Queen Esther’s cousin Mordecai discovers an assassination plot against the king.

Esther 2:19-23

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

 “When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate.” Esther 2:19

Even after Esther became queen, the self-centered narcissistic king continued to collect virgins and sort them into his harem or discard them. He treated them like livestock, choosing the physically desirable ones and rejecting the rest. This is nothing like separating those who are alive in the Spirit from those who are dead to the goodness of God’s Holiness. Mordecai stayed on the palace grounds, near the king’s gate, while the virgins were taken to the king. The king’s gate was not the entrance to the palace itself, but to the property where the palace stood.

Malacai sat inside the gate’s entrance, but still a good distance away from the palace. The image shows where he was located. He was on the lawn, close to the gate entrance.

Today, the gate to the king’s palace is the entrance into the presence of the entity that gives people what to feel, think, say, and do. This is the place where people either surrender their bodies to the entity that claims to be God within them or reject it and devote their bodies to the Holy Spirit. The king of today is he “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Click here for a post on the “man of sin”. Malacai would not be invited into that palace but would be where the gates open to a point of decision. He would be among those who avoid the Christless palace to acknowledge that God made us as the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ” 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.” Esther 2:20

Esther resisted the king’s narcissism and grandiosity by staying loyal to her cousin Mordecai, who had raised her like his own daughter. Their bond was based on their devotion to God and His Ten Commandments. Mordecai advised her not to disclose that she was Jewish through-and-through.

Some people who follow Jesus Christ today do not reveal that they are Christians, even though we live for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reject the anti-Christian force that influences thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. We devote our lives to God our Creator, we admit that we are sinners who need Jesus Christ, and we welcome the Holy Spirit in our spirit and soul. Whenever we have a chance, we proudly proclaim our faith in God through Jesus Christ.

“In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.” Esther 2:21

The image depicts two guards who resemble doorkeepers. Mordecai was near enough to overhear their plot to kill the king. He was out of sight on one side of the wall and the two conspirators on the other side.

A possible mastermind behind the plot to kill the king was his scorned former wife, Vashti, but the story concentrates on the two eunuchs who were supposed to carry out the murder.

The eunuchs had many possible motives for plotting to assassinate King Ahasuerus, who was a domineering, cunning, narcissistic and arrogant ruler. Their murderous impulse stemmed from their own fleshly desires of the beastly human nature that could not bear the king’s oppressive orders. For instance, they might have resented being eunuchs, which was a condition forced on them by the king’s will. A eunuch is a male who has no sensual relationship with females. They probably felt furious to witness the countless beautiful young virgins brought before the king, each one at his disposal. Their anger grew over time, and they hatched a plan to kill the king. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war…” James 4:1-2

Today, the entity giving people what to feel, think, say, and how to behave dictates the lifestyle that people are to live. This entity animates the image of the beast that lives and speaks through people in every city around the world. People conform to their place within the global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do. Some people do not like to be forced into an unpleasant position in life or to accept a lower status than what they believe they deserve. This applies to relationships, parenthood, careers, finances, social life, success, achievements and so on. This leads to various forms of violence, rebellion, antisocial behaviors and lawlessness of all kinds.

We are followers of Jesus Christ, and we renounce the carnal and beastly ways of this world. We understand that the battle is a spiritual one, and only Jesus Christ can give us victory by the remission of our sin. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” Zachariah 4:6 God tells us to put on the Armor of God, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12

The Armor of God is mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20. Our strength comes from the Spirit of the Lord, not from the beastly instincts of human nature. The Armor of God protects us from the schemes of Satan, who exploits our flesh and blood weaknesses. We are called to live in the truth of Christ, not in the lies that the world tells us. We are called to live in righteousness, not in the false belief that power justifies everything. We are called to live in peace, not in hostility and conflict. We are called to live in hope, not in despair and frustration that lead to chaos. We are called to rest in the salvation we have in Jesus Christ, not in the ruin of this world. He came to save, not to destroy. We are called to live by the Spirit, the word of God, to keep ourselves Holy and separate from the worldly worries. We are called to pray in the Holy Spirit, not to curse what annoys us. We have to be vigilant and persistent and support one another in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for each other that we will glorify the name of Jesus Christ.

“So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.” Esther 2:22-23

Mordecai learned of the plot to assassinate the very narcissistic and self-absorbed king. Mordecai informed his cousin, Queen Esther, who relayed the information to her husband, King Ahasuerus. The conspirators who planned to kill the king were put to death. We should never conspire to use hostility, aggression, violence, or murder against anyone, no matter how narcissistic and grandiose they are. This is especially true when they are the lawmakers and rulers of the people. The Holy Spirit reminds us, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—” 1 Peter 2:13-15

To a narcissist, someone who saved his life and helped him defeat his enemies would be a valuable asset. However, he would not feel any genuine affection, friendship, or equality towards that person. He would only offer political favors, material rewards, promotions and so on to keep the asset loyal and close to him.

Mordecai and Queen Esther prioritized serving God and the rewards that came with it, rather than the worldly rewards bestowed by the king, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

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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, 3:11