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The Feast of Purim
Purim/Feast of Lots: (reading of the book of Esther)
14th - 15th Adar - "these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons," Esther 9:31
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place . . . And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14,
14th - 15th Adar - "these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons," Esther 9:31
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place . . . And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14,
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(Begins at sundown and Ends at sundown)
2024 - March 23, Saturday - March 26th, Sunday 2025 - March 13, Thursday - March 14th, Friday |
"Future Prophetic Fulfillment" of the Feast of Lots: will be fulfilled at the unveiling of the worker of lawlessness who will erect an image of himself in the Temple, during what has been prophesied as the "Abomination of Desolation" ("So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand" - Dan 7:25, 9:26-27, 11:3, Matt 24:15-28, 2 Thess 2:4, Rev 11:7, 13:5-6). And this, at an Appointed Time, as Jesus instructed, "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath," Matt 24:20, which describes a specific time, during a curtain Feast/Appointed Time, the Feast of Purim, "the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days (Adar 14 and 15 - v. 21) according to what was written and at the time Appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants," Esther 9:27-28, which falls exactly 30 days before the Feast of Passover, but even more significantly, falls most years, at the beginning of Spring, "not in winter or on a Sabbath". And like Hamon in the story of Esther, the Anti-christ's plan is to destroy God's people, either by deception ("The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception," 2 Thess 2:9-12) or persecution ("For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be," Matt 24:21).
One of the most joyous of all the Biblical festivals, Purim (Festival of Lots), celebrations the exemplary leadership and bravery of Hadassah (Esther), a Jewish girl who rose to become ancient Persia's Queen Esther. As the queen, Esther risked death to uncover and overturn a plot to murder the Jewish People in Persia. Purim is a “Celebration of Forgetting” – forgetting our enemy’s plan for our destruction and our remembering God’s plan for his destruction instead – VICTORY OVER DEATH (“blot out the memory of Amalek,” Ex 17:14, “you shall blot out the memory of Amalek,” Deut 25:19). Haman, the villain who wickedly plots to destroy the Jewish People, was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, representing pure evil or those who have “given themselves over” to the dark side of impurity. Indeed, the name Amalek symbolically is an eye, meaning “doubt” and “haughty”, therefore represents “the evil eye of doubt”, understood in this way, Amalek represents spiritual blindness acting arrogantly in the world, and therefore the Lord vowed perpetual warfare against Amalek” (Ex 17:16). Concerning this verse, it suggests that God’s rule will be incomplete until the powers of darkness are totally wiped off the face of the earth (by the hand of Jesus our Lord; see Rev 19-20). Amalek embodies the principle of, the lack of the fear of God, and therefore represents the power of darkness and evil in the world.
Like Esther, who submitted herself to a prolonged preparation time for the king, Believers, continuously dedicate themselves in preparation to meet Jesus their Messiah. This process begins with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, who washes and renews us (Tit 3:5), brings us into unity (Eph 4:3) and enables us to obey the truth (1 Pe 1:22), among other important works. And like Esther who was faithful, beautiful, pure, and courageous, even to the point of being willing to lose her life to save her brethren, with the help of the Spirit, the Bride of Messiah is called to be faithful to God's word, beautifully pure in spirit, and courageous in sharing the truth of who Jesus is. As a result of their courage, many Believers, past, present, and future, suffer and will suffer severe persecution, even death. Relying on God and not her own talents and natural abilities, Esther, like Believers, know they cannot accomplish anything for the kingdom of God without relying totally on God's leading and protection. Carrying the full authority of the King and the seal of his signet ring, Esther to is able to issue decrees that cannot be revoked (Esther 8:8), in the same manner, Jesus gives His followers the authority to defeat the works of the enemy (Lk 10:19).
One of the most joyous of all the Biblical festivals, Purim (Festival of Lots), celebrations the exemplary leadership and bravery of Hadassah (Esther), a Jewish girl who rose to become ancient Persia's Queen Esther. As the queen, Esther risked death to uncover and overturn a plot to murder the Jewish People in Persia. Purim is a “Celebration of Forgetting” – forgetting our enemy’s plan for our destruction and our remembering God’s plan for his destruction instead – VICTORY OVER DEATH (“blot out the memory of Amalek,” Ex 17:14, “you shall blot out the memory of Amalek,” Deut 25:19). Haman, the villain who wickedly plots to destroy the Jewish People, was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, representing pure evil or those who have “given themselves over” to the dark side of impurity. Indeed, the name Amalek symbolically is an eye, meaning “doubt” and “haughty”, therefore represents “the evil eye of doubt”, understood in this way, Amalek represents spiritual blindness acting arrogantly in the world, and therefore the Lord vowed perpetual warfare against Amalek” (Ex 17:16). Concerning this verse, it suggests that God’s rule will be incomplete until the powers of darkness are totally wiped off the face of the earth (by the hand of Jesus our Lord; see Rev 19-20). Amalek embodies the principle of, the lack of the fear of God, and therefore represents the power of darkness and evil in the world.
Like Esther, who submitted herself to a prolonged preparation time for the king, Believers, continuously dedicate themselves in preparation to meet Jesus their Messiah. This process begins with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, who washes and renews us (Tit 3:5), brings us into unity (Eph 4:3) and enables us to obey the truth (1 Pe 1:22), among other important works. And like Esther who was faithful, beautiful, pure, and courageous, even to the point of being willing to lose her life to save her brethren, with the help of the Spirit, the Bride of Messiah is called to be faithful to God's word, beautifully pure in spirit, and courageous in sharing the truth of who Jesus is. As a result of their courage, many Believers, past, present, and future, suffer and will suffer severe persecution, even death. Relying on God and not her own talents and natural abilities, Esther, like Believers, know they cannot accomplish anything for the kingdom of God without relying totally on God's leading and protection. Carrying the full authority of the King and the seal of his signet ring, Esther to is able to issue decrees that cannot be revoked (Esther 8:8), in the same manner, Jesus gives His followers the authority to defeat the works of the enemy (Lk 10:19).
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PDF Download: Purim - Feast of Lots
PDF Download: Purim - Appetizer Recipes
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