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NASB | Revelation 22:18 ¶ 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 which are written in this book; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 22:18 ¶ I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book; [Deut 4:2] |
Bible Question (short): Is God's Word Complete ? |
Question (full): Is the Cannon of Scripture complete? Or should we be looking for new truth today? I have been following the discussion on prophets. I find that when I hear of someone claiming to have a special revealation from God, the caution lights go on and I think of this warning in Rev. 22:18 In Luke 24:42 The risen Lord said to his disciples: "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things which are written of Me in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. In other words the Lord Jesus accepted that the old Testament was complete under the three catergories. The Prophets of the old testament according to Peter in 2 Peter 1:20-21 he writes "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." In other words the old testament prophets were simply vessels of the Holy Ghost and were forth-tellers of the word of God. In the New Testament we have those who were chosen by Christ as stewarts of the truth which he gave to them while he was with them. How could they remember such detail. Jesus told them " But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance , whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26) This is comfirmed again in John 16:12 "Jesus said I have many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himselfl but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speakL and he will shew you things to come" We find from these verses that the Lord Jesus did not leave what we call the New Testament to the memories of those who loved him, but by the Holy Spirit gave them his mind and will which was presented to the church and the world. Other New testament prophets of course where John the Baptist and the greatest of all the Lord Jesus Christ himself. The Apostle Paul was also a choosen vessel through whom God presented great truths to the new testament church. In Strong's Concordance, the transliterated word from New Testament Greek as "Prophetes" is defined as: a) an interpreter of oracles or of hidden things. b) one who moved by the Spirit of God solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration"... It would appear that New Testament prophets is not ordinarily a "foreteller", but rather a forth-teller (1 Cor. 14:3) whose gift enabled him to speak to "edification, and exhortation and comfort". If we take Rev. 22:18 seriously than we would propose that the mind and truth of God is in his Word and by his Holy Spirit through his word. Present day prophets would then be known as forth- tellers of the truth revealled to them by the Holy Spirit from the word of God. Men do not interpret scripture. Scripture interprets scripture since "no scripture is of private interpretation" God has been careful to provide us with the whole word of God and if we prayfully ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, he will in the light of the whole word of God. I do not believe that God is about to add to his word through modern day prophets. If all truth was suffcient for the apostles, why would it not satisfy us? |