I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
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Revelation 22:18-19 sits inside this longer paragraph.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
Parallel Translations
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I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
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I testifye vnto every man that heareth the wordes of prophesy of thys boke. yf eny man shall adde vnto these thynges god shall adde vnto him the plages that are wrytten in this boke.
And yf eny man shall mynyshe of the wordes of the boke of this prophesy god shall take a waye his parte out of the boke of lyfe and oute of the holy citie and from thoo thynge which are written in this boke.
Show all 3 translations
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For I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the prophecie of this booke, If any man shall adde vnto these things, God shall adde vnto him the plagues, that are written in this booke:
And if any man shall diminish of the wordes of the booke of this prophecie, God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life, and out of the holie citie, and from those things which are written in this booke.
Cross-references (40)
- Deuteronomy 12:32 (v18) Whatever thing I command you, that you shall observe to do. You shall not add to it, nor take away from it.
- Deuteronomy 4:2 (vv18–19) You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your…
- Proverbs 30:6 (v18) Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
- Revelation 1:3 (vv18–19) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.
- Matthew 15:6-9 (v18) he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. You hypocrites! Well did…
Show all 38 cross-references
- Revelation 22:7 (v18) “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
- Leviticus 26:18 (v18) “ ‘If you in spite of these things will not listen to me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.
- Luke 11:52 (v19) Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.”
- Leviticus 26:24-25 (v18) then I will also walk contrary to you; and I will strike you, even I, seven times for your sins. I will bring a sword upon you that will…
- Leviticus 26:28 (v18) then I will walk contrary to you in wrath. I will also chastise you seven times for your sins.
- Revelation 22:2 (v19) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit…
- Psalms 69:28 (v19) Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
- Matthew 15:13 (v18) But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 (v18) that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as…
- Revelation 15:1 (v18) I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.
- Revelation 21:2 (v19) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
- Revelation 21:22-27 (v19) I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for…
- Exodus 32:33 (v19) Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book.
- Leviticus 26:37 (v18) They will stumble over one another, as it were before the sword, when no one pursues. You will have no power to stand before your enemies.
- Ephesians 4:17 (v18) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
- Revelation 3:4-5 (v19) Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who…
- Revelation 3:12 (v19) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of…
- Revelation 3:14 (v18) “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these…
- Revelation 15:6–16:21 (v18) The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. One…
- Revelation 19:20 (v18) The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the…
- Revelation 22:12 (v19) “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
- Revelation 22:16 (v18) I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and…
- Revelation 2:7 (v19) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,…
- Revelation 2:17-18 (v19) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I…
- Revelation 2:26 (v19) He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
- Revelation 3:21 (v19) He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.
- Revelation 13:8 (v19) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life…
- Revelation 14:10-11 (v18) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and…
- Revelation 14:13 (v19) I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they…
- Revelation 20:10 (v18) The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be…
- Revelation 20:15 (v18) If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
- Revelation 2:11 (v19) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.
- Revelation 7:9-17 (v19) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and…
38 distinct cross-references across this passage (40 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (19 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v18 The obtestation of Saint John (which is the third…
The obtestation of Saint John (which is the third place of the confirmation, as was noted, verse 6) joined with a curse of execration, to preserve the truth of this book entire and uncorrupted, in two verses.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv18–19 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth…
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth 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:
Ver. 18. If any man shall add unto these things] Either to this or to any of the foregoing books of Scripture, Deu 4:2; Pro 30:6; Gal 3:15; 2Ti 3:16-17. All which notwithstanding, the Jews have added their Deuteroseis, the Turks their Alfurta, the Papists their unwritten verities, which they equalize (at least) to the Scriptures.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v18 Here we have a dreadful commination and severe threatening…
Here we have a dreadful commination and severe threatening denounced by Christ against all such as shall add any thing to the scriptures in general, and to this prophecy in particular; not by way of true interpretation, but either formally, by joining any thing to be received as scripture which God never revealed to be such; or virtually, by putting such a sense and meaning upon scripture as God never intended, and the words cannot rationally bear.
Almighty God here declares, that he will add to such his plagues, and shut them out of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of heaven: and if so, learn we what great guilt the church of Rome contracts, and what a dreadful curse she lies under, by making oral tradition of equal authority with the scriptures, and by adding new articles of faith, new points of doctrine: which is, in effect, to accuse God of ignorance or inadvertency.
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True, the doctrine of christianity is a tradition; it was delivered by Christ to the apostles, and by the apostles to their successors; but now they being long since dead, we cannot receive from them the doctrine of life by word of mouth, but must stick to the scriptures or written word, for these things were written for our sake. But if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.
We reject not all traditions, because scripture itself is a tradition; but we blame the church of Rome, and deservedly sure, for making her private unwritten traditions of equal authority with the scriptures, and for urging that they ought to be received apri pietatis affectu, with the same pious affection with which we receive the holy scriptures.
And thus they set their post by God’s post, and equal their traditions with the doctrines of faith: thier opinion is bad, but their practice is worse; for they value their own traditions above the scriptures, and prefer them before the scriptures; they never called their own traditions " a nose of wax, and dead letter, a dumb rule, an obscure doctrine;" but in this manner have they stigmatized the holy scriptures; and how they will escape Christ’s severe commination here before us, for adding to, and taking from, the word of God, concerns them to look to it; for they must certainly answer for it at the bar of God.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv18–19 For I testify to every man,.... These are not…
For I testify to every man,.... These are not the words of a scribe, who having wrote out a copy of this book, added the following adjuration to it, to deter persons from adding to it, or diminishing it; for the book is not yet finished, and both Christ and John speak after this; and to insert such a passage into the text would be a bold and daring action; nor are they even the words of John, the inspired writer of it, but of the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, as appears from Rev 22:16 who in a most solemn manner declares to every man, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever character, or however dignified, either in a civil or ecclesiastic way,
that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book read or explained,
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if any man shall add unto these things. To "add" to the things contained in this book, is not to deliver, or write an exposition of it, in a modest manner, with a sincere view to give light into it, agreeably to the analogy of faith; for to expound Scripture, or to preach from it, consistent with it, is not to add unto it, but to give the sense of it; but then may it be said to be added unto, and so this book, when it is wrested and perverted, and a false gloss is put upon it, as the Pharisees did upon the law; and when unwritten traditions are made to be equal to it, or above it, as the same persons made the traditions of the elders, whereby they transgressed the law, and made the word of God of none effect, and so broke through the precept given, Deu 4:2 as do the Papists in like manner; and when men pretend to visions and revelations, and make them the rule of faith and practice, and to confirm things that are neither in this book, nor in any other part of the word of God; and when men interpolate it, and set up human fictitious writings upon equal authority with it; which shows the authenticity of this book, and of all the whole Scripture, and the perfection of it, whose canon is closed with it: the punishment of such a crime follows,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; the things threatened to the antichristian party, Rev 2:22 the seven last plagues in which the wrath of God is filled up, which will be inflicted on the same, Rev 16:1, the lake of fire and brimstone, into which the beast, the false prophet, the devil, and all wicked men will be cast, Rev 19:20 see Pro 30:5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v18 I testify to every one, &c. - From the…
I testify to every one, &c. - From the fulness of his heart, the apostle utters this testimony, this weighty admonition, not only to the churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear this book. He that adds, all the plagues shall be added to him; he that takes from it, all the blessings shall be taken from him; and, doubtless, this guilt is incurred by all those who lay hindrances in the way of the faithful, which prevent them from hearing their Lord's "I come," and answering, "Come, Lord Jesus." This may likewise be considered as an awful sanction, given to the whole New Testament; in like manner as Moses guarded the law, Deut. iv, 2, and Deut. xii, 32; and as God himself did, Mal. iv, 4, in closing the canon of the Old Testament.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv18–19 Verse 18. If any man shall add] Shall give…
Verse 18. If any man shall add] Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, he, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v18 Rev 22:18-19. For I testify — Here the Lord…
