In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
See previous parts to Whence Eternity? if you've arrived at this blog (Part 4) out of sequence.
_______________________
Not to get too far off track but I want to point a very important distinction from the previous blogs before digging into this blog.
I ended Part 3 with a blatant contradiction found in the KJV translation... one of many. Self-evident contradictions like that only find themselves in the translated versions... NOT the original texts.
Translators did not seem to appreciate, or grasp, the fact that fidelity and consistency could only be attained by employing a separate English word for every Hebrew, Chaldee or Greek word.
The oversight of this foundational principle of translation is responsible for many prevailing erroneous ideas (including doctrine!).
For example, the English word "world" has been made to do the service of two distinct Greek words - aion and kosmos - which convey different, though related, ideas.
Had these terms been represented by two English equivalents many a theological dogma would have never seen the light of day!
Many a heart-rending controversy would never have raged and many so-called "mistakes and discrepancies" would never have given occasion to the scorner to point the finger of ridicule against the Bible.
Though Scripture often speaks of "the end of the aion", it never speaks of "the end of the world (kosmos)".
And yet, is it not a fact - that the un-Biblical phrase "the end of the world" has brought forth and nourished systems of eschatology which have wrought havoc among Christians?
Moreover, "world without end" is the selfsame expression which the translators themselves have rendered "for ever and ever" in every other instance.
The Greek words aion and aionion occur 199 times in the New Testament.
Look at all the different words the KJV translators came up with (occurrences are shown in parentheses) for the Greek word aion:
ages (2), course (1), world (40), ever (72), never (7), evermore (4), eternal (2).
"Never"?! Are you kidding me?! That's the direct opposite of eternal! How did they get away with that one?
Now - aionion:
everlasting (25), eternal (42), world (3), ever (1).
In the Old Testament they translated one Hebrew word, sheol as:
"grave" (31 times) and...
... as "hell" (31 times)...
Which is it?! Is it hell, or the grave?
These and many other similar forms of expression in the Bible have been used with a purpose. His purpose!
One cannot but regret that those which have given us the current translations should have displayed such looseness and inconsistency in rendering them; for surely the words selected by the Spirit of Truth must have a specific design, even where readers and translators lack the light to apprehend it.
_____________________
Moving on now to "Forever and ever".
First of all, it should be obvious what the problem is here. What does that even mean?
For eternity AND eternity?
Are there more than one eternal eternities?
Some will say that this is just expression denoting the depth of all eternity. I assure you - that's an argument from silence and laziness to look into the original language.
What in the world is even the difference between "forever" and "forever and ever"?
How can there even be any "and ever" following "forever"?
How about "ages of the ages", etc. from which this term "forever and ever" is translated from:
From the Greek we find these three distinct, literal translated phrases:
[1] The eon of the eon...
[2] The eon of the eons...
[3] The eons of the eons...
You're thinking,
"ok fine, if it doesn't really mean "forever and ever", what in the world do these three phrases above mean?!"
I'm glad you asked!
Let's start with the eons in general...
____________________
In general there are five major aions (eons) found in Scripture.
The first three are eons of sin and destruction; the last two are eons of bliss and restoration.
In the first three - God's enemies (including the god of this world, Satan) rule into chaos and ruin.
In the last two - Jesus rules and reigns into perfection. This is the Millennial Reign and the fruit of His Reign, the New Heaven and New Earth.
These last two eons are the aionian (eonian) life we as believers are promised.
These last two eons are "the eons of all the eons".
As the final eon (the fifth eon) is the result of Christ's work during the previous eon (in which the Millennium Reign occurs) it is "the eon of the eon" (singular).
The final eon is the fruit of all preceding eons... hence, it is called "the eon of the eons" or "the age of the ages".
The KJV renders it like this:
KJV Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
More literal (and correct) translations:
YLT Eph 3:21 to Him is the glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.
CLV Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen!
__________________
Scripture Concerning the AIONS
Below, I'm going to stray away from the KJV... I've already shown how they've brought confusion into this whole conversation. I'll be using only literal translations.
If you like, you can look up the references in your KJV later.
There was a time before the aions (eons, or ages).
2 Tim 1:9 Who saves us and calls us with a Holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian [before the aions began],
Tit 1:2 in expectation of life eonian, which God, Who does not lie, promises before times eonian [before the aions began],
1 Cor 2:7 but we are speaking God's wisdom in a secret, wisdom which has been concealed, which God designates before - before the eons, for our glory,
All of the above came before:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
[1] This is the beginning of the first AION.
Note, than man is not created during this first aion yet.
