After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter”. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold:
A throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
-Revelation 4:1-3
Although there are a couple of places that the language caused me to wince (not sufficiently respectful) as I read this, I also thought that it is by and large a pretty good presentation of the gospel, and likely to be read by a very great many who have never heard. It made me look around to figure out what direction she is coming from: here is an account from an observer.
Q. Of what did God form Adam?
A. Of the dust of the ground after it had been watered by the mist.
Q. How did man become a living soul?
A. The Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
Q. What two trees were in the midst of the garden of Eden?
A. The tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Q. Of which tree were Adam and Eve commanded not to eat?
A. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Q. What was the penalty for eating of it?
A. Death.
Q. Who named the animals and the birds?
A. Adam.
Q. How did God make Eve?
A. From Adam’s rib, while Adam slept.
“And Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
01-02-2010
Others are: mom, wow, swims (wait, that last one has to be turned upside-down to work!).
Q. When did God create?
A. In the beginning.
Q. What did God create on the first day?
A. Light.
Q. What did God create on the second day?
A. Heavens.
Q. What did God create on the third day?
A. Land and plants.
Q. What did God create on the fourth day?
A. Lights.
Q. What did God create on the fifth day?
A. Fish and birds.
Q. What did God create on the six day?
A. Animals and man.
Q. What did God do on the seventh day?
A. Rest.
- Genesis 1
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see.
Oh, that Birth forever blessed!
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Saviour of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred Face.
O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel-hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring.
Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, d. 413
Translated by J. M. Neale, 1854
From the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, 1919,
The Hymnal, No. 20
Chant line of ‘Evermore and evermore’ left off each verse.
“You told me, I remember, glory built
On selfish principles, is shame and guilt;
The deeds that men admire as half divine,
Stark naught, because corrupt in their design.
Strange doctrine this! that without scruple tears
The laurel that the very lightning spares;
Brings down the warrior’s trophy to the dust,
And eats into his bloody sword like rust.”
William Cowper, from Table Talk, in The Poetical Works of William Cowper, (London: Oxford University Press), 40.
written in 1781
