Plan of the Aions (Ages)

The following diagram is intended to illustrate the chronological arrangement of the dispensations and some of the principal events of Bible History.

The division of time into days, months and years, is fixed by the movements of the earth and moon. The term century is not used in the Scriptures, but the next greater measure of time above the year (Sabbatic year and Jubilee year) is the Greek term aion or English eox, from which comes our word age. This word is used 124 times in the New Testament and is translated by eight different English words, viz: “world 35 times.

Matt.

Mark

12 :32
13:22
13:39
13:40
13:49
24: 3
28:20
4:19
10:30

WORLDS

COURSE,

Luke

1 Cor.

1:70
16: 8
18 :30
20 :34
20:35

9:32

3 :21
15:18

12:2 2 Cor.
twice, Heb. 1 :2 and 11 :13.
once, Eph. 2 :2.

John
Acts

Rom.

1:20
2: 6
2: 6
2: 7
2: 8
3:18
8:13
10:11
4: 4

Gal.
Eph.

1 Tim.

2 Tim.
Titus
Heb.

1: 4
1:21
3: 9
3:21
6:17
4:10
2:12
6: 5

“ETERNAL” twice, Eph. 3 :11 and 1 Tim. 1 :17

“END,” once, Eph. 3 :21.

“AGES,” twice, Eph. 2:7 and Col. 1:26

Matt.

6:13

21:19

Mark

11:14

Luke

1:33

1:55
6:51

6:58
8:35
Rom.

8:35
12:34
14:16

1:25

9: 5
11:36
16:27

9: 9

Heb.

1 Pet.

2 Cor.

With a negative “NEVER” 7 times-Mark 3:29 John 8:51 John John 4:14” 8:52

“EVERMORE,” 3 times — 2 Cor. 11 :31 Heb. 7 :23 Rev.

“EVER AND EVER,” 21 times —

“EVER,
5:6 2
6:20
7:17
7:21
7:24
13: 8
1:23
1:25

30 times-Pet.

1
2
Jude

John
John

10:28
11:26

1:18

Gal.
Phil.

1 Tim.

2 Tim.
Heb.

1: 5
4:20
1:17
4:18
1: 8

Heb.
1 Pet.

Rev.

13:21
4:11
5:11
1: 6
4: 9

Refv.

4:10
5:13
5’: 14
7:12
10: 6
Rev.

2:17

3:18

2:17
13: 8

11:15
14:11
15: 3
19: 5
20:10
22: 7

(218) or 42 times, for in each of these 21 passages it is used twice, and, in all but Heb. 1:8, it is in the plural and multiplied form, “aions of aions.” It is also plural in

Lukie
Rom.

1 :33 1 Oor.

1:25

9: 5 2 Cor.
11 :36 Eph.
16:27

2: 7 Eph.

10 :11

11 :31 Col.
2:71 Tim.
3: 9 Heb.

3:11
3:21
1:26
1:17
1: 2

Heb. 9 :26

11: 3
13: 8

Jude 25

If the reader will carefully examine these passages, and substitute the original word aion or aions, he will at once see that it is used not to indicate the material or physical world, but as a measurement of time.

“It shall not be forgiven him, neither in this aion, neither in the aion to come.” Mat. 12 :32.

“The harvest is the end of the aiow.-’^ — “So shall it be at the end of this aionJ’ Mat. 13 :39-40.

“Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for an aion,” Mat. 21 :19.

“What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the aion.” Mat. 24:3.

“Hath not forgiveness to (or for) the aion, but is in danger of aionian* sin.” Mark 3:29.

“But he shall receive .... in the aion to come eternal life.” Mark 10:30.

♦The

adjective

“aionios’

’ is used 70 times, as follows:

Matt.

18: 8
5:24

Rom.

6:23

Philm.

19:16

5:39
16:25

Heb.

5: 9

««

19:29

6:27
16:26
6: 2

‘«

25:41

6:40

2 Cor.

4:17
9:12

<«

25:46

6:47
4:18
9:14

Mark

3:29

6:54
5: 1

9:15

10:17

6:68

Gal.

6: 8
13:20
10:30

10:28

2 Thes.

1: 9

1 Pet.

5:10

Luke

10:25

12 :25
2:16

2 Pet.

1:11

16: 9

12-50

1 Tim.

1:16
1: 2
18:18

17: 2
6:12
2:25
18:30

17: 3

••

6:16
3:15
3:15

Acts

13:46
6:19
5:11

3:16

13:48

2 Tim.

1: 9
5:13
3:36

Rom.

2: 7

2:10

‘•

5:20

«

4 :14

5:21

Titus

1: 2

Jude
4:36

6:22

3: 7

Rev.

