In this podcast, author and professor Matthew Halsted helps listeners understand the Bible in light of its ancient cultural and literary context. These episodes dig deep into the world of Scripture, theology, interpretation, and religion. But don't worry: it's not all cerebral. Each episode comes with practical insights to help listeners walk away with something meaningful and applicable from a Christian worldview. Some episodes are standalone, while others are part of a longer series. Many ...
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The Bible Unmuted With Dr Matthew L Halsted Podcasts

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#128: Faith, Doubt, and Prayer: Musings on Jeremiah 20
11:57
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11:57Jeremiah 20 is one of the most interesting passages in Scripture. It records a prayer from the prophet Jeremiah who, having been physically beaten by the priest Pashur and jailed, subsequently utters a very honest prayer to God that is full of doubt and faith. It's a fascinating text worthy of reflection because it nudges us to rethink some of our …
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#127: Resurrection, Joy, and Language: An Interview with Daniel Mikkelsen, Part 2
47:27
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47:27Part 2 of 2 Matt chats with Daniel Mikkelsen (PhD cand., University of Edinburgh) about his research on Christ's resurrection. They focus specifically on 1 Corinthians 15. Daniel also shares about overcoming challenges with dyslexia as a Bible scholar, which requires a lot of reading and writing. Matt and Daniel also discuss the benefits of learnin…
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#126: Resurrection, Joy, and Language: An Interview with Daniel Mikkelsen, Part 1
1:10:27
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1:10:27Part 1 of 2 Matt chats with Daniel Mikkelsen (PhD cand., University of Edinburgh) about his research on Christ's resurrection. They focus specifically on 1 Corinthians 15. Daniel also shares about overcoming challenges with dyslexia as a Bible scholar, which requires a lot of reading and writing. Matt and Daniel also discuss the benefits of learnin…
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#125: A Conference on 1 Enoch: A Discussion with Mike Chu
29:09
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29:09Matt chats with Mike Chu, the academic director of Awakening School of Theology, about an upcoming conference they are hosting on 1 Enoch. Website: https://awkng.com +++ Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Re…
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#124: The Disciple Dojo: An Interview with JM Smith, Part 2
47:15
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47:15Part 2 of 2 James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless…
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#123: The Disciple Dojo: An Interview with JM Smith, Part 1
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54:30Part 1 of 2 James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless…
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#122: Hermeneutics and Geography: An Interview with Dr. John Beck
1:01:19
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1:01:19In this episode, Matt chats with Dr. John ("Jack") Beck. Jack has spent much of his career helping people to see the importance of biblical geography and how becoming familiar with it can help readers better understand the depths of meaning of the biblical text. What is significant, for example, about the physical location of Jesus' baptism at the …
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In this section, Revelation offers an interpretation of the beast's 7 heads and 10 horns. These symbols prove to be highly important and easily discernible -- but they are only discernible when modern readers interpret them in light of an important text in Daniel and when it is remembered how apocalyptic imagery works in the first place (such as in…
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Here's a question we need to ask: How do the endings (plural!) of the Old Testament direct and guide our reading of the New Testament, specifically the Gospels? Listen to find out... +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted R…
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Who is the great prostitute in Revelation 17? And why does she have the name "Babylon" written across her forehead? And, moreover, what is the significance of John seeing her in the "wilderness"? A variety of Old Testament passages and stories -- and even non-canonical texts such as the Sibylline Oracles -- can help modern readers understand the im…
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Matt continues his discussion through Revelation 16 -- the seven bowls of judgment. This passage continues to allude to key sections of the Exodus narrative, specifically the plagues. Matt also draws attention to the way the bowls relate to the seals and trumpets, noting especially the way Revelation depicts a cosmos that is deteriorating. He also …
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In Revelation 16, readers encounter a third cycle of seven judgments -- the "seven bowls." In this episode, Matt looks at the first three bowls and observes similarities with the previous cycle of judgments (the seven trumpets). He also points out the ways in which the bowls are conceptually linked back to the the Egyptian plagues of Exodus and why…
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When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Does this mean that God actually forsook Jesus? Many people think so. But in this episode, Matt offers some reasons why that's not the case at all. +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.…
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#115: Revelation, Part 27 - Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles?
