Can you explain Revelation 22:18-19?
Introduction. The passage reads as follows: "For I testify unto every man that hearth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And, if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
An analysis of the passage. There are basically two actions considered, adding and taking away and the attendant consequences of such actions. The warnings are universal and without exception, "any man." The words can be changed by "adding unto" and "taking away." The consequence is severe. The plagues of God shall be upon such an one, such is removed from the book of life, the holy city, and the blessings found in the book.
The teaching forbidding adding to and taking away from is not limited to the book of Revelation. Actually, this same prohibition is found throughout the Bible (cf. Deut. 4: 2, Prov. 30: 6, 2 John 9-11). God has never allowed man to change his message (Gal. 1: 6-9). A current example of adding and taking would be the following: God never required man to speak in an unknown tongue to be saved; hence, when man so requires, he is adding to God's word. God requires the non-Christian to be baptized (immersed in water, Mk. 16: 16); when man omits baptism, he is taking away from God's word.
Conclusion. Dear reader, how we treat God's word is of the utmost importance. The scriptures constitute our authority (1 Pet. 4: 11), and our source of faith (Rom. 10: 17). The word of God shall also judge us in the last day (John 12: 48). We must reverently receive God's word in its purity (Jas. 1: 18-25).
An analysis of the passage. There are basically two actions considered, adding and taking away and the attendant consequences of such actions. The warnings are universal and without exception, "any man." The words can be changed by "adding unto" and "taking away." The consequence is severe. The plagues of God shall be upon such an one, such is removed from the book of life, the holy city, and the blessings found in the book.
The teaching forbidding adding to and taking away from is not limited to the book of Revelation. Actually, this same prohibition is found throughout the Bible (cf. Deut. 4: 2, Prov. 30: 6, 2 John 9-11). God has never allowed man to change his message (Gal. 1: 6-9). A current example of adding and taking would be the following: God never required man to speak in an unknown tongue to be saved; hence, when man so requires, he is adding to God's word. God requires the non-Christian to be baptized (immersed in water, Mk. 16: 16); when man omits baptism, he is taking away from God's word.
Conclusion. Dear reader, how we treat God's word is of the utmost importance. The scriptures constitute our authority (1 Pet. 4: 11), and our source of faith (Rom. 10: 17). The word of God shall also judge us in the last day (John 12: 48). We must reverently receive God's word in its purity (Jas. 1: 18-25).