As I’ve been traveling, the Lord keeps drawing me to the book of Ruth.
Ruth, who gives up her nationality in order to become a foreigner.
Ruth, who chooses solidarity with the widow over being a bride again,
Ruth who was willing to risk her reputation,
Ruth who wasn’t expecting to be received with favor,
Ruth, whose fearsome love restores a woman’s identity and removes her bitterness.
Ruth, who gave away her firstborn and called him “Obed” (Obedience, “Servant of God”).
From Obedience, she gave birth to Kings,
A prophetic sign for those who feel abandoned and are waiting on God to send their redemption.
The book of Ruth is a portrait of the Redemption of Israel (Naomi) and the role the Church is meant to play in the world (Ruth)!
God so cares about redeeming the widow and the orphan that he gives us this story and works it into Christ’s lineage.
Just like the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary, the dynamic between Naomi and Ruth shows that both the young and the old will bear fruit, in his Kingdom,
And both covenants, the one God made to the Israelites through Abraham and the one God made to the nations through Jesus Christ,
Both of them in the Servant (Christ) are fulfilled.
Ruth shows us how to surrender your life to God:
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29
And God exemplifies her for it.
He Came to Restore: The Apostolic Ministry of Christ
Before he sent out the Apostles, Jesus was sent by the Father.
Jesus was the first prophet God sent not just to Israel, but to the nations.
His prophetic destiny was settled in Heaven before the foundation of the Earth.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”
Hebrews 10:7
His mission was clear from the beginning.
He considered himself a servant of rulers.
He left his own natural family to become the hope of ALL the nations.
When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:26-27
As Jesus hung dying, did he look out on the crowd only to see his mother and siblings as a type of Zion and her children, waiting on their redemption?
After all, Mary’s Magnificat song is specifically about the redemption of Israel. Jesus was the blessed answer to their prayers.
Jesus never stopped loving his nation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 23:37-39
Yet he did not come to restore Israel alone.
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
John 10:16
He trusted the restoration of Israel to come through his Bride.
He will repopulate the desolate inheritances of Israel through his offspring.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:10
God will count these children as if they were born naturally to Israel herself. :O
Israel’s reputation will be restored by the children he wins her.
Once Jesus had ascended to the Father, he appoints Apostles and sends them to the nations.
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
Acts 22:21
These Apostles sent others to restore the nations through faith to the inheritance that Jesus won them.
“For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”
1 Corinthians 4:17
God’s ultimate purpose is to use his Church as a vehicle of redemption for the entire world.
Instead of just the Levant (Israel/Palestine), their borders will increase until they inherit the entire Earth. It is not possible to fit them all in one place anymore.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14
Imagine a couple has several kids and a small house. If they suddenly, supernaturally have many more children (through all means possible, both naturally and through foster parenting), what do they do?
Well, they will probably need to buy a bigger house. Under the new covenant, the Kingdom is the same way. His children will increase until they fill the entire Earth, and he will gather them from all over!
When his Church outgrows the Earth, then he will make a New Heavens and Earth.
He has prepared a better place for us.
In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:2-4
Before that day, his Righteous Offspring will redeem their nations. Through their holy influence, the physical geography, flora, fauna, and people will be set free from sin. They will experience the health and wholeness of the Kingdom of God while they still live on the Earth. This will be a foretaste of Heaven and a sign to the world.
Just as he was called a “Servant of Rulers”, his people will fill the nations with peace.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:18
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Even in persecution, they will bless. Even if they are hated, they will endure.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10
“Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.”
Revelation 13:7-8
They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Revelation 6:10
They will see his complete Victory on the Day of Christ.
On that day, the Lord will raise the Righteous Dead.
“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Daniel 12:13
Simultaneously in a “twinkling of an eye”, together with the Righteous dead, the living Church will have a Mass Ascension experience. It will be the exact same kind of Ascension Experience as Christ had.
**TO SOAPBOX BRIEFLY: Unlike it’s portrayal the Left Behind Series, the true Rapture (named “rapture” because of its joyful, rapturous nature) is the picture of a MASS ASCENSION EXPERIENCE that will happen at the end of days, directly before Judgement Day. All the righteous will experience it, not just the presently living, as God will raise the dead first. Those who are not glorified with Jesus will be condemned by him. Lord, help us not sensationalize the gospel through scare tactics. The Gospel is already sensational enough!**
The Lord will Judge all People.
And his faithful people will be revealed as Fully Mature Sons of God.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19
At that time, Jesus will receive his eternal, righteous reward.
Implications for Today: Lord, Help Your Bride Restore the World
So God, teach your Bride to be like Ruth and like Jesus,
Help us surrender our rights and all of our plans,
Help us choose to Fearsomely love your people and see restoration of the Nations,
Deliver us from our own selfish intentions that would cause us to be like Orpah, rejecting the widow and prioritizing comfort,
Let us be sent and send others,
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”
John 17:6
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
John 17:20-21
Give us authority from love and make us loving authorities,
Help us live with sober-minded judgement, because the time is short.
“You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
James 5:8
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Re-beautify the world through us, Jesus. Make us your vehicle of redemption in the world.
Amen.
Age of the Unexpected 
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