Purim - the Glorious Church in Intercession

The Church and Israel have entered the final month of the Biblical year, the month of Adar. Soon we will celebrate the Passover in April, commemorating our great exodus from slavery, but not before we pass through the lessons of grave peril, bold intercession, unwavering faith, and great deliverance as they are told in the Book of Esther. Before Passover's new beginning comes the great test of Purim.
The Feast of Purim is celebrated this year on the 9th-10th of March within the Hebrew month of Adar, the twelfth month of the Biblical year. It is a celebration of the deliverance of the Jewish people from sure annihilation during the reign of the Persian King Xerxes I, commemorating a season of danger, fasting, confrontation, deliverance and eventual victory.
This year, Purim begins at sundown on March 9.

Prophetic Shadows of Heavenly Realities

The story of Esther is a prophetic picture in types and shadows of the intercession of the Bride of Messiah on behalf of the people of Israel. God's providence shines through this dramatic account, empowering the reader with faith and courage to stand up and to believe even when all hope is gone. If your life and circumstances bear the yoke of hopelessness and impending calamity, then Purim's message is for you too.
This story is rich with powerful prophetic types: AHASUERUS is the sovereign king reigning over a vast kingdom of many peoples, among them a remnant of the people of Israel. VASHTI, his queen, represents the "ransom principle," having lost her royal position (and probably her head) to make a way for ESTHER who will risk her life to save God's people. Both queens had beauty and courage, and both defied the king's decree. Vashti, by not appearing when summoned, (Esther 1:12), and Esther, by appearing without being summoned (Esther 4:16) before the same violent and volatile king.

ESTHER, the beautiful and humble maiden of Hebrew origin, is a type of the Bride of Messiah, the glorious Church in intercession. MORDECAI is seen in the role of the godly, older, Jewish presence that does not bow down to any god but God, and can still mentor, train and exhort the intercessors. His character reminds us that "...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12), and that there is a price to pay for serving God in this age.

HAMAN, with his brutal plan to annihilate the Jewish people (and by that to destroy the Messianic lineage of the promised Savior of the world), demonstrates the ever-present anti-Christ and anti-Jewish diabolic drive that is the ruling dark principality of this age. This same spirit is active again today in the same land of Persia, modern day Iran.

The Setting of the Stage

Ahasuerus the Persian King had been defeated badly by the Greeks at Salamis at 479 BC. Known for his emotional extremes, the king sought solace in his harem and threw a grand royal party in his palace of Susa. Queen Vashti, whose renowned beauty was part of the program, defied her husband's summons to show herself in public (some commentaries say in the nude) and was consequently deposed and probably executed.
Esther, raised from obscurity like a Biblical "Cinderella," won the royal "beauty pageant" and, under Mordecai's wise counsel, negotiated the treacherous and dangerous politics of this wicked pagan court. Facing impending genocide by Haman's vindictive scheme, and empowered by an extensive prayer and fasting campaign, Esther gained the king's favor and made powerful intercession on behalf of her people Israel.

What's In It For You?

Purim is a tale of danger, treachery, humility, courage, faith and great victory. Like other godly women, Esther affected great influence by her beauty of character, her faith and her humble spirit.
Many women today can drink deeply from her character as it is described in I Peter 3:1-4, saying, "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. And let not your adornment be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."

Esther was a woman of valor and action who didn't shrink back from standing against evil and for the truth, yet she did so in the right spirit and was empowered by fasting and prayer.
Purim is a tale of integrity and faithfulness as Mordecai took his quiet position protecting the king from an assassination plot without taking any recognition for himself. The unchanging principle of sowing and reaping is proven in his life as his righteous acts and godly choices produced in time the fruit of honor, favor, and high position in the royal court. For some of you who serve unnoticed and unrecognized in obscure places and difficult circumstance, remember the apostolic encouragement, saying, "...let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)

Purim is a tale of divine providence, justice and vindication. Through fasting and bold intercession, Haman, the archenemy of God's people, was exposed and defeated. Not only have the gallows he prepared for Mordecai become the instrument of his own execution, but the entire spiritual atmosphere in the kingdom changed and the fear of God was restored because of Haman's demise and the Jewish people's victory.
According to the king's second (corrective) decree "...the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them." (Esther 9:5)
In addition, "...in each and every province, and in each and every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree arrived...many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them." (Esther 8:17)

The War is Generational

According to Scripture, Haman was of the bloodline of the Agagite (Esther 3:1), whose ancestor was none other than Agag, king of Amalek, Israel's ancient and ruthless foe. Mordecai, on the other hand, was a descendant of Kish (Esther 2:5), a Benjamite, out of whose loins was born King Saul.
Concerning the Amalekites who had been hostile to Israel ever since the Exodus from Egypt, God commanded Saul, saying, "I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel...Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." (1 Samuel 15:2-3)
In other words, Amalek's depravity and corruption were so severe that even our merciful Father commanded their utter annihilation lest they contaminate the region.
Saul, however, compromised and did not destroy his enemy. In disobedience to God's word, he spared the spoils of war and the life of King Agag in a bout of unsanctified mercy and greed. As a result, not only did Saul lose the throne (I Samuel 15:22-23), but Amalek was allowed posterity (though Agag himself was soon slain by Samuel). All too often such politically correct, humanistic and apathetic attitudes toward God's commands render His people incapable of fulfilling His purposes, forcing the hand of the prophetic to do the king's job.
Though King Agag was slain, surviving future Agagite generations continued to be fueled by the same diabolic hatred, and the campaign against the people of God continued on and on. Nearly five hundred years later, we find Mordecai and Haman, both of the bloodlines of Saul and Agag, again locked in this mortal battle of the ages. In other words, the war will go on and on, from generation to generation, until the enemy is finally destroyed.
Our failure to execute God's judgment over sin and evil, especially in our own lives, will only perpetuate its destructive impact and invite graver visitations upon our descendants. Unchecked and unrepentant, sin only escalates and increases over time, and the prophetic admonition is alarming saying, "They sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7)

If we don't repent of our sins, our children and our children's children will bear the brunt of the ongoing warfare as did Mordecai.

The Intercession of the Bride

It was the 13th day of the month of Adar which Haman had selected for the annihilation of the Jewish population of the Persian Empire. Authorizing his request, the king issued a royal decree sealing the fate of his Jewish subjects. Queen Esther, however, who was already providentially positioned in the palace, interceded before the king and saved her people. Her weapons were humility, beauty, fasting, faith and great courage (Esther 4:14-17).

Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning a Myrtle tree--a low tree (humility) with shining green leaves adorned with snow white flowers (purity) and bordered with purple (royalty), emitting an exquisite perfume. Yet her Jewish identity was kept hidden. She is pointing prophetically to the true Church who also is of Hebraic roots though called to a heavenly position. Regardless of her royal office, Esther would not have escaped the fate of her Jewish brethren should Haman's plot have succeeded, just as today the true Church is intimately linked to the people of Israel, their fate and their destiny.

Other than the intercessory ministry of the Lord Jesus Himself, we cannot find in the Word of God a more dramatic, dangerous, or powerful intercession than that of Esther. Among the great intercessors of the Bible, none other portrays so clearly and vividly the position and ministry of the Bride of Messiah toward God on behalf of His people Israel.

The Right to Suffer and to Fight

Responding to the beauty, courage and passionate appeal of his bride, and seeing the treacherous nature of Haman, the king issued a second royal decree overriding the first one which sanctioned the annihilation of the Jewish people. This second decree now authorized and deputized these very victims to rise up, assemble together, pursue and destroy their enemies. In it "...the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them...and to plunder their spoil." (Esther 8:11)

In fact, the king's first decree, though seemingly fatal, served to expose and flush out the enemies of God's people so that they might be destroyed at the second decree. The end of the story is in the hand of the Lord, and those of you who have suffered under the enemy's oppression will also be given authority to pursue and conquer your foes as you do it God's way.

As the Word exhorts us, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober (spirit), be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in (your) faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen (and) establish you." (I Peter 5:6-10)

Your Vindication is in Him

Prophetically, the month of Adar is a season of great danger, fierce battle and eventual victory; a season of fasting, fighting and rejoicing. Those who call upon the name of the Lord today and are led by the wise counsel of His Spirit are in a position to enter into bold intercession before the King of kings. The enemy has pronounced murderous plots against Israel as well as against many of you. But God, who is sovereign over all, has promised to pass judgment in favor of the saints.

So great was the victory and deliverance of God's people that "...Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus...obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day... because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday..." (Esther 9:20-22)

The original Purim drama came to a happy end with a great victory and deliverance as the "formula" of humility + integrity + fasting + intercession was proven undefeatable. The sovereign king granted the bride's powerful intercession; the enemy's plans were turned upon himself; and all things worked together for good for those who loved God and remained true to His purposes. And yet, this great intercession still stands to be fulfilled one last time at the end of this age.

The Final Battle

A Bride of Hebraic roots, most excellent of maidens, prepared and perfected for royalty, will yet enter the presence of the King of kings and make powerful intercession on behalf of His people Israel. The fate of the people will once again rest in the hands of the Bride. Are you willing to join with those who pray and plead with God during the coming prophetic Feast of Purim? Haman's spirit is alive and active today, and Israel is still on the devil's cross-hairs. Will you be that Bride?
We are grateful and honored to be a part of Heaven's army of intercessors spread all over the world. In the Spirit we are one, and through that same Spirit and by God's grace we shall accomplish this crucial intercession.

