To help with our perception of such expressions as "soon, impending, around-the-corner, imminent" we should keep in mind that the GB and/or our organization is not the only ones who use such expressions. Here are a few other examples:
We see a sign on a piece of land with a sign that says, "Coming Soon..." and names some store or building. Even after they start construction, is sometimes takes several years for them to complete that "soon" construction.
Back in 1954 Bell Labs invented the modern silicon panels designed to use solar power. With that invention, we were told that soon solar power would be a reality. Here we are in 2026, and solar power is still a novelty of sorts since it is just starting to be used for large scale power generation.
I live in Florida, a place known for oranges. If you start from seeds, it takes around 15 years to get the first fruits and even longer for them to be commercially viable.
In 1969 man first landed on the moon. It was said that soon we would have colonies living on the moon. That was 57 years ago, and we are still being told that "soon" there will be colonies on the moon.
If you have an allergy, often the impact and effects of that allergy can hit us almost instantly.
When we hear expressions like soon, imminent and on-the-verge we have to remember that words like this have such varied implications that we just have to be patient, so we don't miss that soon event when it does happen.