This Math Is Hazardous To Your Health

Adding and subtracting

Revelation 1:3; 

"3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

This verse at the beginning of the book of Revelation is a promise of blessing to those who read the words of the prophesies in this book.  But it doesn't only apply to Revelation:  it includes the other 65 as well. 

In the very last chapter of Revelation, however, there is an ominous warning.  

Revelation 22:18-19

"18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ADDS to these things, God will ADD to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone TAKES AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall TAKE AWAY his part from the Book of Life, ( the Mazoretic text says, "tree" instead of book) from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

"If anyone ADDS to the Words of this book God will ADD to him the PLAGUES in this book."

Who is adding, what are they adding and to what plagues is it referring?  I used to think this was referring to cult-like groups that take the Bible, add their own writings and twist the scriptures to fit their own peculiar theology. 

While that certainly is true and does apply, that is not what God is primarily concerned with here.  His major concern is that if anyone adds anything....ANYTHING AT ALL.....to the finished work of Jesus, like say, our performance, and tell us,  "We have to do this or we have to do that" to be pleasing to God, they are ADDING TO THE WORK OF CHRIST.

BIG NO NO.

Nothing.....not even the lightest weight of a feather......is to be nor can be added to Jesus' finished work, insinuating that what He endured on the cross was not payment enough.  It's like saying, "Worthy is the lamb.....and me."  AS IF!

To those foolish enough to think that any self righteous works of theirs are needed to please God in ANY WAY He promises that He will ADD TO THAT PERSON all the plagues that are written in this book.  Go on; read 'em in Deuteronomy 28 if you want to have some major nightmares; THEY'RE TEEEIFYING!

On the other hand, if anyone TAKES AWAY from what is written in his book, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY his part in the tree of life.  Does that mean that you can loose your salvation!  OF COURSE NOT!

 

Here is what God means:  

There are preachers who will tell you that some of the gifts of the Spirit, like healing or tongues whatever, are not for today.  In so saying, they are "taking away" from the word of God, robbing their flock of things that were given to us BY GOD to bless us.  

These are serious matters.

There may be preachers who tell you that you must confess your sins before you take communion so you don't partake unworthily.  These well-meaning Christians are "adding" to the word of God.  You are made FOREVER RIGHTEOUS in Christ from the first nano second of your new birth.  All your sins.:  Past-Present-Future, are put away.  You stand in the perfection of God's beloved Son.  What is there to confess?  You wanna go and dredge up what God Almighy has put away?  We don't partake,"in remembrance of our sins;  we partake IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS!

So, what does it mean to "partake in an unworthy manner?"  Simply this: If you do not make a clear distinction between the body of Jesus--that it was broken for your PHYSICAL HEALING--and the blood--which CLEANSES FROM ALL SIN--you are short-changing yourself of its full and intended benefit.  Understanding and making that distinction is partaking worthily.
His body was broken so that yours could be restored!   His blood cleanses from all sin!

You can take communion whenever you want, just like medicine.  You don't need to be an ordained minister to partake daily, even several times a day if you are sick, at home on your own. Remember, we are all kings and priests after the order of Melchizedek. The church is not a building; it is all of us who are born again.  

I highly encourage you to partake frequently and declare yourself made whole by Jesus' stripes.  Make a clear distinction in your mind even, and ESPECIALLY, if you don't hear it from the pulpit.

What, or more to the point, Who, is this tree of Life?  It's Jesus!  Remember what He did while here on earth?  He healed everyone everywhere He went, fed the five and the seven thousand and cast out all manner of demons.  One cannot be in the presence of Jesus and be sick, in want or possessed of a demon.  For that matter, if you want a successful funeral, don't invite Him!

What does it mean that God will take away your part in the book of life?  It means that those who "TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS IN THIS BOOK," meaning they don't believe God helps today, even though He is the same yesterday, today and forever.....their health will be affected--taken away--and they will die of some disease before their time.  "The Tree Of Life" is of no effect to them.  It means rhey will suffer physical "death" in one form or another.
However, when you eat of the TREE OF LIFE, your disease is no more and your youth is renewed like the eagle's!

Tell me:  Why are we giving more weight and credit to sin, evil and man's efforts to try to please God?  It's backwards!  Our loving, wonderful, compassionate and generous Heavenly Father should get ALL the credit.  His grace and the Holy Spirit are far more powerful and effective in touching and changing people's lives.  
 

 

Not believing that ALL the gifts are given to the church for our benefit is, in effect, not trusting God.  We seem to be more inclined to try and fix things ourselves or run to the doctor first before bringing our needs to God, thereby glorifying man's efforts over God's provision.  Nothing wrong with doctors, mind you.  But let's go to our Great Physician first.  

So where is your focus?  On Jesus and His finished work?..... or on yourself and your performance?  

That focusing AWAY FROM Jesus TO ourselves, Church, is the SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST which is working overtime in these last days, sad to say.  It is alive and well in many churches, glorifying man's self efforts to be pleasing to God.

That is the heart of the matter.  If the Church would shed this wrong focus, turn around and face Jesus, REVIVAL OF UNPRECEDENTED PROPORTIONS WOULD BREAK OUT WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS FOLLOWING!

We are either justified by KEEPING THE WHOLE LAW--i.e. focusing on man and his self efforts {including circumcision}, OR--or we are SAVED BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE.  Good luck trying to perfectly obey the law.  It's impossible.

Make up your mind.  You cannot have it both ways.  You're either under grace through faith OR you are justified by the law through your own efforts.
 

 

Though none of the above can rob you of spending eternity with Jesus once you are born again, it can make life here on earth very unpleasant.  

The whole point is to take our eyes off us, turn around and face Jesus and take Him at His word. The Holy Spirit put all those wonderful things in the Bible to bless and benefit us.  Let's take advantage of all the gifts God has so graciously given to us without measure.  

Let's have no more adding and subtracting.