PREPARED IN THE HAREM OF THE KING:

I hope all of you are following me in this series? Today, we will address the question, "When does this preparation take place — after going in to the presence of the King — or before?" Again we will look at a few passages in Esther: 

Est 2:8 “So it was, when the king's command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai…”.

We have come to a time in history that the number of women has outweigh that of men. In the time of Esther, there were so many unmarried ladies in the country, but only the virgins were accepted to go into the Harem of the King for purification. Also, among all the virgins who were gathered at the King’s palace, only one of them will be qualify to be the King’s Bride. 

What is an Harem? Harem is simply the place where women lived, trained and prepared for royal marriage. I see the Church as a spiritual harem where the daughters should be equipped for marriage by the Pastor through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here, we are presented with two group of women; those in the Harem and those outside the Harem. Those that are outside (not virgins in Christ, not born again) will never have the opportunity to marry the Kings (Born again brothers). While those that are inside the Harem, all have opportunity to marry the King, but because of their carnal desires and demands, they could not be chosen. Many were called, but only one is chosen.

“Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) Then thus came every maiden unto the king...” (Esther 2:12b-13a)

Notice also that Esther's preparation was over a twelve-month period of time, which was six months of one preparation, and six months of another. And it was all to be done before going into the presence of the King, which means “before having sex with the King”.

Two things were required for the preparation of Esther to be the King’s Bride: Oil of Myrrh for six months and Sweet Odours, then other things for her purification. The oil of myrrh is an aromatic spices, when apply to the body it stimulate and activate all the sexual characteristic of the woman. Esther’s body was specially massaged with Myrrh for six months in order to satisfy the King sexually after marriage. This means that she has all the required knowledge about sex in marriage and how to satisfy her bridegroom, the King. Secondly, sweet perfumed was also applied on her so that she will smell good and delight the heart of the King.

This is the reason why Solomon was captivated by the Shulamite Woman when he saw her in glory. He proclaimed; “How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes than all spices! Song 4:10.

This message confirms what we have seen thus far — that being ready, being prepared, must occur BEFORE the arrival of the Bridegroom. We may now conclude that the preparation of the Bride is done before going in with the Bridegroom. If you are not really prepared and forced your way into marriage, you will definitely regret later. God forbids!

WHO PREPARES THE BRIDE?

As we go deeper into this study, there may be many who have un-answered questions. For example, we might ask, "Do the bride prepared in the "twinkling of an eye" when she goes to be with the King?" A few may ask, "Is there some particular preparation that she must do, over some period of time while waiting for the bridegroom?" We then realize that the Scriptures reveal the answers! So let's look at the Scriptures.

First, let us see who does the preparing. Notice the following passages: 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. (Revelation 19:7)

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

In the above passages, in verse 7, we see the Betrothed wife - the Bride - has made herself ready. She is the one who made the preparation.

In verse 8, we see her 'array' (her clothing and covering) was granted, or given to her, by the Holy Spirit. The fine linen is her righteousness; she must have equity of character like the Holy Spirit to be a helper. She will help the bridegroom and not do him harm. Therefore, any bride that has no intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit before and after marriage, will hardly fulfil her obligation to her bridegroom. Such a woman will be a liability, sucking life out of him. 

So the preparation of the Bride involves the Bride's action, as well as the action of the Holy Spirit. Both are necessary. This two-fold process is confirmed in Esther:

“And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women”. (Esther 2:9)

Here we see that Hegai, the eunuch (type of the Holy Spirit), as well as the seven maidens given to her, all picture the Holy Spirit, given to the Bride to provide help, and to provide everything that is needed to the Bride for her purification — her preparation. In Esther 2:9, notice the two-fold process that made up her preparation: (1) "he speedily gave her;" and (2) "with such things as belonged to her”, which make her to be complete and fit to be the King’s bride.

The preparation of the Bride is a co-operation between the Holy Spirit, and the Bride.