God's Plan of the Eons
Version 7
By Mark Farquharson
No Change In God’s Plan
Before getting started on the details of the plan it is important to get a few basics correct. God is the one in control of everything, and everybody, this includes all the spiritual forces, including angels and the evil spirit beings, including Satan.
No one has freewill whatsoever, it does not exist. You can not have God being in control and have someone, anyone having freewill. There are a number of verses that prove that God is the one in control. God is the one who moulds us for honour or dishonor {Romans 9:18-21}. He will accomplish what is marked out for you {Job 23:12-14}. God has decided your days {Psalms 139:16-17 & Job 14:1-6}. For more on there being no freewill, refer to my article: “Freewill”
God had a plan from the beginning, some believe that Satan messed up this plan. There has been no change in God’s plan whatsoever. No one changed God’s plan or messed it up. God had Satan do what he did, and he had Adam do what he did, that was part of the plan all along. Without that there would be no need for salvation. Now salvation was not something God added to his plan after Adam sinned, it was there from the beginning because God knew Adam would sin, and it was part of the plan all along. Adam sinning was also part of the plan all along. Lets now get into the details of the plan.
Intro
God’s plan is divided into a number of Ages or Eons. At the end of this plan of the eons, all will be saved and reconciled to Christ and conciliated to God. This is the ultimate purpose of the eons. God will show his love for all mankind and for all creation. This includes not only all mankind, but also all the animals and all spirit beings good or evil.
The salvation of all is covered in a number of my articles, here is three of them:
All Mankind Saved
All Animals Saved
All Demons and Satan Saved
Please refer to those articles if you do not believe in the salvation of all mankind, all animals or all evil spirit beings. This article will not be cover all that stuff, for that is covered in those articles. Thus it is assumed that you the reader already know the truth of these matters.
We have to be careful not to confuse other periods of time with the eons. There are many ages that people refer to, but that does not mean that they are actual eons. While people teach that there are at least five ages or eons, and possible as many as seven, I will show that this is not actually the cast.
There are periods of time called Administrations, which are usually short periods of time. The number of administrations are between seven and 12. I do not currently plan to cover the administrations.
Just God
Before time, before the eons, there was just God. There was no trinity, God was not three persons. God has never become three persons, he has always been one person. This means that there was just God, who is the Father of every creature. There is no trinity. God is NOT some trinity of three persons. Christ did not exist at this point. Christ is NOT God, and he is Not the Father.
Find out more in this article: "Trinity is God three Persons?"
Christ Firstborn
The first being that God created, was Christ. This was back before time, before the Eons started. Christ was born, and he was the Firstborn of every creature.
Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him. {CLV}
Christ is the Firstborn, in that he was created first of all the creatures. When I say Christ was born, I mean that God created Christ. Spiritual beings are not born, in that they do not come out of a womb. However the spiritual beings where figuratively born when they where actually created by God. Thus here Firstborn, means that he was the first being created by God of all the beings that were created.
Romans 11:34 For, who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His adviser?
11:35 or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid Him?
11:36 seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen! {CLV}
In Christ all is created, that is all the beings in the heavens and on the earth. All is created through Christ and for Christ. All has its cohesion in him, this means that in the future at the end of the eons, all will have its cohesion in Christ, that is in the Heavens and that is on the Earth.
All come out of the Father
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For even if so be that there are those being termed gods, whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are many gods and many lords, nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him." {CLV}
All come out of God the Father, this includes Christ. Then God created all through Christ and for Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2 By many portions and many modes, of old, God, speaking to the fathers in the prophets, in the last of these days speaks to us in a Son, Whom He appoints enjoyer of the allotment of all, through Whom He also makes the eons;" {CLV}
God made the Eons through Christ.
Before Times Eonian
2Timothy 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, {CLV}
Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a slave of God, yet an apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God's chosen, and a realization of the truth, which accords with devoutness, in expectation of life eonian, which God, Who does not lie, promises before times eonian, {CLV}
1Corinthains 2:6-7 Yet wisdom are we speaking among the mature, yet a wisdom not of this eon, neither of the chief men of this eon, who are being discarded, 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, {CLV}
Those who are saved are called, this is in accord with God’s purpose. The ones who are called are chosen and have the expectation of life eonian, which God promises before times eonian. This shows that God had a plan before the times eonian, that is before the eons began, and a purpose before the eons began. Those who are chosen are called because of this purpose which has not change over all this time.
This of course means that you can not chose Christ or chose to be saved. All mankind will be saved, but the ones chosen beforehand will have salvation first. They have a special role in the up coming future eons. There are a lot more verses that prove predestination, that is that certain people are predestined, that have been chosen, that gain salvation first. These are covered in my article: “Predestination”
Do not all who are saved have everlasting or eternal life? All who are saved will be immortal that is they will live forever. However the ones who are chosen gain an advantage over the rest of mankind. They will have life for an additional eon. I am not talking about the supposed coming millennium, which I will explain more on later. In the next eon, the chosen will live in the kingdom, the new Jerusalem, those who are not chosen will be experiencing the second death. That is spiritually they will still be dead, but not physically dead, for physical death is the first death.
