Ruth is a Type of The Bride

Ruth 1: 16, 17 "And Ruth said, Entreat 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 shall be 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."

Ruth, a Moabite, a Gentile is a type of the Bride of Christ that comes out of the Church before the end of the Gentile age. Christ will have a Gentile bride in fulfillment of this type.

Like the Bride of Christ, Ruth had an obedient heart ready to follow wherever she was led, and to do whatever was required of her. Like the Bride of Christ, Ruth had a heart that was willing to give up all that was in Moab, to be a part of the kingdom of God. Ruth said to Naomi, "Thy God shall be my God."

Like the Bride of Christ, Ruth had a servant's heart willing to take the place of a servant gleaning corn in the field. She was willing to serve wherever she could.

Like the Bride of Christ, Ruth had a humble heart. In response to Boaz recognition of her, she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground. (Ruth 2:10)

Ruth, like the Bride of Christ, was not proud, arrogant, or flirtatious as are so many in the Church today.

Ruth, like the Bride of Christ, will love no part of the world. Ruth had but one love and that was for her kinsman redeemer, Boaz. The Bride of Christ will have but one love and that will be for her kinsman redeemer, Christ. The Word of God says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." (I Jn. 2:15)

Called During Famine and Death

Ruth 1: 1 "…There was a famine in the land…"

Typical of today, there is a famine in the land, "…Nota famine of bread… but of hearing the words of the LORD." Amos 8: 11

Naomi, a type of the Church (the Body of Christ), because of the famine, went to sojourn in the country of Moab (a type of the world).

Full of pride - Isa. 16: 6

Abundance of ease - Jer. 48: 11

Lovers of wickedness - Zeph. 2: 9

Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, no sooner arrived in the land of Moab when he died. "Elimelech" means "God is King." You cannot live in Moab (the world) and have God as King. Naomi's seed (her offspring), Mahlon and Chilion, "…tookthem wives of the women of Moab…"

"Mahlon" -- "morbus gravis" -- diseased -- sickness

"Chilion" -- "expectation anxia" -- anxious expectation --pining -- to grow thin or weak -- to grieve

This reveals the condition of the Church, while it is in Moab (the world), which produces sickness and death. Mahlon and Chilion died, a type of the backsliding. The Church is producing more backsliders today than ever before in its history.

Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law -- Orpah and Ruth.

Called To Separate from Moab

Naomi heard that the Lord had visited His people in giving them bread, then she and her daughters-in-law left Moab to go back to the land of Bethlehem-Judah (the House of Bread).

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, Naomi, and went back to her people and her gods in Moab. "Orpah" is a good name for those that go back. It means "stiffnecked."

Acts 7: 51 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

Orpah, being stiffnecked, resisted the call of the Holy Spirit to separate from Moab and went back. However, Ruth (a type of the Bride) said unto Naomi:

Ruth 1: 16 "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 shall be my people, and thy God my God:"

"Ruth" -- "Aspecions cum voluptate" -- a delight -- a beauty

The Arrival in Bethlehem

The Difference in Attitudes

Naomi's Attitude

Although Naomi did come back from Moab, she still had a lot of Moab in her, which is revealed in her attitude and pride. The people of Bethlehem said, "Is this (not) Naomi?" She said:

Ruth 1: 20, 21 "…Call me not Naomi (pleasantness), call me Mara(bitterness): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty…"

She is blaming God for her losses in Moab. It was her choice to go to Moab. By her own testimony God had been good to her while she was in Bethlehem. She said, "I went out full." While in Moab she suffered the loss of everything and came "…homeagain empty."

Ruth's Attitude

Ruth had a different attitude. She was happy to be in Bethlehem (the House of Bread). They came "…to Bethlehem in the beginning of Barley Harvest."Barley Harvest came early in March and April before the wheat harvest. It was during Barley Harvest, the first harvest, that a bride was chosen.

