The 5 Eons

All time as we know it is divided by God into five Eons or Aion in the Greek. An Eon is a period of time, of indefinite length, but having a definite beginning and a definite end. It cannot under any stretch of the imagination mean eternity. In fact Eternity is only mentioned twice in the whole of the New Testament and a separate word entirely (Aidion) is used in the Greek.

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Here is a simple chart showing on the left the period before the Eons began. It references 1 Cor 8:6 which speaks of one God out of whom all is and one Lord jesus Christ through whom all is. The first Eon is implied in Genesis 1 where it says And the earth became a void: Also referred to as the Katabole or down casting of the earth. We know no more from scripture and we dare not speculate.The second one ended with the worldwide destruction of the flood.The present eon, called this wicked Eon in Galations, stretches from the flood to Christ's return to set up his 1000 year kingdom and there are two future Eons as pictured below.

The Five Eons  

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The scriptures reveal a beginning, with all out of God a continuation with God over all, and a consumption with God all in all.The truth about the Eons revolutionises our conception of God.It throws much light on the meaning and purpose of this trouble filled life. it makes a new book of that bible you study.

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                  Before The Eons

 There was a time before the eons began: Jesus spoke of it in John 17:5  "Glorify thou me now with  the glory which I had before the world is"  We know from 1 Cor 8: 6 that "there is one God out of whom all is and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom all is" The Eons were made by God.

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Hebrews 1:2-3 informs us that God made the Eons through Jesus ( they didn't exist before that!)

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1 Cor 2: 7 speaks of a wisdom hidden before the Eons: It's secret and concealed and designed for our glory. 2 Tim 1:9 is beautiful and very interesting: "Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before Eonian times." We were chosen and planned for before time or sin existed! 

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That is the limit of what we are told of pre eonian times: Suffice to say that the term 

"before eonian times" makes it abundantly clear, even to a babe or minor, that Eon can in no way mean eternal despite the efforts of Vine and Strong to imply otherwise.

There is a separate word "aidion" which is used only twice in the scriptures, meaning unperceived or maybe eternal: It is found in Romans 1: 20 (invisible) referring to God's attributes and Jude 6 in reference to the bonds holding those fallen angels.

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           First Eon

God made the first Eon (and all of them) 

through Jesus Christ  (Heb 1:2) This is referred to in Job 38:4-7  

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“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?"
We know it was a time of great rejoicing as it continues:  "while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?"

(There is also a reference to this in Job 26:7)

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Now this first eon ended in calamity as Genesis 1 tells us "The earth became a void"

How long did this eon last? Thousands or millions of years? I don't know. (He doesn't say)

Were they technologically advanced? I don't know: God does not reveal that: However God gives a hint of something in using the word "Replenish" in Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 9:1

If the earth had to be re-populated then it was populated previously: There is a further co-relation between Gen 1:28 and Genesis 9:1 as the earth in both cases was flooded with water -- most probably as a result of judgement in both cases. Eph 1:4 speaks of a casting down of the earth (Kataballo in greek) Interesting!

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The Eons

God, is spirit (not a spirit) and exists outside of time or beyond the restrictions of time. Yet when He interacts with us, as He does in the Eons, He has a clock that keeps perfect and accurate time.

The number seven is a number of completeness, divine perfection or something that is finished, as in the creation week in Genesis one. So we have 5 Eons  plus the period before the Eons and the period after the Eons to give 7 periods of time. A perfect and complete work. 

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When we begin to see something of the absolute hugeness and omniscience of God we realise that everything is working out exactly as planned and in the order planned.  All will end in His time and in His way.So let's not think too highly of ourselves:Someone said "We are not robots" No we are less than robots: mere clay in the hand of the potter: The world would get on fine without any us but ...... God has graciously designed it so we are involved in huge and weighty matters:  God has works prepared for us and He "wills and does" within our spirits (Phil 2:13). We respond to his Rhema by bringing to the birth those things gestating inside us. That is His way of arranging things! 

 The psalmist  (Psalm 131:15) had an understanding that his times were all in God's hand. What exactly was he saying? Another psalm says:

"My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth. (Psalm 139) Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed -- And not one among them".

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God is hands on! He is intimately involved in the timing and outcome of even the most mundane aspects of our lives: Wonderful to know!

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Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in Your hand,
All events at Your command

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The only way God can predict the future is if He not only allows things to happen but declares what will and what won't happen: Otherwise it's all guesswork on His part and He is anxiously sitting there hoping that all go as planned. If that was so how could you explain over 2000 prophecies that came true already, accurately and at the appointed time? 

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This means that Free Will as most understand the term does not exist. Man may enjoy an element of free will in his mind and thoughts but not in his actions. Proverbs 16: 9 says: "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2,000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors.

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Click here to see how God foretold to the day when Jesus would be crucified. This is found in writings of Jeremiah and Daniel and is only one of those amazing 2000 fulfilled prophecies          

Watchman: What of the night?

Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night.” (Isaiah 21:11–12)

“Watchman, what of the night?” is the desperate cry for help which was heard in the times of Isaiah the prophet. Israel had just witnessed the rise of the Assyrian Empire, one of the most ruthless empires in recorded history. Their influence rapidly spread through the entire ancient world and was even at Israel’s doorstep. In this time of trouble, when violence and lawlessness increased, the desperate cry to the watchman became: “What about this increasing darkness in our world? What is happening to us? Watchman, do you have an answer for us?”

