RUTH, BARLEY & ASCENSION DAY

 

Greetings, and grace, to all Five Doves and John, from Arlene 4/26/05

 

Yesterday, I did a study on John 3, John 4, and John 5, relating to the events of Jesus’ ministry, and showing how the nobleman’s “manchild” was brought to life from near death, between the feasts of Passover and Pentecost.  This, to we Christians, would be Ascension Day,,,this year being on May 5, 2005.

 

Today, I would like to provide a second witness to this, from the book of Ruth.   Only four chapters to this book, so I would suggest reading it through, as it is absolutely full of types of the church and the church’s redemption by our kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ.  

 

First, note that Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, were returning to Israel with their mother-in-law Naomi, picturing our salvation experience, which all Christians have as a free gift of grace.  However, one of the two gentile young ladies, Orpah, decided to go back to her life in Moab.   This pictures the Christian who “goes back to the world”, instead of pursuing a furthering of their Christian experience.  There are two types of Christians – those who prepare to meet the Lord, and those who go back to the world; however, both are spiritually saved.  Only one of these types, however, actually is included in the first rapture of those who earnestly love Him, and look for His appearing.  

Ruth decides to “cross the Jordan River”; and thus signifies that she is willing to forego all that she has known in the world, and further develop her spiritual life.   She knows it will mean poverty and hard work.   This is only a very brief statement, so you should read this lovely story in full to understand what I see happening at “rapture” time.

 

Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz, a rich and powerful Jew (Jesus).  This means she studies the scriptures, gleaned from the field of the Jews (the scriptures).  She does this tirelessly, hardly stopping for rest or food.  We as Christians glean from all that the Jews have given us of the revelation of our Lord.  

 

Boaz meets her and “finds favor” with her…she wonders why she has “found grace in his sight”.   He instructs her to continue gleaning in his field, and then tells the reapers to even leave some stalks of grain for her on purpose. 

 

Now, the whole purpose I am writing this study, is that the “grain” referred to in this book is BARLEY.  And Ruth gleans in this field of barley right up until the end of the barley harvest, and just before the WHEAT harvest begins.   In the Bible, you may see the word “corn”; it is derived from the word “bar”, and means barley, such as the type of grain that Joseph collected. 

 

Ruth appears on the threshing floor at midnight, at Boaz’s feet, when he was asleep next to the piles of barley.   She offers herself to be his bride, which he accepts, and says that the next day he will fulfill the need to search out any desire of one who might be a “nearer kinsman”, who could possibly also redeem her, for her husband had died in Moab, therefore, a near kinsman, could redeem her mother-in-law’s (Israel’s) property, and take Ruth to be a bride also. 

 

There are a million types in this story, and I cannot go into them all, because I want to focus on what happens when she actually presents herself to him, asking him to take her as a bride.  (we, the church, actually “ask” the Lord to take us in the rapture, as His bride) – kind of bold, but hey, why not? 

 

Let us get on with this barley harvest, which I believe is the first rapture of those in the church (barley), who are watching and waiting for Him. 

The wheat harvest starts at Pentecost, and goes on through the hot summer (tribulation years), separated from the tares, threshed to separate the chaff (sin, and wrong doctrine).   It is interesting that wheat must be “threshed”, as John the Baptist said, and that Jesus would “judge” on His threshing floor.   It is also interesting that the tool used for threshing the wheat is called a “tribulum”, from which we get the word for “tribulation”.  

 

 

 

Ruth 3:1

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

3

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

4

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

5

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

  

 


This is what we must do to prepare:  wash ourselves in the “washing of the water of the Word” (read our Bibles), anoint ourselves with the OIL of the Holy Spirit, and put on our garment, that is, bridal garment, which is the righteousness of the saints according to the description of the bride in the book of Revelation.   Naomi (Irrael) tells her what to do, and indeed, the Jews have left us instruction in the Word of God, written by them.   Ruth says, “all that thou sayest I will do”…we study hard to know what to do, do we not? 

 

It is important to note that Ruth is told to wait until the time that Boaz has finished eating and drinking:

“until he shall have done eating and drinking.”

 

This pictures the end of the age, when the Lord is finished “eating and drinking” that is, the celebration of the final “last supper”, which we are to do,  to remember Him  “UNTIL HE COMES”

 

We, like Ruth, are told to WAIT, AND WATCH

 

We know this eating and drinking was instituted at Passover, so we would put the eating and drinking of Boaz, around Passover, for this story takes place during the barley harvest.  

