The Mystery Of Eternity

The Prophetic Scroll: The Mystery Of Eternity 

Eternity is a beautiful, mysterious, wonderful word. It is also freighting! It’s a powerful word, with the ability to change you dramatically!

The word is Strong’s H 5703 and G 166. (Hebrew and Greek) The meanings are: Without beginning or end, never ceasing, everlasting, continuing existence, forevermore.

The word “eternity” has many synonymous terms and parallels, with similar meanings and concepts. We must look at the whole lot together to get the full picture.

The mystery of eternity relates to other biblical mysteries. Remember that the original word for “mystery” means that it is hidden to the blind and unsaved, but revealed to the insiders (believers). Even with this in mind, this particular mystery is still not fully revealed to us yet.

1 Corinthians 13:12 “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, just as I also am known.”

Some of the complimentary mysteries are: The mystery of kingdom, the mysteries of godliness and sin-free holiness.

The eternal kingdom is totally politically incorrect as we will see further down.

What is eternity?

Eternity is not just a long time. It’s another dimension totally. 

Time itself will soon go through a spectacular metamorphosis. Time is not permanent, eternity is.

There will soon be a time where there will be no more time! 

Revelation 10:6 “To Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay (time) no longer.” (The original word used for “delay” is “Chronos” Strong’s G5550, meaning time itself)

We are given wonderful glimpses in the Bible of things to come, beyond our wildest imagination. 

There is a frightening exclusivity attached to the eternal kingdom of God.

Eternity – the contraposition:

Revelation knowledge is a powerful thing. Its opposite is concealment. Very often when we see something in its contraposition or opposite, it gives greater understanding. The tragedy of the world of unbelievers is that they have no spiritual revelation. All the great things of God are concealed.

They have no revelation of their own coming destruction, their own looming, grim ride to eternal hell. They don’t even have revelation of their own spiritual ignorance and blindness, because they will not believe.

The world is trying to destroy all things godly in nature and character. All but gone is finesse, sophistication, morality, integrity, ethics, culture, and virtue! A terrible stinking replacement has come in to temporarily overthrow godliness. 

The world’s kingdom is fully fallen, being seduced and blinded by sin and the love of it. God’s light only shines into the world through the Bible and believers, and the world is getting more and more turned-off to both, it’s only source of help.

A glorious wonder for the believer

The following verses are astounding indeed! What a God we serve! Read these verses, proclaim them, speak them, pray them, believe them and let them transform you and lift you up!

Daniel 7:18 “The saints of the Most High, shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”

Revelation 22:5 “There shall be no more night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord gives them light, and they (saints) shall reign forever and ever.”

Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”

These words below are some characteristic of the eternal kingdom of God which I’ve taken from numerous verses in the Bible:

Holiness, glory, majesty, splendour, triumph, exaltation, miraculous, immortal, jubilant, wondrous, delightful, joy, euphoria, peace, morality, quality and many more.

With all of NASA’s resources, it can only look into a sin-drenched universe. Neither NASA nor any telescope of any kind can see or find holiness and peace. None can see eternity.

Even if they could find heaven out there, they would see nothing, because God has blinded them to the realm of spiritual purity and eternity.

Eternity is the “dwelling place of our Holy God.” No un-crucified eyes will see God or His dwelling place. No tongue that has not been nailed to the cross will even be able to speak real pure and holy things.

Isaiah 57:15 “Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and a humble spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Politically incorrect eternity!

Regular readers know what I think of political correctness! But let’s have a look below the surface and offend many people.

We have noted an inextricable link between eternity, God and holiness. In fact eternity will be fully and completely holy forever. 

Holy: (Hebrew) Strong’s H6944 – “Qodesh”. Meanings: Apartness, set-apart, separateness, sacredness, hallowed. The Greek meanings are similar, but we can add: Sacred, blameless, pure, veneration. These meanings relate to things, places, behaviour and character.

So when we look at the full meaning of holiness we see an astounding, totally politically incorrect, wonderful thing indeed! 

We are “apart” people! We are separated people! We are not part of the crowd making up the world. In spirit we are pure in an impure world!

We are apart, apart, apart! We will have no part in or with sin – forever!

Do you know why the world hates true Christians? It’s because we are apart and not like them! That is why they want us to be like them! You see, we are better than them. Just listen to them talk. It’s not from a pride point of view – God forbid. It’s from a grace point of view. Don’t ever treat God’s grace lightly.

As we move from holiness within us, by the new-birth, to holiness in soul, it can only produce in us deep thankfulness and worship.

