The Final Warning of Revelation 22:19
J.C. Thibodaux
The Book of Prophecy
Revelation is a book that frankly makes many theologians uncomfortable. Many who lack faith in the power of God or are scared of being branded as "irrational" have striven for years to undermine or explain away its incredible prophecies. While some parts of Revelation do use figurative language, this much is certain from its writing: Much of the world will fall into the hands of the man of sin, judgement will be poured out from God, and Christ is coming back again to raise and quicken all the saints! Sadly, for those who attempt to subvert the message and prophecies taught in this most awesome book, there awaits a judgement pronounced at the very end:
"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: 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 [most texts say 'tree of life'], and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."
Revelation 22:18-19
Implications for Calvinism and Unconditional Eternal Security
As well as serving as a "do not tamper" warning, this passage also throws a bit of a monkeywrench into the gears of unconditional security and the doctrine known as Calvinism (Reformed Theology).
It is clear from the scripture that the holy city of New Jerusalem and all that is in it is prepared only for those who are believers in Christ Jesus.
"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it...And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Revelation 21:24, 27
It also makes it clear that there are no places in-between:
"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. For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
Revelation 22:14-15
You are in Christ and in New Jerusalem, or you are dead in your sins and residing outside (interestingly, the valley of Gehenna, its name synonymous with the lake of fire, is outside of Jerusalem to the south).
Revelation 22 is a clear statement that no matter what a person's position, God will take away his eternal inheritance for distorting His book of prophecies. Those who hold to the unconditional eternal security doctrine contend that it is not possible for one who is saved to fall from God's grace and be damned, yet this passage warns of that very thing happening.
Calvinism also runs into difficulty with its doctrine of perseverance of the saints (similar to eternal security), for anything to be able to jeopardize the salvation of a saint deals a fatal blow to their teachings.
What do they say to this?
In my experience, most Calvinists and unconditional securists don't even venture to address this issue -- even John Calvin wrote no commentary on Revelation. Still, some have made attempts at a defense. Let's examine their arguments carefully.
Objection 1: This passage is not speaking about believers - Like I didn't see that one coming
Objection 2: This refers to loss of rewards, not salvation - What a surprise
Objection 3: This could never really happen, it is just a warning to keep it from happening - Standard-issue Calvinist verse extinguisher
Objection 4: This is simply John's wish, God would not really do that, because the majority text renders it "May God take away..."
Objection 5: Revelation is not a didactic book (???)
Objection 6: The warning does not concern true believers, but simply those in covenant with God... - A variation of objection 1
Objection 7: God will only take away what they seem to have - Argument employing an expression used in Luke 8:18
Objection 8: God's foreknowledge necessitates that such a statement be non-literal... - Faulty logic
Instead of such doctrinal gobbeldygook, I have a suggestion, why not just take the warning God gives us seriously? Instead of desperately trying every which way to maneuver around it, explain it away, or insist that it could never apply to us, why not simply take Him at His word?
Bottom Line:
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Revelation 22:18-19 clearly expresses that someone who tampers with God's word (specifically, the book of Revelation) will have their inheritance in the kingdom of God taken from them.
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There is no scriptural reason to suggest that this passage is not authoritatively speaking about the real possibility of the loss of literal, eternal salvation of genuine believers.
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