John's Warning - Scripture Beyond the Bible

In my previous post, I explained that the intent of my next several posts would be to provide Biblical support for the idea that God has revealed more scripture to man than that which is contained in the Bible. This post will examine a scripture found in the writing of the Apostle John that is often used to oppose the idea of revelation from God beyond what is found in the Bible.

John's Warning

The last chapter of the last book of the New Testament, Revelation chapter 22, contains a stirring verse that has caused many to doubt the veracity of the Book of Mormon. It states:

"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."

Many assume that, because this verse falls on the last page of most Bibles, it is an ultimatum statement saying that there will be no more revelation, no more prophets, and no more scripture after the end of the Bible.

There are a few problems with this logic from a Biblical perspective. 

First, God has always called prophets to reveal His word since the begging of man (source). Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaiah, and many others whose words are in the Bible are evidence of thousands of years of prophetic guidance in ancient times. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God has assured us that He will continue to call prophets in the words of Amos, who said that "God will do nothing, but He revealeth his secret unto his servants, the prophets" (Amos 3:7) and the words of Paul, who explained that prophets are essential to the Church (Ephesians 2:20 , Ephesians 4:11-14). Why, then, would God cease to call prophets or to reveal His word to His children?

Second, the Bible was not compiled into the book that we have today until centuries after John wrote these words (Source). So we must understand John as speaking of "the words of the book of this prophecy", which we know today as the book of Revelation, not the entire Bible.

Third, it is thought that the book of Revelation was not the last book written chronologically. In fact, John probably wrote his Gospel and his epistles after he wrote the book of Revelation (Source).

Fourth, Moses used very similar words thousands of years before in the book of Deuteronomy:

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (Deuteronomy 4:2). 

So, if we interpret the words of Moses and John as referring to the whole Bible instead of just the individual books they were writing, that would nullify the greater part of the Old Testament as well as the entire New Testament.

In short, this often-used verse is a warning against altering or changing the word of God as delivered to His prophets. Its use as Biblical evidence that the Book of Mormon is illogical. My understanding is that John (and Moses, for that matter) were warning against perverting or polluting the word of God that they had delivered. They were not telling us that there would be no more prophets nor more revelation (again, if this were the case, Moses would be telling us not to trust John, or Jesus, or Isaiah).

Thus, the Book of Mormon - another separate testament of Jesus Christ - is not in violation of John's warning at the end of the book of Revelation.

Scripture Beyond the Bible

Jacob, the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham, had 12 sons. From these 12 sons come the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Bible is a testimony of Jesus Christ written by descendants of Judah, one of Jacob's sons.

The Book of Mormon is a testimony of Jesus Christ written by descendants of Joseph, another of Jacob's sons.

Moroni, one of the prophets descended from Joseph who wrote in the Book of Mormon, explained that the Book of Mormon was written "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon Title Page).

Mormon.org describes the similarities between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, stating that "both books contain God's guidance as revealed to prophets as well as religious histories of different civilizations" (Mormon.org).

While many believe that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints use the Book of Mormon to replace the Bible, this simply is not true. All 3 Testaments - the Old, the New and the Book of Mormon - are considered sacred scripture and are studied by members of the LDS - or Mormon - Church.

In fact, one Book of Mormon prophet said that "These last records [the Book of Mormon], which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [the Bible]" (1 Nephi 13:40). In other words, the Book of Mormon was written to support the truths taught in the Bible. It was not written to replace the Bible.

In the following several posts, I will discuss specific Biblical scriptures that support the idea of additional scripture and the importance of the Book of Mormon. In doing so, I hope to support the view that God has not ceased to communicate with His children and never will do so.

Baptism for the Dead - Explained

God's Universal Love For His Children

Scientists estimate that over 100 billion human beings have called this earth home since the first man and woman, Adam and Eve

"We are the offspring of God" (Acts 17:29). All of us.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).

Is it not logical that God loves all of His children?

When Cornelius - a Gentile - petitioned Peter for baptism, the Lord inspired Peter that the time had come for the Gentiles to receive the Gospel as well.

"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons," Peter declared (Acts 10:34). He does, indeed, love all of us with the same infinite love.

