Thursday, March 17, 2022

Recent Example of a Protestant Critic Appealing to Revelation 22:18-19

While Rev 22:18-19 has been refuted by Latter-day Saint apologists ad nauseam, and while even many vehement critics of the Church reject it as a valid proof-text against modern public revelation and/or Sola Scriptura, it still is raised by some (often the more ignorant) critics of the Church. Here is one recent example:  


If we will only stick to God’s Word in the Bible, it will be a shield to protect us from the lies that not only lead us astray, causing hurt and harm, but also keep us from being ripped off by false teachers. Scripture is our shield. As we just read, God says not to add to His words, or He will rebuke us, and we will be proven liars. Bingo! With all due respect, that is exactly what has happened to Joseph Smith. Here is more from Revelation 22:18-19:

 

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which were written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book. God will take away his part in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are written in this book.”

 

God’s message is very clear: Don’t add or take away from Scripture; leave it alone because I have put my stamp of approval on it 2,500 times. Isn’t that good enough/ Why do we have to keep going somewhere else? Just like those Old Testament stories of the people constantly straying and coming back, only to stray again. Even today we are looking for other ideas, theories, and prophets (outside the Bible) to guide us. But why can’t we just get into the Bible and enjoy it straight from the mind of God? (Bill Crone, Mormonism and the Occult Behavior of Joseph Smith [World Religions Cult and the Occult; Pahrump, Nev.: Get a Life Ministries, Inc., 2020], 224)

 

To see a thorough refutation of this text as well as the (comparatively speaking) "stronger" texts such as 2 Tim 3:16-17, see:


Not By Scripture Alone: A Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura