V.
As you read this week’s focus passage today, give some thought to how you see it fits or does not fit into the overall Scriptural narrative.

VI.
Revelation 11:15-19 (NRSV)

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord
    and of his Messiah,
and he will reign forever and ever.”

Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, singing,

“We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,
    who are and who were,
for you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.

The nations raged,
    but your wrath has come,
    and the time for judging the dead,
for rewarding your servants, the prophets
    and saints and all who fear your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

VII.

Take a few moments and consider how you might summarize this passage.

Do you find parallels in the Torah?
… in the Psalms?
… in the Prophets?
… in the parables of Rabbi Jesus?

Do any of those address the coming Kingdom of God?  

It seems to me you could find parallels with this passage from the Book of Revelation and the Torah, Psalms, Prophets, and Rabbi Jesus’ parables.

Give some time to consider this.

One more thing – If you do find this theme echoed again and again in Scripture, how does it  impact how you live now as one for whom the Kingdom “has come near.”

Or maybe it doesn’t?  

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}