Appropriate or appointed periods of time which are part of the variety and development of human life and experience and which influence human affairs. The times and seasons for individuals and nations are set by God, who works all things together towards the final fulfilment of his purposes.
The seasons of life are appointed by God
The seasons of individual lives
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8; Psalm 31:15 See also Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 8:28; James 4:13–15
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
The seasons of nations and the world
Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26 See also Daniel 4:17, Daniel 7:25; Acts 1:7
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
A time to die
The transience of human life
Psalm 103:15–16 See also Job 7:6–8, Job 14:1–2; Psalm 37:2, Psalm 102:11; Ecclesiastes 6:12
As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.
Death comes at its appointed time
Job 5:26 See also Genesis 47:29; 1 Kings 2:1; Luke 12:20
You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.
Times of sadness and joy
A time to mourn
Genesis 27:41, Genesis 37:34, Genesis 50:3–4; Deuteronomy 34:8; Jeremiah 4:28
A time to rejoice
John 16:21–22 See also Deuteronomy 28:47; Esther 9:22; Isaiah 61:2–3
A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
A time to speak
Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 25:11; 2 Timothy 4:2 Christians are to be always ready to share the gospel.
Times appointed for the world
The rise and fall of nations
Daniel 2:37–45, Daniel 8:19–25, Daniel 11:2–4, Daniel 11:24–27; Luke 21:24
The time to receive God's salvation
2 Corinthians 6:2 See also Isaiah 49:8, Isaiah 55:6; Hebrews 4:7
For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
The time of God's judgment
Deuteronomy 32:35; Ezekiel 30:3; Zephaniah 2:2; Acts 17:31
Times appointed for God's people
Times for worship
Leviticus 23:4 See also Exodus 34:18; Numbers 9:2–3, Numbers 10:10
These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times.
Times of blessing
Psalm 102:13 See also Ezekiel 34:26; Acts 3:19, Acts 7:17
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor — the appointed time has come.
A time of vindication
Daniel 7:21–22 See also Acts 1:6; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 5:6
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
Times of testing
Psalm 66:10; Ezekiel 21:3; Matthew 13:21 parallels Mark 4:17, Luke 8:13; 1 Peter 1:6–7; Revelation 2:10
Times for withdrawal or solitude
Mark 1:35 See also 1 Kings 17:2–6; Mark 6:30–32; Galatians 1:17
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.
Waiting for God's appointed time
Habakkuk 2:3 See also Romans 8:23–25; Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 11:13
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
Times appointed for Jesus Christ
The appointed time of his birth
The appointed time of his death
John 12:23 See also Matthew 26:18; Mark 14:41; Luke 9:51; John 2:4, John 7:6–8, John 12:27, John 13:1
But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
The appointed time of his return
Luke 21:8; Acts 3:20–21, Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 1:3
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.