Scripture: Revelation 22 v 18 - 19: "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:
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."
Many people believe that these words apply to the whole Bible, and they do, but they have a very specific emphasis to the Book of Revelation. Jesus revealed many mysteries to John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos when he was 90 years old. He was the only one of the original twelve Apostles to die a natural death.
The Holy Spirit placed a discipline with consequences on this particular book because the nature of the revelations would be very difficult for people 1900 years ago to grasp, indeed even today some visions are hard to interpret and comprehend. No matter what we think or believe, we may not change a word of it or risk dire punishment.
John saw the ascended Christ - Revelation 1 v 14 - 15: "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
It's amazing how similar Jesus appears to the visions and visible sightings, or Pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of Man before He was born in Bethlehem. Supernatural experiences were given to great prophets like Daniel and Ezekiel.
Daniel 10 v 6: "His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude."
Ezekiel 8 v 2: "And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber."
Jesus had to lay aside His divine glory to be born as a man so He could fully identify with us and die in our place. God could not leave a righteous sinless person in death so He resurrected Him to new life. When we acknowledge this and believe it we repent of our sins and enter into the same state of grace.
We are born again to life. Our baptism in water thereafter identifies with the death of Jesus when we go under the water, and His resurrection when we come up out of the water. That is why being sprinkled with water in infancy is not right. Nowhere in the Bible are babies Christened. It's a tradition of man that is not sanctioned by God.
John received from Jesus' mouth the letters written to the Seven churches of Asia Minor, urging them to overcome evil and receive rewards, or suffer the consequences. Chapters 2 - 3. These words apply to all of us today and are a rebuff to "once saved always saved" teachings.
Revelation 3 v 4 - 6: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Jesus says to those who overcome evil He will not blot their names out of the Book of Life, meaning if people who are saved continue in sin, their names will be blotted out. This is serious as many have listened to those who preach "super grace" saying you are forever forgiven past, present and future sins.
Hebrews 6 v 4 - 6: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
It's impossible for Christians filled with the Holy Spirit who backslide into the sinful world to be forgiven. It's blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The unforgivable sin. So if you are devoted to God, don't look back, don't tempt Him, don't gamble with where you spend eternity.
John was caught up into Heaven to see the Throne of God in the midst of a sea of glass, and the One who sat on the Throne surrounded by a rainbow. Around the throne were 24 elders seated on their thrones with golden crowns on their heads. Before the throne were 7 lamps of fire burning which are the Seven Spirits of God. Chapters 4 - 5.
Rev 5 v 6: ".....and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having 7 horns and 7 eyes, which are the Seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."
Jesus is the Lamb of God. Horns are a symbol of authority. Seven horns are the supreme authority over the Universe He created. Seven eyes mean He sees and knows everything about everything.
The Lamb was the only One found worthy to open the seals. They are the coming woes and tribulations that will be visited upon Earth in the last seven years.
The 7th seal when opened causes a mighty earthquake - the sun became black; the moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell; the heaven departed and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. It was an earthquake far off the Richter scale. Like a Yellowstone Caldera eruption in every country simultaneously.
This is an unimaginable and extreme disaster through which every soul on Earth will be affected. Only a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ gets you off this planet before it hits. This escape is called the Rapture. It is rapidly approaching and longed for as confirmed by the deterioration of government abilities to provide the proper care for their citizens.
After this earthquake has passed 144,000 young virgin Jewish boys ie 12000 out of each of the 12 tribes of Israel, were sealed in their foreheads. They have a song that no one else can sing to bring the message of salvation to the Jews. They are sent throughout the world to minister their song to every Jew.
Then comes the condemnation of Rome, named as Babylon, the Great Whore, because of all the evil it has done to keep people from the truth. The Spanish Inquisition made millions martyrs, whose blood cries out for revenge.
Chapter 17 - 18. Verse 9: "And here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth." When Rome falls with great burning and destruction a great lament will sound from many nations. Rome is a city built on seven mountains.
Chapter 21 v 9b and ff "....Come hither I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife. ....And had a great wall and high, and had twelve gates....and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." The Bride is Israel. She is the New Jerusalem. The Church cannot be the Bride because it is the Body of Jesus, who is the Bridegroom. Colossians 1 v 18. John 3 v 27 - 29.
When this truth sinks in so much becomes apparent especially why the world is judged on its attitude to Israel. Those who love Israel show that they are the true body of Christ. Jesus in their hearts can only manifest love for His precious Bride.
In the end of the Revelation, long after the church has been Raptured to be joined to Jesus the Head, to complete the Bridegroom, the Spirit and the Bride say, Come Lord Jesus! These are the words He has waited thousands of years to hear. His Bride recognises Him again. She is in her right mind. Everything Satan did to tear them apart has failed.
"There is joy unspeakable and full of glory and the half has never yet been told."
This is why we may not change anything in the Revelation of John because we would twist the very truth that has deceived so many for so long.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, the divide between the righteous and the sinners grows wider every day and You are busy separating the sheep from the goats. Goats are too proud to even believe they could be wrong. Father we pray that You would humble their proud hearts so they may become true sheep before its too late. Father You resist the proud but give grace to the humble. Help us to always remember this. In Jesus' name. Amen.