What is meant by shortly come to pass?

In response to Dad's question

"Should we post questions, answers and thoughts as comments to Christophers main post or as comments to each sucessive post."

I think that general comments or questions should be posted under Christopher's original post by hitting "Add new comment".  Responses to questions, or discussion related to a specific question or post should be posted below that specific post by using the "reply" link.  

What do you think Christopher?

Also you can listen to the whole book of Revelation by going to Christopher's audio page.  Revelation Chapter 1 is here.

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This might be tough one.  I assumed it meant that it would happen soon, but having read Revelation, I get the distinct impression that either this interpretation is wrong, or my concept of soon is very different from God's -- perhaps both.

NIV says, "must soon take place".

The verse in KJV does include the must.  So, can we safely trust that God will make what is revealed shortly come to pass -- whatever it means?  It seems so to me.

I was discussing the meaning of "shortly come to pass" in person with fcox3rd.  Apparently he had looked some at the origonal greek and said that the phrase translated "shortly come to pass" could be translated "take place quickly."

It is the revelation that must shortly come to pass, or that must take place quickly, but John says, as I noted in this previous post, that this book we call Revelation includes three types of content.  I think we need to clarify what parts of this book constitue the "revelation."

These other verses were likely written a good 20 - 30 years befere John wrote Revelation.

1 Peter 4:7  The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

James 5:8  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

1John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

So if these things were near 2000 years ago, they must be very near now.  Was John wrong?  Near is a relative term.  It seems that John felt it would be sooner than 2000 years, but for God who exists in eternity how do you define near or soon?  Perhaps the reality is that the Bible authors really did not know when, but knew that their message was urgent, they new it could be at any time.  You have to be ready for a thief to come even though he may not come tomorow.  You can't waste time getting ready.

2Peter 3:8-9  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

In a sense, this take feels like a cop-out.  Why would God speak to us in terms that we can't understand.  Then again, maybe we can.  I think these verses do shed some light on the question, but I'm still searching for a more complete answer.

There is a notion that I've heard floated around, that the secrets of the last day will not be revealed until the time is near.  So maybe John saying that the time is near was somewhat useless or meaningless in comparison to what it will mean to those who actually live in the last days.

I confess, I have little biblical evidence to support this, but there might be something useful in Daniel, where there is mention of sealing up the book until the last days.

Verse 3 has yet another reference to "soon" -- maybe.  It says, "for the time is at hand."  But, the word is is italicized, which means, in my bible, that it does not appear in the origonal manuscript.  So, the verse actually read, "for the time at hand."  The phrase before now becomes important.  The whole verse would read (without additions):

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therin: for the time  is at hand."

Could it possibly be saying that we should keep those things that apply to our time?  I'm sure Revelation contains timeless truth, but there is also prophecy.