As an incentive to the Christians of Philadelphia to persevere in the challenges ahead, Jesus assures them that he is coming soon.
The term translated as “soon” can perhaps better be translated as “quickly” (see Acts 17:15 where the same word is used). The point of the term is not to establish that Christ is coming back in the immediate future but is rather that he is coming back as quickly as he can. By God’s ordinance, certain matters must be completed before the Lord can return, for example that the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed throughout the whole world (Matthew 24:14). There are generations of elect persons chosen to life who have yet to be born and/or brought to faith. For persons experiencing an hour of trial,
the pledge that Jesus is coming quickly is reassuring.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.