Brother Chris Herring, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mexico Ward
Revelations 22:18-19 says:
“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.”
This scripture is oftentimes used to discount the existence of, or need for additional scripture including the Book of Mormon. I hope readers will keep an open heart and mind as I address this.
John the Beloved authored this Book of prophecy which was the last piece of scripture included in the Holy Bible.
“Although the Bible is often considered a single, cohesive, work, it is actually an anthology of ancient writings by many different authors over many centuries, which were collected in a single book.” (worldhistory.org).
The Latin word for Bible is Biblica, meaning “little books”.
The Holy Bible is comprised of about 66 books, letters, epistles from ancient prophets and apostles.
Revelations states: “do not add to or take from the words of this prophecy” and because this is stated in the last book in the Bible, many conclude this should be no more scripture.
It is interesting to note this statement is also found earlier in Deuteronomy 4:2:
“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.” Like Moses, I believe John was also talking about their individual books not the Bible as a whole.
Prophets and apostles write scripture to instruct, edify, admonish, encourage and show how we may know Jesus and be saved.
For the complete column, see this week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard
