Just like the Second Beast coming up out of the earth is never named - yet is described such that it is known as America.

The Book of Esther is filled with gospel and eschatological parallels. walter veith touches some of them. 

God, Satan, Christ - and their roles - then human actors in a swirling seeming disjointed but suddenly an organized chess game with eternal life - eternal death - eternal light & freedom and eternal night and chaos - as the stakes.     A microcosm of a creation spanning struggle.  an interesting topic to explore. 

( Vashti = 7 SOP hits ) 

When the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded . . . to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. Esther 1:10, 11.  {CC 243.1}  

     When this command came from the king, Vashti did not carry out his orders, because she knew that wine had been freely used, and that Ahasuerus was under the influence of the intoxicating liquor. For her husband's sake as well as her own, she decided not to leave her position at the head of the women of the court.  {CC 243.2}  

     It was when the king was not himself, when his reason was dethroned by wine-drinking that he sent for the queen, that those present at his feast, men besotted by wine, might gaze on her beauty. She acted in harmony with a pure conscience.  {CC 243.3} 

     Vashti refused to obey the king's command, thinking that when he came to himself, he would commend her course of action. But the king had unwise advisers. They argued it would be a power given to woman that would be to her injury.  {CC 243.4}  

     However high their office, men are amenable to God. The great power exercised by kings, often leads to extremes in exaltation of self. And the worthless vows made to enact laws which disregard the higher laws of God, lead to great injustice.  {CC 243.5}  

     Occasions of indulgence such as are pictured in the first chapter of Esther, do not glorify God. But the Lord accomplishes His will through men who are nevertheless misleading others. If God did not stretch forth His restraining hand, strange presentations would be seen. But God impresses human minds to accomplish His purpose, even though the one used continues to follow wrong practices. And the Lord works out His plans through men who do not acknowledge His lessons of wisdom. In His hand is the heart of every earthly ruler, to turn whithersoever He will, as He turneth the waters of the river.  {CC 243.6}  

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Esther

                                Chapter 1 

     9. Contrast of Two Feasts.--We read with pleasure of the feast of queen Vashti. This was not a feast attended by a promiscuous number, but a feast given by the queen for the women of rank in the kingdom, who were entertained with modest courtesy, without wantonness or sensuality.  {3BC 1139.3}  

     It was when the king was not himself, when his reason was dethroned by winedrinking that he sent for the queen, that those present at his feast, men besotted by wine, might gaze on her beauty. She acted in harmony with a pure conscience.  {3BC 1139.4}  

     Vashti refused to obey the king's command, thinking that when he came to himself, he would commend her course of action. But the king had unwise advisers. They argued it would be a power given to woman that would be to her injury (MS 29, 1911).  {3BC 1139.5}  

     10-12. Vashti's Refusal Was for the King's Good.--[Esther 1:10, 11 quoted.] Had the king maintained his royal dignity by practicing habits of temperance, he would never have made this command. But his mind was affected by the wine that he had used so freely, and he was not prepared to act wisely.  {3BC 1139.6}  

     When this command came from the king, Vashti did not carry out his orders, because she knew that wine had been freely used, and that Ahasuerus was under the influence of the intoxicating liquor. For her husband's sake as well as her own, she decided not to leave her position at the head of the women of the court [Esther 1:12 quoted] (MS 39, 1910).  {3BC 1139.7}  

     16-22. God Overruled Ahasuerus' Folly for Good.--[Esther 1:16-22 quoted.] There is little doubt that the king, when he afterward considered the matter, felt that Vashti deserved to be honored, rather than to be treated as she was.  {3BC 1139.8}  

     No law of divorce, drawn up by men who for many days had given themselves up to wine-drinking, men who were unable to control the appetite, could be of any value in the eyes of the King of kings. These men were unable to reason soundly and nobly. They could not discern the real situation.  {3BC 1139.9}  

     However high their office, men are amenable to God. The great power exercised by kings, often leads to extremes in exaltation of self. And the worthless vows made to enact laws which disregard the higher laws of God, lead to great injustice.  {3BC 1139.10}  

     Occasions of indulgence such as are pictured in the first chapter of Esther, do not glorify God. But the Lord accomplishes His will through men who are nevertheless misleading others. If God did not stretch forth His restraining hand, strange presentations would be seen. But God impresses human minds to accomplish His purpose, even though the one used continues to follow wrong practices. And the Lord works out His plans through men who do not acknowledge His lessons of wisdom. In His hand is the heart of every earthly ruler, to turn whithersoever He will, as He turneth the waters of the river.  {3BC 1139.11}  ( Ed's note - Read Daniel 4: 37 )

     Through the experience that brought Esther to the Medo-Persian throne, God was working for the accomplishment of His purposes for His people. That which was done under the influence of much wine worked out for good to Israel (MS 39, 1910).  {3BC 1139.12} 

I'm quite surprised at these quotes about Vashti.  In searching thru my Ellen White material, which has all the writings of Ellen White up to her death (that were available around the 1990 time frame), there are exactly zero hits for "Vashti".

While agreeing that the king was besotted, and not in control of his faculties, i see no where in Scripture where that is a good excuse for a wife to refuse a reasonable request of her husband. 

And if you are really into analogies, then Vashti would represent the Jewish Church who rejected their king - Jesus, and Esther represents the Christian church who accepted him. 

Mordecai represents Esther's Jewish roots.  Haman represents the antichrist.  Haman is said to be an "Agagite", which is of "Agag", which was a king of Amalek.  God told Israel to destroy all the Amalekites (no doubt in foreknowledge to prevent this situation), but Israel didn't obey. 

