Revelation 22:18 (ASV)

Passage

I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:

Nearby Context

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which 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 from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

Revelation 22:20 He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "testify", "heareth", "words", "prophecy", "book", "shall", and "plagues". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "testify" and "heareth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "And the Spirit and the bride say..." into verse 19's "and if any man shall take away...", so "testify" and "heareth" belong inside that flow. In Revelation context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "testify" and "heareth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.