Revelation
King James Version (KJV)
Discuss Revelation 22 Page 2
Viewing page: 2 of 32
< Previous Discussion Page Next Discussion Page >
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
I don't think you've been reading/comprehending what I've been writing. My main point is that many christians today are deceived into thinking they do not have to follow God's/Jesus Commandments. They will tell you straight out that they don't have to. There is so much scripture supporting the need to adhere to these commands, and I've listed many verses previously.
1John 2:4 A Born Again Christian will in fact adhere and consciously follow God's Commandments. Why? Not because they are doing it on their own, it is because God's Holy Spirit is working in them to do it. So David, It is not works when you are following God's Spirit and adhering to the commands in the scriptures. Doing good works is the result of the Holy Spirit. 1John 3:24 Convincing each of us to pick up our cross, and turn away from this world is God working a miracle in us. As Christian's we should be sharing this with each other, and encouraging each other to obey God, keep His Commandments, and strive daily to overcome sin! Instead, I hear a lot of Christian's telling each other that they will never stop sinning, while at the same time continuing to live their worldly lifestyles.
The scripture always shines a bright light on the truth! Regarding God's Commandments there are so many verses outlining the need for us to embrace and become obedient, and this is just one of many powerful verses regarding the Commandments and in-fact: could be the greatest regarding keeping the Commandments and achieving salvation: Revelation 22:14"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."
In summary, the above verse tells us Jesus will personally be at the entrance to the Kingdom/Everlasting Life, and "He tells us directly" to have the right to the tree of life, and enter through the gates into the city, ONLY those that do His Commandments!
Jesus shines the light!
GBU
You state: "I think there is a difference between trying to obey the commandments and believing that we need to obey them in order to be acceptable to God." Jesus doesn't agree with you Jema, and He is telling you that we must do this to be acceptable - to Him. I previously gave you the verse below spoken by Jesus, He is telling us point blank:
Revelation 22:14"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."
Jesus leaves no wiggle room in the above verse. Hebrews 4:12 False teachers are very prevalent today, they are out amongst us, they believe and teach others that they can ignore tons of scripture like this regarding the commandments and sin. They live worldly lives almost indistinguishable from the secular/atheists. They try to convince themselves, and others that they can have this world and still receive salvation. Jude 1:10
Jema, I remember FrankieJ previously gave you some good spiritual advice, I will also. We must withdraw from the world. Put God first, including His Commands/Commandments.
Stop telling yourself and others that you can NEVER stop sinning. If you have God's Holy Spirit anything is possible! Have Faith! Believe!!!
Encourage yourself and others to stop sinning. Similar to alcohol and drugs, Sin is a Addiction. If you don't acknowledge it - it will control you and ultimately bring you to destruction.
3 John 1:11 "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
And please remember if you want God to dwell in you: 1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
GBU
There are many deceived people, and false teachers out there saying you don't have to follow God's Commandment's.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Those that do not keep God's Commandments do not love Jesus/God.
1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Here the scripture tells us plainly the if someone say they know God but don't keep the commandments are a liar.
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Lastly, Jesus tells us in the scripture below: those that do not keep the commandments - do not have right to the tree of life, and can not enter in though the gates of the city - Eternal Life!
Revelation 22:14"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."
There is much more scripture regarding keeping Gods Commandments throughout the bible. Do not take anyones word regarding your salvation. Please read the scriptures and pray to God for His truth. God reveals all truth in scriptures like above regarding following His commandments and all things related to receiving your salvation.
GBU
VII. THE DIVISION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
This is probably one of the most important facts that we need to know, just in understanding Revelation, and the various teachings that we hear about the book of Revelation, which I'll get to here in a moment.
The division of the book of Revelation is given to us right in the book of Revelation. Revelation 1:19 provides the division of the book. Jesus tells John, write the things which thou hast seen (which would be the vision of Christ), in Chapter 1 Verses 9 through 20.