34:47
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34:47Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles -- e.g., seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls? How might the Old Testament help us to understand the logic of Revelation's structure in this regard? And what other biblical prophet depicted divine judgment along the lines of a sevenfold schema? +++ Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon:…
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#114: Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: An Interview with Andrew Perrin
55:39
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55:39Matt chats with Andrew Perrin (PhD, McMaster University) about all things Dead Sea Scrolls. Andrew has written a new book on the subject called Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls. On this episode, Andrew talks about what the Scrolls are, what they contain, and why they are important. If you are serious student of th…
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#113: Q&A - The Dead Sea Scrolls, Studying the Bible in Light of Non-canonical Texts, and More...
43:15
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43:15Matt takes listener questions, which opens up quite a bit of discussion on some fun (and important) topics: Should the church utilize non-canonical texts (such as the Dead Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, etc) for teaching the Bible? How can the Dead Sea Scrolls be useful for understanding the New Testament? Is the academic study of the Bible threatening t…
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#112: Saving Face: An Interview with Aimee Byrd
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46:59Aimee Byrd joins us once again to chat about her latest book, Saving Face: Finding My Self, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church. She offers careful reflections on navigating disillusionment and pain that, sadly, sometimes comes through the church. Aimee's relentless commitment to pursuing the saving face of Jesus Christ is absolutely cont…
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#111: Women in Academia & John the Baptist: An Interview with Amber Dillon, Part 2
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42:06Part 2 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In the previous episode (part 1/Ep #110), we kicked things of…
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#110: Women in Academia & John the Baptist: An Interview with Amber Dillon, Part 1
43:34
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43:34Part 1 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In this episode (part 1), we kick things off by discussing wh…
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Is it ever okay to lie? That's the question Matt takes up on the show today. Interestingly, this question is not merely an ethical one but also has bearing upon larger issues related to theology, anthropology, and hermeneutics. Resources mentioned on the show: (1) David Bentley Hart,You Are Gods: On Nature and Supernature // see chapter 4: Pia Frau…
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Revelation 15 is a remarkable passage, for it offers a vision of a christologized exodus. This is a powerful illustration of the ways in which the New Testament employs Old Testament material and bridges the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the story of Israel -- especially the Exodus story. There are a number of insights this conceptual bridging affo…
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This passage centers around the proclamations and actions of several angels, who play a decisive role in the eschaton. Readers are also confronted with further images of divine judgment. How should one interpret these judgment texts, specifically, the gruesome picture given in v. 20? +++ Support the podcast via Patreon:…
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In Revelation 14:1-5, we meet once again 144,000 people who are marked on their foreheads. This mirrors the content of Revelation 7, furthering the narrative of the text as a whole. But new material is introduced in the process. Matt analyzes this new content, revealing important allusions that tie Rev. 14 back to Old Testament passages found in De…
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#105: Q&A - Evangelism, Imago Dei, and the Story of Scripture
20:02
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20:02Matt answers a listener's question about evangelism, specifically: Should Christians first preach about sinbefore talking about grace? The answer to that question requires a story... +++ Support the podcast via Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: …
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#104: An Interview with Paul Wilson: Acts and Migration
1:01:25
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1:01:25Matt chats with Paul Wilson, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on migration in the book of Acts. This is a topic that not only garners attention among biblical scholars but also among those engaged in modern political discourse. It's a hot topic, to say the least. In this conversation, Paul guides listeners to thi…
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#103: Revelation, Part 23 (Rev. 13:11-18)
50:40
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50:40Revelation 13 describes two beasts: the first rises from the sea, the second from the earth. In this episode, Matt chats about this mysterious second beast. Who, or what, does the land beast symbolize? How would John's first readers have understand this passage? And, moreover, how should modern readers interpret it? Finally, what about the actual m…
