Dear friends:

In past years, there has been a lot of speculation about the rapture being on the Jewish Feast of Purim.

The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates Esther's and Mordecai's defeat of Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews of ancient Persia. Purim derives its name from the fact that the evil Haman cast lots (purim) to determine the most propitious date for implementing his planned genocide.

The story of Purim is found in the Biblical book of Esther. The story takes place in the Persian Empire, which extended to 127 provinces. In the third year of his reign, King Ahasuerus threw a lavish party, to which he summoned his wife, Queen Vashti, to display her beauty. When Vashti refused to obey his command, he had her killed for insubordination.

Regretting this decision after sobering up, Ahasuerus began a kingdom-wide search for a new queen, adding a member to his harem every night, but not finding a suitable replacement until Esther — a beautiful Jewish girl — was brought before him. He fell in love with her and made her the new queen.

Read the rest of this fascinating story in your Bible in the book of Esther.

Modern similarities:

1. Ancient Persia is now modern-day Iran.

2. Iran still wants to kill all the Jews.

3. The spirit of Haman is still alive in the world.

4. God delivered God's people from Haman's plot resulting in much celebration and merriment.

5.  God will again deliver God's people from Iran's (and the world's) evil plans.

6.  At the rapture there will be much celebration and merriment.

This year, 2016, Purim is celebrated on  March 23-24.  When the rapture happens, there will be much celebration and merriment as in the days of Esther.  Let us hope it will be this year.

Jim