Esther's Royal Garments*

We just finished observing the feast known as Purim that comes from the Book of Esther. Purim celebrates a great victory over an enemy whose intention was to destroy all of the Jews living in Persia. The enemy's name was Haman, who developed a bitter hatred for a Jew named Mordecai because Mordecai had failed to pay him the honor that Haman felt was his due. Haman drew lots, or pur, to determine the date of the Jews' destruction, when he would go to the king, and enact his plan for revenge against Mordecai (Est. 3:7). These lots, or pur, is where the name of the feast Purim comes from. So, in order to destroy Mordecai, Haman persuaded the king to give an order that would mean the destruction of all of the Jews, even paying money to those who would carry out his order (Est. 3:5-6, 8-9). We will see how this enemy was defeated, and how God's people were delivered from a death sentence. The account starts with the replacement of a queen. The king of Persia had required that his wife, Vashti, who was very beautiful, come and make an appearance before his party guests, who all had been drinking for seven days. Vashti refused, and the king was advised to set aside Vashti, and obtain a more biddable wife, lest all the wives in the kingdom rise up against their husbands as Vashti had done! (Est. 1:5-19). The search for the most beautiful maidens in the kingdom began. Mordecai, a Jew, had raised his niece, Esther, as his own daughter after her parents had died. Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai to hide her Jewish heritage. As the most beautiful women were gathered to the palace, Esther was included. She found favor with the chamberlain who was "the keeper of the women" for the king, and he treated her with kindness (v. 4-9). Esther found favor with all who dealt with her there because she was agreeable and obedient to what the chamberlain told her to do. She was brought before the king, who loved her above all women. Esther found "grace and favor" in his sight, and she was made queen instead of Vashti (Est. 2:15-18). Esther still did not reveal herself as being one of the Jewish people "as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." (v. 20). (note: Although the name of God does not directly appear in the story of Esther, His name appears in acrostic form. When Mordecai heard of the order that Haman had persuaded the king to enact that would mean the destruction of the Jewish people, he immediately sat before the king's gate in sackcloth and ashes, crying with a loud voice. All of the Jews did so also (Est. 4:1-3). Mordecai was repenting before God for the deliverance of His people. Esther became alarmed by Mordecai's behavior, for it would surely offend the king, and sent servants to inquire why her uncle was doing such a thing. He passed the information about the king's edict to Esther, and charged her "that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people (v. 5-8). Esther sent her servants to answer Mordecai that she had not been called for by the king for thirty days, and she could be killed if she went to him without his invitation. Mordecai sent this response: "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (v. 13-14). Mordecai felt confident in the LORD's deliverance, because he had fasted and prayed for it. Shouldn't we also understand the importance of fasting, repentance and prayer, as commanded by God in 2 Chron. 7:14? Esther answered Mordecai that he should tell all the Jews to fast with her for three days and nights, and then she would go to the king without his invitation. She said, "...and if I persiah, I perish." (v. 15-17). "Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on (her) royal (apparel), and stood in the inner court of the king's house.: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house...And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen...she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre." (Est. 5:1-2). Regarding the phrase "her royal apparel" in the above verse, the words "her" and "apparel" were added to the original Hebrew to help in translation. However, the Hebrew says that Esther "put on her royal", with all of the kingdom authority that that Hebrew word for "royal" (malkut/malak - kingdom, reign, royal, sovereign power, dominion/ascend to the throne) carries. Esther again obtained favor from the king, granting her whatever she asked (v. 3-4). To add to Haman's further anger and humiliation, Mordecai received an honor from the king that Haman felt should come to him. For saving the king's life, Mordecai was given the king's own royal apparel to wear, the king's personal horse to ride, and the royal crown set upon his head (Est. 6:6-12). Eventually, Haman's plot against the Jews, and therefore against Esther herself, was exposed by Esther before the king at a banquet. The grace and favor of God towards Esther and the Jews appeared several times in the story of Esther, and worked for the deliverance of the Jews. The Torah and the Prophets reflect the grace of God, as I have mentioned in previous messages. The apostle Peter described the same royal apparel of Esther in regards to the believers in Christ: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood...a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pet. 2:5, 9-10). This royal people who believe in Christ as the chief cornerstone, are obedient to Him, and to His Word (v. 7-8). We saw this same obedience of a royal Esther to Mordecai's aleph-tav commandments to her (see above). Grace and mercy flowed as a result. Peter also wrote to the royal believers: "...abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (v. 11-12). Peter wrote that the lusts of the flesh war against your soul. There is a war going on, as the war of Haman against the people of God foretold. Scripture says that the devil has come down having great wrath against the people of God. Jesus said that the days before His return will be like the days of Noah. We must be prepared to enter the Ark provided by God, clothed in our royal apparel. Peter also wrote that we were to have the grace and peace of God multiplied to us, the righteousness of God (not our own), as well as all things that pertain to life and godliness, these exceeding great and precious promises, through the knowledge of God and Jesus. We attain this knowledge through His Word. In this same knowledge is our escape from "the corruption that is in the world through lust...give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1-11). An entrance is made for us, in the same way that an entrance was given to Esther by the king's grace and favor, and the royal sceptre was extended to her. Our royal apparel was described by the apostle Paul: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places...Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perserverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:10-18). Our enemies, like Haman who sought to destroy all life, are spiritual powers, and our armor and royal apparel is spiritual, including truth, the righteousness of God through Christ, the ministry of the Gospel to all, our faith which is the faith of the Son of God, our salvation, a gift to us by grace, and the Word of God, which establishes all of the above. Not forgetting, the prayers, supplications, including repentance, for all of the saints, just as the Jews of Persia interceded before God, and received His miraculous deliverance. We need our royal apparel today more than ever as we see the wickedness of Haman increasing around us. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/12/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

