The context of Hebrews is first-century believers who were being persecuted and tempted to return to the old covenant system.

The writer urges them to endure just a little longer, because the Lord was about to bring judgment and vindication as He promised (Hebrews 10:30).

He quotes from Habakkuk 2:3-4, which was originally about a coming judgment that would not delay. This is applied directly to the imminent coming of Christ in judgment on Jerusalem.

If this was a 2,000-year delay, the Holy Spirit's words "in a very little while" and "will not delay" would be deceptive. But God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). The audience relevance proves it was near.

That promise was kept in AD 70, when Jesus came in judgment against the old covenant world, just as He said in Matthew 24:34 – "this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."

It was near, it was fulfilled, and it was not for 2,000 years later.