How many ages are there?

[Bobgf]

How many ages are there?

My premise is that a new age occurs every time there comes about new heavens and a new earth. A new age involves significant changes to our solar system and to earth's geography.

My thinking is that there are five ages:

1) pre-Adamic age
2) pre-Noahic age
3) this present evil age
4) the Kingdom age
5) the Eternal age


1)The pre-Adamic Age

In the pre-Adamic age (ie before Adam sinned) man and the beasts lived together harmoniously. There was no rain, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground (Gen 2:5-6) Four headwaters: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. It's all there in Genesis chapters one and two.



2) The pre-Noahic Age

After Adam sinned, we entered the pre-Noahic age. Again, there was no rain on the earth, until Noah entered the ark (Gen 7:4), and afterwards we saw the first rainbow. It's estimated this age lasted maybe 1500 years. Again, it's all there in Genesis chapters three through seven.



3) This Present Evil Age

Then, after the cataclysmic heaven and earth changing events of the Flood, we come to a new age Paul calls "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). It's estimated since the Flood this age is about 4500 years now, with some 1000 years more to go, for a total of 7000 years since Adam.

This present evil age will see the man of sin revealed (2Thes 2:8), causing great tribulation (Matt 24:21), which ends with the rebellion of Gog/Magog (Rev 20:7-9), in which God's fiery judgment will consume all the nation's wicked (Eze 39:6), leaving mortals as rare as fine gold (Isa 13:12)

Quote: Matt 24:21-22
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

I believe the 1000 year reign of Christ and his saints (Rev 20:4) will not be on earth but rather in the heavenly places vacated by Satan and his angles after the war in heaven (Rev 12:7-9)
The Kingdom of God begins in heaven, not on the earth (Rev 12:10).

Quote: Rev 12:10
Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Revelation's sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) follows immediately after that great tribulation and will bring about significant changes to our heavens and to earth's geography as well, constituting the beginning of the Kingdom age (Matt 24:29-30).



4) The Kingdom Age

Quote: Rev 6:12-14
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

Quote: Matt 24:29-30 (abridged)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken... and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The Kingdom age will last many thousands of years to accommodate God's sworn promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to Israel, for a thousand generations (Psalm 105:8 and 1 Chronicles 16:15)

In the Kingdom age the wicked will die young, the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isa 65:17-25) This will be the Messianic Kingdom Age where Christ will rule with his twelve disciples (Matt 19:28)

Quote: Matthew 19:28
So, Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Quote: Acts 17:31
God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

IMO This age will end with the execution of Revelation's seventh seal with its seven trumpets and seven vials. All the unrepentant wicked who have ever lived will be judged then and those who still refuse to repent will be destroyed in the LOF.

Quote: Isa 24:21-22
In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.



5) the Eternal Age

Many people conflate the Kingdom age with the Eternal age. In the former, sin and death still reign, but not in the later.

Quote: Rev 21:1f (abridged)
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Bob..

 

[ewq1938]

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

G3331
metathesis
met-ath'-es-is
From G3346; transposition, that is, transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law): - change, removing, translation.


Same word used here:

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Clarke:

There is made of necessity a change also of the law - The very essence of the Levitical law consisting in its sacrificial offerings; and as these could not confer perfection, could not reconcile God to man, purify the unholy heart, nor open the kingdom of heaven to the souls of men, consequently it must be abolished, according to the order of God himself; for he said, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt-offering, and sacrifice for sin, he would not; see Psa_40:6, Psa_40:7, compared with Heb_10:5-10, and with Psa_110:4, where it is evident God designed to change both the law and the priesthood, and to introduce Jesus as the only Priest and Sacrifice, and to substitute the Gospel system for that of the Levitical institutions.

So since we know the law was changed, let's go back to what Christ said:

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Not even a "period" from the law could be removed or changed until "heaven and earth pass". The law did change and in a quite a large way thus we know that heaven and earth did pass away at the cross. This of course is a reference to a heaven and earth age passing not the actual Heaven or Earth disappearing or being replaced.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

How many ages are there?

My premise is that a new age occurs every time there comes about new heavens and a new earth. A new age involves significant changes to our solar system and to earth's geography.

My thinking is that there are five ages:

1) pre-Adamic age
2) pre-Noahic age
3) this present evil age
4) the Kingdom age
5) the Eternal age


1)The pre-Adamic Age

In the pre-Adamic age (ie before Adam sinned) man and the beasts lived together harmoniously. There was no rain, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground (Gen 2:5-6) Four headwaters: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. It's all there in Genesis chapters one and two.



