Peter J. Leithart

John’s description of the Enthroned matches in a number of details Ezekiel’s description of the “king of Tyre” in Ezekiel 28. The stones that adorn the king of Tyre are the same stones to which John compares the Lord’s appearance, and the king of Tyre wears a crown . . . . Continue Reading »

In Revelation 4, the Enthroned is like “jasper” and “sardius.” Both stones are part of the high priest’s vestments (Exodus 28:17-18). the priest is the image of God; the Enthroned the Enthroned priest. Isaiah 54:12 describes the city in the same terms. Restored . . . . Continue Reading »

Anne Lamott writes that we know we are making God in our image when all His enemies happen to correspond with our own. . . . . Continue Reading »

Along the way in her lively critique of Jenson’s “Story Thomism,” Francesca Murphy ( God Is Not a Story: Realism Revisited ) notes that she has not spent much time refuting irrationalists and postmoderns, and explains why: “no one enjoying our technological world is a . . . . Continue Reading »

INTRODUCTION Yahweh has pronounced “woes” against Judah and Israel, and many of these woes involve invasion, defeat, and exile at the hands of the Assyrians (cf. 7:17-20; 8:5-8, 21-22; 10:3-4). But Yahweh is the Judge of all the earth, and so Assyria too will be held accountable for her . . . . Continue Reading »

Two things are said to be crystal in Revelation: the sea that is before the throne (4:6) and the river that flows through the Jerusalem that comes down from heaven (22:1). The two are clearly linked. The river that flows through the city is flowing from the heavenly sea. Like the bronze sea and the . . . . Continue Reading »

Before the throne in heaven are seven lamps of fire burning, which are the seven spirits (4:5). We know from 1:20 that the lampstands are the seven churches. 4:5 tells us that the archetype of those seven lampstands are the seven burning spirits before the throne. Or, we might say that the light . . . . Continue Reading »

When John ascends in the Spirit through the door in the sky, he sees a throne and on the throne “sitting” (Gr. kathemenos ). The Greek doesn’t have the article; in 4:2, it is not “the One who sits” (though it is in 4:3), but simply the participle. Enthronement is not . . . . Continue Reading »

The Septuagint uses the word-group euaggel - primarily in military and political contexts to describe the proclamation of victory. This is not invariable (cf. Jeremiah 20:15 The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and strip his gear so that they can carry the “good news” to idols and . . . . Continue Reading »

“I see a voice,” says Bottom the Weaver. And we all laugh. John on Patmos hears a trumpet voice, and turns “to see the voice” (Revelation 1:12). We know Bottom is a seer from his later garbled use of Pauline visionary language. Bottom is Paul the seer, and John the seer, . . . . Continue Reading »