Dear Patrick1966,
The Kingdom of Heaven doesn't ever come to an end, however, the reign of Christ over the Kingdom of Heaven does come to an end just as Paul stated in 1Cor 15:24.
So does Paul have it wrong? Does Christ reign for ever and ever or does His reign come to an end someday?
The apparent conflict comes from how one translates the Greek phrase "aion aion".
I'll explain below:
God’s creation only pertains to the ages and once the ages come to an end, so does the reign and work of Christ. Scripture is silent on what happened before the ages began and is likewise silent on what will happen after the ages end.
With this truth in mind, the translation of the Greek words of "aion" and its adjective form "aionios" as meaning "for ever" or "everlasting" can and does cause a conflicts within God’s Truth.
Here is an example:
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 ever and ever! Amen! (KJV)
Here is the correct translation:
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 ages of the ages! Amen!
The phrase "ages of the ages" comes from "aion aion". It does not mean for ever and ever as the KJV translates it. We can know this for sure because of what Paul said:
1Cor 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Christ's reign comes to an end when He destroys the last enemy of death. Christ does not reign for ever and ever.
And likewise, the same error occurs in this verse:
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (KJV)
Here is the correct translation:
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for the ages of the ages.
And likewise, we can know this for sure because the Lake of Fire is the judgment of Christ. Christ's judgment is for the loving purpose of destroying our old vessel and for teaching us His righteousness:
Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
1Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Once Christ's purpose for His judgment is complete, His judgment will end. Judgment, like Christ's reign, is only for the ages. It does not last for ever and ever as the KJV translates the verse.
Joe
