Biblical Concept: Time is subordinate to the Gospel
and the Christian Way Of Life

The underlines and parentheses are mine.

Time is subordinate to the Gospel:

NAS 2 Peter 3:3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. . . . 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  (Divine desire for humans to repent has slowed God’s return.  Contextual note: “hastening” occurs via 3:9b, 3:11b, 3:14b, 3:15a; Gospel and Christian Way Of Life).

NAS Acts 1:6 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. "9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood
beside them; 11 and they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."  (Do not worry about God’s timing, God is giving us time to support the Gospel.)

NAS Revelation 2:21 'And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality.  (God does not wish any to perish, He gives time.  Compare Romans 2:4 and 1 Timothy 1:15-17.)

Time is subordinate to the Christian Way Of Life:

NAS 2 Thessalonians 2:6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.  7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. . . . 14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Paul is telling the Thessalonians that they do not live in the time of the man of lawlessness.  God is giving them time to gain glory.)

NAS 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,  14 that you keep the cmmandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,  15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords;  (Paul is telling Timothy that God is giving him time to live a successful Christian Way Of Life.  Compare Hebrews 6:11-12.)

NAS Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing,  9 which is a symbol for the present time.  Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,  10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the  body imposed until a time of reformation. . . . 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (God is giving us time to live in “a time of reformation” and service to God.)

NAS Revelation 22:10 And he *said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  11 "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."  12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  (God’s timing is subordinate to giving humanity time to practice righteousness and holiness.  Note Romans 9:22-23)

Old Testament Contrast, salvation had a time-frame:

NAS Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."  (Compare Daniel 9:25-26.)

NAS John 7:6 Jesus therefore *said to them, "My time is not yet at hand, but your time is always opportune.  (“Opportune” = time for belief.  Note verse 5.)

NAS Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

NAS Ephesians 1:10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.

NAS 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men,  the man Christ Jesus,  6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.

NAS Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,  3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

NAS 1 Peter 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry,  11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

Other time-subordinate factors:

NAS Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,  13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

NAS Acts 17:26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their  habitation,  27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

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