We miss God’s plan when applying ‘an age’ to mean ‘forever.’
It’s simple: If a person is not saved, then its not the end. Why? Because Jesus Christ doesn’t stop reigning until every person and every creature is saved through His death for sin, His entombment and His resurrection.
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In 2015, I was watching the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup for professional hockey. In one of these games, the Blackhawks were losing after the first period of play. I shut the game off and told everyone that they had lost the game. However, hockey games last three periods. So, there were still two more periods to play. In those two periods, the team from Chicago rose to the challenge and won the game. So much happened in those last two periods.
So what’s my point? I called the end of the first period the end of the game. Therefore, I missed all the wonderful hockey, the great comeback, the teamwork. and all the glory because I ended the game early. How ridiculous is it to call the end when there is still most of the game left to play?
Well, religious people do this all the time. They call the end of God’s plan too early and miss the last two glorious ages of time. Christians will say that Jesus excludes people from the kingdom and that person will be separated from God forever. It is over for them. However, they miss the fact that this is only for a period of time. The game is not over for anyone. Let me explain:
1 By many portions and many modes, of old, God, speaking to the fathers in the prophets,
2 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; – Hebrews 1: 1-2
God made the eons or ages through Christ Jesus. This is the Almighty’s realm of operation with humanity. God deals with humans in ages of time, not eternity. So, the purpose of this article is to prove that when a person is separated from God in death, punishment, judgement, or any other way, they are separated from God for eons or ages of time, not eternity. Consequently, when the ages of time spoken of in scripture are complete, all humanity will be with God so that He will be All in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Christ has saved all creation through His death for sin, His entombment, and His resurrection. It will take the full and complete eons of time for the cross to reach every single creature. Ending the plan early and applying eternity to ages of time will cause a person to miss God’s end game of perfecting His entire creation.
Some may disagree with how many ages are in the past and I will touch on this briefly, however, the focus of this article is on the two future ages discussed in scripture.
In the past:
age 1: This is the period of time before Genesis 1:1. Not much is given on this period of time in scripture.
age 2: This is creation as we know it. Genesis 1:1-2 says “In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth, it came to be chaos and vacant, and darkness was over the surface of the abyss.” So, the earth came to be chaos and vacant…after Age 1. Age 2 begins with Genesis until the time of the great flood.
The present:
age 3: This is when Noah leaves the arc and is currently our present age. Paul refers to this eon as the current wicked eon.
Again, people can debate on how to breakdown ages in the past but the important thing to note is that scripture speaks of two future ages in which Jesus Christ will rule.
In the future:
age 4: Christ’s return to earth and the 1000 year earthly reign of Jesus Christ.
GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT
age 5: The new heavens and the new earth age. This is after the great white throng judgement and after the former earth and heavens are burned up. The lake of fire is operational during this time. Please view the figure below created by a warrior for truth by the name of Wes Fahlenkamp:
The Aionion/Eonian Times Chart
-Chart created by Wes Fahlenkamp biggestjesus.com
So, we are awaiting the next glorious age when Christ returns to earth to set up His kingdom for 1000 years. Here’s the thing, while Jesus was on earth during His first coming, He spoke only of this 1000 year kingdom for Israel.
24 Now He, answering, said, “I was not commissioned except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” – Matthew 15:24
It wasn’t until the apostle Paul came on the scene that the glorified Christ explained what the cross has accomplished for all creation. However, while Christ was on earth He spoke to Israel regarding entrance into this 1000 year kingdom. Christ never spoke of eternity.
Therefore, all the verses that talk about people being punished, judged, left out, not good enough are with the 1000 year kingdom in view. People use these verses to teach that Christ is banishing people for all eternity when He is simply banishing them from the 1000 year kingdom. All of these verses quoted by Christians in an attempt to prove eternal hell simply refers to missing out on this glorious age, not eternity. This is a big deal to Israel, but again, not referring to eternity.
4 And I perceived thrones, and they are seated on them, and judgment was granted to them. And the souls of those executed because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who do not worship the wild beast or its image, and did not get the emblem on their forehead and on their hand- they also live and reign with Christ a thousand years.
5 (The rest of the dead do not live until the thousand years should be finished.) This is the former resurrection. -Revelation 20: 4-5
So, according to the scripture above, those that reject Christ miss out on the 1000 year kingdom and DO NOT LIVE AGAIN until the 1000 year kingdom is over. They are not condemned for eternity but instead miss out on the glorious Millennial Kingdom. This is not their end because they will live again after the 1000 years.
