Queen Esther Is Representative Of The Bride Of Christ

In the Book of Esther, we read of a fascinating story that took place many years ago, in a time known as ‘the days of Ahasuerus.’ In our present study, we will look at the King Ahasuerus, the Queen Vashti, and Esther, as well as some of the other prophetic people, places, and events revealed in this true story. It is our desire to learn, for our benefit, what Yahweh has hidden for us in this amazing account.

Next, we see in verse 2:

That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, (Esther 1:2)

Notice here that his throne was in Shushan the palace. Shushan was evidently a place in Persia, and is also spoken of in Nehemiah Chapter 1. Let’s look at the meaning of the word. The word ‘Shushan’ means “lily.” Yeshua has told His Disciples to “consider the lilies” (Matt 6:28, Luke 12:27). There is therefore something of great importance for the Bride, hidden within the meaning of the lilies!

Where else do we find lilies? We find lily or lilies mentioned fifteen times in Scripture, eight of them in Song of Solomon. The number fifteen in Scripture speaks of “rest.” In the Song of Solomon, we see that the lilies portray the intimate, personal, relationship between Messiah and His future Bride.

We see lilies as part of the adornment of the molten or brasen sea in the Tabernacle, which was for the priests to wash in, as described in 1Kings 7:25-26 and 2Chron 4:5-6. Believers in Messiah are a kingdom of priests unto Yahweh (Revelation 1:6; 5:10), and Messiah washes us with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). So we see that the brasen sea speaks of the ‘Word’ of Yahweh.

We may thus conclude the Lilies are in some way related to the prophetic Word of Yahweh. We see lilies also on the pillars of the Temple, as described in 1 Kings 7:19 and 22, which pillars we are if we overcome, as we are told in Rev 3:12.

In Psalms 45, we see the main theme is the Bride and her wedding. We can likewise see a sub-theme in this Psalm. In the title, we see the theme of Shoshannim, or lilies. We also see in the first few verses of this Psalm, along with the last verse, a theme of words, lips, and tongue, and the offering of praise. We are reminded that the King [Yahweh] is enthroned on the praises of His people, as written in Psalms 22:3. The lilies may thus speak of words spoken by the King to His Bride, as well as by the Bride to her King.

We might conclude that lilies speak of the words spoken from Yeshua, perhaps whispered in a still, small voice, spoken to the heart of His Bride, who responds because she is at rest in Him. Thus we might say that the King’s palace is in Shushan, the place of lilies, the place of intimate fellowship, between Yeshua and His people, who are at rest in Him.

Last of all we notice in Esther 1:3-5, “…in the third year of his reign…when these days were expired…” [literally, in the third year of his reign, in the fullness of days], that the King made a feast to all those present in the palace. We, too, can expect to attend a feast in the palace of the King, in the fullness of time, to be held in the third year, as likened to the ‘third day’ written in Hos 6:2:

Beloved, we are now at the close of the second prophetic day, and are poised at the entrance to the third day of the reign of the King! For, Beloved,

…be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Peter 3:8)

Thus far, we have seen hidden in the caricature of King Ahasuerus a beautiful picture of Our King, and his life of ruling, reigning, and having fellowship with His people.

But why is this portrayal of King Ahasuerus a hidden picture of our King? Why doesn’t Yahweh just make it very plain and evident, and bring everything out into the open?

Beloved, we are told very clearly that Yahweh is known to different ones by different names:

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as the ‘Mighty One-Most Powerful,’ but by my name Yahweh was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:3)

Beloved, our King delights in being hidden, so that certain ones would delight in seeking for Him, and searching Him out. After all, it is

The Seven Chamberlains

We will now turn our attention to the King’s Seven Chamberlains, to see whom they might represent today. We might first notice that the word ‘chamberlain’ is mentioned fifteen times in Scripture, with twelve of these in the Book of Esther. As we have previously noted, the number fifteen in Scripture speaks of rest, and twelve speaks of the Government of Yahweh. These are two important clues in themselves. But let us continue.