 

Ruth 3:7

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

8

And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

9

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

 

 

Note the time that she presents herself as his bride:  midnight.  The wise and foolish virgins are aware of this “midnight” announcement.  Apparently some time passes, as the foolish virgins stumble over themselves trying to figure out what’s going on.   And in the story of Ruth,  it was the next day that affairs were sorted out, and Boaz claimed himself as her redeemer.  

 

One must understand in the O.T. law, a kinsman could redeem property lost, and “buy” it back for the one who lost it.   Israel (Naomi)  has indeed lost her property, and Christ paid the price to buy it back, and in the process gets a gentile bride. 

 

Ruth 3:12

And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13

Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

 

 

Notice she “rose up” in the morning.    In the book of Revelation, this is the point at which John sees an open door, and is told to “come up hither”……….this is the rapture, and the midnight call, which preceeds it.    This happens at the end of the barley harvest, just before the start of the wheat harvest.      Follow on, because there is more about this kinsman-redeemer in the book of Revelation. 

 

Ruth 3:15

Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16

And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17

And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

18

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

 

Note, above, we are talking about “barley”, and the end of the “barley” harvest.  Also notice that Naomi says “who art thou?”.   She doesn’t even recognize her.   A change had come over her. 

We now go to the part where the kinsman redeemer, appears before the elders of the city to have his right to redeem “witnessed”.  

Ruth 4:1

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

2

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

3

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

4

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

5

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

7

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.

8

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

 

The ten elders of the city witness the negotiations over who will be able to redeem Naomi’s property (Israel’s inheritance), and take Ruth as bride.   The “nearer” kinsman, cannot do this for it would “mar” his own inheritance.   Some say the nearer kinsman is National Israel, or God the Father who will “re-marry Israel”, or whatever.   This leaves only Boaz who can redeem the property and take the bride.  

 

Now, let us go over to the book of Revelation:

 Just after John is called up (Ruth “rose up”) he sees this scene in heaven:

 

Rev 4:1

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

 

 

Directly after John (and Ruth) “rise up”, there is this scene in heaven, and John is told “these things will happen HEREAFTER”

Hhhhmmmmmm…..we see “twenty four elders”  SEATED.

 

Did not Boaz tell the elders in the story of Ruth to “SIT DOWN”???

 

And, after some descriptions of the marvels in heaven, what happens?

Rev 5:1

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

 

 

Here, in heaven, is exactly what happened the morning after Ruth “rose up”.  The elders are seated, and negotiations are held over “who is worthy” to take the scroll with the seals.  By the way,  the scroll represents the “title deed” to redeem what Israel lost, and also to acquire the bride, for we see the bride presented later in the book of Revelation.   The seals, when a kinsman redeemer takes over, may be opened by that kinsman-redeemer only, which seals give the details of the redemption process, or how the redemption will take place. 

 

We also see, like in Ruth’s story, that no-one else could be found to open this redemption scroll (which is why John cried bitterly) and open its seals, until………..indeed the Lamb of God, Christ our Lord, is found “worthy” to take the book, just like Boaz was found “worthy” to take upon himself to redeem Naomi’s land, and receive Ruth as a bride.  

 

Before I lose all track of my main points here, for you can study these things on your own,,,I will make these following comments about the up-coming appearance of our Lord and Saviour:

 

It will take place after the “last supper” i.e., “eating and drinking”, or after the Passover supper of our Lord.  

 

It will take place when the barley is ripe, and is in a heap on the threshing floor of our Lord.   Before the wheat harvest, which begins with the wheat first-fruits on Pentecost.   (mid-trib rapture is seen in the great wheat harvest)

 

There will be a MIDNIGHT recognition of the bride.

 

The next day the scene in heaven will be the 24 elders, seated, witnessing the taking of the scroll of redemption and judgment, by our Lord who is found worthy to take this upon Himself, for He indeed is the Lamb of God. 

 

Do you see it?????  

Ripe barley harvest….

Midnight announcement……

Next day scene in heaven…….

 

The barley is indeed ripe for its main harvest before the wheat harvest of Pentecost, on ASCENSION DAY, this year May 5, 2005.

 

Remember:  washing in the water of the Word, anointing ourselves with oil, and donning our wedding garment of good works.  

 

And on to go DOWN (death of the flesh) TO THE THRESHING FLOOR !!!  

 

Love to all Doves….YSIC    Arlene