‘Day 340

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and [a]from the holy city, which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18,19. (NASB)

This is, at first glance, a very threatening way for God to end the Bible! “Don’t mess with this book! If you touch even a word of it, you will be in such trouble that you will wish your life were over!” While these threatening words undergird the authority of the Book of Revelation in particular, they seem appropriate also for the Bible as a whole.

The Bible as it is does not contain all truth. “Two plus two equals four” is a truth, for example. But it isn’t in the Bible. “It is warmer at the equator than at the poles” is a truth. But it isn’t in the Bible. So the Bible is not a collection of everything that is true, it is like a measuring stick, by which we measure claims to truth.

That’s why it is important to leave the Bible as it is. The Bible, as it is, is fitted by God for its purpose. To tamper with it, to ignore one part or another, would be to interfere with its divine purpose. To add something or to leave something out is to distort God’s purpose. It seems to me that has implications for us as well. Every one of us is unique. We too are fitted for a purpose. We might want to add or subtract from the work God has done with us, but we would be wiser to accept His purpose and use our unique characteristics for His glory.

Our journey through the book of Revelation has been a rollicking ride filled with war, famine, pestilence, wild beasts, earthquakes and scorching fire. Through it all I have tried to maintain a focus on the book’s primary theme, the revelation of Jesus Christ. The plagues of the book are a demonstration of His power to save. So it is not totally out of character for an action/adventure book like Revelation to end with grace. Grace is a special manifestation of the divine presence and power, an expression of kindness, mercy and good will. An excellent translation would be “healing compassion.”

As the book of Revelation draws to a close, I invite you to drink in the healing compassion of Jesus Christ. Let him heal your wounds, soothe your hurts, and affirm your value as a person. Take his offer which is the free gift of salvation. Faith is the hand that accepts the offer.