Hi JAH,
Well presently we are in the church age, now when "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17). The next age begins when Christ returns and resurrects His elect, that we see is shown by Christ's own words.
Luke 18:30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come
eternal (eonian) life."
Mar 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come,
eternal (eonian) life.
The next age is when the elect are given 'thrones,' meaning authority and power to judge, that would also be the great white throne, the main judgment period.
Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom
forever (for the age), even
forever and ever (for the age of the ages).'
Rev 2:25 Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.
v. 26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
All those Scripture show that the elect will reign and rule and judge the nations in the next age under Christ. Now there is a Scripture that does cause confusion, but it is determined to be spurious and not in the original manuscripts, but added some time later, so it can be disregarded.
Rev 20:5
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished (spurious). This is the first resurrection.
You can see the whole list of spurious Scripture here
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6638.0.htmlSince there are some that Christ spoke of as not being forgiven in the next age (Matt 12:32), we can only assume there will be an age after the next age (perhaps many more ages) for those to repent and be forgiven. Because we know every creature will eventually bow the knee to Christ, not out of false obligation, but in true worship and praise.
Php 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
v. 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (the dead, in their grave)
v. 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Isa 45:22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
v. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.
v. 24 He shall say, 'Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him.
Hope this helps.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Author
Topic: Are There 3 Ages (Read 5367 times)