What's Wrong With This Picture?*

Please note: Beginning in July, Google will stop sending automatic notifications of new postings for blogs such as this one that are published under "blogspot.com". If you have been receiving notifications, or would like to receive them, please enter your email address in the box in the upper right corner of this blog page before July. Your email addresses will be retrieved hopefully, and you will be sent a notification directly when there is a new post available. Your email addresses will not be used for any other purpose. You will receive the "new blog post" notifications from "the disciple". If you choose not to enter your email address, it is recommend that after June 2021, you should check the blog regularly for new posts. Thank you for your patience and faithful readership. There is a game where a child must look at a picture and decide "What's wrong with this picture?". This applies to spiritual things as well. No matter how often a spiritual matter is verified by facts, there remains great debate and repudiation of those facts. In the many years that I have spent documenting the evidence, including scientific, medical, historical and scriptural evidence regarding the Shroud, people continually bring up the same arguments against it that were proven false long ago. It is an example of true knowledge being rejected, which is also the topic of this message today. Even the Body of Christ, knowing the spiritual truth from scripture that "a house divided against itself cannot stand", finds new ways to create and maintain divisions within the Body. The insistent rejection of knowledge in the face of so many confirmations and verifications, leads us to ask, "What's wrong with this picture?". The prophet Hosea wrote the word of the LORD regarding this subject: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore, shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish...Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest...Therefore shalt thou fall in the day...and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing how thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hos. 4:1-6). The LORD told His prophet that this condition had grown as His people had increased, and He would change their glory into shame. This nation, like the Israel of Hosea, has also grown away from God as it has increased and strengthened. Above, the LORD reveals that His people are destroyed because they lack knowledge, and reject knowledge. The pictographic meaning of the individual Hebrew letters used in the word translated here as "destroyed" form the statement: "Behold the door to chaos". The pictographic meaning of the individual letters of the Hebrew word used here to mean "knowledge" forms this statement: "Behold the door to see the sign". It is necessary for us to seek the knowledge of God in order to see the signs of our times around us, and the signs of His coming. Proverbs repeatedly tells us to fear (reverence) the LORD, and gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is fools who despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 9:10, 1:7). The prophet Daniel wrote that while the wicked would seek to destroy the covenant (marriage contract) of God, those who know their God shall do great exploits (Dan. 11:32). Jesus told the parable of the five wise (thoughtful, discreet, with practical skill or acumen) and the five foolish (dull, stupid, blockhead) virgins who knew the bridegroom was expected, but the foolish virgins did not have oil for their lamps, and therefore missed the bridegroom's sudden coming (Mt. 25:1-7). Oil always represents the Holy Spirit, and this parable of Christ's teaches that the Holy Spirit is essential for all believers to have in order to meet the Bridegrrom when He comes. All believers should understand the importance of having the Holy Spirit, especially on this feast day of the LORD, Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is also directly connected with having knowledge: "But ye have an unction (anointing: the special endowment of the Holy Spirit) from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 Jn. 2:20). Paul pointed out that it was necessary for believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He came across new believers in Ephesus who had never heard of the Holy Spirit, nor the baptsm of the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptized in John's baptism, the baptism of repentance. Even John the Baptist referred to the coming Christ, and His baptism of fire that would come after John, and was greater than John. As Paul laid hands on the Ephesian believers, the twelve men received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They began to speak with tongues and prophesy (Acts 19:1-7). Yet, there are those who will argue and try to persuade agqinst the promise of God, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the evidence for the Shroud of Turin, and the men and women of God who teach the truth of His Word. Their intention is to stir up (meaning "destroy") the people to prevent them from receiving the truth (Acts 17:13-15). However, all people, including believers in Christ, are urged by the Word of God to search the scriptures for themselves to see if persuasive arguments are true or not. This is considered a noble act by the Lord (Acts 17:10-12). When Jesus opens the scriptures to us as we search them, our eyes are opened in amazement, and we are convinced that we have received the knowledge of the Lord (Lk. 24:27-32). *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/23/21 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com

