The Skeptics Annotated Bible (997 page)

(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
;