Revelation 22:18-19 (NKJV)
The Beginning, Part 4
John’s closing words in the Revelation he received from God issued a stark warning.
The warning begins with the words, “for I testify”. The testimony in verse 18, was in the form of a promise of a warning that this book was final, complete, and sealed by God. It was really clear that no one was allowed to add anything to the revelation, and if they tried God would “add to him the plagues that are written in this book”. In addition to the warning that no one can ADD anything to the revelation of John, he also warns in verse 19 that no one can remove or take anything away from his revelation. The second warning seemed to be even stronger than the first because John wrote if anyone takes anything away, “God shall take away his part from the Book of Life.”
John’s words that sealed the revelation made it clear these words were the final words of scripture. The revelation of John were the last words God gave man for the New Testament. In terms of timing, they were also written after every other word from God. Revelation WAS the last written and final account in the canon of scripture.
The process of how scripture came together (the canon) is very complex and has significant history. Scripture as we know it came together over a period of time. The canon of scripture is “a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine” (dictionary.com).
Various official councils met over time beginning around 300 A.D. The Council of Rome began meeting in 382 A.D. ("Decree of Council of Rome (AD 382) on the Biblical Canon". Taylor Marshall. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2019).
It continued with other councils which included the Council of Trent in 1546 A.D. that followed the Protestant Reformation (Joseph Francis Kelly, The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History, (Liturgical Press, 2009), 126-148.)
While various sacred writings in scripture (for example the Aprocrypha) were reviewed and discussed as possible sacred writings that could be added, many of those were written during the inter-testament years. The Biblical Aprocrypha were sacred writings that were included in the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint but were not included in the Hebrew Bible. The Catholic scriptures consider them to be deuterocanonical books while the Protestant scriptures refer to them as inter-testament books (Ewert, David (11 May 2010). A General Introduction to the Bible: From Ancient Tablets to Modern Translations. Zondervan. p. 104.)
I know...TMI. But, there is a point here. While there were sacred writings thoroughly reviewed and prayed about as possible inclusions, no works dating later than 90 A.D. (when the Revelation of John was written) were included in the canon of scripture we have today.
In the hundreds of years of discussions done by numerous official councils, nothing was added that was dated after the book of the Revelation of John.
I think that’s exactly what God intended, for in Revelation 22:18-19 we read, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
I remember as a young child knowing that my dad was a man of his word. While later in my life that statement took on greater meaning, as a young child that meant, “if daddy says it, I BETTER do it.” I know that 100% of the time my dad would (somehow) find me out if I did something I was specifically told NOT to do, or TO do.
I had a lapse in judgment one time, but it IS forever etched in my memory. We were told NOT to play in the vacant lot next door when the house was being build. I was told by two other children older than myself that it was okay to go play there. They specifically told me it was now a ‘safe’ area to play in. I believed them. As I recall I was in third grade and they were in fifth grade.
When we were ‘caught’ I argued that I’d been told it was now okay. None of that mattered to my dad. I received the same punishment. (While my dad couldn’t punish one of the children, he DID punish the two children in his care.)
I learned that day I can never take someone else’s word. Go to the source.
That information was more than valuable when I worked as a journalist. NEVER use information from a secondary so source. GO to the primary source.
In this case, the primary source that said DO NOT add or take-away anything was written in scripture, the HOLY Word of God.
The Councils took John’s words seriously. They listened.
I’m grateful they did because it’s what God said.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Listen
Take time today to listen to God. If you are new to this practice, start small. Think of one thing you want to know from God and word it in the form of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.
In God, Deborah
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