Revelation 22:10

And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.

Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book ... "The contents of John's prophecy have a twofold perspective.[50] "Some of the events foretold are to occur many centuries in the future";[51] but parts of Revelation deal with events that confront John's generation. The savage sea-beast is about to turn upon the helpless Christians. In a Roman courtroom, at the headsman's block, or in the brutal arena, the saints are about to be called upon to face their own Calvary; and the courage to face such a trial would be immeasurably aided by the knowledge of the final victory which in God's good time would crown the efforts of the faithful. This was what sent Paul himself to the block shouting the immortal words of 2 Timothy 4:8.

For the time is at hand ... "The impending coming here is not the parousia, but the beginning of the persecutions."[52]

[50] George Eldon Ladd, op. cit., p. 291.

[51] G. B. Caird, op. cit., p. 284.

[52] J. W. Roberts, op. cit., p. 198.