We see in Esther 1:10 that on the seventh day, “…when the heart of the King was merry with wine…” Dear reader, let us look closely here. In Scripture the word wine speaks of the blessings of Yahweh, of rejoicing, and gladness. In Psalm 104:15, Zec 10:7, and others, we see Yahweh’s own definition of these words, and their figurative meanings. The word wine speaks of gladness. So this seventh day was a day of gladness for the King, as well as for those in his household. But why was the King glad?

Let us notice that it was on the seventh day, that “…the King gave commandment to the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of the King, to bring Vashti the queen before the king.” How beautiful a picture is portrayed for us, that Yeshua is full of gladness in anticipation of His bride, the queen, being brought into his presence!

The Called-Out Ones, the entire Body of Messiah, has been called by Yeshua to be His Bride, His Queen, to rule and reign with Him. In fact, we are told many times in the New Testament that we are to rule and reign with Messiah in the future, as indicated in Rev. 5:10, 11:15, and 20:4. But let us be reminded, Beloved, that we are also told we are to rule and reign even now. We can, while on earth today, rule in the heavenly realm, through prayer — as we are now seated in Him, and He is seated in the Heavenlies, as stated in Romans 5:21, 6:12, and Ephesians 1:20-23.

We are also at the end of the second [millennial] year, and preparing to enter the third [millennial] year, of the reign of our King. We are also at the end of the sixth prophetic day, the start of the seventh prophetic day, seen in Scripture as the “Day of Yahweh.” Notice that it is on the seventh day that the command is given for the queen to be brought before the King. It will be likewise for us – at the start of the prophetic seventh day – that the King will give commandment to the queen, to come before the King!

Queen Vashti

We first notice Vashti the queen in Esther 1:9, where we are told that she made a feast for the women of the King’s royal house, the King’s household. Vashti, whose name means beautiful, was very beautiful, and fair to look upon, as stated in Esther 1:11.

In Scripture, the word beautiful denotes ‘holiness.’ So we see that Queen Vashti portrays the called-out Company of Yahweh’s Holy Ones. The name Vashti is mentioned ten times in Scripture, all in the Book of Esther. We also note that the word ‘queen’ is mentioned 27 times in Esther, and mentioned eight times along with the name Vashti. Let us notice that the number ten in Scripture speaks of the Torah ['Law'], and of the Testimony of Yahweh. The number ’27′ speaks of the Realm of the King, and ‘eight’ speaks of the new creation, the new birth, and a new beginning.

We thus have our next clue as to whom Vashti represents. Queen Vashti is seen to picture Yahweh’s called-out Company of holy ones, the saints of Yahweh, those who have been born of Yahweh, and ordained or appointed to bear the Testimony of Yahweh, and to live within the Realm of the King’s authority.

We can draw much meaning from Vashti’s name. We can now see that Vashti is a portrayal, a picture of the great company of those that are called out of the world by Yeshua, as a people unto Himself, to carry forth, to shine forth His testimony in the earth. This is the company of those that have been born again, and have been given a new birth, and new beginning. This great, called-out company has a name indicating that the beauty of Yeshua is upon her. She is that part of the great Congregation of Born-Again Believers who are called, but as we shall see, not necessarily chosen or faithful.

We see in Esther 1:12 that Queen Vashti refused to come into the presence of the King on the day He had appointed [the 'seventh' day], as the King had commanded by his Chamberlains. We may now observe the spirit of Vashti, in contrast to the spirit of a true Bride. The spirit of Vashti has gained an advantaged position through her association with the Bridegroom, but yet she acts independently of, and without total dependence on, her Husband. The true Bride, however, will rule from a humble and submissive spirit, one of total dependence and obedience. We might ask the question, “What is the most telling indicator today, of a lack of submissiveness, and lack of dependence upon Yahweh, within the Body of Believers in this generation?” Let us notice the following passages:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Haman

One of the primary leaders within the King’s household is Haman, first seen in Esther 3:1. The name in the Book of Esther is translated as “Haman” 53 times, and is mentioned in forty-five verses. The name ‘Haman’ means “magnificent” or “rioter.” The number ‘fifty-three’ in Scripture speaks of those who enter in to the City of the King; the number ‘forty-five,’ which is 9 x 5, speaks of Yahweh’s provision and preservation of His saints.

