Friday, March 1, 2019

The Book of Esther and End times

The story in the book of Esther in the Old
Testament is set approximately in 480 BC.

King Ahasuerus reigns a kingdom that stretch-
es from India in the east all the way to Ethiopia.
He reigns from "Susa, the citadel" in Persia,
almost the equivalent of today's Iran.

In the Kingdom of Ahasuerus lives many dif-
ferent people, and among these many Jews,
scattered at the time of the Babylonian
captivity.

And even in Susa there is a Jewish colony,
among them a young girl named Esther.
Ahasuerus reigns as King of Kings and his
word is law.

The story of Esther is a piece of Jewish history,
which is remembered by Jews every year, at
the Purim feast.

But - the story is also largely prophetic, with
an important message right into the very end
times that we are facing today.

The message concerns the christians respons-
ibility for the Jewish people and for Israel.


Queen Vasti had for some time showed
contempt for King Ahasuerus. At last the King
deposes her and start looking for a new Queen.

Esther is one of the chosen maidens who go
before the King. She is Jewish, and raised by
Mordecai, her stepfather.

The King is very fond of Esther; she becomes
bride and the new Queen. Her Jewish identity
remains secret.

The King´s new servant Haman becomes angry
at Mordecai because Mordecai does not bow to
him in the gate, and Haman is then told that
Mordecai is a Jew.

A hate is growing within Haman, he conspires
against all Jews in the Kingdom. He goes before
Ahasuerus, and tells of a people who do not
obey the King's laws.

Haman then receives the King's authority to do
whatever he finds for good with the Jews.


Mordecai gets knowledge about the threat
against his people, in despair he sends a mes-
senger to Esther; She has to go before the
King, and seek mercy for their people.

Esther hesitates; it is associated with death
threat to go before the King without being
called - even if you are the queen.

Mordecai then sends a new urgent message to
Esther:

"Do not think to yourself that in the king’s
palace you will escape any more than all the
other Jews. 

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will rise for the Jews from
another place, but you and your father’s
house will perish.

And who knows whether you´ve not come
to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
(Esther 4:13-14)

Esther is challenged. Her people are in danger,
and so Mordecai, who has been her "educator"
into the grace she now stands in.

Ester is in a unique position to be able to
plead for the Jews before the King.

Will she evade responsibility, out of fear or
convenience - deny her origin? What will then
happen to herself in the end.. she is also a
Jew?

After a period of fasting Esther "on the third
day" goes before the King, and she "receives
grace".

She reveals to the King of her Jewish ancestry
and tell him about Haman´s evil plan against
her people.

The King becomes very angry; Haman, who
accused Esther´s stepfather Mordecai for not
keeping the law, are hung up on the very
same stake that Haman had prepared for
Mordecai.

Mordecai, who only had refused to bow down
to Haman, is freed from all accusations.


The Book of Esther is a burning message in
a very late time.

Over Jews in the diaspora rests threatening
clouds. The state of Israel is being attacked
from all sides.

Evil tongues forge plans, misinforms, try to use
laws - in the belief that they can prevent the
ways of God.

The Christian church, the King's bride, is called
to fully affirm its origins, and to stand up for
the Jewish people and their nation Israel - and
to plead for them before the King.

That is how queen Esther saved her life.

Björn Hellman



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