Rev 22:18-19. For I testify — Here the Lord Jesus adds a solemn admonition, not only to the churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear or read this book. To him that adds to the things contained in it, shall all the plagues mentioned in it be added; and from him that takes away from the words of this prophecy shall the blessings spoken of in it be taken. And doubtless this guilt is incurred by all those who lay hinderances in the way of the faithful, in order to prevent them from hearing their Lord’s words, I come, and answering, Come, Lord Jesus. This may likewise be considered as an awful sanction given to the whole New Testament; in like manner, as Moses guarded the law, (Deu 4:2; Deu 12:32,) and as God himself did, (Mal 4:4,) in closing the canon of the Old Testament. It is true, however, that this solemn caution particularly refers to this book of the Revelation. But, as Doddridge observes, “God forbid we should imagine every honestly mistaken criticism, where there is a question respecting receiving or excluding any particular verse, should affect a man’s salvation, in consequence of what is here said. Such a passage, however, should make men very cautious, that they may not rashly incur any censure on this account; though, undoubtedly, the terror of the threatening is planted against any designed erasement or addition.” It may be observed further on this verse, that since God threatens the plagues written in this book, and the loss of a part in the holy city, as what might be the portion of those who should presume to corrupt it, and such corruption might happen in any age of the church, — it is very evident that the holy city spoken of in the preceding chapter is a representation of the heavenly state to be enjoyed by all good men; how applicable soever it may seem to any glorious scene preceding the final judgment: and that Rev 20:11-12, refers to the universal judgment.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv18–19 For I testify - The writer does not specify…
For I testify - The writer does not specify who is meant by the word “I” in this place. The most natural construction is to refer it to the writer himself, and not to the angel, or the Saviour. The meaning is, “I bear this solemn witness, or make this solemn affirmation, in conclusion.” The object is to guard his book against being corrupted by any interpolation or change. It would seem not improbable, from this, that as early as the time of John, books were liable to be corrupted by additions or omissions, or that at least there was felt to be great danger that mistakes might be made by the carelessness of transcribers. Against this danger, John would guard this book in the most solemn manner. Perhaps he felt, too, that as this book would be necessarily regarded as obscure from the fact that symbols were so much used, there was great danger that changes would be made by well-meaning persons with a view to make it appear more plain.
Unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book - The word “heareth” seems here to be used in a very general sense. Perhaps in most cases persons would be made acquainted with the contents of the book by hearing it read in the churches; but still the spirit of the declaration must include all methods of becoming acquainted with it.
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If any man shall add unto these things - With a view to furnish a more full and complete revelation; or with a profession that new truth had been communicated by inspiration. The reference here is to the book of Revelation only - for at that time the books that now constitute what we call the Bible were not collected into a single volume. This passage, therefore, should not be adduced as referring to the whole of the sacred Scriptures. Still, the principle is one that is thus applicable; for it is obvious that no one has a right to change any part of a revelation which God makes to man; to presume to add to it, or to take from it, or in any way to modify it. Compare the notes at 2Ti 3:16.
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book - These “plagues” refer to the numerous methods described in this book as those in which God would bring severe judgment upon the persecutors of the church and the corrupters of religion. The meaning is, that such a person would be regarded as an enemy of his religion, and would share the fearful doom of all such enemies.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v18 I, John, testify and bear witness of all the…
I, John, testify and bear witness of all the truths contained in this revelation: If any man shall add to these things, he becomes guilty of sin, and makes himself liable to the punishments and plagues that are written in this book. (Witham)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv18–19 For I testify--None of our manuscripts have this. A,…
For I testify--None of our manuscripts have this. A, B, Vulgate, and ANDREAS read, "I" emphatic in the Greek. "I testify."
unto these things--A, B, and ANDREAS read, "unto them."
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add . . . add--just retribution in kind.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv18–19 18. For—This word is pronounced spurious by the best…
18. For—This word is pronounced spurious by the best authorities.
I testify—Who, here, testifies? The testifieth of Rev_22:20 shows that it is Jesus.
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Add unto these things—With purpose to corrupt the apostolic truth. The words refer not so much to additions to the text of the manuscript, as to the adding unholy falsehood to holy truth.
God shall add unto him—Remaining unrepentant.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv18–19 The final Testimony of the Seer and his Benediction,…
The final Testimony of the Seer and his Benediction, Rev_22:18-21
18. For I testify] Omit “for.”
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If any man shall add &c.] Deu_4:2; Deu_12:32. The parallel of those passages proves, that the curse denounced is on those who interpolate unauthorised doctrines in the prophecy, or who neglect essential ones; not on transcribers who might unadvisedly interpolate or omit something in the true text. The curse, if understood in the latter sense, has been remarkably ineffective, for the common text of this book is more corrupt, and the true text oftener doubtful, than in any other part of the N. T. But it may be feared that additions and omissions in the more serious sense have also been frequently made by rash interpreters. It is certain that the curse is designed to guard the integrity of this Book of the Revelation, not to close the N. T. canon. It is not even certain that this was the last written of the canonical books.
