Chapter 1

1:1, 3 - John believes "the time is at hand," and that the things that he writes about in Revelation will "shortly come to pass."

* These verses do not say that "everything will happen very soon."  However, the churches in Revelation chapters 1 through 3 were in existence in John's time and there were specific statements to them, too.  These things did "shortly come to pass."

1:5 - Jesus "washed us ... with his own blood."

* This is a metaphor describing how Jesus Christ has saved us.  He has washed believers' sins clean by the death sacrifice that He gave.

1:7 - This verse claims that "every eye shall see him," including those who executed him. But millions have lived and died without ever seeing him coming "with clouds." The verse further states that everyone on earth will "wail because of him [Jesus].

* At the time of Jesus' Second Coming, every eye will see Him.  This will be a time like no other.  Jesus will destroy the forces of evil.  For more on these events, click here (this is an external web link to JCSM that will require an internet connection).

1:13-16 - Jesus has white hair, eyes of fire, feet of brass, and has a sword sticking out of his mouth.

* These verses are clearly using imagery.  White hair symbolizes wisdom.  The scriptures say His eyes were "as fire" and His feet were "like brass."  The Bible is "sharper than a two-edged sword."  Therefore, this "sword" symbolizes truth and judgment.

1:16 - Jesus holds seven stars in his hand. Of course, it is possible that this is to be taken metaphorically. Perhaps. But it is clear from other verses (6:13, 8:10, 12:4) that John thought of stars as being small, perhaps even small enough for Jesus to hold in his hand.

* These stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches.  This language shows how they are under Jesus' care and protection.

1:17 - Jesus is the first and the last. But is he God?

* Jesus is part of the trinity.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  They are three persons in one, having one character.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

1:18 - Jesus has "the keys of hell and death."

* This is true.  A person is saved by repenting and believing, accepting, and trusting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  If a person does not do this, then they go to Hell.  Jesus holds the keys and He is the judge.

Chapter 2

2:9 - False Jews are members of "the synagogue of Satan."

* Jews meet in a synagogue.  Unbelieving Jews that don't believe Jesus Christ are from the "synagogue of Satan."  They are meeting together and not pleasing God, but pleasing the Devil.

2:13 - Jesus know "even where Satan's seat is." Wow!

* The Creator of all things knows where everyone is located.  Nobody can hide from Him.

2:16 - Repent -- or else Jesus will fight you with the sword that sticks out of his mouth. (Like the limbless knight in Monty Python's "Holy Grail.")

* This passage is warning about God's judgment through Jesus Christ.  People will be judged by the Word of God.  If they disobey and reject God, then they will face war and judgment.

2:18 - John repeats his description of Jesus, saying he has eyes of fire and feet of brass.

* John repeats a similar metaphor and uses the word "like" as He describes Jesus Christ's eyes and feet.  These Greek words for "like" are "homoios" and "hos" and they mean "like or similar in appearance."

2:20 - Jezebel (whom God had thrown off a wall, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs [2 Kg.9:33-37]) is further reviled by John, saying "that woman Jezebel" taught and seduced God's "servants to commit fornication."

* This is a historical account and comparison.  There is nothing contradictory here.  There was a woman compared to the Old Testament person of Jezebel because she was very evil and misleading the saints.

2:22 - Jesus will "cast her [Jezebel] into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her."

* Here is a better translation of verse 22: "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds."

2:23 - Jesus says he will kill the children of Jezebel. (I suppose that includes all nonchristian children.)

* This verse simply foretells Jesus' judgment on the people who reject Him and follow the teachings of this Jezebel.

2:23 - Jesus says he "will give unto every one of you according to your works," which is, of course, contrary to the teaching of Paul (Rom.4:5-6, Gal.2:16, Eph.2:8-9).

* This is correct.  Salvation depends on one's faith.  Rewards depend on works.  This is consistent with all other passages of scripture.

* Galatians 2:16 states that a person is not justified by good works.  This is true and consistent with this passage in Revelation.  Revelation 2:23 states, "I will give to each one according to their works."  If a person has done good, they will be rewarded.  If they have rejected God, they will be punished.

2:23 - What must you do to be saved? Do the right things.

* This verse is mainly talking about judgment.  The wicked will be judged by their works and they will be found guilty because nothing one can do can pay the price for one's sins.  The saved believers will be judged by their faith, then they will be rewarded according to their good deeds.

2:26-27 - Those who obey God/Jesus until the end will rule everyone else with an iron rod. They'll even get to smash the others into smithereens.

