Time; Times

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Time has been described as “the measure of motion,” as seen in the movements of the heavenly bodies; or as “the duration of periods,” of which we can conceive a beginning and an ending. It stands in contrast to ETERNITY, of which no beginning and no ending can be conceived.

Christians are exhorted to “redeem the time” (Eph. 5:16¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16); Col. 4:5⁵Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5)). This does not mean “to make up for lost time”; but to seize every favorable opportunity. In Daniel 2:8⁸The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. (Daniel 2:8) the king said that the wise men sought “to gain the time,” that is, obtain a delay in the hope that the king might relent, or that something might happen that would save them.

As to the various events foretold by God that have yet to come to pass, it is not for the Christian to know “the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:7)). But, on the other hand, when two events have been foretold, the one of which must take place before the other (as the “rapture” of the saints before the day of the Lord when He will return with His saints), Christians are expected to know about them, for the apostle Paul writes “Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:1-2¹But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. ²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1‑2)). If is further explained in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. ⁵Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:3‑10), that the day of the Lord could not come before the revelation of the Antichrist. Still as to the when of this and of the “rapture” of the saints, we are not to know, but are to be always ready for the latter.

Of the children of Issachar it is said that they were men “that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron. 12:32³²And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. (1 Chronicles 12:32)). They understood the mind of God, namely, that David should be king of the whole of the twelve tribes. So the Holy Spirit can direct the saints to the particular line of truth most suitable to the period in which they live, and teach them what they ought to do; as, for example, a line of truth and action for the present state of the church is pointed out in the Second Epistle to Timothy, agreeing, as it does, with the later addresses to the Seven Churches in Revelation 3.

The word “time” is used in Daniel 7:25²⁵And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Daniel 7:25); Daniel 12:7⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7); Revelation 12:14¹⁴And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14), for a “year”: hence “time, times, and a half “ signify three years and a half. See SEVENTY WEEKS. The expression in Revelation 10:6⁶And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: (Revelation 10:6), “time should be no longer,” is better translated “there should be no longer delay.”

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

1 Corinthians 15:4⁴And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4). That he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Among the Jews the day was reckoned from evening to evening (see Lev. 23:32³²It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. (Leviticus 23:32)) though this reckoning was sometimes varied. In popular language a part of a day was reckoned for the whole. The Saviour was buried at the close of the day, just before the Sabbath began. He remained in the tomb during the whole of the Sabbath, which ended the following evening. Another day then began, and when the night of this day passed and its morning came he rose from the dead. Though but a short time of the first day was spent in the grave, it is still reckoned according to Jewish usage as the first day of his burial, the Sabbath being the second, and the next day the third.

Time; Times

Concise Bible Dictionary:

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

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