THE BOOK OF RUTH IS A PROPHETIC BOOK

THE BOOK OF RUTH IS A PROPHETIC BOOK

                In this article I am going to draw heavily from Rabbi Mark Biltz who is a wonderful teacher when it comes to biblical signs and seasons. I want to share this with you now because I believe we can see these signs forming right before our eyes and the book of Ruth can add some clarity to what is happening.

                As the story goes, Elimelech and Naomi were Jews living in Bethlehem. They had two sons: Mahlon and Chilion. There was no bread in Bethlehem and so they left the country. They were exiled in the foreign land of Moab for almost ten years during which time Naomi’s husband died and her two sons married two Gentile young women; Ruth and Orpah. These two women represent Gentiles who are grafted into the covenant of Israel by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So Ruth and Orpah, in one sense, also represent the Church that is grafted into the Jewish Olive tree. (As seen in Romans 11)

                When Naomi heard that there was bread again in Bethlehem, she decided to go back to the land of Israel. This represents Israel returning to their land in 1948. But Naomi’s two sons had also died by this time, so she told her two daughters in law not to follow her, but to instead go back to their people.

                Ruth cleaved to Naomi, but Orpah returned to her people and to her pagan gods. So Naomi told Ruth, saying: “Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth answered: Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go an n whither thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.” Ruth 1:15, 16.

                Ruth, whose name means “friend,” returned to the land of Israel and worked the barley harvest, which is at Passover! In fact Ruth 2:23 says, “She kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.” Ruth befriended the Jewish people; worked the harvest from Passover to Pentecost; ended up marrying the kinsman redeemer, Boaz; and brought forth the Messiah through King David!

                So Ruth and Orpah represent the church in the final days. Orpah means “the back of the neck”; she turned her back on Israel and returned to her pagan gods and her pagan lifestyle.

                The Babylonian Talmud says that Orpah begat Goliath, the enemy of Israel. (Sotah 42b)

                So here we have the final epic battle lines being drawn in the church in these last days. The church will be divided between those who support Israel, work the harvest and bring forth the Messiah, and those who turn their backs on Israel and form the one-world church. On one side will be those who love the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as David did, and this group will be small as David was. On the other side will be the giant Goliath, the one world church that hates God’s people and wants to see them destroyed.

                It seems very interesting to me that in September of 2015, Pope Francis stood up before America and the world and announced the conception and formation of Goliath, the one world church of the Beast. It is being formed right now as we speak.

                Consequently we see the church being divided between those who love and support Israel, and who are engaged in the harvest. The true church is made up of those who have been born again according to Passover, who are also filled with the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. We are the smaller in number and even as we prepare to face the battles ahead, Goliath is about to enter the scene who will be the great enemy of God’s true people. And as we know from scripture, those who side with Goliath will join him in persecuting the true people of God both Jews and Gentile Christians, who keep the commandments of God and who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:17.

                I also find it interesting that Ruth and Boaz lived in Bethlehem. This is where Mary and Joseph, a few generations later would return to pay taxes to Rome. There, Jesus the Lamb of God was born. So it is no accident that Jesus called Himself the Bread of heaven (Bethlehem means place of bread) and it was also no accident that Bethlehem was not just any old town. It was the place where sheep were raised specifically for the temple sacrifices in Jerusalem.

                While shepherds watched their flocks by night, the angels appeared to them and announced to them that the true Lamb of God was born in Bethlehem…in the place of bread...where special sheep were carefully raised for the sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem.  And now you know the rest of the story.

                The Bible is full of mysteries and wonderful connections like this, but it helps to know Hebrew, as well as to understand the history and meaning of the Feasts… the appointed times of the Lord.