* There will be a hierarchy in God's kingdom.  Some people will get more rewards than others.  These verses are simply indicating how the righteous people will be rewarded and will judge the unrighteous.

Chapter 3

3:1 - God has seven spirits. (Counting the Holy Spirit?)

* This passage of scripture mentions seven spirits of God that were protecting the seven churches mentioned in the first three chapters of Revelation.  The Holy Spirit is not one of them.

* The seven spirits of angels of God are mentioned in many other passages of scripture.  You can find them in Revelation 4:5, Revelation 5:6, etc.  You can also see evidence of them by reading Jonathan ben Uzziel's Targum on Genesis 11:7 and Tobit 12:15.

3:9 - God will make "the synagogue of Satan [that would be the Jews] ... come and worship before thy feet." (Whose feet? Well, the feet of Christians, of course!)

* This Greek word for "before" also translates as "in the presence of."  Jesus is telling them that they were going to worship Him in the presence of the other Christians.

* The "synagogue of Satan" doesn't simply refer to Jews.  In this passage, this phrase is describing specific Jews that reject Jesus Christ.

3:11 - John has Jesus lie by saying: "Behold, I come quickly."

* Yes, this verse says, "Behold, I come quickly."  Jesus never said, "Behold, I will be back soon."  Jesus is saying that people need to repent and follow Him because He will return in the twinkling of an eye and there will be no more chances to repent.  This is consistent with numerous other passages of scripture.  See 1 Corinthians 15:52.

3:18 - God recommends that you wear "white raiment" so that "the shame of thy nakedness do not appear."

* This verse reads, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."  Jesus is simply telling people to repent and seek Him for purity and success.  He uses metaphorical language to impress this point on the readers and churches.

Chapter 4

4:7-8 - John sees four beasts, each with six wings and "full of eyes."

* These beasts are created creatures that are in Heaven.  Their existence has been recorded by John and frankly cannot be disputed.  Is there any proof of their non-existence?

Chapter 5

5:5 - Is Jesus a lamb (Jn.1:36) or a lion?

* Jesus is a lion and a lamb.  Just like people have more than one personality trait, so does Jesus Christ.

* This is no problem for the Bible's authenticity or congruity.  There would only be a problem if a verse said, "Jesus is a lion and never a lamb" and another verse said, "Jesus is never a lion and always a lamb" or something to this effect.  However, there are no conflicting or contradicting passages like these.

5:6 - John sees a dead lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. He explains that the seven eyes "are the seven spirits of God."

* This verse says that John saw a Lamb "as though it had been slain."  Yes, he explains the seven spirits of God.

5:14 - "And the four beasts said, Amen."

* This is correct and doesn't conflict with any other passages of scripture.

Chapter 6

6:4 - God gave power to someone sitting on a red horse "to take from the earth ... that they should kill one another."

* God is allowing His judgment to be executed by others.  This has been God's method for judging people for a long time.  He does not do evil, but He allows it to happen, so people can be purified and so justice can be done.

6:8 - God gives Death and Hell the task of indiscriminately killing one quarter of the earth's human population with the sword, starvation, and "with the beasts of the earth."

* This is correct.  People who have knowingly rejected God are being judged for their disobedience and rebellion.

6:10-11 - God's favorites just can't wait until everyone else is slaughtered.

* Verse 9 tells who these people are.  Verse 9 reads, "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held."

6:13 - "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth...." To John, the stars are just little lights a few miles away that can easily fall to the earth.

* These "stars of heaven" refer to gods, goddesses, demi-gods, deified heroes, and other earthly powers and how they will be humbled.

Chapter 7

7:1 - John "saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth." Well, I guess that settles it: the earth is flat and square-shaped, or at least quadrilateral in shape.

* This Greek word for "corners" is also translated "quarters."  This verse is simply telling that there are four angels, on four sides/quarters or areas of the Earth that will aid God in judging sinners.

7:3 - God tells his murderous angels to "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of your God on their foreheads." This verse is one that Christians like to use to show God's loving concern for the environment. But the previous verse (7:2) makes it clear that it was their God-given job to "hurt the earth and the sea" just as soon as they finished their forehead marking job.

* As God judges humankind, as the prophecies in Revelation reveal, some of the earth is harmed.

7:4 - 144,000 Jews will be going to heaven; everyone else is going to hell.