unto these things] Better simply unto them: an unemphatic pronoun being used. Though it cannot grammatically refer to “the words of the prophecy,” i.e. it no doubt does so refer ungrammatically.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v18 (18-19) I testify unto every man that heareth.—Omit “For,”…
(18-19) I testify unto every man that heareth.—Omit “For,” and read, I testify to every one that hears . . . The “I” is emphatic; it introduces the final warning; the revelation must not be tampered with. If any one shall have added to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if any one shall have taken away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his portion from the tree of life, and out of the holy city which are written (or printed) in this book. We may compare Deu_4:2; Deu_12:32. The words are a solemn protest against the spirit which handles rashly or deceitfully the word of God; which adds its own thoughts, or makes its wishes the parent of its interpretations; which dilutes the force of its warnings, or impoverishes the fulness of its promises. The right of continual access to the tree of life was the promise of Rev_22:14; this right or freedom is forfeited by those who deal falsely or faithlessly by the words of Christ here. In a minor degree, it is true that those who leave this book unstudied and unprayed over, lose much spiritual sustenance and comfort. How much more do they lose who trifle with it, ignore its spiritual teachings, and sin against the laws of that kingdom whose progress it so vividly portrays.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv18–19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the…
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. Omit "for." The pronoun "I" is emphatic. Here is the solemn appendix or seal of the veracity of the book, somewhat similar to the prefatory words in Rev_1:1-3. This is the fulfilment of the duty laid upon St. John in Rev_1:1, not an announcement of our Lord himself. (cf. the wording of Rev_1:3) If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; cf. the command in Deu_4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it" (Revised Version). "The plagues that are written in this book" are those of the seals, the trumpets, the vials, the doom of Babylon, etc.; cf. the command of St. Paul to Timothy, (2Ti_1:13) and cf. also what is said in 2Ti_2:16-18 concerning the heretical teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
Vers. 18, 19. Closing words of warning.
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It would be deemed an unpardonable offence for an ambassador to add words to, or to subtract them from, any royal mandate which he was commissioned to deliver. And if any one in dispensing a physician"s prescription, when the life or death of a patient trembled in the balance, were wantonly to tamper with it, what condemnation could be too severe? Yet we fear that the tendency of many in our day is to treat a message in this book far more lightly than they would any important official human document; and instead of sympathizing with the words before us, and adding their reverent "Amen," they would in all probability either condemn the severity of these words, or else pass them by as out of date and altogether effete. On this account we deem it needful, in approaching the close of our expositions, to look into these verses with special care. We will first inquire what additions to the book or subtractions from it we may suppose men to make, from what we know of human treatment of the Word of God. We propose then to see what is the threatening here denounced against such. Having done this, we will endeavour to ascertain reasons for a sentence so severe. Then we shall be prepared to see how this passage may help us in the formation of religious thought, and how it may bear practically on the life.
I JUDGING FROM WHAT WE KNOW OF THE FACTS OF HISTORY, IN WHAT WAY MAY MEN BE SUPPOSED TO ADD TO OR TO SUBTRACT FROM THIS BOOK? The words of the text evidently embrace any kind of treatment of this Book of the Apocalypse which seemed to assume that a man was at liberty to take the book into his own hands, and to deal with it as he thought fit. Men do this:
1. If they put any merely human production alongside of it as if it were on a level therewith.
2. If they distort the book at pleasure to make it fit in with a preconceived theory about it; e.g. a preconceived and extreme theory of evolution is even now (1889) leading some to treat the old book most unfairly.
3. If they summarily reject the account which the book gives of itself, out of dislike to the supernatural, or from hostility to the principle of authority in religion.
4. If they make a human interpretation of the book of equal dignity or authority with the book itself.
5. If they deny and disown any of those great doctrines which are in wrought into the very texture of the book; e.g. the glory of Christ"s Person; the meaning of his work; the reality of his administration; the freeness of his grace; the certainty of his victory. These and cognate doctrines pervade the entire Apocalypse, and to omit, ignore, deny, or condemn them, from wilful refusal to submit to Divine authority, would be to commit the sin which is here exposed to view. The words of the Apocalypse as a whole, and of these two verses in particular, are not human; they are Divine. We should hear a voice saying, "Take thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
II WHAT IS THE THREATENING HERE UTTERED AGAINST THOSE WHO TAMPER WITH THE ROOK? The threatening assumes a positive or negative form according to the positive or negative form of the sin. In the one case it affirms that any actual and wilful ill treatment of, or adding to this book, will bring down the curse of God upon the guilty one"s head. In the other case, it declares that any rebellious rejection of the divinely revealed doctrines of this book will incur rejection from God.
