Reading for May 21st

In 22.6-21: The closing: The voices of the Apocalypse. The voices of the opening are matched and expanded in the closing (see 1.1-11). They often overlap. In verses 6-11: The voice of the angel. These words; see the same chain of transmission at 11.1. In verse 8: The voice of John. I, John, see 1.9; Fell down, see 1.17; 19.10. In verse 9; Worship God is the dominat note of the whole work: 4.10; 7.11;11.16; 19.4, 10; and esp 14.7. In verse 10: John is not to seal the book (see Dan 12.9) because the words are needed now (see 1,3). In verses 12-16: The voice of Jesus. I am coming soon (see also v. 7) is an odd declaration at this point in the story but underliines the sense of urgency about the whole world (see 1.3; 2.5, 16;3.11; 16.15). In verse 13: Alpha and Omega was attributed to God at the beginning of the story (1.8). In verse 14: Blesssed, see 1.3. To wash their robes is to maitain faithful testimony even in the face of death (6.11, 7.14; 19.13; 12.11). The tree of life is available now (see 22.2). In verse 15: Outside are the dogs shows that there remains an outside, even at the end of the story. In verse 16: I, Jesus shows that the story makes Jesus present to the audience; see 1.1 for the same chain of transmission. The root of David and the morning star are messianic images (see Isa 11; Num 24.17). In verses 17-20: The voice of the reader. The invitation from the spirt and the bride has both heavenly and earthly orgins. The warning protects the spokem word. In verse 21: The voice of the letter writer. This is a stadard letter closing, corresponding to the opening at 1.4; see 1 Cor 1.1-2; 16.23-24. Comments of Questions..