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Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Each of Jesus’ seven letters to the churches in Revelation 1-3 ends with a promise to the “victors” (ho nikon). The blessings form a progression in various ways – they link up with different stages of the OT, and they also form a progression toward enthronement with Jesus. To whit:
To Ephesians: Tree of life.
To Smyreans: Having eaten from the tree of life, they are delivered from the second death.
To Pergamumeans: Having eaten life and having been delivered from the second death, they receive manna, a stone, and a name.
The progression of the last four letters is clearer:
To Thyatirans: Authority and a rod.
To Sardians: Having received authority and a rod (like David, also like Aaron), they are given white robes and a place in the book of life.
To Philadelphians: Having received authority and a rod, they are given an open door and entry into the temple, where they stand as pillars.
To Laodiceans: Having received authority, a rod, an open door and entry into God’s palace, they are allowed to sit with Jesus on His throne.
The progression of the last four letters seems to be a priestly/kingly progression from the outer courts of the Lord through the temple nave with its pillars, to the Most Holy Place, where Jesus sits on the throne with His Father. Perhaps the first three letters are blessings of the outer court. More generally, the progression is from the tree of life to the tree of knowledge and rule.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10:58 am
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