The Creation of the first Heaven & Earth
Genesis 1:1 In a beginning Created by the Elohim {God} were the heavens and the earth. {CLV}
This heavens and earth I believe was very different to the heavens and earth that exist today.
2Peter 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;" {CLV}
The earth was cohering out of water and through water. I do not know the meaning of that, was it in and out of the water? In any case it was very different. The heavens and earth now did not exist at this time in this first eon.
Mankind and animals did not exist at this point for they had not been created. Angels were the first to be created after the creation of the Son, Jesus Christ.
There is no information of how long this first eon went for, before the disruption. It is evident that something happen to cause God to judge this earth and destroy it. Since the angels were the only ones in existence apart from the Son, they must have sinned. God then brought judgement because of this.
Chaos
Genesis 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. {CLV}
The first earth became chaos, waste and vacant. This being the disruption. It was not created that way, as many claim.
2Peter 3:5-6 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;" through which the then world, being deluged by water, perished." {CLV}
This deluge is not the Flood in Noah’s day, because the flood did not effect the heavens. However the deluge did effect the heavens. The old heavens and earth were replaced by a new set of heavens and earth, the present set. The dwelling place of the angels was not effect by this judgement.
One could think of this time of Chaos as just being a transition from the first eon to the second eon. However it is actual the second eon. I do not know how long this eon went for as that is not known. How do I know it is a separate eon, I rely on the vision that Dora Van Assen had of the plan of the eons.
Re-creation
In Genesis 1:3 the recreation begins, the earth and the heavens are recreated.
On day two is the creation of the expanse, which is called the heavens.
Genesis 1:6-8 And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it be a means of dividing, between waters and waters, And God made the expanse, and it divided between the waters that were under the expanse and the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse, heavens. So it was evening—and it was morning, a, second day. {REB}
This expanse that is placed between the waters on the earth is actual the universe. That is it is all of space that is the expanse. I will not go into the real structure of the universe her, but it is very different to what scientists tell us. That is covered in my article: “Real Structure of the Universe”
Genesis 1:14-15 And God said—Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens, to divide between the day and the night,—and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; yea let them be for luminaries in the expanse of the heavens, to give light on the earth. And it was so. {REB}
Here the stars on day four are place in the expanse, the heavens created on day two. This confirms that space, the universe was created on day two. Sky and space are the new heavens that were created on day two to replace the heavens that were destroyed by the judgement at the end of the first eon.
2Peter 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."
The heavens and earth that exist now, are stored with fire. I will get to the fire later in this article.
The Universe, the plants, the stars, the animals and man are created in the six days of Genesis 1. This was about 6000 years ago. The date is arrived at by using information in the scriptures about when certain people were born in relation to how old their father was usually. This has been worked out by others, not by me.
I do believe the creation account in Genesis is a true account of what happened. Each day in the creation account was a day in length, it was not any longer as some believe. I do not believe the present earth is billions of years old and I do not believe in evolution, thus I believe the planets and animals were created by God.
Adam is created as the first man:
1Corinthians 15:45-47 If there is a soulish body, there is a spiritual also. Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul: the last Adam a vivifying Spirit." But not first the spiritual, but the soulish, thereupon the spiritual." The first man was out of the earth, soilish; the second Man is the Lord out of heaven." {CLV}
There is no race of man created before Adam, for he is the first man. There was innocence for a time, until Adam sinned. This being part of God’s plan all along, and was not unexpected.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all mankind, on which all sinned -" {CLV}
Sinned entered the newly created world. Some say there was no sin before this time, but the scriptures do not say that. Sinned entered the old earth, and sinned enter the second present earth. Death passed onto all mankind.
1Corinthians 15:22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified."
1Corinthians 15:54-56 Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting? Now the sting of Death is sin, yet the power of sin is the law." {CLV}
Even as All mankind are dying thus also in Christ shall all mankind be vivified. That is made alive beyond the point of death, made immortal. For death is Swallowed up by Victory.
Genesis 3:14 And saying is Yahweh Elohim {God} to the serpent, "As you do this, most cursed are you of every beast, and of all field life. On your torso shall you go, and soil shall you eat all the days of your lives. {CLV}
Genesis 3:17-18 And to the human He says, "As you hearken to the voice of your wife, and are eating from the tree of which alone I instruct you, saying not eat shall you from it, cursed shall be the ground when you serve it, for your sakes. In grief shall you eat of it all the days of your lives. And thorns and weeds shall it sprout for you, and you shall eat the herbage of the field. {CLV}
This the third eon ended with the curse being placed upon creation. It is unknown how long this third eon lasted. However it would have been short for it ended before Eve had her first child. The scriptures do not inform us how old Adam or Eve was when this happened.
