Overview
The furlong (Greek: stadion) was a standard measurement in biblical times, representing approximately 220 yards or 1/8 mile. This unit appears in Scripture primarily in eschatological contexts, particularly regarding the return of Christ and the scope of divine events.
Key Scriptures
"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life" (Revelation 20:12, NASB). "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Revelation 21:1, ESV). "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9, NKJV).
Application
Understanding biblical measurements like the furlong helps readers grasp the literal, tangible reality of Scripture's descriptions of Christ's return and the scope of God's redemptive plan.