John sees “A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.” (Revelation 12: 1-2)
“Another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. This dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” (Revelation 12: 3-5)
Another sign had appeared, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the “Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2: 24-25)
- Jesus is called the Bright Morning Star. (Revelation 22: 16)
Ok, I know you are dying to know! Who is this male child in our reading? It’s pretty obvious, He’s the Messiah, Jesus. Who’s the woman? The woman represents Israel. What about the dragon or beast? He represents Satan.
John sees there’s a war going on in the heavens. “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels fought back.” (Revelation 12: 7)
The dragon is cast out of heaven, hurled down to earth and his angels (demons) are with him. Then John hears a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the Accuser of the brothers, who accuses them before God day and night, has been hurled down.
They overcome him, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. (Revelation 12: 10-11)
- The blood of Jesus never loses its power.
(Shared from Revelation 12, Modified)
Other Signs Appear
The Psalmist remembers Moses and Aaron, whom God had chosen. “They performed His miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land…” (Psalm 65: 27)
God in His goodness, lit the way in the desert for them. His light directed them.
“He spread out a cloud as a covering and a fire to give light at night.” (Psalm 105: 39)
- He is a covering upon us.
- He is a shield and a light.
“When they were hungry, He provided as well. They asked, and He brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.” (Psalm 105: 40)
- He is the bread that sustains life, the Bread of Heaven.
“He opened the rock and water gushed out like a river it flowed in the desert.” (Psalm 105: 41)
- He is the Living Water.
(Shared from Psalm 105: 26-45)
The King Crowns His Royalty
The king issues an order and edict to the women in the land looking for the next queen after he debunked Queen Vashti. His officials and personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.” (Esther 2: 2)
Girls were brought into the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Beauty treatments were given to each one as they came.
There was a man named Mordecai who had a cousin named Hadassah, who raised and adopted her because she had neither father nor mother, for they had passed away. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features (she was a fox). She was then inducted to be part of the group chosen.
“Esther was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of this harem.” (Esther 2: 8)
Just another day in the palace. Esther is now selected by the king, which moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.
- When you’re chosen of God, favor surrounds you, and you are promoted by the Lord.
- She thought she was just one of many, but the king’s gaze was upon her.
Esther had a hidden secret and was forbidden by Mordechai, her cousin, to tell anyone that she was Jewish.
The king had his eye on her already. “Everyday he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.” (Esther 2: 11)
Before a girl was presented to the king, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months of perfumes and cosmetics.
This special treatment, like a spa, was to treat the skin of the women who lived in a dry, desert climate. Years of exposure resulted in dry cracked skin, perhaps in need of repair. The oils that were used had healing properties as well.
Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. The king was attracted to her more than any other woman. She won his favor and approval more than all the other virgins in the harem.
So he set a royal crown upon her head and pronounced her queen in place of Queen Vashti. A great banquet was given in her honor.
Now Mordechai who’s sitting at the king’s gate overhears a conversation involving a plot to kill the king. He tells Esther, who then tells the king. They investigate and find the two officials who were doing the plotting and they were hung.
Esther, called by God, to save the nation of Israel was given a crown. Israel is God’s crowned jewel. “The LORD their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land.” (Zechariah 9: 16)
You Are A Sign
“God has a plan for his men and women, it’s a royal plan that only He has given.
He’s looking for those who are solely His, to anoint and appoint and carry out kingdom-biz.
You’ve been made royal, a queen for a king; rejoice and listen, all of heaven will sing.
So as you carry out what you have been told; be faithful as His servant until you grow old.
He’s chosen you from birth to complete His work; those years are over of being a jerk.
He calls you His chosen and royal ones; your birthright has been given as one of the Son’s.
So stay focused and complete your task; His oil is pouring over you right from His own flask.
And as you embrace your royal call, your journey will be recognized as something not too small.
For when you are done and ready to go home, the place you enter is larger than the Superdome.
His signs are everywhere to affirm your walk; those wonders and signs are just around the block.
He’s chosen you as a wonder and a sign, to release His love to all of mankind.
He’s called us saying, “For such a time as this,” the church can no longer forget and dismiss.”
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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