Eon 4
Starts straight after the curse upon the land. After the curse Adam and Eve had children, both sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:4 and the days of Adam, after he begat Seth, were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters. {REB}
Some people point out that there was another race, because they think that is were Cain got his wife. However that is not the case, Cain’s wife was his sister. For Adam had sons and daughters. There was no another race on the planet.
From the line of Seth comes Noah. The eon ends with the Flood that destroyed all humanity expect those that were on the Ark.
The Flood
Genesis 6:5-7 And seeing is Yahweh Elohim that much is the evil of humanity in the earth, and every form of the devices of its heart is but evil all its days. And regretting is Yahweh Elohim that He made humanity on the earth, and grieving to His heart. And saying is Yahweh Elohim, "Wipe will I the humanity, which I have created, off the surface of the ground, from human unto beast, and unto the moving animal, and unto the flyer of the heavens, for I regret that I have made them. CLV
Not only was God going to wipe all humanity of the earth, but also all land animals and birds. Thus the need for their kinds to be on the ark to continue the line.
Due to the evil of humanity at the end of the first eon, God destroyed all life on the surface of the earth, except for the life that was on the ark and in the sea. There really was a worldwide flood in Noah’s day, Genesis 7. It did in deed cover the whole earth, and destroy all live on the land and all bird life that was not in the ark. That is why at least two of every kind of animal was on the ark. The Flood brought that eon to a close and the next eon began. As I stated earlier the Flood did not destroy the heavens. To find out more please refer to the articles: “The Flood” & “Arguments Against Flood are Wrong”
Eon 5
Straight after the Flood, eon five starts. Sometime after this Moses is born and he leads the Israelites into the wilderness. After forty years they enter the promised land.
Noah had three sons on the ark, from the line of Shem comes Jesus. When Jesus is thirty he begins his three and half year ministry. Jesus dies on the cross and is resurrected.
John 1:29 On the morrow he is observing Jesus coming toward him, and is saying, "Lo! the Lamb of God Which is taking away the sin of the world!"
Jesus is the lamb, who by his death took away the sin of the world, not just of those who have faith.
When Jesus died on the cross Jerusalem and the second temple were to be destroyed. For this is the prophecy in Daniel 9.
Daniel 9:26 After the sixty-two sevens, Messiah will be cut off, and there is no adjudication for Him. The city and the holy place shall be laid in ruins with the other governor's coming; then its end is by an overflow, and till the end of the war desolations will be decided." {CLV}
Luke 23:34 Now Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they are not aware what they are doing. {CLV}
At the time of Jesus’ death, he asked his Father to for give them, another time. Different dates are given for Jesus’ death but it was about 33 AD. They had already been forgiven a number of times, 490 times, 490 years, being the 70 sevens of Daniel 9. This additional period of forgiveness would be longer than one year. The war was in 66-70 AD, the destruction in 70 AD of Jerusalem and the second temple.
Luke 21:24 And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations may be fulfilled." {CLV}
After the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, “Jerusalem was to be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations may be fulfilled.” This eon is the eras of the nations, which will end when Jesus returns. During this time the evangel has gone to the nations.
Acts 15:14 Simon unfolds how God first visits the nations, to obtain out of them a people for His name." {CLV}
During this time God has been visiting the nations to obtain a people out of them. This is also covered in Romans 11:1-15. In Ezekiel 37 the graves are opened and Yahweh’s people are resurrected. This actual is fulfilled spiritually, for after 70 AD Yahweh’s people were not physical Israel, but spiritual Israel. The people obtain from the nations are spiritually resurrected from their figurative state of death. Yahweh’s servant David who is king over them is actual Jesus for he is on David’s throne.
Administration of Grace: The eras of the nations is also the time of the administration of grace. I will not be cover the administration in this article, for it is well covered in the article: “Evangel and the Secrets of the Evangel.”
Luke 1:31-33 And lo! you shall be conceiving and be pregnant and be bringing forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus." He shall be great, and Son of the Most High shall He be called. And the Lord God shall be giving Him the throne of David, His father, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for the eons. And of His kingdom there shall be no consummation." {CLV}
God give the throne of David to Jesus, thus the servant David is actually Jesus, for he is a type of David, in that he is sitting on David’s throne. Jesus is king over the spiritual nation of Israel.
No believer is in heaven at this time. When someone dies they do not go to heaven or hell, and they do not experience eternity. At death the spirit goes back to God and the body usually decays or is burnt. The person is asleep and can do nothing, they have not gone to any place. All the physical dead are in need of a resurrection before they can do anything. A dead believer in Christ, is dead and can do nothing, until Christ returns and they are resurrected. For a lot more on death refer to my article: “What is Death”
The Second Advent of Christ, the Day of the Lord:
I will not say to much here as it is cover in the large article: “Christ's Second Advent, the Day Of Lord.”
There is no coming great tribulation, all that teaching is incorrect. Jesus Christ returns like a thief, in that it will be a surprise, not a secret. If you knew what time the thief was coming it would not be a surprise. Those who are dead in Christ, the faithful who have died will be resurrected. Then all the faithful will be transformed and snatched away, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. After they are snatched away there is the wedding, followed by the millennium.
