There is something about good news that makes you want to sing. You know what I am talking about: a “Yes” to your proposal of marriage, the realization that your wife is going to have your long-hoped-for baby, a job offer you simply cannot refuse, etc. Those are the kind of moments in life when Robert Browning’s poem puts it best:   The year’s at the spring; The day’s at the morn; Morning’s at seven; The hill-side’s dew-pearled; The lark’s on the wing; The snail’s on the thorn: God’s in his heaven… All’s right with the world!   That is … Continue reading The Song of Moses and the Lamb (Revelation 15.2–4)

John’s Revelation is to a large extent structured by sevens.   In his commentary on Revelation, Simon J. Kistemaker points out that Jesus dictates letters to seven churches (chapter 2–3). He then makes the following comment: “The number seven precedes many nouns, including spirits (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), golden lampstands (1:12; 2:1), stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1), lampstands (1:13, 20:2:5; 11:4), seals (5:1; 6:1), horns (5:6), eyes (5:6), angels (8:2, 6: 15:1, 6–8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9), trumpets (8:2, 6), thunder (10:3), crowns (12:3), heads (12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 9), plagues (15:1, 6), bowls (15:7; 16:1), hills (17:9), and kings (17:10).” … Continue reading The Finished Wrath of God (Revelation 15.1)