Study of Forever1 Our Concept Of Forever – Eternal ? Time without end Never ending Continual without interruption Is That Correct???

Study of Forever2 How Would You Explain To Our Jehovah’s Witness Friends? Ecclesiastes 1:4 One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever. Psalms 78:69 And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Study of Forever3 Is Our Basic Understanding Flawed? How can man who has a beginning and end have any hope for eternal life (Matt. 19:16) ? How can finite man have eternal life within him (John 4:14) ? How can the limited mind even grasp eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12) ?

Study of Forever4 Webster’s Dictionary Eternal – Endless or indefinite long time 1. Having infinite duration, everlasting. Of or relating to eternity. 2. Continued without intermission, perpetual. Seemingly endless. (Metaphor) Valid or existing at all times, timeless. 3. Quality of life or type of existence. Forever – Limitless or undefined long 1. For a limitless time. 2. At all times, continually 3. A seemingly interminable time excessively long. (Met.)

Study of Forever5 Webster’s Dictionary Perpetual – Continuing for all time, or age lasting 1. Continuing forever, everlasting. Valid for all time. Holding (an office) for life, or for an unlimited time. 2. Occurring continually. Indefinitely long-continued. 3. Blooming continuously throughout the season. Continuous – Without interruption, endless 1. Uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence 2. Of a function, the absolute value of a number by making the neighborhood smaller is limitless. (fractions)

Study of Forever6 Hebrew Usages Forever ( for ever) `owlam { o-lawm’} –Two possible uses : Literal and metaphoric Metaphor = One thing standing for another, symbolic Literal = actual, exact, free from exaggeration –Beginning or end of which is uncertain or not defined Used of time long past, antiquity Amos 9.11; Micah 7.14 Used of men’s life Dt. 15:17; 1 Sa 1:22 Used of the earth Ecc. 1:4 (impermanence of man’s existence) –Eternal or lasting forever Used of eternal reward and punishment Dan 12:1-2 Used of God or things eternal Gen 21:33; Ps 90:2 Variously Translated –Forever, of old, perpetual, everlasting, lasting, always

Study of Forever7 Hebrew Usages Eternal qedem { keh’-dem} –Used of things, That which is before, Ps. 139:5 Hence the east, the eastern quarter, before Job 23:8 Eastward of any place Gen. 2:8 –Used of time Old, ancient, before Ancient times Ps. 44:1 Of founding of Tyre Is. 23:7

Study of Forever8 Greek Usages For Ever – 165 aion { ahee-ohn’} –In Greek authors Age An unknown age, perpetuity of time, eternity –In N.T. For Ever John 6:51, 58 From the most ancient time down Acts 3:21 By metonymy - the container for the contained –The worlds for things in the created world Heb. 1:2 –The world for this age or life in it Rom. 12:2

Study of Forever9 Greek Usages Eternal – 166 aionios { ahee-o’-nee-os} –From 165 aion { ahee-ohn’} trans. for ever –Without beginning or end, that which always has been and always will be. Rom. 16:26 –Without beginning. Rom 16:25 –Without ending. 2 Cor. 4:18 –Used in the qualitative sense John 6:54 Cannot mean without beginning or end (has a begin.) Cannot mean simply without beginning (has a begin.) Cannot simply mean without end (Can be forfeited)

Study of Forever10 How Do We Determine Which? Infinite duration of time, forever, endless Long undefined period of time, age lasting Qualitative definition

Study of Forever11 A Few Things That Last Forever That Have Or Will End Earth – Ecc. 1:4 – 2 Pet. 3:10-13 Rainbow – Gen. 9:12 – 2 Pet. 3:10-13 Priesthood – Ex. 29:9 – Heb. 7:11-12 Sabbath – Ex. 31:16-17 – 2 Cor.3:6-18; Gal. 5:3-4 O.T. Sacrifices – Num 18:8-23 – Heb. 10:1-10 Passover Sacrifice – Ex. 12:11-14 – Heb Feast Of Unleavened bread – Ex. 12:17 – Heb. 8:7-13 Mosaic Law – Deut. 29:29 – Heb. 8:13 Promised land – 1 Chr. 16:13-18 – Deut. 28:63 Temple – 2 Chr – Jer. 52:12-ff; Matt. 24:1-3 God’s glory taken away – Mi. 2:8-9; Gal. 1:4-5; Ph. 4:20 Christ on David’s throne – Is – 1 Cor. 15:24-28