This is the world that "then was":
2 Pet 3:5 For they want to be oblivious of this, that there were heavens of old, and an earth cohering out of water and through water, by the Word of God;
Isa 45:18 For thus says Yahweh, Creator of the heavens; He is the Elohim, and Former of the earth, and its Maker, and He, He established it. He did not create it a chaos. He formed it to be indwelt. "I am Yahweh, and there is none else."
Before the disruption:
Joh 17:24 Father, those whom Thou hast given Me, I will that, where I am, they also may be with Me, that they may be beholding My glory which Thou has given Me, for Thou lovest Me before the disruption of the world."
Eph 1:4 according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be Holy and flawless in His sight,
1 Pet 1:20 foreknown, indeed, before the disruption of the world, yet manifested in the last times because of you, who through Him are believing in God,
What was the disruption?
Gen 1:2 Yet the earth became a chaos and vacant, and darkness was on the surface of the submerged chaos. Yet the spirit of the Elohim is vibrating over the surface of the water.
Jer 4:23 I looked [to] the land, and lo, waste and void, And unto the heavens, and their light is not.
[2] From the Disruption forward... signaling the beginning of:
The beginning of the second AION:
Mat 13:35 so that fulfilled may be that which is declared through the prophet saying, I shall be opening My mouth in parables, I shall be emitting what is hid from the disruption.
Luk 11:50 that the blood of all the prophets which is shed from the disruption of the world may be exacted from this generation,
Heb 4:3 Then we who believe are entering into the stopping, according as He has declared, as I swear in My indignation, 'If they shall be entering into My stopping-' although the works occur from the disruption of the world.
Heb 9:26 since then He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, is He manifest."
Rev 13:8 And all who are dwelling on the earth will be worshiping it, everyone whose name is not written in the scroll of life of the Lambkin slain from the disruption of the world.
Rev 17:8 The wild beast which you perceived was, and is not, and is about to be ascending out of the submerged chaos, and to be going away into destruction. And marvel shall those dwelling on the earth, whose names are not written on the scroll of life from the disruption of the world, when they observe the wild beast, seeing that it was, and is not, and will be present.
Peter refers to the second AION as the "ancient world".
2 Pet 2:5 and spares not the ancient world, but guards Noah, an eighth, a herald of righteousness, bringing a deluge on the world of the irreverent;
This second AION, or "ancient world", is when man, and every "living soul", is created.
Gen 1:21 And creating is the Elohim great monsters and every living moving soul, with which the water roams, for their from-kind, and every winged flyer for its from-kind. And seeing is the Elohim that it is good.
Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them.
This ancient world comes to an end at Noah's flood (the "deluge" Peter was referring to in 2 Peter 2:5 above).
[3] The third AION is this... "present wicked aion".
Gal 1:4 Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father,
2 Pet 3:7 Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men.
This is the aion in which the nations are formed (Genesis 10) and from which the prophets spoke:
Luk 1:70 According as He speaks through the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the eon;
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Leading to the "conclusion of" this aion...
Mat 13:39 Now the enemy who sows them is the Adversary. Now the harvest is the conclusion of the eon. Now the reapers are messengers.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Also known as "Jacob's Trouble"...
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jer 51:6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
All of this leads up to the "beginning of birth pangs" and "the Great Tribulation" (Daniel's 70th week - Daniel 9:24-27) and concludes with God's Judgment / Wrath of this earth after believers are taken to be with Him.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
When believers are:
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
All of this unfolds into...
[4] ... "the coming aion". This is the Millennial Reign!
Eph 1:21 up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that [eon] which is impending:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh messenger trumpets. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world became our Lord's and His Christ's, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!
... this is the first AION of the "times of restoration".
Act 3:21 Whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all which God speaks through the mouth of His Holy prophets who are from the eon.
... these are the "seasons of refreshing".
Act 3:19 Repent, then, and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord,
Satan will be bound during the Millennial Reign...
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
All of this concludes with The Great White Throne Judgment of those who are not written in the Book of Life...
2 Pet 3:7 Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men.
Rev 20:11 And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.
Rev 20:12 And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the Scroll of Life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts.
... and finally, we reach:
[5] ... "the eon of the eon"
Heb 1:8 Yet to the Son: "Thy throne, O God, is for the eon of the eon, And a scepter of rectitude is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen!
This is the New Heaven and New Earth AION! (Rev 21-22).
At the conclusion of this AION comes the consummation when Jesus submits Himself to God the Father and we will become ALL in ALL.
1 Cor 15:28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.
Obviously, I left out a ton of in-between details, but this is only meant to give you a feel for the five different AIONS.
_____________________
More later...