Secondly, write the things which are, that is, presently in John's day. That would be Chapters 2 and 3, the messages to the seven churches.
And write the things which shall be hereafter;
The term hereafter is a Greek phrase that means after these things. Revelation 4:1 begins with after these things. After what things? After the things of the church which are existing in John's day. That would be Chapters 4 through 22, which actually present to us the Tribulation Period that breaks out upon the earth.
There's a threefold division in the book of Revelation. If someone has a method or system of interpretation of the book of Revelation, it must fit into the structure that Revelation itself sets out.
VIII. SECTION OUTLINE OF REVELATION:
REVELATION 1:1-8: Prologue
REVELATION 1:9-20 PART ONE: The Things which Thou Hast Seen
REVELATION CHAPTERS 2-3 PART TWO: The Things which Are
REVELATION 4:1-22:5 PART THREE: The Things which Shall Be Hereafter
REVELATION 22:6-21: John signs off with the promises for all those that hear and keep the words within this book.
God speaking:
Isaiah 48:12 "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last."
Jesus speaking:
Revelation 22:13 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Read and Believe!
Thanks and bless you for sharing your thoughts. Firstly, none of us could be saved without the work of Christ. In Him we can receive forgiveness if we believed, repent, get baptized, become Born Again. But some of the most important things we are required to do and are conveniently overlooked: we are asked to pick up our cross and follow Christ including all that Jesus detailed in the gospel and scriptures. We are commanded to do things that take an effort on our part.
This is Jesus speaking in the book of Revelations to apostle John about 65 years after his death on the cross, and about 18 years after apostle Pauls death.
Revelation 22:14
"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."
I have to believe here; that Jesus is telling us in addition to being born again, that we will need to follow God's Commandments if we want to have the right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates and everlasting life. Is this not Salvation?
Wouldn't you agree that following God's Commandments certainly takes effort on our part to comply?
Many Christians today feel they can receive salvation without following God's Commandments. This mindset completely ignores what Jesus said we need to do in this very important verse above. I believe we need to participate in our salvation, because God requires it in so much scripture.
GBU
Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the "Alpha and Omega" in
Revelation 1:8;
Revelation 21:6; and
Revelation 22:13.
Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
It's common to use the first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote the whole of anything from beginning to end. Jesus as the beginning and end of all things is a reference to no one but God!
This statement of eternality could apply only to God.
It is equivalent to saying He always existed and always will.
The phrase also identifies Him as the God of the Old Testament. Isaiah ascribes this aspect of Jesus' nature as part of the triune God in several places. "I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last I am He" Isaiah 41:4.
"I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God"
Isaiah 44:6.
I am he; I am the first, I also am the last" Isaiah 48:12.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY. Revelation 1:8
I hope this helps.
God bless.
Each of us must make a decision regarding the Spiritual Authority for doctrine and practice in our life. That is, what constitutes the Word of God in which we trust and follow? Is it going to be the Bible Alone? Is it going to be the Whole Bible? Or is it going to be something more or something less than this.
I believe that God very clearly put
that choice to us as He completed the Bible.
Revelation 22:18,19 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, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
And there is no getting around the fact that if we are trusting in a vision or a voice or dream or a tongue that we believe is a direct communication from God Himself, we have a wider Authority than the Bible Alone.
And that is a place I never want to be.
It is God that must work in the understanding of the True Believer to reveal Truth from the Bible. And God is certainly the one that opens doors for the True Gospel to go forth. And He also works in the lives of True Believers to direct them by causing various circumstances to develop in their lives, sometime as chastisement. These things are Very Different from receiving Devine Revelation from God as occurred before the Bible was completed.
As far as miracles are concerned, we must first define what a miracle is. When God created the world, when Jesus walked on water, when Jesus healed miraculously, i.e. any Miracle at all IS when God sets aside the physical laws by which He governs the Universe. God is not doing this today.
