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Before getting started I would like to point out that I am not saying that the saints or believers in Christ are going to die because they only live for an age. Those believers who are dead when Christ returns will be resurrected first and transformed have new immortal bodies. Then those who are alive, who are overcomers, will also be transformed {1 Corinthians 15:52-54}. I do not want get side tacked here with the parables, but it is only the wise ones that go with Christ when He returns {Matthew 25:1-13}. Immortal meaning that they never die.
Forever, everlasting, eternal, VS age-abiding, age-during, eonian
Aion: Is actually a Greek word. Lets have a look at how it’s variants have been translated:
It has been translated into eight different words in the King James Version: ‘Ages’ twice; ‘Ever’ 30 times; ‘Ever and Ever’ 21 times; World’ 35 times; ‘Worlds’ twice; ‘Course’ once; ‘Eternal’ twice; and ‘End’ once.
“Ever” often appears together with the word “for”, creating the word “forever.”
How can the same word, or variants of the same word mean totally different things? World has a totally different meaning to Eternal.
Other translations use these words: age-abiding, age-during or eonian.
The incorrect translating, of this word and variants of the word has lend to incorrect teaching. What is the correct understanding is “Forever or eonian or world” for that matter?
Aion, Aionios, Aeon = A period of time. Therefore age-abiding, age-during or eonian are correct.
We can see why it is not “Eternal or Forever” in the following verse:
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world {aion}? {KJV}
The disciples what to know the sign of Jesus Christ return and according the KJV version the end of the world. Did the disciples actually believe the world would end when He returns? If the translators had used the word “eternal or forever” you would have this:
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the Eternal?
Where the disciples truly asking Jesus when eternity would end? Did they really think He would come back at the end of eternity? How can a time without end actually end? It would mean that Jesus Christ would not actually ever return even thou He said He would.
Matthew 24:3 Now at His sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of Thy presence and of the conclusion of the eon? {CLV}
They what to know when the age would end, not the world.
Also the plural of aion is used quite frequently in the bible, how can you have more than one ‘eternal’? since the first one never ends, when does the other start? And I thought eternal was without beginning or end?
Ephesians 2:6-7 “and rouses us together and seats us together among the celestials, in Christ Jesus, in order that, in the on-coming eons, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace” {CLV}
If eternal was used here, then when is He to display the “transcendent riches of His grace”?
“in order that, in the on-coming eternal”
How can you have an on coming eternal or eternity? Hence the KJV using ages.
Colossians 1:26 “the secret, which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints.” CLV
If the plural of the word “aion” were translated “eternal” in the above passage it would not make sense, because then the secret or mystery would never be made known, yet the passage says it now was made manifest to His saints. And how do you conceal something from the forevers or eternities. Hence again the use of “ages” in the KJV.
Of course some would point out that if Aion means Eon, then the saints only live for an Eon.
Romans 6:23 “For the ration of Sin is death, but God’s gracious gift is eonian life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” {CLV}
This is incorrect thinking, just because the saints live for the eon, it does not mean they die after that, for they are immortal. It is talking about a gift of life for a period of time, or certain ages that others miss out on. It is not saying that they are not immortal, or that they will die. Saints are resurrected, others remain dead until the great White Throne Judgement.
Revelation 20:4 And I perceived thrones, and they are seated on them, and judgment was granted to them. And the souls of those executed because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who do not worship the wild beast or its image, and did not get the emblem on their forehead and on their hand- they also live and reign with Christ a thousand years." {CLV}
The ones seated on the thrones live and reign a thousand years. After that thousand years, are we to view that they then die, because it only mentions them living a thousand years? Of course not, the passage is telling us how long this period of reign is for. It is not saying how long they live or that they die after that.
Everyone will be Immortal in the end.
Copyright © M J Farquharson 2006 & 2021
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