* This verse never says that only 144,000 Jews are going to Heaven and all others are going to Hell.  This verse doesn't even remotely imply this.  In fact, verse 9 through verse 14 clearly show how these 144,000 believers will lead a great multitude to Christ during the tribulation.

7:6 - Genesis 49 lists the twelve tribes of Israel with the verse number in parenthesis. Reuben (3) Simeon and Levi (5) Judah (8) Zebulun (13) Issachar (14) Dan (16) Gad (19) Asher (20) Naphtali (21) Joseph (22) Benjamin (27). Revelation adds Manasses and omits Dan.

* Dan is purposely left out of this passage in Revelation.  The tribe of Dan was the first to practice idolatry and consequently judged by God as inappropriate inheritors and instruments of His grace.

* Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn son and grafted into this line of people by God.

7:14 - Those that survive the great tribulation will get to wash their clothes in the blood of the lamb. Gee, that sounds like fun. But how would washing robes in blood make them white?

* This is a dynamic metaphor describing how Jesus Christ has saved us.  He has washed believers' sins clean by the death sacrifice that He gave.

Chapter 8

8:7-13 - God sends his angels to destroy a third part of all the trees, grass, sea creature, mountains, sun, moon, starts, and water. Hey, that sounds like a good plan.

* This is correct and part of God's judgment of the unrepentant sinners.

8:10 - "And there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters."
In the bible, stars are just little lights that can fall to the ground from the sky.

* John described this object as a "star from heaven."  This could easily be a meteorite or related object that appeared to be a star or like a star.

Chapter 9

9:4-6 - The angels are instructed not to "hurt the grass [how could they? He already had all the grass killed in 8:7] ... but only those men which have not the seal of God on their foreheads." God tells his angels not to kill them, but rather torment them with scorpions for five months. Those tormented will want to die, but God won't let them. You see, he is pro-life.

* Grass grows fairly quickly.  The above passage never said that the grass will never grow, again.

* This Greek word for "grass" also means "courtyard, garden, vegetation," etc.

* God is pouring out His judgment; judgment that people could read and understand for over 2,000 years.

9:7-10 - God makes some horse-like locusts with human heads, women's hair, lion's teeth, and scorpion's tails. They sting people and hurt them for five months.

* This passage uses the word "like" when it describes these creatures.  They had heads "like" human heads.  They had hair "like" women's hair, etc.

* They are another part of God's tribulation judgment on unrepentant sinners.

9:15-19 - Four angels, with an army of 200 million, killed a third of the earth's population.

* This is correct.  It is interesting to note that when John wrote this, an army this large would be a numerical impossibility.  However, China now boasts of an army this large and they are near the same geographical area where this battle takes place.

Chapter 10

10:5-6 - An angel swears. Yet swearing is condemned in Matthew (5:34-7) and James (5:12).

* It is true that this angel makes an oath.

* In James 5:12, James is writing to humans and not angels.  He is emphasizing that people should honor their "yes" and their "no," so they don't have to swear an oath.

* Matthew 5:34-37 doesn't mention any kind of swearing.

10:10 - An angel tells John to eat a book. He does, and it tastes good, but it makes his belly bitter.

* This is correct.  Whether John literally ate the book or simply consumed the contents of this book is unknown.  Nonetheless, in John's supernatural experiences in Heaven, eating this book was a possibility.

Chapter 11

11:4-5 - Anyone that messes with God's two olive trees and two candlesticks will be burned to death by fire that comes out of the sticks and trees' mouths.

* Verse 3 explains who these "two olive trees" and "two candlesticks" are.  They are God's two witnesses.

11:6 - God's magic candlesticks and olive trees have special powers. They can shut up heaven so that it cannot rain (There are these little windows that open up whenever it rains.), turn rivers of water into blood (like the Egyptian magicians [Ex.7:22]), and to smite the earth with various plagues "as often as they will."

* These two witnesses will have the power to do mighty miracles like the ones mentioned.

11:7 - After the candlesticks and olive trees are done talking, burning people to death with the fire that comes out of their mouths, shutting up heaven to prevent it from raining, turning rivers into blood, and killing people with plagues whenever they get the urge, they are killed in a war started by a beast that came up out of a bottomless pit.

* This is somewhat correct.  The Beast will be in the form of a world leader, though.

11:8-10 - After the war between the candlesticks and olive trees on the one hand and the beast that crawled out of the pit on the other, there will be dead bodies rotting, unburied everywhere. And those that are not killed by the candlesticks, trees, or beast will "rejoice over them [the dead bodies] and make merry, and shall send gifts to one another." A good time will be had by all.

