diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/messages-get.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/messages-get.json
index da1c3d962..3f0bf98a2 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/messages-get.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/messages-get.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
           "type": "string"
         },
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "messageCids": {
           "type": "array",
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-request.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-request.json
index a320870c4..6b6ec68fe 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-request.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-request.json
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
           "type": "string"
         },
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "description": {
           "type": "string"
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-revoke.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-revoke.json
index 64543e876..2b62e5edf 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-revoke.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/permissions-revoke.json
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
       ],
       "properties": {
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "permissionsGrantId": {
           "type": "string"
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocols-query.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocols-query.json
index 6d9027a4d..88bfa113e 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocols-query.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocols-query.json
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
           "type": "string"
         },
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "filter": {
           "type": "object",
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-delete.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-delete.json
index 163a981ef..23b34383f 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-delete.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-delete.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
           "type": "string"
         },
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "recordId": {
           "type": "string"
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-read.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-read.json
index 0e43dd97a..3969d8bc1 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-read.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/records-read.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
           "type": "string"
         },
         "messageTimestamp": {
-          "type": "string"
+          "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/defs.json#/definitions/date-time"
         },
         "filter": {
           "$ref": "https://identity.foundation/dwn/json-schemas/records-filter.json"
diff --git a/src/core/dwn-error.ts b/src/core/dwn-error.ts
index 71a92a7d8..65338686a 100644
--- a/src/core/dwn-error.ts
+++ b/src/core/dwn-error.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ export enum DwnErrorCode {
   RecordsWriteSignAsOwnerUnknownAuthor = 'RecordsWriteSignAsOwnerUnknownAuthor',
   RecordsWriteValidateIntegrityEncryptionCidMismatch = 'RecordsWriteValidateIntegrityEncryptionCidMismatch',
   Secp256k1KeyNotValid = 'Secp256k1KeyNotValid',
+  TimestampInvalid = 'TimestampInvalid',
   UrlProtocolNotNormalized = 'UrlProtocolNotNormalized',
   UrlProtocolNotNormalizable = 'UrlProtocolNotNormalizable',
   UrlSchemaNotNormalized = 'UrlSchemaNotNormalized',
diff --git a/src/interfaces/events-get.ts b/src/interfaces/events-get.ts
index 90788f955..1f79dc6ff 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/events-get.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/events-get.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { EventsGetDescriptor, EventsGetMessage } from '../types/event-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type EventsGetOptions = {
   watermark?: string;
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export class EventsGet extends Message<EventsGetMessage> {
   public static async parse(message: EventsGetMessage): Promise<EventsGet> {
     Message.validateJsonSchema(message);
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new EventsGet(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/messages-get.ts b/src/interfaces/messages-get.ts
index 0bdb5305f..8e461d6fd 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/messages-get.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/messages-get.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { MessagesGetDescriptor, MessagesGetMessage } from '../types/messages-types.js';
 
 import { Cid } from '../utils/cid.js';
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type MessagesGetOptions = {
   messageCids: string[];
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export class MessagesGet extends Message<MessagesGetMessage> {
     this.validateMessageCids(message.descriptor.messageCids);
 
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new MessagesGet(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/permissions-grant.ts b/src/interfaces/permissions-grant.ts
index b911feff6..c4f1837c4 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/permissions-grant.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/permissions-grant.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { PermissionConditions, PermissionScope, RecordsPermissionScope } from '../types/permissions-types.js';
 import type { PermissionsGrantDescriptor, PermissionsGrantMessage } from '../types/permissions-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { removeUndefinedProperties } from '../utils/object.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../core/dwn-error.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { normalizeProtocolUrl, normalizeSchemaUrl } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 export type PermissionsGrantOptions = {
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ export class PermissionsGrant extends Message<PermissionsGrantMessage> {
   public static async parse(message: PermissionsGrantMessage): Promise<PermissionsGrant> {
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
     PermissionsGrant.validateScope(message);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.dateExpires);
 
     return new PermissionsGrant(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/permissions-request.ts b/src/interfaces/permissions-request.ts
index cd16ca606..875116745 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/permissions-request.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/permissions-request.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { PermissionConditions, PermissionScope } from '../types/permissions-types.js';
 import type { PermissionsRequestDescriptor, PermissionsRequestMessage } from '../types/permissions-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { removeUndefinedProperties } from '../utils/object.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type PermissionsRequestOptions = {
   messageTimestamp?: string;
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export class PermissionsRequest extends Message<PermissionsRequestMessage> {
 
