Rev 22:18-19 is a “proof-text” for Sola
Scriptura that any Latter-day Saint, even in a near-comatose state, should be
able to answer thoroughly when it is used by an errant Protestant to defend
this doctrine. Indeed, even many anti-Mormons who are Protestants reject this
text as a valid “proof-text” for (1) the cessation of special revelation and
(2) the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. One can find a thorough exegesis of this
and many other texts (e.g., 1 Cor 4:6; 2 Tim 3:16-17) used to support the
formal sufficiency of the Bible at:
Not
By Scripture Alone: A Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura
Interestingly, Christadelphian
expositors of the book of Revelation, themselves proponents of Sola Scriptura,
tend not to read this doctrine into the passage. For instance, Duncan Heaster
wrote the following about Rev 22:19:
22:19 And if anyone 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 of in this book-
That disobeying the law of God is effectively adding to it was clearly brought
home to Israel: "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou
shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it" (Dt. 12:32). The command to
Joshua to "observe to do according to all the law... turn not from it to
the right hand or to the left" (Josh. 1:7) is probably reiterating the
command not to add ("to the right") or subtract ("to the
left") from the law. Rev. 22:18,19 is based on these passages.
Only those once written in the book of life can
have their names taken out of it. The idea of taking away therefore refers to
believers who fall away. In the last days especially, as the tribulation
unfolds, it will be tempting for believers to downgrade the book of Revelation,
and not to accept the plain teaching about the need for separation from the
beast, even if it nets death and persecution. There will be a particular
temptation then to "take away" from this book. (source)
