Friday, January 9, 2009

Coming down from heaven

The grand story, with all of its cartoon-like violent, vivid imagery, sound track and drama, is beginning to wind down. Like Ezekiel, the prophet John describes God's dwelling place with humanity:
Sonra melek beni Ruh'n yönetiminde, büyük ve yüksek bir dağ götürdü. Oradan bana, gökten, Tanrı'nın yanından ince O'nn görkemiyle ışıldayan kutsal kenti, Kudüs'u gösterdrdi. Kentin ışıltısı, çok değerli bir taşın, billur gibi parıldayan ışıltısına benzıyordu.
And now, a few words
  • billur -- crystal
  • parıldamak -- gleam, glitter, twinkle
  • ışıltı -- glitter, twinkle
The prophet describes a gleaming city descending from heaven, from the Divine Presence. I am reminded of John's description of the new birth in chapter 3 of his gospel, as the birth "from above." I am also reminded of the phrase that occurs several times in The Epic of Gilgamesh -- "When kingship was let down from heaven."

Somehow, a new reality, a new kingdom, a new order, shows up in the neighborhood. And the nations have reason to rejoice.

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