THE PROPHETIC TIME LINE OF THE BOOK OF RUTH

by Lucky Dowling


Ruth and Naomi first arrived in Bethlehem at the time of Passover at "the beginning of the barley harvest "( Ruth 1:22), towards the end of April.

"So 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 2:23).

At the end of both of these harvests, Ruth stopped living with Naomi her mother-in-law! Why? Because she then got married to Boaz! When was that? In ancient Israel intermarriage may only happen one-day-a-year on Tu'B'AV––the wedding day! It was a Levirate Marriage. See Deuteronomy 25:5-10 & Matthew 22:24-32 for more details. Ruth married Boaz on Tu'B'AV at the end of the wheat harvest! What is the significance of all this in Bible prophecy? Every beginning and ending of a harvest time falls on a Jewish feast day. ALL PROPHETIC EVENTS FOR ISRAEL foretold in Scripture were fulfilled on Jewish feast days at the beginnings and endings of harvest seasons! Please note that these were not Christian holidays and NO PROPHETIC EVENT for the New Testament church such as it's beginning or ending , or even it's very existence was foreseen in any Old Testament prophecy beforehand! It was all a HIDDEN MYSTERY (Ephesians 3:1-5) until it was first revealed unto the Apostle Paul! Therefore there are no REVEALED prophetic dates for any event for the New Testament church directly seen in Old Testament Scripture. Indirect references based upon New Testament foresight may help us to insinuate certain events. Allegories such as this do not directly teach doctrine, but they can confirm it! The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:11, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [types]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." And again in Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning..." All Scripture is indeed written for us but not to us. Allegories in Scripture are for us to understand the Plan of God correctly. This reveals and shows us the prophetic semblance in the book of Ruth. It was a living illustrated
message for us. Our Lord Jesus often taught using parables which illustrated truths along side stories from real
life for His disciples to learn from.

The Three Prophetic Seasons of the Jewish year:

1. Spring Feasts = Christ and 'those that slept.'

The barley harvest lasted from Passover to Pentecost.
The wheat harvest lasted from Pentecost to Tu'B'AV.

These Spring harvests and feasts represented prophetic events (the resurrection of Christ and 'those that slept' –Matthew 27:52) that were completed and fulfilled during the period of the First Coming of Christ. These were all accomplished before or up until the time that the New Testament Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost. 

2. Summer Time = The Bride and Body of Christ.

After the New Testament Church Age is finished and completed, the Fall harvests and feasts remaining yet to be completed and fulfilled will occur during the period of the Second Coming of Christ, and beyond. This leaves only one SEASON left without any prophetic semblance being revealed or seen to be fulfilled... SUMMER! This represents the HIDDEN MYSTERY group of those that make up the "church, which is His Body" (Ephesians 1:22-23). Ruth, the Gentile bride, represents this group that marries Boaz, a type of Christ. What can be known about the events to come from these happenings? The wheat harvest ends the Spring festivals. Notice that Summer Time 'group' is not mentioned but yet follows! We, the MYSTERY group, were not seen yet we still exist! This MYSTERY shall not be understood by national Israel until after the Fall festival season begins! Their BLINDNESS then ends (Romans 11:25). Once the Tribulation period begins all can and will be known regarding the rest of these events for Israel!!! Separate the things that differ.

3. Fall Feasts = The Judgments of the Sheep and Goat nations, and Israel.

Tu'B'AV is considered by some as prefiguring the Fall harvests or feasts.
The grape season was from Tu'B'AV to the Day of Atonement.

The Day of Atonement represents the Second Advent of Christ. That will be when the redemption and restitution of the nation of Israel is finally accomplished (Acts 3:21; 15:14-16 ) and their age-long apostasy and unbelief will then be over. The Fall spiritual harvest will be the redemption of the nation of Israel and judgment of those nations that treated Israel wrongly (Sheep and Goats – Matthew 25:31-45). This is the GRAPE (GOATS) and OLIVE (ISRAEL) harvest time periods. This will leave Tabernacles as the only feast left to be fulfilled during the coming Millennial Kingdom. God's Plan for Israel was all foreseen and revealed in the feasts of ancient Israel.

This year Tu'B'AV is on: Monday July 26, 2010. Mean anything? We will wait and see what it brings. As long as we are still here it will bring nothing for us. After the New Testament church age is completed and is over with the Fall feasts begins as Israel's prophetic program resumes and runs unto it's completion. Maranatha. <><

– Lucky Dowling E-mail: luckybev@sbcglobal.net Updated: 7-22-10.