The Millennium Eon
An angel descends out of heaven to the earth, lays hold of Satan and binds him thousands of years Revelation 20:1-3. A number of translations have “a thousand years.” The Greek word is a plural, but Greek grammar means it has to be plural for “years” is plural. In other verses it is meant to be singular, however that does not mean it always is meant to be singular, for it is a plural and can be used as such.
There is a future millennium reign of Jesus Christ on this Earth. The millennium reign mentioned in Revelation 20:1-10 is on this earth.
Satan loosed out of Jail:
Revelation 20:7 And whenever the thousand years should be finished, Satan will be loosed out of his jail." {CLV}
Near the end of the millennium eon Satan is released.
2 Peter 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. {CLV}
The heavens, sky and the universe and the earth are to be destroyed by fire, at the end of this eon. Jesus compare his coming to what happened to Sodom when it was destroyed by fire and sulphur from heaven, Luke 17:28-30.
Judgement Seat of Christ
All shall be present at the dais of Christ, but not at the same time. The chosen, those from the nations and Israel who form the body of Christ are judged first, 2Corinthians 5:10-11 & Romans 14:10-11. They do not have to be present at the dais, to be judged.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we adjudicated ourselves, we would not be judged." Yet, being judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." {CLV}
When the faithful are being judged they are being disciplined by the Lord. However if they could adjudicated themselves they would not be judged. Thus if the chosen could discipline themselves they would not be disciplined by the Lord. This disciplining of the Lord is so that they will not be condemned with the world. The disciplining was happening when this written sometime in the first century, that is they were being judged at that time, even thou they were not physically at the dais of Christ. The judging of the body of Christ has continued to happen over many centuries and is still happening today at this time. It will come to an end when Jesus returns, for the judgement of the rest of mankind will start soon after his return.
Judgement Eon
At the start of this eon the faithful will get into the kingdom. There will be a separation, with the unfaithful and unbelievers not getting in. After the destruction of the heavens and earth is the Great White Throne Judgement, Revelation 20:11-15.
It is at this point that all the dead will be raised. At this those written on the scroll will get into the Kingdom. Those not on the scroll will go to the Lake of Fire. They will NOT go to Hell or be annihilated. They will not be burned in Hell, Hell does not exist. For a lot more on the Judgement refer to my Judgement series.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 Dare any of you, having business with another, be judged before the unjust, and not before the saints? Or are you not aware that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is being judged by you, are you unworthy of the least tribunals? Are you not aware that we shall be judging messengers {angels}, not to mention life's affairs? {CLV}
The saints, the faithful, the members of the body, will judge the world. All the rest of mankind will have been raised from physical death. These are the ones that the saints will judge. Messengers, is the fallen angels that will also be judge by the saints at this time.
Romans 2:16 in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ."
The hidden things of humanity will be judged according to the evangel, through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul I yearn for You in the night. Indeed, with my spirit within me I will seek You early. For as a light are Your judgments to the earth, the dwellers of the habitance learn righteousness."
Isaiah 16:5 And prepared by kindness is a throne, and seated on it in truth, in the tent of David, is a judge. And he inquires for judgment, and swift is justice."
Jeremiah 9:24 But--in this let the boaster boast himself, In understanding and knowing Me, For I [am] Yahweh, doing kindness, Judgment, and righteousness, in the earth, For in these I have delighted, An affirmation of Yahweh."
The judgement of the rest of mankind is for them to learn righteousness.
Revelation 22:4-5 And they shall be seeing His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." And night shall be no more, and they have no need of lamplight and sunlight, for the Lord God shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning for the eons of the eons." {CLV}
“They,” Christ’s servants will be reigning for the eons of the eons. At the end the eons of the eons there will be no great destruction of the earth, as happened at the end of other eons. They only reign over the restored nations for one eon.
Eon 8
Revelation 21:1 And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more." {CLV}
A new heaven, universe and earth are created as the former heaven and the former earth pass away. For they will be destroyed by fire. There will be no more sea, does that mean no fishes or marine creatures? Fishes or marine creatures do not just live in the seas or oceans, they also live in lakes and rivers. It is also not meaning that there will be no seas on the new earth. The former earth passed away and is replaced by a new earth. The sea that is mentioned here does not mean an actual sea. What then is this sea, it is the sea that is earlier referred to in Revelation 13:1. This sea symbolises perpetual unrest which the beast of the sea arises from.
Revelation 21:2 I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." {CLV}
The new Jerusalem is an actual city that descends out of heaven, and will be on a huge mountain. This holy city is where the saints will be.
