Revelation 22:10
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And he said to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And he said to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And he said to me, Let not the words of this prophet's book be kept secret, because the time is near.
Webster's Revision
And he saith to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
World English Bible
He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.
Clarke's Revelation 22:10 Bible Commentary
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.
Barnes's Revelation 22:10 Bible Commentary
And he saith unto me - The angel.
Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book - That is, seal not the book itself, for it may be regarded altogether as a prophetic book. On the sealing of a book, see the notes on Revelation 5:1 . Isaiah (Isaiah 8:16; Isaiah 30:8) and Daniel (Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:4, Daniel 12:9) were commanded to seal up their prophecies. Their prophecies related to far-distant times, and the idea in their being commanded to seal them was, that they should make the record sure and unchangeable; that they should finish it, and lay it up for future ages; so that, in far-distant times, the events might be compared with the prophecy, and it might be seen that there was an exact correspondence between the prophecy and the fulfillment. Their prophecies would not be immediately demanded for the use of persecuted saints, but would pertain to future ages. On the other hand, the events which John had predicted, though in their ultimate development they were to extend to the end of the world, and even into eternity, were about to begin to be fulfilled, and were to be of immediate use in consoling a persecuted church. John, therefore, was directed not to seal up his predictions; not to lay them away, to be opened, as it were, in distant ages; but to leave them open, so that a persecuted church might have access to them, and might, in times of persecution and trial, have the assurance that the principles of their religion would finally triumph. See the notes on Revelation 10:2.
For the time is at hand - That is, they are soon to commence. It is not implied that they would be soon completed. The idea is, that as the scenes of persecution were soon to open upon the church, it was important that the church should have access to these prophecies of the final triumph of religion, to sustain it in its trials. Compare the notes on Revelation 1:1, Revelation 1:3.
Wesley's Revelation 22:10 Bible Commentary
22:10 And he saith to me - After a little pause. Seal not the sayings of this book - Conceal them not, like the things that are sealed up. The time is nigh - Wherein they shall begin to take place.