Esther has one year of beauty preparation and an overnight stay with the narcissistic king

Esther 2:12-14

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

 “Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.” Esther 2:12

The beauty standards of the narcissistic and grandiose king were very specific, and only the finalists who passed the quality control could advance to the next stage. There, they had to undergo a year of intensive beauty treatments, which included six months of oil of myrrh and six months of perfumes. These treatments would have stripped away the natural spiritual beauty of the women and made them more like lifeless dolls than human beings. Narcissistic and grandiose people view others as objects, not as human beings made by God with a spirit and soul.

Jesus Christ invites us to experience life in the human spirit by welcoming the Holy Spirit into our hearts. The Spirit matters more than outward appearances, which we should not value too highly. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 Esther’s outward beauty was altered to fit worldly standards, but her inner spirit stayed faithful to God. We need to be born of the human spirit and God’s Spirit, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 ”For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

The picture below illustrates the transformation of queens’ appearance in those days from natural and spiritual beauty to something artificial. The picture may not be 100% accurate, but it reminds us of the unnatural looks of the Egyptian queens, Persian queens, etc.

“Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace.” Esther 2:13

The women underwent a “beauty” transformation for a year, following the king’s preferences for his future queen. After that, they were to meet the king and see if he would choose them as his queen. They could bring something with them, confined to whatever was already in the women’s chamber, to impress the king.

God does not desire the material offerings we give Him, but He desires us to dedicate ourselves to Him with a spirit and soul that is alive with His Spirit, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

“In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.” Esther 2:14

If the king was pleased by the physical appearance of one of the women, he would call her by name to spend personal time with him. Jesus Christ calls us by name, but He calls us according to the inward person not external appearances. He brings remission of our sin to infill us with the Holy Spirit. There would have been numerous women whose name king Ahasuerus called to spend the night with him. By this time, He had already shown himself to be narcissistic, self-absorbed, in need of admiration, and utterly lacking in empathy. He had destroyed his previous wife’s life for saying “No” to him. Anything could have taken place with the girls during that night. He would have intimidated them with his majestic looks and behavior, asserting his superiority over them. He had no intention of serving them in any way but expected them to be of service to him.

Our Lord Jesus Christ requires equality in the Holy Spirit, which is incomprehensible to people who are narcissistic and grandiose, “And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:24-28

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1