Esther 4:14 (NKJV), “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?”

The story of Esther has so many intriguing layers to it. She was certainly known for her courage and bravery in standing up for her people. She risked her own life to save the Jewish people from destruction, a powerful reminder of the importance of courage, bravery, and standing up for what is right. But there is another parallel to draw from this fascinating story. The Jewish nation remembers the story of Esther by a feast called Purim. What’s interesting for us, is its parallel to the end times. The antagonist in the story of Esther is Haman. His rise to dominance and power over what’s now known as the Middle East, stretching from India to parts of Northern Africa, was significant. Even though Haman was second in command to the king, he demanded to be worshipped, and being inspired by an evil spirit, he had an ancient hatred for the Jewish nation and planned to wipe them off the face of the earth. Haman was an Amalekite. In Exodus 17:16, it’s prophesied that in every generation God will war against a spirit of Amalek, a people who occupy their time with ideas to destroy the Jewish nation. Which is why Christian scholars draw a parallel between Haman and the coming Antichrist, both these world rulers demand to be worshipped by their subjects and have an ancient hatred towards the Jewish nation with the mandate to destroy them. Now let’s take a look at the symbolism of Esther. She is often seen as the end time church. In the story, Persia already had a queen, named Vashti. But she rebelled against the king. This is a picture of Israel rebelling against God by refusing to receive His Son as their Messiah. In the story, an orphan girl called Esther, was chosen and prepared to marry the king. This is a picture of us, the Gentiles, who not being God’s original children, chose to believe in Jesus, and are grafted into His kingdom. Like Esther was prepared for her wedding day, we are constantly being prepared and transformed, by the Holy Spirit and the Word, to be a bride without spot and blemish, perfect for the wedding feast of the Lamb. In the story, Esther interceded for her people, just as the church should intercede for the Jewish nation. Romans 11:11 says Israel’s rejection is not final, and the church has a role to arouse the Jews to salvation. Concerning the Jewish nation, it reads: “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.” Regardless of where we find ourselves on the timeline of the church, we can be sure that, like Esther, we have been born for such a time as this. Live every day with purpose, being sensitive to hear and obey the Holy Spirit, so that His perfect will is fulfilled