Some passages give a span of time, a relative deadline or a condition. Explore those expressions here, with the words and context that define them.
General Judaism · Duration
Seven years from the autumn of 1874
the time of building is seven years
The seven years of Solomon’s temple building are applied to the period from Christ’s presence in the autumn of 1874, giving the fall of 1881.
Zion’s Watch Tower, January 1881 · Article “How Long, O Lord?” signed “A. D. J.”, Zion’s Watch Tower, January 1881, pp. 4–5 (reprint [180]–[181]), from “The laying of the foundation-stone” through “the time given for building.”
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General Christianity · Relative deadline
Before this generation passes
[34] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.
Matthew records this relative expression without defining it as a fixed count of years. Interpretations of the generation and the events remain attached to the source passage.
Gospel according to Matthew
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Buddhist — Tibetan · Duration
A thousand divine eons
They will become a universal monarch for a thousand divine eons.
The duration belongs to the promised future lives of those who hear the dhāraṇī.
The Dhāraṇī “Maitreya’s Pledge”
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Jewish / Christian — Shared scriptures · Condition
Fatal consequences for denying the woman’s words
confess the Woman true, or fatal now will it be for you all that deny her words
Within her claimed divine answer, Southcott adds a conditional threat to people who deny her words. It is an attributed warning beyond the Genesis interpretation.
A Communication Given to Joanna in Answer to Mr. Brothers’s Last Book · Joanna Southcott · introductory account and claimed divine answer
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General Judaism · Maximum interval
Before two centuries are completed
priusquam duo centenaria compleantur, status presentis seculi finietur
Arnold, writing when “we now count 1297 years from the Lord’s coming”, says the state of the present age will end before two centuries are completed.
De tempore adventus Antichristi · Arnold of Villanova, De tempore adventus Antichristi (1297), as printed by H. Finke, Aus den Tagen Bonifaz VIII. (1902), pp. CXXXI–CXXXII; English translation by Rainbow Watch (2026)
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General Christianity · Duration
After a year
after a year the judgment is to take place
The bishop tells his church that the judgment will come after a year; Hippolytus reports that the year was completed without it.
Commentary on Daniel IV.19 (new translation)
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General Latter-day Saint · Relative deadline
Not many years
not many years shall pass away before the United States
Joseph Smith’s January 1833 letter gives a relative warning.
Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 January 1833
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General Latter-day Saint · Condition
Until the Saints obey the revelation on consecration
until we did obey that the privilege of going back
Cannon reports what he had been taught: the return to Jackson County and the temple promised for “this generation” would wait until the Saints obeyed the early revelation on living as one family.
George Q. Cannon on the temple to be reared in this generation · George Q. Cannon, as reported by David W. Evans, 8 October 1874; Journal of Discourses 17, pp. 232–233, two paragraphs from “If then, my brethren and” through “in the beginning to obey.”
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General Latter-day Saint · Relative deadline
Soon at hand
the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory
The revelation describes Christ’s coming as near.
Doctrine and Covenants 34
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General Christianity · Alternative durations
A forty-year generation from 14 May 1948, or a seventy- or eighty-year generation from the Balfour Declaration of 1918
each brings us near the same termination point
Deal reads the fig tree as Israel and says the generation that sees its rebirth will see Christ’s return. He sets out a forty-year generation from 1948 and a seventy- or eighty-year generation from 1918, says “each brings us near the same termination point,” calls the length and starting point “open for speculation,” and concludes that the generation that will witness the return “is none other than our own.”
The Day and Hour Jesus Will Return · Colin Deal, The Day and Hour Jesus Will Return (Colin H. Deal, 1988), pp. 89–92; short excerpt of six paragraphs.
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General Judaism · Duration
1,290 days and 1,335 days
11 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the detestable thing that causes appalment set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Happy is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
The passage connects its count with removal of the continual offering and the setting up of the detestable thing.
Daniel
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General Latter-day Saint · Condition
If the inhabitants of the earth repent
if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed
The Lord will visit the inhabitants of the earth when they are “fully ripe in iniquity”; repentance prevents their destruction.
The Book of Mormon
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