What would you do if someone in your family was found editing the King James Bible? Would you stop him or her, or would you allow this person to continue changing it? Many people may say, if it is for grammatical changes, then I don’t see an issue with what the person is doing. But what if actual words and phrases were added to and removed from God’s Word, would that make a difference? Does this change your point of view on what is taking place? I would hope so. I mention all this since the Joseph Smith Translation is not a translation at all but a purposely driven change to the KJV Bible. It is written, “Joseph Smith, the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made a “new translation” of the Bible, using the text of the King James Version (KJV). This work differs from the KJV in at least 3,410 verses and consists of additions, deletions, rearrangements, and other alterations that cause it to vary not only from the KJV but from other biblical texts.” (Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST)) And an example of such changes to the Biblical text can be found below…
Revelation 19:18 (KJV)
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Revelation 19:18 (Joseph Smith Translation)
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all who fight against the Lamb, both bond and free, both small and great.
The main difference between the two translations is the ending. In the KJV Bible, it says that the “flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great” were eaten. Whereas the JST version states that “the flesh of all who fight against the Lamb, both bond and free, both small and great” were eaten. Also, the KJV refers to all mankind, regardless of their social status, size or importance. Whereas, the JST, refers to those who fight against the Lamb. Thus, the JST implies that only those who oppose Christ, not all people in general, are included in this judgement. Therefore, to believe in the JST means that you disagree with the KJV Bible as they are in direct conflict with one another. Surely, one translation needs to be thrown out, which is the Joseph Smith Translation. For Joseph Smith to corrupt the King James Bible in the way that he did, it means that God’s plagues are upon him, as well as his name being removed from the Lamb’s book of life. This means that he is a false prophet and currently in hell, and awaiting judgment. After judgment, he will be cast into the lake of fire. See below for details…
“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)