   public static async parse(message: PermissionsRequestMessage): Promise<PermissionsRequest> {
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new PermissionsRequest(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/permissions-revoke.ts b/src/interfaces/permissions-revoke.ts
index c1206494a..459dbd2cc 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/permissions-revoke.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/permissions-revoke.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { PermissionsGrantMessage, PermissionsRevokeDescriptor, PermissionsRevokeMessage } from '../types/permissions-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../core/dwn-error.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type PermissionsRevokeOptions = {
   messageTimestamp?: string;
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export type PermissionsRevokeOptions = {
 export class PermissionsRevoke extends Message<PermissionsRevokeMessage> {
   public static async parse(message: PermissionsRevokeMessage): Promise<PermissionsRevoke> {
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new PermissionsRevoke(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts b/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
index b19b9fbf9..8f631efad 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { ProtocolDefinition, ProtocolRuleSet, ProtocolsConfigureDescriptor, ProtocolsConfigureMessage } from '../types/protocols-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../index.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { normalizeProtocolUrl, normalizeSchemaUrl, validateProtocolUrlNormalized, validateSchemaUrlNormalized } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 export type ProtocolsConfigureOptions = {
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export class ProtocolsConfigure extends Message<ProtocolsConfigureMessage> {
     Message.validateJsonSchema(message);
     ProtocolsConfigure.validateProtocolDefinition(message.descriptor.definition);
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new ProtocolsConfigure(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/protocols-query.ts b/src/interfaces/protocols-query.ts
index ec76569f0..67baa8d47 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/protocols-query.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/protocols-query.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import type { MessageStore } from '../types/message-store.js';
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { ProtocolsQueryDescriptor, ProtocolsQueryFilter, ProtocolsQueryMessage } from '../types/protocols-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { GrantAuthorization } from '../core/grant-authorization.js';
 import { removeUndefinedProperties } from '../utils/object.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { normalizeProtocolUrl, validateProtocolUrlNormalized } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../core/dwn-error.js';
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export class ProtocolsQuery extends Message<ProtocolsQueryMessage> {
     if (message.descriptor.filter !== undefined) {
       validateProtocolUrlNormalized(message.descriptor.filter.protocol);
     }
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new ProtocolsQuery(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/records-delete.ts b/src/interfaces/records-delete.ts
index 7d8188963..dd488cba5 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/records-delete.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/records-delete.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import type { RecordsDeleteDescriptor, RecordsDeleteMessage } from '../types/records-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { Message } from '../core/message.js';
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 
 import { authorize, validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type RecordsDeleteOptions = {
   recordId: string;
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export class RecordsDelete extends Message<RecordsDeleteMessage> {
 
   public static async parse(message: RecordsDeleteMessage): Promise<RecordsDelete> {
     await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     const recordsDelete = new RecordsDelete(message);
     return recordsDelete;
diff --git a/src/interfaces/records-query.ts b/src/interfaces/records-query.ts
index 48e3265eb..0c552f248 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/records-query.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/records-query.ts
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ import type { Pagination } from '../types/message-types.js';
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { RecordsFilter, RecordsQueryDescriptor, RecordsQueryMessage } from '../types/records-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { Message } from '../core/message.js';
 import { Records } from '../utils/records.js';
 import { removeUndefinedProperties } from '../utils/object.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../core/dwn-error.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { validateProtocolUrlNormalized, validateSchemaUrlNormalized } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 export enum DateSort {
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export class RecordsQuery extends Message<RecordsQueryMessage> {
     if (message.descriptor.filter.schema !== undefined) {
       validateSchemaUrlNormalized(message.descriptor.filter.schema);
     }
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     return new RecordsQuery(message);
   }
diff --git a/src/interfaces/records-read.ts b/src/interfaces/records-read.ts
index 10374cff7..400617124 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/records-read.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/records-read.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import type { RecordsWrite } from './records-write.js';
 import type { Signer } from '../types/signer.js';
 import type { RecordsFilter , RecordsReadDescriptor, RecordsReadMessage } from '../types/records-types.js';
 
