by Hugh DeLong<\/p>\n
Text: Revelation 22<\/p>\n
As we finish reading the rather strange (compared to the gospels and letters of the New Testament), we are given a stark warning:<\/p>\n
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,\u00a0 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book<\/em>” (Revelation 22:18-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The problem is simply that the mind of men is not <\/b>able on its own to discern the mind of God; we need a revelation from God to reveal the mind of God unto us. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death<\/em>” (Proverbs 14:12). Isaiah proclaimed: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts<\/em>” (Isaiah 55:8-9).<\/p>\n
Thus, this warning: Do not add or subtract<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
We have such a revelation, and it is the New Testament. While this warning may specifically apply to this book, the principle has been stated many times. In the giving of the Old Testament, Moses addresses the second generation of Israel, the children of those adults who came out of Egypt. This is the book of Deuteronomy. Moses, the man of God and Lawgiver to Israel, wrote:<\/p>\n
“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you<\/em>” (Deuteronomy 4:2).<\/p>\n
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it<\/em>” (Deuteronomy 12:32).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
God could and did reveal more through the prophets that followed. Being inspired, they revealed the Word of God (note how many ‘Thus saith the Lord<\/em>‘ or equivalent phrases are used throughout the Old Testament!). Proverbs warned: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar<\/em>” (Proverbs 30:5-6).<\/p>\n
Similarly, John wrote: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting<\/em>” (II John 9-10).<\/p>\n
Whenever we try to teach what God likes, dislikes, hates, loves, etc., we need to speak as the Bible speaks. Paul said: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work<\/em>” (II Timothy 3:16-17). It tells what we need to know to be right with God.<\/p>\n
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him<\/em>” (Colossians 3:16-17).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Hugh DeLong Text: Revelation 22 As we finish reading the rather strange (compared to the gospels and letters of the New Testament), we are given a stark warning: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[568,219],"class_list":["post-92953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-accuracy-of-the-bible","tag-bible"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26697,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-already-know-who-will-be-in-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":0},"title":"Does God already know who will be in heaven?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 13, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does God already know who will be in heaven? Based on Revelation 13:8, I think He does. Answer: There are two ways Revelation 13:8 can be translated: \"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25484,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-about-latter-day-revelation-from-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":1},"title":"What About Latter-Day Revelation from God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 47, Nov. 21, 2008. QUESTION: Is the Bible the complete and final revelation from God or is He continuing to give revelation through certain chosen people or organizations, such as the Mormon Church, The Catholic Pope ex-cathedra, Mohammad via the Koran,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24884,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-prophecy-continue-because-revelation-was-written-after-i-corinthians\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":2},"title":"Does prophecy continue because Revelation was written after I Corinthians?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Jeff, I hope you have been doing well. Recently I've been particularly confused about visions or prophetic dreams. I've been hearing a lot about people claiming to have had 'visions' or dreams of the Rapture or coming day of Judgement, and many of them, in particular, have been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":94061,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-contradictory-for-the-bible-to-say-do-not-add-and-yet-books-were-added-to-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":3},"title":"Is it contradictory for the Bible to say “Do not add” and yet books were added to the Bible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: This is a question I'm asking to help one of our members; could you help me answer it? Based on the Bible canon and Revelation 22:1, which states not to add to this book, but also Deuteronomy 4:2, which says the same thing. It feels a bit contradictory at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10887,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-type-of-christian-are-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":4},"title":"What type of Christian are you?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 21, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi! I\u2019m also Christian (Pentecostal). I\u2019m just wondering what type of Christian are you? If you don\u2019t mind me asking, because I\u2019m aware of all of the different Christianity out there, like Methodist, Liberal, Baptist, etc. By the way, I like your website. Answer: The Bible only speaks of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16078,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-harlot-in-revelation-17-18-the-roman-catholic-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":92953,"position":5},"title":"Is the harlot in Revelation 17-18 the Roman Catholic Church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm reading the prophetic book of Revelation and comparing it with Daniel for I heard they are talking about the same subject. In chapters 17 to 18, it seems to be specific in symbolism for it points out that the woman, who is a whore, is a kingdom that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92953\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}