The Greek word “MELLO” is a verb meaning “ABOUT TO.” It is Strong’s #3195 and refers to the idea of expectation. It means “ABOUT TO” (do something), and implies the urgency and certainty of what is to take place. It is frequently incorrectly rendered “to come” instead of “ABOUT TO COME” (Matt. 3:7; 11:14; Eph. 1:21; 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:19; Heb. 2:5).
When modern translations of the New Testament were made, the statements of Jesus and the Apostles, which used the word MELLO (“ABOUT TO”), were obviously troubling for the translators. They were all futurists in their eschatological thinking and therefore thought that Jesus could not mean that He was MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come, even though He said He was MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.
Therefore their solution has been to simply ignore the word MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) as if it was never there! The purpose for this, mind you, has been to sincerely protect the sheep from being confused by a word that they thought could not mean what it says!
Fortunately, we are spared their editing of the Scriptures in enough other passages that we should still be able to discern that Christ’s second coming Parousia was in the first century generation of His apostles. Consider how the omission of this word MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) in the below passages changes the meaning of the SOON coming of the Lord and leaves it open to mistakenly extend His coming for 2000 years and counting!
Matt. 3:7 – “wrath MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “wrath to come”)
Matt. 11:14-“who is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “who is to come”)
Matt. 12:32 – “in the age MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “age to come”)
Acts 17:31 一 “He is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) judge.” (Not: “He is to judge”)
Acts 24:15 – “There is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) be a resurrection.” (Not: “is to be”)
Acts 24:25 – “judgment MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “judgment to come”)
Rom. 8:18 – “glory MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) be revealed.” (Not: “glory to be revealed”)
Eph. 1:21 — “the age MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “the age to come”)
Col. 2:17 – “what is MELLO (‘ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “what is to come”）
1 Tim. 4:8 — “which is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “which is to come”)
Heb. 2:5 — “the world MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “world to come”)
Heb. 6:5 — “the age MELLO (“ABOUT TO”）come.” (Not: “age to come”)
Heb. 10:1 – “good things MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “good things to come”)
Heb. 13:14-“seeking the One that is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) come.” (Not: “is to come”)
James 2:12 一 “who are MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) be judged.” (Not: “who are to be judged”)
1 Pet. 5:1 — “glory that is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”) be revealed.” (Not: “to be revealed”)
Rev. 3:10-“the hour of testing is MELLO (“ABOUT TO”)come.” (Not: “is to come”）
The meanings of all of these verses and others like them in the New Testament are that it is imminent, at hand, near, soon, and shortly. These were written prior to the Lord’s return at His second coming Parousia in AD 66. They all occurred in that generation. They are not speaking of something that will occur 2000 years later and counting!
See also related “Topic Studies & Terms”:
“Must Shortly Take Place (Revelation 22:6-7)”
“Time is at Hand (Revelation 22:10)”
Related full “Study Series” (available upon request if not hyperlinked):
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 14 Lesson 4 Resurrection: Expectations/Experiences”]
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 15 Lesson 2 Revelation Last Days and The Judgment”]