Summary of New Testament From Jewish Point of View Class - January 30, 2023

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Our class was as lively and as fun as always!  Jo Ann, Dan, Ruth, Dave, Karen, Odette, Merrill, Norky, Neil, and Diann attended.  We missed Steve, David, Randy, Robin, Jessica, Kim, Patricia, and Jay and a few others that attend once in a while.

Below is a summary written by Dan of what we discussed:

We read Revelation chapters 21 and 22, and finished the book of Revelation. Jo Ann brought to our attention how part of the passage comprise part of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s’ Messiah. This passage describes the revelation of the new heaven and new earth, and the idea of eternity in a New Jerusalem where God and the Lamb (Jesus)  dwell with humankind. Forever.

A couple of points:

1. The New Jerusalem lacks a temple, saying that the presence of God and the Lamb will be in place of the temple. This contrasts with the Book of Ezekiel, which describes a temple in the world to come. According to the Annotated New Testament some Christian interpreters say this is because Jesus has fulfilled the need for sacrifices in his death. In Handel’s Messiah chorus “And He shall purify the sons of Levi that they may offer a sacrifice unto the Lord in righteousness”, borrowing from Malachi 3:3, it is suggested that sacrifices will continue into eternity. As Rabbi Fox would put it, this is a “tension” between the prophets and John the author of Revelation.

2. How “soon” is soon? Revelation 21 says “he” is coming “soon” or “the time is near” five times. That was 2,000 years ago, so if that is soon, I would hate to see what a long wait would be. 

Addition from Jo Ann:

We will begin the book of Hebrews next week and still have some books in New Testament to complete.  After that we will look at some of the essays in the back of the Jewish Annotated New Testament.  It was good to skip to Revelation, but I’m glad we are done reading such a weird book.



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