The Two ‘Times’: Defining the Final Prophetic Period ⏳
In Daniel’s prophecies regarding the final period of tribulation, the duration is often described as “a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7:25; 12:7). The Hebrew words translated as “time” carry a hidden distinction that clarifies the nature of this severe period.
1. The Fixed Appointed Time: Mō‘ēd (מוֹעֵד)
- Meaning: This is the most common Hebrew word translated as “time” in this phrase. It specifically means a fixed, appointed season, a festival, or a designated assembly.
- Theological Focus: Mō‘ēd emphasizes that the tribulation is not random chaos, but a predetermined, specific, and covenantally appointed period on God’s divine calendar. It is a set “season” for judgment and testing.
- Key Use: This word is used for the Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23:2)—the “appointed times” of God. Its use in Daniel assures us that the tribulation is as predictable and scheduled as the annual festivals.
The “time” portion of the phrase (“a time, times, and half a time”) refers to the divinely scheduled season of tribulation.
2. The Measured Length of Time: ‘Iddān (עִדָּן)
- Meaning: This word is an Aramaic term (used frequently in Daniel) that simply means a chronological or measurable segment of time (a season, a year, or a period).
- Theological Focus: ‘Iddān focuses on the duration or the literal clock-time of the event. It is the practical, measurable aspect of the final period.
- Key Use: When Daniel 7:25 speaks of the breaking of the saints, the word is used for the period itself: “They shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (‘iddān).” It stresses the literal, measurable length of the persecution.
The Shocking Synthesis
By using both the Hebrew Mō‘ēd (the scheduled time) and the Aramaic ‘Iddān (the measured time) conceptually, Daniel reveals a profound truth about the final tribulation:
- The Antichrist’s power is not unlimited. It is precisely defined by divine appointment (Mō‘ēd) and strictly restricted to a literal duration (‘Iddān).
- The final events are not a collapse of God’s control, but a controlled, highly intentional fulfillment of a covenantally scheduled period of testing.
The ultimate shock is that the most chaotic period in human history is, in fact, the most highly scheduled and controlled event on God’s divine calendar.
The Return Question
If the tribulation is defined by the Mō‘ēd (the appointed season), what specific spiritual discipline or practice are you neglecting today that would ensure you are prepared to meet God’s purpose for that appointed season rather than merely surviving the measured time (‘Iddān)?