21
14:6

It is translated everlasting, eternal or forever except in three passages, where it is world, Rom. 16 :25 aionian times, 2 Tim. 1 iQ, and Titus 1 :2 before aionian times.

220 JESUiS IS COMING,

“For ever,” i. e. for the aions. Luke 1:33; Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 2 Cor. 11:31; Heb. 13:8.

“For ever,” i. e. for the aion. Luke 1 :55; John 6 :51-58; 8:35; 12:34; 14:16; 2 Cor. 9:9; Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:17; 21, 24, 28; 1 Pet. 1:25; 1 John 2:17; 2 John 2; Jude 13.

“The children of this aion are .... wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.

“The children of this aion marry.... but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that aion and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.” Luke 20:34-35.

“Shall thirst not for the aion.” John 4 :14.

“Not for the aion,” John 8:51-52; 10:28; 11:26; 13:8; 1 Cor. 8:13.

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the aion” (lit. from an aion). Acts 15:18.

“To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for the aion.” Rom. 16:27.

“Not the wisdom of this aion, nor of the princes of this aion .... but we speak .... even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the aions.” 1 Cor. 2:6-7.

“For our admonition upon whom the ends of the aions are come.” 1 Cor. 10 :11.

“In whom the God of this mow.” 2 Cor. 4 :4.

“Who gave himself .... that He might deliver us from this present evil aion.” Gal. 1:4.

“Not only in this aion, but also in that which is to come.” Eph. 1 :21.

“That in the aions to come.” Eph. 2 :7.

“The mystery which from the aions hath been hid.” Eph. 3:9.

“According to the purpose (plan) of the aions.” Eph. 3:11.

“Unto him be glory .... throughout all the generations of the aion of the aions.” Eph. 3:21.

“Now unto the king of the aions.” 1 Tim. 1 :17.

“Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present aion.” 2 Tim. 4:10.

“By whom also he made the aion” Heb. 1 :2.

“Thy throne, 0 God, is for the aion:’ (“of the aion” not authentic.) Heb. 1:8.

“And have tasted .... the powers of the aion to come.” Heb. 6:5.

“But now once in the end (lit. conjunction) of the aions.” (overlapped). Heb. 9:26.

“Through faith we understand that the aions were framed.” (adjusted).^

“Both now and for the day of the aion.” 2 Pet. 3 :18.

“Both now and throughout all the aions.’^ Jude 25.

“The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for aions of aions.” Rev. 14:11.

“Her smoke rose up for the aions of the aions. Rev. 19 :3.

“Shall be tormented day and night for the aions of the aions.” Rev. 20 :10.

“They shall reign for the aions of the aions.” Rev. 22 :5.

Notice that we have the singular aion, the plural aions and aion of aions (a great aion composed of aions), and the multiplied form aions of aions.

An aion has an end (see Mat. 13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20), and as another follows (see Mat. 12:32; Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30 and 20:35; Eph. 1:21), it must have a beginning. The end of one and beginning of another overlap so that Paul could say “the ends of the aions have come upon us.” 1 Cor. 10:11. There are many aions,^ both in the past and in the future.^

(1) Heb. 11 :3. Through faith from ages (aions) and from we understand that the worlds generations’, but now is made (aions) were framed by the manifest to his saints.

word of God, so that things (3) Eph. 2:7. That in the

which are seen were not made of ages (aions) to come he might

things which do appear. show the exceeding riches of his

(2) Col. 1 :26. Even the grace, in his kindness toward mystery which hath been hid us, through Christ Jesus.

Jesus is the King of the aions,* and they are all made by Him“’ according to a Divine Plan, see Greek, “purpose (or plan) of the aions.”^

The diagram is intended to illustrate a minute section of this infinite plan, showing seven of the aions. The diverging lines represent the increase of population suddenly cut down to eight at the flood and to be again greatly reduced at the close of the present dispensation

1. Eden the aion of Innocence terminating in the expulsion.

2. Antediluvian, the aion of freedom (conscience the only restraint) terminating in the flood and reduction of the race to the eight persons of Noah and his family. During this aion Enoch is caught up, a type of the coming rapture of the Church.

3. Post-diluvian, the aion of government, man put under civil authority,^ terminating in the destruction of Sodom.

4. Patriarchal, the pilgrim aion,^ terminating in the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea.

5. Mosaic, the Israelitish aion, terminating in the crucifixion and destruction of Jesalem. In this Elijah becomes another type of the rapture.