Justice and an Equal Opportunity For All

And yet how many of those 100 billion have had the opportunity to receive a proper baptism by the proper authority?

How many, even today, have never heard the name of Jesus Christ, much less learned of His Gospel and had the opportunity to accept it and to be baptized.

Is it just for a person to be damned because he or she never had the opportunity to accept the Gospel and be baptized?

The heart of every human being feels the injustice in such a statement.

And yet the Lord's word is clear: "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Some suggest that this injustice may be solved by God allowing those who never had the opportunity to accept the Gospel and to be baptized to be saved without baptism.

The problem with such an approach is that it makes God a liar. And God is not a liar. Baptism is an essential ordinance for our salvation.

So what becomes of the billions who have never had the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ through baptism?

The answer to this question comes from a further search into the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ Among the Dead in the Spirit World

Do you know where Jesus Christ's spirit was after his death and before His resurrection?

Was He in heaven?

No. Remember the word he spoke to Mary on the morning of His resurrection: "touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father..." (John 20:17).

Think back to the crucifixion. One of the two thieves crucified with Him mocked the Savior. The other reverenced Him and Christ told him,"To day thou shalt be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

Paradise. Jesus Christ was in Paradise.

Paradise is the temporary resting place of the dead while awaiting the resurrection (see Luke 16:22-30 and Alma 40:12-14 in the Book of Mormon)

What was Jesus Christ doing in paradise?

"For Christ also ... being put to death in the flesh ... went and preached unto the spirits in prison... the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:18-21)

Some are not convinced that "spirits in prison" refers to those who have died (even though verse 20 clearly refers to those who had lived in Noah's day, thousands of years before).
But if there is any doubt, Peter clears it up for us in the very next chapter:

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6).

Hope For Those who have Died

Why would Jesus Christ preach the Gospel to those who had died if there were no hope for them to be saved?

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).

All Christians rejoice to know that, through the suffering of One, even Jesus Christ, our sins are washed away and we are made clean.
Christ's suffering was a vicarious act - something done by one person in behalf of another.

Baptism for the dead is a vicarious act - something done by one person in behalf of another.

Jesus Christ does not force us to accept His sacrifice. He suffered for our sins, but it is our decision to accept His sacrifice and to follow Him, or to reject it.

Neither is anyone forced to accept a baptism performed on their behalf. The ordinance - like the atoning blood of Christ - is available for any who will receive it, but no one is forced to do so.

By preaching the Gospel to the dead and allowing for baptism and other sacred ordinances to be performed in behalf of those who have died, Jesus Christ has solved the troubling question of what will happen to all who have died without the opportunity to accept His Gospel and be baptized.

All will rise again. All will stand before the judgement bar of God. And all will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and to accept the saving ordinance of baptism, even those who never had that opportunity during life.

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthains 15:29)


I share my personal witness that the doctrine of vicarious baptism is true. I have performed such ordinances many times in the Temple of the Lord, and have felt the Spirit of God confirm to me that it is a true ordinance. It does not force Mormonism upon anyone. It is a gesture of goodwill and love toward all of our brothers and sisters. I know that God lives and loves all of His children. I know that He is a just God, who gives equal opportunity to all that they might believe and be saved.
I know that salvation comes only through our Savior Jesus Christ. 


"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Additional references
Romans 14:9

Biblical Support of Mormon Beliefs - Introduction

My purpose in writing this blog is twofold. One, to attempt to clarify the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to those who may have heard rumors or untruths about what we believe. Having said that, let me be clear - I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but this is NOT an official blog of the Church nor do I speak for the Church. I am sharing my own opinions and explanations in an attempt to help explain that which I know to be true.

My second purpose is to provide powerful scriptures, quote from Prophets and Apostles, and examples that may help others to explain the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to their friends or associates, and to help one and all to see that what we believe is supported in the Holy Bible.

I welcome open, friendly discussion but will tell you that my purpose is not to argue, belittle, or disrespect anyone or any religion, and I ask that the same respect and decency be given in return.

As the Lord said to the congregated disciples in The Book of Mormon.

"he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another."

Let us be Christ-like in our interaction with one another and cultivate the love of God, not hatred or evil feelings.