Reading for May 8th

THE ACTS OF JUDGMENT In 15.1-16.21: The brief symbolic announceements of judgment now open out into detailed, sequential portrayal. Read Revelation 15.1-8 In 15.1-8: The preparation. This is the third portent; see 12.1,3. These are the last plagues not because they end the story but because they represent the final outcome of the story. The sea is the same as in the worship scene, 4.6. In verse 2: Those who had conquered are the 144,000 of 14.1 and those under the altar of 6.9, who conquer by the death of Christ and by their own deaths (12.11). In verse 3: The song of Moses and the song of the lamb is a composite of the Exodus song (Ex 15; Deut 320 with Ps 111.2;86.8-9; and Jer 10.6-7: 16.19. The community is committed to both Moses and Jesus (see 12.17; 14.2). In verse 6: The plagues are another reference to the Exodus tradition. The scene in the temple recalls isa 6. Comments or Questions..