* These two witnesses will not be buried, but these verses don't mention other, unburied bodies.

* These witnesses were telling people to repent and doing mighty miracles in Jesus' name.  Therefore, the unbelievers were happy to see them dead.  They rejoiced.

11:13 - God will send an earthquake that will kill 7000 people.

* This is correct.

Chapter 12

12:4 - The dragon's tail smacks down to earth one third of the stars. Wow, that's quite a swipe! But to the author of Revelations, the stars are just little lights that can fall to the ground from the sky.

* This book is called "Revelation."  There was one revelation given to John.

* This passage is telling about the Devil's fall from Heaven to Earth.  "One third of the stars" represents one third of the angels of Heaven.

12:7 - "And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon." So even in heaven, one can't be safe from war or dragons.

* This is describing the battle that happened in the past with the Devil, his angels, and God's angels.

12:12 - The devil, after he is expelled from heaven, is sent down to earth to wreak havoc on its inhabitants.

* The Devil and his angels are expelled from Heaven and go to Earth.

Chapter 13

13:16-18 - John says that wisdom is knowing that the mark of the beast is 666. Everyone will be marked on their right hand or their forehead with this number. (And I thought it was going to be my social security number!)

* John is prophesying about the number of the Beast and how to discover his name.

* When John wrote this, there were no computer chips or anything of this sort.  Now, we have "Beast technology" that is being implemented where people and/or animals can be tracked with a chip in their hand or forehead.  These parts are the most visible and have a thin layer of skin that covers them.  Consequently, they are being used by chip companies like Applied Digital Solutions.

Chapter 14

14:3-4 - Only 144,000 celibate men will be saved. (Those who were not "defiled with women.")

* These verses never say or even imply that only 144,000 celibate men will be saved.

14:7 - Should we fear God?

* Yes, we should fear God.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

14:8 - Drinking the wine of fornication.

* The scriptures say, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city because she made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

14:10-11 - 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."

* This is correct.  People have been warned for centuries that they should not take the mark of the Beast.  If they do, this symbolizes open rejection of God and there will be no forgiveness for this.

14:10-11 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* These verses are referring to the future judgment of unbelievers who worship the beast and his image.

14:19 - "The great winepress of the wrath of God ... was trodden ... and the blood cam out of the winepress, even unto the horses bridles."

* This is metaphorical language that explains God's judgment.

Chapter 15

15:1 - Seven angels with seven plagues are filled with the wrath of God.

* This is true and doesn't contradict any other scriptures.

15:4 - This verse says that only God is holy. But whoever wrote Ps.86:2 said he too was holy.

* Psalm 86:2 reads, "Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; save your servant who trusts in You!"  David's holiness was a state of being.  There are times in the Psalms were David records his lack of holiness.  Human holiness is a temporary state of being because we are always attacked by sinful desires and spiritual warfare.

* God's holiness is part of His character.  His holiness is a part of His being like our sex, either male of female, is a part of our being.  It is inseparable and unchanging.

Chapter 16

16:1-21 - The seven vials of wrath: 1) sores, 2) sea turned to blood, 3) rivers turned to blood, 4) people scorched with fire, 5) people gnaw their tongues in pain, 6) Euphrates dries up, 7) thunder, lightening, earthquake, and hail.

* This is correct.  However, note that these judgments were for people who openly rejected God and would not repent; even after numerous attempts had been made to get them to trust and believe in Jesus Christ.

16:6 - God gave the saints and prophets blood to drink.

* This verse is referring to the water that the angels turned to blood.  They were giving sinners "blood to drink" because they had killed the saints and prophets.

16:13 - John sees three frog-like unclean spirits come out of the mouths of the dragon, beast, and false prophet (Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Mary Baker Eddy, Pat Robertson?).

* Verse 14 indicates who these spirits are and what they do.

16:15 - "Blessed is he that ... keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."

* This is true and this is also metaphorical language for saying that people that embrace God and His righteousness are blessed, clothed, and "covered" (or forgiven) by the blood of the Lamb.

Chapter 17

17:1-16 - The great harlot is described as being "full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication." She has a rather large and prominent sign on her forehead, she will get drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs, she will be made "desolate and naked," and her flesh will be eaten and burned with fire.

* This is true, however "eat her flesh" is a metaphor.

Chapter 18

18:3 - All nations "have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" and kings has "waxed rich through ... her delicacies."

