More Revelation bible difficulties

Here are a few more Revelation bible difficulties by a skeptic called Donald Morgan. The reason I am including difficulties on the book of Revelation is that I spent two years studying the book and writing a commentary on it.

Bible Absurdities compiled by Donald Morgan

Rev 14:1-4 Heaven is to be inhabited in part by 144,000 virgin men who have not been "defiled" by women.

Rev 21:16 The city of New Jerusalem (where the residents of heaven reside) is only about 1500 miles square.

Rev 16:15 When Jesus comes again, he will come like a thief in the night so that those who do not have their clothes [on] will go naked and be shamefully exposed.

Rev 17:16 "They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

Rev 14:1-4 Heaven is to be inhabited in part by 144,000 virgin men who have not been "defiled" by women.

(Rev 14:1-4 NIV) Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. {2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. {3} And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. {4} These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

The problem is that he is is taking it literally in what is a symbolic book. The 144,000 represent the church and the church is the bride of Christ. His bride must necessarily be virgins i.e. spiritually pure. If a virgin had premarital sex, she would become defiled. The church should not defile itself through idolatry. The same greek word translated "defiled" (moluno) is translated in Rev 3:4 as "soiled".

(Rev 3:4 NIV) Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Rev 21:16 The city of New Jerusalem (where the residents of heaven reside) is only about 1500 miles square.

(Rev 21:16 NIV) The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

The problem once again is that he is is taking it literally in what is a symbolic book. The city represents God's people from the old and new testaments. The number 12 is symbolic of God's people in the old and new testament (twelve tribes, twelve apostles). The city is a 12,000 stadia cube, the number 1,000 simply means perfectly complete.. The holy of holies was also a perfect cube.

Rev 16:15 When Jesus comes again, he will come like a thief in the night so that those who do not have their clothes [on] will go naked and be shamefully exposed.

(Rev 16:15 NIV) "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."

Our skeptic apparently finds this verse vulgar or obscene. The problem once again is that he is is taking it literally in what is a symbolic book. It should be clear from earlier references to clothes in Revelation (3:4 and especially 3:18, see also Rev 6:11, 7:14, 19:8) that white clothes refers to the garments of righteousness (Zec 3:3-5).

Rev 17:16 "They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

(Rev 17:16 NIV) The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Our skeptic apparently finds this verse vulgar or obscene. The problem once again is that he is is taking it literally in what is a symbolic book. The woman is a symbolic, and her demise is described in a highly graphic way.

In Lev 21:9 the punishment for being a prostitute was to be burned in the fire. Her end in fire, in which the smoke from her goes up for ever and ever (19:3) also corresponds to the end of the other enemies of God, the devil, the false prophet and the beast who are thrown into the lake of burning sulphur (20:10) and those who worship the beast and his image (14:11, 20:15). These kings eat her flesh just as the birds eat the flesh of kings and generals later in the great supper of God, Rev 19:17.

The imagery uses is rooted in the Old Testament see Ezek 16:37-41, 23:25-29, 31-34, Hos 2:3, Jer 10:25, Mic 3:3, Nah 3:4-5. The end corresponds to that of Jezebel who was devoured by dogs 1 Ki 21:23, 2 Ki 9:33-36.