What does this Bible verse mean?

Question

Last chapter in the Bible

Revelation 22:18
I war everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

I just finished reading the Bible and this worried me a bit. I have my own interpretation of many of the verses in the Bible, of religious theology, etc, etc. Does this verse mean that if my interpretation is not how God truly meant it, then I am cursed? Or what does it mean?

Thanks

Answer 1

Prophecy ended. There is NO more. Don't add prophecy or man made doctrines.

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Answer 2

When you read the Bible you have to remember the context of what is being written. Many theologians I believe have mis-interpreted, or misused this verse to mean that you can't add any more books to the Bible, or in your case, interpret the Bible differently. Remember that the Book of Revelation is the book that is being written, and to whom it's being written. Have you added anything to the Book of Revelation? I don't think so, you are just trying to figure it out, join the club.

There is a similar warning about the Ten Commandments.

What plagues? The plagues in the Book of Revelation. There is however a verse, I'm not good at quoting verses that says that no scripture is subject to private interpretation. I believe that means that nobody should has the power to interpret a verse in Bible that nobody else is able to interpret. That verse prevents cults and heresies from being teached, because it means that nobody can have thier own monopoly on how to interpret the Bible. Sound familiar? Yes, because many established Churches claim that only the priest can interpret the Bible. The Bible is for all men.
Please email me about any other worries that you have, and I'll help you sort them out. I've had many worries, and the enemy likes to feed your worries.

Answer 3

That verse can only be referring to whatever is written in the book of Revelations and not the entire Bible. You must understand that the Bible was not written all at once, like a novel, but over many hundreds of years by dozens of anonymous authors (meaning that we don't know who wrote any of the books in it). Revelations was actually written BEFORE some of the other New Testament books--in fact, if the books were published in chronological order, you would have a very different view of the Bible!

"Does this verse mean that if my interpretation is not how God truly meant it, then I am cursed? "

The fact that you are asking such a question should be a hint that God did not write or inspire anything in the Bible. If he did, and he left it up to each person to figure out what it all means, and then cursed them for not getting it right, wouldn't he truly be a monster? A loving God would have made his message unmistakably clear, not left it open to interpretation in a million different ways. That is why there are hundreds of translations and thousands of Christian denominations--nobody can agree on ANYTHING about the Bible!

Answer 4

The admonition contained in 22:18-19 was apparently written to warn anyone who tried to alter the text of this book (Revelation). Note that the book Revelation was written several years, perhaps HUNDREDS of years, before the books of the Bible were even compiled into one book. Therefore, when John refers to "this book", he is referring to Revelation.

Many of today's Christians, although they may be good-hearted, have erroneously interpreted this to mean that the complete text of the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is all that God has revealed, and all that he will EVER reveal. Therefore, they conclude, any additional scripture that comes forth must be condemned. However, a careful study of the Bible will show that there should be other books among the holy writings, which have apparently been lost. Besides, some scholars have indicated that the epistles of John were actually written AFTER he wrote Revelation. Would it make sense for John to issue a declaration that there should be no more inspired writings from God, and then proceed to write some more?

If we are to assume that John's statement applies to the Bible as a whole, then what are we to make of Deuteronomy 4:2, in which Moses makes the same statement: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Does this mean that we should not accept anything written after Deuteronomy? Did Moses reveal all that God wanted us to know? Absolutely not.

I do not think God will curse you for believing what you believe, as long as you do your best to live accordingly.

Answer 5

remember that Revelations was a seperate book. The word Bible orginaly meant books, as in each seperate book/scroll of our current bible. For the most part, the records were kept together, but it was not until later on that they were complied into one book. So therefore it really means about adding/taking away from the book of revelation.
But to search out your own interpretation and meaning of the bible is a good thing - it leads to greater understanding and such. So dont worry about being cursed. Everyone can read the same verse of sripture, and have it mean something else. Sometimes it means diffrent things at diffrent times of your life.

Answer 6

Don't worry. Revelations was written by John the Revelator. There is a similar verse in Deuteronomy 4:2. Anyone who knows anything about the Bible knows that Revelations was not the last book written chronologically. It was just put there to kind of make the story flow. But what John is saying is to not add or take away from his specific revealation that he has given. God would not curse you if you don't fully understand something. He is a loving God. He wants to bless you, not curse you.

Answer 7

It means that you should carefully interpret the Bible as you are responsible when you teach others God's word. Don't add on to his words or take away from them..
A person that teaches the Bible will be judged for what they taught.
It is for anyone. There is no private interpretation of the Bible, so you need to stay where those before have preached.. You should not be coming up with something different or strange..

Answer 8

Rev 22:18 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:
Rev 22:19 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.

All this means is if you intend to change the words of of the Prophecy of Revelations that you will be punished. You nor anyone else in this world has the athority to Change Gods word. It goes for all of His word. Not just Revelations. You will be cursed and you will not have your name in the Book of Life.
The Book of Life is the Book that God uses to keep all of the names of the ones that get to Heaven. If It says that if you change the words that you wont get to Heaven then that tells you right there how important it is.

As for the plagues...well I would be more scared of Hell than anything that could happen to me here on the Earth.But if I was you or anyone else I definately would not take away anything from Gods Word either.

As for misinterpetting it...It did not say that you will be punished for not understanding...Revelations is a very hard book to understand and you really must let the Lord guide you in it.Let the Holy Spirit be your teacher. He(Jesus), Never leads His sheep astray.

Answer 9

"...the words of the prophesy of this book..." Another verse speaks to your concern. This verse says that we must not add another book, 66 books and that is all, not 67 or more or less ("...takes away from..."). So we know God's word and we know what is the authority. The authority is not what some Johny Come Lately Religious Preacher says, the authority is the principles, parables, and prophesies written in the Bible, "I am the word" Jesus said.

The Bible also says it is not open to interpretation. Scripture is to be compared with scripture to bring out truth. The parables of Jesus are not literal, and some parables of Revelations are not literal, but clearly the vast majority can not be taken as anything but history.

Answer 10

I think no one can understand the bible completely;however, God did write it so that we can understand the basic ways we should govern our lives. This verse you are referring to means that God's word is good...the way that it is. No one should add to His words or take away from them. For example, and I'm sure many will disagree, I think that any other "holy book" is adding words to the bible. The bible is "the book", right? Atleast if you're a christian that is what you believe. And on the other hand, if you read verses and decide that you don't quite agree with them and then change them to suit your needs, that is taking away from what God has said. I hope that this helps.

Answer 11

This is for those that go forth, spewing THEIR own interpretations of the Bible and their doctrines that are not included in the Bible. Since you say you have just read the Bible, you now know that no where in there does it support the celebrating of birthdays, Christmas, the trinity, Hell as a place of torment forever, people going to heaven, or the theory of 'once forgiven, always forgiven'. These are theories of mankind that have been read into the Bible and aren't actually there, but have had scriptures twisted to make them seem to support them.
THAT is what that scripture is meaning .