According the VG Chartz the NES had sold 61.91 million consoles in its lifetime. This makes it the 10th best selling console of all time. 

VG Chartz is currently a bit vague on total 3DS sales, putting it at 59.8 million in its alltime chart and tracking it at 58.7 million on its global totals

graphic but it's safe to assume somewhere around the 59 million mark is accurate.

So my question is will the 3DS pass the NES.? With the NX looming and the 3DS coming to the end of its reign will it sell another 3 million units? Will it be able to enter into the top 10?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.... 

Yes. Nintendo will really push hard with killer deals during holidays to make it get several more million before the NX comes along.

It will be a close one .

Hard for it not to. Nintendo will be shipping around 5 million for FY17, and IIRC the 3DS was at 57 million by April of this year, putting it at ~62 million units by April 2017 (implying Nintendo's estimates are 100% correct)... and even if it doesnt outsell it by the end of FY17, I expect Nintendo to ship like 5 million more by the time it stops selling (around 2019-20 imo).

Edit: If what I said is too confusing (re-reading it feels that way ), I expect the 3DS to sell at least 67 million units lifetime.

It has officially shipped 59.79 million as of June 30, 2016 so it would be pretty much impossible to not pass NES.

Of course it will :)
3DS will sel between 65M and 70M LTD :)

Pokemon Sun & Moon special edition will definitley put it over the top.

Yes, thanks to pokemon Sun/Moon and the resurgence of the pokemon craze.

Easily.

Going by the amount shipped in June it may pass the NES before the end of the year, likely around Black Friday.