Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
- KJV And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
- NKJV And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
- NASB And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
- NLT Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John is told not to seal up the prophecy, for the time is near. This message is meant to be heard and heeded now, not hidden away.
Overview
Unlike Daniel, who was told to seal his words for a distant time (Daniel 12:4), John must leave this prophecy open. The nearness of 'the time' presses its relevance on every generation of the church. Revelation is given to be read, understood, and obeyed by God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Dan 8:26The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
- Rev 1:3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.
- 1 Pet 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Rev 10:4When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to put it in writing. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
- Matt 10:27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
- Ezek 12:23Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.
- Dan 12:9“Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
- Rom 13:12The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- Dan 12:4But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
- Rev 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
- Rev 22:12–13“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
- Rev 5:1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
- Isa 8:16Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.
- Isa 13:6Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Rev 22:20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
- 2 Th 2:3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 22:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.