We are next told that Haman was the “son of” Hammedatha the Agagite. The term son of speaks prophetically of ‘having the characteristic of,’ and so we see all of the related names contribute to the profoundly important, overall prophetic meaning.

The name ‘Hammedatha’ means “he who opposes the law,” and is mentioned five times. The term ‘Agagite’ means “I will overtop,” or increase to the point of spilling over, and is likewise mentioned five times. We recall that Agag was the King of Amalek, who was spared by Saul, and whose name is mentioned eight times in Scripture. The Amalekites were descendants of the nephilim. So, we can conclude that Haman represents the anti-christ and his followers who will oppose the bride’s message during the tribulation.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. (Esther 3:8)

We see that the doctrinal error regarded the King’s Laws. This is, in a figure, a charge against the elect of the King of Kings, regarding His Laws — His Marriage Covenant — His Ten Commandments, His Word. We are reminded of a strikingly similar charge against Yahweh’s elect, against Stephen, regarding Yahweh’s Covenant.

We see in Acts chapter 6, that Stephen had been disputing with certain ones of the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia. And when those men were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spoke, notice what they did:

The Wise Men

Soon after Queen Vashti refused to obey the King, notice what the King does:

“…Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times…” (Esther 1:13a)

The wise men ‘knew the times.’ Who in Scripture does this remind us of? We recall that the Sons of Issachar were:

“…men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” (1Chronicles 12:32b)

Note in this verse that Yahweh gives ‘understanding of the times’ to men for one specific purpose — to know what Israel ought to do! Yahweh always has a purpose in mind!

But would the ‘rest of Israel’ do what these ‘few’ men of understanding told them?

Yes, they would! Notice the end of the verse above: “…all their brethren were at their commandment.” Notice that they all had hearts willing to receive correction! This, my friend, is the heart that is prepared for the Master!

So, what was it that made the wise men of the King’s household to be ‘wise,’ so that they would know the times? Doesn’t everyone know the times, by simply watching the News?

Let’s notice in Esther 1:13 above, that “the King said.”

The King ‘said’ to them; the King ‘spoke’ to them.

That is what makes us wise today. If the King speaks to us, the wise are those who hearken — who hear and obey. That is, if we listen and heed, and walk in obedience, and do what the King says, then we too become ‘wise.’

But notice that the King doesn’t speak to just anyone. There is further qualification. Note carefully to whom the King speaks:

“…Then the king said… for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment…” (Esther 1:13b)

What was the King’s manner and custom?

It was the King’s custom to speak to “All that knew Law and Judgment.”

To whom did the King speak?

The King spoke to all who [are knowing, perceiving, understanding, and knowing by experience], Law and Judgment! This is a prophetic picture of those whom the King spoke to in that day. It is prophetic of those under the New Covenant, to whom the King speaks today:

Esther Is Hadassah

We first see Esther mentioned by her Hebrew name ‘Hadassah,’ and then by her Persian name of Esther.
As the name ‘Hadassah’ is mentioned only once in all of Scripture, we have our first clue as to whom she represents. We are told of the Bride,

“My dove, my undefiled is but one…” (Song of Solomon 6:9)

We are told also in Esther 2:7 that Hadassah had neither father nor mother, reminding us of Melchizedek, who is a figure of our King. We are also reminded of our Master’s admonition to us, as part of our preparation:

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; Psalms 45:10

 

(Est 2:7 KJV)  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.