Reuven and Mary Lou Doron

Regarding the challenging times we are in and the conflicts that accompany them, the Lord is emphasizing the book of the prophet Daniel and highlighting certain verses in it.

 

It is essential for us to internalize His Word in our spirit man, which He apportions from His mouth, in order to recognize the revelatory truth through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 4:4 i.c.w. John 16:13).

 

Matthew 4:4:
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

 

John 16:13:
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

 

 

Based on Daniel 1:2b, it is clear that the people of Israel were led into captivity to Babylon (Note: means 'confusion') in the land of Shinar (Note: means 'lion country' among other things).

 

Daniel 1:2b:
… 2b These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia (Note: Shinar) and put in the treasure-house of his god.

 

It is the enemy's plan to bring us as God's people into a state of confusion, in order to make us disoriented so that we can be an easy prey for him. Just as it is said of the devil that he goes about like a roaring lion, seeking those whom he can devour (cf. 1 Peter 5:8).

 

1 Peter 5:8:
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

This roaring includes the influence of fear and uncertainty to disturb as well as intimidate people. For this reason, it is of great importance that we practice sobriety and watchfulness of spirit in order to recognize the tactics of the adversary.

 

Satan, the adversary is 'cold-blooded' and is clearly assigned in the Word of God, among other things, to the genus of reptiles in the form of a serpent (cf. Isaiah 27:1 i.c.w. Revelation 12:9).

 

Isaiah 27:1:
1 In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword – his fierce, great and powerful sword – Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.

 

Revelation 12:9:
9 The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient snake called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

 

Since a serpent devours its victims as well as possesses a twisted tongue, it shows that the adversary speaks true things, but he mixes them with lies or withholds deeper truth, for his goal is always to subvert and hide the truth.

 

This is evident, for example, in the context of temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where the adversary led Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and quoted to him the verses from Psalm 91:11-12, though the devil was not addressing also the subsequent verses describing the victory over him (cf. Luke 4:9-11 i.c.w. Psalm 91:13)

 

Luke 4:9-11:
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: ‘ “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” ’

 

Psalm 91:13:
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 

Jesus later applies the statement from Psalm 91:13 to His followers, the 72 disciples, saying:

 

'I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.' Luke 10:19

 

 

Unfortunately, in armed conflicts, the truth usually suffers first, and this is precisely the goal of the adversary, to cause as much confusion among people as possible, and in it, corresponding division.

 

We can break this procedure by separating ourselves from it in the spirit, which includes sobriety of spirit. It follows that we apply the truth of God's Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and do not make inadequate judgments out of our emotions, which can animate us to come to wrong conclusions.

 

Jesus instructed us as His followers to search for the truth in order to find it. This means also doing research from the soberness of spirit in the media landscape of today, even though it may take some time and effort. Only in this way will it be possible for us to recognize the bigger picture of the truth and not 'the truth' that withholds essential facts and conceals within itself devious motives.

 

We can assume that in the near future a drastic change in the media landscape will take place and is partly already recognizable, which is equivalent to the fall of 'Goliath' representing the voice of intimidation and fear by the intervention of 'David' representing the voice of truth and confidence (cf. 1 Samuel 17).

 

It is the small inconspicuous things that cause the evil 'great' to fall, as well as it was five flat stones taken by David from a brook (Note: not a river), even though David's size put him at a 'disadvantage' to Goliath (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19.27-29).

 

1 Corinthians 1:18-19.27-29:
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ …
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are,
29 so that no-one may boast before him.

 

And this same principle was followed by the prophet Daniel, who in the midst of confusion (Note: Babel) and intimidation (Note: Shinar) submitted himself under the mighty hand of God, so that he was exalted in due time (cf. Proverbs 3:34 i.c.w. 1 Peter 5:6).

 

Proverbs 3:34:
34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.

 

1 Peter 5:6:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

 

 

The reason Daniel didn't lose his divine focus, despite being in captivity, is because he had his eyes fixed on Jerusalem and Israel, allowing the Spirit of God to move in revelatory power. This is clearly seen in the windows opened by Daniel to Jerusalem (cf. Daniel 6:10a).

 

Daniel 6:10a:
10a Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. …

 

Jerusalem is the navel of the earth and Israel is the apple of God's eye (cf. Ezekiel 38:12; Zechariah 2:8).

 

Ezekiel 38:12:
12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the centre (Note: navel) of the land.’