2) The pre-Noahic Age

After Adam sinned, we entered the pre-Noahic age. Again, there was no rain on the earth, until Noah entered the ark (Gen 7:4), and afterwards we saw the first rainbow. It's estimated this age lasted maybe 1500 years. Again, it's all there in Genesis chapters three through seven.



3) This Present Evil Age

Then, after the cataclysmic heaven and earth changing events of the Flood, we come to a new age Paul calls "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). It's estimated since the Flood this age is about 4500 years now, with some 1000 years more to go, for a total of 7000 years since Adam.

This present evil age will see the man of sin revealed (2Thes 2:8), causing great tribulation (Matt 24:21), which ends with the rebellion of Gog/Magog (Rev 20:7-9), in which God's fiery judgment will consume all the nation's wicked (Eze 39:6), leaving mortals as rare as fine gold (Isa 13:12)

Quote: Matt 24:21-22
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

I believe the 1000 year reign of Christ and his saints (Rev 20:4) will not be on earth but rather in the heavenly places vacated by Satan and his angles after the war in heaven (Rev 12:7-9)
The Kingdom of God begins in heaven, not on the earth (Rev 12:10).

Quote: Rev 12:10
Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Revelation's sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) follows immediately after that great tribulation and will bring about significant changes to our heavens and to earth's geography as well, constituting the beginning of the Kingdom age (Matt 24:29-30).



4) The Kingdom Age

Quote: Rev 6:12-14
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

Quote: Matt 24:29-30 (abridged)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken... and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The Kingdom age will last many thousands of years to accommodate God's sworn promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to Israel, for a thousand generations (Psalm 105:8 and 1 Chronicles 16:15)

In the Kingdom age the wicked will die young, the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isa 65:17-25) This will be the Messianic Kingdom Age where Christ will rule with his twelve disciples (Matt 19:28)

Quote: Matthew 19:28
So, Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Quote: Acts 17:31
God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

IMO This age will end with the execution of Revelation's seventh seal with its seven trumpets and seven vials. All the unrepentant wicked who have ever lived will be judged then and those who still refuse to repent will be destroyed in the LOF.

Quote: Isa 24:21-22
In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.



5) the Eternal Age

Many people conflate the Kingdom age with the Eternal age. In the former, sin and death still reign, but not in the later.

Quote: Rev 21:1f (abridged)
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Bob..

It all depends on how you define an age. But, since you are posting this on the Eschatology and Prophecy Forum, then it makes sense to talk about how many ages there are in relation to eschatology and prophecy. And, in that sense, there are 2 ages. Here is how Jesus differentiated between them:

Luke 20:34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

So, Jesus talked in terms of "this age" as being a temporary age during which people get married and they die. So, this age started at the beginning of time. He contrasted that with the age to come, which will arrive when the resurrection of the dead occurs, and at that point people will no longer get married and they won't die. That is a reference to the new heavens and new earth where there will be "no more death" (Rev 21:4). So, the age to come is eternal in contrast to "this age" which is temporal.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

The Kingdom age will last many thousands of years to accommodate God's sworn promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to Israel, for a thousand generations (Psalm 105:8 and 1 Chronicles 16:15)

This is a new one. I've never seen anyone take the "thousand generations" literally before. Most people understand that should not be taken literally and simply is figurative language to indicate that God's promises never end.

 

[Patrick1966]

I think that most Christians have no clue what "ages" is in the Bible. I suspect that there may be some folks here who also have no idea that God works through us in ages. My understanding is that there are 5 or 6 ages, but I'm in no position to support it biblically.

 

[Bobgf]

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Heb 5:9-10
and having been brought to maturity, he became the source of salvation in the age to come to all those who obey him, being designated by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The REV Bible says that Christ, as high priest after the order of Melchizedek,
will be the source of salvation to all who obey him in the age to come.

Hebrews saying "the source of salvation in the age to come" is not talking about the eternal age. In the eternal age, salvation will already have been completed.

Bob..

 

[ewq1938]

Heb 5:9-10
and having been brought to maturity, he became the source of salvation in the age to come to all those who obey him, being designated by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The REV Bible says that Christ, as high priest after the order of Melchizedek,
will be the source of salvation to all who obey him in the age to come.

Hebrews saying "the source of salvation in the age to come" is not talking about the eternal age. In the eternal age, salvation will already have been completed.

Bob..

I was talking about something else, not what you are talking about.

We are talking about different ages, and the passing of heaven and Earth IMO is talking about an age passing and that happened at the cross.

