🟨 DIFFICULT VERSE
Revelation 22:18–19

“If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City…”

🟦 AUDIENCE

John is writing to the seven churches in Asia and to everyone who hears the prophecy of Revelation.

The warning concerns adding to or taking away from the words of the prophecy.

🟪 WHY WAS THIS WRITTEN?

To warn against corrupting God’s revelation by adding to His Word or taking words away from it.

🟥 THE PROBLEM

This verse is often used to claim:

“A Christian can lose salvation.”

But the passage does not say that a saved person becomes unsaved.

It says God will take away “any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City.”

🟧 COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING

“Take away their share in the tree of life” = “Take away their salvation.”

But the text never says that.

The object being taken away is specifically “any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City.”

🟩 SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE

John 10:27–28

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish…”

Jesus says His sheep shall never perish.

Romans 8:1

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

🟩 GOD’S CLARITY

The warning is serious: God’s Word must not be altered.

But notice what the text actually says:

“God will take away… any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City.”

It does not say:

“God will take away their salvation.”

🟫 WHERE DOES THIS FIT?

Revelation 22:18–19 comes at the conclusion of the New Testament revelation.

John is warning against tampering with the prophetic message God has given.

⭐ KEY POINT

Revelation 22:18–19 warns against adding to or taking away from God’s prophetic Word.

It does not explicitly say that a genuinely saved person can lose eternal life.

🟦 ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

Revelation 22:18–19 warns against corrupting God’s prophetic Word; it does not explicitly teach that a genuinely saved person can lose eternal life.