For Such A Time Like This Series

The Lord raises up people for different reasons. The Bible records stories of times and seasons. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah and Esther are a few of those that God raised up, his bidding to do. How about Stephen, James, John, Peter, Paul, Martin Luther... God did call them to do his work on earth. Daniel was born and lived to record much about prayer and the workings of the Lord. He wrote that in the last days knowledge would increase... In our present generation, God still raises up people like you and me to do his work in such a time like this to point others to Jesus so they won’t miss the gift of eternal life.

Esther finds herself to be the queen of Persia at a time when Haman who was the right hand man of the king wanted to finish the whole race and the people of Israel! And Mordecai her protector, unveiled the plot and pleaded with Esther to intervene and speak with the King and let him know of the plan Haman had.

Haman, the powerful #2 leader of Persia, succeeded in persuading Ahasuerus to approve the genocidal plan to destroy the Hebrews. What was the basis of his argument? Look with me at Esther 3:8-10: READ

See that? On what basis did Haman urge destruction of the Jews? Because their laws were "diverse from all people!" Not only that, but "neither keep they the king's laws." Now do you remember Daniel 6? What did the enemies of Daniel conclude there? Look at Daniel 6:4-5: READ

Bowing down is the all-important satanic goal - bowing down and worship to someone or something other than God, transgressing the first 4 commandments. That's what it was all about then, and that's what it is all about now too. It is all about the worship issue. What can we read just one page previously in Daniel about the prophetical little horn? Daniel 7:25 - "He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws."

Friends, this all comes down to laws. The universe faces a choice between law A and law B - between God's law and Satan's law.

And did you see how Haman sweetened the pot? He said, "King, I'll even cover the costs for this deed. It won't cost you a thing." So what happens in Esther? The king gives his approval to Haman's plan. Ahasuerus hands over his ring to him and his authority is placed behind Haman.

In Revelation 13:12 what do we find? "And he [the second beast exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." Notice that while both beasts ultimately put themselves in the place of God, forcing the consciences of their subjects, that only one beast is directly worshiped: the first beast. The second beast never receives worship in the same sense as the first.

In the story of Esther Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman, and he must get the authority of king Ahasuerus behind him in order to issue the death decree against the Jews. That is just like the relationship between the first and second beast in Revelation 13.