* This is true.

18:8 - To punish her God will send plagues and famine, and "she will be utterly burned with fire."

* This is true, too.

18:9 - Kings have committed fornication and "lived deliciously with her." Then they see "the smoke of her burning."

* This is straight from the Bible, again.

Chapter 19

19:2 - The "great whore" corrupted the earth with her fornication.

* This is correct.  In the Bible, the term "fornication," as in spiritual fornication, generally refers to idolatry.

19:11 - Jesus makes war.

* This is true.  Jesus has many qualities.  In many ways, His wrath and justice are being suppressed, now.  However, there will come a day when He makes war with the Devil.

19:13-15 - Jesus, whose clothes are dipped in blood, has a sharp sword sticking out of his mouth. Thus attired, he treads the winepress of the wrath of God.

* This is metaphorical language, again.

19:17-18 - An angel calls all the fowls to feast upon dead human bodies, or as the angel calls it "the supper of the great God."

* This is correct.

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."

* This is true about the Beast and the false prophet.  Plus, the remaining sinners were slain and this was their judgment for their wickedness and rejection of God.

Chapter 20

20:7-8 - When the thousand years are over, God will send Satan to deceive us all.

* Satan will be loosed.  God's will isn't for His people to be deceived, though.  Perhaps this is why it was written over 2,000 years in advance!

20:9-10 - God will send fire from heaven to devour people. And the devil will be tormented "day and night for ever and ever."

* God will judge the wicked people with fire who join Satan's army.  Yes, the Devil will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.

20:10 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* This verse refers to Hell.

20:12 - Contrary to this verse, the Old Testament says that there is no afterlife.

* Yes, there will be a resurrection of the dead.  Please see "Special Questions" for more on this.

20:12 - This verse says that we will be judged by our works, but Paul (Rom.4:5-6, Gal.2:16, Eph.2:8-9) disagrees.

* This is correct.  Salvation depends on one's faith.  Rewards depend on works.  This is consistent with all other passages of scripture.

* Galatians 2:16 states that a person is not justified by good works.  This is true and consistent with this passage in Revelation.  Revelation 2:23 states, "I will give to each one according to their works."  If a person has done good, they will be rewarded.  If they have rejected God, they will be punished.

* See "Special Questions" for more on this.

20:12-13 - What must you do to be saved? Do the right things.

* These verses mention only part of the judgment.  Yes, works will be judged, but one's faith or lack thereof will be judged first.

20:14-15 - Does Hell exist? Yes.

* These verses are referring to Hell. - Does Hell exist? Yes.

20:15 - Whoever isn't found listed in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.

* This is true.  The Lamb's Book of Life records the saved believers in Jesus Christ.

Chapter 21

21:8 - All liars, as well as those who are fearful or unbelieving will be cast into "the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."

* This verse simply lists some of the sins that unbelievers have that will condemn them to the lake of fire and brimstone.  All sinners need forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Chapter 22

22:7, 12, 20 - John quotes Jesus (1900 years ago) as saying he will come "quickly."

* Jesus' return will be in a twinkling of an eye.  This is describing the rapture and how believers will be instantly taken to Heaven.

* Revelation 3:11 reads, "Behold, I come quickly."  Jesus never said, "Behold, I will be back soon."  Jesus is saying that people need to repent and follow Him because He will return in the twinkling of an eye and there will be no more chances to repent.  This is consistent with numerous other passages of scripture.  See 1 Corinthians 15:52.

22:13 - Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. But is he God?

* Jesus is part of the trinity.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  They are three persons in one, having one character.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

22:15 - John refers to homosexuals as "dogs" and condemns them to hell.

* Homosexuals are never referred to in this verse.  There is not even an implication of "dogs" referring to homosexuals.

22:16 - This verse says Jesus was the "offspring of David." but this is denied in Matthew (1:18, 22:41-45) and Luke (1:34). Notice also that this verse refers to Jesus as the "bright and morning star", as is Lucifer in Is.14:12. So is Jesus Lucifer?

* Matthew and Luke never deny that Jesus was a descendant of David.  Through His earthly parents, Jesus had the right to David's throne.  Jesus was born from a virgin, but this concept of inheriting the right to David's throne via His parents' lineage shouldn't be too difficult to understand.

22:18-19 - 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.

* These verses mention the book of Revelation and not the entire Bible.  This passage is referring to the punishment of people that purposely deceive others by adding to the prophecies in the book of Revelation.