III CAN WE DISCOVER REASONS FOR A SENTENCE SO SEVERE? Certainly we can: seven.
1. The book is Divine in its origin; it is, therefore, too sacred for human hands to mar. (For treatment of the question of the origin of this book, see our first homily in this section) In ver. 16 we have the explicit statement, "I Jesus have set mine angel," etc. In ver. 18 we have the emphatic Marturw egw beginning the verse. It is not absolutely clear whether the speaker in the second ease is Jesus himself or his angel. If the latter, the angel testifies for Jesus. If the former, Jesus speaks for himself. Either way the testimony is divinely authorized, and therefore must ever be too sacred for the trifier"s touch.
2. The book is a Divine manifesto to the Churches; therefore no others can have any right to touch it. It was given at first to those who loved our Lord, that they might keep and shield it. And any one professing to be an ambassador for God, who wilfully tampers with it, is false to his commission from the throne. What nation would bear with its sovereign"s legate, if he were known to add, alter, or delete a word issued from the throne? He would be visited, and rightly, with penalties of terrible severity. Is God"s sanction to be less stern?
3. The book is a disclosure of the future; and no one can possibly be competent to alter a single word of his who sees the end from the beginning. To disclose in a succession of parabolic or symbolic settings the future scenes which are to appear, and that in their order, is a task to which none but God himself can possibly be equal. Therefore the visions must remain untouched.
4. The book is a declaration of doctrine of doctrines on which souls live and grow and thrive; and therefore it is a very serious thing to meddle therewith. By contrary teaching, men may be led astray and ruined for time and for eternity. If there be a reservoir which supplies a town with water, or a well springing up in a barren land, the only one from which a traveller could drink, what curses would be yea, ought to be pronounced against him who should poison either the one or the other? Is it a less serious thing to poison the wells from whence the living water is drawn?
5. The book abounds in words of consolation; of the supports of which men may not be deprived. Few books in the Word of God are richer in consolation than this closing one; and who can estimate the guilt of depriving millions of souls of the words of solace uttered from the eternal throne? To strike a thousand men at once with paralysis would be nothing to such a crime as this!
6. The attempt to substitute human words for the Divine is unspeakably rash. For our part, we have ever felt that it would be a sheer impertinence if we were to take it upon ourselves to guide men through this life to the life to come, if we had not a "Thus saith the Lord" for every direction we gave. But if, when the Lord has spoken, any man deliberately substitutes words of his own, this is an action which no words of ours can adequately characterize.
7. There is desperate wickedness in that disloyalty and rebellion which would play fast and loose with the words of this book. We may not lose sight of the fact that this censure is here pronounced, not merely because of an evil act, but on account of the wickedness of heart which can consent to an act so evil. Any one who can deliberately handle the Word of God deceitfully commits a crime in sacred things, which society would absolutely refuse to tolerate in the common affairs of life. What place could such a one possibly find in the holy city? So far, then, from thinking the sentence even seemingly severe, we deem it one of the clearest proofs of Divine kindness and care that he has thrown the guard of so solemn a sanction around words which are meant for our guidance through this life to that which is to come. For the fact is that God"s severity to the trifler is the outcome of his care for us all.
IV LET US SEE WHAT BEARING THIS PASSAGE HAS ON THE FORMATION OF THOUGHT AND ON THE DIRECTION OF LIFE.
1. It should lead us to admire the wonderful concern of God for our guidance and safety in thus guarding for us his own message of love. We ought not for a moment to forget that for our sakes these words were written; for our sakes they have been preserved till now through fire and flood, and all the vicissitudes of earth. We can quite imagine a man under the influence of unbelief or hostility, taking fire at such a passage as this, deeming it a flash of fiery wrath directed against himself. But in so doing he would totally misapprehend the words. They are fraught with terror only to those who wilfully pervert them. And we have no hesitation in saying that menace to such is mercy to the rest. Is it no safeguard to the people to be told that the enemy shall not be permitted with impunity to poison the wells of living water? Whoever robs a people of their dearest treasure will have to smart for it. God"s goodness to us ensures that.
