’s words is their spiritual application (Joh 6:63) as they to relate the establishing of the kingdom of God within. Yet we must never forget or deny that our old man has a definite outward application as “the wicked [man being made] for the day of evil [in the life of] the first man Adam”:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Those two verses are true, both on an individual basis and at “the appointed time” on “the nations of this world”. God has even brought about an outward return of the Jews to the outward land of Israel to lead millions of Christians to conclude that God has both a spiritual elect and a physical elect. That doctrine is a contradiction of this Truth:

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

All outward fulfillment of prophecy concerning the kingdom of God since Christ has had the effect of distracting the attention of mankind away from the beast that sits in “the [true] temple of God… which temple [we] are”. Nevertheless, there comes a time when there is an outward fulfillment to those prophecies which will not be a distraction. Christ had to come outwardly first “after the seed of David, according to the flesh“. Christ was and is the king of the kingdom of God. “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” was a great Truth, and Pilate had no idea just how true it was.

Mat 27:37  And [the Romans] set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

“Jesus the king of the Jews” came outwardly as “the seed of David, according to the flesh” before coming in a spiritual body. In the same manner the kingdom of Israel has been gathered into an outward nation before the spiritual nation of Israel will “judge the world”, in the person of Christ and His elect. The day is coming, “at the appointed time”, when the physical outward kingdoms of this world will become the physical kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15).

These words will also be realized in their natural sense first, and “afterward that which is spiritual”.

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 
Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mat 26:62  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mat 26:63  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 

Here is Christ, telling those who are just about to crucify Him that they will “see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Since this series of studies is being presented in answer to the question “How will the physical nations of this world be made to give their powers of rulership over to the elect of God?”, we must demonstrate with scriptural types and shadows from the Old Testament that a transition of power, from the leaders of this world to God’s typical elect, has already taken place in the past, and then, just as with all other prophecies, we can properly understand how the same thing will be accomplished physically in the future.

Has that actually already taken place in the past? The fact is that this giving of the powers of the kingdoms of this world over to our “Lord and His Christ” has taken place, in type, three times in the Old Testament. By looking carefully at how that was accomplished each time, we will be given some idea of how it will be done on a global scale at the beginning of Christ’s millennial kingdom.

The Story of Joseph

The first time the powers of the nations of this world were given to God’s typical elect was during the time of Joseph. This story has so many parallels to Christ and His Christ that we cannot fail to see how the hand of God worked in the affairs of mankind at that time, to give the power of all of Egypt, a type of the world as a whole, over into the hands of Joseph, who is the Biblical type of “our Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15).

Joseph was hated of His brothers, just as Christ was hated of His own nation:

Gen 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Joseph’s brother typify the religions of this world who hate Christ and His Christ. “The son of His old age”, means “the last man Adam”, who Christ loves more that those who are “born after the flesh”:

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Joseph’s jealous brothers are led by God (Gen 45:8) to sell their brother for 20 pieces of silver as a slave into Egypt, where Joseph serves in the house of Potiphar and in service to the captain of Pharaoh’s prison for a combined total of thirteen years, before being placed on the throne of Egypt at the age of 30. Christ also began His rule over the kingdoms of this world at “about thirty years of age”:

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

What did God do to give the power of all Egypt to His typical elect? He “troubled” Pharaoh with dreams which gave him a sense of impending disaster, and then he gave Joseph the ability to interpret the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams. And what was that impending disaster? It was the very subject of this particular part of our studies into how God’s “four sore judgments” will be used to give the kingdoms of this world to our Lord and His Christ. It was an impending seven years of famine preceded by seven years of plenty.

Gen 41:8  And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Gen 41:28  This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
Gen 41:29  Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Gen 41:30  And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
Gen 41:31  And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

Then, just as God the Father has done with our Lord and His Christ, Joseph is demonstrated to be superior to the priests of Egypt, and Pharaoh gives the rule of the kingdom over to Joseph.  Just as is the case with Christ and His Father, “only in the throne” is Pharaoh more powerful than Joseph.

Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Is this not the Old Testament type of ruling with a rod of iron when Pharaoh tells Joseph…?

Gen 41:44  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Is that not the meaning of this promise which God has given to our Lord and His Christ?

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego

Our second Old Testament type of how the kingdoms of this world were given to our Lord and His Christ in type is the story of Daniel and his three friends:

Dan 2:48  Then the king [Nebuchadnezzar] made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 

Again, this incredible event was accomplished by the power of the Creator of all men to work “all things after the counsel of His own will”, and He did so once again by troubling the king of the nations of this world with a dream of impending disaster. In this case, God’s typical elect were given not just to interpret the king’s dream, but to tell the king what His dream even was:

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
Dan 2:5  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
Dan 2:6  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

In both cases, in the story of Pharaoh and in the story of Nebuchadnezzar, God uses the exact same words “his spirit was troubled”, resulting in the transfer of the powers of the kingdom into the hands of those who typify our Lord and His Christ. In both cases, God’s elect are made manifest to be far superior in their relationship with God to the priests of the nations of the world:

In this particular case, Daniel was used to tell the king that he had dreamed of an image of a man whose various body parts typify the kingdoms of this world from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the time when “the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ”. It was all one continuous image. It was the image of the beast of Rev 13:

Dan 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
Dan 2:27  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 
Dan 2:28  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Dan 2:29  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
Dan 2:30  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 

Daniel tells us that this dream was given “To make known to the king … what shall be in the latter day… [and] for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that you might know the thoughts of your heart.” In other words, Daniel’s entire experience is for our benefit, as the scriptures plainly teach:

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

The Story of Mordecai and Esther

In this third and final story, we see the king’s wife, Queen Vashti, typifying the churches of this world. Vashti comes to be in great disrepute with the rulers of this world, and is replaced by Queen Esther, typifying God’s elect. In all three stories God’s elect are given great favor in the eyes of the rulers of this world. But in our previous two stories neither Pharaoh’s wife, nor Nebuchadnezzar’s wife played a part in this great transfer or power. Each retelling of how this will be done adds more information, and this story provides for us, in type, how the beast turns against the whore as prophesied in Revelation 17:

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest [on the beast – vs 15] are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 
Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

In this story we have the seven princes of the Medes and the Persians, who hate and destroy the ‘whore’. Then we also have a man named Haman. Haman is a type of the same “ten horns” on the beast, in whose heart God places the desire to fight against the Lamb after the harlot is destroyed. The details of both of our last two stories reveal that it is only after God’s elect come to be favored by the powers that be, that these ten horns will “make war with the Lamb” and are destroyed by the Lamb (Rev 17:14). So Haman is promoted by the king after the rejection of Queen Vashti. At that point it immediately becomes evident that he is “the Jew’s enemy”, and in this story, just as with those who conspired first against Shadrack, Meshech, and Abednego in the Babylonian empire, and then again, like those who later conspired against Daniel after he found favor with King Darius of the Persian empire, God’s elect come to be hated and threatened for their very lives just before they are given to destroy those very enemies.

It is “the Lord and His Christ” who are typified by Joseph and by Daniel and his three friends and by Mordecai and the people of Esther who are slated for destruction by their enemies. As a type of Christ, Esther lays down her life for her people by appearing before the king without first being given a summons from the King. That act by Queen Esther at the very moment her people are about to be destroyed, typifies our being willing to be “crucified with Christ” even as the enemies of God’s elect are intent upon our destruction.

The deliverance of Joseph from the Egyptian dungeon, the saving of Daniel and his friends from the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar, the deliverance of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, the deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den, and now the deliverance of Mordecai and Esther and the Jews from the gallows of Haman, all typify how God’s elect will be given the favor of the leaders of this world before they will then be delivered from the hands of the ten horns of that very same beast. In the end of every story, the kingdoms of this world supernaturally “become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ”, and those who conspired to destroy Joseph come and bow down before him, those who conspired to destroy Daniel and his friends are instead cast into the same flames, and into the same lion’s den which they had intended to be used for the destruction of God’s elect. In this story, Haman is hanged on the same gallows he had intended for Mordecai, the type of God’s elect.

In every case their salvation comes only after it becomes abundantly evident that the enemy has won, and it is all intended to convey to us that God’s elect are drafted by God and are not seeking to be offered up, and that those who slew our Savior were not the winners but were the losers, and that our Lord was in fact “saved… from death… in that He feared”:

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Esther, as the type of Christ’s Christ, certainly had not asked to be offered up for the sins of her people, but she submitted herself to her Lord:

Est 4:11  All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king 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.

Queen Esther, typifying us, feared for her life and did not want to go before the king without first being summoned.

Est 4:12  And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
Est 4:13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 
Est 4:14  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?
Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Est 4:16  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.

This is this same spirit:

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Esther and Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, are all types and shadows of Christ and His Christ who say the same thing under the same circumstances:

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Haman, as the type of the ten horns of the beast, prepares a gallows 75 feet high, on which he intends to ask the king to hang Mordecai (Esther 5), and at this very critical point, just as in the two previous stories, the king’s sleep is taken from him, resulting in a late-night reading of the chronicles revealing that Mordecai, typifying Christ as the head of His elect, has not been given His due reward for having saved the life of King Ahasuerus.

Est 2:20  Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. 

Est 6:1  On that night [the very night Haman had the gallows built for Mordecai’s hanging the next day] could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

This story is a type of this New Testament prophecy:

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

It is at this banquet that Queen Esther is promised by the King to give Esther her request “to the half of [his] kingdom”. Esther, as the type of God’s elect, devises a means of overcoming the impossible task of reversing the effect of the King’s proclamation to destroy all the Jews in all of his 127 provinces.

Est 1:1  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)

These 127 provinces typify “the nations in the four quarters of the earth” over whom God’s elect are granted to rule for a thousand years:

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

This “broken to shivers” prophecy was fulfilled in type when the Jews were given to destroy all their enemies throughout the entire 127 provinces of the Medo-Persian empire:

Est 9:1  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 
Est 9:2  The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 
Est 9:3  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 
Est 9:4  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 

This story, along with the story of Joseph and the story of Daniel and Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, gives us the principles by which God will supernaturally make “the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ”. He will trouble the powers that be, and He will strike them with a fear that will cause them to favor His elect to the point they will see His elect as their only salvation. There will be no space ship to fight against. Our God is as invisible and is much more powerful that all the military might of all of the kingdoms of this world combined. Mankind’s most advanced weapons are rendered useless against Him and His elect. His is the power which gives men their very thoughts, and with that power He is capable of “working all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11)”:

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 
Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isa 66:17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, [all the abominable false doctrines of men] shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
Isa 66:18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

This prophecy is, was and will be true. It is part of the Word of God which “shall never pass away”, and it will be just as applicable at the beginning of the millennium as it will be at the time of the “little season” of rebellion which will follow the millennial reign of God’s elect over the kingdoms of this world.

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Next week we will, Lord willing, consider how the Lord’s sore judgment of “the noisome beast”, will be used of our Lord to give the nations of this world over to “the Lord and His Christ”.

Eze 14:21  For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.