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Who (or what) is the beast from the sea in Revelation 13? What clues from the text can we observe that will help us answer this question? Moreover, what insights can we glean from events, persons, and institutions that existed in the first-century Roman world (specifically in the region in and around Asia Minor) that would help us read Revelation 1…
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#101: Revelation, Part 21 (Introduction to Revelation 13)
46:26
46:26
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46:26Revelation 13 is a well-known chapter, containing as it does the infamous "mark of the beast" text. This particular passage (and the chapter as a whole) is often the subject of much discussion -- and speculation. In this episode, Matt offers "big picture ideas" that provide an introduction to Revelation 13, addressing questions, such as: What is im…
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#100: The Christmas Story: Politics, Theology, Hope
32:55
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32:55Most would be surprised to learn that the first Christmas 2,000 years ago had a lot to do with politics—indeed, it radically challenged the politics of the day. But in what way? And how can this help us navigate political life in the modern world? Matt addresses these questions, as well as discusses other theological truths and devotional implicati…
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Revelation 12 is full of Old Testament allusions -- what are they, and how do they help us understand the meaning of John's vision? This chapter also contains an abbreviated re-telling of the life and ministry of Jesus. It's a re-telling that features a woman about to give birth to a baby -- a child that a certain dragon seeks to devour. Who is thi…
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Revelation 11 kicks off by talking about a "temple." Is this a reference to a physical temple? Or is there another way to understand it? How might considering other passages in the New Testament help us in this regard? And who are the two witnesses? Is John saying that, at some point in the future, there will be two individuals who show up (Moses? …
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#97: The Concept of Faith in Luke 17:1-19
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34:02On the podcast, Matt has been going verse-by-verse through Revelation. The core narrative found in this last book of the New Testament is how the weak (the slain Lamb and his people) are victorious over the strong (the dragon and his people). We see this same narrative elsewhere in the New Testament, namely, in the Gospels. There Jesus elevates the…
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#96: Reflections on anti-intellectualism, dialogue, and the need for community
21:49
21:49
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21:49This episode is brought to you from sunny San Diego, where the 2024 annual IBR/SBL/AAR conference was hosted. Matt offers thoughts on the value of academic conferences, not least with respect to the Bible. In short, deep reflection happens best in community, where the back-and-forthness of dialogue can take place and where encouragement and critiqu…
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#95: Restoring the Boundaries: Brief Thoughts on Peacemaking in a Messy World
12:34
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12:34Christians are called to be peacemakers. But what, exactly, does this entail? Specifically, how do we live as peacemakers in a world such as ours? How are we, for instance, called to handle toxic relationships? And how can the story of creation in Genesis 1 help us answer these questions? + + + Support the podcast via Patreon: …
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Revelation 10 introduces a "mighty angel" from heaven. The angel's speech, message, and activities resemble that of an angel depicted in the Old Testament (i.e. in Daniel). But there are also dissimilarities between the two. How might observing these features help us understand Revelation 10, especially with respect to the angel's enigmatic speech …
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The sixth trumpet brings about the release of four angels, who had been bound (imprisoned) at the Euphrates River. Who are these angels, and what's the point of their being bound at a geographical location such as the Euphrates? Readers also encounter a cavalry that numbers 200 million. What's the significance off this number, and what, exactly, is…
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Matt discusses the events that occur at the fifth trumpet. Who is the "star" that Revelation says "had fallen from heaven to earth"? Is this the "destroyer" of Exodus 12? And what relationship do these texts have with Isaiah 14:12-20? Furthermore, what are the locust-beings that come up from the "bottomless pit," and what are they doing to the eart…
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#91: An Interview with Mark Beuving: The Life & Thought of Søren Kierkegaard
1:05:29
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1:05:29Matt chats with pastor and author Mark Beuving about the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, whose thought-provoking writings have captivated readers ever since they were first published. Mark unpacks this intriguing thinker, sharing specifically how Kierkegaard's essays on love and faith could influence our own thinking about what it means to li…
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#90: Q&A: Lazarus and Resurrection; Death and the Intermediate State; Did God offer Job up as a Pawn?