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { Message } from '../core/message.js';
 import { ProtocolAuthorization } from '../core/protocol-authorization.js';
 import { Records } from '../utils/records.js';
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@ import { RecordsGrantAuthorization } from '../core/records-grant-authorization.j
 import { removeUndefinedProperties } from '../utils/object.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 
 export type RecordsReadOptions = {
   filter: RecordsFilter;
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export class RecordsRead extends Message<RecordsReadMessage> {
     if (message.authorization !== undefined) {
       await validateMessageSignatureIntegrity(message.authorization.authorSignature, message.descriptor);
     }
+    validateTimestamp(message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
 
     const recordsRead = new RecordsRead(message);
     return recordsRead;
diff --git a/src/interfaces/records-write.ts b/src/interfaces/records-write.ts
index 8e5dd7110..e61eb752f 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/records-write.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/records-write.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import { Encoder } from '../utils/encoder.js';
 import { Encryption } from '../utils/encryption.js';
 import { EncryptionAlgorithm } from '../utils/encryption.js';
 import { GeneralJwsBuilder } from '../jose/jws/general/builder.js';
-import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { Jws } from '../utils/jws.js';
 import { KeyDerivationScheme } from '../utils/hd-key.js';
 import { Message } from '../core/message.js';
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@ import { Secp256k1 } from '../utils/secp256k1.js';
 import { validateMessageSignatureIntegrity } from '../core/auth.js';
 import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../core/dwn-error.js';
 import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName } from '../core/message.js';
+import { getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision, validateTimestamp } from '../utils/time.js';
 import { normalizeProtocolUrl, normalizeSchemaUrl, validateProtocolUrlNormalized, validateSchemaUrlNormalized } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 export type RecordsWriteOptions = {
@@ -541,6 +541,12 @@ export class RecordsWrite {
     if (this.message.descriptor.schema !== undefined) {
       validateSchemaUrlNormalized(this.message.descriptor.schema);
     }
+
+    validateTimestamp(this.message.descriptor.messageTimestamp);
+    validateTimestamp(this.message.descriptor.dateCreated);
+    if (this.message.descriptor.datePublished){
+      validateTimestamp(this.message.descriptor.datePublished);
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/utils/time.ts b/src/utils/time.ts
index ae741be28..fab05d85a 100644
--- a/src/utils/time.ts
+++ b/src/utils/time.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { Temporal } from '@js-temporal/polyfill';
+import { DwnError, DwnErrorCode } from '../index.js';
 
 /**
  * sleeps for the desired duration
@@ -24,3 +25,16 @@ export function getCurrentTimeInHighPrecision(): string {
 export async function minimalSleep(): Promise<void> {
   await sleep(2);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Validates that the provided timestamp is a valid number
+ * @param timestamp the timestamp to validate
+ * @throws DwnError if timestamp is not a valid number
+ */
+export function validateTimestamp(timestamp: string): void {
+  try {
+    Temporal.Instant.from(timestamp);
+  } catch {
+    throw new DwnError(DwnErrorCode.TimestampInvalid,`Invalid timestamp: ${timestamp}`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/utils/time.spec.ts b/tests/utils/time.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b92d2170b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/time.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { DwnErrorCode } from '../../src/core/dwn-error.js';
+import { expect } from 'chai';
+import { TestDataGenerator } from '../utils/test-data-generator.js';
+import { validateTimestamp } from '../../src/utils/time.js';
+
+
+describe('time', () => {
+  describe('validateTimstamp', () => {
+    describe('invalid timestamps', () => {
+      const invalidTimstamps = [
+        '2022-02-31T10:20:30.405060Z', // invalid day
+        '2022-01-36T90:20:30.405060Z', // invalid hour
+        '2022-01-36T25:99:30.405060Z', // invalid minute
+        '2022-14-18T10:30:00.123456Z', // invalid month
+      ];
+      invalidTimstamps.forEach((timestamp) => {
+        it(`should throw an exception if an invalid timestamp is passed: ${timestamp}`, () => {
+          expect(() => validateTimestamp(timestamp)).to.throw(DwnErrorCode.TimestampInvalid);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+    describe('valid timestamps', () => {
+      it('should pass if a valid timestamp is passed', () => {
+        expect(() => validateTimestamp('2022-04-29T10:30:00.123456Z')).to.not.throw();
+        expect(() => validateTimestamp(TestDataGenerator.randomTimestamp())).to.not.throw();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file