Okay, so what happens after the 1000 year kingdom?
The Great White Throne Judgement. Remember, this is just for unbelievers. All believers have been vivified, made immortal already and will not face this judgement.
Remember, Christians that quote Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John verses have already pronounced eternal judgement on the people being risen to judgement at the Great White Throne. The verses in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had to do with Christ’s 1000 year reign and now that time period is over.
11 And I perceived a great white throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.
12 And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts. -Revelation 20: 11-12
Faith is Christ’s completed work has already given believers a special salvation. They are in. Now, the ‘faith’ period has ended so that judgement will be according to acts (Rev. 20: 12).
This judgement determines placement in the future glorious age of the ‘new heavens and the new earth.’ At this point, the former earth in which we live and the former heaven pass away.
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. -Revelation 21:1
Okay, so what happens to these people at the great white throng judgement?
13 And the sea gives up the dead in it, and death and the unseen give up the dead in them. And they were condemned, each in accord with their acts.
14 And death and the unseen were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death-the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20: 13-15
So, those written in the scroll of life will pass into the new earth to be kept alive by eating of the log of life. These people have been judged, corrected and now gain entrance into the new earth. Who’s to say that these humans are not some of those that have missed out on the 1000 year kingdom?
Those locked out of the wedding feast, in the outer darkness where their is weeping and gnashing of teeth, those in aionion chastening, those in aionion fire could take part in this glorious entrance into the new earth age. They may have missed out on the 1000 years but are not in eternal hell. Instead, these former unbelievers are resurrected to life and kept alive through nourishment from eating of the log of life.
2 In the center of its square, and on either side of the river, is the log 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. – Revelation 22:2
Okay, so what about those that are cast into the lake of fire? Surely, they are in eternal hell. First, remember that the lake of fire is in operation during this period of time in which people are living on the new earth and this does not represent ‘forever’ or eternity.
Again, the lake of fire is the second death.
14…This is the second death-the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. -Revelation 20: 14-15
Not a whole lot is said of the lake of fire but we cannot avoid the fact that it is ‘death.’ Scripture refers to the lake of fire as the ‘second death’ in revelation 20:15 and revelation 21: 8.
So, what does God’s word say about death, all death, whether first death or second death? God says death, all death, whether first or second death will be ABOLISHED!
Not only that, but every single enemy of God and Jesus Christ will be ABOLISHED.
Abolished means to render inoperative, to bring to naught, make of no effect. So, the question is: if the lake of fire is the death and people are there…then what happens to those people when death is abolished?
They are made alive! They will not remain in the lake of fire because the lake of fire is death. Death is abolished. Every enemy, in fact, is abolished. So, that means that death, eternal hell, opposition to God, anything evil, cannot possibly exist or have any effect on anyone because all of it is ABOLISHED!
How can eternal hell if it existed (which is doesn’t) or death hold any of God’s creation if every enemy and all death no longer exists no can effect anything or anyone? My God, may we understand these words.
Here’s the thing and this is why many religious people trip up. The book of Revelation is the last book in the bible but it DOES NOT peek into the furthest reaches of time. Revelation or the Unveiling of Jesus Christ talks about a time when Christ will rule in the 1000 years and the new heavens and the new earth. During this time, creation is still not perfected and many creatures will not be saved. Christians think these people are lost forever. Not so.
The apostle Paul speaks of a time after Revelation to a time when Christ is finished ruling and reigning, a time when all creation is perfected. See, Jesus Christ will rule and reign as long as there is a need to do so. Once all creation is perfected and God is every creature’s all, then Christ no longer needs to reign. Therefore, Christ gives up His reign and is subjected to the Father along with every creature that He saved.
15 And the seventh messenger trumpets. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world became our Lord’s and His Christ’s, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!” -Revelation 11:15
In conclusion, during Christ’s time of reign in the next two eons of the 1000 years and the new heaven and new earth, there are many people that are on the outside, not perfected, dead, unsaved, separated. However, the mistake is to think they are in this state forever.
The ages are not over until Christ gives up His reign and He only gives up His reign when every creature ever created is with God. To say that people are lost forever is to end the game too early, before the consummation. At the consummation, all are saved through Jesus Christ’s death for sin, His entombment, and His resurrection.
The proof is below:
21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.
25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death.
27 For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.
28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all. – 1 Corinthians 15: 21-28
Grace and peace to you all.
Saved ignoble 
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