Rabach Odek

I Am Coming Soon: Understanding Imminence in Revelation Rabach Odek

This book explores the meaning of the promise ?I am coming soon? in Revelation. There are diverse interpretations about the adverb 'soon.' It is understood as either emphasizing time (soon) or speed (quickly). If speed is the emphasis then suddenness of Parousia and not nearness is the focus. On the other hand, if the temporal aspect is the focus then the nearness of Parousia is in view. This study examines the use of soon and its cognates in the Bible. The analysis concludes that imminence is the focus when the adverb and its cognates are used with the verb 'coming.'In order to clarify the temporal nuance of 'soon' a threefold contextual approach is employed in the study. The first is the portrayal of Jesus in Revelation, which depicts His eagerness from the time of His ascension to come back. From this perspective ?soon? points to the eagerness of Jesus to come back. The second is the investigation of the promise in the context of motif of the church, which indicates an ever present, ever near promise throughout the ages. The third is the study of the promise in the context of the end-time in the book of Revelation. Therefore the promise is imminent for the end-time church.