| The Apocalypse of . . . Esther?? |
| Probably no book of the bible has stirred up as much debate about its worthiness as has the book of Esther. Both ancient Jewish and Christian theologians were divided among themselves as to whether Esther was inspired and/or otherwise deserved a place in the biblical canon. Even those who argued for its acceptance usually spoke of it as being a book of lesser value. Yet God's work has ever been to "set up on high those that be low" (Job 5:11), and so even as God "regarded the low estate of his handmaiden," Mary, he will in these latter days exalt the lowly book of Esther. For those unfamiliar with the story, here is a brief summary. However, it would be better if you simply read the book itself. It is short and easy to understand. The Book of Esther: A Summary Slightly over 100 years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and about 50 years after the Jews returned to Jerusalem following Cyrus's proclamation, King Xerxes ascended the throne of Persia when King Darius died. (Xerxes is called Ahasuerus in Esther.) It was November, 486 B.C. After reigning for two years, the king gave a great feast that lasted six months. On the last day of the feast, the king called for his queen, Vashti, to appear before him and his nobles. But she was having her own feast with the women, and refused. After consulting with his counselors, Ahasuerus removed Vashti from being queen, because she had refused his call. Some years later, the king sought out a successor among all the most beautiful young virgins of his realm. Enter Esther, a fair young Jewess, who was found the most favorable by the king and his court, and who was made the new queen. Now, Esther was an orphan, raised by her first cousin Mordecai. After her coronation, Mordecai "sat in the king's gate" to be close to Esther, whom he continued to counsel. (For instance, he instructed her not to reveal her nationality.) Mordecai soon afterward heard of a plot against Ahasuerus, and passed this information through Esther to the king. An inquiry was made, the conspiracy found out, and the conspirators were executed. The plot thickens. Haman the Agagite, a prince of the kingdom, found favor with Ahasuerus and became his chief minister -- and a vain one. When Mordecai refused to bow before him, Haman, being "full of wrath ... thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone ... [but] sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom." Est. 3:5-6 He therefore had lots cast to determine a specific month and day for the Jews' extermination, and, so determining, received authority from the king for the deed. Mordecai naturally was appalled, and exhorted Esther to plead with the king for her people. The very night before this plea, the king found himself unable to sleep, and had the chronicles of his reign read to him. Finding that Mordecai had not been rewarded for revealing the above-mentioned conspiracy, he commanded Haman to lead Mordecai the hero in processional honor throughout the city. Shortly after this, Esther revealed to the king her nationality and that of Mordecai, and told him that due to Haman they were to be killed. The king was furious, and Haman foolishly managed to make him more angry still. Haman then was hanged on the immense gallows he had built for Mordecai. Ahasuerus made Mordecai minister in Haman's stead, and by proclamation allowed the Jews to rise against those who would have destroyed them. They prevailed over their enemies, and Mordecai thereafter proclaimed the day a Jewish national holiday, the Feast of Purim. And so the story ends, on the surface simply a romantic tale about the Jews during the days of the Persian Empire. The story will now be told again, with its allegorical nature revealed. The Allegorical Identities of Ahasuerus, Vashti, Esther, and Mordecai For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was born of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants. Galatians 4:22-24 As we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:49 The Apostle Paul's writings in many places teach that the Old Testament and its pre-Christian history are allegorical in nature: The law [has been] a shadow of good things to come. Hebrews 10:1 The Mosaic Tabernacle was made "according to the pattern shown to [Moses]. . ." Heb. 8:5 Christian theo-logians have written much about the allegorical relationship of this Mosaic Law and Tabernacle to the New Covenant of Christ, with its spiritual laws and heavenly Jerusalem. People could also be (living) allegories, like Abraham in the quotation above, and Adam,1 and Solomon, who has been portrayed as a type of Christ reigning in Glory.2 Later in this book we will consider a number of such living allegories in more detail. One basic 'rule' is that the Old Testament history was a pattern in flesh of spiritual things to follow, in a sort of yin-yang relationship, and Christ's life on earth marked the division between the two halves of time. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to look for an allegorical meaning in the story of Esther. To put it flatly, the story of Esther is an apocalypse. The word apocalypse means a revelation of hidden things. Allegorically, Esther is the Church, and her story reveals events to take place at the end of the age. The apocalypse begins with Xerxes (Ahasuerus), the greatest ruler of pre-Christian days, who reigned over a widely extended kingdom "from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces." Est. 1:1 He symbolizes the Lord on his heavenly throne, ruling over the world. (Persian kings, including the late Shah of Iran, were known by the title Shah-an-shah -- "King of kings." King of kings is a biblical title used to refer to Christ in Revelation 17:14 and 1 Timothy 6:15.) Jesus revealed this allegorical relationship and others in one of his parables, which is here compared to the beginning of the book of Esther: |
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour, for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, for henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Luke 1:47-48 |
| (Chapter 6 of The Seven Times and the Latter Days; copyright 2001 by William R Portch. These pages may be copied if this notice is included.) |
| Ahasuerus "made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace ... Esther 1:5 He commanded ... the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal. 1:10-11 |
| The Lord "made a great supper, and bade many. Luke 14:16 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 14:17 |