Revelation 22:10
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Unlike prophecies meant to be hidden for a distant future, like Daniel's, John is told to keep this message open and accessible. This isn't a code to be cracked later; it's urgent news for people facing immediate hardship, confirming that God's plans are actively unfolding.
As the visions of Revelation draw to a close, an angel instructs John not to seal up the prophecy, unlike previous prophets whose messages concerned distant future events. Instead, John is told to make these words widely known because their fulfillment is imminent, serving to comfort and strengthen believers facing impending trials and the ultimate coming of Christ.
Why would an angel tell John not to seal up his prophecy, when others were told to seal theirs?
The book of Revelation stands apart from some earlier prophecies, like those in Daniel. While Daniel was told to "seal up the words" (Daniel 8:26), implying a message for distant future generations, John is told the opposite: "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book." This isn't because the events are trivial, but because their fulfillment is imminent and meant to be a source of strength and hope for believers now. The angel is directing John to make this message public and accessible, not to hide it away for centuries. The key difference lies in the timing and purpose: some prophecies are for confirming truth in the far future, while this one is for sustaining the people of God in the immediate days ahead.
What does it truly mean when the Bible says 'the time is near'?
The phrase 'for the time is near' is a powerful assertion of God's sovereignty and the liveliness of His unfolding plan. It’s not necessarily about every single event happening tomorrow, but about the beginning of the fulfillment and the certainty of God’s ultimate purposes. The scholars note that for John and his immediate audience, and for believers facing persecution, these events were not abstract concepts but realities that would soon begin to unfold. This imminence serves as a vital encouragement: God is not distant or uninvolved; His intervention and ultimate victory are closer than we might think. It calls us to live in readiness and faith, knowing that His timing is perfect and His purposes are steadfast.
Understand the original words
sphragizō · Greek Verb
To seal something is to close or hide it, rendering it inaccessible or secret; in this context, the command NOT to seal signifies that the message is intended for public proclamation and immediate application.
Unlike Daniel's prophecies which were sealed for a distant future, John is told not to seal his visions because their fulfillment is imminent, serving as a crucial message of hope and warning for the church facing immediate pressures.
c. 62 BC
Daniel's Prophecies Sealed
The prophet Daniel is instructed to seal up his visions because they concern events far in the future, not immediate fulfillment. This contrasts sharply with John's commission.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus emphasizes that the 'kingdom of God is near' and that 'the time is fulfilled.' This sets a tone of imminent fulfillment and urgency for his followers.
c. AD 50-60
Early Church Letters
Apostles like Paul write letters to nascent churches, often referencing the 'last days' and the 'imminent' return of Christ, highlighting the urgency felt by early believers.
c. AD 64-70
Nero's Persecution and Jerusalem's Fall
Rome, under Emperor Nero, begins persecuting Christians, and the First Jewish-Roman War culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. These events fulfill some of the 'near' tribulations prophesied.
This passage contrasts with Revelation 22:10, as Daniel was told to seal up his prophecies because the time was far off, whereas John is told not to seal his because the time is near.
Daniel 8:26Similar to Daniel 12:4, Daniel is instructed to seal his vision, highlighting the difference in the immediacy of the prophecies in Revelation compared to those in Daniel.
Revelation 10:4This verse presents a command to John to seal up things he heard, directly contrasting with the instruction in Revelation 22:10 to not seal the words of this prophecy.
1 John 2:18This verse speaks of the 'last hour,' echoing the sense of immediacy and nearness of fulfillment that is a core reason for John's prophecy not to be sealed.
ellicottRevelation 22:10: "And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."
(10) And he saith to me . . . —The angel, in contrast to the injunctions given to Daniel ( Daniel 12:9-13 ), bids the prophet “Seal not the words of the prophecy”: the reason is added, “for the time is near.” “Such is ever the difference between the prophecy of the old, and the prophecy of the new dispensation. The one belonged to a preliminary and prefatory state; the other to…
clarkeRevelation 22:10: "And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."
Seal not the sayings - Do not lay them up for future generations; they concern the present times; they must shortly come to pass, for the time is at hand. See above, Revelation 22:6 . What concerned the Jews was certainly at hand.
Unlike prophecies meant to be hidden for a distant future, like Daniel's, John is told to keep this message open and accessible. This isn't a code to be cracked later; it's urgent news for people facing immediate hardship, confirming that God's plans are actively unfolding.
As the visions of Revelation draw to a close, an angel instructs John not to seal up the prophecy, unlike previous prophets whose messages concerned distant future events. Instead, John is told to make these words widely known because their fulfillment is imminent, serving to comfort and strengthen believers facing impending trials and the ultimate coming of Christ.
As the visions of Revelation draw to a close, an angel instructs John not to seal up the prophecy, unlike previous prophets whose messages concerned distant future events. Instead, John is told to make these words widely known because their fulfillment is imminent, serving to comfort and strengthen believers facing impending trials and the ultimate coming of Christ.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Revelation 22:10 is available in the Sola app.
c. AD 95— this verse
John Receives the Revelation
The Apostle John, likely in exile on the island of Patmos during a period of Roman persecution, receives the visions of the Book of Revelation.
Late 1st Century AD
Publication of Revelation
John is instructed by an angel not to seal the prophetic words of his book, emphasizing that their fulfillment is near and they are for the immediate encouragement and guidance of the church.
"And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." — Unlike prophecies meant to be hidden for a distant future, like Daniel's, John is told to keep this message open and accessible. This isn't a code to be cracked later; it's urgent news for people fac…