2. The words should lead us to admire and adore the far seeingness of the great Inspirer in inditing such words as these. For who does not know that one "Church," at any rate, has heaped words on words, and added them to the faith, to be accepted under pain and penalty of anathema sit"? And not content with this, but as if in order to prevent the discovery of her own fraud, she debars the people at large from free access to the book which would expose it, which is at once the charter of the people"s freedom from man, and defines the extent and the limits of the "true sayings of God.
3. The words which are so stern a guard around the Book of the Apocalypse do also apply with equal force to whatsoever writings stand on an equal footing of Divine authority. (cf. Deu_4:1-24 Jer_18:16, ad fin.; Gal_1:6-9 Mat_15:9) Hence we should learn
(1) to deal with most conscientious care with whatever comes to us with the weight and sanction of Divine authority;
(2) to remember that there is not anything outside the pages of the Word of God that does or can present such binding authority;
(3) to deal with all that is so outside the book as the word of man, and not as the Word of God. (see Act_17:11 2Co_1:21 1Co_2:5) Our faith must not stand "in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
4. The words before us show how an expositor of the holy book is to treat it in his teachings to the people. His task is at once grand in its simplicity, yet awful in its responsibility. He has, by every possible means,
(1) to find out exactly what the Spirit of God says; and
(2) to impress that, and that only, on the heart and conscience of the people.
5. We here see also how the people are to regard an expositor of God"s Word, viz. as one whose work is to teach them, not his own thoughts, but the thoughts of God; and they are ever at liberty to appeal from the human speaker to the book. They must not be pulpit Christians, but Bible Christians.
6. Finally, we learn with what state of mind we ought to study the book in which is contained what the Lord hath spoken. There should be humility, readiness of mind to hear what God the Lord will speak, and also unswerving loyalty to the God of truth in every point in which we see the truth of God. (1Pe_2:1, 1Pe_2:2) And in practical obedience to what the Lord teaches us in his Word, we shall come to know its glory as our truest guide, and our glory in having such a guide.
Vers. 18, 19. The possibility and penalty of a great crime.
"I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man," etc. In these very remarkable words we have two things the possibility and the penalty of a great crime. The great crime is adding to and taking from the Word.
I THE POSSIBILITY OF A GREAT CRIME. What is the possible crime so solemnly addressed to all who peruse this Apocalypse this Apocalypse of unseen and eternal truths?
There is a sense in which things can be added to this book. By giving interpretation which misrepresent it. There is a sense in which things cannot be added to or taken from this book. What are those things? The absolute truth, the immutable love, the eternal rectitude, and the moral excellence of God. You cannot add to these. They are the spirit, the essence of all the all pervading and indestructible element of the whole book. Who can destroy or add to the rudimental elements of the material universe the elements that build up and remove mountains, that create rivers and oceans, that spread out the landscapes, plant the forest, and cause the atmosphere, the waters, and the earth itself to teem with untold millions of living things, the forms of all we see in the heavens above, and around, and beneath us? Were they all to vanish away, the rudimental element that produced all will remain indestructible remain to produce all these objects, and ten thousand more. So in the moral domain of truth, rectitude, and love. You cannot add anything to them, nor can you take anything from them one jot or tittle.
II THE PENALTY OF A GREAT CRIME. "If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book," etc. What does he put upon this book? Vain and fanciful glosses; makes it speak of things trifling, or, still worse, makes it speak things untrue to fact; or yet worse still, makes it curse those whom God has not cursed, those whom prejudice and party spirit alone have wilfully and uncharitably set up as foes. Does he not add to the words of the prophecy? And what, again, does he who closes his Bible at the Epistle of St. Jude, and never studies or ponders the solemn or momentous pages which follow? Does he not practically take away from the words of the prophecy, and forget, at least, the blessing of those who keep and love it? From these, and all such errors, on the right hand and on the left, may God of his great mercy preserve us all! (Dr. Vaughan). D.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v18 If any man shall add unto these things.
Rev_22:18-19
If any man shall add unto these things.