Back to the Future*

In order to be prepared for the return of the Lord, we need to look back to understand things we have been mistaught in order to receive the truth. We need to know the truth, not the doctrines of men or devils. For instance, scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is made up from every nation, tribe, and tongue, yet racism is on the rise, as Jesus prophesied when He said "Nation shall rise against nation...". The word "nation" used here is the Greek word ethnos, from which we get the word ethnicity. We have been taught many things about our history involving the Native Americans of this land. Evidence points to the fact that the native people of this country may be part of the lost tribes of Israel. Their early language and heiroglyphics have a similarity to the ancient Hebrew language. It is said that when Columbus made one of his trips to this continent, he was greeted by native people with the Shema: ""Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is One". In addition, DNA evidence shows a relationship between the Cherokee tribe and Middle Eastern Jews. While Christian settlers tried various methods to destroy or drive out native people, the earliest Christian converts in our land were Native Americans. There are religious customs among the Native Americans, which the government tried to ban, that reflect their understanding that the Messiah, Jesus, appeared to their ancestors on this continent earlier in their history. Yet, the white man was taught that the Native Americans were all without the knowledge of God. The book, "The History of the North American Indians" by James Adair, is recommended reading for more information on this subject. In another example of the lack of truth, few know that the people of the nations of the western coast of Africa, which was called "the slave coast" because their inhabitants were captured and sold into slavery, lived in an area of Africa that had previously been called "The Kingdom of Judah" on the ancient maps. It is believed that these people, later sold into slavery, had emmigrated from Israel to Africa earlier in their history. In another example of misinformation, the Jewish books of the Apocrypha are believed to be outside of, and less than, scripture. Yet the Apochrypha had been included in the original King James Version of the Bible, only to be later removed. These books are still included in the Catholic Bible. From the time of the Reformation, Catholics and Protestants were at enmity with one another, and these books were removed from scripture. When flesh gets in, it can uproot the Spirit. We will find, as we look into the Apocrypha in the future, that there is a testimony of the Messiah contained in these books. The Word of the LORD through the prophet Hosea reveals that the LORD has a controversy with His people who do not value truth: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood....Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-9). There are those who have been told they are not the people of God. The prophet Hosea prophesies this Word of the LORD regarding them: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." (Hos. 1:10). The Apostle Paul found this to be the truth as he traveled to the city of Athens in Greece. One would assume in that day that the people of Athens, having practiced polytheism for centuries, could not possibly be people of God. Yet Paul discerned within both the Athenian religious and philosophical culture, an acknowledgement of God and His power, Whom the Greeks could not specifically identify, but included in worship at an altar upon which was written "To The Unknown God" (Acts 17:22-23). Paul challenged their idolic worship teaching, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing as he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also your own poets have said..." (Acts 17:24-28). Paul went on to preach the Gospel of Christ to those people of Athens. Some mocked the idea of One who was raised from the dead, but others wanted to hear more (v.32). Paul had discovered earlier in his travel to the Greek city of Thessonica, that not only some of the Jews, although many remained hostile to the Gospel, but also many of the Greeks there, accepted the Gospel he preached to them (Acts 17:1-4). When Paul came to another city in Greece, Berea, he again preached at the synagogue there. The Jews there were very interested in hearing what Paul had to say, and were interested enough in knowing the truth that they searhed the scriptures for themselves to verify what Paul had told them. Many of them then believed the Gospel. Also more than just a few of the local Greek people believed (Acts 17:10-12). Scripture called these Bereans "noble" because they desired to know truth more than anything else. Many believers even to this present day have been taught that they will not experience any part of the Great Tribulation, because they believe the Rapture of the Church will precede it. However, Revelation tells us that a great multitude of believers, clothed with white robes, out "of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues", are described as those "which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:9-17 excerpt). So there is evidence that believers will experience some portion of the Tribulation. Our lack of the knowledge of the truth has probably affected to whom we bring the Gospel, and whom we have historically considered to be the people of God, or not. With all signs, including rising racism, the pandemic, earthquakes, storms, indicating to us that the end is near, we are in need like never before of the truth in order to be prepared ourselves, and to prepared others. What are we doing to reach the lost as we see the day approaching? *Based upon the 11/29/20 message of Dr. Kenneth Stevenson to the Church. To Contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Please look for us on Facebook and Twitter also.

