What are the consequences mentioned in Revelation 22:18 for adding to Scripture? Text of Revelation 22:18 “I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.” Immediate Consequence: God Adds the Plagues • The warning is crystal-clear and literal: tampering with Scripture brings personal participation in every judgment recorded in Revelation. • Not symbolic misfortune or mere loss of reward—actual plagues poured out by God Himself. Catalog of Plagues Awaiting the Offender • Seven Seal Judgments (Revelation 6; 8:1) – Worldwide conquest, war, famine, death, cosmic upheaval, and silence in heaven. • Seven Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8–9; 11) – Hail and fire mixed with blood, a blazing mountain into the sea, poisoned waters, darkened skies, demonic locust torment, demonic cavalry slaughter, and final lightning, thunder, earthquake, hail. • Seven Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16) – Painful sores, seas and rivers turned to blood, scorching heat, darkness and anguish, Euphrates dried for invasion, the greatest earthquake in history, hundred-pound hailstones. • Culminating Outcome – If unrepentant, the offender faces the Lake of Fire, “the second death” (Revelation 20:14-15). Why This Warning Is So Serious • God guards His revelation; adding words challenges His sovereignty and truthfulness. • Revelation is the capstone of the biblical canon—tampering here means tampering with the entire counsel of God. • The severity underscores that Scripture is complete, sufficient, and not open to human editing. Supporting Scriptures That Echo the Same Warning • Deuteronomy 4:2 — “You shall not add to the word that I command you nor take away from it.” • Deuteronomy 12:32 — “You must be careful to do everything I command you; do not add or subtract from it.” • Proverbs 30:5-6 — “Every word of God is flawless… Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.” • Galatians 1:8 — “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” (All) Application for Today: Guarding the Canon • Receive Scripture as final, authoritative, and complete. • Test every teaching, prophecy, vision, or new “revelation” against the closed canon. • Teach the whole counsel of God faithfully—word for word, book by book—without trimming difficult parts or inserting personal opinions as divine truth. |
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