Revelation 1:1-8 "Apocalypse Now" NTRF.org

A normal reading of the text indicates that John's predictions would be fulfilled close in time to when they were made. The problem with this lies in reconciling the near time indicator with such prophecies as the one given in 1:7 about Jesus' coming. To resolve this, some people tend to take the words that clothe the prophecies literally ("every eye will see Him"), but take the time statements ("soon, near") figuratively. The alternative is to take the time statements literally ("soon, near"), but to interpret the words that clothe the prophecies more symbolically ("every eye will see Him"), to read them not quite so literally, but rather literarily.