What is the significance of ‘shortly’ in Revelation 1:1, ‘at hand’ in Revelation 22:10 and ‘quickly’ in Revelation 22:20?

This text is from an article written by David Gooding in 1986.

'At hand', in Revelation 22:10, represents the Greek word engys, which means 'near'; in this passage, it is in the temporal sense, cf. Matthew 24:32: 'summer is near'.

'Shortly', in Revelation 1:1, represents en tachei. This phrase can be used of an action that is performed with speed, or in haste. So, for example, 'Arise up quickly' in Acts 12:7 does not mean 'Get up soon' but 'Hurry! Get up!' So also Acts 22:18: 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly'. On the other hand, en tachei can also be used of an action that is to be performed soon, i.e. after a short interval. So, for example, Romans 16:20: '. . . shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly', which means, not that when it is done (however long God waits before he does it) it will be done with lightning speed, but that it will be done soon: it won't be long before it is done; cf. Acts 25:4, which is not referring to the speed at which Festus was going to drive his chariot out of Jerusalem, but to the fact that his departure was about to take place very soon. It seems to me that Revelation 1:1 does not refer to the fact (true though it is) that the coming of the Lord will take place with lightning speed, 'in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye', but to the fact that his coming will take place soon, shortly, cf. Hebrews 10:37: 'For yet a little while and he that shall come will come . . .' And so with all the other things that Revelation 1:1 says are 'to take place shortly'.

'Quickly', in Revelation 22:20, represents tachy. Like en tachei, it can be used in two ways. Firstly, it can be used either of a process that is accomplished with great speed, like the flight of Concorde across the Atlantic, or of an event that is to be got through rapidly: 'Agree with thine adversary quickly, while you are still in the way' (Matthew 5:25). But secondly, in Revelation 11:14 the same word refers to an event that is to take place soon, or shortly: 'the second woe has passed: behold the third woe comes shortly'. In my opinion, Revelation 22:20 refers to the Lord's coming as an event that will soon take place, rather than as a process that will happen with great speed.