Timeline

Prophecy and interpretation through time

When prophecies were given, the dates people predicted from them, proposed fulfillments and later interpretations. Choose a view: the overview shows where the material lies, the chronicle reads century by century, life-lines follow one prophecy or one line of prediction, and said vs. expected shows how far ahead each prediction looked.

Explore durations and conditions →

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Kinds of dateProphecy given or recordedPredicted dateProposed fulfillmentInterpretation recorded

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525 dates

9th century BCE

Eighth century BCE · Cambridge estimate, disputed
Psalm 50: an eighth-century composition estimate
Prophecy given or recordedPsalm 50: God calls his people to judgmentGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges introduction to Psalm 50 assigns it to the eighth century BCE on comparison with prophetic criticism of sacrifice. This is an attributed historical estimate, not consensus or an Asaph speech date. Kilchör and Weber (2014), section F, report a commonly proposed early post-exilic dating but argue instead for a setting after 722 BCE, probably under Hezekiah. These differing estimates remain explicit.
Whole-century bounds express the cited estimate; composition is disputed.
Date reference ↗ Additional dating source ↗

8th century BCE

Eighth century BCE to after the exile · USCCB
Estimated composition of Deuteronomy
Prophecy given or recordedDeuteronomy 32:36–43: the Lord judges and avenges his peopleGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says Deuteronomy was probably composed over three centuries, “from the eighth century to the exile and beyond,” and notes its relation to the book found in the Temple around 622 B.C. The source leaves the end open; 500 BCE is approximate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Eighth century BCE to after the exile · USCCB
Estimated composition of Deuteronomy
Prophecy given or recordedDeuteronomy 4:25–31: scattering, and return in the end of daysGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says Deuteronomy was probably composed over three centuries, “from the eighth century to the exile and beyond,” and notes its relation to the book found in the Temple around 622 B.C. The source leaves the end open; 500 BCE is approximate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗

6th century BCE

Sixth–fifth centuries BCE · book-level editorial dating
Genesis: proposed editing period
Prophecy given or recordedGenesis 3: the woman and the serpentJewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
USCCB’s introduction says ancient Genesis traditions were edited in the sixth or fifth century BCE, and explicitly discusses Genesis 2:4–3:24 within the creation narrative. This is an attributed book-level editorial estimate.
Date reference ↗
17 October 520 BCE · seventh month, day 21
Haggai encourages the temple builders
Prophecy given or recordedHaggai’s promises to the buildersGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
Haggai 2:1 dates the message in verses 1–9 to the twenty-first day of the seventh month. USCCB note 2:1 identifies 17 October 520 BCE. This is the message’s narrated date.
Date reference ↗
18 December 520 BCE · ninth month, day 24
Haggai promises blessing and addresses Zerubbabel
Prophecy given or recordedHaggai’s promises to the buildersGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
Haggai 2:10 dates the priestly ruling and blessing; 2:20 introduces another message on the same date, addressed to Zerubbabel. USCCB notes 2:10, 2:18 and 2:20 identify 18 December 520 BCE.
Date reference ↗

5th century BCE

Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
Reported setting: the Buddha’s lifetime
Prophecy given or recordedWhen the original teaching is replacedBuddhist — Theravāda

Dating basis
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
Date reference ↗
Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
Reported setting: the Buddha’s lifetime
Prophecy given or recordedWhat makes the true Dhamma disappear?Buddhist — Theravāda

Dating basis
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
Date reference ↗
Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
Reported setting: the Buddha’s lifetime
Prophecy given or recordedGotamī’s ordination and five hundred yearsBuddhist — Theravāda

Dating basis
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
Date reference ↗
5th–2nd centuries BCE · Zaehner’s estimate
Bhagavadgītā: estimated composition
Prophecy given or recordedBhagavadgītā 4: appearing age after ageGeneral Hinduism

Dating basis
Nicholas Sutton, The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Guide (2016), p.9 / PDF page 17, cites R.C. Zaehner (1973), p.7, placing composition between the fifth and second centuries BCE.
Date reference ↗
Around 450 BCE
Estimated composition of Malachi
Prophecy given or recordedMalachi 3:1–6Jewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
Zondervan’s Encyclopedia of the Bible dates composition approximately to the middle of the fifth century BCE. This is a book-level estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
About 450 BCE · book composition
Estimated composition of the Book of Malachi
Prophecy given or recordedElijah returnsGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
The Encyclopedia of the Bible dates the book to about 450 BCE. It also notes debate over whether the concluding Elijah passage is a later addition.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 450–400 BCE
Estimated composition of Joel
Prophecy given or recordedJoel: the Spirit poured outGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
USCCB favors a postexilic composition around 450–400 BCE, based on temple organization, language and use of earlier prophetic tradition.
Date reference ↗
Probably 450–400 BCE · USCCB estimate
Estimated composition of Joel
Prophecy given or recordedJoel 3: the nations judged in the valley of JehoshaphatJewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says internal evidence favors a postexilic date for Joel’s composition, probably 450–400 B.C.; the superscription itself gives no historical setting.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗

2nd century BCE

Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
A critical dating of Daniel’s final composition
Prophecy given or recordedDaniel’s vision of resurrectionGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
A critical dating of Daniel’s final composition
Prophecy given or recordedDaniel 7: oppressive kings and an everlasting kingdomJewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
Daniel: estimated final composition
Prophecy given or recordedDaniel 8: the sanctuary and the 2,300 evenings and morningsJewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
USCCB dates the book’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, 167–164 BCE, and explicitly includes chapters 7–12 as its visions. Source rechecked 11 September 2026.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
A critical dating of Daniel’s final composition
Prophecy given or recordedDaniel 2: the image and the stone cut out without handsJewish / Christian — Shared scriptures

Dating basis
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 125 BCE · surviving Hebrew manuscript
Isaiah preserved in the Great Isaiah Scroll
Prophecy given or recordedThe branch from JesseGeneral Judaism

Dating basis
The Israel Museum dates the Great Isaiah Scroll to approximately 125 BCE and states that its 54 columns contain all 66 chapters of Isaiah. This is a manuscript witness for the book containing Isaiah 11.
Date reference ↗

1st century

Approximately 30–33 CE · narrative setting
Jesus’ discourse is set shortly before his death
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
Narrative setting inferred from the Gospel placement before the Passion and the widely discussed crucifixion years, 30 and 33 CE.
Date reference ↗
Around 50 CE · Wallace’s Pauline dating
2 Thessalonians: early composition estimate
Prophecy given or recorded2 Thessalonians 2: the lawless one and the restrainerGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
Daniel B. Wallace proposes spring–summer 50 CE and defends Pauline authorship. This is one attributed estimate.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 50–120 CE · broad proposed range
Estimated period for the Didache’s composition
Prophecy given or recordedThe Didache’s account of the Lord’s comingChristian — Early Christianity

Dating basis
Early Christian Writings gives a broad composition range of 50–120 CE and documents disagreement over the work’s dating.
Date reference ↗
Around 51 CE
Paul writes 1 Thessalonians about Christ’s return
Prophecy given or recordedThe dead and living meet the LordGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
USCCB places Timothy’s return to Paul probably in early summer 51 CE and identifies it as the occasion for 1 Thessalonians.
Date reference ↗
Around 56 CE
Estimated composition of First Corinthians
Prophecy given or recorded1 Corinthians 15:20–28General Christianity

Dating basis
USCCB dates Paul’s writing of this letter from Ephesus to about 56 CE. This is a letter-level composition estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Between 56 and 58 CE · USCCB estimate
Paul writes to the Romans
Prophecy given or recordedRomans 11:11–32: until the fulness of the Gentiles be come inGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says Paul wrote Romans from Greece, likely Corinth, between A.D. 56 and 58.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 70 CE
Estimated composition of Mark’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
PBS Frontline places Mark around 70 CE; USCCB describes the traditional date as shortly before 70.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 80–90 CE
Estimated composition of Luke’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
USCCB reports a proposed composition range of 80–90 CE for Luke’s Gospel.
Date reference ↗
Approximately 80–90 CE
Estimated composition of Luke’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedLuke 12: be ready for the returning masterGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
USCCB reports a proposed composition range of 80–90 CE for Luke’s Gospel.
Date reference ↗
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
Estimated composition of Luke and Acts
Prophecy given or recordedActs 1:6–11: the times not given to know, and Jesus to come in like mannerGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
Estimated composition of Luke and Acts
Prophecy given or recordedActs 17:22–31: a day appointed for judging the worldGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
Estimated composition of Luke and Acts
Prophecy given or recordedActs 3:19–26: times of refreshing and the restitution of all thingsGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
80–100 CE · Kirby’s later dating
2 Thessalonians: alternative later composition
Prophecy given or recorded2 Thessalonians 2: the lawless one and the restrainerGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
Peter Kirby’s Early Christian Writings assigns 80–100 CE and argues for a later author writing in Paul’s name.
Date reference ↗
Reign of Domitian (81–96 CE), probably near its end · USCCB
Estimated date of Revelation in its present form
Prophecy given or recordedRevelation 1:1–8: he cometh with cloudsGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says the date of the book in its present form is probably near the end of the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81–96). The source favors the last years of the reign.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Reign of Domitian (81–96 CE), probably near its end · USCCB
Estimated date of Revelation in its present form
Prophecy given or recordedRevelation 6: the six seals and the falling starsGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
The USCCB introduction says the date of the book in its present form is probably near the end of the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81–96). The source favors the last years of the reign.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 85 CE
Estimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
PBS Frontline places the composition of Matthew’s Gospel around 85 CE.
Date reference ↗
Around 85 CE
Estimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedMatthew 13: parables of the kingdom and the harvestGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 85 CE
Estimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate. The PBS Matthew profile gives the broader 80–90 CE range.
Book-level approximate composition date.
Date reference ↗ Additional dating source ↗
Around 85 CE
Estimated composition of Matthew
Prophecy given or recordedJesus’ discourse on the Mount of OlivesGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
Book-level composition estimate follows the existing Matthew assertion sourced to PBS Frontline.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Date reference ↗
Around 85 CE
Estimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel
Prophecy given or recordedMatthew 8:5–13: many shall come from the east and westGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate.
Crossan’s approximate year (‘say in the year 85’) for the whole Gospel
Date reference ↗
Approximately 90–95 CE · one proposed range
Estimated composition of Revelation’s final form
Prophecy given or recordedA new heaven and a new earthGeneral Christianity

