by Wells, Steve
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
(14-15a) “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all.” This prophecy is from the Book of Enoch (which the author considered scripture and believed was written by Enoch), not from the Bible.
27 Was Enoch the seventh from Adam?
(15b) “To convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken.” (Ungodly was the author of Jude’s favorite word.)
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
(16) “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts.”
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
(17) “Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles.” Jude was written in post-apostolic times, so it’s author could not have been the apostle Jude (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13; cf John 14:22) as believers sometimes claim.
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
(18) “That they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” The author of Jude thought he was living in “the last time.”
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
(22) “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Make a difference in the world by having some compassion.
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
REVELATION
The time is at hand. — Revelation 1.3, 22.10
Everything in Revelation should probably be highlighted, because it’s all violent, cruel, or absurd in one way or another. But that would make it too hard to read, and it’s hard enough as it is.
Revelation has my vote for the worst book in the Bible. And since the Bible, Quran, and the Book of Mormon are the three worst books ever written, that’s saying something.
Here are some highlights:
John believes “the time is at hand,” and that the things that he writes about in Revelation will “shortly come to pass.” 1.1, 3; 22.10
Jesus has white hair, eyes of fire, feet of brass, and has a sword sticking out of his mouth. 1.13-16
“I have the keys to hell and death.” 1.18
False Jews are members of “the synagogue of Satan.” 2.9, 3.9
“Behold, I come quickly.” 3.11; 22.7, 12, 20
Death and Hell kill 1/4 the human population. 6.8
Only 144,000 celibate, male, Jews will be saved. (Those who were not “defiled with women.”) 7.4, 14.3-4
Horse-like locusts with human heads, women’s hair, lion’s teeth, and scorpion’s tails. They sting people and torture them for five months. 9.7-10
Four angels, with an army of 200 million, killed a third of the earth’s population. 9.15-19
An angel tells John to eat a book. He does, and it tastes good, but it makes his belly bitter. 10.10
God will send an earthquake that will kill 7000 people. 11.13
“There was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” Even in heaven, you can’t be safe from war or dragons. 12.7
Those who receive the mark of the beast will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God … and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone … and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever.” 14.10-11
Jesus and his angel friends slaughter people with sickles. 14.14-20
“The great winepress of the wrath of God … was trodden … and the blood came … even unto the horse bridles.” 14.19-20
The great harlot is “full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” She will be made “desolate and naked,” and her flesh will be eaten by kings. 17.1-16
Jesus, whose clothes are dipped in blood, has a sharp sword sticking out of his mouth while he treads the winepress of the wrath of God. 19.13-15
An angel calls all the fowls to feast upon dead human bodies, or as the angel calls it “the supper of the great God.” (Angel food?) 19.17-18
Whoever isn’t found listed in the book of life, along with the fearful or unbelieving, will be cast into the lake of fire. 20.15, 21.8
Anyone who adds to the words in Revelation (or to the rest of the Bible?) will be struck with plagues, and anyone that tries to remove anything from it will have his name removed from the book of life. 22.18-19
REVELATION 1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
(1.1a) “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him … sent … by his angel unto his servant John.” The book of Revelation was revealed to Jesus by God and was delivered by an angel to a guy named John.
(1.1b, 3) “Things which must shortly come to pass … The time is at hand.” John believed that the things that he wrote about would happen soon, within his own lifetime. After nearly 2000 years, believers still believe that “the time is at hand” and that the events described in Revelation will “shortly come to pass.”
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
(1.4) “From the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” The “seven Spirits” are the seven spirits of God (4.5)
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(1.5) “Jesus … washed us … in his own blood.”
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
(1.7a) “He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also which pierced him.” Millions have lived and died without ever seeing Jesus descend from the sky. Such an event, if it ever occurred, could only be seen by all on a flat earth.
377 Will Jesus’ second coming be visible to all?
(1.7b) “All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Everyone on earth will wail because of Jesus.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(1.10-11) John’s vision began when he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He heard a loud voice claiming to be Jesus, telling him to write a book and send it to seven Asian churches.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
(1.10-11) “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice ... Saying, I am Alpha and Omega ... write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.”
(1.12-20) John’s Jesus is surrounded by seven golden candlesticks. He has white hair, eyes of fire, and feet of brass. He holds seven stars in his hand and has a sword sticking out of his mouth.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
(1.12-13) “I saw seven golden candlesticks. And … the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
(1.14-15) “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire. And his feet like unto fine brass.”
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(1.16) “He had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword.”
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
(1.17) “I am the first and the last.”
349 Is Jesus God?
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
(1.18) “I … have the keys of hell and of death.”
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
(1.20) “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
REVELATION 2
(2.1-7) To the angel of the church of Ephesus
Jesus has something against the church of Ephesus. It left its first love and unless it repents, he will take away its candlestick. Still, Jesus and Ephesus have something in common: they hate the deeds of Nicolaitanes. Whoever overcomes, will get the tree of life.
2 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
(2.1) “These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
(2.4) “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(2.5) “I will … remove thy candlestick … except thou repent.”
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(2.6) “Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(2.7) “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.”
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
(2.9-11) To the angel of the church in Smyrna
Jesus knows all about those blaspheming false Jews who are card-carrying members of the synagogue of Satan. Those that overcome will not be hurt by the second death.
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
(2.9) “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
(2.11) “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
(2.13-17) To the angel of the church in Pergamos
Jesus knows where Satan lives: the town of Pergamos! And Jesus has a few things against that town, too. There was that stuff a while back with Balaam and Balac, eating things sacrificed to idols, fornication, and whatnot. But what he really hates is the doctrine of Nicolaitanes. Repent or Jesus will fight with the sword that sticks out of his mouth. Whoever overcomes will get some manna to eat, along with a white stone with their own secret name written on it.
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
(2.13) “I know … even where Satan’s seat is … Among you, where Satan dwelleth.”
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(2.14) “I have a few things against thee.”
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
(2.15) “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.”
16 Repent; or else I will come unto t
hee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
(2.16) “Repent; or else I … will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
(2.17) “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name … which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
(2.18-28) To the angel of the church in Thyatira
Jesus has a few things against Thyatira, too. Jezebel has taught them to fornicate and eat things sacrificed to idols. So Jesus will throw Jezebel and her sex partners into a bed of torture. Then he’ll kill her children (with death). Whoever overcomes will rule everyone else with an iron rod, smashing the others to pieces. Jesus will even throw in the morning star (the planet Venus?) as a bonus prize.
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
(2.18) “These things saith the the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.”
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(2.20) “I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel … to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication.”
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
(2.22) “I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation.”