 

[Bobgf]

This is a new one. I've never seen anyone take the "thousand generations" literally before. Most people understand that should not be taken literally and simply is figurative language to indicate that God's promises never end.

Well the Scriptures seem to indicate that it will never end. Abraham and his descendants will take possession of the land of Canaan forever (ie as long as the sun and moon endure). Do a search on "Abraham" and "land".

Psalm 72:1-5 (abridged)
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice....
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.

Bob..

 

[Bobgf]

was talking about something else, not what you are talking about.

We are talking about different ages, and the passing of heaven and Earth IMO is talking about an age passing and that happened at the cross.

Yes, I think you are talking about spiritual NH&E while I'm talking about physical NH&E?

 

[ewq1938]

Yes, I think you are talking about spiritual NH&E

Not really...just an age that came and went at the cross.

 

[Bobgf]

Not really...just an age that came and went at the cross.

I'm sorry. I'm 90 with touch of dementia so i'm sometimes slow of mind in these matters.

 

[strepho]

No. Theirs 3 earth ages. Second Peter 3:5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 3:6. Where by the world that was , being overflowed with water, perished. In the first earth age, the Kadabal killed the dinosaurs, it was a world wide flood. Why did this happen??. Satan led a rebellion against God in the first earth age, one third of God's children followed satan. Instead of killing His children. God destroyed the first earth age. We're in the second earth age. This is the flesh age. Everyone must be born one time in the flesh. Satan as antichrist will come 6th trump, 5 month period. At the 7th trump, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. This starts the millennium. After judgement day, at end of millennium. This begins the third earth age, its eternal. Revelation chapter 21 to document, third earth age.

 

[Jay Ross]

Hello,

And "age" is a period of time of the order of 1,000 years in which the purposes of God occurred. There were six time period of creation and in Gen 2:5 these time periods are described as "generations" and each time period was of the order of a Day of the Lord which is equivalent to an age in duration for mankind. These ages for mankind will span seven ages. Presently we are drawing to the end of the sixth age of mankind's existence. The Seventh age has also been labelled as the Millenium Age by scholars because Satan will be imprisoned for a period of 1,000 years during the seventh age. The eighth age which follows the seventh/Millennium age has been labelled as the Age of Eternity.

From generating a chronology of the Bible, it is possible to determine the duration of the Age of the Ages will be around 7,168 years with a reasonable level of confidence, but to marry up the generated biblical timeframe with our present Calander we can only assume that the end of this present age will occur around 20-25 years from now. This estimation has an error of up to plus or minus 5 years with respect to our present Calander.

The question is, "Will there be any events around that time that would enable us to have the confidence to say that the present sixth age of man's existence has ended, and the Seventh/Millennium Age has started?" I believe that the judgement of the nations gathered at Armageddon for trampling God's Sanctuary and His Earthly Hosts over a period of 2,300 years and the subsequent gathering by God of the Israelites to Himself when they repent and enter into once more the Kingdom of priest, a Holy Nation and God's possession among the Nations covenant which was modified by Christ's death on the cross. Israel will at that time recognise that Jesus is their saviour and that He is the Son of God.

It is my contention that there are fourteen time period in the Biblical story line. The first six time periods/ages/generation describe the Creation story. The next seven time periods/ages/generation tells the story of mankind from the creation of Adam up to the Great White Throne Room Judgement which separated the righteous from the unrighteous, with the last time period/age/generation being the everlasting age of eternity.

The only period of time where we know with some certainty its duration is the seven ages of mankind from the creation of Adam up to the final judgement is the seven ages of mankind.

How important it is for us to know this duration with some certainty is really quite questionable as the duration of our lives is limited 120 years maximum as set by God before the time of Noah's Flood. The final judgement period is still over 1,000 years into our future such that we, who are Christ's Saints, will be raised up from our slumbers in the earth to return to the earth with Christ as He descends from the clouds with all of the heavenly hosts to judge the earth.

Arguing when this event will take place is foolishness as the most important question that we should be considering is whether or not we believe that Christ is the Son of God and in Him we believe is our salvation and set our mind on worship God and God alone.

Shalom

 

[ewq1938]

Satan led a rebellion against God in the first earth age, one third of God's children followed satan.

Where is it written that 1/3 of God's children followed satan?

 

[Bobgf]

I think that most Christians have no clue what "ages" is in the Bible. I suspect that there may be some folks here who also have no idea that God works through us in ages. My understanding is that there are 5 or 6 ages, but I'm in no position to support it biblically.

Patrick1966, you say there may be five or six ages?

