Age/World Without End

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen." Ephesians 3.21, KJV

In newer translations this verse reads, "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations. forever and ever. Amen." ESV It is translated similarly in other newer translations, such as the RSV, the NASV, and the Amplified Bible.

Based on the Greek it should read, "age without end." Not "world without end."

This verse gives us a view to eternity. It suggests that our current age is an age without end.

There are many views of eternity, and many views of the future. My view is based on the eternal nature of God. We are taught that God never had a beginning and will never have an end. That gives us the definition for eternity. Is there such a thing as an eternal. Not according to the definition we have to work with. Anything with a beginning cannot be eternal. The age we are in has a beginning. It began at the cross. That is when the new age, spoken of in prophecy, began. The old ages, symbolized by the Old Testament came to an end at the cross. The new age symbolized by the New Testament began at the cross, otherwise we'd be living in a vacuum in between two Covenants. One Covenant that came to an end at the cross, and a New Covenant that hasn't begun yet, or at least not completely, which is the view of many. That the cross was the beginning of the new age, but there are events that still need to happen to consummate the new age, whereas others believe, me included, that the new age has been consummated in 70AD by the the destruction of the temple, and the spiritual return of Christ, ushering in a new heaven and a new earth, which is a spiritual heaven and earth. Physical Israel has come to an end, and spiritual Israel has been established.

Prior to the establishment of spiritual Israel, God dwelt in the temple. Now, God dwells in the hearts of his people. It is those people that are in the kingdom.

Further, the new covenant is an everlasting covenant.

I believe Scripture well establishes an age/world without end, and we are in it.