The Skeptics Annotated Bible (831 page)

21
And
he
looked up, and
saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury
.

2
And
he saw also
a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

(21.1-2) “He … saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And … a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.”

3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that
this poor widow hath cast in more than they
all:

(21.3) “This poor widow hath cast in more than they.”

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

(21.7-27)

Before the end of the world there will be many false Christs that claim the end of the world is near (Don’t believe them) (8), there will be “wars and commotions” (but ignore that) (9), along with earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and “fearful sights” and “great signs from heaven” (11).

Believers will be arrested and persecuted by Jews, who will throw them in prison (12); friends and family will betray each other, some will be put to death (16); and believers will be hated by everyone (17). But don’t worry. Not a single hair on your head will be hurt (even if you are killed) (18).

When you see armies around Jerusalem, then you’ll know desolation is near (20). It’s time to head for the hills. Unless you’re a pregnant or nursing women, that is (23). Then you’re just fucked. Too bad for you.

God’s wrath will be on everyone with dead bodies all over the place and Jerusalem will be trodden on by Gentiles until “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (24). There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, with lots of waves in the sea (25).

Everyone will be afraid of everything (26) and then they’ll see the Son of Man coming in all his glory. (27)

Oh, and all these things will happen within the lifespan of Jesus’ contemporaries (32).

7 And they asked him, saying,
Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

(21.7) “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”

8 And
he said
, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

(21.8) “He said … many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

9 But
when ye shall hear of wars and commotions
, be not terrified: for
these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

(21.9) “When ye shall hear of wars and commotions … these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.”

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

11 And
great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

(21.11)
“Great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”
320 Should we look for signs in the heavens?

12 But before all these,
they shall
lay their hands on you, and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

(21.12)
“They shall … persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”

13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And
ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

(21.16) “Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.”

17 And
ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

(21.17)
“Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.”

18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

(21.18)
“But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

20 And
when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

(21.20)
“When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But
woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days!
for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

(21.23) “Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days!”

24 And
they shall fall by the edge of the sword,
and shall be led away captive into all nations:
and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

(21.24) “They shall fall by the edge of the sword … and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

(21.25)
“There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars … the sea and the waves roaring.”
4 Does the bible condemn astrology?