"SHORTLY"

But I will come to you SHORTLY, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 1 Cor 4:19

----Paul telling the Corinthians (by inspiration of the Spirit) that he intended to come to them in his and their lifetimes, not in 2000+ years.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus SHORTLY unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Philippians 2:19

----Paul stating his intent, (again under the inspiration of the Spirit of God), to send Timothy to comfort the members of the church at Philippi; in their lifetimes....not in 2000+ years. How would it be of any comfort to the believers at Philippi if Timothy was going to come in the year 2011?

But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come SHORTLY. Philippians 2:24

----Same context as the verse above...first century intentions of the Apostle.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee SHORTLY: 1 Timothy 3:14

----Paul's stated intention to come to Timothy in Ephesus, still within the first century time frame.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come SHORTLY, I will see you. Hebrews 13:23

---Same song...same verse...more use of the word "SHORTLY" to show, "within that lifetime events."

"Knowing that SHORTLY I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." 2 Peter 1:14

----Here Jesus showed Peter that he was going to die. So what we have here is Jesus Declaring an event to an Apostle that was going to occur "SHORTLY". Anybody really believe that Peter is still alive? Or did he in reality actually die "SHORTLY" like Jesus revealed to him?

"But I trust I shall SHORTLY see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name." 3 John 14

----This one is really important; it shows how the Apostle John used the word "SHORTLY". Did John intend for him to see his fellow believers in 2000+ years....those would be very wrinkled faces as John said he wanted to see them "Face to Face".

--It is very important how we see John using the word "SHORTLY"...because he used that word twice in the book of Revelation. If we miss the meaning there we may very well misunderstand the entire book. But if John is using the term "SHORTLY" in Revelation (below) as he did and as Paul and Peter did...then the meaning of the book of Revelation becomes much clearer.

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must SHORTLY come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:" Revelation 1:1

----This use of the term "SHORTLY" is VERY telling. Look back at 2nd Peter 1:14. In both of these verses, we have Jesus "REVEALING" to an Apostle something that will happen "SHORTLY". Why is it that we are O.K. with Peter dying "SHORTLY", but then we cannot imagine the events spoken of in Revelation 1:1 occurring "SHORTLY"

"And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must SHORTLY be done." Revelation 22:6

----Interesting that John chooses to open and close the book by telling us the time frame of the events in the book of Revelation. And he says that those events in both verses are to be accomplished "SHORTLY".