Pentecost is one of seven annual holy days in God’s master plan for mankind (Leviticus 23:15-22). It pictures the marriage of God’s Church—the firstfruits—to Jesus Christ. (Request our free booklet Pagan Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which? to learn more.) Perhaps the most beautiful story in the entire Bible relates to the day of Pentecost. You can find it in the biblical book of Ruth.

In a May-June 2009 Royal Vision article titled “The Book of Ruth,” I wrote:

Elimelech and Naomi were a rich couple with two sons. Israel had a famine, and the family came under a lot of pressure because of their wealth. So they moved to Moab where they could get away from all the problems. While they were in Moab, Elimelech died. That obviously created more troubles for Naomi and her family. The two sons married women in Moab. Then, about 10 years later, both of the sons died. Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. The three of them became very impoverished, and Naomi decided to make the trip back to her home in Judah. …Ruth means to satisfy. She is a type of God’s Church. We are all to learn how to satisfy God. How can we do that? The root word for Ruth, rachaq, means to quake. Ruth satisfied God because she quaked, or trembled, at His word. That is what God is trying to get His Church—the future wife of Jesus Christ—to do.

Ruth’s story took place during the evil time of the judges (Judges 21:25). She would become an incredible example to the wayward nation. From Ruth’s example, we can glean seven steps to becoming ready for the marriage to Jesus Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAE5l2xAJl0&feature=youtu.be

Step 1: Not even death would part Ruth from God and His truth.

When Naomi decided to return to Judah, Orpah and Ruth had to make a very difficult choice. Should they stay in Moab and separate from Naomi, or should they leave Moab and cling to their mother-in-law? Naomi advised them to stay in Moab and to remarry (Ruth 1:9). At first, both daughters refused to depart from Naomi, but Orpah eventually weakened (verses 10, 15). Orpah means to turn back. That’s exactly what she did.

Ruth did the opposite. “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: [thy people my people], and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (verses 16-17). Not even death could separate Ruth from Naomi! Ruth had ingrained in her mind the vision of Pentecost and the marriage to Jesus Christ. She knew that she would be with Naomi after death in the resurrection, sharing Christ’s throne and ruling the universe forever.

Naomi had just experienced the loss of her husband and both of her sons. God was dealing bitterly with her (verses 20-21). God feels this same type of agony when His people turn away. It is bitter and emotional for Him to see a potential family member turn away and lose salvation.

At this time in Naomi’s life, she needed Ruth more than ever. Ruth stayed loyal unto death and beyond!

Step 2: Ruth worked extremely hard, both physically and spiritually.

Right after returning to Israel, Ruth went to work. “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter” (Ruth 2:1-2). Ruth fulfilled the meaning of her name by satisfying God with her work ethic.

Boaz noticed Ruth almost immediately. “Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens” (verses 5-8). Ruth worked hard from sunrise until sunset! This unique brand of worker will stand out to any employer.

Ruth gleaned tirelessly in Boaz’s field. She didn’t sow or nurture the seed. The field was far from her own. But she reaped the fruits of her labor. Spiritually, we are gleaners in God’s field of revelation. He packages and delivers new truth through His man. We didn’t devise and conceive of that truth. But here it is for us to glean! How much are you gleaning from Christ’s field? You desperately need God’s revelation to qualify to share the throne of David forever with Jesus Christ.

Step 3: Ruth had a bowing-to-the-ground humility before God.

Boaz jealously provided for and protected Ruth, as Christ does for God’s Church today. He refused to let her glean in any other field! “Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” (Ruth 2:8-10). Ruth was deeply humbled before her master. She never felt entitled to the blessings that he bestowed on her.

Ruth’s godly example became a common topic of conversation among the people of Israel. She was a powerful witness to the nation. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore” (verse 11). Boaz was moved by Ruth’s example. He told her that she would receive a full reward (verse 12). When you obey God and serve in His Work, people will notice.You can’t hide righteous deeds, and God wouldn’t want you to.

Boaz granted special favor to Ruth. He commanded his reapers, “And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not” (verse 16). No longer would Ruth be just a gleaner! Boaz set aside bundles from the main harvest for her! Remember: Boaz is a type of Jesus Christ. Our Husband will bless us abundantly if we will just obey Him. Naomi and Ruth endured unimaginably painful trials, so God rewarded them with bundles of grain—not scraps! They received a full reward and will hold high positions in the Kingdom of God.

Step 4: Ruth showed that she really wanted to marry Boaz.

Naomi saw the budding relationship between Boaz and Ruth, and she told Ruth how to take the next step. “And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 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. 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. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her” (Ruth 3:2-6). Ruth possessed an “all that you say, I will do” attitude! She followed her mother-in-law’s peculiar advice without question.

Boaz was much older than Ruth. Though he had some interest in Ruth, he probably figured that such a lovely woman would be attracted to a younger man. For this reason, he gave Ruth great favor but never tried to initiate a romantic relationship with her. Ruth had to show him that she desired the marriage!

Similarly, we must show God that we really want to marry His Son. Ruth knew, like few women in the Bible, that she really wanted to marry Christ. She saw the stunning parallel between physical marriage and our soon-coming marriage to Jesus Christ.

Step 5: We must build up the spiritual house of Israel.

In keeping with Old Testament tradition, Boaz purchased Ruth to be his wife (Ruth 4:10). Jesus Christ paid for us with His own blood—His own death! He gave Himself for His future Bride but also for the entire world that would one day become sons of God on a lower level (John 3:16). Billions who never knew God nor lived His way in this physical life will be saved because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

All of Israel knew that the marriage between Boaz and Ruth would produce a long line of nation-strengthening families. “And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel …” (Ruth 4:11). On a spiritual level, we must build up the house of Israel, or God’s Church. God’s loyal people have the amazing responsibility to deliver the most magnificent message to the entire world! Those who sacrifice today will share King David’s throne with Jesus Christ tomorrow. All of this is pictured by the holy day of Pentecost.

Nothing surpasses the day of Pentecost in inspiration.

Step 6: We must declare the scepter promise.

According to Israelite ancestry law, Boaz would continue the family line of Naomi by having a child with Ruth. “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him” (Ruth 4:15). By bearing children on behalf of Naomi, Ruth was more valuable than seven sons! Add to that Ruth’s undying loyalty and respect for her mother-in-law, and Ruth truly was a priceless blessing to Naomi.

“And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David” (verses 16-17). Boaz and Ruth were the great-grandparents of David, the greatest king in Israel’s history. This is all about the greatest royalty in the Bible!

We must declare the scepter promise. This message is about all of the kings and queens who have sat on King David’s throne up to and including the coming Messiah. Ruth’s child, Obed, set the stage for Judah’s future kings and for the coming of the Messiah!

The scepter promise involves race—the physical lineage of David’s throne—but it’s also about grace. God will give salvation to all mankind. Each human being has the potential to be born as a spirit being into God’s own Family! That’s something to work extremely hard for, just like Ruth did.

Step 7: We are here to serve the world.

The book of Ruth concludes by pointing to the incomparable King David. “And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David” (Ruth 4:21-22). Obed means to serve. That’s the purpose of David’s throne. The ruler sitting on that throne in Britain today ought to be serving humanity in every way possible. Jesus Christ certainly will serve humanity when He returns to rule from that throne!

Our ultimate purpose today is to serve the world. Christ Himself said, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Through Obed, we see what the Pentecost vision is all about. God will save humanity using His loyal firstfruits who make service their purpose today.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). This marriage is the greatest event in the history of the universe! Follow these seven points, and you will be ready.