6. Christian, the aion of mystery, terminating in the

(4) 1 Tim. 1:17. Now unto Also Zech. 13:8, 14:12-13; the King eternal (of the aions). Rev. 14:18-20, 19:19-21. immortal, invisible, the only (8) Gen. 9 :5. And surely your wise God, 6e honor and glory blood of your lives will I refor ever and ever. Amen. quire; at the hand of every

(5) Heb. 1:2. Hath in these J’^^^s will I require it, and at last days spoken unto us by Ms ^^°^ °^^^ = the hand of Son. whom he hath appointed every man s brother will I reheir of all things, by whom also “^“”’J^^^^ ^’^^ °^™^^>.

he made the worlds (aions). ^,^^^°^° Tut’^^^^

Ale TTeh 11-9 blood, by man shall his blood be

(6) Eph. 3:11. According to ^ade he man.

the eternal purpose which he (9) Heb. 11:13. These all

purposed in Christ Jesus our ^jg i faith, not having received

L«ord: the promises, but having seen

(7) Rev. 9 :18. By these three them afar off, and were persuadwas the third part of men ed of them, and embraced them, killed, by the fire, and by the and confessed that they were smoke, and by the brimstone, strangers and pilgrims on the which issued out of their mouths. earth.

great tribulation,^ ° the coming of the Lord, the Judgment of Nations,^^ and another great reduction of the world’s population. During this aion the Jews are scattered among all nations.^2

7. Millennium, the aion of manifestation, (Rom. 8:19) terminatmg in Satan’s last deception and the Judgment of the great white throne.^^

Beyond this is the New Heavens and New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness,^* probably the beginning of another series of aions. For, these seven make a week of aions, corresponding to the expression in Eph. 3:21, aion of aions, or one gi’eat aion composed of these seven aions. And, in harmony with the weeks of years appointed unto Israel (Lev. 25:8-11), other great aions are to follow corresponding to the expression aions oi aions. See Gal. 1:5 and the other passages cited above. Possibly the fiftieth aion may be like the Jubilee of Lev. 25 and then again, aions of aions. See lower section of diagram.

But, says one, if aions are measured periods then all aions are measured, and there will be an end to the sorrows of the ungodly,^^ and the glory and dominion of the Lamb

(10) Matt. 24:21. For then shall be trodden down of the shall be great tribulation, such Gentiles, until the times of the as was not since the beginning Gentiles be fulfilled.

of the world to this time, no, (13) Rev. 20:11. And I saw

nor ever shall be. a great white throne, and him

(11) Matt. 25:31. When the that sat on it, from whose face Son of man shall come in his the earth and the heaven fled glory, and all the holy angels away; and there was found no with him, then shall he sit upon place for them.

the throne of his glory: 12-15 See page 105.

32. And before him shall be (14) Isa. 65:17. For, behold,

gathered all nations: and he I create new heavens, and a new

shall separate them one from an- earth: and the former shall not

other, as a shepherd divideth his be remembered, nor come into

sheep from the goats: mind.

(12) Amos 9:9. For, lo, I 2 Pet. 3:13. Nevertheless we, will command, and I will sift the according to his promise, look for house of Israel among all na- new heavens and a new earth, tions, like as coryi is sifted in a wherein dwelleth righteousness, sieve, yet shall not the least Also Isa. 66 :22; Rev. 21 :1. grain fall upon the earth. (15) Rev. 14:11. And the

Lu. 21 :24. And they shall smoke of their torment ascendfall by the edge of the sword, eth up for ever and ever: (aions

and shall be led away captive of aions) and they have no rest

into all nations: and Jerusalem day nor night, who worship the and his saints.^® No, beloved! for the best idea we mortals call have of infinity or eternity is that of continual measurement, and this is exactly the idea conveyed by the indefinite expression aions of aions.

It will be noticed in the diagram that the aions are not of the same duration, but each marks a change in God’s method of dealing with mankind. Probably the aions of the past, the Hebrew olams of the Old Testament mark the geological periods of the earth and the various eras in the development of the universe. And as the past has been an orderly unfolding of creation and revelation of the Creator, so shall the future be, not a limitless aion called eternity, but a limitless succession of aions measuring infinite duration. Time is the measure of eternity and eternity is the continued measurement of time. Take for instance a yard stick, and it measures only three feet. But turn it over and over and over, and you pass around the world, out to the moon, the sun, the stars, the farthermost nebula, and all the limits of imagination, and still the little measure goes on and on into the unthinkable. In like manner the Scriptural succession of aions measures eternity.

