SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN

SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN

For the concept of "very soon take place" compare Rev. 1:1,3; 2:16; 3:11; 22:7,10,12,20. This may be an OT allusion to Dan. 2:28, 29, and 45. In the book of Revellation, John never quoted the OT but made many allusions to it. Of 404 verses, possibly 275 have OT backgrounds. Translators have been divided in the interpretation of this phrase because of their theological presuppositions about the purpose of the book of the Revelation (i.e., preterist, futurist, idealist, historist):

suddenly
once begun will swiftly occur
soon to begin
will certainly happen
imminently

Usage of this term in Rev. 22:7, 12, 20 shows that John expected these events to occur quickly during his lifetime (see full note at Rev. 10:6; 22:3). Since there is a 2000 year gap between the writing of this book and our day, many say that John was wrong. However, the use of an immediate time frame seems to be typical of the prophetic literature from the Old Testament which used imagery of current events to foreshadow end-time events.

John used first century Rome to depict the eschaton (last days)
Isaiah and Ezekiel used a restored (post-exilic) Judah
Daniel had used Antiochus Epiphanes IV

The coming of the new age of righteousness is a hope and encouragement for every generation of believers, but the experience of only one, the last.

No one can explain why the return of Jesus has taken so long when it was expected so soon (Matt. 10:23; 16:28; 23:36; 24:34). There is a tension in the NT between the any-moment return of Jesus and a delayed parousia (see SPECIAL TOPIC: DELAYED SECOND COMING). Also see D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks, pp. 101-102, for the term as a prophetic symbol of severity and unexpectedness, pp. 173-175

My current understanding of Revelation has vacillated between a recapitulation view and a partial preterist view. You can see the recapitulation view in my exegetical commentary and hear my audio summary on www.freebiblecommentary.org, "Worldwide Voices," under my name, A., 3. (for lectures at the Texas Ashram).

For a good discussion of the four views on how to interpret the book of Revelation, see

Steve Gregg ‒ YouTube video, "Overview of Revelation" (www.thenarrowpath.com)
the book, Four Views of the Book of Revelation, by several authors, ISBN 0-310-21080-1

As I have become older, the partial preterist view of Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; and the book of Revelation has become my current (2023) understanding. As William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors has affected my understanding of the structure of the book of Revelation, Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Before Jerusalem Fell has affected my understanding of the time frame of the prophecy!

I think I have been unduly influenced by a futurist understanding based more on my time and place of birth than Bible study.