In this final study we will consider the prophetic lessons that may be learned from the closing verses of the book of Ruth.

Peter said: "But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began," Acts 3:18-21.

Peter here says that ALL THE PROPHETS spoke of Christ in His sufferings and the restitution that would follow His return. We can find foreshadowings of prophetic truth in the book of Ruth. We will look at those foreshadowings today.

Secondly, consider the prophetic lessons.

I. THE GATHERING OF THE GENTILES

As the fall of Noami led to the gathering of Ruth, so it has been with the Gentiles. "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" Romans 11:11-12.

II. THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL

"And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age," Ruth 4:15.

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;" Zechariah 8:7. As Noami was called back to Israel at the time of barley harvest, even so, there is coming a day of restoration of Israel once more. Presently Bethlehem is under the heel of the enemy but it will not always be so. As Joseph made himself known unto his estranged brethren on their second visit to Egypt (Genesis 43), so on Christ's second visit to this world He will make Himself known to His ancient people who have rejected Him in the past. As Noami was back in the land for a time before remembering that Baoz was her kinsman/redeemer, so Israel will be in her land for a time before she is spiritually awakened and granted faith and repentance.

III. THE COMING KING

The last word of the book of Ruth is DAVID. He is the "Beloved" of the Lord. He is a picture of Christ, the BELOVED Son "And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him," Mark 9:7. He was the second king of Israel. This is a gain a reference to the second coming of Christ as King. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star," Revelation 22:16.

It is with Christ the King that the story of redemption ends. It is with Christ the King that the story of each believer will end.

It is with Christ the King that every Christ rejector will have to do.
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him," Psalm 2:12.