Talmud and Advent, part 1

Lightfoot's New Testament commentary using Jewish sources is fascinating. A couple doosies follow. (How do you spell "doozy"?)

In Luke 1, Zacharias burns incense in the temple while the people wait outside, praying silently. After all the busy-ness of other temple service - sweeping out altar ashes, laying on new wood, etc. - the other priests would withdraw, while the one chosen by lot would go right up to the Holy of Holies, by the altar of incense, and burn the incense. Outside, they would pray silently, which was unusual, since they usually spoke their prayers in a normal voice. An angel shows up, saying the prayers are heard, and "Elijah" will be born to Zach and Liz.

Now fast forward to Revelation 8. Sure enough, an angel standing by the altar with a censer is given incense to burn, the prayers of the saints. And while he does that, there is silence (verses 1-3).

Then the angel throws fire down to the earth. Huh. Who called fire down from heaven? You guessed it. Elijah. He proclaims judgment on the earth, just as the following 7 trumpets bring judgment on the earth, in Rev 8-9.