Vashti – An image of the church that has only one confession
The pagan queen “Vashti” is also invited to the banquet. She has a very privileged place in the kingdom because she is publicly associated with the king. Her task is to show her beauty to the peoples in order to contribute to the glory of the king. But when she is summoned, she “refuses” to come because her heart has risen in pride and rebellion.
She took pleasure in her position of public association with the king, but had no interest in his banquet. Vasti is a picture of the “professing church” (i.e., nominal Christianity), which outwardly identifies with God before the world but has no genuine faith in Christ.
Renegade Christianity has the greatest opportunities to receive the salvation and blessings offered by the gospel, but like Vashti, it has no interest in them (Rev. 3:17).
Vasti deposed – A picture of judgment on the false church.
On the last day of the banquet (Esther 1:5, 10), Vasti’s rebellion reaches its climax. Because of her disobedience and refusal to come to the feast, she is removed from her position as queen (Esther 1:13–22). This is a foreshadowing of what will happen to apostate “professing” Christianity at the end of the age of grace. The rebellion and disobedience of Christianity have reached a point that God will no longer tolerate. When the Rapture takes place, the Lord will also publicly reject apostate “professing” Christianity by leaving behind all those who have nothing more than a mere confession. He will “spew them out” of His mouth (Rev. 3:16). Like Vashti, Christianity will be “cut off” and set aside from the ways of God (Rom. 11:17-22). And just as Vashti experienced “the wrath of King Ahasuerus” (Esther 2:1), apostate Christianity will be judged by God at that time because it has failed to glorify God on earth.
