Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely Revelation 22:18
18 For [gar] I testify [summartureo] unto every man [pas] that heareth [akouo] the words [logos] of the prophecy [propheteia] of this [toutou] book, [biblion] If [ean] any man [tis] shall add [epitithemi] unto [pros] these things, [tauta] God [theos] shall add [epitithemi] unto [epi] him [autos] the plagues [plege] that are written [grapho] in [en] this [touto] book: [biblion] KJV-Interlinear
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; NASB
And now, for the curse.
You have certainly seen movies where the hero or bad guys, open up the crypt after reading some inscription on it. A curse that threatens anyone who opens the thing, whatever it is, will be cursed for all time. Even mummy's can come back to life and spread terror across the planet.
Well this is not exactly like that, but it is very close.
The Bible is not a hidden crypt. It is not in a box buried within a pyramid, to be discovered and there waiting to unleash the forces of evil on an unsuspecting world, Hollywood style.
The Bible is an open book. It is there to be read and understood by one and all. Its secrets are not really secrets, but the truth.
This Book of Revelation, as are all of the books of the Bible, is the personal testimony of Jesus Christ, son of David, Son of God, our Lord and Savior, the ruler and sovereign of all that is.
These words were not manufactured, as are all religions, out of the imaginations of men using narcotics, or by those who lust for control and power, or notoriety and wealth, or by those who pretend to attempt to conjure up the forces of evil.
And thus the curse.
In history, there have been tyrants, rulers, even religious leaders who have prevented the Word of God from being freely distributed to the masses of people within their realm. Communism and Islam are but two examples of this.
In history, there have been tyrants, rulers, even religious leaders who have distorted the content of the Word of God, for their own personal gain, benefit, and power. The Inquisitions, and some of the darker history of the Roman Catholic Church, again are but two of the more obvious examples of this. There are a lot of contemporary churches and cults and such that have some rather bizarre approaches in their beliefs.
These examples are not limited to only large organizations. A single parent who prevents his or her child from hearing the Word of God, or a parent who teaches his child very distorted lies about life, can be just as guilty.
This curse is not applied to simple interpretation errors when the general concept is legitimately followed. Remember, the long term pattern of truth is more important than an occasional mistake. None of us are perfect and errors occur in life. That is simply being human. Examine yourself in the mirror sometime.
The spiritual life does not rise and fall on the content of a single lesson. The spiritual life is supposed to be a lifetime commitment. That means thousands of study lessons. Obviously, any errors or misunderstandings that do occur, are all eventually sorted out for the person who is legitimately motivated to learning truth.
As for folks whose motivations are less than honorable, then errors become convenient excuses for their further distortions or attitudes. In that, they build up their own troubles for life.
Most problems that people will incur on themselves are obvious errors due to lack of knowledge. Folks who sell all that they have so they can put on a robe, stand on a hill, and thus meet the Lord on any given Wednesday evening, are simply misguided people. They will lose blessings and incur trouble for themselves, simply because they are foolish.
Foolishness comes from the lack of a consistent daily study, from legitimate study sources.
Common sense also comes with a consistent daily study.
To these people, who by their arrogance, selfish, or evil intentions, who attempt to distort intentionally, to misrepresent intentionally, or even to prevent legitimate discovery of truth, to these folks, the worst of the worst of curses will fall upon them.
This will cover everything from misconstruing the concept of marriage between a man and a woman, to religious fanatics convincing folks to blow themselves up for promised virgins.
The plagues written in the Book of Revelation are mostly implied. The plagues of the Lake of Fire, or taking away the Tree of Life, are beyond ones imagination. But there are also the plagues of lost blessing, the taking away from the holy city. Remember that the believer, who turns negative toward God, for whatever reason, will still go to heaven, but he has so much to lose in this life, as well as losing blessings in the next.
Plagues are more than famines and diseases. They are wide spread afflictions and calamities of ones personal life.
When God sets His will against you, then 'hurt' is the best you can look forward to. It only gets worse from there.
2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. NASB
5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar. NASB
Your spiritual life is the single most important possession that you can ever own. Those who distort their own spiritual life will get what they deserve. Those who attempt to distort or destroy the spiritual lives, or opportunities of others, will not get away with their crimes either.
God is fair. God is just. God is a gracious, patient, passionate, and a generous God. But too, God will crush all evil, and He will do it at His own convenience, not yours.
Do not play games with God.
Although lightning does not strike immediately when a sin or falsehood is committed, don't for one second think that you got away with it.
Look at history around you as it unfolds day after day, week after week, and year after year. There are a lot of opinions out there. There are a lot of negatives in this world. God does not step in and crush the rebels, or beat sense into the heads of fools each and every day.
Christ will not take person rule until the Millennium and thereafter. Today, it is Satan who complains, and thus Gods courtesy allows history to unfold and prove Satan's lies and ineptness.
Therefore, if you want to distort, compromise, pretend, or even ignore the Word of God, then you will be looking at certain trouble and great loss in your life.
If you want to avoid this 'super' trouble, then put away your own agenda, your own selfish motives, and begin to listen and learn and grow in your spiritual life.
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