Revelation 21:1-4 And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more." I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them." And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." {CLV}
Zechariah 2:10-11 Be jubilant and rejoice, daughter of Zion! For behold Me coming! And I tabernacle in your midst, (averring is Yahweh)." And many nations shall be obligated to Yahweh in that day, and they become His people. When I tabernacle in your midst, then shall you know that Yahweh of hosts sent me to you." {CLV}
The new Jerusalem, is the Tabernacle, that descends to the new earth, not this old one. Inside is body of Christ, the saints. On the new earth is the restored nations, filled with those people that have passed through the lake of fire. At the white throne judgement those not on the scroll of life were cast into the lake of fire. The saints are in the holy city. If no one came out of the lake of fire, then there would be no one in the nations, since there are people in the nations they must have served their time in the lake of fire. However it does not mean all the people that were in the lake of fire are part of the nations.
The tabernacle of God will be “with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them." Over time the people in the nations will be spiritual resurrected, spiritual born. Once spiritual alive they will still not enter the holy city until they have been spiritually cleansed.
Revelation 22:14 Happy are those who are rinsing their robes, that it will be their license to the log of life, and they may be entering the portals into the city." {CLV}
When they are fully cleansed they will be granted access to the holy city. They will have license to the log or scroll of life, that is their names will be added. All those of the nations will have access to the holy city at the end on the eon.
Rev 21:8 Yet the timid, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and paramours, and enchanters, and idolaters, and all the false-their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." {CLV}
Rev 22:15 Outside are curs, and enchanters, and paramours, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone fabricating and fondling falsehood." {CLV}
These ones who are outside will still be experimenting the second death. They are outside of the kingdom, they are not part of the nations.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy is being abolished: death. {CLV}
This second death will be abolished, during this last eon. That is the people in the outer darkness will not stay there. They will move into the nations and eventually gain access to the holy city.
All mankind will have access to the holy city at the end of the eon, inside the tabernacle, bringing an end to the tabernacles eon. For a lot more on the coming kingdom refer to my article: “The Kingdom”
Revelation 22:1-2 And he shows me a river of water of life, resplendent as crystal, issuing out of the throne of God and the Lambkin." In the center of its square {Greek: plateia}, and on either side of the river, is the log {Greek: xulon} of life, producing twelve fruits, rendering its fruit in accord with each month. And the leaves of the log are for the cure of the nations." {CLV}
In the KJV, Rotherham, Geneva and the YLT it is call the “Tree of Life.” Log is translated from the Greek word “xulon” which literately translates as “wood.” Wood can mean timber, but it can also mean forest, since timber can not produce fruit, wood should be used, to mean forest.
It is a forest because these are trees of life. Each tree produces the twelve fruits of the spirit. These figurative trees are actually the saints, the body, who produce the spiritual fruit that will cure the nations.
In the Greek text there was no punctuation or verses. The wood of life is not in the center of the square, that is where the throne is.
Thus I would interpret it to read:
“ And he shows me a river of water of life, resplendent as crystal, issuing out of the throne of God and the Lambkin in the center of its square. And on either side of the river, is the wood of life”
Throne of God is in the center of the square of the city, and that this is where the river is coming from. This is a river of life to bring the people of the nations to life, from their figurative state of death.
John 7:37-39 Now on the last, the great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cries, saying, "If anyone should be thirsting, let him come to Me and drink." He who is believing in Me, according as the scripture said, out of his bowel shall gush rivers of living water." Now this He said concerning the spirit which those believing in Him were about to get. For not as yet was holy spirit given, for Jesus is not as yet glorified." {CLV}
Out of the bowel of him who believes in Jesus shall gush rivers of living water. Jesus said this concerning the spirit which those believing in Him were about to get. The spirit that they were about to get was the holy spirit which at that time had not come. It came after Jesus had gone to heaven. Thus the living water, the water of life is the holy spirit.
In Ezekiel 47:1-12 the same river and forest is mentioned. This river is covered in-depth in my article: “River of the Water of Life and Forest of Life.” Here I will cover it briefly as this article is an overview of the eons.
Ezekiel 47:8 And he said unto me, `These waters are going forth unto the east circuit, and have gone down unto the desert, and have entered the sea; unto the sea they are brought forth, and the waters have been healed."{CLV}
The nations on the new Earth are like a dead sea and like a desert. As the water goes on to the desert and the dead sea, they comes to life.
Ezekiel 47:9-10 And it has come to pass, every living creature that teems, whithersoever the streams come, does live: and there has been great abundance of fish, for these waters have come thither, and they are healed; and every thing whither the stream comes has lived." And it has come to pass, fishers do stand by it, from En-Gedi even unto En-Eglaim; a spreading place of nets they are; according to their own kind is their fish, as the fish of the great sea, very many."{CLV}
There is a great abundance of fish, not actual fish, but the people of the nations are represent by the fish. Those who were dead, who were in a dead sea, have come to life, for the waters were healed. Those of the nations are given life by the waters. When they come to life initially they stay in the nations for sometime. The scriptures have many verses that show that the people of the nations are spiritually alive. The fishers are the chosen, those who are in the holy city.
