Revelation

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Revelation 22 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Revelation 22 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

(22:2) "The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
In heaven there will be a tree that has 12 kinds of fruit with leaves that will heal nations. And there will be horses of different colors, singing munchkins, and a great and powerful wizard.

As this tree is for the healing of the nations, it probably indicates something that is not just in heaven, but valid in the days we live, the last days. The meaning is that heaven has already started, and this tree of life is already healing nations, and will continue to do so until the end of time.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

(22:4) "His name shall be in their foreheads."
WTF? His name will be in their foreheads? Which of Jesus' many secret names will that be? Will believers have "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" branded on their foreheads like Jesus has tattooed to his thigh? Or "The Word of God" or "Jealous?" And why does God have to mark his followers on their foreheads? Can't he tell the ones that are stupid enough to believe this kind of stuff?

The meaning of Christ's name written on their foreheads is that they are known by their words and actions to be his followers. It is a symbol, not a literal tattoo as the author of the SAB scorns.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

(22:6) "Things which must shortly be done"
All the crazy stuff in this book was supposed to happen soon. And crazy people today still expect it to happen soon.

The things written in this book have been happening, and are happening. The reason why God has not made an end yet is grace (2 Pet. 3:3-10):

... there shall come in the last days scoffers, ... saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of ... the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ... The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, ... but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

(22:7, 12, 20) "Behold, I come quickly."
What the Bible says about the end of the world

See verse 6.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

(22:9) "I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets"
Mormon apologists use this verse to explain the plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormon. (Prophets sometimes send angelic visitors to other prophets to help with the proper wording of scripture.)
Wikipedia: Linguistics and the Book of Mormon

The book of Mormon was undoubtedly written by a great sinner, there is no need for me to defend its author, his life style or his false prophecies.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

(22:10) "The time is at hand."

See verse 6.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

(22:13) "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Is Jesus God?
BOM: Alma 11:39

As the author of the SAB has noted, yes this verse clearly indicates Jesus is God.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

(22:14) "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life."
Is salvation by faith alone?
What must you do to be saved?

You cannot have faith without showing it, else you show you have no faith, it is the same thing. See also Acts 16:30.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

(22:15) "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
"Dogs [homosexuals?], sorcerers, whoremongers, idolaters" and along with anyone who ever told a lie will not enter the heavenly city.

Indeed, those that show with their works they have no faith, are outside heaven.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

(22:16) "I am the root and the offspring of David."
Was Joseph the father of Jesus?(22:16) "I am .. the bright and morning star."
This verse refers to Jesus as the "bright and morning star", as is Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12. So is Jesus Lucifer?

On if Joseph was called the father of Jesus, he is never called that in Scripture, see Matthew 1:18.
On Lucifer, see Is. 14:12 which doesn't mention the word star at all.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

(22:18-19) "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book."
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.

The author of the SAB gives the correct interpretation: the Word of God is closed, there are no additions to be made. And modern translations should be shunned because they rely on just a few corrupted Greek manuscript that have taken away many things out of the word of God.

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.