We all long for an eternal life. The eternal life that was promised to us by our Lord Jesus Christ to those who will believe and accept Him. It was introduced to us in the new testament by Him. It was an eye opener. The greatest promise to mankind. Granting everlasting life is a part of the grand plan of God. A hope we couldn’t fathom but we appreciate it more than anything. We do good things in hope of an eternal life after death. No one had been there to prove us it really does exist or show us any clue if it’s even possible. Although millions or probably billions around the globe somewhat believe the eternal life and its counterpart – the eternal damnation.
I myself believe more than anything. My world revolves around it as a minister to spread the gospel of Christ. We should all revolve around the belief of it. It is our greatest hope and the best promise of all. Jesus Christ is our genuine proof. He is the best source of testimony. Inarguably, He has no equal to be the author and the finisher of our faith.
John 6:68 – Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Ephesian1:10 – That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What is eternal? The dictionary can help us. Eternal means lasting forever, always existing and endless. It even means without beginning or end. It directly means forever and everlasting. Probably the most applicable meaning of which would be lasting, something that is enduring for a very long time.
Does eternity or eternal life means literally no end or no beginning?
Eternity has always been attributed to eternal life and to God. God is an eternal being. Jesus Himself said “I am the Alpha and the Omega” in other words there is a beginning and the end. God is the beginning and the end.His beginning is beyond comprehension and His end is beyond anyone’s reach. He was the beginning of all because He created all things. All began because of Him. He is the end as well. Without question, He has the power to end anything and everything. He can end all subjective to His will since He is the Almighty God.
Thus, the literal meaning of eternal can only be attributed to God. He is the eternal God from everlasting to everlasting. He is the absolute eternity. No one and nobody can go together with Him in eternity. He is the only eternity Himself. No one else.
Eternal life as a reward for man has a beginning. For the rest of us, it never even started yet. The beginning of which is still to be determined. The promise was only set to begin so let us wait further until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Presently, we are yet living in our temporal life and many are still asleep in their perpetual sleep.
I Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelations 1: 8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelations 1:18 – I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Why the Bible uses the word eternal or eternal life?
Although the bible uses the word eternal, everlasting and forever to describe events and moments. Generally, it was used figuratively to elaborate the intensity or showing the probability of immeasurability in man’s language. The bible was written within a great length of time. The knowledge of the writers and prophets are dependent upon their generation. Today, we have calculators that has limits showing only 12 or 16 digits. Imagine 2000 or 3000 years ago what do they use to count? How will they describe numerical values more than what they know. They will end up using the word forever or eternity to express lengthy time or a great event. It doesn’t prohibit them to use such words to express something extremely not ordinary. Consequently, we still use them all the time nowadays, “it seems forever ago since we’ve last talked honestly”.
Some biblical examples:
In Genesis, it rained brimstone and fire from heaven to Sodom and Gomorrha. The words eternal fire was used in Jude to describe the greatness of destruction and the wrath of God. Is it still raining fire up to this day?
Jude 1:7 – Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
King David was chosen as the king forever. Does this literally means he is the king forever? I only know one king who is forever.
I Chronicles 28:4 – Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel.
Jonas described the greatness of his humbling experience inside the belly of the fish by using the word forever. He only stayed their for about three days.
Jonah 2:6 – I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
Everlasting to everlasting. There are two everlastings in the verse. The prior one should end for the other to begin.
Psalms 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Paul is just describing how great is the reward compared to our present affliction. There is no eternal weight.
II Corinthians 4:17 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Eternal life could only be a literal eternity when all the things that surrounds us will also be present for eternity. We need an eternal heaven and earth to exist eternally. All should be eternal for us to exist until eternity.
Mark 10:30 -But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
God is the only eternal and no one can measure and count the length of His eternity.
I Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Eternal life was a promise.
Eternal life is the life promised to us by our just, kind and eternal God. A promise to those who will succeed in their present life. A far better and longer life than we currently have. A life not subject to death but to live gracefully under the reign of our savior Jesus Christ. The length of time as of now seems irrelevant and indistinct to elaborate since it cannot be measured. There is no measurement available. Since no one knows how long, only God Himself.
However, eternal life to man can end maybe after numerous thousands or millions of years. Who knows? I don’t know. But it can surely end upon His preordained intention. The length of eternal life solely lies to our God who is the giver and taker of life.
Having an eternal life in paradise does not make us less in need of God. We need God all the time. Our necessity of Him will never be lessened nor shrink. We are solely going to live in His mercy and grace. Without Him life itself couldn’t exist for a moment. How much more can it last forever without His grace?
He has the power to cut off the flow of life anytime we disobey or take Him for granted. He has all the right to end anything as He wishes. Eternal life will and can definitely end. It all depends to our compliance to Him and ultimately, it will all be base upon His discretion. There is no absolute eternity to anyone except to God.
Let us not be blinded by emotions and beliefs. We need to disregard preconception but give way to open mindedness. We should consider reason, logic and the word of God without any inclination. Let the true wisdom and understanding reach and flow to our hearts and minds freely. Because the true wisdom and knowledge of Him will comfort and give us the fullness of joy. God’s love will display the fullest of its power, greatness and potential as we understand the purest and truest meaning of it. Indeed, His love is yet to be discovered and understood by many.
Please hang on tight for more revelations from the MysteryoftheGospel.com in regards to the truth.
May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you today.