Matthew 4:18-20 Now, walking beside the sea of Galilee, He perceived two brothers, Simon, termed Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a purse net into the sea, for they were fishers. And He is saying to them, "Hither! After Me, and I will be making you fishers of men!" Now immediately leaving the nets, they follow Him {CLV}. Also Mark 1:16-18.
The fishers in Ezekiel 47:9-10, are the chosen, the body, they are figuratively standing by the sea spreading out nets to fish the people out of the sea.
For more about the forest of life refer to my article: “River of the Water of Life & Forest of Life”
Rev 22:17 And the spirit and the bride are saying, 'Come!' and let him who is hearing say, 'Come !' And let him who is thirsting come. Let him who will, take the water of life gratuitously." {CLV}
Those of the nations will take of the water of life, which is the holy spirit, which they will gain.
Isaiah 54:13 And all your sons are taught by Yahweh, and much is the welfare of your sons." {CLV}
Isaiah 11:9 They will not do evil, nor will they ruin, in all My holy mountain, for full is the earth of the knowledge of Yahweh. As water for the sea floor is a covering." {CLV}
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Everyone, then, who hears from the Father and is learning the truth, is coming to Me." {CLV}
Philippians 2:10-11 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." {CLV}
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I am making known to you that no one, speaking by God's spirit, is saying, "Anathema is Jesus. And no one is able to say "Lord is Jesus except by holy spirit." {CLV}
All those of the nations will be taught of God, the new earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh. They will learn the truth and come to the Father. They will gain the holy spirit, for that is the only way they can acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord. They will still be in the nations until their name is added to the scroll of life and they are granted access to the holy city.
Revelation 21:24-26 And the nations shall be walking by means of its light, and the kings of the earth are carrying their glory into it." And its portals should under no circumstances be locked by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall be carrying the glory and the honor of the nations into it, {CLV}
The nations will walk by the spiritual light of the holy city, new Jerusalem And the kings, the saints of the city, will carry the glory and the honor of the nations into the city. Those of the nations that have gain glory and honor will be carried into the city. The testing of ones faith shall be found for applause and glory and honor, 1Peter 1:3-9. Those in the nations will gain faith.
All Made Alive:
I do believe that all animals will be resurrected with new immortal bodies at the start of this eon.
Romans 5:18 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying." {CLV}
1 Corinthians 15:22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified." {CLV}
Romans 11:36 seeing that out of Him {the Lord} and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen! {CLV}
By the end of this last eon all mankind will have been made alive, immortal.
Eternity
Time will come to an end. Some do believe that time will continue after the plan of the eons comes to an end. However the vision that Dora Van Assen had, has time ending. Thus time does end, and the vision has eternity. I do not know what that will be like. I therefore will not offer a view on what that will be like.
It is unknown what it will be like after the eons end. Of course every creature will have been saved, and reconciled to Christ and conciliated to God. It will no doubt be greater than the eons, what will be after the eons end will be truly glories and magnificent.
Colossians 1 15 {The Son} Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature,
16 for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him,
17 and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him.
18 And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first,
19 for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell,
20 and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens. {CLV}
When time ends all that is in the heavens and on the earth will have been reconcile to the Son, Jesus Christ. All was created through Him, that is all mankind, all animals and all spirit beings. These will have cohesion in him, and delight to dwell in him. This includes the evil spirit beings who will have gone though the lake of fire, which will have cleansed and refined them. They will be reconciled to the Son.
Acts 3:20-21 and He should dispatch the One fixed upon before for you, Christ Jesus, 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. {CLV}
All will have been restored when the eons end.
Philippians 3:20-21 For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself." {CLV}
All will be subject to Jesus Christ.
God All in All:
1 Corinthians 15:24-25 thereafter the consummation, whenever He {Christ} may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power." For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. {CLV}
At the end of the eons Christ gives up the kingdom to His God and Father. Christ does not reign forever, he reigns until all enemies are under His feet. At this point at the end of time the reign of the servants also ends.
The servants are the ones who have been ruling with Christ, those who’s names were on the scroll at the time of judgement. There is no one left to rule over at the end of time, all those who were in the nations that were being ruled over have gained access to the holy city. As for those outside, that is outside of the nations there is no one left that is still outside. Even the evil spirit beings will have been cleansed and purified and not need ruling over. There is no need to continue ruling if there is no one to rule over.
1 Corinthians 15:28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him {Christ}, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him {God} Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all. {CLV}
God will be All in All.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy is His name: `In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones,' {YLT}
The Three Earths:
There are three earths that are mentioned in the bible. The first earth is destroyed by the deluge before the week in Genesis 1. The second world will be destroyed by fire 2 Peter 3:5-7.
2 Peter 3:5-7 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; through which the then world, being deluged by water, perished. 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. {CLV}
After which there will be a New Earth that will last beyond the end of the eons it will last forever. It will not be destroyed at the end of the eons. After the second world is destroyed by fire there will be a completely New Earth.