The Kinsman Redeemer

Naomi had a Kinsman

Boaz (a type of Christ) had the ability to redeem and was a mighty man of wealth.

"Boaz" -- In illo robur est -- in him is strength

Naomi could have been the chosen bride but her attitude, her pride, and her bitterness kept her from it. Like many in the Church, the condition of their heart will keep them from being the Bride. The Bride has to overcome "as (He) overcame." (Rev. 3:21)

Ruth was Redeemed by the Kinsman

Ruth had a delightful attitude and a beautiful spirit. She was willing to go into the fields to labor and glean. It was not long after Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz, that Boaz recognized the beauty of Ruth. In Ruth 2: 8 Boaz said unto Ruth:

"…Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens."

In Ruth 2: 14 Boaz said to Ruth:

"At meal time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, (His Bread --Revelation) and dip thy morsel in the vinegar…"

This vinegar could be wine, a type of the "New Wine" (the Holy Spirit). It takes the anointing of the Holy Spirit to make the Word come alive.

II Cor. 3: 6 "…The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."

In Ruth 2: 16 Boaz commanded his young men:

"…Let fall also… handfuls of purpose…"

The Lord sends gifts of Grace. He said to Paul:

II Cor. 12: 9 "My grace is sufficient for thee,"

Ruth 2: 17 "So she gleaned in the field unto even…"

We are now in the even time of this age.

Zechariah said:

Zech. 14: 7 "…At evening time it shall be light."

This is not a paradox, this is a Divine Truth: in the evening time, when it is dark, there shall be light. This light does not dispel the darkness completely, but only flashes of light, like lightening. In the midst of darkness, in the evening time, God is giving Revelation to those that have eyes to see.

I Cor. 2: 9, 10 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

"The deep" speaks of the mysteries of God revealed by His Spirit to the Overcomer (the Bride).

The Preparation of The Bride

The Bride will be Washed

Ruth 3: 3 "Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor…"

The Bride will be washed, without "…spot or wrinkle, or any such thing…" (Eph. 5:27)

The Bride will be Arrayed

The Bride will also be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.

Rev. 19: 7, 8 "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. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (righteous acts --acquired righteousness) of saints."

There is a difference between imputed righteousness,imparted righteousness and acquired righteousness.

Righteousness is Imputed in Justification

Rom. 4: 5, 6 "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness…Unto whom God imputeth righteousness…"

This is something that is set down to ones account. It is agift that God gives.

Righteousness is Imparted in Regeneration

II Cor. 5: 17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…"

I Jn. 2: 29 "…Ye know that every one that doethrighteousness is born of Him."

This is Christ's life being manifested in the life of the believer.

Righteousness is Acquired in Sanctification.

I Jn. 3: 7 "…He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous."

Jesus said:

Rev. 3: 18 "…Buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed; and anoint thine eyes… that thou mayest see."

The Bride will be spiritually rich, clothed in white raiment(acquired righteousness). This is the #39;entering into' of the prize that has been earned.

Rev. 19: 8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,clean and white: for the fine linen is the (acquired) righteousness of saints."

The Bride will also be anointed by the Holy Spirit to seethe revelations of God (the hidden manna).

Rev. 2: 17 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

The Complete Redemption of the Bride

Boaz said in Ruth 4: 10 "…Ruth the Moabitess, (the Gentile)…have I purchased to be my wife…"

The Bride had been part of the world, but now has been redeemed, and will become the Wife of the Lamb.

Jesus said in Lk. 21: 28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption("Apolutrosis" -- your complete state of release) draweth nigh."

"…When these things begin to come to pass…" Jesus is referring back to Lk. 21: 8 "…Take heed that ye be not deceived…"

In the time of deception, in which we are in, we are told to"…then look up, and lift up your heads…"

"Anakupto" -- to unbend -- to straighten up -- and keep straightening up

Thus, the Scripture is easily understood to be saying, "For your complete state of release draws nigh."