Revelation 22:18; For I Testify Unto Every Man

Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

Revelation 22:18 (KJV)  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Continuing with another emphatic “I”, Jesus offers an extended word of testimony regarding the authority and finality of the prophecy He has commissioned John to write – For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Making v18-19 a continuation of Jesus’ words begun as early as v12 or even v16, depicts Jesus’ authority, a pointed accented by His uses of the emphatic “I”.

Revelation 22:19 (KJV)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

Throughout the book, Jesus has sent His angel to hear witness. Now He does so in person (Swete). Having Him as the speaker is only fitting in light of the solemnity of the injunctions in the two verses (Mounce).

This continuity of speaker in v17-20 enhances the irreversibility of Christ’s promised imminent return through the primacy it gives John’s prophecy of that return.

The individualising “every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book” is an echo from Revelation 1:3 and refers to everyone in the seven churches who hears (Lee, Mounce). The words “the prophecy” which proceeds from “this book” in v18 (the order being reversed in v19), put more emphasis on “the prophecy”. “Prophecy” is the most significant part of the expression for what is heard and furnishes the justification for the severity of the threats in the two verses (Beckwith).

The substance of v18019 unquestionably comes from Deuteronomy 4:2, which says, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (cf. Deuteronomy 7:15; 12:32; 28:27, 60; Proverbs 30:5-6; Jeremiah 26:2).

Deuteronomy 7:15 (KJV)  And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. 

Deuteronomy 12:32 (KJV)  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 

Deuteronomy 28:27 (KJV)  The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. 

Deuteronomy 28:60 (KJV)  Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 

Proverbs 30:5-6 (KJV)  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 

Jeremiah 26:2 (KJV)  Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – A Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 514-515]