Revelation 21:1 And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more." {CLV}
The Tabernacle: The Sixfold Division of Mankind
There are eight eons altogether, only six eons relate to mankind. Of the six eons only five relate to the Sixfold Division. Only five relate because the last division is after the eons finish. The Last division is obtain at the End of the eons. In each successive eon that relates to the sixfold division, mankind moves closer to God. However they do not always move up the divisions as will be explained, but in the end all mankind will get to the top. If you look at the description in the bible you get the following divisions:
1. Outside the Israelite Camp
2. Within the Israelite Camp, the 12 tribes
3. Levites Tribe, Hebrew priest tribe
4. Within the Courtyard of the Tabernacle
5. Within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (the First Room)
6. Within the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle (the Second Room, the Most Holy Place)
The highest one could get was the Inner room, the second room of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies. This brought man as close to the Divine Presence as man could get. The dwelling place of God was represent by the Most Holy Place the Inner room.
Two Eons before Mankind Created:
Eon 1: Angelic, Heaven and Earth Gen 1:1
Eon 2: Chaos Gen 1:2, 2 Peter 3:5-6
Eon 3: Innocence. Starts with re-creation of heavens and earth
Adam & Eve created. Ends with the curse upon the land, Genesis 3:14.
Not part of the Sixfold Division.
The divisions are to do with MANKIND, not to do with spiritual beings, therefore it does not include any eons that start before mankind was even created. You can not include the eon in which man was created before he sinned. Man was on friendly terms with God before Adam sinned, the sixfold divisions start after Adam Sinned. It is about getting closer to God, starting at the bottom, which would have been after Adam sinned.
Division 1: Outside the Israel Camp: The first division starts after the curse is placed on the land and goes all the way to the flood of Noah’s day Gen 7. This being the fourth eon.
Division 2: Inside the Israel Camp, the 12 tribes: Starts after the Flood in the fifth eon. During this eon ancient Israel was the chosen nation. This is the first time there is an actual Israel nation, however God replaces the Israel nation, with a spiritual Israel nation. This Division ends with the return of Jesus Christ just before the millennium.
Division 3: Levites Tribe, Hebrew priest tribe. Mankind are inside the Levites Tribe. However it is only the members of the Body of Christ that are a chosen race, a Holy Tribe, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, 1 Peter 2:9-10. The members of the body have replaced ancient Israel as the chosen nation. This being the sixth eon which is the millennium and finishes with the destruction of the earth.
Division 4. Within the Courtyard of the Tabernacle.
This division starts for all those who are not on the scroll, not part of the body in the Judgement eon. Those who are chosen, members of the body, those on the scroll of life will have already gone through the courtyard by this time. The faithful from the nations experience the courtyard during the fifth and sixth eon. As for the rest of the body, those from Israel and the Saints from before Jesus' birth, they experienced the courtyard while they were alive.
All the rest of mankind who or not on the scroll of life will experience the lake of fire. When the last eon starts people will move into the nations, however some will still be experiencing the second death. During their stay in the nations they will still be in the courtyard. They will be spiritual cleansed, as symbolized by the rinsing of the robes:
Revelation 22:14 Happy are those who are rinsing their robes, that it will be their license to the log of life, and they may be entering the portals into the city. {CLV}
Cleaning ones robes represented spiritual cleansing which happens in the courtyard. Priests had to clean their robes before entering the tabernacle, there was a large wash basin in the Courtyard. The nations have to be spiritually cleansed before they can enter the holy city, the holy place. Thus after the judgement eon is the eighth eon during which the nations will be cleaning their robes {being spiritually cleansed} before they can enter the holy place.
During their time in the courtyard the people of the nations do become spiritually alive, the same as the faithful. At the start of the eon these people are in a state of death, they are figuratively dead, but not actually dead.
The nations walk by the light of the kingdom {Revelation 21:22-27}, all nations acclaiming God {Psalms 67:1-7}, the families of the nations bow down before Yahweh {Psalms 22:27-9}, all nations come and worship before You, O Yahweh {Psalms 86:9-10}, the people learn the ways of Yahweh and go in His paths {Micah 4:1-3}.
The people that are doing these actions are spiritually alive, they could not do them if they were in a state of death. Thus they have gain faith that will be tested by the fire, and by this process they gain glory and honor. This is the same process that is happening for a believer in the present eon as I describe below {1Peter 1:3-9}. The kings from the kingdom will carry the glory and the honor of the nations into the city {Revelation 21:22-27}. Thus once a person in the Lake of Fire has had their faith fully tested then they will gain glory and honor and be carried into the city. For more on this refer to my: “Judgement Series”
Division 5. Within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (the First Room)
The Tabernacle is the Kingdom of God and the new Jerusalem. Which will be an actual structure on the new earth. Those who are inside will be in the fifth division. As people from the nations enter the tabernacle they spiritually move to the fifth division, the Holy place in the tabernacle.
