heavenly throne-room (Rev. 4–5) draws its significance from Old Testament scenes of the heavenly court; the doom of Rome (Rev. 18) is modelled on the prophecies of the doom of Babylon in the prophetic writings. From this briefest of surveys it becomes abundantly clear that the Bible is no ‘flat’ or ‘cold’ presentation of historical, geographical or scientific facts, but rather seeks to express the meaning of God’s dealings with Israel and the nations as they are seen in the light of