Time, Times, and Half a Time

 

 

There is an enigmatic phrase in end times prophecy that is greatly misconstrued --“time, times and half a time”. It also appears in two other forms -- “1260 days”, and “42 months”. Altogether, the phrases appear some six times – twice in Daniel, and four times in Revelation¹. All three phrases are referring to the same concept. But what do they mean? What span of time do they represent? Furthermore, where did the phrase even originate?

Most people would agree that the phrase comes from Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. The seventieth week, the last seven years, is divided in half by the statement “in the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Most teaching in America would suggest that this statement refers to Antichrist reneging on a covenant with the Jews during a seven-year Tribulation. At the midpoint he will abominate and destroy the temple which he helped them to build, thereby bringing an end to sacrifices and offerings. The last three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, then, is what all the references of “times, time, and half a time” are referring to.

But the fact is that the “seventy weeks” prophecy is an incredible Messianic prophecy. Unfortunately, it has been audaciously changed into a prophecy about Antichrist and a Great Tribulation. In line with the Messianic interpretation, the end to sacrifice was accomplished by Jesus, when He was crucified “in the middle of the seven”. The last three and half years of the seventieth week are kind of left dangling, then. That time span took on a very important significance. In every use of the phrase, it represents an extended period of time, indefinite in its length. In fact, several of the occurrences refer to the Gentile age as a whole.

In Daniel 7, the holy people of God are oppressed for a time, times, and half a time. This is not referring to Antichrist, as the oppressor, but to America, the little horn. Hard to believe, if you are an American, but God said it, not me. Revelation 11 records the vision of the two witnesses. The Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 1260 days. Jerusalem has been the most war-torn city in all the world, in all of history. And for 1260 days God will empower two witnesses to prophesy. These two are not Elijah and Moses, but rather, Israel and the Church. And in Revelation 12, the woman flees into the desert for 1260 days (12:6, 14). This refers to Israel, the mother of Messiah, fleeing from the dragon, Satan, finding safety by being dispersed among the nations for 2000 years.

And there you have it. We must let go of the idea that “times, time and half a time” refers to the second half of the Great Tribulation. That would help, immensely, in letting go of the Tribulation hoax, entirely.

¹  Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2; 11:3; 12:6; 12:14.