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The Divine Word, and the doom of its defacers
I. The perfection of Gods Word. Man may not intermeddle with it, either to add or to take away. Can man improve the works of God?--the mountains, rivers, flowers?--the blue sky, the stars, the sun? Even so is the Word of God too perfect for him to touch.
II. The honour God puts on it. He has magnified it, even above His works; so that he who disparages the Word of God is more guilty than he who disparages the works of God. It is the fullest expression of His mind, the completest revelation of His character.
III. Our responsibilities in regard to it. It is not given us for mere speculation or gratification; but for something far higher. We are responsible for the way we treat it, study it, profit by it. Its perfection makes our responsibility very great, and appeals to our consciences most powerfully.
IV. The sin of tampering with it. Every low thought about the Bible is sin. Every attempt to touch it, either in the way of addition or subtraction, is sin.
V. The danger of meddling with it. The danger is exceeding great; and the punishment awarded to the intermeddlers is the declaration of the danger. God will not be mocked in this thing. (H. Bonar, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv18–19 18. If any man add to these things. See…
18. If any man add to these things. See Deut. 4:2, and 12:32. The whole spirit of the Scripture is against adding to or taking from the Lord's words. This is a warning against spurious revelations.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v19 Inspiration: Summary. The testimony of the Bible to itself.
Inspiration: Summary. The testimony of the Bible to itself.
(1) The writers affirm, where they speak of the subject at all, they speak by direct divine authority.
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(2) They invariably testify that the words, and not the ideas merely, are inspired. The most important passage is 1Co 2:7-15 which see.
(3) The whole attitude of Jesus Christ toward the Old Testament, as disclosed in His words, both before His death and after His resurrection, confirms its truth and divine origin, and He explicitly ascribes the Pentateuch to Moses.
(4) In promising subsequent revelations after the predicted advent of the Spirit Joh 16:12-15 our Lord prepared the way for the New Testament.
(5) The writers of the New Testament invariably treat the Old Testament as authoritative and inspired. (See Scofield "2Pe 1:19"). See Scofield "1Co 2:13".
life Eternal life, Summary of the teaching:
(1) The life is called "eternal" because it was from the eternity which is past unto the eternity which is to come--it is the life of God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is God Joh 1:4; Joh 5:26; 1Jn 1:1; 1Jn 1:2
(2) This life of God, which was revealed in Christ, is imparted in a new birth by the Holy Spirit, acting upon the word of God, to every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ Joh 3:3-15.
(3) The life thus imparted was from the beginning." But the recipient is a "new creation" 2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15.
(4) The life of God which is the believer is an unsevered part of the life which eternally was, and eternally is, in Christ Jesus--one life, in Him and in the believer--Vine and branches; Head and members 1Co 6:17; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27; Col 3:3; Col 3:4; 1Jn 5:11; 1Jn 5:12; Joh 15:1-5 1Co 12:12-14
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v18 General Information:
General Information:
John gives his final remarks about the book of Revelation.
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I testify
Here "I" refers to John.
the words of the prophecy of this book
Here "words" refers to the message that they formed. See how you translated this in Revelation 22:7. AT: "This prophetic message of this book" (See: Metonymy)
If anyone adds to them ... If anyone takes away
This is a strong warning to not change anything about this prophecy.
that are written about in this book
This can be stated in active form. AT: "which I have written about in this book" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
testimony
word
prophet
God
plague
holy city
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v18 22:18-19 I solemnly declare: John issues an oath to…
22:18-19 I solemnly declare: John issues an oath to protect the integrity of the book of Revelation. He declares a curse upon anyone who alters the contents of the book or its message (cp. Deut 4:2; 12:32). The curse contrasts with the statement of blessing on all who read aloud, listen to, and obey the prophecy (Rev 1:3). At the time Revelation was written, scribes would sometimes alter books to suit their own views. Early Christians quickly developed means of authenticating both messages and messengers (see John 21:24; 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Thes 3:17; 1 Jn 4:1-3). • Since the time of the early church, the scope and content of the New Testament has been established as the measure of the Christian proclamation. Yet the church continues to be plagued by those who would attempt to reconstruct the borders of Scripture by adding other works that they believe are of equal status with the Bible or by arguing that certain segments of the Bible are unreliable creations of human effort and perception. The genuine church has rejected and will continue to reject efforts to redefine the boundaries of the canon as human and even demonic attempts to alter the basis of the Christian faith.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.