Daily Devotion of Revelation 22

Daily Nugget:
This last chapter of the Bible continues from the previous chapter, chapter 21. More details are revealed about the New Jerusalem. The new details reveal that:

• There is a river or life there (vss. 1-2).
• There is the tree of life there (vs. 2).
• The curse of sin is completely gone.
• We will see the face of God (vs. 4).
• We will have His name on our foreheads (vs. 4).
• There will be no need for artificial light (vs. 5).

As the Bible and our brief glimpse of the end days concludes, one can reflect how
important all the words are in the Word of God. Although this study is certainly not detailed, which cannot possibly be accomplished with the 200-800 word explanation of each chapter, the reader can see how interlaced and prophetic all the Scriptures are. Hundreds of prophetic passages, even from early Old Testament days, give us a more detailed picture of what Revelation says will happen in the last days. If one word of God’s Word is altered, meanings will be affected.

God knows the importance of each word, and even the importance of punctuation (Mat. 5:18). That is why God has preserved His Word for all these years. English-speaking people still have every word He wants us to have in the King James Bible.

God further states that all the Words in this Revelation are important and should not be altered at all. He even says that if anyone changes one word He has kept for us, God will see to it that some of the plagues mentioned in this book (vs. 18-19) happen to the one that changes what He wants us to know.
“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.” Rev. 22:18-19

With His threatening promise in mind, I wondered what the new versions would do with verse 19, where it distinctly is commanded not to remove any of the words from this Revelation. A quick look at some of the most common, modern perversions of God’s Word revealed that those versions changed even the verse that says not to change His Word. I found that:

• The New King James Version, which deceitfully is not a King James Version at all, changed nine words from what the preserved, King James said.
• The New International Version had 30 words that were different.
• The Catholic Confraternity Version (1963) had 10 words that were different.
• I even noticed that the NIV, Confraternity Version, New World Translation (the Jehovah Witnesses bible), and the New American Standard Version all replaced verse 19’s “book of life” with the “tree of life”.

Apparently, those that translated these modern versions do not fear God’s promise to any that alter His Word in any way. These prophecies in the book of Revelation are important. Any omitted words of prophecies may cause them not to align with what is recorded in Revelation.

God’s preserved words have the power to warn an unsaved person of what will happen, so that they may repent and turn toward God before it is too late. These prophecies are also an encouragement (I Thes. 4:18) to one that is living for the Lord, that one day God will put a stop to those that are against God’s will and way. All of His Words are important, so we will know what God wants us to know. Believe and obey each word.

Today’s Thought: God’s Word is never improved by changing it!

Today’s Reading: Revelation 22
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 ¶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 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.
20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (KJV)