Any time anyone becomes healed from a sickness or a disease, it is God at work. But it is not a Miracle. Mankind does not understand all of the workings of the human body nor the affects of medicines. Healings of our day may seem miraculous, but they are not. They are God at work through the natural laws and processes He has established to govern the world and our well being.
There is one very specific Miracle that God has performed throughout time and is still performing today. And that is the Miracle of Salvation where God creates a New Resurrected Soul within each person that becomes saved. That is becoming Born Again.
So, GiGi, it really comes down to: What is the "Word" of God that we are following and that is our Authority? Is it the Bible Alone and in its Entirety; or is it the Bible plus a dream or a vision or a voice or a tongue that we believe we have received directly from God. We cannot have it both ways.
And I believe that God insists on the former and warns against the latter. And that is why we have Revelation 22:18,19 at the very end of the Bible.
Issac Peningtion was a Quaker. The quotation below is from the Quaker web site:
"That leads us to the second key principle, our belief in continued revelation. In the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we read many stories of God communicating directly with people. Friends believe God's revelations have never stopped, and that God might reach out to any one of us at any time."
That quotation is a denial that "The Bible ALONE and In its ENTIRETY is that Word of God. And is in violation of Revelation 22:18.
There are have been many "gospels" throughout the whole New Testament period that have looked for and accepted Devine Revelation apart from that Bible itself.
In speaking for myself, I would never consider following a "gospel" that accepts Devine Revelation apart from the Bible itself.
We have to start with an understanding of what Revelation 22:18 is teaching.
"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:"
As God was writing the Bible He was continually "Adding" to His Word, the Bible, "the prophecy of this book". And prophecy in the largest senses is a synonym for the entire Bible, itself. God did this in many ways, including direct communication with mankind in dreams and voices and visions, and tongues. Often times God even repeated words and phrases and ideas from one part of the Bible in another part of the Bible.
And if we were to remove or ignore one part of the Bible, even though it were a repetition, we would be taking away from "the words of the book of this prophecy" Revelation 22:19.
So any dream or voice or vision or tongue we would claim to be directly from God, would be an "Addition" to the Bible. And that is not possible once God had completed the Bible. That would be a clear violation of Revelation 22:18.
Furthermore, as we approach the end
of the world, God declares that Satan will be allowed to come with "signs and wonders" as we read in
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
So this matter of signs and wonders and miracles and visions and voices and tongues is very serious business and is actually a testing program that God has established FOR OUR DAY to test churches and congregations and individuals as to whether or not we will be satisfied with the Word God has given us in the Bible. Or are we going to accept the idea of "Additional" revelation apart from the Bible, itself.
Is it not interesting that in the last few decades we have seen an explosion within the churches of an interest in this kind of phenomena.
Once God had completed the Bible with the Book of Revelation, He states in no uncertain terms that we are never again to look for a direct communication from God in a dream or a voice or a vision or a tongue.
God only speaks to us directly in an articulated way through His Word, the Bible.
I understand, and you've related your position that you don't feel the need to follow God's 10 Commandments (The Decalogue as your refer to it). You state that it is only for the Jewish People. Conversely, I truly believe the scripture solidly supports that the 10 Commandments were for all of mankind, a moral law, a law that tells everyone what sin is. When God made the New Covenant He said I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. Jer 31:33. Same Law.
When Jesus came, he said he did not come to abolish the Law, he came to fulfill it.and Jesus followed the law and I believe that he does expect those of us that follow Him, to follow these same Laws, as He states this in so much scripture throughout the bible.
Ecclesiastes 12:13"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." This verse doesn't say for this is the whole duty of the Jewish people. It says: for this is the whole duty of man!
Regarding the 4th Commandment: Keep Holy the Sabbath. Mark 2:27"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:" Here again, this verse does not say the sabbath was made only for Jewish/Hebrew people.
I will leave you with one last verse, that I believe is targeted at those of us that wish to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Revelation 22:14"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."
GBU
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Revelation 22:18,19 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, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
These are just a sampling of the many verses that speak about the scriptures, the Bible, the Word of God. They should be examined both in their immediate context and the context of the entire Bible if we are to come to Truth regarding the true nature of the Bible.