46:27
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46:27This episode comes with an interesting lineup of topics: Why did Jesus allow Lazarus to die? What does the Bible say about death and the intermediate state? Do Christians who have died know what's happening on earth? Do they experience emotion, such as regret? Why would God allow Job to suffer? Did God offer Job up as a pawn or is something else go…
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#89: Does God Still Speak Through Dreams and Visions?
3:22
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3:22Here are some brief reflections on the question of whether God still speak in dreams and visions and how this question relates to biblical texts such as Hebrews 1:1-2. + + + Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It: (link here) Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)! Support th…
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#88: Q&A - Believing Loyalty, Faith, Old & New Covenants, Determinism & Free Will
34:23
34:23
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34:23Matt takes questions about faith as "believing loyalty" and how that relates to the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament (as it relates to obedience), and a question about John 6:65 -- can it be interpreted non-deterministically? + + + Check out Matt's newest book: The End of the World As You Know It: (link h…
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#87: Q&A - Angels, Divine Wrath, Evangelism, Inerrancy
36:39
36:39
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36:39Matt takes listener questions about angels (are they still active in the world today?), God's wrath (who is the destroying angel in the Old Testament? How does divine wrath relate to free will?), the "Romans road salvation plan" (does it capture the full story of the Gospel? How can we better incorporate the story of Israel in our evangelistic effo…
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Revelation 8 raises a lot of questions, such as: Who are the seven angels with seven trumpets? What is the significance of their using trumpets? What is the "great mountain" that is "thrown in the sea"? Is this literally a mountain? How does one interpret the "great star" (called "Wormwood") that falls from heaven (this, after all, can hardly be ta…
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In Revelation 7, there are 144,000 people sealed on their foreheads -- 12,000 drawn from 12 Jewish tribes. What is John describing in this vision? Should we interpret this literally, as a group of 144,000 individual Jewish people? Or is this symbolic for something else? In this episode, Matt dives into the text and offers reasons why the 144,000 sh…
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#84: Revelation, Part 13 (Rev. 6:9-17; 8:1-5)
56:19
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56:19There's a lot to consider in Revelation 6:9-17; 8:1-5. First, after the 5th seal is opened, we read of martyrs under an altar praying to God for justice to be restored to the earth; they are given white robes and told to "rest a little longer." What's significant about their prayer? What do the white robes signify? Second, with the opening of the 6…
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#83: God as Sovereign, Creator, and Sustainer (A Sermon)
34:50
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34:50What do you think of God? What thoughts come to mind when you hear the words "sovereign" applied to him? Do you think of God as a Father -- one who has intimate knowledge of, and deep care for, his creation? In this sermon, Matt unpacks Psalm 147:4-5, which speaks of both God's infinite wisdom/understanding and the comos' contingency/finitude. The …
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#82: Revelation, Part 12 (Rev. 6:1-8)
1:00:05
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1:00:05In Revelation 6:1-8, we encounter "the four horseman of the apocalypse." And, to be sure, there are many questions to consider: Who are these characters? Are they angelic beings (the "good guys?") simply carrying out God's judgment? Or are they sinister forces who are allowed to bring chaos and destruction? Does this text describe exclusively futur…
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#81: Revelation, Part 11 (The Structure of Rev. 6-22)
52:49
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52:49If there's one cardinal rule about interpreting Revelation, it's this: If you want to understand the content of Revelation, it's a good idea to have a grasp on the structure of Revelation. In this episode, Matt addresses this very issue. How, for example, should readers understand the three cycles of judgment -- that is, the seals, trumpets, and bo…
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There's a big reveal in Revelation 5 -- a vision that allows John to get a glimpse into the heart, the way, and the character of God. What does John see that is so extraordinary? How does his vision counter the politics of his day? How might it challenge ours? And how does this vision in particular recall (and shed light upon) key Old Testament tex…
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Some popular prophecy teachers think Revelation 4 references a future "rapture" of the church. In this episode, Matt offers a different take, arguing that such notions read more into the text than is justified. Matt also discusses the many Old Testament texts that comprise the background for the throne room scene in this chapter. In fact, the OT co…
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