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What does the Bible say about times and seasons?

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The Bible teaches that God sovereignly appoints times and seasons, ordering creation and history according to his wise purposes, while calling his people to faithful readiness and trust. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 declares that every matter has its appointed time, and Daniel 2:21 says God changes times and seasons and establishes kings. Genesis 1:14 and 8:22 show his dependable ordering of the natural world. Yet the exact timing of Christ's return belongs to the Father alone, as Acts 1:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1 teach. Therefore believers should discern the signs of the times, heed God's word, endure trials, and preach the gospel patiently, awaiting Christ's glorious coming.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

    [1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: [2] A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck up that which is planted; [3] A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to seek, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to cast away; [7] A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; [8] A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.

  • Acts 1:7

    He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within His own authority.

  • Genesis 8:22

    While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

  • Luke 21:25-27

    [25] There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; [26] men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

  • James 1:12

    Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

  • 2 Timothy 4:2-4

    [2] preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. [3] For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; [4] and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.

  • Genesis 1:14

    God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

  • Jeremiah 8:7

    Yes, the stork in the sky knows her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people don't know Yahweh's law.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:1

    But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

  • Daniel 2:21

    He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;

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