<p>22:19 <em>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</em>- That disobeying the law of God is effectively adding to it was clearly brought home to Israel: &quot;What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it&quot; (Dt. 12:32). The command to Joshua to &quot;observe to do according to all the law... turn not from it to the right hand or to the left&quot; (Josh. 1:7) is probably reiterating the command not to add (&quot;to the right&quot;) or subtract (&quot;to the left&quot;) from the law. Rev. 22:18,19 is based on these passages.</p><p>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 &quot;take away&quot; from this book.&nbsp;</p>