And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
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.
- BSB Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
- 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 mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.
- Rev 1:3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.
- 1 Pet 4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
- Rev 10:4When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.”
- Matt 10:27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
- Ezek 12:23Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.
- Dan 12:9He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
- Rom 13:12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
- Dan 12:4But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased.”
- Rev 22:16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”
- Rev 22:12–13“Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
- Rev 5:1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
- Isa 8:16Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.
- Isa 13:6Wail; for the day of Yahweh is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Rev 22:20He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
- 2 Th 2:3Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
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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.