REV 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:

REV 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.

God takes His Word very seriously.  God does not want any man messing around with His scripture.  God does not care how smart a man thinks he is.  God does not care if a man is a Greek scholar.  God does not want any man taking away or adding anything to His Word.  Period. 

Excuses will not fly with God.  One of the most common excuses of changing God's Word is the making it easier to read excuse.  The easier to read excuse will not cut it.  And if you really start comparing all the changes it does not take you very long to figure out that there is a whole lot more going on with the new versions than making it easier to read.  Words like hell are changed to grave.  The word hell is not hard to understand so why change it?  Hell and grave do not mean the same thing.  We all go to the grave, but we do not all go to hell.  The word virgin is changed to maid.  In many places the blood is taken out, the worship of Jesus is taken out, the deity of Jesus is taken out.  Some versions like the NIV have 17 whole verses missing as well as many other verses that have  important words and phrases taken out.  The list of problems goes on and on. 

And all the while that man is doing this, God says don't add to my Word and don't take anything away from my Word.  In short do not change it.   

REV 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:

REV 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.

It always has amazed me how "Christians" will attack a man who stands up for God's Word and simply repeats God's command to not add to or take away from His Word. 

Instead of changing the book, what we as Christians should do is stand up for The Book, read The Book, Love The Book, obey The Book, and share The Book with others.

REV 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

REV 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

REV 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

REV 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

The beauty of the New Jerusalem is incredible.  The materials that it is made of are unusual by earths standards.  Gold and precious gems are so rare on earth that men kill for them.  But they are so common in heaven that they are used for building materials.  The beauty of this city is something that Christians look forward to.  Even the foundations are made of precious stones.  And if the foundations are that beautiful, what are the mansions going to be like.  It will be a place full of wonders.  The streets will be made of pure gold but they will also be like transparent glass.  We have nothing on earth to compare to it.  What a wonderful home we will have. 

REV 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

In this verse we learn that to get saved during the tribulation is a death sentence.  They will be beheaded for witnessing of Jesus.  They will be beheaded for the word of God.  They will be beheaded for not worshipping the beast or his image.  They will be beheaded for not receiving the mark of the beast.  Killing them will not be done in secret.  It will be very public.  The beast will want to make an example out of them.  It will be public knowledge that to accept Christ will cost you your head.  And yet people will still get saved.  Christ will mean more to them than their own lives. 

A passage like this should make us think about how much does Christ mean to us?  Does He mean enough to us to really live for Him?  Does He mean enough to us to give a track to someone?  Does He mean enough to us to support His missionaries?  Does He mean enough to us to separate from worldly lusts?  Does He mean as much to us as these people in verse 4?

A question like this should give everyone of us pause. 

REV 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

REV 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

In chapter 19 the focus returns to heaven.  The saved are praising the Lord and worshipping Him.  The tribulation is ready to end.  God's judgments have been poured out.  And thru it all many have been saved.  Jesus is now ready to return to the earth and set up His kingdom, but one thing remains.  The marriage supper of the Lamb.

REV 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

We will be joined to Christ as a wife to her husband.  We will honor Him thru all eternity and He will care for us.  It will be a pure relationship without any conflicts of any kind because we will no longer have a sin nature.  Sin is at the root of every problem in any relationship.  Praise God there will not be any sin allowed in heaven.  We will have an eternity of  great relationships, and the greatest relationship of all will be with Jesus.

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REV 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

REV 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

REV 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

At this time in the tribulation God will destroy a great center of trade and commerce.  Many will mourn at her loss.  The reason why is that they were made rich there.  Their affection was on riches.  The concern of their lives was on money and all that it can buy.  And to show the futility of that God takes it all away in one hour. 

There are many like this today.  Their main concern in life is money.  They put all their energy into making it.  They spend their free time spending it and showing it off.  Their security in life is placed on their bank accounts.  But just like in Rev Chapter 18 all of your money can vanish in an hour.  You can be living high on the hog one day and the next you can be in the poor house.  Not only can your money vanish but your money cannot help you when you die.  You cannot take it with you, and you cannot buy your way into heaven.  In the scope of eternity money does not have much value.

