Revelation 22:18 - Nothing May Be Added

I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book:
This phrase emphasizes the solemnity and authority of the message. The act of testifying is a legal term, indicating a formal declaration. The audience is "everyone who hears," suggesting the universal relevance of the message. The "words of prophecy" refer to the entire content of the Book of Revelation, which is a prophetic vision given to John. This echoes the biblical tradition of prophecy as seen in the Old Testament, where prophets conveyed God's messages to His people. The phrase underscores the importance of listening and adhering to divine revelation.

If anyone adds to them:
This warning against adding to the words of prophecy reflects a common biblical theme of preserving the purity and integrity of God's word. Similar admonitions are found in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6, which caution against altering divine commandments. The historical context of Revelation, written during a time of persecution and false teachings, highlights the need to protect the message from distortion. This phrase serves as a safeguard against heretical interpretations and emphasizes the sufficiency of the revealed word.

God will add to him the plagues described in this book:
The consequence of adding to the prophecy is severe, involving the plagues mentioned throughout Revelation. These plagues, reminiscent of the plagues in Egypt (Exodus), symbolize divine judgment and are part of the apocalyptic imagery used to convey the seriousness of tampering with God's word. The plagues in Revelation include various forms of destruction and suffering, serving as a warning of the spiritual and physical consequences of disobedience. This phrase reinforces the theme of divine justice and the ultimate authority of God over His creation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who received the vision while exiled on the island of Patmos.

2. God
The ultimate author of the prophecy, who warns against altering His words.

3. The Book of Revelation
The final book of the New Testament, containing prophecies about the end times and the return of Christ.

4. Plagues
Refers to the various judgments and calamities described throughout the Book of Revelation.

5. The Audience
The early Christian communities and all future readers of the Book of Revelation.

Teaching Points

The Integrity of Scripture
The Bible is complete and sufficient as it is. We must approach it with reverence and avoid altering its message.

The Seriousness of God's Warnings
The warning of plagues for those who add to the prophecy underscores the seriousness with which God views His word.

Faithfulness in Teaching
Teachers and preachers of the Word must be diligent in accurately conveying the message of Scripture without personal additions or subtractions.

Personal Responsibility
Every believer is responsible for how they handle the Word of God, ensuring they do not distort its message.

End Times Awareness
Understanding the prophecies in Revelation should lead to a greater awareness and readiness for the return of Christ.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Revelation 22Is The Voice Translation a reliable Bible version?What are the beliefs of Mormonism?What does a closed canon of Scripture signify?What does it mean to alter God's Word?

(18-19) I testify unto every man that heareth.--Omit "For," and read, I testify to every one that hears . . . The "I" is emphatic; it introduces the final warning; the revelation must not be tampered with. If any one shall have added to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if any one shall have taken away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his portion from the tree of life, and out of the holy city which are written (or printed) in this book. We may compare Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32. The words are a solemn protest against the spirit which handles rashly or deceitfully the word of God; which adds its own thoughts, or makes its wishes the parent of its interpretations; which dilutes the force of its warnings, or impoverishes the fulness of its promises. The right of continual access to the tree of life was the promise of Revelation 22:14; this right or freedom is forfeited by those who deal falsely or faithlessly by the words of Christ here. In a minor degree, it is true that those who leave this book unstudied and unprayed over, lose much spiritual sustenance and comfort. How much more do they lose who trifle with it, ignore its spiritual teachings, and sin against the laws of that kingdom whose progress it so vividly portrays.

Verse 18. - For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. Omit "for." The pronoun "I" is emphatic. Here is the solemn appendix or seal of the veracity of the book, somewhat similar to the prefatory words in Revelation 1:1-3. This is the fulfilment of the duty laid upon St. John in Revelation 1:1, not an announcement of our Lord himself (cf. the wording of Revelation 1:3). If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; cf. the command in Deuteronomy 4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it" (Revised Version). "The plagues that are written in this book" are those of the seals, the trumpets, the vials, the doom of Babylon, etc.; cf. the command of St. Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:13), and cf. also what is said in 2 Timothy 2:16-18 concerning the heretical teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

testify
Μαρτυρῶ (Martyrō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3140: To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.

to everyone
παντὶ (panti)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

who
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

hears
ἀκούοντι (akouonti)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

words
λόγους (logous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophecy
προφητείας (prophēteias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4394: Prophecy, prophesying; the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth. From prophetes; prediction.

in this
τούτου (toutou)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

book:
βιβλίου (bibliou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 975: A papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblos; a roll.

If
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

adds
ἐπιθῇ (epithē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2007: To put, place upon, lay on; I add, give in addition. From epi and tithemi; to impose.

to
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[them],
αὐτά (auta)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

will add
ἐπιθήσει (epithēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2007: To put, place upon, lay on; I add, give in addition. From epi and tithemi; to impose.

to
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

plagues
πληγὰς (plēgas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4127: A blow, stripe, wound; an affliction, plague. From plesso; a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity.

described
γεγραμμένας (gegrammenas)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

this
τούτῳ (toutō)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

book.
βιβλίῳ (bibliō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 975: A papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblos; a roll.

Links

Revelation 22:18 NIV
Revelation 22:18 NLT
Revelation 22:18 ESV
Revelation 22:18 NASB
Revelation 22:18 KJVRevelation 22:18 BibleApps.com
Revelation 22:18 Biblia Paralela
Revelation 22:18 Chinese Bible
Revelation 22:18 French Bible
Revelation 22:18 Catholic BibleNT Prophecy: Revelation 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears (Rev. Re Apocalypse)