Dating basis
Early Christian Writings gives 90–95 CE; USCCB places Revelation’s present form near the end of Domitian’s reign. This follows the late-date view.
Date reference ↗

Durations and conditions

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.

112 timing expressions

Christian — Millerite · Simultaneous events

Snow connects the marriage supper with the feast of tabernacles

Feast beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month

The feast of tabernacles, which began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, (see Leviticus 23:33-43,) was a type of the marriage supper of the Lamb; which will be celebrated in the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God which is to be with men.

Snow aligns an expected event with a festival in his interpretation of the biblical calendar. His original calendar wording is retained; no Gregorian conversion is supplied. This is part of his 1844 argument within the existing seventh-month expectation.

Reasons for Believing the Advent Will Be on the 10th of the 7th Month · Samuel S. Snow

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Christian — Millerite · Simultaneous events

Snow dates Christ’s return by the jubilee calendar

Tenth day of the seventh month, 1844

Our blessed Lord will therefore come, to the astonishment of all them that dwell upon the earth, and to the salvation of those who truly look for him, on the tenth day of the seventh month of the year of jubilee: and that is the present year, 1844.

Reasons for Believing the Advent Will Be on the 10th of the 7th Month · Samuel S. Snow

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General Christianity · Simultaneous events

Snow places the millennial Sabbath at the seventh trumpet

First day of the seventh month

On the first day of the 7th month, 6000 years being complete, from the first day of the week of creation, the great millennial Sabbath will be introduced, by the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Reasons for Believing the Advent Will Be on the 10th of the 7th Month · Samuel S. Snow

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General Latter-day Saint · Relative deadline

Some contemporaries will see these events

Within the lives of some people then living

there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things which I have spoken fulfilled

This lifetime claim follows the letter’s warnings and gathering expectations.

Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 January 1833

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Zoroastrian · Duration

Soshans: fifty-seven years to the renovation

Fifty-seven years, including seventeen of vegetable food, thirty of water and ten of spiritual food

At the end of the fifty-seven years the fiend and Aharman are annihilated

The chapter gives a relative duration in Soshans’s account. The accompanying West note identifies a discrepancy with chapter X.

Denkard

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General Christianity · Duration

Spurgeon: a thousand years between the resurrections

A thousand years between the righteous and the ungodly rising

the righteous shall rise a thousand years before the ungodly

Spurgeon gives this interval as his interpretation of Revelation 20. His separate examples of Christ returning tonight or after a thousand years are hypothetical, not calendar forecasts.

Watching for Christ's Coming · Charles Haddon Spurgeon · Watching for Christ's Coming

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General Christianity · Duration

Storrs interprets the waiting period as six months

Half a year of waiting

The tarrying time is just half a year.

Storrs interprets midnight during the bridegroom’s delay as half a prophetic day, or six months. His article supplies the associated 1844 expectation.

The Tenth Day of the Seventh Month · George Storrs

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General Christianity · Duration

The city and the two witnesses

Forty-two months; 1,260 days

2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The city is trodden underfoot for forty-two months; the two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days. The passage gives periods without identifying a calendar year for their start.

Revelation

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Buddhist — Mahāyāna · Duration

The final five-hundred-year period

Final five-hundred-year period

Maitreya, in the future, in the final five-hundred-year period, when the time has arrived for the authentic Dharma to disappear

The Buddha commissions Maitreya to preserve the teaching during this future period. The ten- and twenty-year intervals in the treasure parables are illustrative, not deadlines for Maitreya.

The Great Lion’s Roar of Maitreya

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Islam — Twelver Shiʿa · Alternative durations

The fire in the east

Three or seven days

a fire stretching through the east, remaining in the air for three or seven days.

Two reported alternatives for the fire’s duration.

Kitab al-Irshad

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General Latter-day Saint · Condition

The gospel taken from Gentiles who reject it

When the Gentiles reject the fulness of the gospel

At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel

If the Gentiles reject the fulness of the gospel, the Father will bring it from among them and remember his covenant with Israel; verse 13 adds that Gentiles who repent will be numbered with Israel.

The Book of Mormon

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General Latter-day Saint · Relative deadline

The great and dreadful day is near, even at the doors

Near, even at the doors

the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors

Elijah’s statement, as reported, makes the committal of keys a sign that the day of the Lord is near.

Doctrine and Covenants 110

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