Putting the Pieces Together

 

It was never the LORD's intention that the people called by His name, the people called to be light and salt in the earth, the people purposed to do exploits (Dan. 11:32) and greater works in His name (Jn. 14:12), should be confused, ignorant, fearful or without hope (1 Pet. 3:13-15, 1 Thess. 4:13-14) regarding end time events, and His will in those events.

Jesus taught of these events in the synagogues and temple, gave revelation of them to prophets and apostles, all so that we would be informed when the time came. All of these teachings did not make Jesus popular with those who had their own agendas, but these teachings have left us with a rich legacy of foreknowledge. If we will study the Word of God, we will attain wisdom, knowledge and understanding of these events, and our role in them.

Jesus described in great detail and accuracy the events that would lead to His return. All creation will be in turmoil and distress (Lk. 21:22-25). Men will be terrified by what they will see happening:

"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken...For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."   Lk. 21:26, 35

However, because we have already been told what to expect, and what these events mean, our reactions should be different from the world's:

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh...So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, "This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled...Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   Lk. 21:28, 31-32, 36

Jesus' expectation was that His disciples would be a people of knowledge, but at the same time, warned that we were not to be involved with worldly behavior and cares, because this would have a destructive effect upon our hearts and minds:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down, burdened, grieved) with surfeiting (seized, or carried away with the effects of drunkenness and debauchery), and drunkenness, and cares (anxiety, distraction, drawn in different directions, divided) of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares (unexpectedly, suddenly)."  (v. 34).

Even Jesus removed Himself from distraction. He would teach in Jerusalem at the temple during the day, but then He would leave the activities of the city behind, and spend the night on the Mt. of Olives. In Greek, the place where He staid is described as an outdoor area of shepherds and their flocks (v. 37).

Our hearts and minds are very vulnerable to, and can be easily overtaken by, the attitudes and priorities of the world. Immediately after Jesus taught about the catastrophic events of the end times, and what our attitude through it should be, His own disciple, Judas, made an agreement to betray Jesus for money (Lk. 22:1-4). Judas had formed an attitude of offense and disrespect towards Jesus (Mt. 26, Lk. 7, Mk. 14), and had allowed these things to divert, divide, and rule his heart. Although Judas had access to all of the revelations of Jesus, instead of becoming a son of salvation, he became a son of perdition (damnation, destruction, perishing, eternal misery in hell) (Jn. 17:12).

Paul makes clear that the ways and thoughts of the world have nothing to do with us:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned...For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."   1 Cor. 2:12-14, 16

We do not seek the understanding found in the world, but we search the scriptures, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, putting together the pieces of Godly wisdom and knowledge. Rather than the information highway of the world, we receive our instruction from the Holy Spirit through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers until we grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ, a bride who has made herself ready, a light set on a lampstand, a city on a hill.

 

To Contact/Give:

PO Box 155

Christmas, Fl. 32709

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

PayPal accepted

 

To hear the entire message from Dr. Ken Stevenson:

https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10209966459979912/

 

 

http://endtimeschool.com/