Purim is the festival found in the book of Esther. It is full of the eschatological teachings of G-d. As we read the book of Esther we will see certain figures come to the front of the scene.

The king, Achashvayrosh (Ahasuerus), will represent G-d. The next character to come along is Vashti, who will be a picture of the unbelievers. After her we will come to Esther. She will play the part of the Believers. After her we see Mordecai who is a picture of the Messiah Yeshua. And at last we come to our adversary, the evil Haman, who will be in the place of Satan or the False Messiah.

As we read the book of Esther we start to see the plan of G-d that will take place on the earth in the first seven years of the Messianic Kingdom (Millennium). This is often referred to as the Tribulation Period. The fact that the Tribulation Period is the first seven years of the Messianic Kingdom is seen in many of the festivals, especially the Sabbath. However that is another story, for now let's look at the book of Esther and see what we can learn.

The king was the supreme ruler of the world. No one was allowed to question him or his commands, in fact once he had given a command he himself could not retract it. Daniel 6.12…

“And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.””

In this we can find confidence in G-d, once He has said His Will and His promises, He will be faithful to carry them out. In Hebrew faith and confidence are synonymous and are known as Emunah.

Faith is a triangle with several different aspects to it. If we do not have all of these aspects of faith then we simply do not have Biblical faith as taught by the Prophets and Apostles in the scriptures. Back to the story. The king called everyone to the citadel in Shushan, both small and great for a feast. This feast was to last for seven days. On the seventh day the king commanded his eunuchs that served him to bring Vashti before him wearing her royal crown. According to Josephus, she was to appear before the king and the other guests wearing nothing but her royal crown. The queen refused to come to the king as ordered. The king was furious with her and had her removed from her royal position. G-d demands obedience from His servants. The Jewish people thought that just because they were Jews and the seed of Avraham that they had eternal life. Yeshua referred to this in Matt. 3.9…

“and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Avraham as our father.' For I say to you that G-d is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones.”

Eternal life comes from repentance and faith in the Messiah of Israel. Everyone is given the opportunity to come to G-d, on His terms, if they refuse, they will lose their place in the Kingdom of G-d, whether Jew or Gentile.

This does not mean that Israel has lost her place in the Kingdom. And that in turn brings up another question! Who is Israel? What is their role? Who is the bride? Let's look at these often misunderstood subjects.

Let's look at the role of Israel first. The nation of Israel was created by G-d for a purpose, they had a role to play and that role was to lead the other nations to the Living G-d. G-d gave them the scriptures and the instructions, the Sabbath and Festivals. These things were given to Israel so that they would know the things that pleased and displeased G-d and could instruct the other nations in these matters.

The scriptures say in Luke 12.48....

“...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

The nation of Israel was given much, and much was required from them that was not required from the other nations. That is the law of G-d which cannot be changed.

And that brings us to the next question, Who is Israel? The people (Gentiles) that came to the G-d of Israel were to keep the parts of the Law that applied to them, but they were not required to become Jewish to be part of Israel. When they came to believe in the G-d of Israel they were grafted into the common wealth of Israel. They became part of the Nation of Israel and the promises made to her. They did not replace Israel nor did they become Jews but they were part of Israel.

The third question, Who is the Bride, was pretty much answered in the second question but to expound on it a little, the bride is anyone who worships, obeys and has faith in the G-d of Israel. There is only one Bride, the believing Israel.

The king sent out a royal decree that stated that Vashti had lost her royal position. When the king's wrath subsided, he decided that another should take the place of Vashti, one who was more worthy. The decree went out and young virgins were brought to Shushan the citadel and were given beauty supplies to make themselves beautiful when they appear before the king.

Mordecai had a cousin named Esther. Her name in Hebrew is Hadassah, which means, myrtle. The myrtle is an evergreen plant. It is symbolic of everlasting life and it has fragrant berries which cause it to produce a sweet smell.

Mordecai comes from the tribe of Binyamin from the line of Kish. This is the second time we see someone coming from the line of Kish. In the book of I Samuel chapter 9 verses 1 & 2....

“There was a man of Binyamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Binyamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome
son whose name was Sha'ul....”

“ In the book of Exodus chapter 17 we read about a battle between Amalek and Israel. The L-rd said that He would blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Amalek will be a picture of Ha-Satan, Satan.

“Thus says the L-RD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
I Sam. 15.2-3

Sha'ul was told to kill the Amalakites but he spared king Agag. Samuel later killed king Agag, but he apparently had children before Samuel could kill him. This will be brought out at a later time.

Esther's father and mother were dead and Mordecai was raising her. He was her kinsman redeemer. The redeemer must be the next of kin and be willing and able to pay the price for redemption. With this we can see why Yeshua had to become a man. Without becoming a man He would not have been able to qualify as our Kinsman Redeemer.

Esther is chosen to replace Vashti. She will not divulge that she is a Jew at the request of Mordecai. Mordecai is found sitting in the king's gate. This is where court was conducted in those days. This means that Mordecai was probably an official of the king. As he is sitting in the gate he overhears a plot to kill the king by two of the kings doorkeepers. He tells Esther who in turn tells the king in the name of Mordecai the plot that is at hand by his doorkeepers. The king had them hanged when the plot was confirmed and the events of the account was written in the chronicles of the Medes and Persians.

Now comes Haman, who we see the king promoting to be second in command. Haman will come from the Agagites. Remember earlier that king Sha'ul was to kill the Amalakites, but he left king Agag alive. If king Sha'ul had done as the L-rd had commanded, then there would have never been a Haman, for Haman is a direct descendent of king Agag.

Everyone within the king's gate paid homage to Haman, everyone that is except Mordecai. The reason that Mordecai would not pay homage to Haman is not given, but it is probable that he knew that Haman was a descendent of king Agag and that G-d would not look kindly on him paying homage to a descendent of someone that G-d Himself had commanded that Israel wipe out. That would be the same as saying that G-d was wrong in His decision to wipe out the line of the Amalakites. This can be seen in the fact that Mordecai had told the other officials that he was a Jew when they questioned him about why he would not bow to Haman.

When Haman sees that Mordecai would not bow to him he became furious but would not lay a hand on him for fear of the Jews. A plot formed in the twisted mind of Haman to kill all the Jews in the land. So in the first month, that is Nisan or Aviv, Haman cast lots or pur, to see when the Jews would be destroyed. The lot fell on the twelfth month which is the month of Adar. They then cast the lots to see which day of the month it was to fall, it landed on the thirteenth day.

Haman now goes before the king to put his plan into effect. He tells the king that there is a people whose laws are different from all other peoples and that they should be destroyed. The king agrees and makes a decree to that effect. If you will notice that the only reason Haman gives is that the people are different. Remember this when you are persecuted for being a believer. The only reason that they need is that you are different, and if you are not different then you have an even bigger problem.

When Mordecai learned of the plot to kill the Jews he tore his clothes and put on sack clothes. Queen Esther's maids told her of Mordecai. Esther sent clothes to Mordecai but he would not accept them. Esther then sent one of the king's eunuchs to question Mordecai. The eunuch returned with the explanation and a copy of the decree that was sent out to all the provinces of the king. Mordecai also sent word to Esther through the eunuch to pled to the king for her people.

Esther sent word back to Mordecai that to enter into the presence of the king without being summoned meant death unless he would hold out his scepter. The king kept twelve axe men around his throne to kill anyone that came into his presence without being summoned. It is very normal that Esther was afraid of the request that Mordecai had made of her.

Mordecai sent back this message....

“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for
such a time as this?”
Esther 4.13-14

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