The events at the beginning of this present aion, viz.: the crucifixion and ascension of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit are well understood. The events at its close constitute

“The Time of the End*’

and are briefly as follows: The descent of the Lord vtdth a shout, the resurrection of those who sleep in Jesus, the

beast and his image, and who- ever. Amen.

soever receiveth the mark of his Rev. 11 :15. And the seventh

name. angel sounded; and there were

Rev. 20 :10. And the devil, great voices in heaven, saying,

that deceived them, was cast in- The kingdoms of this world are

to the lake of fire and brim- become the kingdoms of our

stone, where the beast and the Lord, and of his Christ; and he

false prophet are, and shall be shall reign for ever and ever

tormented day and night for (aions of aions).

ever and ever (aions’ of aions). Rev. 22:5. And there shall be

(16) Rev. 1:6. And hath no night there; and they need

made us kings and priests unto no candle, neither light of the

God and his Father; to him be sun; for the Lord God giveth

glory and dominion for ever and them light: and they shall reign

33ii9nnj

NoisnndX3

(225) change in a moment of those believers who are alive (1 Cor. 15), their rapture, or being caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:13-18), to enjoy the marriage feast of the King-’s Son, the Lamb of God. Mat. 22:2, etc.; 25:10; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7, and Song of Solomon.

While this is occumng in the air, Israel gathered to Palestine in unbelief,^^ rebuild their temple, establish their ancient sacrifices and plunge from bad to worse until Antichrist arises, and they make a covenant with him,^* which the prophet calls a covenant with death and sheol.i* Terrible persecutions shall follow, called “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”2o

When it would seem that all wast lost,2i then the Lord

for ever and ever (aions of
aions).

(17) Zeph. 2:1. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2. Before the decree bring
forth, before the day pass as the
chaff, before the fierce anger of
the Lord come upon you, before
the day of the Lord’s anger come
upon you.

(18) Dan. 9:27. And he shall
confirm the covenant with many
for one week: and in the midst
of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to
cease, and for the overspreading
of abominations he shall make
it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined
shall be poured upon the desolate.

John 5 :43. I am come in my
Father’s name, and ye receive me
not; if another shall come in his
own name, him ye will receive.

(19) Isa. 28 :15. Because ye
have said. We have made a covenant with death, and with hell
are we at agreement; when the
overflowing scourge shall pass
through, it shall not come unto
us: for we have made lies our

refuge, and under falsehood
have we hid ourselves.

(20) Jer. 30:5. For thus
saith the Lord; We have heard
a voice of trembling, of fear,
and not of peace.

6. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with
child? wherefore do I see every
man with his hands on his loins,
as a woman in travail, and all
faces are turned into paleness?

7. Alas! for that day is great,
so that none is like it: it is
even the time of Jacob’s trouble.
But he shall be saved out of it.

(21) Zech. 14:1. Behold, the
day of the Lord cometh, and thy
spoil shall be divided in the
midst of thee.

2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken,
and the houses rifled, and the
women ravished; and half of the
city shall go forth into captivity,
and the residue of the people
shall not be cut off from the
city.

3. Then shall the Lord go
forth, and fight against those
nations, as when he fought in
the day of battle.

See verses 4 and 5.

Also Jude 14; 2 Thes. 2:8. shall come with His saints down to the earth and destroy this lawless Antichrist, deliver Israel, who will then look upon “Him they have pierced,“^^ and a nation shall be born in a day, or at once.”^ He will judge the living nations and establish His millennial kingdom. Psa. 2; Dan. 2:44; Rev. 11:15.

But let it be distinctly remembered that we have no date for the rapture, the coming of our Lord to the trysting place in the air.^* We are to live with our loins girt and our lamps burning like men that wait for their Lord. Luke 12:35-40. And yet, in the unfolding of events we may see the day approaching,-^ the beginnings that shall cause us to lift up our heads.^^

(22) Zech. 12:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10’. And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the
inhabitante of Jerusalem, the
spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon
me whom they have pierced, and
they shall mourn for him, as
one mourneth for his only son,
and shall be in bitterness for
him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

11. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

12. And the land shall mourn,
every family apart; the family
of the house of David apart, and
their wives apart; the family
of the house of Nathan apart,
and their wives apart;

13. The family of the house
of Levi apart, and their wives
apart; the family of Shimei
apart, and their wives apart;

14. All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

(23) Isa. 66: 8. Who hath
heard such a thing? who hath
seen such things? Shall the
earth be made to bring forth in
one day? or shall a nation be

born at once? for as soon as
Zion travailed, she brought forth
her children.

(24) Mark 13:32. But of
that day and that hour knoweth
no man, no, not the angels
which are in heaven, neither the
Son, but the Father.

33. Take ye heed, watch and
pray: for ye know not when
the time is.

34. For the Son of man is as
a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave
authority to his servants, and to
every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35. Watch ye therefore: for
ye know not when the master of
the house cometh, at even, or at
midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning:

36. Lest coming suddenly he
find you sleeping.

37. And what I say unto you i
say unto all, Watch.

(25) Heb. 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more as ye see
the day approaching.

(26) Luke 21:28. And when
these things begin to come to
pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.