The Bible (Unmuted)

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 this woman (Mary? Israel?), and how would have the fi...

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? Elijah? Others?) to prophesy? Many modern prophecy...

On 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 small, the weak, the marginalized; the heroes of...

This 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 critique can blossom. Biblical hermeneutics, after all, i...

Christians 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/T...

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 about time (10:6)? There's also the mysterious mes...

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 this cavalry? Is it a demonic ? Is it a human ?...

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 earth and its inhabitants? Does this text describe act...

Matt 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 live out the Christian life. Get a copy of Mark Beuv...

This 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 going on? + + + Check out Matt's newest book: The En...

Here 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 the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Matt 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) Don't forget to subscribe...

Matt 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 efforts?), and the inerrancy of Scripture (is "inerran...

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 taken as a l...

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 should be understood as referring to the fulness of...

There'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 6th seal, the cosmos undergoes a...

What 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 implications of these two verses...

In 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 future events (i.e., a future t...

If 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 bowls ? Are they depicting events that o...

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 texts? Listen to find out! + + + Check out Matt&#...

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 context can shed some meaningful light on...

The Mrs. Halsted takes over the microphone to explain why there's no episode this week. + + + 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 the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Matt discusses the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This event is by no means an isolated, random miracle. To the contrary, it's allusions back to the Old Testament reveal it's true, Jewish context. What allusions can be detected? Why are they important for this text in particular, and how do they contribute to larger story of redemption? Importantly, how can this stor...

In this episode, Matt chats with Joey Dodson, a New Testament professor at Denver Seminary. Their conversation centers around Paul and his theology (and in particular what Paul means by "wretched man" in Romans 7). Joey also talks a bit about Seneca and how knowing about his life and writings can be helpful for modern readers of Paul. A range of other things are covered as well: Paul and...

Have you ever felt (or currently feel) discouraged by the church? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Matt chats with Aimee Byrd about this very issue. In her latest book, The Hope in Our Scars , Aimee offers insights on how to find hope, truth, and beauty for those who have grown disillusioned with the church. In an era when the modern church has become infatuated with power and intoxic...