Here’s a thought experiment. Suppose that we were to take the statements in Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 about a thousand years being like a day literally (which are probably not literal in their literary settings). Then let’s assume that the difference is not just how God sees time, but also represents the difference in time duration between heaven and earth (which is simply an assumption for this thought experiment — I don’t know what the actual case is).

Thus, if one thousand years in heaven = one day on earth

Then, one year in heaven = 1.44 minutes on earth

[Still a thought experiment — nothing more…]

In such a case, the experience of someone in heaven would be radically shorter than the experience of someone living on earth, resulting in the following implications:

  • It would only be seventeen minutes (in heaven time) from the moment that my precious mom passed away until she was reunited with me when I die (assuming I die before the coming of the Lord) — even though she died twelve years ago.

  • It would only be two days (in heaven time) since Jesus told us that his disciples should be ready and waiting for his return (Matt 24:42, 44).

  • A seven-year tribulation on the earth at the end of the present age would amount to just over ten minutes in heaven — just enough time for the beheaded saints to cry out for the Lord to avenge their unjust martyrdoms (Rev 6:9-10).

  • Or, what about believers who are currently alive? Will they be part of a future millennium after the tribulation? I believe (against some of my Christian friends) that there will be a literal millennium at the end of the age (Rev 20:1-6), but I’m still uncertain whether earlier saints — like those of us living right now — will be raised and participate in that millennium. But even if they ²¹°ù±ð²Ô’t (continuing my thought experiment), they would only have to wait one day before the great-white-throne judgment and the commencement of the new heavens and new earth.

Once again, this is just a thought experiment. I don’t know if this is the way time works, but I find some comfort in the thought that it could be like this. If a thousand years on earth is like one day in heaven (which may not be the case — compare the twenty-one angelic days in Daniel 10:13), this still is a comforting thought, particularly regarding our believing loved ones who are waiting to reunite with us. As theorized above, it also might help us when we consider the length of time between Christ’s first and second advents and how we might think about the lengths of a future tribulation and millennium.

At the very least, Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 should bolster our confidence that the concerns we have about extended lengths of time are not real concerns for God. The simple fact that God is not bound to our timetable should bring us encouragement to persevere no matter how long our waiting seems to be.

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8)

This and other resources are available at .

Notes

Note that although I expect an end-times tribulation period, I am unsure whether seven years is its duration.

Some non-believers who don’t reference the Bible at all are talking about how what we call dark matter might actually be other parts of space moving at different rates of time. For example: ; . This is all apparently speculative, and I don’t possess the background by which to evaluate it, but it’s interesting that people are talking about the possibility of time traveling at different rates in different places. At the very least, Einstein’s theory of relativity suggests the possibility of time getting warped (to the tiny degree I understand it).