[reaction to OYB’s Dec. 25-27 readings]
I’ve been paying attention to the Old Testament references found in Revelation that connect it to the old prophets. However, in chpater 16 we have some verses that are reminds us of phrases that would later be included in the Gospels.
They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”
Interestingly, one of the final Psalms also includes some end of the world stuff. Psalm 144
5 Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.
Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
6 Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
Shoot your arrows and confuse them!
7 Reach down from heaven and rescue me;
rescue me from deep waters,
from the power of my enemies.
8 Their mouths are full of lies;
they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.
Also, we get some more cities are whores metaphors that we’ve all come to know and love. The prostitute metaphor in Revelation is actually pretty tame by comparison to that in Isaiah and Ezekiel. Of course, here the whore is Rome not Jerusalem. And, we learn in chapter 18 that not only Rome, but all the leaders that worked with Rome will be destroyed before it is all over.