From Morrie99999
The bible uses,use the expression "the last days" to refer to the concluding
time period leading up to a divinely appointed exertion that marks the end
of a system of things. Do you believe that we are living in the last days??
time period leading up to a divinely appointed exertion that marks the end
of a system of things. Do you believe that we are living in the last days??
This will be a two-part answer. What is the end and how the Bible handles it.
The answer to this question is wrapped up in one word... "eon." This word shows up in the Bible 340 times and is usually mistranslated.
AV Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
AV Gal 1:5 To whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
There is no "end of the world." Our Earth will be here for a very long time to come.
But the concept of eternity eluded ancient man. It eludes most of us today. So eternity is not mentioned in the Bible.
_____Strong's_____
G165 aion ahee-ohn'
from the same as G104;
properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future). Compare G5550.
"Properly, an age."
There are two words that we must concern ourselves with. The Ancient Koine Greek term 'aion' and the Ancient Hebrew term 'olam.' These two are actually the same word, but coming to us in different languages.
_____Strong's_____
H5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'};
from H5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always. Compare H5331, H5703.
This explains the concept of time beyond our reasoning of time. A thousand years or two thousand years might seem like an eternity. It is because we have such a short lifespan in comparison.
An "eon" or an "age" might seem like forever, but it does have a beginning and an ending.
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Daniel 2:21-45
In the book of Daniel, the king saw a vision of a great statue. This statue was broken up into several eons or time periods. The head of gold represented the Empire of Babylon. The silver chest represented the Medo-Persian Empire. The belly of copper represented the Greek empire. The iron legs represented the Roman Empire, it's Eastern and Western divisions. The iron and clay feet and toes of clay. These all represent "ages" or "eons" of time beyond our own comprehension. Oh, we can count the years. But it is just math to us. A thousand years is meaningless to us, who live 75 plus years if we are fortunate.
CLV Dan 2:32 The image's head is good gold, its chest and its arms are silver, its belly and its thighs are copper,
33 its legs are iron, its feet, part of them are iron, and part of them are clay.
These all represent the time of the Gentiles and their kingdoms. We live in the last portion of this man even now. Yet even though a rock shall pulverize these kingdoms, no one will be killed.
CLV Dan 2:35 Then pulverized, as one, are the iron, the clay, the copper, the silver, and the gold, and they are as chaff from summer threshing sites, and the wind lifts them up, and no place at all is found for them. And the stone that collides with the image becomes a vast mountain range, and fills all the earth.
This represents the destruction of the authority of the Gentiles. The vast mountain range that will fill the earth is what we often call the Millennium. We are told it is 1000 years long...
CLV Re 20:2 And he lays hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Adversary and Satan, and binds him a thousand years.
CLV Re 20:4 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.
Now I know there are those who will cite 2Peter 3:8 and try to defend the KJV's mistranslation. And, of course, you may believe whatever you choose to. But I tell you this word "forever" is used in error. And a thousand years is still not forever.
One more thing. In order to be "forever" is must also have no beginning. If the Millennium has a beginning, it will also have an end.
There is one more point I wish to make on the "end of the world" KJV mistake. 100 years ago and beyond our English term, "world" had yet another meaning to it. It used to mean "age." This is where we get the expression, "they are worlds apart." It means they are ages apart and often refers to a "May/December" relationship. Perhaps an old man with a young woman?
This definition is what we call an obsolete definition, and has not been in use since about 100 years ago. The KJV translated it "end of the world" and it was never changed.
Look for part two of this thread.
Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.