 

Zechariah 2:8:
8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye – …

 

In this, the principle of the bride of Christ and the divine vision given to her is made clear to us today, involving battle, for Israel means 'God-fighter', and peace, for Jerusalem means 'fortress of peace' (cf. Revelation 21:2.9-10).

 

Revelation 21:2.9-10:
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

 

When we enter challenging phases, it is important that we have our spiritual eyes properly focused and go forward as spiritual 'warriors' according to Ephesians 6:12 with 'shalom - peace' in our hearts as lovers of Jesus (Note: bride of Christ).

In this way, in the midst of confusion in society, we can see with enlightened eyes the truth of God related to freedom (cf. John 8:31b-32).

 

John 8:31b-32:
… 31b Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

 

 

Furthermore, in connection with the time frame of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is not merely two nations involved, the Lord led me to Daniel 10:20-21.

Daniel 10:20-21:
20 So he said, ‘Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; 21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No-one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

 

We are in a time of contention and fighting over truth, and that, among other things, is why the adversary stirs up conflict to withhold truth. This truth in itself, is and will be shocking to many people and believers, because they look at the situation from a point of view of deception, and do not judge in any sobriety as well as watchfulness of spirit.

 

While I was reading the Bible passage from Daniel 10:20-21, the Lord put His emphasis on the task of the angelic princes Gabriel and Michael. Therein lies hidden the messianic principle of the 'one new man' in Christ Jesus, concerning the saints from the Jews and the saints from the Gentile nations (cf. Galatians 3:28 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:14-18).

 

Galatians 3:28:
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:14-18:
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 

It was Gabriel who was sent to Daniel at Babylon with a commission from God, and it is Michael who is authorized by God over Israel.

Based on the statement of Gabriel, the angelic prince, it reveals that these are different spiritual regions of spiritual warfare associated with the revelatory truth released by God for this time and the time to come.

 

It is the concern of the prince of the air (Note: Satan) to stop this truth, which is why the angelic prince of the people of Israel, namely Michael brought supportive help to Gabriel so that he could deliver the revelatory truth to Daniel (cf. Daniel 10:12-13).

 

Daniel 10:12-13:
12 Then he (Note: Gabriel) continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

 

Currently, an important focus is on the spiritual battle in the spirit realm of the Middle East and the realm of Europe or to be eben more precise Eurasia represented by the prince of 'Jawan – Greece'.

 

 

In connection with this understanding, the Lord revealed to us that there will be a significant shaking in the area of Eurasia. The reason is that a great weight of iniquity is crushing the pillars of the earth (cf. Psalm 75:4), so that they begin to act on the tectonic plates of the earth, causing an earthquake in the area of the Black Sea and its northern region of Eurasia.

 

At this point it is interesting to note that the book of the prophet Amos is heralded with the hint of a coming earthquake, and he addresses, among other things, the wallowing of 'the people of influence' in false security (cf. Amos 1:1 i.c.w. Amos 6:1.2b-7.11.12b).

 

Amos 1:1:
1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa – the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

 

Amos 6:1.2b-7.11.12b:
1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! …
… 2b Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? 3 You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of terror.
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. 5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end. …
11 For the Lord has given the command, and he will smash the great house into pieces and the small house into bits. …
But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness – …

 

=> The pillars or foundations of the earth contain the basic support of the earth.
They were created or designated by God for this task, so they respond to the weight of sin, among other things.

When sin becomes rampant on the earth, it is the burden of iniquity (Note: a full measure) that causes the pillars of the earth, via the tectonic plates, to shake their foundations so that the inhabitants of the earth learn righteousness (cf. Isaiah 26:9 in conjunction with Isaiah 24:20). <= (Note: The text in '=>' is based on a revelatory teaching by Dr. Paula A. Price, Ph.D. from the book Before The Garden - God's Eternal Continuum, pages 336 - 339).

Isaiah 26:9:
9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments
come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 24:20:
20 The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls – never to rise again.

 

Here the divine intervention of the angelic power of Gabriel in this region in the spirit realm plays a decisive role as well as the great influence of Israel, represented by the support of the angelic prince Michael.

 

Furthermore, this cooperation between these two angelic princes Gabriel and Michael carries a special relevance. Here it is about the entirety or the extension and the expansion of the plan of God, which appears with the alliances or alignments brought together by Him.

This is revealed in the first two Hebrew letters of 'Gabriel' and 'Michael', which make up the Hebrew word 'gam – גַּם,' which means 'together, also, both, ... as well as, moreover'.

 

We can also refer to the word explanation, emphasized as 'together with, and furthermore, to a considerable degree; also: thereby exceeding a threshold, considerably also (to include other elements), adding something further.'

 

The people of God are called more than ever to stand soberly and watchfully for the truth.

 

Amen and Amen.

 

In His Wisdom,

 

Daniel Glimm