Ruth and Boaz
The story of Ruth and Boaz is a picture of the rapture. The story begins with a Jewish woman named Naomi who losses everything when her husband dies and she decides to return to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth, whose husband also died. In Bethlehem a relative of Naomi named Boaz falls in love with Ruth and eventually they marry. In the process Noami's land and position is redeemed under Jewish law.
Naomi, a Jew, is a picture of Israel left alone and destitute. Ruth, a gentile, is a picture of the gentile church. Boaz, a Jew, is a picture of the Messiah. Boaz was a kinsmen redeemer for Ruth, whom he took as his bride. Likewise Christ is our kinsmen redeemer who will take us, the church, as His Bride.
During Wheat harvest a threshing board was used to separate cereals from their straw. Incidentally the Latin word for this farm instrument was called a tribulum, which is where we get the English word tribulation. Before the wheat harvest we find Ruth suddenly at the feet of Boaz. The picture is that of church, the Bride of Jesus at his feet before the tribulation. Just as Boaz marriage to Ruth redeemed Naomi, likewise Israel will become redeemed from destruction and it's lands restored.
