Is there extrabiblical precedent for apocalyptic literature symbolically using lengths of time?
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In apocalyptic works, such as Revelation or the later chapters of Daniel, there is often vivid imagery meant to symbolize other things, especially real-world events (either historical or future). Given the cryptic nature of such passages, they are often the subject of many diverse and conflicting interpretations.
One of the most famous such disputes is over the 1000-year period in Revelation 20, which most premillennialists and some postmillennialists take a literal duration of time for the described period, while others take the length of time as symbolic.
**My question is whether there is precedent for a definite period of time being taken nonliterally.** As far as I am aware, there is no passage in the biblical apocalyptic texts which mentions a definite period of time such that Christians *uncontroversially* interpret the duration nonliterally. But I am unfamiliar with extra biblical apocalyptic literature, though I am aware that there is a lot of it preserved from the intertestamental period and first couple of centuries AD. I am wondering if there is any extrabiblical apocalyptic book which:
1. Has a definite period of time described in the vision, i.e. with a number and a clear unit, such as "1000 years" or "42 months", or whatever number and unit of time, AND
2. The intended meaning of that definite period of time is clear and uncontested. Most likely this would be only if the author says expressly the meaning elsewhere. (Frequently apocalypses give an explanation of parts of the vision.) AND
3. The length of time of the real period of time does not correspond to the time period given in the vision. **I am especially interested to see any example where there isn't a correspondence of one unit of time with another, such as days in the vision equally years in real life.**
Such a book of course ought to be one which might be found in a Christian context, i.e. either written by Christians for Christians or originating from intertestamental Judaism.
If a definite period of time in the vision symbolizes something other than a period of time, that would also be a valid example to me. However, something that isn't a period of time being used for a period of time is not (such as the cows representing years in Genesis 41:3-4).
Asked by Dark Malthorp
(6780 rep)
Feb 21, 2026, 02:24 PM
Last activity: Feb 21, 2026, 04:51 PM
Last activity: Feb 21, 2026, 04:51 PM