The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. //Ever wonder about the origin of the “pearly gates of heaven?” Here it is in Revelation, in black and white. This is where St….

Wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. //Is this what a lost eternity is like? Eternal loneliness, banished from God’s presence? Many subscribe to this more humane interpretation of a lost eternity, rather than eternal torture in the fires of hell. Like comets (wandering stars, in ancient…

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. //Revelation begins with John experiencing a vision of the Son of Man in all his glory. When John saw him, he fell at his feet, as if dead. But Jesus touched John, and gave him…

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” //Please forgive me for taking a break from commentary to climb on my soapbox a moment. It’s important to me to be tolerant of various religious beliefs, including atheism, so, naturally, this is not a verse I much appreciate. But I…

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. //Jesus, newly-resurrected, appears to his disciples as they are fishing in Galilee. He tells them to draw in the nets and cast them over…