Word Matters · Brandon Smith and Trevin Wax

What Is John Warning Us About at the End of Revelation?

July 29, 2019·13 min·1 clip

Brandon Smith and Trevin Wax announce the final episode of Word Matters after three years and over 50 shows.

Brandon Smith and Trevin Wax open by acknowledging this is the final episode of Word Matters after more than 50 episodes over three years, with Brandon moving to a professorship at Cedarville University. They note the logistical challenges of producing the show even while working in the same office, and express mutual appreciation before turning to the topic. The chosen passage, Revelation 22:18-19, warns that anyone who adds to or takes away from 'the words of the prophecy of this book' will face severe consequences. Brandon begins by addressing the Mormon interpretation, which holds that this corruption already happened to the Old and New Testaments, justifying Joseph Smith's restoration through the Book of Mormon. He notes that Islam holds a parallel view, seeing the Quran as correcting a corrupted Bible. The hosts then turn to the two main interpretive positions among Christians: whether John was warning about the entire Bible or only the book of Revelation. Both hosts agree that John's original intent was focused solely on Revelation. Brandon argues it is unlikely John knew he was writing the final book of a 66-book canon, and cautions against over-reading authorial intent. He draws a parallel to Old Testament prophets in Deuteronomy 4 and 12 who used similar language about their own specific prophecies. Trevin introduces the concept of 'right doctrine, wrong text,' affirming that a high view of all scripture is correct but that this particular verse should not be used to support it. He recounts how KJV-only advocates used the verse to accuse modern translation users of calling down God's curse, and how Brandon would counter that KJV manuscripts themselves contained scribal additions. Both agree neither side was actually under a curse, since the verse was never about the whole Bible. Trevin notes that ironically, misapplying the verse to all of scripture can reflect a lower view of the text than letting it mean what it actually says. For preaching application, Trevin says he would preach the passage in the context of Revelation 22 as a whole, emphasizing the authority of God exercised through his word. Brandon adds that John's deeper point is about trusting God's commands and promises — missing the full scope of Revelation means missing the hope of the tree of life and the holy city. Trevin affirms there is a broader application about recklessness with scripture, as long as preachers are clear that is not John's immediate focus. The episode closes with both hosts thanking listeners and reflecting on the impact of the show, noting that audience members frequently cited Word Matters as their favorite work from either host.

As heard by us

A careful final Word Matters episode on Revelation's warning against altering John's prophecy.

Word Matters ends its run by lingering over the warning at the close of Revelation: John's charge not to add to or take away from the book. Trevin Wax and Brandon Smith keep the discussion anchored in the passage itself, especially the way John writes in continuity with the Old…

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You want a close read of John's warning at the end of Revelation.

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