This cry for help and clarity is also heard today, as we enter the year 2016. Dark clouds are everywhere. In the United States, the church finds itself in a battle for the very soul of their nation. Europe has been inundated by an unprecedented flood of more than one million mostly Muslim refugees. At the same time a new level of terrorism descended on France while Germany entered into the New Year with high-level security threats from Islamic terrorism.

The economic success story of the European Union is endangered not only by the Greek national crisis but also the combined pressure of escalating terrorism and an influx of refugees. If we look at Africa, we see an increased presence of the radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram. The Middle East remains in a state of severe instability; not only are Iraq and Syria falling apart before our eyes, but we also see instability in other countries like Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is being released by the West from its economic sanctions, while continuing to utter threats and incite violence against Israel and the USA. At the same time the European Union is issuing a labelling law against Israel, the only democracy in the region. All Israeli products from so-called “occupied territories” are expected to be labelled and are thus under the scrutiny of the boycott. While the USA continues to withdraw as an ordering world power, Russia, China and Turkey have quickly filled the resulting power vacuum in the Middle East.

In short, our world is undergoing significant changes, which will dramatically alter world history and future events. The result is insecurity - even within the church. As in the time of Isaiah, “Watchman, what of the night?” is the desperate question many people have in their hearts today.

The Morning Comes!

However, what is far more intriguing is the brief answer offered by Isaiah’s watchman: “The morning comes, and also the night.” This surprising response was contrary to natural laws or any human experience. Never did the night and the morning arrive at the same time. The watchman seems confused and not able to make up his mind which is coming, the night or the day.

Regardless of how illogical this answer may sound, it is the answer given by God to the people throughout history. Oftentimes, as circumstances grew darker and darker, suddenly the morning star announced divine hope and redemption. The pages of the Bible are full of hopeless situations, where it appeared darkness was spreading, unchallenged and ever increasing. But it was precisely at that point when the greatest triumphs were then achieved.

All seemed hopeless when the Midianites harassed the nation of Israel, when the strongmen Goliath and Haman each threatened the people of Israel, or when the Army of Egypt descended upon the Jews, without a means of escape at the shores of the Red Sea. It was exactly at that moment, when all hope was gone and night came like a flood, that godly men cried out, “The morning comes!”

The Morning Star

One of the names referring to Jesus in the Bible is the “bright and morning star” (Rev 22:16). This tells us that no matter how dark it is around us, if Jesus lives in our hearts, there is always hope for a breakthrough.

The morning star is often seen as a glaring light in the dark sky, announcing the imminent arrival of the dawn. There is something unique about the morning star. Since ancient times the planet Venus, which is the brightest of the night luminaries, was referred to as the morning star. But surprisingly enough, Venus is not only considered to be the ‘morning star,’ , but at certain times of year it is also the ‘evening star,’, announcing the approaching night. Isn’t it amazing that the very same sign in the sky can be both the herald of the approaching night and also the harbinger of the coming morning?

In my experience there are two types of Christians who, although they both read the very same Bible, have very different perspectives. Many Christians – often western – read the prophecies of the Bible about the future and see a rather devastating message of darkness, gloom and decay awaiting the church and the world. However, if you visit some home churches of China you would hear a completely different message. A brother from China recently told me: “In China we are so excited, because the prophetic word promises us that the whole earth will be covered by the knowledge of the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea!” He clearly was expecting global revival!

Not long ago we visited a large church movement in Nigeria, which is actively training young Christians in prayer and academics to become the future leaders of their country. In some Latin American countries, like Guatemala, more than 50% of the population have become born-again believers. These are churches filled with hope for what God can do!
In other words, some believers are evening star Christians some are morning star Christians. Reading the same Bible, some see mainly darkness approaching, while others are full of hope. The truth is that the watchman saw both. He was enough of a realist to see the night coming but the first response that passed his lips was to announce the coming morning dawn.

The God of Hope

We need to remember that one of the three main trademarks of the church is to bring hope (1 Cor. 13:13). Hope does not disappoint (Rom 5:5) and provides an anchor for our souls (Heb 6:19). God is called a God of hope (Rom 15:13), which means He identifies His own character with hope. Therefore, we should never give up our confession of hope (Heb 10:23). No matter what the newspapers, political pundits and even end-times experts might be telling you, never give up your hope!

The answer that the watchman gave some 2,700 years ago in the time of Isaiah is still valid today: “The morning comes and also the night!” Yes, darkness is spreading across the world in many places. The world is shaking and insecurity is increasing on many levels. But there remains one rock that cannot be shaken and that is the Kingdom of God!

I was greatly encouraged by the extraordinary story of Rees Howells in the book “The Intercessor.” In the midst of Europe’s darkest hour, when Hitler’s armies were advancing on every level, a group of 100 intercessors gathered together at a Bible college in Wales. They prayed strategically not only for the downfall of Hitler, but also declared victory over Nazi Germany when they appeared to be invincible. The two main inspirations which motivated Howells were his understanding that the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs to go to “every creature” and the return of the Jews back to their homeland was imminent. Therefore, he concluded, it was impossible for Hitler to succeed in his operation. In one of the darkest chapters of European history, Howells could see the morning star, even though his hope was deferred for several years.

As the Babylonian, Egyptian and Assyrian threats pressed in against the Kingdom of Israel, the prophet Isaiah brought a message of incredible hope. In a time when huge international players threatened the sovereignty of his homeland, with moral decay spreading throughout Israel, Isaiah found hope in the promised Messiah. “The government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” (Isaiah 9:6–7) Supreme authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul understood that every “throne, dominion, principality and authority” (Col 1:16) is under His sovereignty and needs to serve His purposes.

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