August 30, 2009 - Don't Add Or Subtract

Meditation on Revelation 22

We have been comforted by God's word concerning the new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem. Verses one to five in this chapter continues to give us the grandeur picture in the new city prepared for those who have their robes washed and are thirsty to take the water of life without cost. Their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. There is a river of the water of life in this city of God. On either side of the river was the tree of life bearing twelve kinds of fruit every month. The tree leaves are for the therapeutic, health giving of the people there. All occupants will worship God and reign with Christ forever.

But we should pay special attention to the emphases in verses 6 and 18 to 19 on the characteristics of the word of God through John.

First, "And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true'; and the Lord God of spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place." (v. 6 NASB) God's word including John's prophecy is always true and will never change.

Second, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them or take away some words form the Bible, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." (v. 18-19 NASB) John's prophecy is the last portion of the New Testament. After his, there should be no more prophecy adding to the Bible. Any one or any religion or cult that adds so called word of God to the New Testament is going to be judged by God severely. This person, or religion, or cult should not be accepted by Christians at all. Any one who disregards and takes away some words from the Bible, this person will not enter the kingdom of God either.

So we should avoid those who advocate and believe in adding to or subtracting from the book of Revelation and even the entire Bible, the word of God.