While people may think that once someone is in the holy city they have got to the highest point spiritually, this is not the case. All mankind will be spiritually in Christ in the holy city, but that is not the highest point. Comparing this to the tabernacle, they have entered the holy place of the Tabernacle, but not the holy of the holies. While the holy city is an actual place, once physically in the holy city a person will not have to actually move further in, to get to the highest point spiritually. They will have their own abode, and not have to move to another abode. There will be no physical curtain in the actual Tabernacle, the new Jerusalem.
Division 6. Within the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle (the Second Room, the Most Holy Place)
The highest point is obtain at the end of time, in eternity when God is all in all. There is no ninth eon, the nations do not get to the highest point before the consummation. Before the consummation Jesus Christ and his servants are still reigning, after the consummation they have given up their reign. The Son gives up the kingdom to his Father, and ends his reign at this point.
A curtain separated the two rooms in the tabernacle. Once someone when beyond the curtain, they were in the highest division. Unlike the over divisions where you could go higher, you could go no higher once you went beyond the curtain. Once you were at the highest division you were at the top.
Eon of Eons not the same as Holy of the Holies
One could think that there are six eons that relate to the tabernacle due to the fact that the final eons have equivalent phrases to the description of the Holy Places of the Tabernacle. “Eon of the eons” seems equivalent to Holy of the Holies. However just because the phrases seem equivalent does not mean that this confirms it. The final eon is when Christ and His Servants will reign over all, but this does not mean that this eon is the same as the last division.
The Holiest eon of course is the last eon, the Eon of the eons Ephesians 3:21, but is this the Holy of the Holies? Just because it is the last eon and is the holiest eon, it does not mean that man has reached the holy of the holies.
Ephesians 3:20-1 Now to Him Who is able to do super excessively above all that we are requesting or apprehending, according to the power that is operating in us, to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen! {CLV}
In Ephesians 3:21 it says nothing about that being the highest man can get spiritually. During this final eon Christ and his servants are still reigning, which means that they have to still give up their reign, at the end of the consummation. God is all in all at the consummation {1 Corinthians 15:21-28}, and not before, this means that the last eon is not the highest one can get spiritually, or the closest one can get to God spiritually. The consummation being at the end of the eons.
Instead of thinking that six divisions means six eons that relate to the tabernacle, we have to look in more depth at the picture here. As the person moved closer to the holy of holies, this brought one closer to the presence of God. When you got to the holy of holies that is as close as you could get. The highest one could get was the Holy of Holies that is as far as one could go. This will be attained at the end of the eons and not before.
Where are True Believes in Christ?
1Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His vast mercy, regenerates us into a living expectation, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead, for the enjoyment of an allotment incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, kept in the heavens for you, who are garrisoned by the power of God, through faith, for salvation ready to be revealed in the last era, in which you are exulting; briefly at present, if it must be, being sorrowed by various trials, that the testing of your faith, much more precious than gold which is perishing, yet, being tested by fire, may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ, Whom, not perceiving, you are loving; in Whom, not seeing at present, yet believing, you are exulting with joy unspeakable and glorious, being requited with the consummation of your faith, the salvation of your souls." {CLV}
This passage is talking about true believers, those who have been chosen by God, those who are in Christ. These are the ones who will enjoy an allotment, that is kept in the heavens for them, that is incorruptible and undefiled and unfading.
However before they can enjoy the allotment, they have to endure various trails, that test their faith. Their faith is more precious than gold. This faith is tested by fire, so that they may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ. This unveiling happens when Christ returns to the earth at the end of this eon.
When a person is spiritual born, they spiritually enter the Lake of Fire. When you relate the Tabernacle to the eons, a believer moves from being in the camp, to being in the courtyard of the tabernacle. Here is where believers spiritually rinse their robes.
When someone who is chosen is saved they move into the courtyard and are in Christ. They are tested by spiritual fire and they are spiritually rinsing their robes. When Christ returns they will become immortal and incorruptible {1 Corinthians 15:51-54}. At this point they will enter the tabernacle.
The Consummation Attained By Believers:
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all this befalls them typically. Yet it was written for our admonition, to whom the consummations of the eons have attained." {CLV}
This states that the consummation of the eons have attained to true believes in Christ. The consummation at the end of the eons, when God is all in all, has been attained by believers. In spirit believers have now be conciliated to God, mean that the consummation of the eons have attain to us.
1 Peter 1:7 that the testing of your faith, much more precious than gold which is perishing, yet, being tested by fire, may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ, {CLV}
However spiritually believers are being tested by fire and are spiritually cleansing themselves. The end of the eons have not actually be attain by believes, it has been attain in spirit, and will actually be attain in the future. For instance believers have been resurrected spiritually, and born spiritually but they hare not obtained there immortality as of yet, and they can still die.
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2009-2011, revised 29 May 2009. Version 2, 9 October 2010, an update on version 1. Version 3, 2 March 2011, an update on version 2. Version 4, a correction and extension to version 3, April 2011. Version 5, massive correction and update August 2011. Version 6, Edited and updated February 2017. Version 7, Edited and updated July 16, 2023
My Illustrations on the plan and Dora Van Assen Vision located here: