(9) "Then he remembered the days of old (olam-age), Moses, and his people" (Isaiah 63:11).
(10) "The prophets that have been before me and before you of old (olam-age)" (Jeremiah 28:8).
(11) "He has set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old (olam-age)" (Lamentations 3:6).
(12-13) "When I shall bring you down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old times (olam-age), and shall set you in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old (olam-age)" (Ezekiel 26:20).
(14) "Let them feed in Basham and Gilead, as in the days of old (olam-age)" (Micah 7:10).
(15) "Then shall the offering of Judea and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old (olam-age), and as in former years" (Malachi 3:4).
(16) "And they have caused them to stumble in their ways from ancient (olam-age) paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up" (Jeremiah 18:15).
Olam is used repeatedly where it means an age, but it cannot mean everlasting. To go into them would take many pages. Look up "ever" in any good concordance or Wigram, pages 907-910, Old Testament. A few of them - 1 Samuel 13:13; 2 Samuel 7:13,16,25, 26, 29; 1 Kings 2:33; 2:45; 9:5; 1 Chronicles 17:12, 14, 23, 27; 22:19; 28:4, 7; 2 Chronicles 8:5; Psalm 89:4; Ezekiel 37:25. Olam is used many time for things where both the beginning and end are known; many times where the beginning is known, but the end is unknown; the beginning of God’s covenant of the rainbow is known, but not it’s end, probability at the end of the earth.
AION, AIONS, AND AIONIOS in the New Testament
AION (a noun– the plural is aions) and AIONIOS (the adjective form of aion) in the New Testament. Like olam in the Old Testament, aion in the New Testament is also used repeatedly where it means an age, but it cannot mean everlasting. One example is Colossians 1:26.
PLURAL AGES—NOT PLURAL ETERNIALIES
· King James Version: "The mystery which hath been hid from ages (aions) and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints."
Why did none of the translation use "forever"? It was obvious to them that God had kept this mystery hidden for ages, but not for eternities.
An aion (age) has a beginning (1 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 1:2).
An aion (age) has an end (Matthew 24:3, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:20). Forever and eternally, as they are used today, have no beginning and no end.
"WORLD" (Greek-aion) in the King James Version
It had to be obvious to the translators that there are more than one aion-age, but they hid this from their reader by translating it "this world" and "the world to come." A period of time (an age) is changed to a place (world). “Age, indefinite time, dispensation” Robert Young, “Young’s Analytical Concordance To The Bible,” page 1073.
(1) Matthew 12:32 "Neither in this world* (aion-age) nor in that which is to come." "Either in this age, or the age that is to come" New King James Version, New American Standard Version, not "neither in this eternity or that eternity which is to come;" there are not two forevers, one forever that now is, and one forever to come. It is undeniable that the King James Version has two worlds.
1. The world that we now live in.
2. A world that will be after the world that we are now in.
Does anyone believe that will be another world between this one and the time the saved will be in the place Christ has gone to prepare for the saved in His Father’s house in Heaven? Not in this world or the next world makes this passage make no sense if there is not another world after this that the saved will spend some time in before they go to the place prepared for then in the Father’s house (John 14:2).
· Not in the age that then was when Christ was speaking.
· Or the age that come after that age.
Does make sense.
(2) Matthew 13:22 "Care of this world* (aion-age)." Care of this age, not "care of this forever or eternity."
(3) Matthew 13:39 "The harvest is the end of the world* (aion-age)." "The end of the forever or the end of eternity"? "The end of the age" New King James Version, New American Standard Version. If aion had been translated “eternity” in this passage it would have put the harvest at “the end of eternity,” not at “the end of the age.”
(4) Matthew 13:40 "So shall it be at the end of this world (aion-age)." "At the end of this forever or this eternity"? "The end of this age" New King James Version, New American Standard Version.
(5) Matthew 24:3 "At the end of the world* (aion-age)." "At the end of the forever or this eternity"? "The end of the age" New King James Version, New American Standard Version.
(6) Matthew 28:20 "Unto the end of the world*" (aion-age). "The end of eternity"?
(7) Mark 4:19 "The cares of this world (aion-age)." Cares of this age, not "cares of this forever or this eternity."
(8) Mark 10:30 "In the world* (aion-age) to come." "In the forever to come"?
(9) Luke 1:70 "Since the world (aion-age) began.” Since the age began, not since the forever began.
(10) Luke 16:8 "Children of this world* (aion-age)." This age, not "children of this forever."
(11) Luke 18:30 "In the world* (aion-age) to come." "In the forever to come"?
(12) Luke 20:34-35 "Children of this world* (aion-age) marry ,and are given in marriage: but they that are counted worthy to attain to that world (aion-age)" "Children of this eternity"? In this passage aion is used both of this age and the age to come, not of this eternity and the eternity to come, not of another world to come after this world end as it is mistranslated in the King James Version.
(13) Luke 20:35 "Worthy to obtain that world* (aion-age)." "That eternity"?
(14) John 9:32 "Since the world (aion-age) begin." "Since the age (aion-age) begin," probably the beginning of the Jewish age. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Beginning of what? The beginning of time. Although it seems there may be ages after the earth (Luke 18:30; Mark 10:30), and may have been ages before the earth, this is an age that had a beginning, and is not the beginning of the world, or the beginning of eternity.
(15) Acts 3:21 "Since the world (aion-age) begin." Also probably the beginning of the Jewish age, not "Since eternity begin."
(16) Acts 15:18 "From the beginning of the world (aion age)." Probably the beginning of the Jewish age, not "from the beginning of the forever."
(17) Romans 12:2 "From the beginning of the world (aion-age). Also probably the beginning of the Jewish age, not "from the beginning of the eternity."
(18) 1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the disputer of this world*" (aion-age)." Disputer of this age, not "disputer of this eternity."
(19) 1 Corinthians 2:6 "Not of the wisdom of this world*, (aion-age) nor of the princes of this world* (aion-age)." "Wisdom of this forever-princes of this eternity"?
(20) 1 Corinthians 2:7 "Which God ordained before the worlds" (aions-ages, plural in the Greek, singular in the King James, plural in most translations). Ordained before the eternities? God’s wisdom, which had been hidden in past ages, the Law age and others, but has now been made known, was foreordained before the ages, not before the worlds plural, or before eternities plural. “In hope of eternal life, which God…promised (Genesis 3:15) before the ages (aionios-ages)” (Titus 1:2). “Promised before the world began” (King James), or promised “before times eternal” American Standard makes no sense, promised to whom before the world began or before times eternal? Promised to whom before Adam? If eternally has no beginning or ending, when and what promise was made before eternally began?
· “Before the ages (aions-ages)” New American Standard and Revised Standard Version.
(21) 1 Corinthians 2:8 "None of the princes of this world* (aion-age)." Princes of this age, not "princes of this eternity."
(22) 1 Corinthians 3:18 "Seems to be wise in this world* (aion-age)." "Wise in this eternity?"
(23) 1 Corinthians 8:13 "While the world (aion-age) stands." "While the forever stands?"
(24) 1 Corinthians 10:11 "The ends of the world* (aions-ages).” "The ends of the eternities?" "Upon whom the ends of the ages are come" American Standard Version; both “ends” and “ages” are in the plural.
(25) 2 Corinthians 4:4 "The God of this world (aion-age.)" "The God of this eternity?"
(26) Galatians 1:4 "From this present evil world* (aion-age.)" "Present evil forever?" Is this present evil world to last for an age, or to last for an eternity?
(27) Ephesians 1:21 "Not only in this world (aion-age)." "Not only in this eternity, but also in another eternity"?
(28) Ephesians 2:2 "According to the course of this world (aion-age)." The course of his age, not "course of this forever."
(29) Ephesians 3:9 "The beginning of the world* (aion-age)." This age, not "the beginning of the eternity." Young's Literal Translation says, "And to cause all to see what is the fellowship of the secret that has been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ, that there might be made known now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenly places, through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God, according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(30) Ephesians 3:21 “World (aion) without end.” The footnote in the New American Standard says, “To all generations of the age of the ages.”
(31) Ephesians 6:12 "Of the darkness of this world (aion-age)." Of this age, not "of the darkness of this eternity."
(32) 1 Timothy 6:17 "That are rich in this world* (aion-age)." Rich in this age, not "rich in this eternity."
(33) 2 Timothy 4:10 "Having loved this present world (aion-age)." Loved this present age, not "loved this present forever."
(34) Titus 2:12 "Godly, in this present world* (aion-age)." In this present age, not "in this present eternity."
(35) Hebrews 1:2 "By whom also he made the world (aions-ages)." Made the ages—plural, not the worlds.
(36) Hebrews 6:5 "Powers of the world* (aion-age) to come." " Powers of the age to come, not powers of the forever to come." Will there be another world (another place) to come? This is speaking of another age, another time, not another place.
(37) Hebrews 9:26 "Now once in the end of the world (aion-age).” In the end of forever, which was more than 1900 years ago? It was in the end of the age of the Law or Jewish age, which lasted from the giving of the law by Moses to the death of Christ, not the end of the world. The sacrifice of Christ was in the end of the age of the Law given through Moses, not in the end of the world.
(38) Hebrews 11:3 "The worlds (aions-ages) were framed." God made the ages. Did the King James translators think there is more than one earth? “By faith we understand that the ages (aions-ages)." were prepared by the word of God” New American Standard footnote. Plural ages were prepared by the word of God, periods of time, not plural places, or worlds.
Aionios, the adjective form of aion is translated world three times.
(39) Romans 16:25-26 “Kept secret since the world* (aionios-age) began, but now is made manifest…is made known.” Since the ages began, not kept secret for all eternity, as eternity is understood today.