Worship: (Hebrew) Strong’s H7812 – “Shachah.” Meanings: Bow down, stoop low, reverence, fall on face, prostrate oneself, surrender, adore. One of the rendered meanings of “worship” is to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand! The word implies physical action in posture as well as attitude. 

Have you ever worshipped our Lord in a true, demonstrative way? 

By way of testimony, I often used to go to a local cemetery, find any old grave, and lie down on top of it to pray. I would start a fast this way, making death to self a demonstrative thing. Then I would get up, which for me symbolised arising from the dead to newness of life.

But, for me the attitude of bowing down in worship was the main thing. (I don’t do that anymore because these days it would take me half an hour to get up again, being partially crippled now.)

I often used to climb nearby mountains alone and on the top, standing on the edge; I would literally bow down, while deep in prayer. (The picture at the bottom is one of those mountains.) Sometimes I led groups up there and we would stand on top yelling out proclamations.

There were many other such things I did. It changes your perception of worship and deepens your walk with our Lord. Don’t be afraid of doing demonstrative things. Some people may think you’re strange and odd, but so be it!

Preparing for eternity:

The Spirit of God never enters a person and then leaves them to live like the world, with its value-system. God always leads us, forever forward and upward by His Spirit.

Today, so many are unconquered, compromised, spiritual disasters. They have made friends with their enemies whose job it is to keep them from God’s requirements. So many people look right at the eternal Light and see nothing!

Corruption is irreversible. God does not try to fix it or make it better. God’s solution is death and new birth...a new creation which is eternal. Today people are blind slaves to the here and now!

Cultivate a love for the truth. Study it, proclaim it, and know it well. Exalt truth and submit to it.

Titus 1:2 “Acknowledge the truth, which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before time began.”

2 John 1:2 “The truth abiding in us will be with us forever.”

Things of eternity:

●Truth.

●Our new incorruptible bodies.

●Our heavenly homes. (With angels and dogs!)

●Our holiness and righteousness.

●Our rewards and authority in our future reign.

●Our godly character.

●Giving to the gospel produces “enduring riches.” (Proverbs 8:18)

●Suffering for the sake of the gospel or our testimony has eternal rewards.

Things that are temporary:

●Houses, cars, kettle, chocolate, lawnmower.

●All earthly, physical possessions.

●Job, money, status, pride.

●Worldly authority.

●Human-centred knowledge.

●Sin, poverty, sickness and death.

●Lies, error, false doctrine.

Now, with these two lists above in mind, read the following verses:

2 Corinthians 4:17-19; 5:1“Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal...If this tent (body) is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Do you see what I see, or don’t see? The Bible says we are to look at the things we can’t see! (If I wrote the Bible, I would not have said that!) People buy a red Ferrari so that it can be seen, and now we have to close our eyes when we walk into the garage!

Looking at things you can’t see is the right way to go. Looking at all the things you can see is the way to blindness! It’s impossible for the world to look at the things they can’t see. This is why they only have eyes for “me now.”

The only thing the world can possibly do is make idols of time, space and materialism, because it has no revelation of eternity, not even its own doomed eternity.

The things of eternity and the Spirit are linked. The things of the world and the flesh are also.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, - the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lusts of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Hebrews 13:14 “Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.”

1 Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only, we have hope in Messiah, we are of all men most pitiable.”

Some eternity verses with a short commentary:

2 Peter 1:11 “An entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdomof our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua, the Messiah.”

Some will just scrape into heaven, emerging from the puff of smoke that was their futile works, but they will have made it! Others will arrive with an “abundant entrance.” The grandstand in the clouds will be full of witnesses cheering and celebrating!

Hebrews 10:14 “By one offering (the cross) He has perfected forever, those who are being sanctified.”

What an incredible verse! The work of the cross was perfect, but endures forever!

Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces.”

Death – all death is an enemy. It has a date-stamp on it!

Psalm 119:89 “Forever O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”

Imagine trying to prove God wrong! What insanity, and yet so many do!

Proverbs 8:18-19 (The excellence of wisdom) “Riches and honour are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.”

The fruit of godly wisdom is more valuable than anything on this earth and it endures.

Finally:

Your encounter with the living God will have dramatic effects if you sincerely come to Him. As you encounter Him you will be woefully undone – and it must be so! You will suddenly see and know holiness and see and be horrified at the evil of the world around you, and you will be gloriously saved – forever!

Isaiah 6:3-7 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with His glory...Woe is me, for I am undone! I live in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts...Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Revelation 4:8 “...Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Your testimony is a seed of eternity. It has eternal value for yourself and others who know you. The unsaved may scorn you, but in their own alone time – they think and think about your testimony.

1 Peter 1:8-9 “Now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.”