Ruth's Prophetic Wedding

The story of Ruth is a wonderful love story. But it is more than that. It is a foreshadowing of things to come.

For many years I have always thought of the story about Ruth and Boaz to be a representation of Jesus and His church, and that is true. But, for me anyway, that is where the story always ended. A good reminder of how we must pursue Christ and His "redeeming" us.

Yesterday, however, I saw a Facebook post that changed the way I look at this wonderfully romantic story in the Bible. Could the story of Ruth also be about Israel and the coming rapture of the church?

When did Ruth and Naomi return to Israel, the land of Naomi's birth? It was during the barley harvest. And when did the Jewish people return to the newly-created land of Israel? In 1948 Israel was created as a country again. During the barley harvest.

Think about it.. When does the "romantic" part of the Book of Ruth take place? During the barley harvest. Hmm. A harvest. And where was Boaz from? Chapter two tells us that Boaz "came from Bethlehem." Hmm.

Boaz had some barley fields that were ready for harvesting. In fact the harvest was underway when our loving couple met. Boaz was actually "living" on the threshing floor at that time - where the grain is separated from the chaff. Search for threshing floor sometime in your Bible studies. Speaking of the end times, Jesus said this:

"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:12

Trust me, you will want to be a piece of grain when you are on the threshing floor or Jesus. DO NOT be the chaff.

Boaz goes on in chapter four to redeem Ruth and they are married.

"Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife" - Ruth 4:10

They most likely got married a few months later during the late summer/fall harvest. Know one knows the day or the hour. Sound familiar?

The Book of Ephesians describes the roles of husbands and wives. Paul ends his Ephesians 5 description of the perfect marriage this way:

"This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:32

As a side note, the descendants of Ruth and Boaz are rather impressive. David, Solomon, and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

While the date of Ruth’s wedding and the Church’s wedding with Jesus are unknowable, the late summer/early fall seems a likely season for both.

We are in that season right now. Are you ready to be redeemed?

"Look up, for your redemption draws near." - Luke 21:28