Above: The Last Judgment, by Michelangelo
Image in the Public Domain
Daniel and Revelation, Part II: Settling Scores
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Daniel 3:1-30
Psalm 122 (Morning)
Psalms 141 and 90 (Evening)
Revelation 20:1-15
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The imagery of fire unites the readings from Daniel and Revelation. King Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadrezzar) II orders Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego–all righteous, observant Jews–thrown into the fire. But they emerge unscathed. Yet, at the Last Judgment, in Revelation, the unrighteous face an unpleasant fate, one described metaphorically as
the burning lake.
–verse 15, The New Jerusalem Bible
These are stories about settling scores.
Certain Chaldeans came forward to slander the Jews.
–Daniel 3:8, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
But God is the one settling scores in Revelation 20 as part of the process of destroying the old, unjust world order before establishing the new, just world order.
Which side of God–good or bad–are you on, O reader?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 5, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT BONIFACE OF MAINZ, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/daniel-and-revelation-part-ii-settling-scores/
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