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
________________________
See previous parts to Whence Eternity? if you've arrived at this blog (Part 4) out of sequence.
_______________________
Not to get too far off track but I want to point a very important distinction from the previous blogs before digging into this blog.
I ended Part 3 with a blatant contradiction found in the KJV translation... one of many. Self-evident contradictions like that only find themselves in the translated versions... NOT the original texts.
Translators did not seem to appreciate, or grasp, the fact that fidelity and consistency could only be attained by employing a separate English word for every Hebrew, Chaldee or Greek word.
The oversight of this foundational principle of translation is responsible for many prevailing erroneous ideas (including doctrine!).
For example, the English word "world" has been made to do the service of two distinct Greek words - aion and kosmos - which convey different, though related, ideas.
Had these terms been represented by two English equivalents many a theological dogma would have never seen the light of day!
Many a heart-rending controversy would never have raged and many so-called "mistakes and discrepancies" would never have given occasion to the scorner to point the finger of ridicule against the Bible.
Though Scripture often speaks of "the end of the aion", it never speaks of "the end of the world (kosmos)".
And yet, is it not a fact - that the un-Biblical phrase "the end of the world" has brought forth and nourished systems of eschatology which have wrought havoc among Christians?
Moreover, "world without end" is the selfsame expression which the translators themselves have rendered "for ever and ever" in every other instance.
The Greek words aion and aionion occur 199 times in the New Testament.
Look at all the different words the KJV translators came up with (occurrences are shown in parentheses) for the Greek word aion:
ages (2), course (1), world (40), ever (72), never (7), evermore (4), eternal (2).
"Never"?! Are you kidding me?! That's the direct opposite of eternal! How did they get away with that one?
Now - aionion:
everlasting (25), eternal (42), world (3), ever (1).
In the Old Testament they translated one Hebrew word, sheol as:
"grave" (31 times) and...
... as "hell" (31 times)...
Which is it?! Is it hell, or the grave?
These and many other similar forms of expression in the Bible have been used with a purpose. His purpose!
One cannot but regret that those which have given us the current translations should have displayed such looseness and inconsistency in rendering them; for surely the words selected by the Spirit of Truth must have a specific design, even where readers and translators lack the light to apprehend it.
_____________________
Moving on now to "Forever and ever".
First of all, it should be obvious what the problem is here. What does that even mean?
For eternity AND eternity?
Are there more than one eternal eternities?
Some will say that this is just expression denoting the depth of all eternity. I assure you - that's an argument from silence and laziness to look into the original language.
What in the world is even the difference between "forever" and "forever and ever"?
How can there even be any "and ever" following "forever"?
How about "ages of the ages", etc. from which this term "forever and ever" is translated from:
From the Greek we find these three distinct, literal translated phrases:
[1] The eon of the eon...
[2] The eon of the eons...
[3] The eons of the eons...
You're thinking,
"ok fine, if it doesn't really mean "forever and ever", what in the world do these three phrases above mean?!"
I'm glad you asked!
Let's start with the eons in general...
____________________
In general there are five major aions (eons) found in Scripture.
The first three are eons of sin and destruction; the last two are eons of bliss and restoration.
In the first three - God's enemies (including the god of this world, Satan) rule into chaos and ruin.
In the last two - Jesus rules and reigns into perfection. This is the Millennial Reign and the fruit of His Reign, the New Heaven and New Earth.
These last two eons are the aionian (eonian) life we as believers are promised.
These last two eons are "the eons of all the eons".
As the final eon (the fifth eon) is the result of Christ's work during the previous eon (in which the Millennium Reign occurs) it is "the eon of the eon" (singular).
The final eon is the fruit of all preceding eons... hence, it is called "the eon of the eons" or "the age of the ages".
The KJV renders it like this:
KJV Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
More literal (and correct) translations:
YLT Eph 3:21 to Him is the glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.
CLV Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen!
__________________
Scripture Concerning the AIONS
Below, I'm going to stray away from the KJV... I've already shown how they've brought confusion into this whole conversation. I'll be using only literal translations.
If you like, you can look up the references in your KJV later.
There was a time before the aions (eons, or ages).
2 Tim 1:9 Who saves us and calls us with a Holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian [before the aions began],
Tit 1:2 in expectation of life eonian, which God, Who does not lie, promises before times eonian [before the aions began],
1 Cor 2:7 but we are speaking God's wisdom in a secret, wisdom which has been concealed, which God designates before - before the eons, for our glory,
All of the above came before:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
[1] This is the beginning of the first AION.
Note, than man is not created during this first aion yet.
