Why is the command to "seal not" significant for understanding prophecy's role? The verse in focus “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.’” (Revelation 22:10) Contrast with Daniel’s sealed scroll • Daniel 12:4 – “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.” • Daniel was told to “seal” because the fulfillment lay far ahead. • John is told to “seal not” because the fulfillment has drawn near in Christ’s finished work and in the unfolding church age. The shift from “seal” to “seal not” signals that God’s redemptive timeline has moved forward: prophecy is no longer veiled but opened. A statement about imminence • “The time is near” (Revelation 22:10) echoes Revelation 1:3. • Prophecy is meant to be lived in, not merely studied. • The events of Revelation begin in the first-century church and ripple forward to the Lord’s return, so every generation must view the message as immediately relevant. An invitation to read and understand • Revelation 1:3 promises blessing to “the one who reads aloud…and those who hear.” • A book left unsealed is meant for public circulation. • God intends believers—young and old, scholar and layperson—to grasp the broad truths of Revelation: Christ reigns, judgment is sure, and glory is coming. Fuel for evangelism and warning • Revelation unveils both salvation and wrath (Revelation 14:6–7). • Because the book is open, its call to repentance must be preached openly. • An unsealed prophecy puts unbelievers on notice and urges believers to share the gospel “while it is still called Today” (Hebrews 3:13). Motivation for holy living and watchfulness • Revelation 22:11 follows with a stark contrast between the righteous and the wicked; the open book fixes each reader’s trajectory. • 2 Peter 3:11—“What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” • Knowing the Judge could return at any moment keeps the church alert, pure, and hopeful (1 John 3:2-3). Affirmation of Scripture’s sufficiency • “Seal not” underscores that the canon’s prophetic climax is complete; nothing more needs to be added (Revelation 22:18-19). • The open book equips “the man of God…for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Summary The command to “seal not” elevates Revelation from a mysterious code to a living manual. It proclaims that prophecy’s role is to reveal, not conceal; to stir urgency, fuel witness, shape holiness, and assure believers that God’s sovereign plan is already unfolding—and will soon be consummated before our eyes. |
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