Revelation 22:18 (KJV)

Passage

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:

Nearby Context

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

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

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.

Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "testify", "heareth", "words", "prophecy", "book", "shall", and "things". 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.