Reading for July 22nd

Read Revelation 22.6-21. 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 1.1. In verse 8: The voice of John. I, John see 1.19. Fell down, see 1.17; 19.10  In verse 9: Worship God is the dominant 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 as the story but underlies the sense of urgency about the whole work (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: Blessed, see 1.3. To wash their robes is to maintain 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: 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 17-20: The voice of the reader. The invitation from the spirit and the bride has both heavenly and earthly origins. The warning protects the spoken word.  In verse 21: The voice of the letter writer. This is a standard letter closing corresponding to the opening at 1.4; see 1 Cor 1.1-2; 16.23-23. Comments or Questions...