Where in the Bible does it say that it's okay for women to be preachers.
MOUNTHOREB REPLY: Woman can prophecy not new info outside of the scriptures 2 Timothy 3:15-17. However, They preach what they have learned to others outside of the church or congregation. When asked a question about the bible. a woman can reply to anyone who is asking the question. even if it's a man, elder 1 Timothy 3 or someone in authority. but within the church or congregation 1 Timothy 3, a woman does not have authority over a man to speak to the whole church or Congregation 1Timothy 2:11,12,14 (unless there's no men available, if this is the case she covers her head within the congregation to PREACH 1 Corinthians 11:5;16 because of the angels in heaven) however, Outside of the building, yes a woman can teach others outside (family, neighbors etc.) Acts 2:16,17.
Jesus allowed women to speak to him and listen. even sit at his feet and ask questions. he allowed woman to speak and listened to them. and to follow him as he preached. Luke 1:36-38; John 4:7-54; John 11:20-29; John 20:11-18; Acts 1:14; Luke 8:1-3; Luke 10:38-42; Romans 16:1-5; Acts 18:2; Acts 18:24-26;
In marriage: Ephesians 5:21-33
These are all the scriptures I can think of. Revelation 22:17 "Its free"
There are details about the heavenly city appearing on earth such as in Psalm 48. This shows the fear of the kings of the earth; and would represent a Millennium event. In earlier posts I have discussed how we will rule much like David under Christ who will be the supreme authority during the 1000 year reign. There are other verses about the earth and its peoples which could encompass promises of either the Millennium or eternal Kingdom.
I have said before that the eternal nature of the earth seems to be proven by several verses and I had thought that was true about the sun and moon but Psalm 72 seems to indicate otherwise. It would seem to show the end of it at the end of the Millennium; no doubt part of the catastrophic destruction at the time. Ecclesiastes 1:4 and several other verses seem to indicate that the earth in some form remains forever. As to exactly how the new universe will be; or if anything exists other than heaven and a new earth is rather mysterious; however. It is very frightening to think of the lake of fire as being what happens when the elements (or atoms) are dissolved in 2 Peter 3:10; perhaps the lost are in an eternal body that is reduced to some strange broken down elemental state. Revelation 22:15 seems to indicate they are just outside the gate. Somehow it would seem that they are infinitely far away from the saints at that time; however as there will be no more crying on our part as Revelation 21:4 shows.
These changes no doubt will cause the sea to vaporize; hence no more sea ( Rev. 21:1). All in the sea will die in the Tribulation anyway (except that brought to life in the Dead Sea); see Revelation 16:3; and Ezekiel 47:10 with surrounding verses on that context. Again in heaven we shall behold Him and see His marks as Thomas did; the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 had eternal ramifications. We ever shall be reminded of what He did for us.
God is very jealous for His Word. That Word is the Bible ALONE and in its ENTIRETY. Why would anyone want to challenge God on that score when the penalties for doing so are so great.
Revelation 22:18,19
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, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
There is no more serious question when it comes to our relationship with God.
Yes. Before the Bible was completed, God did speak directly to individuals. But once God had finished the Bible with the book of Revelation He very clearly stated in Revelation 22:18 that we should not expect any additional direct communication from God. And we can rest assured that God will never violate His Word.
God the Holy Spirit, of course, must be active in opening our understanding and leading us into truth from the Bible as it may please Him so to do. But He will not communicate with us directly apart from Bible itself.
This is particularly important in our day when God is allowing Satan to perform certain signs and wonders. Read Matthew 24.
Why would we even desire any additional revelation from God when He has given us everything He wishes to communicate to us in a Book which is from the very Mouth of God Himself?
Think about thiswe can hold in our hand more communication from God than has been available to anyone prior to the completion of the Bible. And yet no one, I think I can safely say, will ever fully comprehend the depth of the riches and knowledge contained in the Bible as long as this earth exists.
This will be the last comment I will make to you on this subject.
You keep saying that God is not "paper and ink". And of course that is true in the physical sense. But God ONLY communicates with mankind as the we "read" the scriptures or "hear" them read to us. "Faith cometh by HEARING and HEARING by the Word of God" Romans 10:17. God is not communicating to mankind using dreams or voices or visions or tongues coming directly from God once the Bible was completed with the book of Revelations.
Anyone that believes otherwise would be in violation of Revelation 22:18,19.
However, God the Holy Spirit must be active in opening our understanding and applying the Word to our heart, as we "HEAR" the Word with our spiritual ears. That is what Romans 10:17 is saying.
I hope you will come to understand that because it is very serious business if we do not.
1 Corinthians 15:33,34
Acts 15:28,29; Exodus 26:1
POINT: Revelation 22:6-9;
Revelation 4:11
Along with what Jesse said, those who take the mark of the beast will be expected or forced to worship the beast. Therefore, they will be idolators and non-believers in Jesus Christ. These will be what is used to condemn them to the lake of fire forever.
Those who take the mark will have no hope of salvation. It will be too late to be saved once a person takes the mark. That is their punishment.
But your question, why does God punish those who receive the mark of the beast?
First, we have to understand that God is a righteous God and a righteous judge. God makes no mistakes in His judgements.
Those who take the mark will be punished for their disobedience to God. God is going to send the gospel message out, and that message will reach every single person, and they will be warned not to take the mark.
So those who refuse the gospel message, those who refuse the warning not to take the mark, God will punish. They will lose the opportunity to be saved for disobeying God.
THE BOOK is Christ; all the BOOKS, are the written WORD about the LIVING WORD, Christ is the spirit of Prophecy.
Amos 3:3 Can TWO walk together (and become ONE), except they( the two) be AGREED.
The TWO is the BOOK (the word, which is God) and MAN (YOU).
If you don't AGREE and BELIEVE the BOOK (take away or add) you want have a part in the BOOK.
Psalms 7:13 He (God) hath prepared for him the INSTRUMENT OF DEATH ...
Romans 6:23 The wages of SIN (not believing ALL THE BOOK) is DEATH ....
John 16:8 And when HE (the word, the BOOK, the spirit of prophecy, the HOLY GHOST) is COME, he will REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN:
John 16:9 OF SIN, because the BELIEVE NOT ON ME (the Book, the Word, ALL of the Books and all the WORD).
The LIVING WORD; CHRIST, has revealed himself in the WRITTEN word.
1 Timothy 4:19 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the LIVING GOD (the BOOK), who is the saviour of ALL MEN, especially those that believe.
Have you added to, or taken away from these words in THE BOOK (CHRIST), then according to Revelation 22:19 God has taken your part out of the words of THE BOOK (CHRIST).
FEW find THE WAY
Ezekiel 5:3 Thou (Christ) shall take a FEW in number, and bind them in thy skirt (clothing of priest the ephod).
Ezekiel 5:4 Take of them (the FEW) again, and CAST THEM into the MIDST of the FIRE, and burn them in the fire, for thereof (those FEW) shall a FIRE COME FORTH into all the house of Israel.
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIOURS (ONE with THE BOOK) shall come upon Mount Zion to JUDGE the mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORDS.
Isaiah 26:9 ...for when THY (the BOOK) JUDGEMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of THE WORLD will learn righteousness (Christ, the BOOK is our RIGHTEOUSNESS).
At the outset, I should state that I've never placed myself as a 'dispensationalist'. I do see broad outlines in the whole Word of God of dispensational Truth, but I think that comes naturally from study but not to be emphatic that this is essential for proper Bible teaching - helpful, but not required. But if you believe that from my views expressed here, that I show some ghastly symptoms of being under dispensational dominion, then please, I would like to know it & be corrected. Of Israel & the Church, I see them as separate until the believing Jew is joined together with the believing Gentile into One Body - then "there is no difference" - same applies to all.