This is the world that "then was":
2 Pet 3:5 For they want to be oblivious of this, that there were heavens of old, and an earth cohering out of water and through water, by the Word of God;
Isa 45:18 For thus says Yahweh, Creator of the heavens; He is the Elohim, and Former of the earth, and its Maker, and He, He established it. He did not create it a chaos. He formed it to be indwelt. "I am Yahweh, and there is none else."
Before the disruption:
Joh 17:24 Father, those whom Thou hast given Me, I will that, where I am, they also may be with Me, that they may be beholding My glory which Thou has given Me, for Thou lovest Me before the disruption of the world."
Eph 1:4 according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be Holy and flawless in His sight,
1 Pet 1:20 foreknown, indeed, before the disruption of the world, yet manifested in the last times because of you, who through Him are believing in God,
What was the disruption?
Gen 1:2 Yet the earth became a chaos and vacant, and darkness was on the surface of the submerged chaos. Yet the spirit of the Elohim is vibrating over the surface of the water.
Jer 4:23 I looked [to] the land, and lo, waste and void, And unto the heavens, and their light is not.
[2] From the Disruption forward... signaling the beginning of:
The beginning of the second AION:
Mat 13:35 so that fulfilled may be that which is declared through the prophet saying, I shall be opening My mouth in parables, I shall be emitting what is hid from the disruption.
Luk 11:50 that the blood of all the prophets which is shed from the disruption of the world may be exacted from this generation,
Heb 4:3 Then we who believe are entering into the stopping, according as He has declared, as I swear in My indignation, 'If they shall be entering into My stopping-' although the works occur from the disruption of the world.
Heb 9:26 since then He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, is He manifest."
Rev 13:8 And all who are dwelling on the earth will be worshiping it, everyone whose name is not written in the scroll of life of the Lambkin slain from the disruption of the world.
Rev 17:8 The wild beast which you perceived was, and is not, and is about to be ascending out of the submerged chaos, and to be going away into destruction. And marvel shall those dwelling on the earth, whose names are not written on the scroll of life from the disruption of the world, when they observe the wild beast, seeing that it was, and is not, and will be present.
Peter refers to the second AION as the "ancient world".
2 Pet 2:5 and spares not the ancient world, but guards Noah, an eighth, a herald of righteousness, bringing a deluge on the world of the irreverent;
This second AION, or "ancient world", is when man, and every "living soul", is created.
Gen 1:21 And creating is the Elohim great monsters and every living moving soul, with which the water roams, for their from-kind, and every winged flyer for its from-kind. And seeing is the Elohim that it is good.
Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them.
This ancient world comes to an end at Noah's flood (the "deluge" Peter was referring to in 2 Peter 2:5 above).
[3] The third AION is this... "present wicked aion".
Gal 1:4 Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father,
2 Pet 3:7 Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men.
This is the aion in which the nations are formed (Genesis 10) and from which the prophets spoke:
Luk 1:70 According as He speaks through the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the eon;
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Leading to the "conclusion of" this aion...
Mat 13:39 Now the enemy who sows them is the Adversary. Now the harvest is the conclusion of the eon. Now the reapers are messengers.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Also known as "Jacob's Trouble"...
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jer 51:6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
All of this leads up to the "beginning of birth pangs" and "the Great Tribulation" (Daniel's 70th week - Daniel 9:24-27) and concludes with God's Judgment / Wrath of this earth after believers are taken to be with Him.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
When believers are:
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
All of this unfolds into...
[4] ... "the coming aion". This is the Millennial Reign!
Eph 1:21 up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that [eon] which is impending:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh messenger trumpets. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world became our Lord's and His Christ's, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!
... this is the first AION of the "times of restoration".
Act 3:21 Whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all which God speaks through the mouth of His Holy prophets who are from the eon.
... these are the "seasons of refreshing".
Act 3:19 Repent, then, and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord,
Satan will be bound during the Millennial Reign...
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
All of this concludes with The Great White Throne Judgment of those who are not written in the Book of Life...
2 Pet 3:7 Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men.
Rev 20:11 And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.
Rev 20:12 And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the Scroll of Life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts.
... and finally, we reach:
[5] ... "the eon of the eon"
Heb 1:8 Yet to the Son: "Thy throne, O God, is for the eon of the eon, And a scepter of rectitude is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen!
This is the New Heaven and New Earth AION! (Rev 21-22).
At the conclusion of this AION comes the consummation when Jesus submits Himself to God the Father and we will become ALL in ALL.
1 Cor 15:28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.
Obviously, I left out a ton of in-between details, but this is only meant to give you a feel for the five different AIONS.
_____________________
More later...
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
No comments:
Post a Comment