Un-Passover
The Bible contains some patterns that are frequently repeated. Sometimes these are inverted or reversed to make a point.
An example would be the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23 which provide a common literary structure. Revelation 1-11 follows this heptamerous pattern, with Jesus’ ascension in 4-5 as Firstfruits. Revelation 12-19 also follows this pattern, with the rise of the false prophet and harlot as an ironic counterfeit of Firstfruits.
In Revelation 16, in the second major cycle, the “Ascension” section concerns the fall of Babylon and its internal structure is upside down to make the point. Reaching the end of this second cycle, the “Atonement” section is even more tricksy. Because the seven feasts are chiastic (symmetrical) with Pentecost at the centre (actually the scorching fire of un-Pentecost), Passover (Red Sea) and Atonement (Jordan) correspond (feast 2 and feast 6). So even though the seven bowls deconstruct the Old Covenant feasts – running through their order backwards – the “un-Passover” of bowl 6 is actually the “Atonement” Joshua-conquest of the church, the new Israel. So this bowls section is a subtle see-saw, working from 7 down to 1 for the Old Covenant, and from 1 to 7 for the New. This becomes apparent at bowl 6, when, at Un-Passover, (the new church’s day of covering) old Israel is exposed, uncovered, before God.
Amazing.
