Introduction . The passage reads as follows: “For I bear witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone adds to these things, God will bring on him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the book of life, and from the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book.”
An analysis of the passage.. There are basically two actions considered, adding and subtracting and the attendant consequences of such actions. The warnings are universal and without exception, “any man”. The words can be changed to “add to” and “remove”. The consequence is severe. The plagues of God will fall on such a person, such is removed from the book of life, the holy city, and the blessings found in the book.
The teaching that prohibits adding and subtracting is not limited to the book of Revelation. In fact, this same prohibition is found throughout the Bible (cf. Deut. 4:2, Prov. 30:6, 2 John 9-11). God has never allowed man to change his message (Galatians 1:6-9). A current example of adding and subtracting would be the following: God never required man to speak in an unknown tongue to be saved; therefore, when man requires it, he is adding to the word of God. God demands that the non-Christian be baptized (immersed in water, Mk 16, 16); when man omits baptism, he is departing from the word of God.
conclusion . Dear reader, how we treat the word of God is of paramount importance. The Scriptures are our authority (1 Peter 4:11) and our source of faith (Romans 10:17). The word of God will also judge us in the last day (John 12:48). We should reverently receive the word of God in its purity (James 1:18-25).