Hadassah is the Hebrew name of Esther.  The name means Myrtle Tree, and the Myrtle was a picture of God’s promised blessings. As the Hebrew name it pictures, portrays, or prefigures God’s promised blessings to Israel. This is exactly what the 144,000 Firstfruits portray in Revelation. They are a picture or forerunner of the fulfillment of God’s blessings upon Israel. The Persian name Esther means “bride”, and this appears to depict the 144,000 as the bride. Esther also means star, which means a messenger. The 144,000 Firstfruits will be God’s messenger to the world during the last half of the tribulation period. Without father or mother pictures the spiritual birth of the 144,000 Firstfruits. Esther as a fair and beautiful virgin pictures her spiritual life. The death of her mother and father portrays the death of the old flesh nature. The word for daughter means the “apple of the eye” and this has special reference to Israel. Jesus will draw the 144,000 to Himself during the first half of the tribulation period. The word for daughter also means sister which is the term used in Song of Solomon for Solomon’s lover.

 

My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! Song Of Solomon 5:2

We see then, that Esther was fully prepared in this regard – she had died to all her earthly ties, not only familial, but as to her own ambitions and plans that her parents might have had for her. We are told also, in Esther 2:7 that she is fair and beautiful, both terms being used throughout Song of Solomon to describe the Bride of the King.

Now the Name Esther [meaning "Star"] is mentioned 55 times in the Book of Esther, and is mentioned in 45 verses. The number 45 in Scripture speaks of Yahweh’s preservation of His saints; and the number 55 speaks of two 5′s, as two walking together by ‘Grace,’ the enablement given to her from Messiah living within her, as she allows “Messiah-in-you” to walk in obedience. The number ’5′ is thus the number that speaks foremost of the Bride. The word ‘Star’ reminds us of what Yahweh says in Daniel:

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness [shall shine] as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)

So we may conclude that Esther speaks of those who will have the characteristics of a ‘star’ – that they will be wise [as seen in the '5' Wise Virgins], and they will turn many to righteousness. These are two of the character traits that the Overcomers will have during their 1260-day ministry during the soon-coming Great Tribulation. They will be wise, and they will turn many to righteousness.

Now the name ‘Hadassah’ means “myrtle” tree, and is mentioned only once in Scripture as the feminine gender. However, the word for ‘myrtle’ in the masculine gender is mentioned six times, so that the single mention of the feminine gender completes and makes the seventh usage. As the number ’7′ speaks of “perfection” or “completion,” we see in this that the female Bride ‘completes’ the male Husband. As we look at the word myrtle, we catch a further glimpse of the Bride, and her character traits, as one who is fully prepared.

Another fascinating picture of the word myrtle used in Scripture, is seen in the fact that it is listed in both Nehemiah and Isaiah as the ‘third’ in a list of trees. Since the number ‘three’ speaks of resurrection, we understand these passages are significant, and we can thus associate myrtle trees with resurrection, and more significantly, the first resurrection, as Esther is prophetic of the First Resurrection Company.

In other Scripture verses, we see that the branches of myrtle trees are among the branches used to construct the Sukkah, the booths used by the Bride in celebrating the Feast of Succot, also called the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three main feasts of Yahweh. The use of this word speaks to us of the tabernacling of our Yeshua among us, and of the presence of the Father with the Son. So we see that this was another trait of Esther — she had the presence of Yeshua “tabernacled” within her.

Likewise, in Zechariah we see a highly-significant prophetic event: the angel of Yahweh is seen standing among the myrtle trees, and is mentioned three times (in Zec 1:8,10,11). The ‘angel’ or messenger of Yahweh is seen as a man standing among the myrtle trees, and thus speaks to us of the Captain of Yahweh’s army, Messiah Himself, standing among the Company of the Bride Company.

We see a further picture of Messiah and His Bride, as we note that Zechariah is the 38th book of the Bible. Thirty-eight is equivalent to 19 x 2. The number ‘nineteen’ in Scripture speaks of faith, so 19 x 2 speaks prophetically of “two walking together by faith.”

We see also, that for each mention of myrtle trees seen in Zechariah, we see Yahweh walking among them! We also see reference to the end time, in the reference of the horses that are present in these verses. Furthermore, the Strong’s number for the name ‘Hadassah‘ is number <01919>, that is, this Hebrew word is the one thousand, nine hundred and nineteenth word in the Strong’s Hebrew word dictionary.

As we look closely at this number ’1919,’ we see that by the power and sovereignty of Yahweh, He has ordained just enough words in the Bible to have it work out thus. Just as we saw above in the number ’38,’ the number ’1919′ again speaks of two walking together by Faith!

Next we see that Esther was brought unto Hege, also known as Hegai, keeper of the women. We will not go into much detail here, but Hegai represents the work of the Holy Spirit through the various ministries of the Believers, given by Yahweh to prepare the Bride. We see in Esther 2:13 that everything needed for her purification was given to her, to prepare her to go into the presence of the King.

Like the prophetic Hegai, it is the Holy Spirit who freely gives us all we need, a picture of His Grace, His giftings and enablement He freely gives us. Likewise it is the Holy Spirit who leads us into all Truth, so that by our learning to become ‘DO-ers’ of that Truth, we too might be fully prepared to go into the presence of our King!

Esther Begins Her Preparation

Next, let’s notice the preparation that Esther underwent:

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 Esther 2:12

We could spend hours discussing this verse, but will only look at several items. Throughout Scripture, we see that oil of myrrh was given to Yeshua on three occasions in His life on earth — At His birth, at His death on the cross, and at His burial. Myrrh was used to embalm a body after death. Myrrh speaks to us of “death to self.” The trees Commiphora myrrha and Boswellia sacrum belong to the family of the Burceracae (Sapindales order). Both trees produce aromatic resins, known as the biblical incense (olibanum) and as myrrh. These resins were the most costly and were gifts for baby Jesus. Myrrh was given as a symbol of suffering. Myrrh means bitter, from the Arabian word ‘murr.’

So we see that Esther’s first step of preparation was the “death of self” through suffering. That is, she allowed herself to die to her own self-centered life. To do this, she must first die to her fleshly appetites, keeping her body under subjection to her spirit (1Co 9:27). She must also die to her own self-will, her own self-effort, her own ambitions, and her own understanding — along with all that she once held dear in this life on earth.

She must die to self, so that she too may say:

The Cleansing of the Bride

The last item of Esther’s preparation was ‘other things’ for her purifying, or ‘cleansing’:

“…and with other things for the purifying [cleansing] of the women…” (Esther 2:12)

Beloved, there are many things in Scripture, that exhort us to be holy [set-apart unto Yahweh], and to cleanse ourselves, by learning the difference between what is holy and clean, and what is unholy and unclean — all according to Scripture.

Some of these purifyings and cleansings can be seen in the following passages:

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3)

That he might sanctify and cleanse it [the called-out assembly] with the washing of water by the word… (Ephesians 5:26)

In the above passages, we see that the Word of Yahweh cleanses our spirit, when we hear it;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying [cleansing] their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:9)

Seeing ye have purified [hagnos: to sanctify; purify; make chaste; cleanse] your souls in ['by'] obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1Peter 1:22)

In the above passages, we see that the Word of Yahweh cleanses our souls, when by faith, we obey it;

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1John 1:7)

Esther Has Access To The Door

Esther Pleads for Her People

‘So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for slaves and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that dared presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Haman is Hanged

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. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen on the bed where on Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.’ Esther 7

What is significant about these passages is that Esther saves her people and Haman is killed on the second month and the seventeenth day. This is the same day that Noah(the remnant) was saved on the ark and the door was shut.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day of the month were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Gen. 7:11

Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes. A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them. Gen. 7:16

In the book of Revelation, God has promised the remnant/bride of Christ of Philadelphia an open door to escape the hour of trial. We can clearly see that the bride of Christ represented by Esther lives through the tribulation.

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth Rev. 3

Where do you find the date 2-17 in the book of Esther?

SOURCE: thewayprepared.com

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