I too now think there were other heaven and earth changing events that I didn't think of when I wrote my post.

One event would be when Moses left Egypt circa 1500 BC, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and Jordan River, and the large grape clusters (Num 13:23) that took two men to carry were supernatural events, probably involving extraterrestrial objects like comets or asteroids.

Another time was circa 700 BC when Hezekiah asked for a sign from God, and God made the stairway shadow go back ten steps (2Kings 20:11). Some think this supernatural event has caused the world to slow down from 360 days per year to the present 365 1/4.

And we shouldn't forget Joshua who asked for the sun and moon to stand still (Joshua 10:13) and they did, at least from Joshuas point of view.


Another poster pointed out to me that the word age in the bible is a generic term used in dispensational theology, and that the bible is not broken up into the ages as listed in my posting. Something to think about.

Dispensationalism is a theological system of interpreting the Bible that was first espoused by John Nelson Darby. Dispensationalism maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or "dispensations" in which God acts with humanity in different ways.

Bob..

 

[Timtofly]

It all depends on how you define an age. But, since you are posting this on the Eschatology and Prophecy Forum, then it makes sense to talk about how many ages there are in relation to eschatology and prophecy. And, in that sense, there are 2 ages. Here is how Jesus differentiated between them:

Luke 20:34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

So, Jesus talked in terms of "this age" as being a temporary age during which people get married and they die. So, this age started at the beginning of time. He contrasted that with the age to come, which will arrive when the resurrection of the dead occurs, and at that point people will no longer get married and they won't die. That is a reference to the new heavens and new earth where there will be "no more death" (Rev 21:4). So, the age to come is eternal in contrast to "this age" which is temporal.

Since both Jesus and Peter mentioned Noah in their eschatology, it seems rather obvious there is more than your two ages when it comes to open discussion in this forum.

Just because you have "since the Cross" and "after the Second Coming" does not mean Jesus and Peter were as strict about their eschatology as you are.

In fact the scoffers in 2 Peter 3 claimed there was no change since the beginning, just like you do, and Peter pointed out that was wrong. Peter claimed that there was a time before the Flood that was different than the time after the Flood, and that is why the Second Coming will bring a change as well.

You can't just say there was one age since the beginning until the Second Coming. Then turn around and point out how there was a change at the first coming when Satan was allegedly bound in your eschatology. There was a drastic change at the Cross, but Amil seem to reject that physical bodily resurrection of those OT redeemed in Abraham's bosom.


Not necessarily a new heaven and earth, but a different age in how God deals with humans.

Now you may not appreciate the KJV translation of aion, because the contrast is not about time, but about this world and the world to come. The resurrection is not really about time but the location of one's body. And I have pointed out that the age to come was the Cross, and you reject the physical bodily resurrection of the OT out of Abraham's bosom. That is the change of location and the age to come. Not the theological notation of this temporal world pitted against another temporal world. And no one can say the next world or age will be less temporal than this one, because nobody knows. This creation was also called everlasting until it was not called everlasting and that it may pass away.

Genesis 48:4
"And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession."

Ephesians 3:21
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."


Isaiah 45:17
"But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end."

And it was not just about this world and another world. It was about the world of Paradise that was opened up at the Cross. Abraham saw it as a city without a human maker, Hebrews 11:9-10 and 14-16

"By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

So, you cannot even postpone your age, since Jesus was talking about Paradise, as the world to come, for those in the Resurrection.

It is Paul who contrasted the temporal with this earth, and the permanent with Paradise.

"Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."

Jesus never claimed one age was temporal and the next eternal in His response. Luke pointed out the dead were raised, and now God is the God of the living. There are no more dead people in the family of God. They have passed from death into life.

And no one is marrying each other nor procreating in Paradise. That is already an ongoing reality in that heavenly country, the city Abraham was looking for by faith.

The reason this earth is even realized as temporal is the effect of sin and death because of sin. Take away sin and death, and the world would be permanent and everlasting. That is the contrast between those currently in Paradise and those on earth. There is no change nor constant disruption of life in heaven. Earth is full of change. Nor do we take what is about earth to heaven when we leave this earth.

"I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."

That is the reality of Paradise now, since the Cross. That is the contrast between this world and the world we call heaven.

