Don't Add to This Prophecy Revelation 22:18

After sharing much of the beauty of the heavenly city and looking upon the wonders that shall be there, Jesus declared to John the apostle, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” John continued, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” John added, “And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” In Revelation chapter twenty-two and verse eighteen John warns, “every man...If any man add unto these things” where we read:

For I testify unto every man that hears 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:

The verse reads, “For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, ...” John began with the word, “for” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then and therefore” “I testify” which refers to “John bore witness” “unto every man” which means “toward each, the whole and all people whether male or female” “that hears” or “who is endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, attends to, considers, understands and perceives” “the words” or “the speech, what is declared, thoughts, aphorisms, dictums and maxims” “of the prophecy” which refers to “the discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked or comforting the afflicted or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events” “of this book” or “belonging to this scroll, written document and sheet”. John heard this declaration to every person who “hears” the “prophecy” within this book of Revelation.

The verse goes on to say, “... If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” John continued with the word, “If” which means “whether” “any man” which refers to “any person who is male or female” “shall add” which means “imposes, lades, lays upon, puts on and sets on” “unto these things” or “toward the prophetic things written in this book”, “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “shall add” or “will impose, lade, lay upon, put on and set on” “unto him” which refers to “toward that person whether male or female” “the plagues” or “the blows, stripes, wounds, calamities and heavy afflictions” “that are written” which means “that are delineated or formed with letters” “in this book” or “within this scroll, written document and sheet”. John warned anyone who “adds” to the “things” written in this book that they shall suffer the “calamities” and “plagues” written within the book added to their lives.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we must see this as a strong warning to every person who “hears” the words of Revelation. No one is to “add to” this book, and if they do, they shall suffer the “plagues” within it. God issues this warning to keep people from suffering these things, and His word is sufficient without anyone “adding” anything more to it. God desires to “save” every person who will yield themselves to His Son Jesus, and when they do, He shall give them “everlasting life”. Those who “add to” this book or ignore God's invitation shall suffer more than the “plagues” within this book as they shall be banned from relating to Him forever.

Next time John shares what happens, “if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy” more, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.