· “For long ages past” New American Standard and New International Version.
· “For long ages” New Revised Standard Version.
(40) 2 Timothy 1:9 “Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world* (aionios-age) began.”
· “Before times eternal” American Standard Version, footnote “long ages ago.” What times does anyone think was before eternity began?
· “Before the ages (aionios-age) began” New Revised Standard Version.
o The promise of salvation was first given in Genesis 3:15 at the beginning of the first age on earth, the Patriarchal age, which was from Adam to Moses, before the Christian age begin age that Paul was in.
(41) Titus 1:2 “Which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world* (aionios-age) began.” Given or promised to whom before the world began, there was no man before the world began, to whom before everlasting or eternity began? If eternity had no beginning, and will have no ending, how could there be a “before eternity began?” “Before the age began” not before the world or the ages began, by “the age” Paul is probably speaking of before the began of the Christian age that we are now in; Christ lived in the age of the Law, and before the Christian age He began He give the promise of the resurrection to life.
· *Translated "age(s)" in the New Revised Standard Version.
In the above there are:
1. Past age(s) (not many past worlds, or many past eternality’s)
2. The present age (not the present world we are now in, or the present eteranlity)
3. And age(s) to come (not a world, or more than one world to come, not a past eternality, or many past eternality’s)
There are not worlds past, present, and future. “World” is in the Greek is “kosmos” not “aion.” Kosmos (world) is used about 184 times in the New Testament and is never in the plural as aion often is, never plural worlds. We speak of "the Stone Age," "the Iron Age." etc. Age (aion), century, and year are all periods of time. The world is a place. How did the translators get a place-world from aion-age, which is a word that means a period of time, not a place? The King James Version has both (1) “world without end” and (2) “in the end of the world” (Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 9:26). Eternity, as the word is used today, has no beginning; therefore, they could not translate it forever so they change a word that means a period of time that has a beginning and an end to a place, changed to a place that had a beginning and will have an end, changed to a created place that is not eternal. Most translations used "age(s)." If aion means forever, what did the translators do when they came to Matthew 24:3? Did they translate it "the end of forever"? No, they could not have an end to eternity; therefore, they change aion to "world." To most reading “world,” it means the earth that we live on, in the Greek "world" is from "kosmos," not "aion" or “aionios,” it is a mistranslation that I cannot but believe the translators know it was a mistranslation, one that most other translations of the Bible have changed. Were they not being less than truthful with their readers? Just as untruthful as they were in the Old Testament where "olam" is also translated "world" in Psalm 73:12. Despite the fact that they have translated "olam" into "everlasting" repeatedly, they could not have the ungodly prosper for "forever." An aion (age) in Matthew 24:3 is not a place, not a world. When aion is translated “world,” it is a mistranslation that makes those who do not understand Greek to understand something that is 100% different than what God did say.
KOSMOS MEANS WORLD, NOT AION
“The word kosmos, translated almost uniformly world, which is found one hundred and eighty-four times in the New Testament, is in some respects very different from aion. Concerning the word kosmos, we would have it noticed, that it is never found in the plural form in the Christian Scriptures. There is but one kosmos, though different aions, found in this volume. Kosmos denotes the material globe with all its elements—sometimes, the universe; and by a figure called metonomy, which substitutes the thing containing for the thing contained, the human family is often called the world...The phrase ‘foundation of the world’ occurs ten times, and always kosmos. But wherever mere time or continuance is implied, it is always aion, and not kosmos.” Alexander Campbell, “The Living Oracles,” Appendix 14, 1826, Gospel Advocate Company.
“Let me say to Bible students that we must be very careful how we use the word “eternity.” We have fallen into great error in our constant use of that word. There is no word in the whole Book of God corresponding with our “eternal,” which, as commonly used among us, means absolutely without end. The strongest Scripture word used with reference to the existence of God, is “unto the ages of the ages,” which does not literally mean eternally.” G. Campbell Morgan, page 185, God‘s Methods with Man, 1898, Fleming H. Revel Company.
PLURAL is changed to SINGULAR. When the King James translators translated aions into "worlds" (Hebrews 1:2; see Ephesians 2:7; Colossians 1:26), they left it in the plural, but when they translated it "forever and ever" they changed it to the singular. They could have plural worlds, but they could not have a plurality of forever, or more than one eternity. Their Hell must last forever (singular), not forevers (plural), and not just unto the age of ages.
How could anyone know "Hell" is everlasting when not one of the four words translated "Hell" in the King James Version is used with aion or aionios. Not one of four words (sheol, hades, Gehenna, Tartarus) is said to be everlasting or age lasting.
Aion is used of past ages, the present age, future ages, and in the plural about two thirds of its occurrences in the Bible. Therefore, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE AGE. It follows that eternity is not an acceptable meaning of this Greek word. There cannot be past eternities, a present eternity, and future eternities, neither can there be plural eternities. An aion (age) is a long period of time that has a beginning and an ending, but it is not an eternity that h