You steal the blessings of the here and now in Paradise and place them into some future event when you wrongly interpret Jesus' answer to a trick question. No one was told what the valley of the shadow of death entailed in the written words of the OT. Except that those in sheol were in torment, and those in faith who trusted God were comforted. Many quote Solomon: "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

And returning to dust was a bleak outlook on the afterlife. And when it came to their religion only the Pharisees believed in a resurrection at all. But the resurrection was developed in Paul's writings, and many still misquote Paul in their turning to established theology of the church over the last 1900 years. Why do Amil not realize the power of the Resurrection in the first century, and claim just a future "general resurrection" when it is never even mentioned in Revelation nor really in Paul's writings. It is Daniel who saw through a glass darkly, who was the one to mention coming out of the dust in the future. Daniel is not an expert in NT writings. Those from the OT have already been resurrected, and are: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ."

Now of course they don't reign for a thousand years, because that was in the theme of those reigning after Armageddon when Satan was defeated by Jesus.

They have been reigning for 1993 years. And no, you cannot just apply Revelation 20 to those OT redeemed who were resurrected 1993 years years ago, and call that your millennium. In fact you don't even accept they are physically in Paradise because that goes against your Amil bias of only one resurrection. Your one resurrection based on Jesus' answer in Luke 20 is the Cross. And you outright reject that point.

 

[Timtofly]

I think that most Christians have no clue what "ages" is in the Bible. I suspect that there may be some folks here who also have no idea that God works through us in ages. My understanding is that there are 5 or 6 ages, but I'm in no position to support it biblically.

Since people on earth live in their own age and not any one else's age, they don't normally have a continuous view of all of history. We have God's historical Word. We have 2,000 years of history since Jesus was born. We may not fully appreciate life in each age, as a perfect understanding, but we have glimpses in the pages of the Bible.

Normally, I would say an age begins and ends when God steps in and literally stirs the mixing pot of humanity.

The Sabbath was the first age, 1,000 years.

Then Adam was placed in a garden. And the turmoil that ensued ended at the Flood.

From the Flood until Abraham life was pretty much the same, except when God scattered humanity at babel.

I think Abraham was placed on hold for 600 years because of His jumping the gun with Hagar and Ishmael. I think those 600 years were given to Ishmael.

There was 1400 years between the capture of Jericho and the time of Christ. Many ups and downs for Israel during that time, but they were still about the only means of communication with God.

There have been 1993 years since the Cross, called the fulness of the Gentiles. Each and every human is their own priest between God and mankind. Of course human theology and religion has tried to curtail and monopolize on that point, taking over, and causing many to be irresponsible Christians.

Of course mankind has been under punishment of sin and death for almost 6,000 years. There has not been an even 6 one thousand year periods. From Adam to the Flood was roughly 1500 years. From Israel as a nation in the promised land it was only 1400 years. Abraham was about 500 years after the Flood and because of Ishmael had to wait 600 years, so that would be around 1100 years. The church has had 1993 years. There was not a perfect 2,000 years between Adam and Abraham, nor between Abraham and Christ, even though that would be the 3, 2,000 year sections of Adam's punishment, until now.

The Flood was definitely a change in the relationship between God and man. Abraham was the first to be called out since Adam was placed in the Garden. It would seem that Abraham was given almost the exact same area as the original Garden of Eden. There was no Mediterranean prior to the Flood. There were 4 Rivers that bordered the Garden of Eden, no seas.

There were no perfect age boundaries, because sin and death removes perfection from the equation.

 

[Bobgf]

Genesis 48:4
"And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession."

God's sworn promise, first to Abraham, and later to Isaac, and Jacob, and Israel is still in force.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel will possess the land of Canaan forever.

The two witnesses to this promise are: 1 Chronicles 16:14-18 and Psalm 105:7-11

7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”


So in saying Jesus is coming quickly (Rev 22:20) that fits in nicely here.
Two thousand years is a short time relative to the kingdom age of a thousand generations.


Bob..

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Well the Scriptures seem to indicate that it will never end. Abraham and his descendants will take possession of the land of Canaan forever (ie as long as the sun and moon endure). Do a search on "Abraham" and "land".

Psalm 72:1-5 (abridged)
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice....
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.

Bob..

But, you had said it will last "many thousands of years" and didn't say it would last forever. That's why I questioned it.

Anyway, at what point do you think "Abraham and his descendants will take possession of the land of Canaan"? Before or after what is described here:

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

It would be hard to inherit the land of Canaan forever if it's all burned up, so you might want to rethink this.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Since both Jesus and Peter mentioned Noah in their eschatology, it seems rather obvious there is more than your two ages when it comes to open discussion in this forum.

Just because you have "since the Cross" and "after the Second Coming" does not mean Jesus and Peter were as strict about their eschatology as you are.

LOL. I get my understanding from what Jesus Himself taught about this age and the age to come, so, once again, you have no idea of what you're talking about.