The term "elapsed" refers to the passage of time or the completion of a period. In the context of the Bible, the concept of time and its passage is significant in understanding God's plan, human history, and the fulfillment of divine promises. The Bible often marks the passage of time to highlight the unfolding of God's purposes and the fulfillment of His word.

Biblical Context

1. Creation and Time: The Bible begins with the account of creation, where time is introduced as a fundamental aspect of the created order. Genesis 1:14 states, "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them serve as signs to mark the seasons and days and years.'" Here, the establishment of time is integral to the structure of creation.

2. Prophetic Fulfillment: The passage of time is crucial in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies. For instance, the prophecy of the seventy weeks in Daniel 9:24-27 outlines a specific timeline for the coming of the Messiah and the events that follow. The precision of these timelines underscores the sovereignty of God over history.

3. The Life of Jesus: The New Testament frequently notes the passage of time in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Galatians 4:4 states, "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law." This verse emphasizes the divine timing in the incarnation of Christ, indicating that His coming was at the appointed time in God's redemptive plan.

4. Apostolic Ministry: The Book of Acts records the growth of the early church and the spread of the Gospel over time. Acts 1:3 notes, "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." The forty days between Jesus' resurrection and ascension were a significant period for the apostles' preparation and empowerment.

5. Eschatological Time: The Bible speaks of the end times and the culmination of history. In Revelation, the concept of time is pivotal as it describes the events leading to the return of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Revelation 10:6 declares, "And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and all that is in it, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, 'There will be no more delay!'"

Theological Implications

The passage of time in the Bible is not merely a chronological record but a testament to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His divine will. The concept of elapsed time serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human life and the eternal nature of God. Psalm 90:4 reflects this perspective: "For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night."

In the biblical narrative, the elapsing of time often brings about significant changes, developments, and fulfillments of God's promises. Believers are encouraged to live with an awareness of time's passage, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16) and remaining vigilant for the return of Christ (Matthew 24:42).

Practical Application

Understanding the biblical concept of elapsed time encourages believers to trust in God's perfect timing and to remain patient and faithful as His plans unfold. It also serves as a call to live purposefully, recognizing that each moment is a gift from God and an opportunity to serve Him and advance His kingdom.(imp. & p. p.) of Elapse.1230. diaginomai -- to go through, to elapse
... Word Origin from dia and ginomai Definition to go through, to elapse NASB Word
Usage elapsed (1), over (1), passed (1). be past, be spent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1230.htm - 6k

1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... pass (2), come (16), comes (1), comes to pass (1), coming (1), dawn (1), decided*
(1), developing (1), done (20), drawing (1), during (1), elapsed (1), existed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k

4137. pleroo -- to make full, to complete
... complete NASB Word Usage accomplish (1), accomplished (1), amply supplied (1),
approaching (1), complete (1), completed (3), completing (1), elapsed (1), fill ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4137.htm - 10k

When, after an Interval of Some Time had Elapsed...
... Book II. Chapter XXXVII. When, after an interval of some time had elapsed?
When, after an interval of some time had elapsed, Athanasius ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxxvii when after an.htm

How These Persons are to be Answered, who Find Fault with the ...
... these countless ages of the infinitely extended past, and came into being so lately
that, according to Scripture, less than 6000 years have elapsed since He ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 12 how these persons are.htm

In the Present Crusade against the Bible and the Faith of ...
... has existed for an immense series of years,"to be counted by millions rather than
by thousands; and that indubitably more than six days elapsed from its ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/v in the present crusade.htm

Chapter xlviii
... Jacob blesses Joseph's sons. It would seem that at most several months
elapsed between these two events. For the first occasion ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

Uncertain Conjectures of the Philosophers.
... For ten thousand times ten thousand years elapsed without record, and one thousand
or twice as many years have gone by since some things were discovered by ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xvi uncertain conjectures of the.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... The remarks already made will explain, how some time may have elapsed between this
and the former Discourse, and that the expression And as He spake' [4252 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

The Riot
... In the three centuries which had elapsed between Julius C??sar and Constantine there
had been sixty-two emperors, so that their average reigns had scarcely ...
/.../gathering clouds a tale of the days of st chrysostom/chapter ii the riot.htm

Our Deliverance from the Boxers (1900)
... Later when giving the story of our escape in the homeland, repeatedly we have had
people come to us telling how, during the weeks which elapsed between the ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/v our deliverance from the.htm

The Ascension
... The fact that in this place he gives more detailed statements, and tells how long
elapsed between the Resurrection Sunday and the Ascension, might have taught ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the ascension.htm

Chapter viii
... That seven days had elapsed since the sending of the raven appears from
the use of the words "again" and "another" in v.10. That ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter viii.htm

Elapsed (5 Occurrences)
...Elapsed (5 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Acts 25:13 And when certain days had elapsed,
Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus. (DBY NAS). ...
/e/elapsed.htm - 7k

Absalom (93 Occurrences)
... Jerusalem. He returned accordingly, but two years elapsed before his father
admitted him into his presence (2 Samuel 14:28). Absalom ...
/a/absalom.htm - 50k

Patriarchs (6 Occurrences)
... To overcome this difficulty, perhaps, 100 years were borrowed from the years that
elapsed between parenthood and death and were added to the age of the three ...
/p/patriarchs.htm - 37k

Antediluvian
... To overcome this difficulty, perhaps, 100 years were borrowed from the years that
elapsed between parenthood and death and were added to the age of the three ...
/a/antediluvian.htm - 35k

Anem (1 Occurrence)
... as his inheritance (14:10; compare 15:13;); the inference would be, assuming 40
years for the wanderings in the desert, that 5 years had then elapsed since the ...
/a/anem.htm - 101k

Zerah (22 Occurrences)
... heathen power in full force." The Egyptian host was utterly routed, and the Hebrews
gathered "exceeding much spoil." Three hundred years elapsed before another ...
/z/zerah.htm - 19k

Nations (683 Occurrences)
... Five centuries, more or less, elapsed between the building of Ezra's temple and
the first advent of Christ, and the men of Ezra's time needed comfort for the ...
/n/nations.htm - 58k

Noah (55 Occurrences)
... An interval of one hundred and twenty years elapsed while the ark was being built
(6:3), during which Noah bore constant testimony against the unbelief and ...
/n/noah.htm - 66k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... see). By the time of Jacob's arrival he is already a very old man, for
over 90 years had elapsed since Rebekah's departure. Yet ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Longevity
... to fill up the chronology of the period before the call of Abraham, these names
were inserted and the time which was supposed to have elapsed was divided among ...
/l/longevity.htm - 9k

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