How can Revelation 22:19 guide our approach to biblical interpretation and teaching? The weight of the warning “And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:19) What the verse plainly tells us • Scripture is complete; nothing may be trimmed, skipped, or “updated.” • Tampering with God’s Word invites loss, not just of information, but of eternal inheritance. • The authority backing the warning is divine, not merely apostolic opinion. Guarding the text—no subtraction, no addition Scripture consistently guards its own borders: • Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32 — “Do not add or subtract.” • Proverbs 30:5-6 — “Every word is flawless… do not add to His words.” • Matthew 5:18 — Not even “a jot or tittle” will pass away. Together with Revelation 22:18-19 these verses form a “bookend”-principle: Genesis to Revelation is an untouchable whole. Implications for interpreting Scripture 1. Let the passage speak for itself first. • Observe grammar, context, and plain sense before allegorizing. 2. Compare Scripture with Scripture. • 2 Peter 1:20-21 — no prophecy is of private interpretation. • Scripture is its own best commentary. 3. Resist cultural scissors. • If a text offends modern tastes, the text stays and the culture adjusts. 4. Keep authorial intent in view. • What John wrote is what the Spirit intended (John 16:13). 5. Stay humble. • Revelation 22:19 warns that the risk of mis-handling is spiritual loss, not mere academic error. Implications for teaching Scripture • Teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). • Present passages without apology; explain hard sayings, don’t erase them. • Issue warnings as well as promises; both are God’s words. • Guard precision in quoting and paraphrasing. • Encourage listeners to read the text themselves—open Bibles minimize unintentional subtraction. Practical checkpoints for Bible teachers and study leaders ✔ Read the passage aloud in the translation you will teach. ✔ Outline the flow of thought; don’t skip sections because they are “difficult.” ✔ Cross-reference related texts to show unity of Scripture. ✔ Define key terms; don’t replace them with softer synonyms that dull their edge. ✔ Invite accountability—fellow teachers, elders, or mature believers who can flag omissions. ✔ Keep personal stories subordinate; they illustrate, they don’t replace. Living out the warning • Let the unedited Word correct, comfort, and confront us daily (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Hold fast to “every word” so we may have assured access to “the tree of life.” • Celebrate the sufficiency of Scripture—because nothing needs trimming when God has spoken perfectly. |
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