Dear Doves,
I think that there may be a rapture pattern in 1 Samuel
25 but I need your help in deciphering it. This
passage deals with the meeting (and subsequent marriage)
of David and Abigail. Abigail was the wife of
Nabal.
Nabal means fool
Nabal could represent the
world. At the very least he can represent
unbelievers:
“The fool hath
said in his heart, There is no
God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none
that doeth good.”
Psalm 14:1.
Ten Days
There is a period of 10 days that
Nabal is struck down before he dies (1 Samuel
25:38). I don’t know if this represents a
numerical pattern.
Spring Season
The narrative appears to take place
in Spring, because it is sheep shearing time.
According to Wikipedia, sheep shearing time in
Israel is a festival time called Hag HaGez.
Spring Harvest
Abigail offers David an offering of
bread and fruit:
“then Abigail made
haste, and took two
hundred loaves, and two bottles of
wine, and five sheep ready
dressed, and five measures of
parched corn, and an hundred clusters
of raisins, and two hundred cakes of
figs, and laid them on asses.”
1 Samuel 25:18.
Firstfruits Offering
It should also be noted that the
first of the fleece was considered to be a firstfruits
offering to God:
“The firstfruit also of
thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine
oil, and
the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt
thou give him.” Deuteronomy 18:4.
It is interesting that the Bible
likens us to sheep ( See Isaiah 53:6), so I wonder if
sheep shearing time will be of significance to the
Church.
Take
David sends his servants to take
Abigail to become his wife:
“And when the servants of
David were come to Abigail to
Carmel, they spake unto her,
saying, David sent us unto thee,
to take thee to him to wife.” 1
Samuel 25:40
The Hebrew word for “take” that is
used in this verse is the same word used to describe
Enoch when he was translated to Heaven:
“And Enoch walked with
God: and he was not; for
God took him.” Genesis 5:24.
Accompanied by 5 maids
According to 1 Samuel 25:42, Abigail
accepted David’s proposal and left with his servants
while being accompanied by five maids:
“And
Abigail hasted, and arose, and
rode upon an ass, with five damsels of
hers that went after her; and she
went after the messengers of
David, and became his wife.”
Does this remind you of the 5 wise virgins of
Matthew 25:1-13, who were ready for the Wedding Banquet?
I would appreciate any other insights
that you Doves may have concerning this passage.
(Including sheep shearing expertise …) I think
there is a Rapture pattern here but I can only see bits
and pieces. I would like to complete the
picture. Thank you for any help you can give me!
Maranatha.
– Lisa Taylor