Joseph Smith thought he knew better than the people who translated the King James Bible. In his own translation (JST), he purposely changed what the KJV Bible reads. He didn’t examine ancient manuscripts and create a fresh translation from Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic. Instead, the KJV Bible was his foundation. This is where we see over 3400 changes to God’s Word. He purposely changed it according to what he thought was missing or was wrong with the text. This fulfills the prophecy of someone adding to and taking away from the Book of Revelation. We will read these verses later, but just know that Joseph’s name has been removed from the Book of Life for adding to and taking away from Revelation. What does this mean? It means that Joseph will be sent off to the lake of fire after being judged by Jesus, our Lord and God. Oh, the fear that will set in, knowing that in the resurrection he will die once again. An example of Joseph changing Revelation can be found below…
Revelation 19:15 (KJV)
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:15 (Joseph Smith Translation)
15 And out of his mouth proceedeth the word of God, and with it he will smite the nations and he will rule them with the word of his mouth. And he treadeth the winepress in the fierceness and wrath of almighty God.
In the verse above, we see that in the Joseph Smith Translation the phrase, “out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword” was replaced with “out of his mouth proceedeth the word of God”. But it doesn’t stop here. “he shall rule them with a rod of iron” was replaced with “he will rule them with the word of his mouth.” Do see any similarities in what was replaced with the original? Absolutely not. Just because “the sword of the Spirit” “is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), it doesn’t give someone the right to change the wording from sharp sword to word of God. The original verse speaks about a physical sword and ruling people with an iron rod, not using words like “the Word”, which Joseph changed it to. Lastly, Joseph Smith purposely changed verses in Revelation according to his pride. Therefore, as the verses below describe, he is currently in hell and awaiting his sentence to go off into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Read the verses below to find out this truth…
“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: 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.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15)