Till then, what the Bible declares of Israel in the OT is purely about & for Israel. The Gentiles were never brought under any of God's Commands, Laws, & Sacrifices. The Gentiles were godless idol worshipers, to be destroyed where destruction was necessary, or enslaved as given in the Word. But God had a plan for the Gentiles then (as with Abraham) & leading up to the coming of Jesus. The Cross then "hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" ( Ephesians 2:14-16).
I agree that the OT & NT are equally important to both Jew & Gentile - but to the point you make: I would add, 'how do we interpret the Bible when using OT Scripture with the NT?' And to Revelation 22:19: the addition & subtraction from THIS Book brings on tragic results. The Church's Rapture, as understood by 'pre-tribs', is nowhere to be found after the last message to the Churches in Revelation chapter 3. Does this constitute as being 'dispensationalist'? I don't know.
Everything I mentioned on my list of Dispensational beliefs I have heard on this site by posters and also from some research on this theory. I am not implying that ALL dispensationalists believe ALL of these things, but it is true that there are pastors and teachers and writers that are teaching each of these beliefs.
When Revelation 22:19 speaks of adding to or taking away from the prophecy of this book, it is specifically referring to the Book John wrote of the Revelation he received about the how history will pan out.
There curses associated with these actions are very BIG: the adding onto the one who adds to the prophecy all the plagues listed in this book and the removal from the Book of life of those who take away. Both are very serious curses. We should be very sober minded about this topic.
So, the question is: Does Dispensationalism add to or take away from what is recorded in Revelation? I think certainly it adds to the prophecy in such ways as:
--- the pre-tribulation rapture that Paul warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
---the setting up of the OT sacrificial and priestly system along with strict adherence to the OT laws and celebration of the feast days in the Millennium. I don't read of that in Revelation.
---that Jesus will resurrect people in three batches years apart.
---the nation of Israel will inherit the earth and the Church will inherit heaven.
---that the raptured saints will have the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven during the 3.5 years of Tribulation without ALL of the redeemed.
---that the raptured saints will return from heaven with Jesus when He comes again to destroy the Anti-christ, etc. The truth is that there will not be any raptured saints in heaven to come with Him when He returns. The ones that come from heaven with Jesus are the angels, as Jesus said in Matt. 24 and elsewhere.
This just a handful of ways Dispensationalism adds to Scripture. ...continued
This is the teaching of dispensationalism that separates the gospels from Paul's epistles saying the gospels are for us but not to us because Jesus came for the Jews and spoke to the Jews, not us. This theory diminutizes Jesus and enlarges Paul as our teacher. But Jesus is our Lord and His words are Spirit and life. We are to listen to Him, as the Father said at His baptism and transfiguration. It is error to be so dismissive about the instructions of Jesus.
't sit w
Because dispensationalism teaches a distinct separation between Israel and the church, any Dispensationalist can chose to dismiss any part or the Scriptures as not being to them (nor applying to them) if it doesn't sit well with their mindset. This is a dangerous precedent to use concerning Scripture and erroneous at that.
For believers, Jesus should be exalted above all else, Paul included. His words and instructions should be heeded and obeyed, as Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are they who do His commandments." This is concerning all believers.
So, to dismiss what He commands concerning baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and insist that baptism is to be done in only in the name of "Jesus" is error. And it is a recent error that came about from the Oneness Pentecostal stream that came about in the early part of 1900's denying the Trinity and adopting modalism (Also known as Sabellianism or Monarchism in the early centuries of the church which was refuted and deemed heresy in both cases). So the "Jesus" only movement is aberrant in their teaching.
You may want to very carefully consider the verses below. If you are suggesting that God somehow speaks direct to us in a voice or a dream or a vision or a tongue once the Bible was completed, you are walking on very dangerous ground based on Rev 20:18,19.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Revelation 22:18 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:
Revelation 22:19 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.