One of the easiest things to misjudge in prophecy is the issue of time. There are no built-in time dimension in prophecy, so it is easy to make naïve assumptions about time.

Prophecy is like a movie or stage play, where there is no built-in time dimension. Sometimes we can gather the passage of time in the change of scenes, and by remarks which are made. We may even have flash-backs to previous scenes. If we are not paying attention to the story, we soon lose any sense of what going on in the story. And so it is also with Scripture.

A dramatic example is in Hebrews chapter one, a quote from Psalm 102.

“10 And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old like a garment does.
12 As a mantle you will roll them up,
And they will be changed;
But you are the same.
Your years will not fail.” Heb 1:10-12 WEB

It all spoken very close to each other. So these mere three verses cover from the creation of all things, to this universe being rolled up like an old coat and put away. How much time is it from verse 10 to verse 12? I do not know. But clearly the closeness of these verses does not indicate closeness in time.

Or to use another example: Most take Isaiah 2:1-2 as prophetic description of the beginning of the preaching of the good new of God’s salvation and God’s law.

“ It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be raised above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many peoples shall go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
And he will teach us of his ways,
And we will walk in his paths.
For out of Zion the law shall go forth,
And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.” Isa 2:2-3 WEB

Assuming that is a correct interpretation, this would be beginning in the early first century AD, with the preaching of Peter in Acts 2. So far, so good.

However look at the of the very next verse.

“ He will judge between the nations,
…
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa 2:4 WEB

If you are thinking even a little bit, then you know that has not happened yet! There are still both physical and spiritual wars. Further you know this will not happen until after Rev 20:8.

So how much time is there between Isa 2:3 and the end of Isa 2:4? The real answer is: we don’t know. We know it will happen, but do not know when.

WEB is the World English Bible, is a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901