The king makes a world-wide decree in chapter 1.

Esther and Mordecai are in physical subjection to a foreign power.

Esther's mother and father are dead, but her uncle takes her in as his own daughter.

Esther was given 7 maidens.

Esther didn't tell her nationality.

Mordecai saves the king's life in chapter 2, but is not recognized for it.

So just in the first 2 chapters, there are many things that seem to be related to end-time events.  Reading more of the book, there are 10 wicked sons (10 wicked kings in Rev.) , 3 days of fasting (3 days the 2 witnesses are dead), a banquet is prepared where one is cast out (just as Jesus said) etc. etc.

Fascinating book.

agree with the end time parallels and have done a study on this...  not complete by any means but have offered some support for the statements made...

the parallels for an end time generation: S= bk of Esther  ET = end time parallel  H.=Haman                                                                       M=Mordicai

S -  the people were called out of Babylon after the deadly wound was delivered by Medo-Persia but Stan still works w/in

ET a call to come out of spiritual Babylon is madea deadly wound is delivered but then healed

     "It is our individual duty to walk humbly with God. We are not to seek any strange, new message. We are not to think that the chosen ones of God who are trying to walk in the light compose Babylon.

The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the pre-existence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem,and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God's holy and sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various churches, and thus the Scriptures are fulfilled that say, 'For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' It is a wrath which is created by false doctrines, and when kings and presidents drink this wine of the wrath of her fornication, they are stirred with anger against those who will not come into harmony with the false and satanic heresies which exalt the false sabbath, and lead men to trample underfoot God's memorial.  {TM 62} 

S-  H. demands worship, reverence, and bowing to him which is against Gods law.

ET conflict will be similar men will be forced to follow mans law rather than God. Religious liberty once had will be removed by the same kingdom.  The final conflict will be about worship.

     The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict.  {PK 605.1} 

S-   M. refuses to honor H. and H. wrath is against all his kind.

ET WW wrath against those that will not break Gods law.

     Through Haman the Agagite, an unscrupulous man high in authority in Medo-Persia, Satan worked at this time to counterwork the purposes of God. Haman cherished bitter malice against Mordecai, a Jew. Mordecai had done Haman no harm, but had simply refused to show him worshipful reverence. Scorning to "lay hands on Mordecai alone," Haman plotted "to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai." Esther 3:6.  {PK 600.2} 

S- H. convinces king that these people are a problem and are against him and they are the cause of the unrest in society.

ET same thing Satan will make Gods people the believed threat and a danger to society.

S Law is made in 1^st month to be executed in 12^th month.

ET law will be dated there will be a grace period.

S- People in sackcloth & ashes as a symbol of death as though they are already dead

ET when the death decree is made there will appear to be no escape

          The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment, a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath.  {PK 605} 

S Queen is to make supplication protective intercession for her people

ET Jesus is our intercessor, protector, and deliverer

S Queen puts on her royal robes

ET Jesus puts off his priestly robes and put on kingly attire

Then I saw Jesus lay off his priestly attire, and clothe himself with his most kingly robes-- upon his head were many crowns, a crown within a crown--and surrounded by the angelic host, he left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth.{SG p. 199}

S record books are opened & deeds of M. seen to be supportive of king.  Has he received any reward? nonot yet

ET Investigative judgment books are opened to reveal the deeds of the saints.  Have they received their reward yet?  no..not yet.

S - M. receives reward of royal apparel and a crown.

ET - Gods people will wear the raiment of the righteousness of Christ and He will place a crown on their head

S When H. is revealed and found out he pleads for his life from the Q but it is too late

ET when the wicked realize they have made the wrong choice they will run to Gods people for help too late

      Some were denouncing God, and cursing him. Others rushed to the people of God, and begged to be taught how they should escape the judgments of God. But the saints had nothing for them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden had been borne. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. The last note of warning had been given. When the saints, and all heaven were interested for their salvation, they had no interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life; but did not make any effort to obtain it. They did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the sinner. No compassionate Saviour to plead for them, and cry, Spare, spare the sinner a little longer. All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, It is done, It is finished. The plan of salvation had been accomplished. But few had chosen to accept the plan. And as mercy's sweet voice died away, a fearfulness and horror seized them. With terrible distinctness they hear, Too late! too late!  {1SG 200} 

S H. devices are turn against himself.

ET Evil men will turn on each other and kill one another.

     A great portion of the wicked were greatly enraged, as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their children, and children reproaching their parents, brothers their sisters, and sisters their brothers. Loud wailing cries were heard in every direction, It was you who kept me from receiving the truth, which would have saved me from this awful hour. The people turned upon the ministers with bitter hate, and reproached them, telling them, You have not warned us. You told us all the world was to be converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour, and those who warned us of it you said were fanatics, and evil men, who would ruin us. But the ministers, I saw, did not escape the wrath of God. Their sufferings were ten fold greater than their people's. {1SG 200.2} 

     After the saints were delivered by the voice of God, the rage of the wicked multitude was turned upon each other. The earth seemed to be deluged with blood, and dead bodies were from one end of the earth to the other.  {1SG 211} 

S- Law was made that the Jews could stand and fight..

ET Gods people will be delivered.

      As the saints left the cities and villages, they were pursued by the wicked. They raised their swords to kill the saints, but they broke, and fell as powerless as a straw. Angels of God shielded the saints. As they cried day and night for deliverance, their cry came up before God.  {1SG 204.1} 

    I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst . {SR 406.1}