And yet many people still put their trust in, and invest their hearts in  money.  Their love of money leaves no room for Jesus in their hearts.  They think that they have all they need.  This is why Jesus said in Mark  10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

It is hard for a rich man to see his need for Jesus, but it is not impossible.

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

It is hard for a rich man to get saved, but they can get saved.  With God all things are possible.  We need to witness to all men regardless of how much or how little money they have. 

REV 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus is truly the Lord of lords, and King of kings.  He is on the throne of the universe.  We cannot understand God's master plan.  Many times things happen that we cannot understand the reason why.  But God does.  He has a reason for it.  His plan will not be thwarted.  No matter how much Satan fights against God, he will loose in the end. 

Jesus came as a Lamb led to the slaughter the first time to go to the cross and pay for our sin. Jesus made that sacrifice once for all.  Never again will He suffer.  The debt has been paid in full.  Jesus declared it is finished.  The next time Jesus comes back it will not be as a Lamb but as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Jesus is going to come back in glory and in power.  And He will overcome Mystery Babylon, the beast, Satan, and all those that follow him. 

REV 16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

REV 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

REV 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

God has went to great lengths for men to be saved.  He became man and went to the cross to pay for man's sin.  God gave us His Holy Word that shows us how to be saved.  God has called many men to preach the gospel.  God sent two witnesses during the tribulation.  After they were killed, God sent 3 angels to preach.  God has been very patient and longsuffering thru it all.  There are many things going on right now that makes us sometimes wonder why does not God send judgment upon it.  But God withholds.  God's patience is great.  He stays His hand.  Out of Love He gives men space to repent. 

God does have great patience, but it is not endless.  He is righteous and just and therefore judgment must finally come.  These verses tell us that the terrible judgments of these plagues are just.  God is righteous in pouring His wrath upon those left upon the earth at this time. 

In verse 2 they are worshiping the beast.  In verse 6 they have murdered God's children and His prophets.  In verse 9 they repent not and refuse to give Him glory.  In verse 11 they blaspheme God.  In verse 14 and 16 they gather to do battle for Satan and against God.  And in verse 21 they blaspheme God again. 

Refusing all of God's pleadings, signs, Words, preaching, and conviction will in the end lead to judgment.  It is true for these people in Revelation 16 and it is true for us today.

Refusing God's love and His free gift of salvation thru His Son Jesus will end in the eternal judgment of hell.  It is a wicked thing to refuse the love of God. 

REV 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

This is one place that we see singing in heaven.  We are not told everything about what we will do in heaven.  I don't think our limited minds could understand it all if we were told.  But we do know that we will be singing.  We will be praising God for who He is and what He has done. 

One of the songs mentioned here that will be sung is the song of Moses.  The song of Moses is the very first song in the Bible.  You can find the words to the song in Exodus Chapter 15 verses 1 thru 19.    The song of Moses is full of teaching.  The song talks about the mercy of God but the song of Moses also has some hard things in it.  The song includes not only the power of God but also the judgment of God. 

The song is all about God, His attributes, what He has done and their reaction to it.  And this is the kind of song that will be sung in heaven.  It is music that is vastly different from the repetitious, not much doctrinal content, appeal to the flesh, hard drum beat stuff that is in many churches today.   

REV 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

REV 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

REV 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The two witness are now gone, having been killed.  Satan and his beast are at war with the saved people on the earth.  Witnessing for Jesus on the earth has now been greatly reduced.  So in this chapter we have three angels that were sent to preach.

The first one in verse 6 preaches the everlasting gospel to every nation and every language on the earth. 

The second angel preaches against Babylon.  And the third angel preaches about how misguided worshiping the beast and his image is.  He warns them of the consequences of their actions.  He warns them of the fire and brimstone of hell.  He also warns them that this torment will be for ever and ever. 

For most people during this time, not even an angel of heaven preaching to them will be enough.  They will continue to worship the beast and his image.  And yet God still sends the angels to preach.  I believe that not everyone will reject the angels preaching.  Why do I believe that?  Because God's Word does not return void.  God does not do things in vain.  He sends the angels to preach for those that will get saved. 

Even during the tribulation we see the love of God.  He is still warning people about escaping judgment.  He is still trying to get people to repent and get saved.  God is still not willing that any should perish.