The Skeptics Annotated Bible

by Wells, Steve

  (17.16-17) After the war, the ten kings will strip the whore naked, eat her flesh, and burn her body.

  16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

  (17.16) “The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”

  17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

  (17.17) “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will … and give their kingdom unto the beast.”

  18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

  REVELATION 18

  (18.1-3) Babylon has fallen. All nations have drunk the wine of her fornication, and the kings committed fornication with her. Now Babylon is inhabited by devils, foul spirits, and unclean, hateful birds.

  18 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

  2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  (18.1-2) “I saw another angel come down from heaven … saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

  3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  (18.3) “All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her.”

  4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

  5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

  6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

  7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

  (18.8-9) God will send plagues, death, and famine on Babylon, and the kings “who have committed fornication with her” will be sad to see her burn.

  8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

  (18.8) “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire.”

  9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

  (18.9) “The kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.”

  10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

  11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

  12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

  13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

  14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

  15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

  16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

  17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

  18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

  19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

  20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

  21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

  22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

  23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

  24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

  REVELATION 19

  19 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

  2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

  (19.2) “The great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication.”

  3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

  4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

  (19.4) “The four beasts fell down and worshipped God … saying, Amen; Alleluia.”

  5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

  6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

  (19.6) “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth”

  59 Can God do anything?

  7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

  (19.7) “The Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Woohoo! Jesus is finally getting married.

  8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

  9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

  10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

  11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war
.

  (19.11) “He [Jesus] doth judge and make war.”

  355 Is Jesus peaceful?

  440 Does Jesus judge others?

  12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

  (19.12) “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” Jesus has eyes of fire and many crowns on his head. But no one knows his name except for Jesus himself, and he’s not telling (well until the next verse, that is).

  13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

  (19.13) “He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Jesus’ clothes are dipped in blood and his secret name (“that no man knew”) is “The Word of God”.

  (19.14-15) With eyes aflame, many crowns on his head, clothes dripping with blood, a sword sticking out of his mouth, and a secret name, Jesus leads the faithful in heaven into holy war on earth.

  14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

  (19.14) “The armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

  15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

  (19.15) “Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

  16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

  (19.16) “He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Oh Goodie. Jesus has another secret name. He even has it written on his thigh. (Some sort of tattoo maybe?)

  (19.17-18) An angel calls all the fowls to feast upon the flesh of dead horses and human bodies, “both free and bond, both small and great.”

  17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

  (19.17) “I saw an angel … saying to all the fowls … Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God.”

  18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

  (19.18) “Eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men.”

  19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

  (19.20-21) The beast and the false prophet are cast alive into a lake of fire. The rest were killed with the sword of Jesus. “And all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

  20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  (19.20) “The beast … and … the false prophet … were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

  21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  (19.21) “The remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

  REVELATION 20

  (20.1-3) An angel locks up Satan in a bottomless pit for 1000 years. After that God will let him out for a little while.

  20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

  (20.1) “I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.”

  2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

  (20.2) “He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.”

  3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

  (20.3) “And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

  (20.4-6) Those who didn’t worship the beast will become priests and reign with Christ for 1000 years. The rest of the dead will remain dead until the 1000 years is over.

  4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

  (20.4) “They [dead people] which had not worshipped the beast … lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

  5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

  (20.5) “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”

  6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

  (20.6) “They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

  7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

  8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

  (20.7-8) “When the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations.” When the thousand years are over, God will send Satan to deceive people.

  9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

  10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

  (20.9-10) “Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” The people deceived by Satan will be burned to death by God. And the devil will be cast into a lake of fire to be be tormented forever.

  157 Does Hell exist?

  11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

  12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  (20.12) “The dead were judged … according to their works.”

  167 Is death final?

  304 Is salvation by faith alone?

  13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death
and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

  14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

  15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  (20.15) “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

  157 Does Hell exist?

  REVELATION 21

  21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

  (21.1a) “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” John saw “a new earth,” the old earth having been destroyed. But the JWs say, contrary to this verse, that the earth will last forever and will never be destroyed. They have to say this because they believe that heaven filled to capacity (144,000) in 1935. The overflow crowd will stay here on earth.

  314 What’s new?

  147 Will the earth last forever?

  (21.1b) “And there was no more sea.” For an old sailor like me, this verse, if it were true, would be one of the saddest verses in the Bible.

  2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

  3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

  4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

  5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

  6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

  7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.